Council agrees to hire firm to study PFAS in water

ASHEBORO — Asheboro will work with a firm to get the water treatment plant upgrades to remove PFAS chemical contaminants. 

The city council took that action, along with rezoning and real estate requests, at its meeting on Oct. 9.

Mayor Pro Tem Walker Moffitt convened the meeting in place of Mayor David Smith, who is still recovering from medical issues. Council member Joseph Trogdon, Jr. was also out sick.

PFAS study

Water Resources Director Michael Rhoney asked the council to approve an agreement for professional services with HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas. 

HDR will review the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals which break down slowly and have been the target of a nationwide effort to remove from drinking water. Asheboro’s water treatment plant does not have the capacity to remove PFAS now.

HDR will look at the current water data, evaluate and assess all the viable options, and help plan future improvements to the plant. This is expected to take 12 months with a budget up to $498,884. In August, the city was awarded a federal infrastructure grant to pay for the services.

Moffitt asked if the city knows the current PFAS levels. Rhoney said they know the levels in raw water but not the treated water. Moffitt also clarified that the city must act against PFAS due to a federal requirement.

“The rule in place right now is 2029,” Rhoney said. “The EPA has agreed it’s going to be 2031, but they haven’t signed that yet.”

Small business investments

City Manager Office Intern Nate Marsh presented a framework to kickstart the City of Asheboro Small Business Investment Grant program.

Businesses would be able to opt into one of two programs — the Local Jobs Creation Grant or the Building Reuse Grant. They will only need to fill out one application and can choose which program serves their specific needs or plans to expand.

Marsh said city staff worked with the Chamber of Commerce, the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation and Downtown Asheboro, Inc. to put this together. They are still figuring out eligibility requirements.

Property decisions

■ The city council agreed to change the residential zoning of 223 Rich Avenue at the request of Moffitt.

He wishes to build four two-family rentals. Planning and Zoning Director Justin Luck presented his layout with two dwellings on each side of a parking lot. The city would first need to rezone the property from a mix of R7.5/RA6 to RA6 (CZ) High-Density Residential Conditional Zoning.

Neighbor Pam Stanley spoke during the public comment. She said their area has had problems with renters getting evicted, as well as people parking on the street. She also did not think nearby Center Street could handle more traffic because of a sinkhole.

Moffitt recused himself. Council member Bill McCaskill was the sole vote against, saying he would prefer fewer duplexes. Council member Eddie Burks asked that city staff check the sinkhole.

■ Next, the city agreed to rezone Asheboro Piedmont Printing’s property on US 220 Business South. Owner Larry Presnell asked to add conditional zoning to the B2 General Commercial zone so that he can build a sign.

Presnell would like to move two more of his businesses to the site: Good Stuff, Inc., which makes peanut butter; and Dill Crew, Inc., which makes sports equipment.

“Moving to this facility is what I need to do,” he said, after explaining he’s been working out of a 1,500-square-foot garage. “I’m out of space. I need to add more equipment. Quite a lot of investment infrastructure on my part.”

Zoning would have allowed for two signs per parcel, but Presnell agreed to forego that in exchange for one two-sided, fully digital sign to switch between advertisements for all the businesses.

Burks asked to clarify that the sign would still follow the brightness rules.

Presnell said it would use photosensors to adjust to daytime, sunset and night.

Council member Kelly Heath dissented, saying she was against the size of the sign. She said, “I love peanut butter. I’m very happy you want to put your business in Asheboro, but we have ordinance standards for a reason.”

■ The council unanimously annexed land along East Presnell and US 64 at the request of John Deere equipment dealer James River Equipment.

■ City Attorney Jeff Sugg walked the council through real estate transactions. The first approved amended terms for the easement agreement with Tanner Investment Properties to allow for work on Fire Station No. 3. The new agreement will have the easement expire at the end of 2027.

They gave city staff approval to advertise two lease proposals that will come up in the December city council meeting. The first will be for electronic communications equipment atop the water tank on NC Highway 49 South. The second will be for Civil Air Patrol to lease hangar space at Asheboro Regional Airport.

Finally, they agreed to take $77,000 from the general fund to buy land on East Allred Street near the public works facility.

Special thanks and honors

Randolph-Asheboro YMCA CEO Patrick O’Hara brought children in the youth soccer leagues to thank city leaders for their support and for letting them use the Zoo City Sportsplex.

“We have over 100 home games at your complex,” O’Hara said. “These teams are coming from North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina.”

Asheboro has 18 challenge teams, 12 boys teams and four girls teams. O’Hara invited coaches and players to come to the podium and share words of appreciation.

“[The children] have shown immense growth already,” Coach Santiago Hernandez said. “It starts with the Zoo City Sportsplex giving us a field to play on, giving us an outlet for them to do what they do best. They grow in social skills, being active in the community.”

The city recognized retiring Master Police Officer Leah Marie Burnette. Chief Robbie Brown presented her with a plaque and her service weapon.