Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-10-1978 1. EXECUTIVE SESSION 2. At the conclusion of the January 1978 meeting,�' � g, an executive 3. session was conducted for the purpose of discussing the possibility of 4. acquiring real estate, specifically the Belk -Leggett-Horton building 5. in Chapel Hill. 6. The'County Manager informed the Board that he had talked with Kirk 7. Jenne, Chapel ill Town Manager, and that Mr. Jenne had stated that the 8. Town would be i terested in a possible joint business venture, if the 9 . "right people c uld be influenced" . He stated that Chapel Hill is pro- 10. posing to build a police administration building which will be about the 11. same size as the Belk building. Consultants reports will be received by 12. the Chapel Hill Board of Aldermen in February of the -feasibility of the 13. building. Mr. lattis stated that it would be appropriate for members 14 . of the Board of Commissioners to speak to members of the Board of Alder- 15. men concerning he possibility of a joint venture. 16. Discussion ensued concerning the alternatives for financing the 17. purchase of the Belk building. It was pointed out by the Finance Officer 18. and the County anager that financing would be difficult and would make 19. a tight overall financial. situation for several years. 20. Commissioner Pinney moved that the meeting adjourn_ 21. 22. 23. 24. 25 . 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT DE PUBLIC HEALTH Summary of Report on North Fairview December 13, 1977 The 215 residences of the North Fairview area in late November of 1977, were found .t I have -57% of their waste disposal systems in a state of failure. Withncreased _rainfall this percentage is expected to grow. The area is con- tainiiiated 'anc� the residents are at risk of epidemics. The area residents at this time, a cording to the survey, are not reflecting extensive illness due to the septi problems. However , there is evidence that upon actual physical examinations the health of the residents would tend to reflect the environ- mental situation. The Department feels that in the event of are epidemic the town of Hillsborough would quickly become involved, thereby, making control procedures m st difficult. The Department recommends a community sewerage system for the area and several, interin measures until such can be accomplished. Tnterm measures include immunization clinics , multiphasic screening, septic tank pumping, water testing, well condemnations and intensive plumbing, inspections so as to ,protect the sanitary integrity of the public water supply. ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Report of North Fairview December 13, 1977 On Noveirber 10, 1977, two members of the Board of Health Brought to the attention ofthe Board and the Director the condition of a large area of con- centrated hou ing with many malfunctioning septic systems. This unincorporated area lies in Census tract 111, north by northwest of the northern corporate boun- dary of Hillsborough, N. C. It is known as Northern Fairview and is predominatel, inh abitated by black residents of low to moderate income. The Director inspected this area on November 15th along with the Environmental Supervisor of the Depart- meet. On Novem�er 17th the Director reported back to the Board that he viewed the septic malfunction problems of this area to be of serious health risk to the residents. Secondly, that since the soils of the area were unsuitable for septic development and the lot sizes were generally 50 feet wide by 75 to 100 feet deep, that no affordable alternative individual on--site liquid waste dis-- Pbs;wl—systems I were feasible. The Director recommended that a community sewerage systeti-'be explored as the answer to this problem. Also, on November 17th, the Board heard toe area problems described by an area resident. The Director was i requested to xpeditously complete an evaironmental and personal health survey of the area. On Novem er 21 thru November 29th (with staff as available) an environmental survey was co pleted. This survey is attached. as Exhibit I pages one and two. Page two is a map ;f the agreed upon boundaries of the Northern Fairview area. The survey was conducted house to house to determine what means of waste disposal was in use and how many were malfunctioning or not approva'bl,e at the time of the survey. The prec eding suttirner had been extremely dry but the month of October and November had been wetter than normal-. Therefore, given the Sani.tari.an's know-- ledge of the ea, the soil. types and the weather a moderate failure rate was expected to be found; a severe rate was not, due to the prolonged dry spell. The area was found to consist of 215 residences. 93 or 43% of the horses had functioning septic systems; 75 or 35% of the homes had malfunctioning septic systems; and 4�7 or 22% of the homes had imporper privies. Given the soil type and housing density, it is the judgement of the Director that the privies should not be allowed) to be in the area. Therefore, 57% of the systems were found to be of a definitive health hazard to residents. The soil types of the area are 65% enon, 15% of lignurn, 10% goldston and 10% georgevil,l.e, Given the mature of these soils to swell, when wet, the winter time failure rate would be expected to be much higher than at this time. Second- ly, odor was found to be obnoxious_ During the summer the odor would be expected to be hostile to living with any degree of comfort. Thirdly, effulent breaking out of the sys�ems generally collects in road ditches , resulting in weed growth and increased i.sease vectors. Such places provide haborage for rats and other vermin and sere as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. On November 29th thru December 1st, the Department's Medical Director pre- pared a personal health survey to use to assess the personal health status of the area. On December Ist and 2nd, meetings were held with area residents and staff of Joint Orange Chatham Community Action. Agency regards giving the survey. On December 5t thru 7th, the JOCCA staff conducted a non-random survey of the area and obtained 128 completed questionnaires (each questionnaire covered all residents of a household: no respondents may be identified with any set of answers). Page 2 On December 8th the Director reported on the environmental analysis to the Board. On December 9th thriz 12th, as possible, the health survey was studied for implications. The Director and the Medical Director feel that the personal health survey given its limitations and return, rate warrants the following statements. The surface ground of the area is contaminated with human excreta. There- fore, the co tern lies with the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. They include typhoid fever, paratyphoids , cholera, dysentery, poliomyelitis , infecti- ous hepatitis , hookworm disease and a few other parasitic infections (cholera has not been epidemic in this country for many years). The following chart is presented to show haw typhoid fever may be spread: Excreta ""�'�w' Fin ers _ from ? Cockroaches } foods, milk carrier 7 Flies -y -> vegetables Water »- oysters, etc. of well y Vets ---�`-- --- ,� All the vectors listed above (flies , pets , etc. ) are exposed to the contaminated environment of the area. Mosquitees are of primary concern due to viral, encephalitis and malaria. The survey indicates that new area residents evidence gastrointestinal problem , xia'� ly diarrhea. A high incidence of colds and respiratory problems were reporte among households with children under 10. The colds may be masking parasitic in lections in children. however, we were not able to examine the residents and therefore do not know how many are anemic, have parasitic infec- tions nor ho many children have proper growth patterns. 'however we would ex- pect such pr blems due to the high risk nature of the population. Of the eight mentioned de the last year, one was due to pneumonia C-bacterial. cause), According to our limited survey there are some manifestation of illnesses that would b attributed to the septic situation, but not of significant pro- portion at t is true. However, the potential, for an epidemic is high,among these residents. If the residents of North Fairview should fall victim to.the diseases of concern discussed above, the town of Hillsborough would, become immediately involved, thereby magnifying and making quite difficult any control and contaium. t procedures. Living ip this environment is a susceptible population to any of the disease of concern. I he health status of this population is fragile and presently main- tained due to the fact that the area is served by public water. Therefore, con- cern focuses on the sanitary integrity of the water supply. Contamination of the public water supply could occur in a variety of ways , such as freezing and cracking of lines , plumbing cross connections and other methods. The septic system failure rate and the quantity of effulent coining to the surface is a ected. to continue to increase as families change and the water use pattern continues to grow simultaneous with the age and deterioration of the badly maintained systems. Therefore, the problem will increase in magnitude. Given these conditions, a community human waste disposal system is clearly and imperitively needed and the answer to this problem. Secondly, it would be economically unwise to not first suggest hooking future sewer lines of this area to anything other than the Hillsborough system. The Hillsborough sewerage dis- posal, plant has excess capacity and the city lines are being installed near to this area. This is clearly the preferable solution. Page 3 Should this alternative not be possible, attention should be given to bringing all privies up to code and then to work with the residents and owners under established time limits to put in a septic system even though we kew that these systems would malfunction. All septic field lines in eac� portion of the area should be tied into a collection pipe that would carry excess effulent by gravity into collection tanks where they may be pumped regularly and hauled to the Hillsborough plant for disposition. A third alternative would be to condemn non-functional systems and construct neighborhood wash house/rest room/ facilities which could be more economical small package plants. Economic considerations would pre- clude doing his for each home. A fourth alternative that is not preferred due to the certain futility of it , would be to pump all individual tanks with great regularity plus up- grade all . vies. A .fifth (alternative would be to replace all non-functional systems with properly constructed and maintained privies. This alternative should only be used if tie choice is between not having a place to live and disease cut breaks. Thi alternative would drive the quality of life in the area even `farther down. 1 ould ese alternatives and any subsequent innovations not be possible and in the event a£ disease outbreaks, the health department would be forced to depopul4t� the homes with non-functional systems by condemnation. This would be don so so as to not subject these residents and the nearby coununity of Hil.lsboroulgh to epid�nics. Immediately, the Health Department will prepare contingency plans to handle sign.ifant disease outbreaks. Secondly, the department shall offer immunization and multiphasic screening clinics to the residents. Thirdly, the department shall test all wells and condemn those found to be contaminated. Fourth, the department will request the County to provide suf- ficient qualified plumbing inspectors to inspect for cross-connections on other public bodies should meet to work out contingency plans , 'chaired by the Cogn ty Manage, for this and other potential large scale problems. Lastly, the department will urge the pumping of all septic tanks on a regular basis until other solutions are explored. �xJ _7 Je y R. obinson, M.A.P.A. Director of Public Health mom Attachment No...l. . Page 1 C� age COURfq c3hdt h 144 E., MARGARET LANE HILLSSOROUGH,N.:C.2727B 19 [ASTG.ATC sHoa?ING GSNT PHONE: 732.aIB1 EXT. R.IS CHAPE[, HILL, N„ C, 27514 (FROM CRAPEL HILL 387.8251) - PHONp; 942.4158 e FAIRVIEW ENVIRONXENTAL SURVEY Noverber 21 ,22,25,28,29, 1977 STREET Properly Functioning. Malfunctioning -�.—_ .Septic Systems Septic Systems Privies !Spring & Edward 12 10 18 Cedar Grove Read (Hwy. 70 to Edward) 6 1 Hill -St-reet 2 11 3 Turner Street 3 7 Harper Street East of Dalton Street 10 3 3 Harper Street North 5 3 6 Homemont Stree 2 Riddle Street 7 3 3 Dixie Street b 1 Linden, Locust and L ar chwood 11 12 Thompson 4 3 Daye Street 4 4 ? Street , Off Faucette Mill .1�oad 3 Faucette Mill Road 14 12 1 Hwy 70 (Faucette Mill. Road to Edward Street) 10 7 TOTALS 93 75 47 215 Percentage .43 .35 . 22 IV Y, I i 7 �M ON AE. D E Cd ru Oki sr z /YC a a � 7uRNEA :57: �� CC CC r � 4-4 MWI. 70 . a= kr, IV Y, I 0 10 LF 1 �-~ . . QUTP VjT_ LArtOX_CO-V- -BAN's-� -- F-T/mc ---.j -—�...da `�._ t`� _ �t3�3 EO_i N 50Z OF _f S-r p,F _ -... Gam., aR