[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6210873,"mediaKeyId","3705532-1ec284ee013ab9147bdd11428ad331b0","parentId",3705532,"title","Residents urge council not to oppose Transco pipeline expansion; speakers note limits of town authority","audioSeconds",240,"startMs",2065000,"endMs",2305000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3705532-1ec284ee013ab9147bdd11428ad331b0&start=2065&end=2305","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3705532-1ec284ee013ab9147bdd11428ad331b0/thumbnail_2065000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210873/North-Carolina/Residents-urge-council-not-to-oppose-Transco-pipeline-expansion-speakers-note-limits-of-town-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210873-d8b13eac63a659c114b015fd56fdbd02/orig.mp4?Expires=1770729083&Signature=SLkbaCAyzXkdEdD218xhZf24XYIYSrlshAKwml5LyrpO1Ep7ywNhjv~V1hnNI4~-SSyvXx0LnKe26olP0IfKtAJm2MaASkxDTSYQMsY9uMsjZ~nx70oTmw8aUhW1mSFQ~AdRg6pxSE9BkaDjttrWgDkVkJURkozewvr5AUCQHpR7G4bDRJrpmk4kMgsAnhyewy2lG6~SZFkSNXwEosO1sphtNmIG15qN80lyh1OSUfp~ZNxdB~exnlyBboaSnyzo6tiN7KHdZatagSua~gm3ZqnuM6hT~WTnR9w1r~-vwoJQK9Rb02E7Amdxf~WAFnqsKvYN3ej3wXS93BWuQPowRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-06T01:13:57Z","article","Members of the public spoke during the June 5 meeting about the proposed Transco pipeline expansion, urging the council not to take an official position opposing the project and noting the town lacks jurisdiction over federal permitting.

Ben Walraven told council he had followed the issue and argued the town should not oppose the expansion. Walraven said oversight and permitting for the project rest with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North Carolina agencies, and that the proposed pipeline would supply parts of central North Carolina. “The risk of the pipeline project is acceptable given the oversight Transco must follow,” Walraven said, and he asked council to “forego any effort to take a stand against this project and to continue to focus on matters where your authority makes a clear impact on Oak Ridge.”

Barbara Engel, who identified herself as a local resident with a pipeline on her property for 23 years, echoed Walraven’s point and said she had no problem with Williams (Williams Company/Williams Transco) and urged the council not to get involved. Both speakers acknowledged other residents’ safety and environmental concerns but emphasized that permitting, maintenance and safety oversight are state and federal responsibilities.

Council members did not take formal action on the pipeline during the meeting. The public-comment remarks make clear that residents are split — with ongoing interest in safety and environmental permitting — but that local authority to approve or deny the project is limited.

Because the town has no regulatory oversight of interstate pipeline siting or federal permitting, council members and staff present did not propose an ordinance or formal resolution on Transco at the meeting. Any future council action would require a separate agenda item and a discussion of legal authority and local objectives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Of Oak Ridge Town Council Meeting June 5th 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment the council heard competing views about the Transco pipeline expansion; several speakers urged the town not to adopt a formal opposition because the project is regulated at state and federal levels and provides natural gas to other regions of the state.","taxTitle","Town of Oak Ridge, Guilford County, North Carolina","taxId",57591,"location","North Carolina","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6210877,"Oak Ridge moves trail planning to Mountains-to-Sea Trail committee, alters Parks & Rec advisory board seat",2145,2413000,4558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3705532-1ec284ee013ab9147bdd11428ad331b0&start=2413&end=4558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3705532-1ec284ee013ab9147bdd11428ad331b0/thumbnail_2413000.jpg","/articles/6210877/North-Carolina/Oak-Ridge-moves-trail-planning-to-Mountains-to-Sea-Trail-committee-alters-Parks-Rec-advisory-board-seat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210877-4705ff63c9f0fbdb0034705b660a4ac3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770729084&Signature=k0ga9aMGZEsTsow5an25l~IiOgN~OYCiF5J2fAQrYMm~yJNt1tFax4gfv0fFxyq6yJcVZMkMOq6wUDHPw~50tZBGVeC3x3RkbdAFLm0Mo7zTke---Z7-4bW-K2Y25xryqWkZF8T5nODz22MLUfVKeBBWBpLpC4vU1pfH9xR4goCquYf1LiZOx3y3RpTnBYq7il7nvJ-3XnhTg~cWhV5pKQKgXRL3kvI0ZNZ8Laic0J-WL9IzJ~fxRDMaNMR87Pv8f1~MwXFZJ690TdnRVH4~vSRoeGaIgzo17eKniZGUyRihr4JmJ~iPCF4-3qESO6cCBMuO0qf~c9cjf~HjT8~uWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oak Ridge Town Council on June 5 adopted a text amendment to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board ordinance that removes a dedicated Oak Ridge Youth Association seat and transfers long-range trail planning responsibilities outside town parks to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail committee.

Council members explained the changes during the ordinance discussion: once the Oak Ridge Youth Association usage agreement expires, the dedicated ORYA president seat will end and that council’s ex officio seat on ORYA’s board will likewise be removed; the Parks & Rec advisory board will instead have a regular appointment in that slot. The ordinance amendment also removes “trail planning” as a formal Parks & Rec responsibility because, council staff said, the MST committee — established in 2018 — now handles trail planning and long-term trail connections outside town park boundaries.

The council asked clarifying questions at the meeting about where responsibilities divide: trails located within town parks remain the responsibility of Parks & Recreation, while trails outside park property — including connecting corridors and easements — will be handled by the MST committee. Councilmember discussion confirmed that the change is intended to reduce overlapping responsibilities and to reflect the MST committee’s ongoing work.

Anne Steele, chair of the Oak Ridge Mountains-to-Sea Trail committee, reported the committee’s 12‑month status update as requested by council. MST said it has not performed development on the Ashford subdivision easement during the pause directed by council, and instead focused on other trail-building work: maintaining Headwaters Trail, completing a trail to the Summerfield property line, securing a trailhead location for Pemberley and Carriage Cove areas, completing an Eagle Scout trailhead improvement at the town park campsite, and pursuing volunteer and scout projects for bridge and parking improvements. Steele said the committee is a small volunteer group and described outreach and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and the state MST organization.

Council members asked whether MST had met with Ashford and Bear Creek neighborhood representatives; the committee said it had not, citing an unclear status and possible legal constraints referenced by council. Council members agreed MST had acted within the direction given at the prior council meeting: explore alternate routes and report back; council retains authority over any changes to easement status and would direct the committee if it wanted development to proceed on the Ashford easement.

The council unanimously approved the ordinance amendment clarifying Parks & Rec appointments and responsibilities. The adoption aligns the town’s advisory structure with the MST committee’s role in town-wide trail planning and preserves Parks & Rec responsibility for trails that lie inside town park boundaries.","Council approved a text amendment to remove the Oak Ridge Youth Association’s dedicated seat on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and shift long-range trail planning responsibility to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) committee; MST reported a 12-month status update on Ashford easement work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6210882,"Oak Ridge council adopts $2025–26 budget, holds tax rate steady at 8¢",883,912000,1795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3705532-1ec284ee013ab9147bdd11428ad331b0&start=912&end=1795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3705532-1ec284ee013ab9147bdd11428ad331b0/thumbnail_912000.jpg","/articles/6210882/North-Carolina/Oak-Ridge-council-adopts-202526-budget-holds-tax-rate-steady-at-8","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210882-0fa08f4c6378ac8e4a26dd313f475cb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770729084&Signature=YwmlNR3e6V19xqv0FDecNv7PM7ub1ICI6lN04GN6RJDtB5eQ3h2CIVBXISWqOtNpVZwRZhmkPPp1wAywWBqfMTW0cxxW95yg4h9cptmcJBfB6oKWoUw3V96Zoi94SEreZkanROPAZ0qxI1BG1R~UkDCNRHkOJRd3wDLplH4mbX2xaTvXC1PESetjkMLP0~NUtlWK-K~KLHUTEB~BQxTubOo9DuT85BlTrz9k4ib4glSJk~vwQmIsqqUYWtqFCVkSFhLg3-uYhMqSnFIVFHiZazJbnXZ13Gd8duDRzIUbpM7oVGVhWCtQYNdj4cOKkOaDYXuVwylaavtnm6v118Mr1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Oak Ridge Council on June 5 approved the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, keeping the town property tax rate unchanged at 8 cents per $100 of assessed value and funding major water and parks projects while projecting a small net surplus.

Town Manager Bill Bruce presented the proposed budget, saying it “funds longstanding commitments to the development of a municipal water system, expands sidewalk and trail connections, and investigates and implements additional recreational offerings.” Finance Committee Chair Stuart Meese told council the document represents “strategic investment, long term infrastructure with no increase in tax.”

The budget includes grant-funded capital for water infrastructure — Bruce told council grant revenue of “over $8,000,000” will be allocated in separate capital project ordinances to pay for construction of an elevated water tank and a 3.2-mile water main on Oak Ridge Road. The town also forecasts a 4.6% rise in revenues and a 4.4% increase in operating expenses; parks rental revenue is projected to grow by more than 50% because of two new facilities. The budget message in the council packet, Bruce said, contains further project and administrative detail.

Councilmembers asked for and received clarifications about revenue sources and the town’s relative tax burden. Mayor Anne Snyder noted the town’s tax rate has not changed since 2017 and said Oak Ridge has one of the lower municipal tax rates in North Carolina, citing North Carolina Department of Revenue data. Bruce and Finance Officer Sam Anders reported the budget anticipates about $20,000 in net revenue while maintaining reserves.

Council opened a public hearing before voting. Speakers who urged support included John Jenkins and Stuart Meese, both with the finance committee, who praised staff and the committee process. No speakers registered opposition during the hearing. After discussion, a motion to adopt the 2025–26 budget was made and seconded; the council voted in favor and the mayor announced, “The ayes have it.”

Council also approved several budget-related items before and after the adoption vote: authorization for the finance officer to execute a contract with auditors Forvis (audit firm engagement) to begin the required annual and single-audit work for fiscal 2025; and a final fiscal-year housekeeping budget amendment of $71,005.99 to cover several line-item adjustments (salaries, insurance, consulting and water system expenses). The council granted the finance officer authority to make adjustments through June 30 to ensure a balanced fiscal-year closeout and directed staff to report back at the next meeting.

The council’s fiscal actions on June 5 also included routine approvals: renewal of the town attorney contract and acceptance of the finance officer’s monthly report. During the finance update, Anders said the town ran 85 fire department calls in May and noted routine seasonal revenue timing (property-tax disbursements and motor-vehicle collections) that produce lower receipts at this point in the cycle.

The council’s vote to adopt the budget followed the public hearing and committee endorsements; no ordinance number for the budget enactment was provided in the meeting record. The council also recorded a separate closed-session personnel action later in the meeting affecting the town manager’s salary (see related action entry).","The Oak Ridge Town Council approved the fiscal year 2025–26 budget that funds water infrastructure, parks and trails, and community programming without raising the town property tax rate; council also approved related budget housekeeping and audit contracts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge council not to oppose Transco pipeline expansion; speakers note limits of town authority

Oak Ridge moves trail planning to Mountains-to-Sea Trail committee, alters Parks & Rec advisory board seat

Oak Ridge council adopts $2025–26 budget, holds tax rate steady at 8¢