{"id":21074,"date":"2014-02-20T12:25:50","date_gmt":"2014-02-20T17:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/raleighpublicrecord.org\/?p=21074"},"modified":"2014-02-20T14:04:04","modified_gmt":"2014-02-20T19:04:04","slug":"council-roundup-reward-increased-for-illegal-dumping-tipsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/news\/city-council\/2014\/02\/20\/council-roundup-reward-increased-for-illegal-dumping-tipsters\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Roundup: Reward Increased for Illegal Dumping Tipsters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The city is offering is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone providing information or evidence of illegal dumping of grease and other toxins in the sanitary sewer lines.<\/p>\n<p>Raleigh City Council members Tuesday increased the reward from $1,000 to $5,000 after the 4-year-old program failed to entice any whistleblowers. The public utilities department will also be stepping up its education and communication efforts.<\/p>\n<p>City staff will now be allowed to participate in the program.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9658\"  class=\"wp-caption module image right\" style=\"max-width: 336px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9658\" alt=\"Photo by City of Raleigh.\" src=\"http:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/SanitarySewerOverflowCloseUp-336x220.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/SanitarySewerOverflowCloseUp-336x220.jpg 336w, https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/SanitarySewerOverflowCloseUp-771x506.jpg 771w, https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/SanitarySewerOverflowCloseUp.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\"> <\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by City of Raleigh.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Assistant Public Utilities Director Kenny Waldroup told Councilors the increase was in response to PCBs and other toxic materials being dumped into sanitary sewer systems in North and South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg utilities department <a href=\"http:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/2014\/02\/07\/4670710\/chemical-dumped-into-charlotte.html#.UwY4Yl4eWN0\" target=\"_blank\">confirmed that toxic waste<\/a> had been dumped into its sanitary sewer system.<\/p>\n<p>Here in Raleigh, a memo from public utilities staff states that there is evidence of at least one or more septage haulers and food preparation establishments illegally dumping grease into the sanitary sewer system.<\/p>\n<p>Grease buildup is the primary cause of sewer overflows. Waldroup said it costs the city $5,000 every time the department needs to respond to an overflow. The city spends $7 million per year maintaining the sewer system.<\/p>\n<p>Councilors Thomas Crowder and Wayne Maiorano initially questioned the reward increase.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"module align-right half type-aside\">\n<aside><strong>Report a Tip<\/strong><br \/>\n8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. \u2014 919-996-4540<br \/>\nAfter 5:15 p.m. \u2014 919-829-1930<\/aside>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201c$5,000 is a pretty significant number,\u201d said Crowder. \u201cIs it worth it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maiorano was also concerned about what staff had done in the past to educate people about the reward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know what we\u2019ve done to make the $1,000 work before we can exponentially increase it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, Waldroup said that the city put information on its website and sent out mailers.<\/p>\n<p>Those found dumping illegal waste down the sanitary sewer lines are fined $25,000 per day, per offense. According to state law, at least 90 percent of the collected fines are remitted to the school district. The city can keep up to 10 percent of the fines for administrative fees, but can\u2019t fund the reward program using fines. The city can also pursue criminal and civil charges.<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nCity, Summit Hospitality Finally Reach Agreement<\/strong><br \/>\nCity Councilors and Summit Hospitality have finally come to an agreement that will bring another hotel downtown.<\/p>\n<p>Councilors voted 6 to 1 in favor of the sale.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas Crowder was the lone dissenting vote; Councilor Mary-Ann Baldwin was absent from the meeting.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21075\"  class=\"wp-caption module image center\" style=\"max-width: 515px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21075\" alt=\"SalisburyStreetSketch\" src=\"http:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/SalisburyStreetSketch.jpg\" width=\"515\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/SalisburyStreetSketch.jpg 515w, https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/SalisburyStreetSketch-336x251.jpg 336w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 515px) 100vw, 515px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">City of Raleigh<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"> <\/p><\/div>\n<p>Summit Hospitality Group plans to build an 11-story Marriott Residence Inn on a half-acre property on Salisbury Street between South and South Lenoir streets near the Raleigh Convention Center.<\/p>\n<p>The city sold the land to Summit for $1.73 million.<\/p>\n<p>A request for proposal for the property was released in February 2012, but it took two years for Summit to begin working on the agreement with the city.<\/p>\n<p>Much of the recent delay stemmed from disagreements about construction material.<\/p>\n<p>While the majority of the building must made out of durable and lasting materials, Councilors agreed to allow Summit to use <a href=\"http:\/\/www.eima.com\/about-eifs.shtml\" target=\"_blank\">Exterior Insulation and Finishing Systems<\/a>, a cheaper building material, on 10 percent of the upper floors on the three sides facing the street.<\/p>\n<p>Crowder, an architect, said in a previous Budget and Economic Development Committee meeting that the material should be banned outright from the project.<\/p>\n<p>Summit representatives asked that some allowance be made for cost efficiency.<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nDog Decision Delayed<\/strong><br \/>\nCouncilors have asked staff to do more digging into an alternative to banning dogs from certain areas of Raleigh\u2019s park system.<\/p>\n<p>Staff will report back in four weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Residents who spoke out during <a href=\"http:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/news\/city-council\/2014\/02\/12\/committee-offers-no-recommendation-for-dog-ban\/\" target=\"_blank\">last week\u2019s Public Works Committee meeting<\/a> said they are in favor of prohibiting dogs from playgrounds, but did not want to see dogs banned from ballfields.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21083\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignright\" style=\"max-width: 336px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/dogparksign-336x202.jpg\" alt=\"dogparksign\" width=\"336\" height=\"202\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-21083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/dogparksign-336x202.jpg 336w, https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/dogparksign-771x464.jpg 771w, https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/dogparksign.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Karen Tam \/ Raleigh Public Record<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Councilor Wayne Maiorano wants Parks and Recreation staff to look into the legal requirements for reallocating space in existing parks for use by dogs.<\/p>\n<p>The city already has rules on the books that require owners to pick up after dogs and keep them leashed in public spaces. The city has three public dog parks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Road Races<\/strong><br \/>\nCity Councilors approved the following road races. Residents can keep track of road races and street closures on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.raleighnc.gov\/home\/content\/CorStatus\/Articles\/DowntownTrafficAlert.html\" target=\"_blank\">city&#8217;s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Race: St. Patty\u2019s Run Green and Kilt Run to benefit the National MS Society Location: South Blount Street near Hargett and Martin streets<br \/>\nLength: 8K<br \/>\nDate and Time: 2 p.m. Saturday March 1<br \/>\nAttendees: 4,000<\/p>\n<p>Race: Joyner Elementary School<br \/>\nLocation: 2300 Lowden Street<br \/>\nLength: Not specified<br \/>\nDate and Time: 1 p.m. Sunday, March 9<br \/>\nAttendees: Not specified<\/p>\n<p>Race: Sola\/USO 5K<br \/>\nLocation: Greystone Village, 7713 Lead Mine Road<br \/>\nLength: 5K<br \/>\nDate and Time: 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 29<br \/>\nAttendees: 250<br \/>\nRace: North Carolina Victim Assistance Network Memorial 5K<br \/>\nLocation: East Lane Street near Person Street<br \/>\nLength: 5K<br \/>\nDate and Time: 7 a.m. Saturday, April 19<br \/>\nAttendees: 150<\/p>\n<p>Race: Midtown road race<br \/>\nLocation: North Hills Shopping Center<br \/>\nLength: Half marathon, 10K and 5K<br \/>\nDate and Time: 7 a.m. Saturday, June 7<br \/>\nAttendees: Not specified<\/p>\n<p>Race: Chick-fil-a race series benefiting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and the Cure Starts Now Foundation<br \/>\nLocation: North Ridge Country Club<br \/>\nLength: 5k and 10k<br \/>\nDate and Time: 7:30 &#8211; 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22<br \/>\nAttendees: No estimate specified<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Councilors Tuesday increased the amount of money awarded to tipsters who provide information or evidence of illegal dumping in the city\u2019s sanitary sewers. Councilors also approved a new downtown hotel and some spring road races. They delayed a vote on a possible ban of dogs in some park facilities. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24029,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,15],"tags":[1518,347,1562,698,1561,1563],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21074"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24029"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21074\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}