OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Winston-Salem Public Works Committee Meeting – October 14, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, October 14, 2025
BodyWinston Salem, North Carolina
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, October 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 22:08

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good afternoon.

0:04

Welcome to the October 2025 Public Works Committee meeting.

0:10

City Clerk, would you please call the roll?

0:16

Chairperson, Councilmember Burke here.

0:19

Councilmember Andrew Bowen.

0:20

Here.

0:21

Councilmember Clark.

0:22

Here.

0:22

And Councilmember Taylor.

0:24

Present.

0:25

Council members, we have two consent agenda items.

0:29

Uh, would any of you like to have those items pulled?

0:34

I move for approval of the consent agenda.

0:39

Is there a second?

0:40

I can't second.

0:44

Second.

0:44

Okay.

0:45

Okay, we have a motion and we have to vote, uh, take a voice vote all in favor of approving the consent agenda.

0:54

Please let us know by saying aye.

0:57

The motion passes.

0:58

Thank you.

1:00

City clerk, would you please read uh general item one?

1:07

Item G1 resolution approving an application for federal funding for the lead service line replacement program.

1:15

Okay, we have Ms.

1:16

Courtney Driver to uh give us uh this uh information.

1:22

Welcome.

1:23

Yes, thank you.

1:23

Good afternoon, Chair Burke, members of the committee and council, good afternoon.

1:28

So this um request is for approval of an application for federal funding for the lead service line replacement program.

1:35

And the lead and copper role was first issued in 1991.

1:39

There's been a few minor revisions since that time, but there's a there was a significant revision in 2021, and the utilities department is responding to those revisions now to make sure that we stay in compliance.

1:51

Part of the um two key components of those revisions is we have to do a service line inventory, and then there's also an emphasis on replacing um any lead services, um lead sources in our distribution system within a 10-year period starting in 2027.

2:08

So there's we've we've completed the um preliminary inventory, and now we're working on actually going out and replacing those service um those lead service lines.

2:18

So there's federal funding administered through the state.

2:21

There's funding cycles every two months, and the maximum per cycle is two million for what they call find and replace projects.

2:30

These are um situations where we still need to go out there and do some excavation work, and so for some unknown areas, so it's it includes exploratory work and replacement.

2:40

There's another group of up to five million dollars for um situations where we already know that the it's a lead service line or galvanized line requiring replacement, um, and so there's up to five million dollars for that.

2:52

So the request for us is to um request permission to make those applications every two funding cycles, one for the two million dollars or up to the five million dollars for those two buckets of money, and we intend to do that um until all the funds are exhausted or until our projects are fully are fully funded.

3:12

And um if you have any questions, any questions on the report I know we have applied for other cycles of this money correct?

3:26

Yes, okay.

3:27

How are we coming on spending it and do we have any idea what the total cost is gonna be and how close we are to getting that kind of money?

3:36

So um that's a good question, and I'm sorry I didn't mention that.

3:40

So we have applied over the past year, and I brought a similar item in October and January, October of 2024, and then January of this year.

3:49

Um the state has informed us that those resolutions are valid for a year, so which is why I'm bringing back a um a follow-up request.

3:56

We have been awarded two two million dollar um loans that with 100% principal forgiveness.

4:03

So those are like grants, um, and they are um yeah, so we've been already applied for that, and right now we are developing our different zones.

4:13

We haven't spent any of the money yet.

4:15

We're working with the consultant to um section off those zones and start spending that money.

4:20

Because I know Rosalind Road is going to be closed, I think next week several a block of it to replace some of the galvanized pipes.

4:29

So we are moving along, I guess.

4:31

Yes, as we find if we are out there and we uncover it, we go ahead with our with our crews and do what we can.

4:38

Um, but this is going to be a more um structured effort to really create the zones.

4:43

The the way you um qualify for 100 percent principal forgiveness is that you have to show that a certain percentage in each project is in an underserved area.

4:54

So that's what we're doing.

5:00

We're taking all the areas that we found that are either unknown, um, you know, definitely known to be led or definitely known to be galvanized, and then we are uh sectioning off our zones so that we qualify for that 100% principal forgiveness.

5:12

Okay, thank you.

5:13

Okay, council member Scott Andrew Bulwin.

5:18

Thank you, Chair.

5:19

Um, so in the report it says that this will go towards uh private right away or public right-of-ways and private property.

5:25

Does the uh the private property owner do they have any funding that has to go towards any kind of replacement of on their property?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management██████████████████████████████████34%
Transportation Safety█████████████████████████████████33%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Technology and Innovation██████████████14%
Summary of Proceedings

Winston-Salem Public Works Committee Meeting – October 14, 2025

The Public Works Committee met on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM to consider a consent agenda and two general agenda items. Chair Barbara Hanes Burke presided, with Council Members Scott Andree-Bowen, Robert Clark, and James Taylor Jr. present. Council Member Scippio also attended. The meeting was adjourned at 2:24 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • C-1 – Request for a public hearing on a resolution for the voluntary annexation of approximately 12.853 acres located south of Brookberry Farm Circle at the eastern stub of Charolais Drive (Brookberry Farm, Phase 13), petitioned by Brookberry Farm, LLC. The committee recommended approval by consent, with the public hearing scheduled for November 17, 2025.
  • C-2 – Approval of the Public Works Committee Summary of Minutes from September 9, 2025. Approved by consent.

Discussion Items

  • G-1 – Resolution Approving an Application for Federal Funding for the Lead Service Line Replacement Program Courtney Driver, Director of WSFC Utilities Department, presented the item. She explained that the Lead and Copper Rule revisions (2021) require a service line inventory and replacement of lead services within a 10-year period starting in 2027. The department is seeking federal funds administered through the state in two funding cycles every two months: up to $2 million for “find and replace” projects (exploratory work) and up to $5 million for known lead or galvanized lines requiring replacement. The department has already been awarded two $2 million loans with 100% principal forgiveness but has not yet spent any funds; they are working with a consultant to define project zones that meet underserved-area requirements to qualify for principal forgiveness. The resolution authorizes continued applications until funds are exhausted or projects are fully funded. Council Member Andree-Bowen asked about funding on private property – the goal is to replace from the right-of-way to the house, working with property owners. Council Member Scippio asked about funding security – Ms. Driver stated that the $15 billion set aside is still in place. The committee recommended approval, forwarding the item to the City Council on October 20, 2025.

  • G-2 – Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Eleven (11) Paratransit Vehicles for the Winston-Salem Transit Authority – $1,234,423.72 Jeff Fansler, Director of Transportation, presented the item. He noted that the current paratransit fleet of 40 vehicles is behind replacement schedule by 27 buses that have exceeded their useful life. The proposed purchase includes 8 Light Transit Vehicles (LTVs) – 14-passenger, non-CDL, raised roof, low floor, gasoline – and 3 fully electric Ford e-Transit vans (4 passengers + 2 wheelchairs, 80-mile range, 9-hour charge time using Level 2 chargers). The LTVs continue to use gasoline engines; no hybrid options were viable at scale in the paratransit market. Mr. Fansler explained that the smaller electric vans will reduce the CDL driver burden and allow right-sizing of the fleet, though operational adjustments (like shift changes) will be needed to accommodate the 80-mile range versus the typical 120-mile daily service. The current 18-passenger raised-roof buses require CDL operators. The committee discussed electric charging infrastructure (working with the Sustainability Department), vehicle life cycle (7 years), spare ratio, and disposal of replaced vehicles via auction. Council Member Scippio emphasized the importance of paratransit for dialysis and doctor appointments. The committee recommended approval, forwarding the item to the City Council on November 3, 2025.

Key Outcomes

  • Approval of the consent agenda (C-1 and C-2) by unanimous voice vote (4-0).
  • Approval of G-1 (Lead Service Line Replacement funding application) by unanimous voice vote (4-0); forwarded to City Council on October 20, 2025.
  • Approval of G-2 (Purchase of 11 paratransit vehicles) by unanimous voice vote (4-0); forwarded to City Council on November 3, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Welcome to the October 2025 Public Works Committee meeting. City Clerk, would you please call the roll? Chairperson, Councilmember Burke here. Councilmember Andrew Bowen. Here. Councilmember Clark. Here. And Councilmember Taylor. Present. Council members, we have two consent agenda items. Uh, would any of you like to have those items pulled? I move for approval of the consent agenda. Is there a second? I can't second. Second. Okay. Okay, we have a motion and we have to vote, uh, take a voice vote all in favor of approving the consent agenda. Please let us know by saying aye. The motion passes. Thank you. City clerk, would you please read uh general item one? Item G1 resolution approving an application for federal funding for the lead service line replacement program. Okay, we have Ms. Courtney Driver to uh give us uh this uh information. Welcome. Yes, thank you. Good afternoon, Chair Burke, members of the committee and council, good afternoon. So this um request is for approval of an application for federal funding for the lead service line replacement program. And the lead and copper role was first issued in 1991. There's been a few minor revisions since that time, but there's a there was a significant revision in 2021, and the utilities department is responding to those revisions now to make sure that we stay in compliance. Part of the um two key components of those revisions is we have to do a service line inventory, and then there's also an emphasis on replacing um any lead services, um lead sources in our distribution system within a 10-year period starting in 2027. So there's we've we've completed the um preliminary inventory, and now we're working on actually going out and replacing those service um those lead service lines. So there's federal funding administered through the state. There's funding cycles every two months, and the maximum per cycle is two million for what they call find and replace projects. These are um situations where we still need to go out there and do some excavation work, and so for some unknown areas, so it's it includes exploratory work and replacement. There's another group of up to five million dollars for um situations where we already know that the it's a lead service line or galvanized line requiring replacement, um, and so there's up to five million dollars for that. So the request for us is to um request permission to make those applications every two funding cycles, one for the two million dollars or up to the five million dollars for those two buckets of money, and we intend to do that um until all the funds are exhausted or until our projects are fully are fully funded. And um if you have any questions, any questions on the report I know we have applied for other cycles of this money correct? Yes, okay. How are we coming on spending it and do we have any idea what the total cost is gonna be and how close we are to getting that kind of money? So um that's a good question, and I'm sorry I didn't mention that. So we have applied over the past year, and I brought a similar item in October and January, October of 2024, and then January of this year. Um the state has informed us that those resolutions are valid for a year, so which is why I'm bringing back a um a follow-up request. We have been awarded two two million dollar um loans that with 100% principal forgiveness. So those are like grants, um, and they are um yeah, so we've been already applied for that, and right now we are developing our different zones. We haven't spent any of the money yet. We're working with the consultant to um section off those zones and start spending that money. Because I know Rosalind Road is going to be closed, I think next week several a block of it to replace some of the galvanized pipes. So we are moving along, I guess.

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