Wastewater spill

Through the weekend rains, the town also suffered a sewage discharge on New Market Road, near Whitmire’s house. The discharge of untreated wastewater came from a manhole on New Market Road before Vaughn Creek. An estimated 59,027 gallons reached surface waters of a tributary to Vaughn Creek. The discharge was reported at 10 a.m. on May 5 and ended at 6:30 p.m.

Burrell was unavailable at press time to answer questions regarding the spill or if the town received a fine from the state because of the spill.

During Tuesday’s meeting the spill was briefly addressed. At that time Burrell said the town received a $7,900 fine the last time its system experienced a spill. Tryon received another $4,000 fine prior to that for sewage spills. The last few times a spill occurred during a major rain event the state didn’t fine anyone because so many occurred throughout the state, Burrell told commissioners.

“That’s the interesting part,” Baker said. “We’re not alone in this. Ms. Whitmire unfortunately is the one paying the real price.”

Whitmire, who is 68, said she pays her taxes and water and sewer bills and said she feels like this is the time she should be relaxing.

“You try to hold up and think things will get better, but when it happens it just makes you furious,” she said. “It drains you. Tryon is supposed to be the nicest little place, but for me it’s the worst place.”

Town council meets again on May 21 at 7 p.m. at the fire department.