Photo and video by: Gordon Kinlaw
By: Charlotte Smith GenX, Mental Health, Computer Virus and more items were covered with Bladen County Board of Commissioners on Monday, October 2nd 2017.
The Commissioners gave proclamations for 4-H Week, Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Mental Illness Week to help raise awareness about the important issues.
The Commissioners heard from Robin Hewett, Computer Operations Director about the computer virus responsible for Bladen County email issues. Hewett explained the expert’s findings of the computer virus investigation. He said the experts reported the virus was due to an independent attacker testing the system. No credit card or other important information was found to be stolen from the attacker.
General Services Director, Kip McClary and David Howard, Bladen County Health and Human Services Director gave an update regarding GenX water testing.
Chemours agreed to test two of the wells in the county. Chemours tested the two wells located at Tombemory and Lisbon or Mt. Horeb. The county ordered six additional tests for Bladen County wells. The County wanted to test six wells closest to the river.
“We are just above the limit in two of our wells, Tobermory and Live Oak and in part of the system over near Live Oak.” McClary said. North Carolina Health and Human Services established the limit for GenX exposure in drinking water at 140 nanograms per liter. Bladen County tested at 11 parts per trillion far below the state level.
Commissioner Ray Britt spoke up and said he was happy to hear on the news the river in the Wilmington area was tested and found very low detection of GenX.
A citizen spoke to the Board of Commissioners on behalf of her family and the community. She told the board she built a house next to DuPont about nine years ago. She explained her concerns with GenX found in her well.
The concerned Bladen County resident said, “We were not told what the test results were or what the levels were in our water. We were just told not to drink, cook or brush my teeth with the water.”
She continued, “I contacted the CDC and the representative couldn’t tell me anything about GenX. My main concern is my children and my family.”
She asked the commissioners, “What is the next plan of action for us? Will they run the water line further down?”
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Charles Ray Peterson asked if she received her numbers back. The speaker said no she had not received the numbers. Another citizen was addressed in the audience at the meeting by the name of Mr. Cain and was introduced as a citizen living in close proximity to the Chemours plant. Cain’s well tested positive. Both citizens said they had not received reports about the exact amount of GeneX found on their property. Peterson took down the addresses of the residents, apologized to them and promised to get back with them.
Commissioner Ophelia Munn-Goins asked if the water in the Kelly area has been checked. David Howard with the Health Department said they are still working on testing all the locations needed in the county.
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