Community, resident clash over RV
Wolf Creek – Residents within the area of Wolf Creek Heights and Gunter Hollow say they have raised concerns with local officials over a RV that has parked and set up what appears to be a temporary dwelling near the N.C. Hwy. 28 roadside.
Two weeks ago, one of those residents – who asked to remain anonymous for the purposes of this report – contacted The Graham Star to express their concerns about the RV both sitting so close to the shoulder of the highway and the occupant allowing raw sewage from inside the RV simply flow into the surrounding grass.
Meanwhile, the resident also claimed they had attempted to speak with several local officials, to no avail. The Graham Star went to the county's environmental health coordinator – Shelby Owens – and questioned whether the RV was in violation of any water, sewer or health violations in general.
Owens acknowledged that she had received complaints about the RV and has conducted a thorough investigation. She explained that she had visited the location on three different occasions, spoken with the resident inside the RV and even planned to make a fourth trip to the spot Tuesday.
"A Septic Notice of Violation can only be issued if there is raw sewage on the ground," Owens told the Star on Monday. "During each site visit, I have not observed any raw sewage on the ground or an active sewage leak. I have observed some evidence of old sewage dried on the ground, but that does not constitute an active violation.
"I have spoken to the RV owner and explained to him the proper way to dispose of his black water from the RV, which is to take it to the recycling center and use the RV dump station."
The unnamed resident that originally contacted the Star also posed an interesting question: should the RV have to obtain a permit for the water and sewer system?
The resident noted they have only seen a garden hose – ran from an adjacent home – through a window of the RV as its water source. Owens said in talking with the homeowner, the RV occupant had obtained permission to gather water from an external spigot.
The county's response was simple: if there is not a permit, there cannot be a violation.
"There is no permanent water hookup currently at the RV, that I have observed," noted Owens.
It is unclear if any right-of-way violations have occurred near the busy highway, which serves as the final stretch of 4-lane before bottlenecking into a two-lane corridor through Stecoah.