NCS00558_Benson 2022 Annual Report_20220429

MAYOR
JERRY M. MEDLIN
MAYOR PRO-TEM
CASANDRA P. STACK
COMMISSIONER
WILL CHANDLER
MAXINE HOLLEY
DEAN MCLAMB
WILLIAM NEIGHBORS
DR. R. MAX RAYNOR
Jeanette Powell
NCDEQ
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Apri129, 2022
Jeanette Powell,
TOWN OF BENSON
P.O. BOX 69
303 EAST CHURCH STREET
BENSON, NO 27504
[phone]
FAX [phone]
www.townofbenson.com
INTERIM TOWN MANAGER
KIMBERLY PICKETT
INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR
ANGIE THORNTON
TOWN CLERK
ANGIE THORNTON
TOWN ATTORNEY
R. ISAAC PARKER
Please accept this annual report for the Town of Benson's MS4 Phase 3 permit for permit year 3. We realize
that the report is very late and apologize for this. We have had key staff out on leave for extended periods of
time and temporarily lost our forward momentum. Note that this report is being emailed directly to you, as Tim
Robbins, Public Utilities Director, is currently out on leave, and I am unsure of the BIMS log in information.
I would like to highlight a few key tasks that the Town has completed in the past year:
Our existing Public Works facility is located over a stream and has poor surface drainage and limited
pollution prevention measures built in the facility. We were keenly aware of these issues, and began
constructing a new Public Works facility in 2020 that incorporates a wash bay, covered storage, and a
much better drainage system. The town has dedicated over $1.1 million to constructing the new facility.
This past Monday, April 18, 2022, the Town was issued their full CO on the new facility, so we will
begin moving operations in the coming weeks.
The Town is working towards stream restoration on the piped stream under the old Public Works
facility. The restoration project will hopefully address flooding and benefit water quality in that area.
The Town has worked with Johnston County to better define the new development/redevelopment plans
review and inspection process in an updated Memorandum of Agreement and with associated policies to
facilitate better communication between the two agencies.
Please let me know if you have questions about the report.
Sincerely,
Q
Kimberly Pickett
sll�
Interim Town Manager
Town of Benson
cc: Attachment

Town of Benson
NPDES Phase 2 permit no. 558
Effective February 1, 2018
Expiring January 31, 2023
Permit Year 3: July 1, 2020 —June 31, 2021
Annual report
April 2022

Background
In 2019, the Town of Benson was audited by NCDEQ. The Town received the audit findings in 2020. In
2021, the Town completed a self -audit and submitted a new application for coverage under the Phase 2
permit.
The following annual reports describes activities that the Town has completed in Permit Year 3 of the
2018 issued permit. The sections referenced follow the 2018 permit, as do the BMPs and measurable
goals.
1. Stormwater Sewer System Information
1.1. Population served. In 2019, the US Census Bureau indicated the Town had a population of
3,731.
1.2. Growth rate. The US Census Bureau estimated that the Town's growth in 2019 to be 18.5%.
1.3. Jurisdiction and MS4 Service Areas. The Town limits of Benson encompass 2.1 square miles.
The Town and ETJ limits are depicted in figure 1 below.
Figure 1 Town and ETl limits
Town o f Benson 2 P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

1.4. MS4 Conveyance System. The downtown area of the Town is curb and gutter with storm
sewers under roadways and properties. The ETJ includes a mixture of ditches, pipes and sheet
flow areas.
1.5. The Town of Benson Land Use Composition Estimates are as followed:
Town Residential 34.23% ETJ Residential 30,35%
Town Commercial 8.7% ETJ Commercial .37%
Town Industrial 6.29% ETJ Industrial 2.96%
Town Open Space 19.35% ETJ Open Space 40.65%
1.6. TMDL Identification. The majority of the Town of Benson and its ETJ drain into the Neuse River,
which has a TMDL for nitrogen.
2. Receiving Streams.
The Town of Benson MS4 is located within the Neuse and Cape Fear River Basins and discharges directly
into receiving waters as listed in Table 1 below. Applicable water quality standards listed below are
compiled from the following NCDEQ sources:
o Waterbody Classification Map
o Impaired Waters and TMDL Map
o Most recent NCDEQ Final 303 d List
Table 1: Summary of MS4 Receiving Waters
Receiving Water Name
Stream
Index/AU
Number
Water
Quality
Classification
303(d) Listed Parameters)
oflnterest
Driving Branch (Neuse RB)
27-52-6-1
C; NSW
No Data
Mingo Swamp (Cape Fear RB)
18-68-12-2
C; SW
No Data
Hannah Creek (Neuse RB)
27-52-6
C; NSW
Benthos, Dissolved Oxygen(4mg/L, AL, FW)
East Mingo Swamp (Cape Fear RB)
18-68-12-2-1
C; Sw
No Data
3. Existing Water Quality Programs.
3.1. Local programs. The Town has a MOU with Johnston County to implement the County's local
delegated erosion control program and the NSW program within the Town's boundaries and
ETJ.
3.2. State Programs. The State implements the Neuse Riparian Buffer program within the Town
boundaries and ETJ.
Town o f Benson 3 1 P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

4. Permitting Information.
4.1. Responsible Party Contact List
Table 2: Summary of Responsible Parties
SWMP Component
Responsible Position
Staff Name
Department
Director of Public Works
Tim Robbins
TOB Public Works
Stormwater Program
and Utilities
email:
Department
Administration
[e-mail]
phone: [phone]
Director of Public Works
Tim Robbins
TOR Public Works
SWMP Management
and Utilities
email:
Department
[e-mail]
phone: [phone]
Public Information Officer
Tyler Douglas
TOB Administration
Public Education &
Email:
Outreach
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Public Information Officer
Tyler Douglas
TOB Administration
Public Involvement &
Email:
Participation
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Utility Systems Manager
Ray Adams
TOB Public Works
Illicit Discharge Detection
Phone: [phone]
Department
& Elimination
Email: [e-mail]
Director of Planning and
Erin Joseph
TOB Planning and
Construction Site Runoff
Inspections
Email: [e-mail]
Inspections Department
Control
Johnston County
Phone: [phone]
Johnston County Utilities
Stormwater Manager
Department
Jessica Batten
Email:
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Director of Planning and
Erin Joseph
TOB Planning and
Post -Construction
Inspections
Email: [e-mail]
Inspections Department
Stormwater Management
Johnston County
Phone: [phone]
Johnston County Utilities
Stormwater Manager
Department
Jessica Batten
Email:
jessica,[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Public Works
Jeremy Bryant
TOB Public Works
Pollution Prevention/Good
Superintendent
Phone: [phone]
Department
Housekeeping for
Parks Director
Email: [e-mail]
Municipal Operations
Matt Smith
TOB Parks and Rec
Email:
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Town o f Benson 4 1 P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

Public Works
Jeremy Bryant
TOB Public Works
Municipal Facilities
Superintendent
Phone: [phone]
Department
Operation & Maintenance
Parks Director
Email: [e-mail]
TOB Parks and Rec
Program
Matt Smith
Email:
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fire Chief
Alan Johnson
TOB Fire Department
Spill Response Program
Director of Public Works
Tim Robbins
TOB Public Works
MS4 Operation &
and Utilities
email:
Department
Maintenance Program
[e-mail]
phone: [phone]
Utility Systems Manager
Ray Adams
TOB Public Works
Municipal SCM Operation
Email: [e-mail]
Department
& Maintenance Program
Phone: [phone]
Director of Public Works
Tim Robbins
TOB Public Works
Pesticide, Herbicide &
and Utilities
email:
Department
Fertilizer Management
[e-mail]
Program
phone: [phone]
Director of Public Works
Tim Robbins
TOB Public Works
Vehicle & Equipment
and Utilities
email:
Department
Cleaning Program
trobbins@townof be nson.co m
phone: [phone]
Director of Public Works
Tim Robbins
TOB Public Works
Pavement Management
and Utilities
email:
Department
Program
[e-mail]
phone: [phone]
Director of Public Works
Tim Robbins
TOB Public Works
Total Maximum Daily Load
and Utilities
email:
Department
(TMDL) Requirements
[e-mail]
phone: [phone]
4.2. Organizational Structure. The Town of Benson's organizational structure does not currently
staff personnel solely dedicated to stormwater management. Under the oversite of the
Director of Public Works and Utilities, staff members from different departments participate in
assigned roles to meet the goals of the program (see Table 2 above). The Town of Benson also
relies on Johnston County Public Utilities for some responsibilities associated with the program.
4.3. Signing Official. Ms. Kimberly Pickett is the Assistant Town Manager and the interim Town
Manager for Benson and is considered a principal executive officer for the Town.
4.4. Duly Authorized Representative. The Town Council has approved Tim Robbins as the duly
authorized representative previously.
5. Co -Permitting information. The Town of Benson does not co -permit with any other organization or
agency.
Town o f Benson S P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

6. Reliance on Other Government Entity, The Town has a MOU with Johnston County and contract
with CWEP.
6.1. Johnston County
Jessica Batten, Stormwater Program Administrator
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Erosion and sediment control plans review and inspection
Post construction stormwater management plans review and inspection
Yes, there is a signed agreement and policies document in place
6.2. CWEP
Maya Cough -Schulze
Phone: [phone]
Public education and awareness
Yes, there is a contract currently in place.
7. Stormwater Management Program Plan. The following sections outline the year 3 activities
completed by the Town.
Section B: Public Education and Outreach
BMP A: Goals and Objectives
Measurable
Goals: Defined
goals and
objectives of the Local Public Education and Outreach Program based on
community
wide issues.
• The Town has continued to support CWEP education and outreach initiatives and believes that CWEP's
cohesive statewide stormwater education program has benefited the Town. The Town could no complete
the same tasks with Town staff for the same funding.
BMP B: Describe pollutants and/or stressors.
Measurable goals: The permittee will maintain a description of the target pollutants and/or stressors and likely
sources.
• The Town's list of potential pollutants and likely sources have been identified: sediment and nutrients.
BMP C: Describe target audiences
Measurable goal: The permittee shall maintain a description of the target audiences likely to have significant storm
water impacts and why they were selected.
The Town continues to focus on general public education through CWEP and local public events. The
Town also focuses on the development community in coordination with Johnston County through plans
review.
BMP D: Describe residential and industrial/commercial issues
Measurable Goal: The permittee shall describe
issues,
such as pollutants, likely sources
of those pollutants, impacts,
and the physical attributes of stormwater runoff,
in their
education/ outreach program.
Town o f B e n s o n 6 1 P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

• This goal is met through the Town's partnership with OW EP.
BMP E: Informational website
Measurable goal: The permittee shall promote and maintain, an internet we site designed to convey the
program's message.
• The Town's stormwater website can be found here: his://www.townofbenson.com/2282/stormwater
BMP F: Distribute public education materials to identified target audiences and user groups
Measurable Goal: The permittee shall distribute stormwater educational material to materials to identified target
appropriate target groups ( ex.: schools, homeowners, and/ or audiences and user groups. businesses). Instead of
developing its own materials, the permittee may rely on Public Education and Outreach materials supplied by the
state, and/ or other entities through a cooperative agreement, as available, when implementing its own program.
• The Town has relied upon CWEP to distribute public education materials.
BMP G: Maintain hotline/help line:
Measurable goal: The permittee shall promote and maintain a stormwater hotline/ helpline for the purpose of
public education and outreach.
• The Town maintains a general complaint line that goes to the Administration office and is then routed to
the appropriate department.
BMP H: Implement a Public Education and Outreach Program.
Measurable goal: The permittee' s outreach program, including those elements and Outreach Program.
implemented locally or through a cooperative agreement, shall include a combination of approaches designed to
reach the target audiences. For each media, event or activity, including those elements implemented locally or
through a cooperative agreement the permittee shall estimate and record the extent of exposure.
• During this permit year, the Town hosted the Big Sweep litter cleanup on April 21, 2021.
• In addition, the Town has found that distribution of printed education materials to be generally
ineffective. The Town has an active social media presence through Facebook and in future years will
utilize this medium for public education and awareness related to stormwater quality and quantity.
• The Town of Benson is a member of the Clean Water Education Partnership (CWEP). CWEP leverages
resources from multiple local governments to conduct educational and outreach programs geared
towards reducing stormwater runoff pollution. Programs include mass media campaigns such as
television, radio, internet, and printed materials.
• The Town of Benson provided support through financial contributions to CWEP in the amount of $2186,00
during the 3rd permit year.
• Town staff have had numerous discussions with the Board of Commissioners related to stormwater in the
last permit year. In September of 2020, staff provided a presentation to the BOC on the SWMP submitted
to DEQ. In February 2021 at the BOC's annual retreat sessions, Tim Robbins, Public Works Director, gave
an overview of the Town's program in the past and anticipated stormwater needs in the future. And
again in April 2021 during budget meetings, Mr. Robbins updated the BOC on the stormwater program
needs.
Town o f Benson 7 1 P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

Section C. Pubic Involvement and Participation
BMP A. Volunteer community involvement program
Measurable goal: The permittee shall include and promote volunteer opportunities designed to promote ongoing
citizen participation.
• During this permit year, the Town hosted the Big Sweep litter cleanup on April 21, 2021.
BMP B. Mechanism for Public Involvement
Measurable Goal: The
permittee shall provide and promote a
mechanism for public
involvement that provides far
input on stormwater issues and the stormwater program.
• The Town maintains a phone number for citizens to call for any type of complaint. 1 stormwater
complaint was received in this permit year.
• No public hearings were held regarding the Town's stormwater program in the permit year. The Town
also provides a public notice for all board of commissioners and planning board meetings, highlighting
topics to be heard. When the Town changes their Land Development Ordinance in the next permit year,
the public will be informed and allowed input on the revisions.
BMP C. Hotline/Help line
Measurable Goal: The permittee shall promote and maintain ahotline/ helpline forthe purpose of public
involvement and participation.
• The Town maintains a general complaint line that goes to the Administration office and is then routed to
the appropriate department.
Section D: IDDE
BMP A. Maintain adequate legal authorities.
Measurable goals: The permittee shall annually review the permittee' s IDDE ordinances or other regulatory
mechanisms, or adopt any new ordinances or other regulatory mechanisms that provide the permittee with
adequate legal authority to prohibit illicit connections and discharges and enforce the approved IDDE Program.
• As indicated in the 2020 audit report, the Town does not have a complete IDDE program.
BMP B. Maintain a storm sewer system base map of major outfalls.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall maintain a current map showing major outfalls and receiving streams.
The Town maintains a map of all known major outfalls and streams, as well as the majority of the Town's
stormwater system. There are very old sections of the Town where the stormwater system is unclear. As
the Town continues to maintain and upgraded system components through CIP projects or new
development projects, these system components will be better identified and upgraded/maintained if
needed. The map of the system will then be updated. It is the Town's intent to transfer this stormwater
system mapping to a GIS interface for easier viewing and management.
Town o f Benson S I P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

BMP C. Detect dry weather flows.
Measurable
goal:
The permittee shall
maintain a program for conducting dry
weather now field observations in
accordance
with
a written procedure
for detecting and removing the sources
of illicit discharges.
• The Town does not have a written SOP. However, Public Works field staff routinely screen stormwater
system components for obvious illicit discharges.
BMP D. Investigate sources of identified discharges.
Measurable
goal:
The permittee shall
maintain a program for conducting dry
weather flow field observations in
accordance
with
a written procedure
for detecting and removing the sources
of illicit discharges.
• The Town does not have a written SOP. However, Public Works field staff routinely screen stormwater
system components for obvious illicit discharges and follow up on complaints. In permit year 3, no illicit
discharges were identified.
BMP E. Track and document investigations illicit discharges.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall track all investigations and document the dates) the illicit discharge was
observed; the results of the investigation; any follow-up of the investigation and the date the investigation was
closed.
• The Town does not have a written SOP. However, Public Works field staff routinely screen stormwater
system components for obvious illicit discharges and follow up on complaints. In permit year 3, no illicit
discharges were identified.
BMP F. Employee training.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall implement and document a training program for appropriate municipal staff
who as part of their normal job responsibilities, may come into contact with or otherwise observe an illicit
discharge or illicit connection to the storm sewer system.
• No employee training was conducted in permit year 3 specific to IDDE.
BMP G. Provide public education.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall inform public employees, businesses, and the general public of hazards
associated with illegal discharges and improper disposal of waste.
• No public education on IDDE was conducted in permit year 3 specific to IDDE.
BMP H. Public reporting mechanism.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall promote, publicize, and facilitate a reporting mechanism for the public and
staff to report illicit discharges and establish and implement citizen request response procedures.
• While
the Town maintains
a general number
for all complaints, the
number was not publicized in permit
year 3
specifically for IDDE
complaints.
BMP I. Enforcement.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall implement a mechanism to track the issuance of notices of violation and
enforcement actions as administered by the permittee. This mechanism shall include the ability to identify chronic
violators for initiation of actions to reduce noncompliance.
Town o f Benson 9 P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

• The Town did not have any NOVs issued within the Towns ETJ or Town limits in permit year 3.
Section E: Construction site runoff control
The Town of Benson has a new (2019) MOA with Johnston County to review plans, conduct inspections and
perform enforcement for the Town related to stormwater in new development and redevelopment. Coordination
policies were developed for the two organizations in 2020. The MCA and coordination policy address BMPs A— G.
The Town had 4 new development projects in permit year 3: 1 industrial, 2 commercial/multi-family, and 1 single
family residential.
The County provides annual reports to the Land Quality Section as a delegated program.
Section F: Post -construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment
The Town of Benson has a new (2019) MOA with Johnston County to review plans, conduct inspections and
perform enforcement for the Town related to stormwater in new development and redevelopment. Coordination
policies were developed for the two organizations in 2020. The MOA and coordination policy address BMPs A— G.
The Town had 4 new development projects in permit year 3: 1 industrial, 2 commercial/multi-family, and 1 single
family residential.
Section G. Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations
BMP A. Inventory of all municipally owned or operated facilities.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall maintain, a current inventory of facilities operations awned and operated by
the permittee with the potential for generating polluted stormwater runoff. Also maintain a current inventory of
the MS4system and municipally -owned structural SCMs.
• The Town has developed an inventory of all its owned or operated facilities.
• The Town has an incomplete inventory of structural SCMs. 3 ponds were added to the inventory in the 3ra
permit year.
BMP B. Inspect and maintenance for municipally owned or operated facilities.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall maintain and implement, evaluate annually and update as necessary an
Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) program for municipal owned and operated facilities with the potential for
generating polluted stormwater runoff. The I&M program shall specify the frequency of inspections and routine
maintenance requirements.
• The Town has prioritized its facilities into high, medium and low priority facilities to prioritize inspections.
The only high priority facility owned/operated by the Town is the Public Works facility. This facility was
constructed over a stream many years back, with direct discharge of stormwater into the stream through
antiquated storm drain inlets. In 2020 and 2021, the Town has been constructing a new Public Works
facility with wash bays and an oil water separator at a more suitable location and will close the existing
facility. It is the Town's desire to daylight the stream under the old facility and implement a flood
mitigation and stream restoration project in that area. The Town is working with consultants on the
design and permitting of the stream project currently.
BMP Co Spill response procedures.
Measurable
goal:
The permittee shall have written spill
response procedures
for municipally owned
or operated
facilities.
Town of Benson 30 Page A pri I 2022

• The Town has spill response procedures for the WWTF and Public Works Facility,
BMP D. Streets, roads, and public parking lot maintenance.
Measurable goal: The permittee
shall evaluate
existing and new BMPs annually that reduce polluted stormwater
runoff from municipally -owned
streets, roads,
and public parking
lots within their corporate limits. The permittee
must evaluate the effectiveness
of these BMPs
based on cost and
the estimated quantity of pollutants removed.
• The Town has a vac truck and vacuums streets weekly.
BMP E. Inspection and Maintenance for municipally -owned or maintained catch basins and
conveyance system.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall maintain and implement an I& M program for the stormwater sewer system
including catch basins conveyance systems that it owns and maintains.
• Town field staff
informally
inspection the stormwater system
functioning
on
a daily basis.
Storm drain
system cleaning
with a vac
truck occurs weekly. Stormwater
catchbasins
are
cleaned out
annually.
BMP F. Identify structural controls.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall maintain a current inventory of municipally -owned or operated structural
stormwater controls installed for compliance with the permittee's post- construction ordinance.
• The Town has an inventory of municipally -owned and operated SCMs. Johnston County has a listing of
privately owned and operated SCMs located within the Town limits and the Town ETJ. One new
stormwater pond was added to the inventory in the permit year.
BMP G. I&M for municipally -owned or maintained structural stormwater controls.
Measurable goals: The permittee shall maintain and implement an I&M program for municipally -owned or
maintained structural stormwater controls installed for compliance with the permittee's post -construction
ordinance. The I& M program shall specify the frequency of inspections and routine maintenance requirements.
The permittee shall inspect and maintain municipally -owned or maintained structural stormwater controls in
accordance with the schedule developed by permittee. The permittee shall document inspections and
maintenance of all municipally -owned or maintained structural stormwater controls.
• The Town Public Works staff inspected the one pond that was added to the inventory this year.
BMP H. Pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer application management.
Measurable goals: The permittee shall require that contractors are properly trained and that all permits,
certifications, and other measures for applicators are followed. The permittee shall ensure municipal employees,
as appropriate based on job classification, are trained and that applicable permits and certifications are
maintained, and follow to the MEP measures for applicators.
• Parks and Recreation
Department manages mowing, fertilizer
and pesticide applications
through
contracted services.
The contracts require that applicators are properly licensed.
BMP I. Staff training.
Measurable goal; The permittee shall implement an employee training program for employees involved in
implementing pollution prevention and good housekeeping practices.
Town of Benson 111 P a g e A p r i l 2 0 2 2

• Monthly safety meetings are held, headed by the town manager. Safety topics include materials
management and spill response.
BMP J. Prevent or minimize contamination of stormwater runoff from all areas used for vehicle and
equipment cleaning.
Measurable goal: The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent or minimize contamination of
the stormwater runoff from all areas used for vehicle and equipment cleaning.
• The Town has been aware of the potential for contaminated runoff from the existing Public Works facility
due to its location and old stormwater system. A new Public Works facility is being constructed and is
almost complete. The new facility will have wash bays and oil/water separator.
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