Published in the Courier-Tribune on June 18,2011
by Hugh Martin
STAR - Star town commissioners adopted a budget of $708,051 for the 2011-2012 fiscal year during their regular monthly meeting Monday night.
The approved budget is an increase of $62,134 over the budget for 2010-2011 and includes a 2 percent raise for town employees, $5,800 for the town library and $1,000 for the Meals on Wheels program.
No one was present to speak at the public hearing on the budget.
A second public hearing was held in reference to a $600,000 Community Block Grant application for STARworks. Nancy Ruppert of Biscoe spoke during the hearing in favor of the application.
Nancy Gottovi, executive director of Central Park NC, explained that if the grant is received it would mainly be used for renovations and repairs on the aging former hosiery mill building.
Gottovi said the roof needs repair because of extensive leaking. Other needs include updates of essential equipment and technical assistance for small business, HVAC improvements and security issues because of the facility’s open design.
“If one person has a key then they have access to all of the businesses,” she told board members. “We have been doing some re-keying in an effort to provide better security.”
Gottovi said that the addition of a graphics design business in the near future would bring the number of enterprises at STARworks to 10.
“We recently received a North Carolina Green Business award that will allow us to replace the antiquated lighting in the building,” Gottovi added. “We will be able to install modern, energy-efficient lighting.”
Marla Coulthard, associate director of Central Park NC, said that STARworks had helped nominate the Town of Star for the Governor’s Innovative Small Business Community Award.
“Governor Perdue may be coming here to present the award if we win,” Coulthard said.
Wet Dog Glass, a glass furnace manufacturing facility at STARworks, has been nominated for selection as one of 20 “up and coming” small businesses in North Carolina.
In other business, commissioners James Parker, George Kivett and Jennifer Fountain:
• Heard from Mayor Susan Eggleston that the vacant Star Medical Clinic building had been appraised at $251,000. Eggleston suggested that the town consider placing the building on the market later. Commissioners agreed.
• Approved a contract for the town audit with Maxton McDowell CPA in the amount of $6,500. Commissioners voted to add a stipulation that a year-end update be included in the contract.
• Named a committee to review two engineering proposals for the Carolina Growler sewer line extension. The committee will bring their suggestions to the mayor, who will have the authority to negotiate the proposals on behalf of the town.
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