As published in the Courier-Tribune on August 21, 2012
By Hugh Martin
biscoewriter@yahoo.com
TROY — The U.S. Department of Interior, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has entered into an agreement with the Town of Troy to restore the natural habitat and flow of Denson’s Creek.
At the mid-month meeting Aug. 20, the Troy Town Board of Commissioners approved a contract that would remove one of two existing dams on the creek. The dam, known as Troy Reservoir Dam Number 1, is located just upstream from the bridge on Okeewemee Road.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife will cover all costs related to the removal, but the Town of Troy will provide dump trucks for the removal of the debris associated with the project.
Mayor Roy Maness explained that the dam removal will be required before a larger dam upstream could be removed. Fish and Wildlife is working to secure funding for that project.
Funding has also been secured for removal of the old Smitherman Mill Dam, located on Little River, upstream from the bridge on Troy-Candor Road. This project will take place at a later date.
The restoration of the waterways will allow the movement of fish and freshwater mussels, including some rare species, that had been impeded by the dams.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife has a goal for removal of the Troy Reservoir Dam Number 1 during the week of Sept. 10, but the project would be completed within a year if conditions require rescheduling.
In other business, commissioners Angela Elkins, Bruce Hamilton, James Hurley and Wallace Jones:
* Approved a resolution to pursue an application for a Small Business & Entrepreneurial Assistance (SBEA) grant through the Community Development Block Grant Program on behalf of Alandale Knitting LLC. Alandale plans to expand its textile operation and add up to 20 jobs.
* Approved an updated Capital Improvement plan to allow for fiscal planning for the next five years.
* Heard an update from Town Manager Greg Zephir on bidding for road paving within the town.
* Heard the plan to replace the steps on the town’s nature trail at the Maness Nature Preserve. The existing steps, where the trail crosses Okeewemee Road, were displaced due to a highway bridge replacement across Denson’s Creek. The cost of the step construction was included in the right-of-way purchase by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
* Were told of ongoing plans for a five-mile trail run, sponsored by the Montgomery County Tourism & Development Authority, to be held in November.
* Were updated on the purchase of a centrifuge system for the town’s wastewater treatment plant. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
* Heard plans for an application to host the 2014 State Dixie Youth Softball Tournament. An additional field would need to be constructed at the Peabody Park Complex. The town will seek a 50 percent grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
* Learned the swimming pool at the Denson Creek Recreation Complex will close for the season at 9 p.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 3. The pool will be also closed the last week in August and open for the Labor Day weekend.
* Discussed the possibility of a Halloween movie event Oct. 27, which is also the day of the Annual Small Town U.S.A. event on North Main Street.
* Were reminded town offices will be closed for Labor Day. The regular board meetings for September will be consolidated into one meeting, to be held Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Biscoe commissioners slow speed bumps ♥
As published August 16, 2012 in the Courier-Tribune
By Hugh Martin
biscoewriter@yahoo.com
BISCOE — Speed bumps continue to be the wish of many residents in Biscoe since the town first installed one on a cut-through street during the major road construction completed last year along N.C. 24/27.
Since the first one was installed on Church Street, others have been requested and installed on Pine, Craven and Leach streets.
Now members of the Biscoe Board of Commissioners have put the brakes on new installations and have approved a policy for future requests.
Residents of Martin Street, which extends outside the city limits and has no outlets, had requested a speed hump. At the July meeting, a resident said that he believed “the speedsters were undertaking illicit activities on Martin Street Extension.”
Under the new policy, the Martin Street request for a speed hump would not be allowed. The policy states, in part, that streets with no outlets would not have “traffic calming devices” installed. Other criteria requires a history of traffic or speeding complaints and all owners of property that would be affected by an installation should file a petition with the town.
“In the case of no outlet roads (dead ends), if everyone on a road has signed off then the speeder would be one of the signatories, a renter of one of the signatories or a friend,” said Biscoe Manager Brooks Lockhart. “They should be able to regulate themselves.”
Christy Poole of Biscoe told the board that she had been on Martin Street “many times,” and had been there for several hours over the past weekend. She said that there were many children in the area and numerous cars had come down the street with “radios blaring, drivers texting and cars flying.”
“I would like to see someone walk up and tell the driver to turn the radio down and stop speeding,” Poole said. “I guarantee you that it wouldn’t end pretty.”
Lockhart said that residents should notify law enforcement to handle those problems.
“That would create a record of complaints that could be used to address the problem,” Lockhart said.
In other business, Mayor Mike Criscoe and Commissioners Gene Anderson, John Beard, Jimmy Blake, Jimmy Cagle and Jerry Smith:
* Held a public hearing for the first reading of an updated noise ordinance. Another public hearing will be held at the September meeting. Copies of the ordinance are available to the public at town hall.
* Heard a report from Blake that there has been some interest in the development of multi-family housing.
* Mike Rood from the Montgomery County Council on Aging has requested that the town identify a site to be used to provide senior citizens with a daily lunch. The meals for the congregate meal site would be prepared at a facility in Star and delivered daily.
* Were advised by Sam Stewart, assistant chief of Biscoe Fire Department, that the department had taken delivery of a new fire engine that was purchased by Montgomery County. The county has established a policy to purchase one new truck a year for each department in rotation, which gives each county fire department a new truck every 10 years.
* Learned that music events at the town park were being planned and an adult kickball league is being organized.
By Hugh Martin
biscoewriter@yahoo.com
BISCOE — Speed bumps continue to be the wish of many residents in Biscoe since the town first installed one on a cut-through street during the major road construction completed last year along N.C. 24/27.
Since the first one was installed on Church Street, others have been requested and installed on Pine, Craven and Leach streets.
Now members of the Biscoe Board of Commissioners have put the brakes on new installations and have approved a policy for future requests.
Residents of Martin Street, which extends outside the city limits and has no outlets, had requested a speed hump. At the July meeting, a resident said that he believed “the speedsters were undertaking illicit activities on Martin Street Extension.”
Under the new policy, the Martin Street request for a speed hump would not be allowed. The policy states, in part, that streets with no outlets would not have “traffic calming devices” installed. Other criteria requires a history of traffic or speeding complaints and all owners of property that would be affected by an installation should file a petition with the town.
“In the case of no outlet roads (dead ends), if everyone on a road has signed off then the speeder would be one of the signatories, a renter of one of the signatories or a friend,” said Biscoe Manager Brooks Lockhart. “They should be able to regulate themselves.”
Christy Poole of Biscoe told the board that she had been on Martin Street “many times,” and had been there for several hours over the past weekend. She said that there were many children in the area and numerous cars had come down the street with “radios blaring, drivers texting and cars flying.”
“I would like to see someone walk up and tell the driver to turn the radio down and stop speeding,” Poole said. “I guarantee you that it wouldn’t end pretty.”
Lockhart said that residents should notify law enforcement to handle those problems.
“That would create a record of complaints that could be used to address the problem,” Lockhart said.
In other business, Mayor Mike Criscoe and Commissioners Gene Anderson, John Beard, Jimmy Blake, Jimmy Cagle and Jerry Smith:
* Held a public hearing for the first reading of an updated noise ordinance. Another public hearing will be held at the September meeting. Copies of the ordinance are available to the public at town hall.
* Heard a report from Blake that there has been some interest in the development of multi-family housing.
* Mike Rood from the Montgomery County Council on Aging has requested that the town identify a site to be used to provide senior citizens with a daily lunch. The meals for the congregate meal site would be prepared at a facility in Star and delivered daily.
* Were advised by Sam Stewart, assistant chief of Biscoe Fire Department, that the department had taken delivery of a new fire engine that was purchased by Montgomery County. The county has established a policy to purchase one new truck a year for each department in rotation, which gives each county fire department a new truck every 10 years.
* Learned that music events at the town park were being planned and an adult kickball league is being organized.
Star struggles: How to clean up around house ♥
As published August 16, 2012 in the Courier-Tribune
By Hugh Martin
biscoewriter@yahoo.com
STAR — For the third straight month Star residents have attended the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners to see what will be done about abandoned houses that have become overgrown with brush and weeds, and particularly a house with a swimming pool filled with stagnant water.
For the third straight time those residents have left the meeting with no clear answer to the dilemma.
“We were hoping that Max (Garner, Town Attorney) would be here,” said Tina Harris, who lives next door to one of the properties in question at 413 Temple Terrace.
At the June meeting, when the problem was first discussed, Garner was directed to research the property to find out who the owner is so that the town could send notification about cleaning up the overgrown yard.
According to Town Clerk Robin Hussey, the Town of Star has an old ordinance on the books that would require the property owner to clean up, but the ordinance requires that the Montgomery County Health Department deem a property to be a health hazard before the town can legally take the initiative to have the property cleaned.
Hussey reported at the July meeting that someone from the health department had told her that if the property was unoccupied that they have no jurisdiction in the matter.
Mayor Susan Eggleston said that the town mailed a registered letter to the last known owner with a deadline to respond by Aug. 13, the date of the regular August meeting.
“The matter will go to Max now,” Eggleston said. “It has been rumored that the property changed hands on Aug.1 and is now the responsibility of a lienholder.”
Neighbors reported that a large limb is now lying on a power line on the property, but that a call to Progress Energy to have it removed had no results. “Progress Energy said that they couldn’t go onto the property to remove it,” said Harris.
Commissioner Richard Hinson, who also lives adjacent to the Temple Terrace property, said, “If the limb stays on that line and we have an ice storm then the entire neighborhood will be out of power.”
Eggleston assured the neighbors that the town was doing all that could be done.
In other business, Eggleston, Hinson and Commissioners Alice Clemens, Eddie Bernard, Jennifer Fountain and Steve Lassiter:
* Received an update on workshops and volunteer opportunities at the Star Heritage Center from Director Sheila Menendez.
* Approved the sale of a surplus 2003 Crown Victoria police car to Rodney Hannah of Troy, who submitted the high bid of $1,267.
* Approved the hiring of a reserve police officer position to fill a vacancy on the force.
* Commissioner Fountain reported on improvements at the town park, which includes the construction of a disc golf course.
* Approved funding of up to $300 for Tori Waynick, an East Montgomery High School student, who has proposed a quilt trail in Star as her senior project.
* Approved a lease agreement with the Montgomery County Council on Aging for use of the old Town Hall/Fire Department complex as a community kitchen facility. The lease is for a minimum of three years at a cost of $10 per month.
By Hugh Martin
biscoewriter@yahoo.com
STAR — For the third straight month Star residents have attended the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners to see what will be done about abandoned houses that have become overgrown with brush and weeds, and particularly a house with a swimming pool filled with stagnant water.
For the third straight time those residents have left the meeting with no clear answer to the dilemma.
“We were hoping that Max (Garner, Town Attorney) would be here,” said Tina Harris, who lives next door to one of the properties in question at 413 Temple Terrace.
At the June meeting, when the problem was first discussed, Garner was directed to research the property to find out who the owner is so that the town could send notification about cleaning up the overgrown yard.
According to Town Clerk Robin Hussey, the Town of Star has an old ordinance on the books that would require the property owner to clean up, but the ordinance requires that the Montgomery County Health Department deem a property to be a health hazard before the town can legally take the initiative to have the property cleaned.
Hussey reported at the July meeting that someone from the health department had told her that if the property was unoccupied that they have no jurisdiction in the matter.
Mayor Susan Eggleston said that the town mailed a registered letter to the last known owner with a deadline to respond by Aug. 13, the date of the regular August meeting.
“The matter will go to Max now,” Eggleston said. “It has been rumored that the property changed hands on Aug.1 and is now the responsibility of a lienholder.”
Neighbors reported that a large limb is now lying on a power line on the property, but that a call to Progress Energy to have it removed had no results. “Progress Energy said that they couldn’t go onto the property to remove it,” said Harris.
Commissioner Richard Hinson, who also lives adjacent to the Temple Terrace property, said, “If the limb stays on that line and we have an ice storm then the entire neighborhood will be out of power.”
Eggleston assured the neighbors that the town was doing all that could be done.
In other business, Eggleston, Hinson and Commissioners Alice Clemens, Eddie Bernard, Jennifer Fountain and Steve Lassiter:
* Received an update on workshops and volunteer opportunities at the Star Heritage Center from Director Sheila Menendez.
* Approved the sale of a surplus 2003 Crown Victoria police car to Rodney Hannah of Troy, who submitted the high bid of $1,267.
* Approved the hiring of a reserve police officer position to fill a vacancy on the force.
* Commissioner Fountain reported on improvements at the town park, which includes the construction of a disc golf course.
* Approved funding of up to $300 for Tori Waynick, an East Montgomery High School student, who has proposed a quilt trail in Star as her senior project.
* Approved a lease agreement with the Montgomery County Council on Aging for use of the old Town Hall/Fire Department complex as a community kitchen facility. The lease is for a minimum of three years at a cost of $10 per month.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Candor commissioners OK purchase of land for fire department ♥
As published in the Courier-Tribune on August 10, 2012
By Hugh Martin
CANDOR — The Candor town commissioners voted to purchase land with the hopes of building a new fire department during the Aug. 6 regular meeting.
The agenda was short and the number of spectators attending was smaller than in recent months, but that didn’t stop the latest controversy in the town from being discussed at length.
The board decided to pursue permission from the N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC) to borrow no more than $70,000 from low-bidder BB&T for the purpose of purchasing approximately 18 acres of land on the northeast side of Cole Road and Vivian Street, just off North Main Street. The board hopes to build a new fire department complex on the site.
Management Consultant Ron Niland of All America Associates and Town Clerk Tammy Kellis recently met with LGC officials to discuss the town’s financial ability to borrow the funds. The request will be addressed at a LGC meeting on Sept. 4.
Niland urged the commissioners to approve the request despite objections from some town citizens who raised concerns about the town’s ability to spend the money and the opinion that the location is not suitable for a fire department.
Niland told board members that the current owner of the property, Edwards Timber Company of Marshville, had been very patient with the town. He said that Edwards representative, Jason Lefler, had requested that the purchase be closed by Sept. 10.
Niland told the board that it would be “embarrassing” if the town were not to agree to buy the property as requested by Edwards.
Candor resident George Myers asked why the town could not look at other properties before agreeing to purchase the Edwards land. Niland said that if the town didn’t act now he didn’t think that Edwards would ever sell it to them at any price because they had been “strung along” by the town.
Myers stated that his research showed that the majority of fire calls for the Candor department were located on the south side of the town.
“Why would you build a fire station north of town?” he asked.
Myers pointed out that Commissioner Phillip Hearne was part owner of land on the south side of town and asked him point blank if the property could be sold to the town.
Hearne said that he felt that the discussion would be a conflict of interest for him but agreed to discuss the matter with the other owner.
Following the discussion, Commissioners Hearne, Layton Booker, Rob Martin and Tim Smith voted to authorize Kellis and Mayor Richard Britt to sign any documents on behalf of the town that relate to the purchase.
BB&T has offered to make the loan at 2.45 percent, slightly lower than Fidelity Bank, which submitted the only other bid.
In other business, commissioners were reminded that the town will host a “Back to School Bash” at the Peach Exchange Aug. 25 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. At last year’s event, 250 backpacks with school supplies were distributed to schoolchildren.
By Hugh Martin
CANDOR — The Candor town commissioners voted to purchase land with the hopes of building a new fire department during the Aug. 6 regular meeting.
The agenda was short and the number of spectators attending was smaller than in recent months, but that didn’t stop the latest controversy in the town from being discussed at length.
The board decided to pursue permission from the N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC) to borrow no more than $70,000 from low-bidder BB&T for the purpose of purchasing approximately 18 acres of land on the northeast side of Cole Road and Vivian Street, just off North Main Street. The board hopes to build a new fire department complex on the site.
Management Consultant Ron Niland of All America Associates and Town Clerk Tammy Kellis recently met with LGC officials to discuss the town’s financial ability to borrow the funds. The request will be addressed at a LGC meeting on Sept. 4.
Niland urged the commissioners to approve the request despite objections from some town citizens who raised concerns about the town’s ability to spend the money and the opinion that the location is not suitable for a fire department.
Niland told board members that the current owner of the property, Edwards Timber Company of Marshville, had been very patient with the town. He said that Edwards representative, Jason Lefler, had requested that the purchase be closed by Sept. 10.
Niland told the board that it would be “embarrassing” if the town were not to agree to buy the property as requested by Edwards.
Candor resident George Myers asked why the town could not look at other properties before agreeing to purchase the Edwards land. Niland said that if the town didn’t act now he didn’t think that Edwards would ever sell it to them at any price because they had been “strung along” by the town.
Myers stated that his research showed that the majority of fire calls for the Candor department were located on the south side of the town.
“Why would you build a fire station north of town?” he asked.
Myers pointed out that Commissioner Phillip Hearne was part owner of land on the south side of town and asked him point blank if the property could be sold to the town.
Hearne said that he felt that the discussion would be a conflict of interest for him but agreed to discuss the matter with the other owner.
Following the discussion, Commissioners Hearne, Layton Booker, Rob Martin and Tim Smith voted to authorize Kellis and Mayor Richard Britt to sign any documents on behalf of the town that relate to the purchase.
BB&T has offered to make the loan at 2.45 percent, slightly lower than Fidelity Bank, which submitted the only other bid.
In other business, commissioners were reminded that the town will host a “Back to School Bash” at the Peach Exchange Aug. 25 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. At last year’s event, 250 backpacks with school supplies were distributed to schoolchildren.
Homeowner’s septic problems lead to annexation ♥
As published in the Courier-Tribune on August 10, 2012
By Hugh Martin
TROY — Chronic problems with an aged septic system have resulted in a Troy homeowner being annexed by the town.
Sylvester Covington has repeatedly attempted repairs to the dilapidated septic lines at his home on South Main Street but has met with repeated breakdowns. As a result, he has petitioned the Town of Troy to annex his property and connect him to the town’s sewer system.
Covington is already on the town’s water system but is paying an out-of-town rate, which is higher than water customers inside the city limits. Annexation would lower his water costs, and with the monthly sewer charge added, Covington will probably see no difference in his monthly bill from the town.
Commissioner Wallace Jones made the motion for the town to begin the proceedings for annexation of Covington’s property and the entire board agreed.
On a related matter, the board voted to hold a public hearing Sept. 10 to begin the application process for a grant that will offer assistance for properties that need renovation or replacement. Two public hearings will be required, the second scheduled for mid-October.
In other business at the Aug. 6 meeting, Commissioners Jones, Angela Elkins, James Hurley, Bruce Hamilton, Chris Watkins and Mayor Roy Maness:
* Conducted a public hearing and then voted to continue with the application for a Small Business & Entrepreneurial Assistance (SBEA) grant through the Community Development Block Grant Program on behalf of Alandale Knitting LLC. Alandale plans to expand its textile operation, which would add up to 20 jobs.
* Approved resolutions that will allow the town to accept an NC Rural Center grant for the purpose of sewer upgrades related to the operation of the new Wright Foods Company, which has started operations in the Troy Business Park.
* Heard a report on a plot-mapping project that is under way in the older areas of the town’s cemetery. Tree and drainage issues on the property are also being addressed.
* Received an update on the paving project behind the fire department building on North Main Street. Progress Energy has agreed to bury the power lines to facilitate the work.
* Praised public works employees for the job that they performed in getting the town’s golf course reopened following a damaging storm that caused major damage to the trees around the Denson’s Creek complex.
* Were updated on the relocation of the Family Dollar Store from a shopping center on Albemarle Road to the site of the former Mazatlan Restaurant, just across the street. Town officials had urged the chain to locate in an existing building in the downtown area but were unsuccessful in convincing them to do so. Traffic and property issues have been addressed and construction work has already started for the new building.
By Hugh Martin
TROY — Chronic problems with an aged septic system have resulted in a Troy homeowner being annexed by the town.
Sylvester Covington has repeatedly attempted repairs to the dilapidated septic lines at his home on South Main Street but has met with repeated breakdowns. As a result, he has petitioned the Town of Troy to annex his property and connect him to the town’s sewer system.
Covington is already on the town’s water system but is paying an out-of-town rate, which is higher than water customers inside the city limits. Annexation would lower his water costs, and with the monthly sewer charge added, Covington will probably see no difference in his monthly bill from the town.
Commissioner Wallace Jones made the motion for the town to begin the proceedings for annexation of Covington’s property and the entire board agreed.
On a related matter, the board voted to hold a public hearing Sept. 10 to begin the application process for a grant that will offer assistance for properties that need renovation or replacement. Two public hearings will be required, the second scheduled for mid-October.
In other business at the Aug. 6 meeting, Commissioners Jones, Angela Elkins, James Hurley, Bruce Hamilton, Chris Watkins and Mayor Roy Maness:
* Conducted a public hearing and then voted to continue with the application for a Small Business & Entrepreneurial Assistance (SBEA) grant through the Community Development Block Grant Program on behalf of Alandale Knitting LLC. Alandale plans to expand its textile operation, which would add up to 20 jobs.
* Approved resolutions that will allow the town to accept an NC Rural Center grant for the purpose of sewer upgrades related to the operation of the new Wright Foods Company, which has started operations in the Troy Business Park.
* Heard a report on a plot-mapping project that is under way in the older areas of the town’s cemetery. Tree and drainage issues on the property are also being addressed.
* Received an update on the paving project behind the fire department building on North Main Street. Progress Energy has agreed to bury the power lines to facilitate the work.
* Praised public works employees for the job that they performed in getting the town’s golf course reopened following a damaging storm that caused major damage to the trees around the Denson’s Creek complex.
* Were updated on the relocation of the Family Dollar Store from a shopping center on Albemarle Road to the site of the former Mazatlan Restaurant, just across the street. Town officials had urged the chain to locate in an existing building in the downtown area but were unsuccessful in convincing them to do so. Traffic and property issues have been addressed and construction work has already started for the new building.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Abandoned property’s neighbors ask Star commissioners for help ♥
As published in the Courier-Tribune on July 12, 2012
By Hugh Martin
STAR — Several Star residents have turned to the town for help to clean up a property at 413 Temple Terrace.
According to neighbors, the property has been abandoned and allowed to become overgrown with brush, creating a habitat for rats and snakes.
The request for assistance was made at the June meeting of the Star Board of Commissioners. At that time the town’s attorney, Max Garner, was asked to look into the situation and advise the town on how to proceed.
A more distressing concern to the neighborhood is the presence of a stagnant swimming pool that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
According to Montgomery County tax records, the tax value of the house and property is valued at $438,865. The owner is listed as Melissa L. Cagle.
Town Clerk Robin Hussey told the board that she had not been able to contact the owner since the address she has on file is delivered directly to the property in question.
Star Police Chief Tracey Phillips said the town has an ordinance that addresses overgrown property and the owner had been served with papers. She did not elaborate on what had been served.
The board discussed the possibility of having the property cleaned up and attaching the costs to the property taxes. This would include having the pool pumped out and properly disposing of the water.
Neighbors urged the board to proceed with the cleanup and asked if it could be declared a health hazard. Hussey reported that she had been in contact with the Montgomery County Health Department and was told that if the property was unoccupied, there was nothing that they could do.
Mayor Susan Eggleston assured the neighbors the town would make sure that the matter was resolved.
In other business, Eggleston and Commissioners Eddie Bernard, Alice Clemens, Jennifer Fountain, Steve Lassiter and Richard Hinson:
* Heard a quarterly report from Marla Coulthard on the status of the Community Development Block Grant that the town is managing on behalf of STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise.
* Approved the bid for the 2012 audit in the amount of $7,000 from Maxton McDowell. No other firms were considered.
* Voted to approve the bid of $304,568.25 from Columbus Utilities for the installation of a sewer line to the Carolina Growler facility north of Star.
* Approved Chief Phillips’ request to accept bids on a surplus 2003 Crown Victoria police car.
* Heard a report from Sheila Menendez on the Star Heritage Center activities that are ongoing at the Pink House facility.
* Heard a plea from Eggleston for the community to get involved in funding expansion plans for the town’s public library. Eggleston said the library needs contributions totaling $2,500 to upgrade the space.
By Hugh Martin
STAR — Several Star residents have turned to the town for help to clean up a property at 413 Temple Terrace.
According to neighbors, the property has been abandoned and allowed to become overgrown with brush, creating a habitat for rats and snakes.
The request for assistance was made at the June meeting of the Star Board of Commissioners. At that time the town’s attorney, Max Garner, was asked to look into the situation and advise the town on how to proceed.
A more distressing concern to the neighborhood is the presence of a stagnant swimming pool that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
According to Montgomery County tax records, the tax value of the house and property is valued at $438,865. The owner is listed as Melissa L. Cagle.
Town Clerk Robin Hussey told the board that she had not been able to contact the owner since the address she has on file is delivered directly to the property in question.
Star Police Chief Tracey Phillips said the town has an ordinance that addresses overgrown property and the owner had been served with papers. She did not elaborate on what had been served.
The board discussed the possibility of having the property cleaned up and attaching the costs to the property taxes. This would include having the pool pumped out and properly disposing of the water.
Neighbors urged the board to proceed with the cleanup and asked if it could be declared a health hazard. Hussey reported that she had been in contact with the Montgomery County Health Department and was told that if the property was unoccupied, there was nothing that they could do.
Mayor Susan Eggleston assured the neighbors the town would make sure that the matter was resolved.
In other business, Eggleston and Commissioners Eddie Bernard, Alice Clemens, Jennifer Fountain, Steve Lassiter and Richard Hinson:
* Heard a quarterly report from Marla Coulthard on the status of the Community Development Block Grant that the town is managing on behalf of STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise.
* Approved the bid for the 2012 audit in the amount of $7,000 from Maxton McDowell. No other firms were considered.
* Voted to approve the bid of $304,568.25 from Columbus Utilities for the installation of a sewer line to the Carolina Growler facility north of Star.
* Approved Chief Phillips’ request to accept bids on a surplus 2003 Crown Victoria police car.
* Heard a report from Sheila Menendez on the Star Heritage Center activities that are ongoing at the Pink House facility.
* Heard a plea from Eggleston for the community to get involved in funding expansion plans for the town’s public library. Eggleston said the library needs contributions totaling $2,500 to upgrade the space.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Candor’s rehired officers won’t go back as planned ♥
As submitted for publication to the Courier-Tribune on June 28, 2012
Story that was actually published follows.
By Hugh Martin
CANDOR – During the regular June board of commissioners meeting June 11, Town of Candor Commissioners voted 4 – 1 to rehire three of the four police officers who were fired on December 12, 2011. They were to start back to work July 1. At that time current Chief of Police Johnny Fulp would assume an administrative duty to help with the transition to newly rehired Chief Randy White.
Instead, during a special called meeting Thursday afternoon, with just barely enough commissioners present to make it stick, Fulp was told that his request to continue as full-time Chief of Police until July 9 had been rejected and that he would leave the department at the end of the day with four weeks of severance pay. He will not continue in the administrative role as originally planned.
The other officers to be rehired are Sgt. James Pierce and Patrolman Jeremy Blake.
Commissioners Layton Booker, Tim Smith and Phillip Hearne were the only elected officials present for the meeting, which had been called by Booker and Hearne on Monday. Booker acted as Mayor Pro-Tem in the absence of Mayor Richard Britt, who had an illness in the family. Commissioner Tim Privett was absent due to surgery and Commissioner Rob Martin was said to be absent due to conflicts with his work schedule.
Following an executive session to discuss the matter, Hearne made the motion to release Fulp and appoint Candor Officer Jody Majors as interim Chief until White is sworn in as Chief. Smith and Booker supported the motion.
The actions will leave Candor with one full-time officer in Majors and two part-time officers until the three rehired officers return to the force.
The holdup on the return of the officers is due to paperwork that has not returned to the town from the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety in Raleigh, which must certify that the officers meet the requirements to be sworn as police officers in North Carolina.
Fulp said that the usual wait time for the paperwork was around two weeks. When asked how long it had been since the paperwork had been submitted Hearne replied, “This week.” No reason was given for the delay since June 11 in submitting the paperwork.
Fulp said because of the Independence Day holiday next week the wait could be even longer. Smith stated that, as towns in North Carolina are all getting their budgets in order for the next fiscal year, many are hiring new officers, which could also cause a delay.
Candor citizen Sue Myers, who has been an activist for the fired officers, expressed her concern about the lack of police protection. “I sit on my front porch every night from before dark until sometimes midnight or later,” she told the commissioners. “Some nights I never see a police car pass my house.” Myers lives on Main Street, not far from the Police Department.
She also expressed concern about the upcoming North Carolina Peach Festival, July 21 in Candor, which brings thousands of people into the small town for the day.
“Chief Majors will have the department fully staffed for the Peach Festival,” Hearne said.
The commissioners said that the reason for the changes was the opinion by Maxton McDowell, an Asheboro accountant who audits the town’s books, that all funds to be paid out in relation to the police firings should be covered in the current year’s budget. The town had planned to cover an estimated $45,000.00 unemployment cost for the fired officers in the 2012-2013 budget year.
The change in the budget made it necessary to release Fulp early and include the unemployment costs in the current year budget.
“This will wipe the slate clean for next year,” Hearne said.
# # #
Story that was actually published follows.
By Hugh Martin
CANDOR – During the regular June board of commissioners meeting June 11, Town of Candor Commissioners voted 4 – 1 to rehire three of the four police officers who were fired on December 12, 2011. They were to start back to work July 1. At that time current Chief of Police Johnny Fulp would assume an administrative duty to help with the transition to newly rehired Chief Randy White.
Instead, during a special called meeting Thursday afternoon, with just barely enough commissioners present to make it stick, Fulp was told that his request to continue as full-time Chief of Police until July 9 had been rejected and that he would leave the department at the end of the day with four weeks of severance pay. He will not continue in the administrative role as originally planned.
The other officers to be rehired are Sgt. James Pierce and Patrolman Jeremy Blake.
Commissioners Layton Booker, Tim Smith and Phillip Hearne were the only elected officials present for the meeting, which had been called by Booker and Hearne on Monday. Booker acted as Mayor Pro-Tem in the absence of Mayor Richard Britt, who had an illness in the family. Commissioner Tim Privett was absent due to surgery and Commissioner Rob Martin was said to be absent due to conflicts with his work schedule.
Following an executive session to discuss the matter, Hearne made the motion to release Fulp and appoint Candor Officer Jody Majors as interim Chief until White is sworn in as Chief. Smith and Booker supported the motion.
The actions will leave Candor with one full-time officer in Majors and two part-time officers until the three rehired officers return to the force.
The holdup on the return of the officers is due to paperwork that has not returned to the town from the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety in Raleigh, which must certify that the officers meet the requirements to be sworn as police officers in North Carolina.
Fulp said that the usual wait time for the paperwork was around two weeks. When asked how long it had been since the paperwork had been submitted Hearne replied, “This week.” No reason was given for the delay since June 11 in submitting the paperwork.
Fulp said because of the Independence Day holiday next week the wait could be even longer. Smith stated that, as towns in North Carolina are all getting their budgets in order for the next fiscal year, many are hiring new officers, which could also cause a delay.
Candor citizen Sue Myers, who has been an activist for the fired officers, expressed her concern about the lack of police protection. “I sit on my front porch every night from before dark until sometimes midnight or later,” she told the commissioners. “Some nights I never see a police car pass my house.” Myers lives on Main Street, not far from the Police Department.
She also expressed concern about the upcoming North Carolina Peach Festival, July 21 in Candor, which brings thousands of people into the small town for the day.
“Chief Majors will have the department fully staffed for the Peach Festival,” Hearne said.
The commissioners said that the reason for the changes was the opinion by Maxton McDowell, an Asheboro accountant who audits the town’s books, that all funds to be paid out in relation to the police firings should be covered in the current year’s budget. The town had planned to cover an estimated $45,000.00 unemployment cost for the fired officers in the 2012-2013 budget year.
The change in the budget made it necessary to release Fulp early and include the unemployment costs in the current year budget.
“This will wipe the slate clean for next year,” Hearne said.
# # #
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