Eureka sewer fix - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

Much of Tuesday night’s monthly town board meeting centered on the improvements in the town’s waste water collection system, reductions in the town’s sewer bill from Fremont, and ultimately how the town would start paying down the $155,000 Eureka owes Fremont on past bills.

Engineer Gary Hartong of The Wooten Company, who is overseeing the town’s waste water system rehabilitation came to report on the progress of the $1,238,000 makeover.

He reported that the lining of the collection lines in town is complete and that the manholes had been inspected and sealed.

Several town board members took issue with the manholes being completed. They said the Baker St. manhole had not been resealed, and there was a two inch stream of water that flows into the manhole during heavy rains about a foot and a half down from the top of the manhole. Mr. Hartong said he would bring that to the attention of the contractor.

Town maintenance worker Herbert Green said that while installing the new pump station, they had uncovered a manhole that he didn’t know existed, and he asked if that manhole had been sealed.

Board members also noted that the Baker St. manhole is low, and when there are heavy rains, the manhole is covered by rainwater. As it has a vented cover, rainwater seeps in.

Mr. Hartong said he would make sure they put a solid cover on that manhole.

Jose DeJesus, a town citizen attending the meeting, asked, “If the town has spent $1.238 million to improve the sewer system, why is my sewer bill still increasing?”

Mayor Pro Tem Myrtie Sauls, who administered the early part of the meeting, responded that not only will bills probably not come down soon, they probably will continue to increase.

At that time, Commissioner Bobby Gooding handed Mr. DeJesus the town’s sewer bill from Fremont, which showed the $155,000 in past sewer bills which have not been paid.

Mr. Hartong also tried to assure Mr. DeJesus that the town board had worked diligently to secure 100% grant money to essentially give the town a new sewer system at no expense to the taxpayers or sewer users in Eureka. He said this was most uncommon, as 30% grants with the town having to cover most of the expense, usually through loans.

Mayor Steve Howell, who arrived late to the meeting after working late that day, administered the second half of the meeting.

Mrs. Sauls asked about why there was no security fence around the recently installed pump station?

Mr. Hartong responded that state regulations do not require a fence, only a lock on the top of the station.

Several commissioners expressed concern about possible vandalism. Commissioner Billy Martin shared that he had recently experienced vandalism at his business.

Mr. Hartong said the main work the contractor had left was rehabilitation of the service lines from the main collection lines to the home, covering the section to the cleanout. The individual homeowner is responsible for maintenance of the sections of the lines from the cleanout to the home. This should continue to reduce rainwater inflow and infiltration into the system.

The mayor also asked Mr. Hartong about completing an application for the town to operate a lagoon system and spray field. “That may be one of the only ways to get us out of bankruptcy.”

He did say that he hoped that further efforts would get the town’s bill down to $2,500 per month, and he hoped that they could put the remainder of the $5,000 they had budgeted to pay Fremont monthly, with the balance going against the old bill.

Mrs. Sauls said she was disappointed by the most recent sewer bill, which was $4,000 for a 22 day billing period. The previous bill had been nearly the same amount for a 28 day period.

Mrs. Sauls asked that the board go into closed session to discuss contract and payment negotiations that will be conducted with Fremont later this month.

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