Hunt cracks down on school-zone speeders - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

13 September 2007 — While the Appearance Commission put forward several suggestions for the beautification of Stantonsburg Monday night, Chief Hunt announced his own beautification effort: fixing the school-zone light, and catching eleven speed violators in the progress.

After the board's review and acceptance of the monthly financial report, Town Manager Gary Davis mentioned that 22,500 gallons of sludge has been hauled from the town's septic system to Wilson, as the state had been suggesting. Reverend Hubert Tyson asked if the town had gotten ground fault testing yet;

Mr. Davis said that some interest has been expressed, and one company is willing to do a demo for the town, so that purchase has not yet been made.

When the floor was opened to the public, one man who identified himself as Mr. Wigman asked if any progress had been made on the proposed Stantonsburg website. Mr. Davis said that the town had not had internet for the past month, but a couple of web designers have been brought in to help with the project.

Mr. Wigman mentioned that Electricities might offer a free website service, and that the town should look into that.

Mayor Roland Gardner asked Mr. Davis to look into it.

Ms. Joanne Lucas told the Board that her power bill was $457 for the month in a house which was empty, and $800 between two houses she owns. She asked that the board please consider the situations of elderly people in the town, who are on a fixed income and may find it difficult to meet the current prices.

Mr. Wigman interjected that his bill seven years ago when he moved to Stantonsburg was between $50-70 per month for electricity, and his last month's bill was $300, which was a tremendous increase.

When Commissioner Dan Whitley asked Ms. Lucas whether the air conditioning was turned on at the house, she replied that it was set at 82 degrees.

She also said that she was having the meter replaced, in case it was a problem at that end.

Mr. Pryor Whitley gave the Board a quote for fifteen Stantonsburg banners, similar to the ones currently displayed in town, and fifteen Christmas angels, along with the hardware to go with them. The total was just under $7000.

Commissioner Whitley asked if that price included a special discount. Mr. Davis replied that four were at a special price.

Mr. Whitley asked if Chief Hunt or someone else could possibly measure the footage from Highway 58 into town to the gin. He said the Department of Transportation agreed to furnish crepe myrtle trees if the town provided the footage measurement, and let them know how far apart they want the trees.

Mr. Whitley also asked about putting a state flag in front of the community building, and expressed the opinion that the mural debate could be solved by painting over the current mural with a solid color, and then painting another mural when the town can agree on a design. He mentioned that if they do paint that building, they should paint the other side as well.

Ms. Lucas mentioned that she had seen an article on an antiquated town which painted each building a different color, and that looked nice.

Commissioner Whitley asked if the municipality had financed that project.

Mr. Davis mentioned that the quote for the Christmas decorations was good through the end of the meeting.

Rev. Tyson said that if the town waited on the electrical plan, the cost would be much more, just as the Christmas decorations would be more if the town did not agree to purchase them quickly. He asked if the town had enough money in the budget to cover the cost of the banners and decorations.

Mr. Davis said the appearance budget only had $2500, but he could do a budget amendment.

After a motion by Commissioner Whitley to purchase the banners and decorations, the Board agreed.

Rev. Tyson also recommended that Ms. Lucas look into buying a better grade of insulation for her house, to cut down on power costs.

Chief Hunt then passed out his citation report. He mentioned that the department is targeting the school zone at all times, and that he had called the county and had them fix the flashing light to let motorists know that school is in session. Eleven violators were charged with speeding in the school zone, as the department has zero tolerance for the act.

Chief Hunt said, "I do not want a child or parent or custodian hit in that area."

Chief Hunt then mentioned the electricity theft from August 20. He explained that the man responsible had drilled a small hole in the meter to place a black insulated wire inside, which stopped the meter from registering the power. However, when he forgot to pull the wire one morning, the meter reader caught the crime.

"His own stupidity got him caught, you can thank the town worker for alerting us to that," Chief Hunt said.

Mr. Davis mentioned that the day he went to court about the matter, the District Attorney notified him that the man had signed a full confession before trial, so he has been convicted and has to pay for the stolen electricity.

He added that attempting to steal power is dangerous; people have been found electrocuted in front of meters they were attempting to tamper with.

Chief Hunt then went over the rest of his cases for the month, including the detaining of a fugitive from justice at a traffic stop on August 23, and the arrest of Eugene Yelverton, Jr. for obtaining property by false pretenses.

Mayor Gardner told Chief Hunt that he was doing a good job.

Mr. Davis asked the Board whether they wanted to grant extensions to two customers who had been on the town system for several years without any delinquency. Commissioner Bill Edmundson made a motion to grant the extension; the motion passed.

Rev. Tyson said that anyone coming to the Town Hall to have their initial utility hookup done should be warned to provide a post office box, so that their bills would not be misdirected.

The Board then agreed to grant Joe Speight's rezoning request, to have his lot at 306 W. Mercer Avenue rezoned from residential to commercial.

Mr. Davis shared his investigation into a street sweeper with the Board. A medium-sized street-sweeper would run the town around $100,000. He said that Twin States Equipment, Inc., has agreed to come to Stantonsburg and give a demonstration of their model, which Warsaw has recently purchased.

One citizen asked whether the cost could qualify for the Powell Bill. Mr. Davis replied that he thought that particular use of the money was banned, but he would research it.

After Mr. Davis agreed to set up the demonstration, Commissioner Whitley mentioned that he had noticed that an employee had forty hours plus twenty hours overtime on his paycheck a few weeks before.

Mr. Davis replied that he had been out of town that weekend, and the employee had pulled call that weekend.

Mr. Davis also mentioned that, while Stantonsburg is still under voluntary water restriction, he would urge people to cut back 20% on their water usage, as Governor Easley has suggested.

Commissioner Bardin asked how the town is doing on the new well project. Mr. Davis replied that the state wants Stantonsburg to break the project into two parts, test drilling and actual construction; Stantonsburg would front the money for the tests and be reimbursed for the cost.

Mr. Bardin also asked whether Mr. Davis had come up with any assistance for taking down the tree in Miss Talton's front yard. Mr. Davis said there was a possibility funds would be left over from the Block Grant, for which Miss Talton would be eligible.

Commissioner Watson asked Chief Hunt how planning was going for the Christmas Parade. Chief Hunt replied that he is looking at Saturday, December 1, around 3:30.

Mr. Watson also added that an old tin-covered auto shop on Mr. Strickland's land, across from Mr. Watson's house, will soon need attention. He added that it has been a while since the town has seen a report from the fire department.

Chief Hunt said he believes the department is doing work on insurance ratings, so the Board should hear from them soon.

Rev. Tyson mentioned that the fire hydrant on Greenwood and Whitley is leaking excessively. Mr. Davis said the hydrant would probably need to be replaced, as it dates from the late 1950s and replacement parts are difficult to find.

Rev. Tyson also asked about health coverage for the town. Mr. Davis said that the town is switching October 1.

Mr. Davis also gave an update on the sewer project, saying it is going in front of the commission next month and will probably be ready next month, so it is a bit ahead of the water project. He anticipates sizeable improvement.

Commissioner Edmundson mentioned bus stop shelters, and suggested that residents be canvassed so that they can suggest potential locations. Chief Hunt agreed to work on that.

Mr. Edmundson then asked to attend the North Carolina League of Municipalities convention in mid-October, in Fayetteville, along with a Rural Center Conference which will be held in Plymouth on October 30. Mr. Edmundson said that any municipal elected official registered and attending would get the town a ten-point advantage on applications for grants from the Rural Center.

Mayor Gardner said he had received a complaint that whoever mowed the grass on Ann Hunt's property had thrown trash on Sandra Mayo's lawn. Chief Hunt agreed to check into it.

The Board then went into closed session to discuss an ongoing investigation.

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