Fremont seeks grant for spray field - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

The board began the meeting by swearing in the mayor and commissioners, who were all re-elected to a new term in November. The board then recessed for refreshments, giving them a time to socialize with the citizens present.

But then it was time to get down to business for the board. The first order of business was selecting a mayor pro-tem for the town. Annie Lewis nominated Leroy Ruffin, and the board unanimously approved.

The board also decided upon two new check co-signatures. Alderman W.T. Smith told the board that he had been signing checks for the town for many years, and would like to pass the duty on to someone else. He nominated Leon Mooring for the job, since Mr. Mooring is usually in town during the day.

Annie Lewis added on to the nomination, nominating Billy Harvey as the second co-signature to replace Mr. Ruffin, who has been signing checks almost as long as Mr. Smith.

The board unanimously approved.

Also on the table for the aldermen was the approval of two grant resolutions. The board approved a resolution for a Rural Center planning grant to help pay for research to help plan future water projects in town. That grant requires a $7,500 match from the town.

The second grant was a supplemental grant from the Rural Center for $500,000, to be used toward the reopening of the town’s sewer spray field. This grant requires a $400,000 match from the town, which they are seeking in a third grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.

After the board approved the budgets and authorization of both grants, Town Manager Kerry McDuffie brought up a third grant he would like the town to apply for. This grant would be from the Clean Water Management Trust, and could also be used toward the spray field project.

Mr. McDuffie explained that, if the town received all three grants, they could opt to chose the Clean Water Management grant over the USDA grant. The USDA grant will be a combination of grant and loan, while the other two will be completely grant money.

He added that if something happened to one of the loans, having a backup would ensure that the town had enough money to cover the project without dipping into their own funds.

The grant would cost the town $3,500 to prepare.

“I feel good about the other two grants, and it may be an absolute waste of $3,500, but I’d hate to have one of the grants turn us down and not have the money,” Mr. McDuffie told the town.

The board apparently didn’t feel it was a waste of money, giving consent for the funds to be used to prepare the grant.

The board also improved a Capital Improvement Plan, which is required for several of the grants, but noted that they would look at the plan and adjust it in the future.

The commissioners saw the plan for the first time Monday night, but Mr. McDuffie urged approval at the meeting, encouraging the board to go back and make changes as they see fit.

“We’re not saying that this is the best plan or a plan we have to stick with,” he said. “it’s just a starting point.”

The board unanimously approved the plan, and will reexamine it next month.

At the request of Mr. McDuffie, the board also agreed to try not requiring the department heads, which include the chief finance officer, police chief, and head of public works, to attend the monthly meeting. Instead, they will be encouraged to attend when they feel it necessary. They will be required to attend on a quarterly basis, and continue to submit a monthly report to the board.

Several of the aldermen had some hesitation, because they felt that citizens might come with questions that the department heads needed to answer. However, they agreed to try the quarterly requirements.

Back to this week's News Leader

Issue of 20 December 2007

Wayne Wilson News Leader
113 N. Wilson St., PO Box 158,
Fremont, NC 27830
(919) 242-6301 •
Fax (919) 936-2065

Princeton News Leader
119 W. Edwards St., Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-9891
Fax (919) 936-2065

Email us:
Advertising Department
News Department
Letters To The Editor
Publisher