Pikeville budget meeting - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

Mayor Herb Sieger advised the commissioners to present any items they thought needed consideration in the budget, but not to debate the issues in this preliminary meeting.

Commissioner Dennis Lewis started off the request, suggesting that the town budget some money for further sewer improvements.

He explained that, after speaking with Perry Jones about the wastewater treatment plant, he discovered the system still has substantial infiltration.

“The project was supposed to alleviate that, and we’re not seeing it,” said Mr. Lewis.

He recommended the town budget to have the lines smoke tested, but Town Clerk Kathie Fields said they could get that service at no cost to the town. She added that the town is also waiting to hear if they’ve received a $1 million grant for sewer repairs.

After further discussion, Mr. Lewis said he would like to recommend that the board set up a capital reserve account that would use some of the profits the town generates on water bills to pay for sewer maintenance.

Commissioner Al Green passed on a list of budget requests from the police department. The department requested a total of $15,825 more than they received in last year’s budget. That increase covers part of the capital outlay for a new vehicle, uniforms for new officers, and new portable radios for the department.

Mr. Green told the board that all of the portable two-way radios the officers use while on duty are their personal radios, and that the town does not have any portables for the department.

Mayor Sieger informed the board that the county is currently looking at a $10 million project to replace communications equipment throughout the county for fire and police departments. He said that the funding was dependant on the passing of a quarter cent sales tax, which is on the ballot in May.

For buildings and grounds, Mr. Greene said his only item was looking at making further improvements to the community building. He asked that the board look at estimates for dropping the ceiling in the main room of the building as their first project.

Commissioner Edith McClenny recommended funding for light maintenance at the cemetery, including painting the gate and fixing damaged poles. She also asked for more trashcans, and reinforcing gravel paths in the cemetery.

She added on that park renovations are in a sort of hold, as the town applies for a grant to build a multi-purpose building at the park. The reply on acceptance of the bid won’t come through until May, and money likely won’t be spent until next budget year.

However, she did have two small requests for park improvements. She recommended that the board put up more poled lights in the park area after the demolition of the new gym, and that the walking trail be reinforced with more gravel.

Finally, Commissioner Lyman Galloway covered needs for the library and the electricity fund.

He noted that the library needs new bookshelves, and estimated that cost would run between $4,000 and $5,000.

For the electric fund, he said the primary costs were a project on Booker Street, estimated to be around $18,000, and acquiring backup transformers for the town to use in emergencies.

The board also received a list of town employee salaries to look over and discuss at the next budget meeting, which will be held on April 29.

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Issue of 27 March 2008

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