By Erin Smith
The Bladenboro Town Board met and unanimously approved plans that were submitted by Carroll Poultry for an equalization basin.
The information was submitted to the board prior to the March meeting by Koontz, Noble and Associates. The plan outlines a holding tank system to be utilized by Carroll Poultry in the Bladenboro Industrial Park.
Town Administrator Blake Proctor told the board that what is needed is for the board to approve what is recommended by the town’s engineer. One change, which was recommended by the board, is to ensure the tank does not bypass the town’s water meter.
Mayor Rufus Duckworth called for a show of hands vote by the board to approve the plan including the change to ensure the tank does not bypass any of the town’s water meters. The show of hands vote was unanimous.
During the Open Forum session, the board heard from members of the Bryant Swamp Drainage District Board, Isaac Singletary and John White. Singletary updated the board regarding the clean out of the Bryant Swamp Canal and the Davis Canal.
“In my opinion, they did a good job,” said Singletary of the work performed by contractor D. G. Jackson.
Singletary said the contractor spent about one week working in the Bryant Swamp area and removed trees and storm debris that had gathered in the system. He said there is some sediment that has gathered in the system that remains to be removed.
“I was really impressed,” said Singletary.
He also said that the residents along the Bryant Swamp Canal were very cooperative with the project. The Bryant Swamp Drainage System was created in the late 1960s and completed in 1978, according to Singletary.
Singletary challenged the town to set aside $5,000 in the budget to help keep the canal open. He also challenged the town to clean their section of the Bryant Swamp Drainage system.
Proctor told the board that the town’s portion of the Bryant Swamp Drainage system has gone out for bids and the deadline to receive bids is May 1, with a bid opening set for May 2. The Bladenboro Town Board will award the bid at their May 18th meeting, according to Proctor.
Anyone interested in bidding on the project can contact the Bladenboro Town Hall at 910-863-3655 for a set of bid specifications and maps.
In other business:
*Stephanie Powers, an Aging Specialist with the Lumber River Council of Governments (LRCOG), briefly addressed the board regarding programs available for senior adults. They include the Sr. Games which are scheduled to take place in two weeks in Pembroke, a Health Promotions class that will be offered in June, and LRCOG is administering the Finish Line Grant.
*The board voted unanimously to accept a $500,000 grant award from the NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency. Town Administrator Blake Proctor told the board he is reworking the proposed budget to reflect receipt of the grant funds. He will have that proposed budget ready on April 22.
*The board also requested the Proctor have three bids for the boards to consider regarding roofing work for the town by the April 22nd meeting.
*The board voted to adjourn Monday’s meeting until April 22nd at 7 p.m. to review the proposed budget, to review the projects for the proposed grant and to review the bids for the roofing project.
*The board also heard from a resident who resides at 511 N. Main Street referencing the change of the town’s code regarding the number of pets that a resident is allowed to have inside the town’s limits. The resident said she has ten pets—nine dogs and one cat that stay indoors with the exception of when they are outside for exercise. The town’s municipal code only allows for a total of three pets inside the city limits.
Proctor explained that no one knew about the number of animals being housed at that location until someone reported the number of crates that were in the front of the house. The crates have now been removed to the rear of the house and are no longer visible from the roadway.
The consensus of the board was to have the Planning Board meet and review the code and make a recommendation to the board at the May 13 town meeting.
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