by Blake Proctor
With Commissioner Jeff Smith excused absent, Mayor Darryl Dowless called the May 6th meeting of the Dublin Town Commission to order at 6:00 pm. The Mayor opened the meeting with a prayer; the April minutes were then unanimously approved.
Several guests were present to address the Board. First up were Ms. Sonia Hopkins and Ms. Nadine Richardson, representing “From Our Family to Yours,” an organization created to “give back” to the community.
Ms. Hopkins explained that the organization began with her family helping each other at cookouts and has expanded over the last few years to provide kinship, fellowship, and outreach, first to the neighborhood and then to the entire community. This year, they are aiming to help change lives in Dublin.
In the past, they have gotten community facilities gratis for their outreach activities, which are free to the public. They are requesting the use of the Community Building on Saturday, July 17th, between 10 am and 2 pm for the gathering.
On a motion by Commissioner David Hursey and a second by Commissioner David Kirby, the Board unanimously voted to provide the building for this very worthwhile purpose.
Ms. Jan Hester Maynor from the Lumber River Council of Governments (LRCOG) was present to provide an update on the COG’s Comprehensive Plan efforts for Dublin.
She began by providing the results of the community survey COG recently completed; 25 people had replied to the survey. Of these, eleven had been residents for more than 20 years, while nine respondents had lived in Dublin five years or less.
A sampling of the questions and responses (with multiple responses) includes:
Why do you live in Dublin?
- The family lives here – 13
- Enjoy the pace of life – 10
- Conveniently located – 8
What businesses would you like to see come to Dublin?
- A pharmacy – 8
- Entertainment activities – 7
- Restaurants (both family and fast-food) – 5
What other activities would you like to see?
- Public parks – 15
- Walking trails – 11
- Accessibility – 2
Dublin’s greatest opportunities?
- Location – 19
- Its people – 17
- The 4-lane highway – 10
What concerns you about Dublin’s future?
- Lack of growth – 11
- Lack of affordable housing – 10
- Lack of community involvement – 9
Ms. Maynor then addressed zoning updates within the town, informing the Commissioners that the state is requiring ordinance updates statewide be in place by June 30th. After discussing current zoning districts now in use, she said that COG would have an ordinance ready for adoption at the June meeting.
Gene Lockamy, President of the Dublin District Fire Board, was on hand to formally present the Fire Board’s request for an increase in the fire tax from 6.5¢ to 9.8¢.
Currently, the Fire District budget is $174,400. The additional taxes will generate the $50,000 needed to fund two part-time firefighters to man the station during weekday hours when volunteers are unavailable.
On a motion by Commissioner Hursey and a second by Commissioner Kirby, the Board unanimously approved the Fire District to seek the increase in the District fire tax.
The budget was amended to reflect reception of $23,575.59 in governmental funds. Additionally, an error had been made when giving an earlier sewer adjustment to a resident, and the Board amended the adjustment by $6.25 to reflect correctly on the Town’s books.
The Dollar General in town has requested it be allowed to sell beer for off-premises consumption. State law requires that the Board sign off on such requests, and the Commission did so unanimously.
A property owner has inadvertently overpaid his property taxes; the Board voted unanimously to refund the $960.34 overpayment.
Another resident had been caught turning their water back on multiple times after a cutoff for nonpayment. Public Works Director Jonathan Ward has pulled the meter. The resident has asked what it will take to get the water back on. Somehow, it seems there is still water from somewhere for the sewer to operate.
The Board advised Town Clerk Ashley-Matthews to write a letter giving them 30 days to repay both the outstanding bill and the shut-off fee totaling $584.18, or the sewer could be plugged, increasing by several hundred dollars, the bill and fees already due.
Moving steadily down the agenda, the Mayor advised Commissioners that a called meeting will be necessary to hold a public hearing on the budget; he recommended June 10th, the Thursday following the regular June 3rd meeting. This schedule was approved by consensus.
Town Attorney Whitley Ward advised the Board that she is very close to ascertaining all the property owners on 2nd Street and any unopened streets connecting to 2nd; until then, the matter is at a standstill.
She is also still looking into the feasibility of billing the County water system for their tie-in to the Town’s system; right now, the County bills the Town for the Town’s separate tie-in to the County’s system.
There were no substantive reports regarding Departments; however, Public Works Director Ward informed the Board that the backhoe was old when the Town bought it and has now dug its last trench. He was given permission to seek a replacement ad come back to the Board with a recommendation.
Prior to the Mayor’s call for adjournment, this reporter introduced Ms. Brendaly Vaga Davis of the Bladen Journal to the Board. Ms. Vaga Davis, recently of the Sampson Independent, is replacing long-time community reporter Emily Williams, who transferred to the Independent. Both papers are with the same chain.
Mayor Dowless had mumbled immediately prior to calling the meeting to order, “I really want this to be a short meeting.” He didn’t get his wish, for adjournment wasn’t until 7:28 pm.
About Author
