03/29/2024
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By Blake Proctor

The Dublin Board meeting was gaveled to order at 6pm October 1st with Mayor Darryl Dowless predicting a very quick session. As it turned out, thanks to an item the Mayor himself added to the agenda, that prophecy would come to naught.

Starting with a prayer by the Mayor and followed by quick approval of the September 3rd minutes, and with no guests or citizens who wished to be heard, the Commission dived into its single item of old business.

Public Works Director Jonathan Ward informed the Board that the NC Department of Transportation has not been responsive to resolving its ongoing dispute with the Town over the placement of street name signs on NCDOT-provided stop signs at intersections with state roads. Nevertheless, the problem has been solved by utilizing the County 911 office, who said they would be replacing all the town’s street signs that had been removed by DOT.

Continuing into new business, Mr. Ward provided an update on the Infrastructure Community Development Block Grant’s (CDBG-I) progress with water main replacement. He stated that the main between 2nd Street and McNeal has been completed, and that the main between Hursey Street and David Street is almost completed; the lines at the Twisted Hickory Apartments are also nearly done.

Responding to a question from the Board, Mr. Ward informed them that 70% to 75% of the water system within Dublin is now accurately mapped.

In lightning fashion, the Board then ratified the approval of the Covid19 Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Agreement with the County, as well as budget amendments for expenditures – and matching revenues – for the previously-approved $15,632 fire truck maintenance, and $14,580 for the new HVAC system at Town Hall.

And here is where the hopes for a swift meeting went flying out the window: Mayor Dowless informed the Board that he had gotten a delinquent tax notice from 2015 for property he had at that time recently purchased, the taxes on which he had personally paid at the Courthouse.

He said he was aware that the new Southern Software program would be making accounting for taxes much more accurate, but there may have been an input problem. He further stated that if he had gotten such a bill, other property owners must have also got them. Town Clerk Ashley Matthews confirmed that this was the case.

In explanation, Ms. Matthews had determined that for several years, when taxes were accounted for in annual spreadsheets, there was no year-to-year continuity; consequently, there was evidently no periodic follow up on delinquencies from year to year. While some properties, such as that of Mayor Dowless, had fallen through the cracks due to the timing of their payments, the vast majority of true delinquencies simply were not followed up on by the Town to ensure payment, and indeed, had not been paid.

She stated that this shortcoming goes as far back as 2013; she further reiterated that any property owners who believe that their taxes have been paid need simply to show some form of proof of payment, and the computerized numbers will be updated. This proof can be in the form of payment receipts, cancelled checks, bank statements, or any other valid form of proof.

Ms. Matthews further stated that as of right now, there are 194 properties that are shown to be delinquent on their taxes; total value of those delinquencies is some $20,000.

With nothing further to be accomplished on that issue, the Board moved on to Department Reports: In Water & Sewer, Commissioner Jeff Smith reported that the CDBG-I contractors were still cutting through some water mains that were not found on old maps, but they are being repaired and the lines located.

Mr. Ward informed the Board that habitual utility non-payers who where formerly protected by Governor Cooper’s Executive Orders from adverse actions such as being disconnected or charged late fees are, now that those EOs have been cancelled, being placed on payment plans.

Commissioner Smith then reported that the sinkholes at the edges of NC Highway 87/Albert Street are now growing under the highway itself. He said that NCDOT has been informed on numerous occasions about the problem, and he asserted that he has actually seen DOT crews drive over the problem areas without so much as a second look. In an aside to Ms. Matthews, this reporter suggested that the Town may wish to look to NC Representative William Brisson for relief.

Fire Chief Pete Batten had nothing for the agenda, but did state that the Dublin Fire District Board would be meeting on October 22nd at 7:30pm.

Instead of the hoped-for 6:15pm adjournment, the meeting adjourned at 6:31pm, not a record, but still earlier than usual.

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