by Blake Proctor
With a short delay while Mayor Darryl Dowless signed documents and checks, Dublin’s August 5th meeting got underway at 6:03 pm as he called the gathering to order and provided the invocation. It was noted that Commissioner Jeff Smith was excused absent.
The Mayor’s first order of business was to seek approval of three sets of minutes: the Public Hearing of July 1st, the regular meeting of July 1st, and the called meeting of July 29th; on a series of three rapid motions and seconds, this item was quickly dispatched.
As a holdover item from the July meeting, discussion continued regarding the fate of the crape myrtles along NC 87. Public Works Director Jonathan Ward informed the Board that there were 27 of these fast-growing bushes that had become driving and sight hazards on the Town’s side streets at their junctions with NC 87.
Citing it as a matter of public safety, Commissioner David Kirby moved that these tree-like shrubs be removed by the roots as soon as possible; the motion was seconded by Commissioner David Hursey and passed unanimously.
Mr. Ward then informed the Board that the Town of Elizabethtown was increasing Dublin’s sewer rates one percent (1%) immediately and another three percent (3%) in September.
He advised the Commission that the Town’s contract with Elizabethtown actually calls for a one percent increase annually, but that E-town had never increased Dublin’s rates. There was no discussion by the Board of passing these rate increases on to the Town’s utility customers.
In a continuation of the “good news/bad news,” utility-wise, Mayor Dowless read a memorandum from Town Clerk Ashley Matthews detailing a miscalibrated water meter newly installed in 2019 at Bladen Community College that had led to under-readings since the meter’s installation at that time.
Ms. Matthews’ memo informed the Board that State statute allows recapture of such mis-billings for only six months back. Her calculations showed that BCC owed $816.48 in under-read water meter bills as well as $1,123.63 in related sewer charges.
On a motion by Commissioner Hursey and a second by Commissioner Kirby, it was voted unanimously to allow BCC 60 days (equating roughly to two billing cycles) to reimburse the $1,940.11.
Ms. Matthews informed the Commissioners that Alicia Melton with the NC Rural Water Authority (RWA) had completed RWA’s utility rate assessment and would like to schedule a meeting to review her findings and recommendation. It was agreed that Thursday, September 9th at 5 pm was appropriate.
There were no reports from Commissioners regarding any Public Works, Streets, or Recreation difficulties. Fire Chief Pete Batten reported that the work at the fire station, consisting of replacing tiles, painting the station, etc., will take another two to three months.
With no further current business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm.
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