by Blake Proctor
An over-run in a Volunteer Fire Department meeting caused a ten-minute delay in the East Arcadia Town Council due to the lack of a quorum. Mayor Perry Blanks called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm with Councilmember Lillian Graham the only AWOL.
Mayor Blanks provided the invocation; the consent agenda, comprised of last month’s meeting minutes and June’s 12-month finance report, was quickly unanimously approved.
Requesting to be heard in the public portion were Jermaine and Katrina Brown, representing East Arcadia’s own semi-pro Carolina Bengals football team.
They informed the Council that they are very satisfied with the practice field and advised them that the team is currently fielding thirty-one players on the roster, as well as a four “Ben-Gals” cheerleading team.
They then provided the Board the full 2021 playing season as well as the post-season schedule. The complete schedule will be available on Bladen Online shortly; here, in the meantime, is a quick list of all regular-season games:
· August 7th vs the 49ers
· August 14th Bye
· August 21st vs the Commandos
· August 28th vs the Ducks
· September 11th vs the Crusaders
· September 18th Bye
· September 25th vs the Tomahawks
· October 2nd vs the Commandos
· October 9th vs the Ducks
· October 16th vs the Crusaders
· October 23rd vs the Kings
All Home Games are scheduled to be played at Legion Stadium in Wilmington and will begin at 7 pm.
Under Council Reports, the Finance Committee had nothing to report; however, Councilmember Horace Munn reported that the Town’s first payment under the American Relief Program (ARP) of some $71,000 is due any day.
He suggested that the Board consider using the payment to begin paying off the loan portion of the water meter loan/grant. It was agreed that this should be considered.
Under Streets and Roads, Mr. Munn reported that the bush-hog is back running and mowing rights-of-way.
Councilmember Pamela Graham reported that there was $4,000 remaining in the gymnasium fencing grant; she recommended that these funds be utilized to purchase equipment for the Town’s summer baseball, softball, and T-ball leagues.
After much discussion, Ms. Graham made a motion to expend this surplus on that sports equipment; the motion was seconded by Mr. Munn and unanimously approved.
There was no water report but, moving to Councilmember Concerns, Mr. Munn informed the Board that Chris Williams, Director of the Board of Elections, had contacted the Town to enquire if they were going to “opt-in” for one-stop voting. The Board voted unanimously not to opt-in.
As that concluded the evening’s business, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.
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