By Blake Proctor
At under 150 acres and with fewer than 120 residents – 147 acres to be exact, with a 2019 population projection of 117 – Tar Heel is not only the smallest town in Bladen County, seems it’s so small it’s been left off the roll of North Carolina’s smallest municipalities. To add insult to injury, this microburg can’t seem to get the State’s attention; not enough clout, evidently…even “The Mouse that Roared” got America’s attention, but that was only fiction!
Tar Heel Mayor Sam Allen led the Pledge of Allegiance, and provided the invocation to get the October 6th Council meeting off to a smooth start. The minutes from the previous meeting and the September finance report were then quickly dispensed with.
Under Old Business, Mayor Allen informed the Board that after last month’s meeting, he contacted Greg Burns with the NC Department of Transportation to get DOT’s assistance on some matters of local concern.
He made two requests of DOT regarding the welfare of townspeople along Highway NC87: He first asked if DOT would consider lowering the speed on NC87 in Town from 45mph to 35mph; and he inquired if the state could put up flashing lights in the school district for the morning and afternoon vehicular traffic at the school.
He was told that obtaining the flashing lights was the responsibility of the Bladen School system, and that he needed to contact the School Board. As for investigating the feasibility of a speed reduction, there has been dead silence from DOT.
On a related matter, Councilmember Mike Underwood informed his colleagues that he had enquired of DOT if that agency could erect signage behind Subway; the reply was that it would cost the Town $350 per hour for DOT employees to perform the task, but that DOT would provide the poles free of charge if the Town wanted to do the labor.
The first item under New Business was a discussion of the County’s Picketing Ordinance that had been provided the Board by Sheriff James McVicker in light of the recent Smithfield protests. Ensuing dialogue led to information that the County was in the process of making some minor changes to the ordinance, and the matter was then tabled until an updated document is ready.
Mr. Underwood reminded the Board that the Insurance Service Organization (ISO) Fire Rating was reduced last March from a 7 rating to a 6 rating. This has a positive effect on homeowners’ fire insurance costs in Town; however, insurance companies are often not aware that a rating has changed, so homeowners need to contact their agents to ensure that their premiums are lowered.
The Council then entered into a discussion of the Town’s Youth Program and recreation generally within Town. Mr. Patrick Nichols, the Town’s volunteer Recreation Coordinator, was present to provide an update of activities currently being provided and an extensive wish-list of additional programs he would like to eventually see undertaken.
The Board also discussed Dublin’s offer of providing Mosquito control in Tar Heel at a price of $150 per spraying. It was decided that since the mosquito season is about over and there has not been a significant infestation this year, that the Town would get back with Dublin at the beginning of the “skeeter season” in March or April to seek assistance.
Mr. Underwood stated that Ms. Ernestine Gaines is requesting the Board to allow to distribute food baskets to the less fortunate among us between 9am and 11am on Saturday, November 21st ; she would like to set up outside the Multi-Purpose Building so she can hand the baskets into the vehicles as they drive by.
Councilmember Angie Hall made a motion that the Board approve Ms. Gaines’ request on the condition that this activity does not interfere with Mr. Nichols’ Youth Activities. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Dewey Knox asked Mayor Allen if he would be permitted to place a cross in honor and memory of his late wife on the Town’s right-of-way near his property, and the Mayor replied that he would ask the Council.
During the resulting discussion, several reasons for denying the request were brought forth, the most important of which were the safety issue and a “copycat” issue leading to the degradation of many streets in Town. After a spirited debate, the Board voted unanimously to deny Mr. Knox’s request.
The meeting then quickly adjourned at 6:51pm.
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