By: Joy Warren
The Town of White Lake Board of Commissioners met Tuesday evening for their regular monthly meeting. As in years past, the Board adopted a resolution to regulate the hours
of Halloween trick-or-treating and other such matters for the holiday. Hours designated for
trick-or-treating are from 5:30 pm until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31st. A curfew will be
in effect for all youth between the ages of 13 and adult age after 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. on November 1st.
In administrative matters, the Board approved Tax releases ($1,462.89) and Utility Releases ($292.50); denied a request from William Hunter, who asked the Board to consider adjusting his Water bill; authorized the purchase of necessary items to equip the newly renovated office at the Police Department building; and approved the changes to the Cash Portfolio’s Investment Policy as presented by NC Capital Management Trust.
The County and the local municipalities have been working with NC DOT over a two-year process to develop the Bladen County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, a long-range 30-year, multi-modal plan that includes highways, bike paths, multi-use paths, rail, and public transit. Mr. Phil Geary with the North Carolina Department of Transportation provided a brief recap of the Bladen County Comprehensive Plan and asked the Board to adopt a resolution in support of the Plan. The resolution was adopted as presented.
Mayor Womble noted that the state budget passed a sales tax plan that provided additional money to primarily rural and suburban counties and cities without cutting the revenues of any local governments. The plan in the budget provided new sales tax revenue through the expansion of sales tax base to the repair, maintenance, and installation of tangible personal property. The expansion becomes effective on March 1, 2016 while the first reallocation of the revenue occurs for sales tax taking place in July 2016, meaning all counties and cities should see a slight increase in sales tax revenue for the final months of this fiscal year. This change will increase the amount of sales tax distributed to the Town by approximately 9%.
The County of Bladen is now the owner of the White Lake NC Department of Corrections facilities. Bradley Kinlaw, Director of Emergency Management spoke with Mayor Womble in reference to the Town providing water services to the facilities. The County is having a septic tank installed and will not need wastewater services. A proposed agreement will be presented for the Board’s consideration at a future meeting.
Mayor Womble announced the Town of White Lake has been nominated for the 2015 Community Health Award hosted by Southeastern Health. The award recipient will be announced at the Community Health Award Dinner on October 22, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the A.D. Lewis Auditorium in Lumberton.
In another note of good news, Mayor Womble announced that the Town has paid in the notes on the Fire Station and the Town Hall buildings. The buildings were occupied in 2001 and payment completed according to the estimated time line. This will free up approximate $75,000 for the next budget year.
Share on social media using link: https://bladencounty.org/?p=29593
About Author
