The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

September 5, 2012

LGC asks county to help Princeville

Staff Writer MIRANDA BAINES

TARBORO — Princeville’s water and sewer crisis was the key topic of discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Edgecombe County commissioners.

T. Vance Holloman, deputy treasurer of the North Carolina Department of Treaurer who supervises the Local Government Commission (LGC), requested that Edgecombe County help the town manage its water and sewer accounts. The LGC assumed control of the town’s financial affairs on July 30.

“The water and sewer area, it’s just going to be very difficult for the town to manage that on their own. I think if the county could assist with that and ultimately … assume control of that system and make it part of the county system, that really is in the best interests of the citizens of the town,” Holloman said.

He said managing a water and sewer system with less than 800 customer accounts would be a difficult task for any town, and it drains resources from the town’s general fund that could be used to improve the “quality of life” of citizens.

County manager Lorenzo Carmon said the county is willing to step up and help manage the accounts, if necessary. After discussion, commissioners agreed and voted unanimously to assist the town.

“If that’s what it takes for the town to recover, the [county] staff doesn’t have any problem with that,” he said.

Commissioner Jonathan Felton expressed his hesitance to commit to the task of assuming responsibility for new water and sewer accounts without knowing all the details of “what we’re getting into.”

Commissioner Wayne Hines voiced concern about the burden the additional responsibility will place on the county, and Princeville’s potential negative reaction to the county’s assistance with the water and sewer accounts.

“We don’t want to be in competition and I hope they understand that,” said Hines. “We want to help.”

Board chair Leonard Wiggins said commissioners were charged with telling the LGC whether or not they could help, “regardless of the feedback that we get.”

Vice-chairman Charlie Harrell expressed his appreciation for the work that the LGC has done to assist Princeville and said the county has the responsibility to assist LGC in any way possible to help get Princeville out of its financial crisis.



In other business at Tuesday evening’s Board of Commissioners meeting, the board approved the following items:

•A proposed amendment to the minimum housing code.

•The renaming of Recovery Road to Husky Trail.

•The Edgecombe Community College 2012-2013 fiscal year budget.

•An engineering services agreement between Edgecombe Water and Sewer District No. 5 and The Wooten Company for the Highway 33/ Logsboro Road Sewer Project.

•The opening of a new bank account with North Carolina Capital Management Trust.

•A resolution in recognition of the 300th anniversary of Craven County.

•The declaration of six sheriff’s department vehicles as surplus and authorization of their disposal by listing on GovDeals.com.

•The board also heard a report from Jane Blackwell, director of the Braswell Memorial Library, regarding the library’s plans to replace the air conditioning system. The cost of replacing the system is $150,00 and Blackwell asked for some matching funds for the project. County manager Lorenzo Carmon will discuss the project with Blackwell and bring a proposal back to the commissioner for their approval.

 

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