02/03/04 — Eureka swearing in

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Eureka swearing in

By Sam Atkins
Published in News on February 3, 2004 2:01 PM

EUREKA -- The town board has officially sworn in all of its members and is ready to move forward at full capacity.

Mayor Pro-Tem Randy Bass was sworn in as mayor, and Shirley Hobbs, a write-in candidate from the November election, was sworn in to fill the final open commissioner seat, said Town Clerk Reta Chase.

This is the first time the town has had a full board in about two years. The other members are Commissioners Sandra Bass, Al Head, Myrtie Sauls and Bobby Gooding.

The commissioner received their assignments and will be in charge of certain areas including the cemetery, sewer, finances, streets and lights, and others, said Ms. Chase.

Sewer link

In other business, the town linked with the Fremont and Goldsboro sewer system in January.

It used a portion of a $3 million grant it received from the state in 2001 to install a new sewer pump on Stan-Ray Road. It will replace the lagoons that were used for water treatment.

Sewage will be pumped to Fremont, measured and then pumped to Goldsboro. The town will continue to use the other two pumps in town. With the new system, the town can handle more houses and businesses that may move to the area.

Police protection

The board is still considering hiring a part-time policeman or going through the county for off-duty deputies. After Bass heard about several break-ins, he requested information from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office about providing primary law enforcement services.

The office replied in a letter, giving two options. The first was a temporary solution that would allow deputies to voluntarily work off-duty at a rate of $15 per hour. The town would have to provide them with a vehicle while on duty for the town.

The other solution was entering into a contract with the town to provide primary law enforcement services. It would require a sheriff's substation within the town limits.

The board decided to make an appointment with Lee Smith, the county manager, about police protection.