Eureka sewer bill seems to be correct
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on June 16, 2004 1:57 PM
FREMONT -- Eureka's $16,000 sewer bill from Fremont appears to be correct, and Eureka has several problems that it did not know.
That was the conclusion of a study of the sewer systems of both small towns.
Dr. Mike Acquesta, the contracted engineer for both towns from the Raleigh firm of Pierson and Whitman, wrote in a letter that the meters in pump stations on Stan Ray Road and Baker Street in Eureka were not working properly.
Acquesta also said that five manholes in Eureka were damaged, creating holes that allowed rainwater to enter.
The engineer concluded that Fremont's meters were accurate and the question of their reliability should be shifted now to how best reduce infiltration and inflow in the Eureka sewer system.
Eureka had been allowed by state officials to disconnect from the $642,000 line to Fremont and pump sewage to its lagoons until the problems could be found. Eureka officials had claimed that Fremont had been charging them for three times as much sewage as it had sent.
The line between the towns was part of a $3.7 million project that also included a sewer line from Fremont to Goldsboro and sewer repairs in Fremont.
Four-way stop signs
The Fremont board agreed to several changes in traffic flow in a bid to make the town safer.
Four-way stop signs -- requested by Police Chief Ben Reid to slow down traffic -- will be installed at West Wayne and Pender, Vance and East Wayne and North and Vance streets. A four-way stop sign had been installed at Vance and Bryant streets.
One block of Pine Street at Fremont STARS School, between Carolina Street, N.C. 222 West, and West Main Street, will be made one way southbound. The board had discussed making it one way for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. But new Town Administrator Kerry McDuffie said that would be confusing.
McDuffie said the sidewalk repairs on the first block of East Main Street were delayed until the general contractor, Sam Sasser of Fremont, could find subcontractors to do the work more cheaply.
The sidewalks, new street lamps and underground wiring were part of the $432,000 project that also included renovations to Town Hall.
Other business
In other business, the town board:
*Approved a proposal by resident Africa Reid to hold free children's games and have refreshments July 4 at the Martin Luther King Mini-Park.
*Adopted an amendment to allow part-time employees to serve in elected positions. The change cleared the way for Alderman Leroy Ruffin to remain as a part-time police officer.
*Agreed to pay $10,000 for a more extensive annual town audit as required by the state.
*Awarded permanent status with a one-step pay raise to Ray Bostic, a new electrical department employee.
*Agreed to pay town employees 35 cents per mile for travel, an increase of 4 cents.
*Passed a resolution at the request of the Wayne County commissioners board to support the historical recognition of God as the foundation of the nation's heritage.