08/19/04 — Briefly

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Briefly

By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on August 19, 2004 2:03 PM

Closer scrutiny

The Wayne County commissioners intend to begin interviewing applicants for some volunteer boards and commissions.

The county board wants to meet people before they're appointed to the Planning Board. The board currently has a vacancy due to the resignation of Henry Braswell, which prompted the commissioners' discussion Tuesday.

The commissioners plan to also look closer at applicants for the Economic Development Commission and other higher-profile groups, like the health and Social Services boards.

People who fill out applications will likely be asked to include more information on why they want to serve and on their qualifications for a particular board, said Commissioner Atlas Price, chairman of the appointments committee.

Better sound

People who attend town board meetings in Mount Olive won't have to ask "What did he say?" any more after the town finishes putting up drapes.

Town Manager Ray McDonald said the acoustics in the courtroom where the town board meets the first Monday of each month were very bad, and a person standing next to you might not be able to hear what you said because of the sound bouncing off the concrete walls.

Town officials had been trying for years to improve the acoustics in the courtroom, and someone suggested putting up drapes.

McDonald said he has already heard some good sounds from listeners who say they can hear better in the courtroom, and all of the drapes aren't even up yet.

Wal-Mart consultant

Mount Olive town officials say they will meet next week with an engineering consultant for Wal-Mart.

Town Manager Ray McDonald says the consultant has a list of questions for the town concerning what the company would have to do to meet environmental regulations and get water and sewer service. He said town officials haven't talked to any Wal-Mart officials yet.

Glen Wilkins of the company's Atlanta Community Affairs office has said the company is interested in building a store in Mount Olive.