Faison chooses Earth Tech for sewer design
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on September 3, 2004 2:22 PM
FAISON -- The town board has chosen Earth Tech to design its sewer plans, although one commissioner was concerned that the town had not sought bids for the work.
Town Commissioner Jane Hollingsworth cast the dissenting vote Wednesday night. Later, she said she had nothing against the engineer, but she was concerned that the town hadn't accepted bids.
"It's a matter of fairness," she said.
Earth Tech and the town's Public Works Department recommended replacing the lift station at a cost of $274,000 to comply with a state agreement to improve the sewer system.
Earth Tech is already applying for a matching grant to help pay for the project, said Mayor Bill Igoe. The state has given the town until December to say what it plans to do about the lift station.
"We really don't have a lot of choices," Igoe said. "We've got to do something."
The town's sewer upgrade is 85 percent complete, said Public Works Director Richard Cameron. Three things remain to be done. The town needs to transfer the sludge into a third lagoon; erect the pre-fab building, which is expected to arrive this month; and install the pumps, which are expected to arrive mid-October.
The water system upgrades are 95 percent complete. A little work is left to do in the retention tank, and a little electrical work remains in the walls.
License check
In other business, the Duplin County Sheriff's Department can be expected to set up a license check Saturday in Faison, if a hurricane doesn't stop them.
Wireless service
Lawyers for the town and Rich Kaiser of R2 Communications are negotiating a contract for placing wireless Internet antennae on the water tower behind Town Hall. Town Attorney Garrett Ludlum told the board they need more time to work out some details.
Igoe said he heard Sprint is working on providing DSL broadband Internet service in Faison, and Kaiser said he has heard Sprint has installed a fiber optics line from Newton Grove to Faison.
Market Day
The town will waive privilege-license fees for vendors who come to Market Day on Oct. 23.
The event will be held to honor the town's agricultural heritage and the produce market in Faison, which was reportedly the largest in the country at one time.
Town Commissioner Ruby Hobbs informed the board there will be no Christmas Parade this year. If a parade planned for Market Day turns out well, she said, maybe that one can replace it.
The Faison Improvement Group is planning for the parade to begin the festival at the former produce market on N.C. 403 and proceed to the railroad tracks next to U.S. 117. There will be a temporary market at the tracks with an auctioneer and a brief opening ceremony to honor the six families who started the original produce market.
Police report
Faison will also order two more 20-mph speed limit signs from the state Department of Transportation to go with one the town has in storage. The three signs will be posted in Park Circle. Police Chief Danny Brock says the signs will help with traffic for ball games. Ludlum is to prepare an ordinance accordingly.
Mary Harrell of Warsaw submitted the winning bid of $850 for the town's old police car. The town received five bids in its second attempt to sell the car.
Paving delay
The town was going to re-pave about 200 feet of sidewalk along most of Main Street and part of a side street, but that is delayed until a detail is ironed out with the low bidder. The low bidder, Matthis Masonry of Warsaw, wants half of the money up front, and the town board rejects that.
Matthis offered to do the work for $19,250. Concrete Specialists of Mount Olive offered to do it for $21,489.
Town officials will negotiate with Matthis. The town will pay for the project out of its state transportation grant fund.