Princeton board decides how to spend $160,000
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on October 6, 2004 1:59 PM
PRINCETON -- Princeton has decided how to spend $160,000 left over from sewer plant improvements. The money will allow the town to make additional repairs to its sewer and water system.
C.T. Clayton Sr., the town's contract engineer from New Bern, said the town got the windfall because the cost of sewer repairs was lower than expected. T.A. Loving Co. of Goldsboro made the low bid of $812,000, which was awarded in September.
Town Clerk Marla Ashworth told the town board Monday that all the necessary improvements can be made to the plant, except two new rotors that cost $65,000. She called that item a "budget-buster."
"This is the best of all worlds," said Mayor Don Rains of the leftover money.
Mrs. Ashworth recommended that $18,000 be spent for a lift station generator on Edwards Street, $16,500 for a water line repair on Third Street and $5,100 for blowers. There would be $47,000 left over from that project, bringing the total windfall to $207,000.
Then the clerk outlined the following recommendation for the windfall: $35,250 for a sewer map and study approved last month, $60,000 for a lift station on Smith Street and $40,000 for pipe repairs. That would leave $72,230 for other repairs.
The four-man board unanimously approved the plan.
"This is a good decision," Clayton said. "You'll be doing more than you planned."
Rains noted that many water lines were corroded.
"Many, many," the engineer agreed.
Mrs. Ashworth also announced that the town had been fined $791 by the state for a sewer flow violation in March. She explained that a flow meter was not working for two or three weeks. She said she hoped the fine would be remitted because of the town's continuing effort to repair the sewer plant.
Park project
Mrs. Ashworth told the board that the town must spend $140,000 in the next three years to match a state grant for the Ray M. Floors Community Park. She said a federal grant could equal half of the town's match.
The town has spent $9,064 on the park and has budgeted $15,000 for 2004-05. The remainder has come from donations and fund-raisers.
Clayton agreed to prepare a plan for developing the park and assisting the town in getting $20,310, the amount in the town's budget for the cost of a grant application.
Other business
In other business, the board:
*Approved the voluntary annexation of the Cornerstone Development property for a small strip mall at Edwards Road and U.S. 70 and the remainder of the Tri-Arc Foods property at the Bojangles fast-food restaurant on an opposite corner, following a public hearing.
*Adopted a resolution for a hazard mitigation plan similar to Johnston County's plan.
*Appointed Frank Ingram as a new Planning Board member to replace Philip Edwards.
*Agreed to write a resolution of thanks to his family for the work of the late Greg Tobolski, who covered the town board for the Princeton News Leader and who died Sept. 25.
*Agreed to consider a town Internet page.