Mount Olive Town Board discusses resurfacing, honors firefighters
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on October 2, 2007 2:04 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Residents along Crest Drive might soon have relief from bumpy drives to and from their homes, as Mount Olive Town Board members discussed resurfacing the 200 block of the road at their meeting Monday.
Town Manager Charles Brown said $60,000 in Powell Bill Funds are left over from last year's budget, money that could be used to address issues on Crest and Martin Street, the "last unpaved area in Mount Olive."
"Both of those are in need of paving, badly," he said. "The money we have would take care of that."
The cost to resurface Crest would eclipse $26,000, Brown added, leaving just enough to pave Martin and complete drainage work along both.
But some residents who attended the meeting said Crest needs more attention.
Dorothy Evans was one of them.
She asked members of the board for an update on drainage issues along Crest and said she did not understand why the 100 block of the road would not be paved also.
Brown said plans to complete work on the road are in the discussion phase, that once more Powell Bill Funds are allocated, the 100 block would be addressed -- a project estimated to cost $70,000.
"If (the funds) are not already here, they are probably on the way," he said.
The board tabled the issue and is expected to hold a vote Nov. 8 to determine whether or not to begin the projects.
In other business:
* Police Chief Ralph Schroeder presented four members of the Mount Olive Fire Department with Letters of Commendation for acts of valor committed during the Sept. 9 incident in which three Seven Springs residents drowned in a creek.
Chief Steve Martin, Capt. Clifton Best, Capt. Jonathon Miller and Anthony Kelly attempted to rescue those in the submerged car, "putting themselves in harm's way," Schroeder said.
"I just though these guys needed to be recognized," he said.
* Mayor Ruff Huggins urged residents to conserve water and said conservation tips are available at Town Hall.
"Even though it is not a real big issue for us, it is serious all over the state," he said. "Let's try and do what we can."