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Town, MOC to discuss development plan
SWHS student serves as Page in NC House of Representatives
Four MOC students earn scholarships
Calypso gets $200K in rural development grants
Wayne Co. schools unveil plans for ‘going green’
Duplin school board, commissioners hire lawyers
130 MPH chase ends in arrest
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Town's motor vehicle fleet goes high voltage
By William Holloman, staff writer
The Town of Mount Olive has a new ride in its vehicular fleet, and this one never stops for gas.
Town officials took the wraps off the $12,000 electric mini truck at Monday night’s brief routine business session of town commissioners.
And, the brand spanking new ride was set up where it could be seen and as folks milled around the entrance of town hall they were “oooing” and “aaaaahing” at the sight of the strange contraption that can run 40 miles on a single overnight charge.
The vehicle will be used for meter reading and that sort of thing, said town manager Charles Brown.
It was purchased to aid the town in the gas crunch battle- instead of purchasing the usual small type pickup truck.
It has a speed of 25 miles per hour and was purchased from a dealer in Greenville.
It is manufactured by the GEM (Global Electric Motors) car company.
Official say as far as they know it is the first one purchased by a municipality in Wayne County, but that will most like be a temporary distinction.
“I think I am looking at the future,” said town commissioner Kenny Talton when he saw the new vehicle.
He said he will be interested to see the savings after one year.
Town commissioner Gene Lee called it a good investment and something good for the town in the ongoing effort to keep taxes down.
In other Monday night board action, there was no opposition or discussion on three scheduled public hearings.
And, commissioners officially approved a resolution on a lease/purchase agreement for buying two new police vehicles at a cost of approximately $33,000.
The money has already been budgeted.
The new cars are Chevrolet Impalas instead of the larger Ford Crown Victorias.
Two of the public hearings were routine formalities in the town’s ongoing grant effort participation.
They approved resolutions on both, one for the 2008 Community Development Block Grant Program and the other for a $2.1 million Clean Water Bond grant expected to get approval in October.
The Block Grant program again is for $75,000 to continue the town’s effort to provide financial assistance to qualified residents for hooking up to the town’s water/sewer system.
Town ordinance requires all residents to be hooked up, but town manager Charles Brown says there are still 22 citizens who are not hooked to the system.
The grant provides the financial assistance to assist qualified residents, usually up to about $1,000.
Under the just-ending block grant program, also for $75,000, 17 residents were assisted.
The Clean Water Bond grant being sought by the town is money planned for running a major sewer line down NC Highway 55 from the old Burlington Plant to the town’s wastewater treatment plant.
The other public hearing was a request from Betty’s Drug Store on North Breazeale Avenue for a zoning classification change from A&R (agricultural/residential) to C-2 Heavy Commercial.
And, in recent days there have been three separate assault incidents on North Center Street.
Town manager Charles Brown brought board members up to date about the complaint.
He said the assailant has been identified and is a mockingbird.
It has been turned over to the police department, but Chief Ralph Schroeder made it clear he did not want to comment on the pending investigation.
Thieves clean out backyard, $6000 worth
TOP AREA JOBS The Town of Calypso has an opening for a full-time Public Works Grade I Associate ...
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