Mike Davis, left, Tri-County EMC general manager/CEO, was honored during the Monday night, March 3, town board session. The award was presented by Commissioner Vicky Darden, who established the program to recognize community service. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Former Mount Olive Commissioner Harley Carmichael, left, and his wife Della, right, were honored during the Monday night, March 3, town board session. The award was presented by Commissioner Vicky Darden, center, who established the program to recognize community service. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
It took the Mount Olive Town Board just under an hour Monday night, March 3, to handle its brief agenda that included honoring Mike Davis, Tri-County EMC general manager/CEO, and former town commissioner Harley Carmichael and his wife Della.
“I want to honor you — I tell you Tri-County, they give back to the community,” said Commissioner Vicky Darden, who established the program to recognize community service. “I want to thank you so much for what you do, how you do. Your team is awesome.
“I know some people don’t recognize that, but I want to give you a plaque to let you know how much I appreciate you.”
Town Clerk Sherry Davis read the certificates that were worded the same, except for the names.
“This certificate is proudly presented to Mike Davis. Thank you for your hard work and dedication for serving our community. Your outstanding contributions have not gone unnoticed.”
“I have two people, I don’t care whenever I call them to help me out and I just want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. That is Della and Mr. Carmichael.
“These are my backbone right here. I want to thank God for them.”
During the session the board:
— Reappointed Julie Beck, Sondra Russell and Nydia Lopez to two-year terms on the Mount Olive Planning Board.
— Approved an upset bid in the amount of $3,200 by Bobby Denning Properties, LLC for the purchase two lots at the corner of Gordon and Oliver streets.
The lots are jointly owned by the town and Wayne County. The $3,200 will be split between the two.
— Approved making Police Chief Jason Hughes a secondary check signer.
Manager’s report
In his comments, Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland provided updates on several projects including street signs, security cameras, road paving and street lights.
Holland said street signs have been ordered for the west side of Breazeale Avenue and the east side of Church Street.
“We are going to go from one side of town to the other, replace all the signs along these two streets,” he said. “Once we have done this, we will take a look to see how much money we have left in that line item. Then we will pick a couple of streets, maybe Main Street, then pick one that stretches across town further down on the south end.”
The idea, Holland added, is to create a grid across the entire town and work out from there to complete street identification.
“No matter which way you go, you will at least wind back up on a street so that you will have a starting point,” he said.
Holland joked that he had gotten out last week and even he had some problem getting around.
“So, I understand the importance of it,” he added. “Once we get this grid created then we will start trying to go in and fill in different areas so that we can start working our way up to cover all the town streets.”
Holland also addressed the street sign machine purchased over a year ago, but has yet to be used. The machine had been purchased with the idea that the town would be able to make its own street signs.
The town has contacted two local sign shops and a software company for assistance in training in how to use it.
The town also needs to determine how much it will cost to make the signs, he said.
“I can order signs for $45 apiece,” Holland added. “So, with that being the case, we are going to look real close as to whether or not we want to make signs, or do we just surplus the machine and move forward from there.”
According to Holland, over the past week there were more problems with iron and discolored water.
The discoloration was because the Boling water tank was cleaned and flushed, Holland explained. Some rust escaped and got out to the system, he said.
The issue should resolve within a couple of days, but anyone still having issues should call 919-658-9539 and a work order will be issued, Holland continued.
“I might get in trouble for this — if you call a commissioner or the mayor anyone else, if I do not have a work order, and I don’t have anything in writing how can I hold my team accountable,” Holland said. “So, please help me with this. Call the appropriate place and report it.
“If you don’t get an answer at the water department, call the town hall number, and we will get you to the right place or we will get the information and get a work order.”
The town is trying to implement a work order program, he said.
Holland encourages anyone calling for a work order to get the name of the person they talk to.
Two new security cameras are in place, he added, and the process was delayed because of inclement weather. Four more cameras will be added in the near future.
Holland said he could not provide an expected completion date because of various work, such as running internet to the poles, that still needs to be done. The interim town manager says he has a long list of roads that need to be paved, and the town now has three quotes on the work where it previously had only one.
The roads are the 200 block of Hillsboro Street; Dora Lane; Jefferson Street; Patton Street; Southwest Center Street from West Kornegay Street to West Kelly Street; the 100 block of East College Street; Robert Street; Michael Martin Road; and Meredith/Hillcrest Street.
“Please, now I am not telling you we are going to do work on all of these,” Holland said. “We are getting quotes on all of it. We are going to work on them based on the money we have available and how it is going to serve the community.”
A full list of street lighting needs have been identified with the help of Police Chief Jason Hughes.
Engineers are currently working on a quote for a short list of the following areas: 400 block of South Church Street; Connor and Kornegay streets; Elmore Street between James and Main streets; Gordon Street at the water plant; and Pollock Street between Elmore and Beems streets.
State Department of Transportation streets will take longer because of paperwork, Holland said.
As such doing South Church Street may not be a good idea at the moment, he said.
“We may bump that one and bring in a town street so we can move this project forward,” Holland said. “Then all of the ones we have on DOT roads, we will group those together at a later date. But for right now, we have just got to find out what the cost will be if we are going to get all of this done.”
