EAST SPENCER — The town has identified five more locations of suspected leaks and continues to look at its water losses, but it’s too soon to tell if that will prevent a proposed water and sewer rate hike.
The board delayed a decision on whether it would accept a recommended 8 percent increase at Monday night’s meeting. The increase would have helped recoup only half of what the water and sewer fund owes general fund.
The water and sewer fund borrowed from the general fund, but must now pay the money back.
The town meanwhile continues to work with the North Carolina Rural Water Association to identify where the town is losing water.
Mayor Barbara Mallett said at the meeting the town should receive some money into the water fund once those leaks are fixed.
Rural Water Association representatives were in town several times in July to look at possible areas. Representatives from Salisbury-Rowan Utilities, along with town staff, have reviewed all of the possible entrances at the Boral Brick site. They are also working to find out if there is unmetered water entering that site, said F.E. Isenhour, head of public works.
Town Administrator Macon Sammons Jr. has said despite a rehab of the aging water system, the town is still losing an estimated $100,000 worth of water a year.
The town replaced the old water lines about five years ago because they were leaking. Sammons has said the new pipes did help with water loss, but the town is looking at the possibility of needing to replace more water lines.
The board will:
• Create a list of streets in dire need of repaving or patching. The board identified three roads — Broad, Cedar and Long streets — that need to be addressed, along with Pine Tree Drive and Correll Street.
Isenhour, who also maintains the town’s code enforcement, said there is not enough money available to completely pave some streets, but he’s been in talks with the state about stretching some patching material.
Mallett said she’d like to see the patching and paving done before October.
• Continue a free feeding program that replaced its summer camp.
The camp was canceled because of low participation and the money paid by parents refunded. The town did take advantage of a free feeding program.
• Implement an after-hours electronic entry/exit system. All of the board members and staff were given a key fob so they can gain access into town hall after business hours. The doors to town hall will automatically lock. The system is programmable, said interim Police Chief Baxter Michael.
The town has also installed five new security cameras, one of which is in the lobby.
• Tabled a decision on whether police officers should be allowed to take patrol cars home. Alderwoman Tammy Corpening said she thought the matter had been addressed previously and a decision had been made, but other board members said no decision had been made.
Mallett recalled talking about whether to allow officers to take vehicles home, but no such policy had been written.
Sammons said the old policy allowed anyone who was subject to be called back in for an emergency to take the vehicle home.
Former police chief Darren Westmoreland was “very upset” because he saw it as an incentive to work for the town, Corpening said.
Town Clerk Anneissa Hyde said there was no public hearing held about the changes.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.