Mariel Williams
editor@mitchellnews.com
Although the department unexpectedly ran through its emergency repair budget recently, the Spruce Pine Water & Sewer Department had a budget surplus last month, according to a report by Finance Manager Crystal Young at the Town Council meeting last week.
“That’s an excess of revenues over expenditures of $254,528,” Young said. “The only thing with water and sewer [is] we have spent the funds that we set aside for emergency repairs. … Anything from here on out we’ll just pull out of our normal budget for maintenance.”
Over the summer an unexpected leak flooded the town’s McHone water pump station, requiring some $50,000 in repairs.
Donnie Staton of water and sewer treatment company Veolia North America also gave a report to the Spruce Pine council. Staton said he was pleased to hear the Water & Sewer department has a surplus.
“I didn’t know I’d left any money in the kitty,” he said.
Altogether, Staton said, the department had a good month in August.
“Here’s the biggie — it’s making ecstatic — we’re rehabbing McHone,” he said. “We’ve actually got both [new] pumps in now.”
Staton said he is trying to replace all the piping in the McHone pump station.
“I’m excited; this is the worst station we had,” he said. “It needed doing. … It’s really, really old.”
Previously, Town Manager Darlene Butler said that the McHone pump station had not been scheduled for major rehabilitation before the leak required emergency intervention.
Restaurant grease causes clogs
Staton noted that while the water system has been running well, the sewer system has had some problems with clogs owing to customers pouring excess grease down the drain.
“When you say there’s grease, is that from restaurants?” Council Member Jackie Rensink asked.
“Yes ma’am,” Staton said.
Staton said that it’s difficult to control grease problems.
“You can’t watch everybody, but you know you’ve got young people working at these restaurants,” he said. “People don’t take it seriously.”
Mayor Phillip Hise also said it would be difficult to monitor abuse of the sewer system.
“You can’t stand in the restaurant and watch them 24/7,” Hise said. “If you’ve got restaurants, you’ve got grease issues.”
Staton noted that some restaurants are more careful with the drainage system than others.
“The [Western Sizzlin’] steak house, they really take it seriously,” he said.
August finance report
Young reported that in August, Spruce Pine’s general fund had a deficit of $342,219.
“But we bill property taxes out now, so they’re starting to come in … that deficiency will continue to go down,” Young said.
Snorkel Trail
The council approved spending $1,000 on a sign noting that Spruce Pine is part of the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail.
“We gave permission by consensus last time … to allow these signs to be placed at Riverside and Riverbend [parks],” Rensink said. “The signs are a $1,000 a piece, and if I understand correctly the snorkel trail team will install those, and TDA [Mitchell County Tourism Development Authority] is paying for one of them — I propose that the town pay for the second one.”
Main Street Director Spencer Bost said that nonprofit corporation Downtown Spruce Pine has funding available for the $1,000 sign.
“We will cover it,” Bost said.
Personnel Policy
The council held the first public introduction of a new, revised personnel policy. The policy will not be voted on until its next meeting. There were no comments or questions on the policy.