Robbinsville – “At risk” Town of Robbinsville utilities are in line for several million dollars in grant money to restore and retrofit systems, town engineerings Joel Storrow told the Board of Aldermen at its Feb. 2 meeting.
Aldermen were advised that 43 percent of the city’s water usage is unaccounted for, at a loss of $38,000 in revenue. Faulty water meters were blamed.
Meanwhile, an offline water treatment plant off of Tallulah Creek stands to get $1.2 million ($100,000 thanks to an N.C. House bill and $1.1 million thanks to an N.C. Senate bill) to retrofit it and bring it back online. The plant was shut down after contamination in the nearby creek was discovered several years ago.
Storrow – representing McGill Associates of Asheville – advised the town also convert to an automated water meter system to improve revenue collection, and to add a storage tank and pump so that wells along Long Creek are more effectively distributed in the water system.
In total, nearly $2.973 million in grants are available from the Economic Development Administration and other sources to help Robbinsville restore its water facilities.
Meanwhile, “the town is at risk from a utility standpoint,” Storrow said.
The necessary funding will be 100 percent grant money, he said.
“I don’t know how we’d be able to afford this project without this,” he said.
Other news and notes
* Speed humps: Now that speed humps have been installed on Ford Street – following a petition by residents and businesses along that street – residents on Atoah and Circle streets are seeking help from the city.
Circle Street runs from Junaluska Drive north to just before Moose Branch Road, where it circles back to North Main Street. Atoah Street runs from Circle Street and becomes Snowbird Road at Junaluska Drive.
Both streets are primarily residential and are often used as cut-throughs to N.C. Highway 143. Speeding is common.
“For some reason, they feel a need to speed,” some one Atoah Street resident. “That’s our front yard.”
The Board of Aldermen accepted a petition from the Ford Street community in January and a short time later installed three speed humps on that connector between Main Street and Rodney Orr Bypass. The board also reduced the speed limit from 35 mph to 20 mph.
Hearing similar complaints, Alderman Brian “Taco” Johnson advised residents of the two streets to petition their neighbors and present the results to the Board of Aldermen for consideration.
“We should be able to take care of it,” he said.
* Public hearing scheduled: The Robbinsville Town Council will conduct a public hearing at the Town Hall on Wednesday, March 2 at the regularly scheduled meeting, concerning a proposed ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances by adding a new section that permits the purchase, possession and consumption of malt beverages and unfortified wine at special events provided that the town permitting procedures for special events are followed. The meeting starts at 1 p.m.
A detailed copy of the resolution may be obtained in Town Hall at 4 Court St.
* Missing cell phone: City officials still don’t know the location of the cell phone used by previous mayor Steve Hooper. Wherever it is, the iPhone 12 is worth $699, but has been cancelled and can’t be used. Mayor Adams has not asked for a town-issued cell phone.
* Forgiveness: An absentee property owner asked the board to forgive a bill, after 11,000 gallons of water ran through a toilet unnoticed over a one-month period. The property owner said the house belonged to her mother-in-law and had zero gallons one month, 30 gallons the next, before 11,000 gallons ran through the faulty toilet. The board voted to forgive the bill.
Another resident had her purse stolen and was forced to order a replacement credit card – the one she used to automatically pay her water bill.
“Mine’s been automatic and always been paid,” she said. She asked the board to forgive $55 in late fees and a $150 reconnection fee. The board voted 2-1 to forgive the fees, with Alderman Bryan “Taco” Johnson voting against it.
* Election board bill: The Graham County Board of Elections sent the town a $6,425 invoice to pay for the November town election. The town had budgeted $4,500 and had to sharpen its pencil to make up the difference. Most of the excess will be paid by funds unused during the Christmas parade and Halloween candy event, which were under budget.