Tar Heel Town Council Meets - February 1, 2011

Bethany Stephens
 
Tar Heel’s town council met Tuesday night at 7:30 for an informational meeting.  Due to one of the members of the council not attending the meeting, the council didn’t vote on anything but heard information from Andy Nichols of Nichols Buildings and Jim Perry of the Lumber River Council of Governments.  Andy Nichols presented the council with metal roofing options for the the town hall.  Nichols’ company has been in business for 34 years and specializes in building metal buildings, awnings, and flat top canopies.  Nichols quoted two prices to the council for Snap Lock metal roofing versus screw on panels.  He explained that the Snap Lock is really a better product but it is considerably more expensive than the screw on variety of panels, and both are very durable.  Mayor Ricky Martin asked Nichols about financing options, and Nichols explained that the best option would be to finance the project through a local bank.  Nichols explained that due to the nature of the steel business and its fluctuating prices, he can only guarantee the quotes provided for 15 days.  The council and mayor agreed to contact Nichols in that time period to let him know their decision.

Next, the council heard from Jim Perry, Director of the Lumber River Council of Governments.  Perry provided the council information needed if the town decides to eventually get sewer services for the town.  As a frame of reference, Perry explained how nearby towns, such as Dublin, handle their waste water.  The closest waste water treatments to Tar Heel would be Elizabethtown and Smithfield Foods, and an agreement would have to be reached with one of those treatment plans in order for the town to hook up to them.  The project would be very costly, but Perry explained that some funding could probably be acquired partially through both grants and loans.    In relation to Smithfield Foods’ water usage in particular, Perry explained that Bladen Bluffs Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant was mainly built in concern to the amount of ground water that Smithfield was pumping.  In order to preserve the ground water supply, the Surface Water Treatment Plant will treat water from the Cape Fear River.  Smithfields uses 2 million gallons daily out of the 30 million gallons that the plant can treat in a day.  Due to the plant’s ability to process so much water, surrounding towns could eventually benefit from using the water plant as well.  

Lastly, Martin and the council briefly touched on old business.  In addition to agreeing to contact Andy Nichols regarding the roofing quotes, Martin updated the council regarding a much needed street light that was put in place as well as logistics regarding a hearing the council needs to set up with the Employment Security Commission regarding a former council member’s application.