TURKEY — Town officials voted Thursday to move forward with the debt setoff program carried over from January’s meeting. The program, according to officials, is designed to help the town collect funds from delinquent water bills, which the town has been writing off.

During January’s board meeting, town mayor Tim Clifton first introduced the debt reduction program, explaining the need to do a better job of collecting money owed to the town.

The company, which works with the League of Municipalities and whose program is already implemented in several towns within the county, will be able to collect overdue payments from delinquent accounts at no cost to the town, itself; however, those who find themselves toe to toe with the debt collectors will be charged an additional $15 per account.

“This is a charge coming from the company,” town clerk Sarah White clarified, adding, “The $15 won’t come back to the town.”

“There won’t be any charge to us ... they would be charging the customer $15,” Clifton asked town attorney Billy Sutton to clarify.

“That is what I understood,” he responded.

The debt abatement program targets accounts that are at least 60 days old and in the amount of $50 or more, Clifton reminded the board. He further added the company is capable of going back five years when seeking collection on overdue accounts.

While during January’s meeting White said there were only two accounts exceeding $50, with a grand total of $200 in delinquent fees for the year, delinquent accounts as far back as 2004 can be impacted.

Basically, Clifton reminded the board, it is a debt collection agency.

OCS Fee Increase

Town officials also voted Thursday night to continue the recycling bins service offered to 147 customers, however, those utilizing this service can expect a slight increase in their bill.

According to White and Clifton, while residents witnessed no charge for recycling, the landfill has been charging the Onslow Container Service, OCS, for dumping at the site. It will now become the responsibility of the customer to pay the 7 cent increase each month.

“The charge is just a few cents, so that is an incentive to go ahead with it,” Clifton explained to the board. “I think we need to be very conscience of recycling.”

However, even though the mayor believed it to be a positive charge for the customer to endure, not everyone was in agreement.

Commissioner Mike Smith asked how many residents actually recycle, and the mayor responded, “We know how many cans we have, but not how many people actually use them.” Clifton also expressed that of the 147 obtaining cans, he knew several residents who do regularly recycle.

But, whether the residents, with cans, were recycling or not was not the concern of Smith, who said, “What bothers me is that the landfill is profiting from the recycling by reselling it ... I know that for a fact. I think we should keep an eye on it.”

Calls made to Smith for clarification on this statement were not immediately returned.

Water Usage Report

Water System engineer Travis Anderson told board members last week that the water system is “doing pretty good.”

According to Anderson’s January reports, there was a water leak on East N.C. 24 near the end of town; however, the problem has since been addressed.

“We worked on the 24 leak and stopped it,” Anderson revealed, explaining that due to damp conditions underground, they have not been able to address the last mobile home obtaining water from this site, but were able to temporarily give them water.

Issues concerning well site 1 and 2 were also brought to the table.

“Number 2 is off-line and we are waiting for it to be fixed,” Anderson announced.

“Well site 2 is still off-line, but it is running on manual to supply water to customers,” White added.

After having to cut off well site 1, in order to flush the lines on Jan. 21, Anderson revealed, “Number 1 is doing fine with exception for the roof.”

Due to inclement weather and an increase in wind storms over the past few weeks, some minor damage to the well site 1 roof was reported; however, Anderson confirmed with Clifton that in the near future these will get fixed.

Anderson also requested the board provide dirt or rocks for the driveways at both well sites in order to make them accessible to larger trucks.

“So you just want them from the well to the gate ... about the width of my truck?” Clifton questioned Anderson, who told the mayor he was correct.

“The driveways do need some rock in them,” Clifton told the board. “I need a motion to get started doing it.”

“Who do you think should do it?” Smith asked in response.

“Whoever will do it the cheapest I guess ... do you have any suggestions?”

“I say do whatever it takes to get it fixed,” Smith voiced as the discussion was concluded with a motion, which was seconded and approved.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at (910) 592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@myclintonn.com