By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ELLERBE — The town of Ellerbe knows just how to ring in the holiday season — with a special meeting to talk about sludge.
Town Clerk Jane Smith announced that Mayor Lee Berry and Town Council members will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, to discuss the lagoon. The meeting is open to the public.
Several years ago, town officials decided to do away with the lagoon and instead regionalize treatment of wastewater through the city of Rockingham. It’s a $6 million project that has been planned since at least 2008. The city of Rockingham, town of Ellerbe and Richmond County government, along with the Golden LEAF Foundation, all have contributed to the project.
At the town’s November public meeting, Councilman Buddy Cooper said the contract had expired on Sept. 1. Though the work was to be completed in June, “that didn’t happen,” Cooper said.
“They think until we make a decision on how we want to finish this project that instead of going into a contract with them … that i’ll be better for the town to go in on a monthly basis,” Cooper said.
The contract would pay the Lumber River Council of Governments $500 per month. The point person there is Jean Klein, planner.
Town attorney Bill Webb agreed that seemed to be a proper course of action.
“That’s a real fair way for them to go with this,” Webb said.
The issue was not mentioned during the council’s regular public meeting earlier this month.
Discussion