Reprinted with permission of the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer
Tempers flared at the regular meeting of the Littleton Board of Commissioners Tuesday evening over an issue with the replacement of the town's sewer lines.
Gerleen Pitchford questioned the use of certain pipes for the residential sewer taps.
Pitchford sent a letter to the board dated June 1, 2010 in which she questioned the use of certain wye pipes for the new sewer taps that are being replaced with Community Development Block Grant monies.
Pitchford contends that a tee was used for her sewer tap when a combination wye was supposed to be used. She questions the contractor's, Annie's Construction of Henderson, N.C., use of specific pipes for the taps and the cost.
During the Citizens Concerns session, Pitchford spoke on this matter to the board.
Owner of Annie's Construction Fred Williamson addressed the board on the issue. At times he turned and spoke directly to Pitchford and stated that the state inspector approved 21 of the pipes he was using before something was mentioned. "I am insulted that anyone would say I tried to cheat them," Williamson said. He said he had actually paid for a more expensive pipe from his own pocket to help the town out with costs and that he was replacing the pipes in question.
Williamson turned his statements to one member of the board, cemetery commissioner Patrick MacRae, and accused the commissioner of making insinuations that Williamson was not honest to others about town.
Williamson told the board, specifically MacRae, "that every commissioner on the board needed to tend to their assigned and specific issue and let all the board do their job."
Town Attorney Gilbert Chichester at one point directed Williamson to aim his specific comments to the board only and did not allow him to specifically address Pitchford.
There was confusion about whether or not the pipes in question had been inspected by a county or state inspector. It was decided by the board that the matter would be further investigated and answers would be forthcoming to Pitchford and anyone else who may have questions.
In other matters, the board voted five to one to pay the bills for the month of May. MacRae voted against paying the bills because he had a problem with the dates and addresses on the presented receipts. There was also a question about who was responsible for a meter that was installed at a residence. The measure passed.
The board accepted donated property given to the town by the children of the late Mayor B. Mason Hawfield and his first wife, Ann. The building given is located on Main Street and will be named the Ann and Mason Hawfield Building and will, in the future, house the W.C. Jones Memorial Library. Mayor Willis said the building would also house a museum room.
The board passed a resolution to consider approving and awarding a construction contract to Williams Utilities Inc., of Wilson, N.C., for the purpose of constructing or rehabilitating its public treatment works for water supply and distribution systems described as abandoned, antiquated or unsafe.
The antiquated and abandoned lines will be replaced and hooked to existing 6 and 8-inch lines town wide to provide freer flow and help to decrease a dangerously high and unhealthy level of trihalomethane. It is determined that the construction of the new lines will also act to repair leaky water lines and conserve water usage.
The winning bid for the contract is a total cost of $139,565.
The board also asked that Littleton citizens be aware of possible underground water leaks in old and abandoned pipes.
Mayor Willis said that the location of many of the old water line pipes were unknown and they needed citizens to report any unusual standing water or puddles in order for any potential leakage to be found.
The board will hold a work session on its FY 2010-2011 budget June 14 and will present it for a public hearing June 21 at 5 p.m. The meeting was adjourned until the June 14 meeting.
