Mark DeLap
Bladen Journal Editor
FROM THE EDITOR
It is Friday and I am getting ready to drop this editorial for print… with some news from the town.
The war in Elizabethtown may have reached some workable terms. As of today we have heard that both our town manager Dane Rideout and our town architecht, Rusty Worley are no longer working for the town and their positions are now vacant.
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times,” as I stated last week and some of my thoughts bear repeating.
As I was thinking about the last two years here in Bladen County and the feuding, the misunderstandings, the threats, the lawsuits it makes me sad. But what is worse is the lack of communication. The inability to confront conflict face to face. The tearing of the quilt of a community that so many have shared together and sought refuge under during stressful times.
As we are finally coming to the end of this tunnel and can see glimmers of light, rays of hope and promises of life going on into goodness and prosperity. I am hoping it will not be too little – too late.
Can we now stop in the grocery store with an old friend that for the last two years we have seen and walked our shopping cart the other way? Can we once again enjoy county functions together and hang around after the parades – perhaps grabbing a lemonade and a table for lunch?
Will we be able to turn up the corners of our mouth into sincere smiles in the midst of remembering what was spoken during the feud?
And will we be able to learn to talk about things other than the feud itself? Or, things that are positive. Things that are going forward. Can we speak of something powerful and life-changing that is being spoken by someone you once hated and share it with others as you lace it with admiration?
We called for a public meeting to find answers. We found answers. Oh, maybe not all of them – but enough to be able to make us come out of the darkness? Enough to look at someone of another persuasion, hug their neck and say “I’m so sorry this happened?”
Perhaps we can have a coming together luncheon in the park or at the Farmer’s Market – breaking bread together and lifting each other up so all of us can see the beauty that lies ahead.
Maybe it’s too soon. But the caution comes in letting the past and the unforgiven things fester.
Summer is coming upon us, Bladen County. This could be the greatest summer of our lives. This could be the best of times. I know that it will be what WE make it.
Can we come to a consensus that what we went through was a giant community life lesson? Can we agree that as a wound that is in process of being covered by a scar – we are stronger and smarter and wiser for having had the courage to pass through it? Have we written a road map for other communities in crisis?
Let yourself heal and then touch someone else’s life. Like lighting the candles at Advent – it can spread pretty quickly. And the light shines in the darkness and can not overcome it. And perhaps it’s that light that will show us a better path.
It’s now time to roll up our collective sleeves and find out the next steps to the agenda. One of the hot topics that is coming upon us all quickly is the proposed budget that needs to be shared, discussed and voted upon. As every budget meeting that must be made public, the date for the meeting has to be published.
We received many questions concerning the proposed budget. These questions were submitted to the Elizabethtown town council to be added as an agenda item, but they were not added. If the town, in fact is not going to add it to the public agenda, then we will add them here, because – yes it is that important. Hopefully there will be a new transparency in our local government. One that includes returned phone calls, less closed-session meetings and plenty of town hall meetings. Especially now in a time when our community needs to heal.
Questions about the proposed budget that public citizens have raised.
In preparation for the public hearing for the FY 2025/26 budget scheduled for the June meeting, below are concerns on the FY 25/26 proposed budget and would like justifications to support the revenues and expenditures.
The budget message states “To maintain current service levels and advance essential capital needs, this budget recommends the strategic use of $263,539 from the General Fund balance -(Fund Bal. Approp. – Powell Bill Funds) targeted toward identified needs in the Police, Fire, Public Works and Information Technology departments.
General Fund Revenues:
1) $72,016 – Police Miscellaneous – What revenues are classified under Police Miscellaneous revenue?
General Fund Expenditures:
Public Works:
1) Maint. & Repairs – Grounds – $102,000 ($12,000 increase) (Was this a 3-yr contract approved and amended in FY 24/25?)
Public Facilities:
1) Insurance – Prop – Liability – $52,000 ($44,000 increase) (Wasn’t there a 3-year contract approved last year moving the Town’s coverage from a local business to a business out of Town (Warren Insurance in Hope Mills $174,206 vs Lacy West Insurance – $132,216.53 – $2,373.29 less than the FY 23/24 Premium)? Why such a large increase?
Police:
1) Insurance – Prop – Liability – $18,000 ($5,000 increase) (Does the 3-year contract approved last year moving the Town’s coverage from a local business to an out of Town business (Warren Insurance in Hope Mills – $174,206 vs Lacy West Insurance – $132,216.53 – $2,373.29 less than the FY 23/24 Premium) include a Consumer Price Index?)
Fire:
1) Salaries – & Wages – Part-Time – $152,020 ($87,020 increase) Hiring a Part-time employee vs hiring a Full-time employee?
2) Insurance – Prop – Liability – $35,000 ($5,000 increase) (Does the 3-year contract approved last year moving the Town’s coverage from a local business to an out-of-Town business (Warren Insurance in Hope Mills – $174,206 vs Lacy West Insurance – $132,216.53 – $2,373.29 less than the FY 23/24 Premium) include a Consumer Price Index?)
Solid Waste: Expenditures
Service: Residential – $594,000 ($151,000 increase) – (Does the expenditures include the decrease in the cost to haul solid waste to Fayetteville and leaf/limb debris to Bladenboro and a Consumer Price Index?)
When will the citizens receive the credit for the decrease in rates when the Town’s cost to haul its solid waste and leaf/limb debris decreased from the rates implemented by the County in FY 24/25? Staff was instructed at the October 2024 meeting to determine what the decrease would be from amending the current solid waste contract and report back to the Board. at the November/December meeting.
Was the decrease the $14,000 you mentioned during the budget meeting and felt it wasn’t worth implementing the decrease? What formula was used for the $14,000 decrease based on? The increase from the County or the decrease from Waste Industries and the private contractor?) What is the proposed $151,000 increase based on?
Airport:
1) Repairs & Maint. – Buildings – $18,000 – Why isn’t this expenditure budgeted in the Airport’s Operating Budget?
2) Repairs & Maint – Grounds – $15,000 – Why isn’t this expenditure budgeted in the Airport’s Operating Budget?
3) Insurance – Property – Liability – $7,300 – Why isn’t this expenditure budgeted in the Airport’s Operating Budget?
4) Insurance – Vehicles – $425 – Why isn’t this expenditure budgeted in the Airport’s Operating Budget?
GENERAL FUND – Special Appropriations
Expenditures:
1) Interfund transfers – Local Match – $51,402 – ($20,000 increase) – What is local match for? What are Special Appropriations interfund transfer funds used for?
2) Performance Incentives – $5,000 – Who/what department/department head is eligible for Performance Incentives?
3) Airport Transfer – Local Match – $90,000 ($18,000 increase) Where will the Special Appropriation funds be transferred to and what is the local match used for?
4) Airport/Econ Commission Alloc. – $90,000 ($45,000 increase) What will the Special Appropriation funds for Airport/Econ Commission Alloc be used for? Is this the $45,000 lost from the County?
5) Contingency – $50,000 ($30,000 increase) What is the purpose of the increase?
UTILITY FUND
Water: Expenditures
1) Services – Other – $75,000 ($55,000 increase). What is the purpose of the increase?
2) Insurance – Prop- Liability – $26,000 ($13,000 increase) (Does the 3-year contract approved last year moving the Town’s coverage from a local business to an out-of-Town business (Warren Insurance in Hope Mills – $174,206 vs Lacy West Insurance – $132,216.53 – $2,373.29 less than the FY 23/24 Premium) include a Consumer Price Index?) Why such a large increase?
UTILITY FUND
Sewer Fund: Expenditures
1) Contracted Services – $90,000 ($70,000 increase) Are additional services being added? If so, what?
2) Insurance – Prop- Liability – $61,000 ($22,000 increase) (Does the 3-year contract approved last year moving the Town’s coverage from a local business to an out-of-Town business (Warren Insurance in Hope Mills – $174,206 vs Lacy West Insurance – $132,216.53 – $2,373.29 less than the FY 23/24 Premium) include a Consumer Price Index?) Why such a large increase?