CLARKTON — Linda Rivenbark, of the town of Clarkton Beautification Committee, came before the board during their special meeting Tuesday night with hopes to get approval on cleaning up a property.

“We have had contact with three contractors that are willing to clean that lot up,” she said.

The location that she is referring to is located on Graham Street, and has had the growth cut back from the power lines by the electric company.

“I don’t know when it could start, because if it is not hot, it is raining,” she said.

“I have an issue,” said Jerome Meyers. “The beautification committee, I understand that they want to make the town pretty, but if you get on private property, what happens with the property down the street?”

“I have nothing whatsoever to do with the property down the street,” she said. “This property was brought to the attention of the town board in a town meeting. We saw it in the Bladen Journal. We approached the property owners. They cannot physically nor financially afford to do it.”

There is also an abandoned vehicle on the property.

“My concern though is that there will be another individual that will expect the beautification committee to do this,” said Myers.

“They would have to come before you all,” said Rivenbark.

“I don’t really have a voice, but I have 10 houses that are popping up in my head right now,” said Chris Hall, the public works director.

“What we need to have is a big fire,” joked Lawrence McDougald.

Ultimately the board decided to not approve the committee, which is linked to the town, to clean up the property.

Linda Croom also came before the board to see about having something done to handle the water coming from the town into her property, causing wash-out concerns.

“We had 26 inches in Florence,” said Hall.

Hall explained that the flooding problems in Clarkton come from the swamp backing up, and when it gets full, the water backs into the canals, and back into the town.

“Once the swamp is full of water, it is full of water,” said Hall. “It just can’t take any more.

“The water has no choice but to back up into town, and that’s where we start seeing our drainage issue. It’s not that the water is not flowing out of town, it is just hitting a brick wall because the swamp can’t take any more.”

Currently the pipe that is draining the water off the street and into the canal is a 15-inch pipe, Hall explained, adding that previously someone had hacked a hole into the side of the larger pipe so it could drain into the canal that way. He also had a proposed solution that would cost approximately $5,000 to fix the issue.

The town has patched around the hole that was cut into the larger pipe. Hall said that there is not a piece that would connect the pipes correctly.

Rivenbark remarked that she had to pay for her drainage issue on her property.

Croom’s request was tabled until further evaluations can be made.

Other items that were approved included a four-year server lease with Hooks Computer which includes service. A letter from the Bladen County Board of Elections was also available for review and approval of a uniform allowance.

Emily M. Williams | Bladen Journal
Public Works Director Chris Hall spoke to the board at the Clarkton meeting Tuesday night to explain a possible solution to the flooding at the Linda Croom’s residence.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_20190709_183914.jpgEmily M. Williams | Bladen Journal
Public Works Director Chris Hall spoke to the board at the Clarkton meeting Tuesday night to explain a possible solution to the flooding at the Linda Croom’s residence.

Emily M. Williams

Bladen Journal

Emily M. Williams can be reached at 910-247-9133 or ewilliams@bladenjournal.com.