The Robbins Board of Commissioners tackled a mix of infrastructure upgrades and downtown concerns during its January meeting, advancing a major water system improvement project while also weighing new approaches to litter control, property use, and community partnerships aimed at easing long-term costs and improving town services.
Water and Infrastructure Upgrades
The board moved forward with a long-awaited water infrastructure project and considered a new partnership with local businesses to manage downtown litter during its January meeting.
John Grey, representing the Wooten Company, informed the board that a major water system improvement project is scheduled to begin field work on Jan. 19. The project focuses on replacing aging water lines along Hemp Extension, Middleton Street, Elm Street, and Fousher Street.
According to Grey, the upgrades include the installation of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. This technology will replace 588 residential meters, providing Town Hall with instantaneous data and allowing residents to monitor their own water usage.
“I think there is a lot of excitement about the potential of that system coming in,” Grey said.
One of the biggest advantages is the ability to detect leaks immediately. The system can flag a household with continuous water flow for 24 hours, allowing the town to alert the resident before they receive a massive bill.
The town will no longer need to send staff to manually read meters or “cut off” water at the street level. The new valves allow for remote service management, which saves on fuel and labor costs.
The total cost of the project is estimated to come in at over $4 million.
The project is funded through a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality grant via the American Recovery Plan Act. Grey noted that the budget includes a $176,000 contingency. If those funds remain at the end of the project, the town may use them to replace larger commercial and industrial meters.
Contractors from ELJ Incorporated expect to complete the work by the end of June. The process will involve “bore and jack” maneuvers to install pipes under Department of Transportation roads and railroad tracks without disrupting the surface.
Residents were warned to expect brief water outages during the final switch from old lines to new ones, though Gray assured the board that businesses would receive ample notice for any planned shutdowns.
Legal Clarification on Town Property
The board also addressed confusion regarding the potential sale of the old police station to the Northern Moore Family Resource Center (NMFRC). Town attorney Albert Benshoff clarified that while a “use agreement” exists, there is currently no valid contract for the sale of the property.
The town had decided to sell the property to NMFRC for $1 in September.
Benshoff explained that North Carolina statutes regarding the sale of municipal property are strict: any previous written offers have expired, and a new, written contract must be established before the town can move forward with a closing.
“If somebody wants to buy the old police station, they need to be under contract,” said Benshoff simply. “You don’t have conveyances without a contract.”
The board expressed its continued intent to proceed with the conveyance once the proper legal documents are drafted.
Downtown Maintenance Proposal
Commissioner Gilbert introduced a proposal to place up to eight new trash cans along Salisbury and Middleton streets to combat litter following town events.
To manage the cost and labor, Gilbert suggested a “win-win” partnership with local business owners. Under the plan, businesses would take responsibility for emptying the cans in exchange for having their signs placed on them and receiving a waiver for their $14 monthly garbage fee. If a business fails to maintain its assigned station, the fee would be reinstated for that month.
“The workers come through and do a great job of cleaning the town before events, but there’s nothing that happens after events,” said Gilbert. “If you put it on that business owner and they get something in return for it, I think it’s a win-win for the town and for the businesses.”
The board plans to revisit the proposal during upcoming budget discussions.
Town Manager Updates
In the Manager’s Report, Town Manager Clint Mack highlighted a potential partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government.
The potential partnership comes after communication with the Moore County Economic Development Partnership. Students may take on a Robbins development plan as a class project, providing the town with economic data and demographic recommendations at little to no cost.
“Hopefully, with UNC’s expertise and community analysis, the partnership will greatly increase our chance of a successful redevelopment of the long-awaited Milikin site,” said Mack.
The meeting concluded with an announcement regarding the creation of a local volunteer chaplaincy program to support police and fire departments during difficult emergency calls.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Article by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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