The Town of Aberdeen amended the town’s compensation program to offer cash and paid leave for taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Full-time and permanent part-time employees are eligible to receive $300. Full-time employees will receive 16 hours of paid leave, and permanent part-time employees receive 8 hours. The incentives are available when they provide proof of vaccination by Sept. 17.
Town Manager Paul Sabiston said during the town council meeting on Monday he wanted to respect people’s choices but wanted to encourage employees.
The cash and paid leave expenses will be paid through the American Rescue Plan Act. The incentive program will cost between $22,000 to $30,000, and the town has received $1.25 million and will receive the same amount in 2022.
During a public hearing at the council meeting, the town heard complaints from two citizens about dust and noise in the area of 156 W. Maple Ave. A & J Transport, Inc. leases the area from Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad Company to transfer agricultural lime powder from trains to trucks. Citizens said plumes of lime dust swirl through the air and cover foliage, roads and walkways with the white dust.
Town attorney T.C. Morphis said the town will discuss enforcement of a remedy in a closed session.
Sabiston said after the matter is resolved, the minutes from the closed session will be available to the public.
During the fiscal year 2020-21 finance discussion, Finance Director Butch Watson said the general fund for fiscal year 2020-21 had a preliminary net income of $1,416,605.59.
“When you add the most recent sales tax receipts and other smaller receipts, the preliminary net income increases to a little over $1,720,000. The town collected $2,603,244.97 in sales tax revenues versus the budgeted sales tax revenue of $1,795,000, which was 45.03% above budget,” Watson said in an email to Sandhills Sentinel. “The water and sewer fund preliminary net income for fiscal year 2020-21 was $343,651.03.”
The town is looking good financially, according to Watson.
The town annexed two tracts of land, with some already in town limits, totaling 131.7 acres for Martin Farms subdivision with Kidder Construction from Banner Elk, North Carolina.
The future Martin Farms subdivision locations are shown in Tract 1 and Tract 2 on the zoning map August 23 at the Town of Aberdeen’s regular meeting.
The subdivision will have road frontage on Roseland Road, Rowe Avenue, and NC Hwy. 5.
The land was zoned for planned development in 2020.
The 2007 Sandy Springs subdivision will expand to include 3.4 acres annexed into the town. NC Evergreen Development, LLC made the annexation request for the vacant land east of Midsummer Street.
Sandy Springs subdivision will develop the parcel outlined in red now that the town has annexed the parcel at its August 23 meeting.
The newly annexed parcel will be accessed from Pee Dee Road, and it is zoned for single-family residential.
The code of ordinances was amended to allow a board member or public works director to post a speed limit sign to be enforced by police. The amendment makes the procedurals effective and the town will keep a log.
Mayor Robert Farrell asked about speeding on Poplar Street, and Sabiston said there had been no new signs yet. The brush had been cleared from the existing signs.
Farrell asked about rumble strips and said since Poplar was a state road, they should consider the strips. Farrell asked about blinking signs rented from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and also said that he had seen speeders disregard the blinking light’s warning to slow down.
Public Works Director Harold Watts said he will provide a cost-effective worksheet at the next meeting.
The town agreed to close 200 feet of Tarbell Street for The Market Collective when hosting events for The Night Market at Soiree on South Street where alcohol will be served. The monthly events are described on its Facebook page as family-friendly and open to the public with games, food trucks, vendors and live music.
Dates for the road closure follow:
Sept. 16, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Oct. 21, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Nov. 18, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dec. 16, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Stephanie M. Sellers. Contact her at [email protected].
All photos provided by the Town of Aberdeen.
