Council begins preparations for annual clean-up initiative

"Peachy Clean Day" will be held in the City of Lincoln and Lincoln County on Saturday, April 21.

The announcement was made at the regular meeting of the Lincolnton City Council held Monday, April 9.

According to Mayor Dwaine Biggerstaff, volunteers are asked to meet at the Lincoln County Courthouse at 8 a.m. to receive their assignments. "We are going to pick up as much trash as we can with as many volunteers as we can muster."

He went on to encourage all local residents to take part in the clean-up initiative which is sponsored annually by the city, the county, and the Lincolnton Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce.

In other business, the council:

.. Heard Mayor Biggerstaff introduce Brett McGuire, a candidate for the state senate, to those present.

In his comments, McGuire noted that he served as Senator Jim Whitehead's campaign manager when Whitehead challenged Joey Brush for the 24th District senate seat three years ago.

"I like the way Senator Whitehead has represented us," stated the candidate. "And I will continue to represent the 24th District as Jim Whitehead has done. I'm familiar with the territory, the legislative issues, and the players."

McGuire further indicated that since he is retired, he has the time and dedication the position deserves.

Whitehead will be leaving the senate to run for the congressional seat vacated by the passing of Congressman Charlie Norwood.

.. Heard the mayor read a note from the family of Congressman Norwood thanking the city for remembering the congressman at the time of his death.

.. Heard Biggerstaff read a note from Carol Olson, science fair coordinator at LCES, thanking the city for its support of the school's annual science and engineering fair.

.. Heard the mayor commend and thank the Lincolnton Police Department for its role in solving two recent robberies, one at Farmers & Merchants Bank and the other at the night depository at Farmers State Bank.

"The police department was instrumental in solving these crimes," stated Mayor Biggerstaff. "Our officers are well-trained and do a good job. We can't say enough about them."

.. Heard the mayor ask those present to keep Councilman Dwain Moss and his family in their prayers.

annual clean-up initiative

Moss is dealing with illness as well as a death in his family.

.. Heard Mayor Biggerstaff read the Water Department Report in the absence of Superintendent Stanley Parton.

According to the mayor, "With some warm weather in March, we experienced an increase in water production. The totals climbed from 10.14 million gallons in February to 11.81 million gallons in March."

In other items of information, Biggerstaff reported that one of the submersible return activated sludge (RAS) pumps at the wastewater treatment plant had burned up, and the city was paying roughly $5,400 for a new one. "I don't like to spend that much money, but there isn't a whole lot we can do about it," the mayor remarked.

The pump was about eight years old and did not have a moisture sensor on it to protect the motor.

"When it gets drier and the waste load decreases, we will put a sensor on the other sludge pump so it won't burn up, too," Biggerstaff said.

.. Voted to approve a contract to accept from 52 to 56 sewerage customers from The Retreat on Clark's Hill Lake, a subdivision on the Mc- Cormick Highway under development by Lee Builders, Inc.

The contract calls for the developers to cover the cost of installing the sewer lines, using the city's engineering firm, G. Ben Turnipseed Engineers.

It was pointed out that the city will most likely be expanding its wastewater treatment plant relatively soon so capacity should not be an issue. The current sewer line reconditioning project will also serve to increase capacity at the plant.

.. Voted to approve a contract to accept 30 residential sewerage customers on Old Petersburg Road as well as customers in the Lincoln County Industrial Park. Although the city is already treating the sewerage from these customers, there was no contract in effect.

"This contract is not an open-ended thing - it gives the city council the authority to limit the amount of sewerage it will accept," said Mayor Biggerstaff. "If anybody else wants to hook on, the city has to approve it."

Once the council receives the rate projections from city engineer Kenny Green, the contract will be forwarded to the county.

.. Voted to accept a request made by Joey Joiner to annex 5.8 acres on Highway 79 into the city. The parcel shares a boundary with the city on the south side.

.. Voted to accept a request made by Steven and Beth Dawkins to annex 24.97 acres on the McCormick Highway into the city. Over half of the property is already inside the city limits.

.. Heard Mayor Biggerstaff give an update on the renovations being made to the Lincolnton Clubhouse.

The next regular meeting of the mayor and council will be held Monday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.