Town board makes Princeton a little bigger

While officially a called meeting for a budget public hearing, the Princeton Town Board increased town limits Monday night.
The board conducted a public hearing on the voluntary annexation request of B&M Leasing, who is developing the property next to Bojangles. As expected, without public comment, the property was annexed into town.
The board also discussed pursuing statutory annexation. The board had authorized a study by the Division of Community Assistance for a minimal expense to determine the costs of annexing certain notches in the town limits into town. Earlier this month, Mayor Don Rains had questioned whether they should be pursuing voluntary annexations versus statutory (forced) annexation.
Upon further advice from the Division of Community Assistance, the mayor agreed to waiting until the study is complete, expected in August, to move in any direction.
Police Chief Eddie Lewis reported that a dispute with the county animal control was resolved after he and the head of the department, Ernie Wilkinson, met and reviewed the town facilities.
Mr. Wilkinson assured Chief Lewis that the town facilities with slight modification would be adequate to house animals picked up for 24 hours, and that the county officers would pick them up from the town after the 24 hour holding period. Chief Lewis had feared that the town would have to invest several thousands of dollars to bring the town’s facilities up to state mandated standards.
He did note that technically the town dog cages were slightly smaller than the state standards, but if necessary, the cage could be stretched six inches to meet the standard if required.
A new roof will be needed for the dog pen, and cats will be kept in their smaller traps in an appropriate area for 24 hours, but Chief Lewis said the necessary changes could be made for minimal costs.
The board also approved application for a master planning grant for water and sewer. Mayor Rains asked that those plans include the costs to provide services to the Rains Mill Road area north of town.
Town Clerk Marla Ashworth also reported that she has still not been able to make connections with C.P. Thompson to help understand the administrative costs related to his assuming the building inspections for the town. She said she would be contacting the Town of Four Oaks, who Mr. Thompson also provides inspections for, to help determine the costs.