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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina |
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HeadlinesDelton Toler served his country in World War II Capps comes before election-eve Princeton Board Football: Grudge match ends in Princeton defeat, 39-13 Football: Princeton, Rosewood advance to playoffs Golf: PHS's Mileski takes 75th Cross-Country: Lady Dawgs at XC finals Student ambassadors team up with Habitat Veterans, bring your memorabilia to Princeton's Veterans Day celebration! Photos Football: Princeton at Rosewood Obituaries Movies American Gangster
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Capps comes before election-eve BoardBy Barry Merrill 7 November 2007 — It’s a tradition that town boards on the eve of an election try to avoid anything that might stir voters, so often the meetings are quick, to the point, and without meaningful decisions. Princeton resident Elmer Capps brought all the fireworks Monday night at the regular board meeting the town board would never have hoped for. Mr. Capps began by praising the board for their service, but then said the board was too busy to listen to the taxpayers. “The board and the town staff do not have the best interests of the citizens at heart.” He complained that the town’s emphasis on encouraging growth was hurting the town. “Bigger is not always better.” He acknowledged that he had raised many of the issues earlier, but asked the board to reconsider them. He suggested the town’s contract with Envirolink to maintain and oversee operation of the town’s wastewater treatment plant and water system was wasteful. He also said that grants the town has received ended up costing the town more money in future years. He particularly criticized policies that affected rental property owners. Mr. Capps maintains a number of rental properties in town. He noted that he had water hooked up at a house for contractors that were completing renovations. “Before the house is passing inspection to be cleared to rent, I am having to pay a water bill. That’s just not right. The board should not make someone have to pay a bill before the house is ready to rent.” He related a complaint from another landlord, Daniel Evans, who said he had received a “threatening letter” about furniture that had been left on the porch of one of his rental houses. Rather than Mr. Evans having to pay the town staff to clear the furniture, Mr. Capps helped Mr. Evans clear the furniture left by a renter. He said taxes should cover that. He said that he had called other area towns about picking up furniture, and all of the other area towns would pick up furniture without charge. He further complained that a house he had recently purchased from Larry Cox was “a solid, little house” that the town had designated for demolition under condemnation. He said that decision, he felt, was based on personalities or a power struggle. He asked the board to use common sense when dealing with citizens. He noted that while he could have a meter installed on the water used for his greenhouse to eliminate sewer charges on that water, that meter would benefit the town with the extra charge. The town, he said, should just compare his water bill with what it is in the off-season and adjust off the balance rather than require him to go through the expense to meter the amount of water. He said the policies of the town board has created a very bad reputation with a lot of people. “You all do anything you want to us.” He said many people will not move to Princeton because of the town board’s policies. When he completed his remarks, he asked to be immediately excused, as he had a granddaughter at home by herself. At the conclusion of the meeting, several board members responded to Mr. Capps’ complaints. Mayor Rains said that the town had worked with many property owners whose properties did not minimum standards, and while Mr. Cox had gotten permits to replace windows and fix the plumbing in the house to bring it up to minimum housing standards, he had not done any work over the year. The mayor said he knew Mr. Capps would do a good job on the house, and rather than having an eyesore and a home not fit for anyone, he would make sure the home would be a credit to the community. Commissioner Walter Martin commented that the board had twice done comparisons of the costs of contracting with Envirolink and hiring town workers to perform the work. One of the studies said Envirolink would be $40,000 cheaper, and the second continued to favor the contract. Town Administrator Marla Ashworth also said the plant has never been better maintained. Commissioner Eddie Haddock pointed out that the service Envirolink has provided when there have been inevitable problems has been most timely. He also noted that the town would be stretched to provide the continuous training required for staff to maintain certification to operate the plant. Mayor Rains also defended the water bill for contractors, saying they were water customers and should pay the bills. Commissioner David Starling asked the board to consider increasing no charge pick-ups. “If other towns are picking it up without charging extra, we owe it to our citizens and ourselves if they have figured out a way to do it.” Town Clerk Kay Earp said the town had sent a letter to Mr. Evans about furniture and many personal items that were left outside the home after a renter had moved out. The letter came after neighbors had complained to the town about the mess in the yard. She said the letter asked that he deal with the problem in the next ten days, and while it said the town would move the furniture and items for a fee, no fee was stated. Mrs. Ashworth added that when the town picks up a couch, the town crew has to take it to the shop to cut it up, and then has to take it to the landfill. While the town picks up some items, and periodically will pick up large white goods at no charge during clean-up drives, some residents at times will leave a half truck load out for pickup, and the town has a policy to charge for such large loads.
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