Town to help with WFR painting cost

The Littleton Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to provide $2,000 of the $6,000 cost to paint the outside of the Window Fashions Resource (WFR) building. The building is almost complete and should be turned over to WFR in a few weeks.

When Mayor Mason Hawfield was asked if the town could expect any more hidden problems, he told the meeting no. He commented that he had been through the building several times and asked many questions regarding any hidden cost. The painting was left out of the final contract to save money.  

Once the building is turned over to Lucynda and Don Yauger they will be responsible for landscaping the building. In an interview with Don last spring he told the Observer that they would be able to start operating 180 days after the building was turned over to them.

In other business at the meeting it was announced that there will be a public hearing on renaming East End Avenue to Sam Robinson Sr. Avenue. In December the request was brought up to rename the street but the board was not sure they could. According to Mayor Hawfield the street can be renamed if the town pays for the signs. The two signs that are needed will cost the town $85 each. The public hearing on renaming the street will be March 3 at 7 p.m.

Police Chief Mike Suggs gave an update on the grant request from NC Governors Highway Safety Program. The grant would be for the hiring of a drug and traffic police officer. Suggs informed the board that they must pass a resolution in support of the grant and file it with the request prior to March 1. 

If the grant is approved the town may not know until later this year and the money may not be available until early 2009. If approved the officer must spend the majority of his time on drug control and traffic. 

Suggs also revealed that he has sent out 13 letters under the new town odinance for abandoned, nuisance and junked motor vehicles. Of those request five have already moved their vehicles and two are seeking at least a limited appeal.

Commissioner Betty Willis explained to the board how the work on the town’s sewer system will be completed. The work will last for several more months. The town’s citizens can expect their streets to be dug up for a while. After the sewer work is done they have to wait until the ground settles before the streets can be repaved. 

Larry West Sunset Hills Cemetery caretaker asked the town board for some guidelines on what to do with flowers on the graves. Commissioner Willis pointed out that the responsibility of removing flowers after a funeral was up to the florist or the funeral home. It was recognized that there are several people who live outside the area and cannot keep the graves cleaned up. 

Commissioner Patrick MacRae told West that the flowers from Christmas should be removed by March 1 unless the family contacts MacRae for other arrangements. West told the board that the gravel roads within the cemetery should be built back up in several areas. They also discussed the trash can problems on cemetery grounds and the old house on the grounds.

MacRae reminded everyone that the trash cans are not for general public use. He also stated he would look into what could be done with the old house.

The board approved a motion to post and advertise the tax liens on town property.

The board went into closed session at the end of the meeting to discuss a legal matter. After returning to open session the meeting was adjourned.