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Board asked for more transparency
WARSAW – Five residents signed up for public comment at the Town of Warsaw monthly town hall meeting. The first person to address the board was Teri Brinegar, she expressed concerns with vehicles speeding on Hill Street near the intersection with U.S. Highway 117.
“It is just a fairly dangerous strip of road right there… I hear them going down the street at an elevated speed,” said Brinegar, explaining that she can hear loud mufflers well into 2-3 in the morning. “Maybe it needs a noise ordinance… I don’t know what to do about that other than bring it up as a topic of concern.”
Brinegar shared that the night prior to the meeting, a boy crossing Center Street and Hill Street almost got hit by a car. “He had to stop and back up for the car that was coming fast down the street. He stepped toward the intersection again and the next car came up behind, and it turned in front of him and his dogs… The dogs could be the ones to take the hit. It could be a child. That is my concern,” said Brinegar. “I understand that it is a state road. I did not know if anything had been done as a change of jurisdiction since last year.”
She also shared that despite signs at both ends of the street that say no through trucks, she sees all types of farm equipment and Duplin County trucks on that road.
“My understanding is they are illegal because it is a state road and —it says no through trucks. The trucks that I’ve been seeing out there are Duplin County trucks. The speed up and down that road, I can hear them at the stoplight… I can hear them revving their engines. They come flying across there and fly down the street all the way to the end. It happens almost every day.”
Elizabeth Myer was next to address the board. She asked about reimbursement owed for repairs done to a sewer line in October 2023. She also asked for updates about stormwater repairs for East Plank Road.
“I wanted to get an update on if you are working on stormwater, the progress of that, because it is still flooding just as bad as it did before they started working on those lines in front of our house. I did not know if that was what they were working on. We did not have any notification of what they were doing out there, and the road is worse,” said Myer, adding that there are potholes at the corner of Plank and Center streets. “There are two dips in front of my house. It just sinks every now and then, the pavement goes away and now the corner’s torn up as well from that dip,” Myer explained.
Town Manager Lea Turner explained that they were putting a line there for an extension, but they are still doing work in that area.
The next person to address the board was Mrs. Marcus, among the items she brought to the board’s attention was the trash pick-up service. Marcus explained that the service providers do not pick up the trash bags if they are not inside the trash containers and the trash gets piled up. Marcus shared that the problem is worse during the holidays when trash is not picked up. “What are we supposed to do when we’ve got more trash that we should in the yard?” Marcus asked the board.
Currently the contract between the Town of Warsaw and the service company is for containerized trash. Turner explained that the contract they have with the company is for the contractor to pick up the trash that is in the trash containers, adding that it was up to the drivers if they pick up a trash bag that is on the ground.
“Occasionally they do pick up a bag here and there if it’s on the ground,” said Turner. “It is not in the contract for them to pick up anything outside of that can.”
Commissioner Ebony Wills-Wells proposed asking for a contract amendment to solve the problem. “The citizens should not be penalized if it’s my trash company and I decide not to come out to pick up trash because it’s the holidays,” said Commissioner Wills-Wells. “As citizens, we should not be penalized for the trash. I think the contract should be amended. We should not have to incur additional costs if they choose to not come out because it is a holiday.”
Marcus asked the board to consider these nuisances the next time a contractor is selected for trash services.
The next person who signed up for public comment was Marcella Mars. She asked the board for transparency explaining Warsaw residents would like to learn how they are servicing the town.
“If a citizen speaks about something we would like answers to, could the town manager come back with some kind of report, giving us information on these that are out there regarding what is going on in the town? Or could we consider getting committees together and let us, the citizens of Warsaw, be a solution to our problems that we have?” asked Mars. “We all know there’s a lot of things that go on in this town that need a lot of attention.”
Mars asked for committees to be formed so Warsaw residents could become aware of what is going on with the town and be able to get involved and help resolve issues. “All of our commissioners have full-time jobs or other things that they’re doing, and we have the brightest citizens that could help on the committees,” said Mars.
She also addressed her concerns about the company that is contracted to provide trash services. Mars has been waiting for eight months for a recyclable bin.
“You all voted to extend TOT’s contract,” said Mars. “Last April my name had to be put on a list because I was told that they did not have any. TOT has been a thorn on the citizens of Warsaw’s side ever since you hired them. They could not even pick up the trash when you hired them. They had to get the money from the town to buy trash cans, and they have not supplied the citizens with recyclable trash cans because they are not available. They do not have any. I think that you need to reconsider the contract, terminate it, and go back to waste management, because everybody cannot afford to drive to the county to take the trash that they do not take. If a bag sits beside a trash can, we need a trash company that can pick it up and during the holidays and on weekends, all the trash should be removed.”
Another resident expressed concerns about a camper on Pine Street that has been in the owner’s front yard for over a year. The town manager responded that the homeowner is doing remodels. According to the ordinance, residents can have a camper on their property if it is not for living purposes. There was some discussion as to whether someone was living in it or not and concerns about safety.
After public comment closed the board approved a budget amendment for repairs on Well #6, and a budget meeting was scheduled for Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.
Turner provided the manager’s update next. “This month, I have done two sign permits, four zoning permits, and one zoning compliance letter. We are currently working on a paving project and patching project. There will be more to come on that. As we make repairs, we will try to let everybody know what is coming so you can be aware of the streets that may be impassable or where you will have some delays,” said Turner. She also shared that she is working with Eastern Carolina Council to put together a Part F grant application.
“Due to the application being due in May, we have discussed our options, and we feel like it is best to go for a 2025 application. When I was first talking to them about 2024, I was informed we needed a new master plan because we are coming up on our 10-year mark with the master plan we currently have. Plus, we have made some changes to the original plan. So that is why we are asking to push that off to 2025,” said Turner. “That’ll also give us time to make sure that we have all of our meetings together and we have our community involvement.”
Commissioner Jack Hawes shared that he received a letter from Representative Greg Murphy offering his support. Hawes added that he was planning to talk to him about Warsaw’s water and sewer.
Mayor A.J. Connors thanked the fire department for their attendance and expressed his appreciation for the department and the volunteers.
“You don’t get a salary, but we do appreciate the work you do,” said Mayor Connors. “I was with a House representative this morning and he talked about hoping to help the fire department get more funding for what they are doing. Hopefully in the near days to come.”
The mayor also clarified that the recycling bins are available upon request.
“I have seen some of these recycling bins out in the middle of someone’s field, or people end up moving and leaving and those recycling bins sit there, and they deteriorate, or they leave them out their side of the street and end up getting run over at times.”
Mayor Connors shared that last year Public Works completed 6,465 stops for picking up limbs and debris on the side of the streets, completed 1,784 work orders fixing water leaks and other issues, and took care of 1,340-feet of drainage issues. He added that the Warsaw Police Department responded to 486 calls with issues ranging from arrests to traffic citations.
“I know that you want certain things to happen faster, but there is some reality to certain things
and how things were done in the 60s and 70s,” said Mayor Connors. “So many things are different from what they were 25 or 30 years ago.”
Mayor Connors concluded the meeting thanking residents for their patience and understanding.
The next town hall meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 12.
