The newly elected members of the St. Pauls Board of Commissioners were sworn into office on Thursday, December 10, and after the ceremonies, they got right down to business.

Sworn in by Town Clerk Lou Espey were David Ayers, reelected to District 1, Sam McAllister reelected to District 2, Jerry Weindel, serving a first term for District 3, and Buck Terry, reelected to District 4.

The oaths of office were administered at the District Courtroom, and after a brief recess to give a chance for family and friends to congratulate the commissioners, work began in their meeting room.

Typically, December Town Board meetings are light, usually given over to appointments and so forth, but this one had some meat to it.

The Town got its preliminary annual Audit report from Bryon Scott of Thompsom, Price, and Scott. Mr.Scott reported that the Town received the highest possible rating, an unqualified opinion. He thanked the Town Office staff, saying “it is an honor and a privilege to work with the Town, Lou Espey and the entire staff have been very helpful.” Mr. Scott did point out three areas that he termed “problematic”: the tax collection rate, total property valuation (down), and that the water service is continuing to operate in the red.

The Town officially adopted two areas into the Town Limits, pending approval from the US Justice Department, which because of the Voting Rights Act, must approve any annexation in the South. If the Justice Dept. approves the annexation of portions of neighborhoods in the Alford Road area and the Highway 20 East area, these areas could be inside the town limits by the end of January.

In a related matter, the Board tabled for further study maintenance of wells for those few homes annexed that cannot be served by city water and whose wells must remain in operation.

Commissioners unanimously elected Sandy Cain as Mayor Pro Tempore, to sub for Mayor Buddy Westbrook should he not be available. She will serve a two year term.

Commissioners heard an impassioned plea from Jack Williams to honor its verbal, “gentleman’s agreement” to maintain the large ditch, which is at times visited by a large alligator, located on his property behind his home on Lafayette Street. The Town, which by law cannot clean private property, will research the initial agreement, and if such was made, will honor it.

Commissioners approved a request from the Carolina Ragin’ Wolves, an all female football team, to use the Hooks Community Center for meetings next year as it starts up organization.

Commissioners made a $500 donation to the Robeson County Sports Hall of Fame located near Pembroke.

Commissioners reappointed Mr. Terry to the Fireman’s Relief Board, Dewitt Rountree to the ABC Board, approved George Conners to replace Michelle Jolly on the Planning Board, and approved the revised assignments of committee members and chairs comprised by Town Board members.

The Town voted to publish the schedule of its meetings on its website.

The Board heard a request from Margaret Gardner to place a single wide manufactured home on her property at 628 N. Chapel Street, and voted 5-1, with Mr. Terry objecting, to approve a request for voluntary annexation of the property at the corner of W. Clark and S. Fifth streets, where La Roca Mexican Store is located.

The Board announced its decision to not certify the Sandhills Convenience Store as a restaurant with enough seating to qualify to sell on site consumption of beer. “We sent certified letters to Mr. Jimmy Robinson and Mr. Ruffin and they did not respond within the 72 hour time limit, “ Town Administrator Stuart Turille said. “Their request did not meet three out of four necessary requirements. It is neither a convenience store nor a restaurant, and they must remove all signage saying it is a restaurant and reduce seating.”

Perhaps the most important topic, that of St. Pauls possibly losing its ability to receive and page out emergency 911 calls, came up as an unscheduled agenda item. St. Pauls reaffirmed its quest to qualify as a Primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) so that it may continue to receive and page out emergency 911 calls, rather than have Robeson County do so in the very near future. The Town will ask the state to declare it a PSAP in January.

Commissioners also tabled for further study regulation of video gaming, studying square footage and fees per machine.

The Town received the good news that its request to extend sewer service to the Industrial Park site on Highway 20 West has been voted the #1 priority by a county study group of those applicants seeking funding from the Golden Leaf Foundation. There has been no word on whether the Foundation will follow the voting order in awarding grant monies.