ELLERBE — Mayor Lee Berry announced commissioner assignments during the Ellerbe town meeting Monday evening.
Berry will oversee the budget, the town office and the Richmond County Steering Committee. John Sears Jr. will serve as mayor pro tem and oversee water and sewer services, the fire department and the Sheriff Department liaison. Jeremy McKenzie was assigned the Lumber River Council of Governments, software and technology, and invocation. Jean Fletcher will oversee the library and museum, serve as alternate to the Lumber River Council of Governments and coordinate Ellerbe Hometown Christmas. Heather Pack will oversee beautification, parks and recreation and will work with Fletcher on Ellerbe Hometown Christmas. Jimmy Bowles will oversee the sanitation department, street department and cemetery.
“I get a lot of calls on everything and I do answer them, but I also try to remind the people that are calling that we actually have a commissioner over that department,” said Berry to the council.
Berry said residents can call Ellerbe Town Hall to be connected with the designated commissioner for questions or concerns.
“I always tell them, if they don’t get their right answer or what they’re looking for, to call me back and I’ll be glad to handle it.”
“That’s what we’re on the board for, to handle this. I will handle whatever I have to handle every day,” Berry said.
The board also approved implementing NC811, a “call before you dig” service designed to prevent damage to underground utilities.
“I was approached by this when I was mayor 10 years ago, we talked about this, it did not pass. We really didn’t need it then,” said Berry.
Berry said Ellerbe has increased the amount of fiber-optic lines in town, and striking one could result in significant fines.
“Now that Ellerbe is full of fiber optic lines, Spectrum and RiverStreet — if we were to hit a main pedestal — this came to recommended by RivertStreet, Josh Richardson, we’re talking of $30-50,000 dollars if we as a town, hit a fiber optic line. We cannot afford to hit that main line,” Berry said.
Berry said NC811 charges by call and location, with a $100 monthly fee, or $1,200 annually.
“I’m suggesting that we join 811. If we have an emergency blowout, there is a number to call right then — they get somebody out in an hour or two. But if it’s something that we’re going to tomorrow, they can locate it, just like any other service, before we dig. There are fibre optic lines everywhere in Ellerbe,” Berry said.
The council unanimously approved joining NC811.