ELLERBE — The Ellerbe Town Council meeting was short and to the point, with the council adopting the FY 2025-2026 amended budget and a resolution to adopt the 2026 Ellerbe Wastewater Asset Management Plan.
“The revenue went over 100%, so I had to find a department to even that out, so the revenue went over the burial/monument permit,” said Ellerbe Town Clerk Jane Smith.
Smith explained she is increasing the payment to Richmond County to $18,000, using the same department in which maintenance and fuel car expenses decreased from $8,000 to $4,000, and water supplies dropped from $65,007 to $51,007 to account for the $18,000. The Town of Ellerbe pays the water bill to the Richmond County Water Department.
“I won’t mess the revenue in the water department,” Smith said.
“Basically just moved the numbers around in the same department,” added Mayor Lee Berry.
Berry noted Smith said the water bill is around $9,000 a month.
“When we do the budget, we’ll make sure we allow that,” Berry said.
In addition, the council approved a resolution that reads:
“WHEREAS, the Town of Ellerbe has contracted with LKC Engineering, PLLC to complete a Capital Improvement Plan and Asset Management Plan for the purposes of detailing the wastewater system inventory, condition assessments, documentation of required improvements and the development of a plan to implement recommendations; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Improvement Plan and Asset Management Plan addresses the needs of the sewer collection system and lift stations for the Town and has documented each project with cost estimates; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Improvement Plan and Asset Management Plan included an inventory of system assets, review of all critical assets, manhole inspections, updated wastewater collection system map, and a condition assessment of system components; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Improvement Plan and Asset Management Plan also includes an Operation and Maintenance Plan for general system maintenance.”
The Town of Ellerbe will hold a budget meeting Thursday at 7 p.m.