In a 3-1 vote, Spring Lake commissioners on Monday night approved a $639,800 budget amendment that allocates funding for ongoing street and stormwater system repairs and the installation of new drive-up kiosks where town residents can pay their water bills.
Presented at the meeting by Finance Director James Overton, the amendment allocates nearly $475,000 in Powell Bill funds to complete revitalization projects throughout the town. In June, commissioners awarded a contract to Highland Paving to resurface Third Street, which runs parallel to North Bragg Boulevard. The Powell Bill is a street aid program administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to assist municipalities in maintaining their roads and streets. The amendment also allocates $165,000 to be used for stormwater system improvements on Hedgemoor Circle, located in northwest Spring Lake.
Commissioners also approved $78,000 for an outstanding purchase order for two 24-hour drive-up kiosks that will allow Spring Lake residents to pay their water bills. Overton explained that $58,000 of this sum covers the cost of the kiosks themselves, and the additional $20,000 will pay for their shipping and installation.
In addition to online bill payment options available through the Town of Spring Lake app, the kiosks will allow residents more accessibility when paying their bills. Town Manager Jon Rorie explained that these options will eliminate the need for a drive-through customer service window. Overton added that residents will still have the option to pay their bills and receive customer service inside town hall.
Commissioner Robyn Chadwick — the only commissioner who voted against the budget amendment — voiced concern about the possibility that the kiosks would eliminate jobs in the town’s water department. She also questioned whether the kiosks will impact resources and customer service to residents that have disabilities or require ADA assistance.
While Rorie said some of the positions would be eliminated, he did not specify how many or what roles.
“The goal is to convert some of the dollars used, to go back into our system” to fix ongoing water and sewer repair projects around Spring Lake, Rorie said. He did not specify the amount of money that would be reinvested.
Without assurance that customer service workers could be assigned other positions should their jobs be eliminated, Chadwick said she could not support the amendment.
“I mean, I’m all for technology and I do believe that technology is good,” Chadwick said. “But at the same time, we talk about economic development. It’s going to eliminate somebody’s job.”
The next Spring Lake Board of Commissioners meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22 at Spring Lake Town Hall, 300 Ruth St.
