Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Benson board tables merchant-fee shift; approves sewer contracts, grant, body-worn camera policy and State Highway Patrol lease extension
Summary
On June 26 the Benson Board of Commissioners delayed a plan to shift merchant processing fees to utility customers until the town's new prepay billing system is ready, and approved consent items including sewer contracts with Wooten Company, acceptance of a grant for a new elevated storage tank, a body-worn camera policy for a code enforcement officer, and a three-year lease extension with the State Highway Patrol.
The Benson Board of Commissioners on June 26 voted to delay moving merchant processing fees onto utility customers until the town's new prepay billing system is operational, and approved a package of consent and contract items including sewer-line work, a grant acceptance and policy changes.
Town Manager Kim Pickett said staff recommended the town continue covering merchant processing fees "until the switchover is done," because there is no definitive date for the new prepay system. Commissioner William Neighbors moved to table the merchant-fee item "until there is a definitive date when prepay will be up and running," and the motion passed 5-0.
Why it matters: shifting merchant fees to customers would change how residents pay for utility transactions; the board's decision keeps current billing practice in place while staff finish the prepay implementation.
Key approvals and votes: the board approved its consent agenda, which included Ordinance 06-2025 (a zoning-map amendment), Project Ordinance Amendment #1 for street paving, Budget Amendment #2, and contracts for I-40 sewer-line work and sewer replacements on Lincoln Street and West Martin Street with Wooten Company. The consent agenda vote on the night the agenda change was recorded passed 4-0 (Commissioner Will Chandler was not present for that vote); a subsequent consent motion recorded passed 4-0 as listed in the minutes. The board also approved Budget Amendment #3 (motion by Commissioner William Neighbors), appointed Loretta Byrd and Hampton Whittington to the Cultural Arts Board (motion by Commissioner Will Chandler), and approved Resolution 261-2025 to accept a 2023 Appropriations Act Directed Projects Grant for a new elevated storage tank; recorded vote tallies for those actions were unanimous where stated.
Policy and lease actions: the board approved a body-worn camera (BWC) policy for a code enforcement officer after staff recommended the change; Pickett said the officer "is doing a wonderful job, he is polite" and that staff recommended the camera because the officer works in public-facing situations. The board also approved a three-year lease extension with the State Highway Patrol; Pickett said the rent was increased by 10% to an annual $6,232.26.
Manager transition and events: Pickett reminded the public that town offices would be closed July 4 and promoted a July 10 Sundown in Downtown concert featuring the Blackwater Band. She said this was her last official meeting with the town after 11 years, and expressed appreciation to the board and staff.
Other business: Mr. Godwin said he had filled in for special-use-permit work (for Ike Parker) though the permits did not occur and offered to relay concerns. Commissioner Will Chandler said he would miss Pickett and added that he felt the board is not taking sufficient time with consent agendas. The board later met in closed session pursuant to NCGS 143.318.11(a)(1) and returned to open session before adjourning at 8:52 p.m.
The board did not adopt any changes to merchant-fee policy on June 26; the matter was tabled pending a definitive date for the prepay system.
