Richlands aldermen approve ONWASA governance change, duplex permit and vehicle funding; split on NCDOT speed resolution

RICHLANDS, N.C. — The Richlands Board of Aldermen on Sept. 16 approved several items aimed at operational continuity and local infrastructure, including a governance change for the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority, a special‑use permit for a residential duplex, and budget moves to fund town vehicles. The board also approved a North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) municipal speed‑limit resolution by a 3–1 vote after members sought clarification on two line items.

Royce Bennett, chairman of the ONWASA Board of Directors, told the Richlands board the proposed amendment to ONWASA’s Articles of Incorporation would allow member governments to appoint non‑elected directors to three‑year terms. Bennett said the change would guard against what he described as “the possibility of a 75% turnover of the board in one year,” an outcome the ONWASA board considers poor business practice. The Richlands board voted to adopt the resolution authorizing the change.

Town Administrator Gregg Whitehead presented a special‑use permit application from Daniel Jacoby to build a duplex at 119 Comfort Road (Onslow County Tax Parcel #43D‑1). Whitehead told the board the application appeared complete and that a duplex is an allowed special use in the R‑8 Residential District. Jacoby said he possesses adjacent property and supplied a written statement from Janice Harrison asserting the adjacent home’s value would not be affected. Alderman Marilyn Bunce moved to approve the permit; Alderman Tom Brown seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Whitehead also summarized NCDOT’s requested edits to a previously proposed municipal speed‑limit ordinance. He read from an NCDOT email explaining that two added items reference a deleted state road (SR) number and “do not involve any change in speed limit for the 45‑mph road section.” Several board members asked for clarification from NCDOT about the wording in items 6 and 7 before finalizing the change. The board nevertheless approved Resolution 2025‑06 with three ayes (Bunce, Koonce, Conner) and one nay (Brown).

On budget and equipment, the board approved Budget Amendments #6 and #7 to budget $87,316 in installment‑purchase funds to buy a patrol vehicle and a pickup truck and to move the first year’s installment payment from capital outlay to debt service. The board also voted to proceed with Duke Energy’s recommendation to install 26 new 70‑watt streetlights at an estimated monthly cost of $9.50 per light (about $247 per month total).

Chief William A. Horne reported personnel changes in the police department: one officer resigned to take a position with the Kinston Police Department, Sergeant Sandoval moved to part‑time reserve status, and the department is processing a lateral transfer applicant. Horne also said the department continues to address traffic complaints, with Officer Lessner running radar on Foy and Wilmington streets.

During public comment, resident Rob Enebrad urged the board to consider traffic calming near Trexler and to add no‑parking signage on North Nicholson to ease school‑pickup congestion. “There is a need for a speed bump near Trexler to help slow down traffic,” Enebrad said, and he praised the response of Officer Lessner and the Student Resource Officer.

The board instructed the clerk to investigate two voluntary annexation petitions — one approximately 126.64 acres along Francktown Road (Carolina Sapphire) and another about 67 acres along Gum Branch Road (Mercer Mills adjacent to Richlands High School) — to determine whether to schedule public hearings on annexation. The board also received estimates to improve board room acoustics ($24,000 for shotgun microphones, $30,000 for wireless microphones, and $14,000 for acoustic tiles) for possible future budgeting.

With no further business, the board adjourned at 7:00 p.m.