The Caledonia Board of Aldermen received updates Tuesday night on damages paid to two town residents who allege the water department crossed their properties without easements to make repairs.
Jim and Pam Robertson will receive $7,750, and Doug McConaha will receive $4,777.
Mayor George Gerhart expressed concerns that because the Robertsons and McConahas have still not granted easements, the same situation could happen again in the future.
The aldermen also received an update from Town Attorney Jeff Smith on a proposed water rate increase.
Smith said the Public Service Commission is still reviewing the submitted paperwork, but they should soon get word on when they can hold a public hearing to give residents a chance to give input on the issue.
In other matters, the town will be paying retroactive retirement to the state’s Public Employees’ Retirement System, at a rate of 14.26 percent, for several employees.
The town will pay $4,452.50 for town marshall Ben Kilgore, $1,288.40 for alderwoman Brenda Willis and $499.43 for deputy marshall John Peavey.
Smith said the rate will increase to 15.75 percent next year.
The aldermen also agreed unanimously to purchase a new computer for town clerk Judy Whitcomb. The computer, which will be purchased from M&M Enterprises of Columbus, will cost $963.32.
Whitcomb said her current computer is seven years old and has become painfully slow to use.
Gerhart also asked water department supervisor Benny Coleman to take more bids for the cleaning of the sludge pond on Old Wolfe Road, and the aldermen agreed to declare culverts stacked at Ola J. Pickett park as surplus so they can be either sold or removed.
Whitcomb told the aldermen that 26 spots remain for merchandise vendors and food vendors at the Caledonia Day festival Oct. 19-20.
So far, 55 merchandise vendors have applied for the 73 spots, and 20 food vendors have applied for the 28 spots.
The aldermen recessed until Oct. 16.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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