Employee pay and Brookdale Park highlight Williamston budget work session

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Williamston Town Council approved a $7.5 million budget Monday which includes a 9.12 millage increase on property taxes, a 10 percent increase in water/sewer rates and $1 increase on the garbage fee.
The new budget also includes a two percent across the board pay increase for Town employees and allows for an incentive or merit bonus or increase at the discretion of the mayor.
Total revenues and expenses in the 2023-24 budget will amount to $7,509,770, an increase of $1,409,770 over the $6.1 million budget for the current year.
Most of the discussion on the budget has been during two worksessions.
During a lengthy budget worksession held Friday with the entire council, there was considerable discussion regarding the allocation of additional revenue that would be generated by the increases in the millage rate, garbage fee and water rate.
Most of the tax millage increase will go toward the two percent pay increase included in the budget. Councilman Lee Cole also proposed raises for the Town’s clerk/treasurer, fire chief and the town attorney.
There was also discussion about allocating a certain amount for a performance incentive or merit based pay increase for employees that would be at the discretion of the mayor.
The mayor also wanted council to consider a new maintenance/mechanic position for someone to perform maintenance on town equipment and vehicles.
Mayor Rockey Burgess said he would like to purchase a speed trailer and requested $15,000 be allocated to purchase five FLOCK cameras that would be placed throughout the town. The cameras capture vehicle tags and information and run on solar power.
Mayor Burgess said work on the old restroom building at the entrance to Mineral Spring Park was underway and should be completed soon. Work includes epoxy floors, tin covered walls allowing easy cleanup and other improvements. The renovated facility will only be open during special events.
There was also considerable discussion about Brookdale Park. The restroom facility at the park has experienced ongoing problems with vandalism such as busted sinks.
Councilman Tony Hagood said the park has been neglected.
Mayor Burgess said that the basketball courts and goals have been upgraded and the town is looking at additional lighting and a fence for the park area to help discourage vandalism.
“Brookdale is the next step. We need to put together a plan,” the mayor said.
Councilman Cole said that a renewed Greenville Drive corridor is a priority for him. “We need a plan for Brookdale. We need to know what the community wants. It is a park at heart. I would like to see improvements but we do not know what the community wants.”
There was discussion about a manhole on the baseball field and a question as to whether that could be moved when infrastructure improvements, such as a sewer pump upgrade, are made.
Mayor Burgess said that a camera in the area is not functioning properly and that a priority for him is a new camera and lighting. He agreed the town needs a master plan for the area.