MARION, N.C.,None — The Marion City Council agreed unanimously Tuesday to pay $11,600 to Robby Burgin of Burgin & Son Septic Tank Service for being on call regarding sewage at the new Grandview Station shopping center.
City officials said Burgin’s dedicated work and attention during that time prevented any serious problems from occurring at the site.
“The city did receive adequate service for him being on call,” said City Manager Bob Boyette. “His diligence with his service made sure we were in compliance.”
Last month, City Council met with Burgin, his wife Audrey and his father Ronnie. Burgin was hired by the city to pump and haul sewage from the new Grandview Station shopping center, where the new Walmart Supercenter is located, until the pump station could be constructed. During that time, his business pumped and hauled the sewer 58 times and was paid $150 for each load. The city had already paid him a total of $9,300 for the work.
But last month, Burgin asked the city for $11,600 as compensation for being on call for 116 days. After hearing his concerns, city officials agreed to talk this over more before making a decision. Council turned the matter over to the city’s Utility Committee, which is comprised of Mayor Steve Little, Councilwoman Juanita Doggett and Councilman Billy Martin.
On Friday, Jan. 27, city officials met with Audrey Burgin about the request for $11,600, or $100 a day. She represented her husband, who was unable to attend the meeting.
“I can tell you that Mrs. Burgin was very articulate, very knowledgeable about the subject matter,” said Little. “She did an excellent job in explaining the circumstances.”
The committee unanimously recommended that the money be paid in full.
Boyette added that Robby Burgin checked the site on a daily basis to make sure no problems occurred with the sewage. When something did occur, his number was the first to be called through the automatic dialing system.
“If it was something that needed attention, he would go ahead and pump,” said Boyette, adding a number of those calls turned out to be false alarms.
The $11,600 will paid out of the project’s budget, which is made up of grants and loans.
By hiring Burgin to do the work, it kept the Grandview Station project on schedule, said Boyette.
“We had to guarantee sewer service by a certain date and the only way to do that was by pumping and hauling,” he added.
Tuesday’s City Council meeting was the first one that Doggett attended since breaking her femur in a fall at her home on Jan. 3. The broken femur required her to undergo surgery and physical rehabilitation in Asheville. She is still recovering from the fall and is looking forward to becoming fully active again.
“I am doing well,” said Doggett. “I am getting better. It’s a healing process.”
In addition, Doggett was recently appointed to the Community and Economic Development Committee of the National League of Cities.
In other business, City Council:
-- Awarded the contract for the purchase of a truck to Stamey Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge. The local dealership submitted a low bid of $23,839 for a 2012 Jeep Wrangler truck. It will be used to get to the intake for both Mackey Creek and Clear Creek. To get to the intake, a truck has to travel over some very rough terrain, city officials said.
-- Voted to approve the city’s updated purchasing policy.
-- Talked about the lack of wireless Internet service in downtown Marion. For the past several weeks, the Wi-Fi system has been inoperative. Mayor Pro Tem Lloyd Cuthbertson said the service should be restored soon. “Why do we spend that money for something that’s not working?” he asked. Boyette said it has been down because the city is working to get a terms of use agreement for the wireless Internet service. The city’s attorneys at the law firm of Dameron, Burgin, Parker, Jackson, Wilde & Walker are working on getting the agreement done. Boyette said the staff would follow up on this.
-- Honored Kathy Rabb as the Citizen of the Month for February.