Maxton commissioners approve aerator purchase

Tomeka Sinclair, The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C.
·2 min read

Aug. 19—MAXTON — Maxton commissioners amended the town's budget Tuesday to make room for the purchase of two aerators.

The commisioners during a July meeting approved a bid for the purchase and installation of the aerators for the town's Wastewater Plant. The town received one bid on the project from Carolina Welders of Laurinburg, who bid $53,446.50.

Aerators activate the "sludge process, promoting microbial growth in the wastewater," according to Water 7 Wastwater Digest. "The microbes then feed on organic material, forming flocks which easily settle out. Once settled in a separate settling tank, bacteria forming the "activated sludge" flocks are continually recirculated back to the aeration basin, increasing decomposition rates."

Water and Wastewater Director Dennis Freeman told commissioners that the town currently has one working aerator, but for the past two years, the town has been replacing the barens every six to eight months to keep it working properly.

"These things have been in there since 1980," Freeman said.

If the remaining aerator goes down, the town will not be in compliance with state mandates.

In other business, commissioners denied a request from Marshall Lowery to rent out the vacant building across from Town Hall to operate his business Red's Smoked and Smashed.

Town Clerk Micheal Causer told The Robesonian Lowery currently operates a restaurant as a dine-out facility attached inside of the Lucky Stop convenience store and was looking to expand the business.

Causer said commissioners died the request because of a number of repairs to the space that needs to be made.

Also Tuesday, commissioners approved use of the town's Learning Center for Making Ways' annual seven-week summer program and as the site for the Police Department's relaunch of the Police Athletic League, PAL, Program.

Access to the facility for the Making Ways' program this summer was approved during a June meeting. Tuesday's vote allows the use of the facility every summer moving forward.

Tomeka Sinclair can be reached at tsinclair@robesonian.com or 910-416-5865.