Columbia public meetings in 2025
13 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Board of Aldermen
The Columbia Board of Aldermen approved the consent agenda, which included minutes and two water/sewer fee adjustments. The board heard a law‑enforcement report and a status update on the Harbor Towns Ferries project. Additional items discussed were a request for a commemorative roadside sign for Brian Rowsom and the advertisement of two surplus vehicles.
- Water/sewer downward adjustment for Shenita Jones – $15.00
- Water/sewer upward adjustment for Lake Phelps Grain – $83.56
- Harbor Towns Ferries project update – board had no questions
- Request for commemorative roadside sign for Brian Rowsom – manager to obtain DOT specifics
- Advertisement of surplus 2001 Chevrolet Impala and 2006 Ford F450
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen approved several funding requests for town services and infrastructure. The board also voted to discontinue the use of fluoride in the water system.
- Approved $35,000 for the Fire Department
- Approved $25,000 budget amendment for W/S fund Capital Outlay for a new metal building
- Approved $4,100 for plywood walls to protect insulation in the new metal building
- Approved $3,000 purchase of a mosquito sprayer from the County
- Voted to discontinue Fluoride
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen appointed a new Town Manager and approved funding for storage building doors. The board also agreed to help fund a wayfinding signage project and requested a study for a new meter read system.
- Appointment of Monica N. Mauffray as Town Manager with a salary of $65,000.00 per year
- Approval of $25,148.20 for four commercial overhead doors plus $859.05 per door for view lights
- Budget amendment increasing Water/Sewer Capital Outlay by $25,000.00 for metal building completion
- Agreement to assist with funding for the wayfinding signage project
- Decision to seek resident approval for speed bumps on South Road Street
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen approved several new town policies regarding nondiscrimination, record retention, procurement, internal control, and allowable costs. The board also discussed local infrastructure concerns and received reports on law enforcement and tax collection.
- Adoption of Nondiscrimination, Record Retention, Procurement, Allowable Cost and Principles, and Internal Control policies
- Approval of up to $125.00 to sponsor lunch for a new business workshop
- Water/Sewer downward adjustment for Robert Cave in the amount of $18.93
- Law enforcement report citing 36 charges and 9 investigations for July
- Tax Collector's report showing 94.80% collection versus 89.15% last year
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen approved water and sewer downward adjustments for six accounts. The meeting included reports on law enforcement activity, tax collection, and the start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
- Water/Sewer downward adjustments including $1,431.57 for Shamari Spencer and $478.44 for United Methodist Church
- Alligator River bridge restoration project valued at $110,000.00 has restarted
- June Law Enforcement Report citing 47 charges and 3,841 patrol miles
- Municipal election filing period for Mayor and three Alderman seats from July 7 to July 18, 2025
- CDBG-NR funds to be returned to Raleigh on August 14
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen approved the 2026 Fiscal Year Budget and a tax rate of $.54 per $100.00 of taxable property. The body also decided on employee retirement policy changes and rejected a modified permit for the Inner Banks RV Park.
- 2026 Fiscal Year Budget Ordinance approved for $1,736,973.36
- Tax rate set at $.54 per $100.00 of taxable property
- General Fund amendment approved for $3,200.00
- Rejected request for a modified permit for the Inner Banks RV Park
- Adopted Resolution opposing the proposed shrimp fishing ban in coastal waters
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen appointed Lloyd Armstrong to a vacant seat for a two-year term and directed the Town Manager to fund a 5% employee salary increase. The Board also initiated the process for a Special Use Permit for Inner Banks RV Park on US-64/Scuppernong Drive.
- Appointment of Lloyd Armstrong to the vacant Alderman position
- Direction to provide a 5% employee salary increase
- Authorization to draft a Special Use Permit for Inner Banks RV Park on US-64/Scuppernong Drive
- Reappointment of Raymond Etheridge and James McClees to the Columbia Planning Board
- Loss of approximately $175,000 in CDBG funds after the State denied a request for other neighborhood projects
Board of Aldermen
The Columbia Board of Aldermen received the proposed FY 2025-26 budget, which recommends lowering the property tax rate from $0.72 to $0.54 per $100 valuation due to a property revaluation. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for June 2, 2025. The board also approved expenditures of $48,500 for a water well site and $29,500 for the annual audit, and decided to wait until the November election to fill a vacant alderman seat.
- Authorized $48,500 from state infrastructure funds to purchase a 1.1-acre site for water well number four
- Hired Jeff Best CPA to complete the 2025 audit at a cost of $29,500
- Proposed FY 2025-26 budget includes 4% employee pay raise and no increase in water/sewer rates
- Health insurance replacement found after NC League of Municipalities ends coverage
- Board opted not to fill vacant alderman position by appointment, waiting for November election
Board of Aldermen
The Board approved budget amendments totaling $49,600 and directed the town manager to work on redirecting $244,000 in uncommitted CDBG funds for neighborhood improvements, including demolition of derelict structures. It also received updates on the purchase of a test well site, the Free 'n Easy property transfer, and efforts to name a bridge for the late Mayor James W. Cahoon. The March law enforcement report noted 35 citations and extra patrols.
- Approved $18,400 General Fund and $31,200 water/sewer budget amendments
- Directed town manager to seek alternate uses for $244,000 uncommitted CDBG grant including derelict structure demolition
- Discussed purchase of one-acre site off US-64 East for test well using ARAP grant
- Received update on Free 'n Easy property transfer under state historic review
- Law enforcement report: 35 citations, 143 extra patrols, 5,500 miles patrolled
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen approved payments for water infrastructure and authorized design work for a drainage project. The body also voted to request that the state name a bridge after the late Mayor James Cahoon.
- Authorized $68,732.50 payment for well drilling costs
- Authorized Albemarle Engineering to complete design drawings and cost estimates for the Bridge Street/Virginia Avenue drainage project
- Voted to petition NCDOT to name the Scuppernong River bridge the Mayor James W. Cahoon Bridge
- A.R. Chesson Contractors awarded design-build contract for bulkheads and boat slips
- Water/Sewer downward adjustments approved for Michael Fauth ($53.81) and Latechia Spencer ($49.11)
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen reorganized leadership, appointing Sandra Owens as Mayor and Bryan Owens as Mayor Pro-temp. The board also approved water and sewer account adjustments and received reports on town finances and infrastructure projects.
- Appointment of Sandra Owens as Mayor and Bryan Owens as Mayor Pro-temp
- Water/sewer downward adjustments for Woodgate 11-B ($72.31), Lee Miller ($7.03), and Durwood Cooper, Jr. ($42.70)
- Water/sewer upward adjustment for Erica Glass ($145.00)
- Solicitation of contractor proposals for Harbor Towns dock and boardwalk replacements
- Report that 71.57% of billed taxes have been collected as of February 3, 2025
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen held a special-called informational meeting at which representatives from Consolidated Pipe & Supply demonstrated three types of remote radio read water meters. No votes were taken; the session was for discussion only.
- Presentation on AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) and AMR (drive-by read) water-meter systems
- Current manual-read system described as inefficient, requiring multiple data entries
- AMI recommended for direct office reads without field visits; AMR offered as a lower-cost starting option
- Cell-based option not recommended due to service concerns
- Company offered a free study and quote; town would need customer list and pipe-size data
Board of Aldermen
The Board approved the consent agenda including tax discoveries and water/sewer adjustments. They received the December law enforcement report and unanimously appointed a committee to work with designer Allison Platt on waterfront redevelopment projects. The town manager reported budget status, tax collections, and updates on various infrastructure projects.
- Consent agenda approved including tax discoveries ($13,356.38) and water/sewer adjustments
- Committee appointed for waterfront redevelopment with Allison Platt
- Sheriff reported two new deputies will patrol the town
- Tax delinquencies: Tyrrell House arrangement to pay by June 30, 2025
- Budget: revenues at 63%, expenditures at 49% of budget