Calypso may get Mount Olive's help with junk cars

By John Cate, editor

6 November 2008 – With a population of just 410 people and a town staff commensurate with that size, the Town of Calypso has found itself in a difficult situation with people who leave junked cars on their property and refuse to rectify the problem.

Commissioner Tom Reaves proposed taking a new tack on solving this problem during the town’s Monday night meeting.
Since Calypso doesn’t have the resources to go after every ‘clunker scofflaw’ in the town, why not get outside assistance?
Reaves reported to the board that he had been in discussion with Danny Keel, the Code Enforcement Officer for the Town of Mount Olive, about the possibility of having Keel work part-time to help enforce the town’s junked motor vehicle ordinance. Reaves reported that Keel said he would rather have Calypso work through the Town of Mount Olive on this proposal. The cost would be $50 an hour, but Keel said it might not take more than one hour per month. A contract would be made between the two towns for the town to review the existing junked vehicle ordinance with the town attorney and have a public hearing on the matter before proceeding further.

According to Keel, there is a workaround for the current ordinance which allows a person to have an unlimited number of cars on a property as long as they were covered. He suggested that the town limit this to just one car. After discussion, the board agreed to just delete that provision from the ordinance altogether, and also that the ordinance would only apply in the Town of Calypso itself, not in the town’s ETJ.

A public hearing was scheduled for Jan. 5, 2009 to discuss these proposals and take public comments.

In other business, Mayor Dick Lewis reported that Town Clerk Loretta Lanier has devised an identity theft prevention program for the town. The new policy was adopted by unanimous vote.
The town voted unanimously to purchase 24 Christmas wreaths with candles in the middle and bows on both sides to put on display during the holiday season. The town will not have a Christmas tree lighting ceremony this holiday season, but will put up lights around Nov. 26.

Commissioner Reaves reported that residents are expressing concerns about teenagers hanging around at night in Albritton Park, and said that there needs to be more lighting in that area.
Mayor Lewis asked the board to look at providing more safety at town hall for the town clerk when she is working by herself. Some remodeling would have to be done in order to provide more safety. Commissioner Rubylene Lambert also suggested the town explore the possibility of hiring part-time help to cover when the clerk is out sick or on vacation.

The mayor reported that Calypso had received a letter from the state asking them, along with every other city and town in North Carolina, should watch spending while the U.S. economy is sluggish. Lewis said it was just a letter of caution.

Four of the five town commissioners and Mayor Lewis were in attendance for the meeting, along with Town Clerk Lanier. The only commissioner not present was Diane Lewis. No one from the general public was in attendance.