WELDON — Former Mayor of Weldon Johnny Draper received a prestigious award for his service and the Town Board of Commissioners took steps to improve the town’s appearance by moving forward on demolishing a building on Second Street at their regular monthly meeting Monday night at the Town Hall in Weldon.

Roger Bell | The Daily Herald Former Mayor of Weldon Johnny Draper, left, stands beside State Sen. Edward Jones, right, as Jones prepares to present Draper with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the most prestigious civilian honors in North Carolina. Advertisement

State Sen. Edward Jones made an appearance before the Board to present Draper with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina’s most prestigious civilian awards. Jones began his presentation by detailing how he'd become friends with Draper, “I became close with Johnny (Draper) when we were both mayors,” Jones (former mayor of Enfield) said. “Through his leadership, I made something of myself I think.”

For his part, Draper was awestruck by the award. “To say this is a surprise,” Draper began, “understates it. This goes beyond anything I ever thought I would receive from my senator and my state. I don’t know what to say.”

Weldon Mayor Julia Meacham also applauded Draper’s service, asking those in attendance to stand in honor of the former mayor’s dedication to Weldon.

The commissioners also heard from Code Enforcement official Richard C. Brown, who last month informed the board demolition on the old Dickens and Hux building on Second Street was proceeding with a low bid of $3,900, which the Board approved. This month things have changed, as Brown told commissioners the crews had found lead-based paint in the building.

“I told you the low bid was $3,900,” Brown said. “It’s now gone up to $17,500.”

Brown added the building cannot be renovated; anyone wishing to take on the property would “have to strip it down to the footings.”

Meacham urged the commissioners to approve the additional $13,600, telling the Board the building has “been an eyesore for a long time,” and she feels removing it would help promote business investment in Weldon. The commissioners approved the additional funding, which Meacham later stated comes from salaries for vacant positions already budgeted in the current fiscal year. Rightmyer Machine Rentals had the low bid.

Other business coming before the Board Monday:

• Gary Danek made a presentation to the Board asking for a correction of stop signs at the intersection of Prince and Woodruff streets in Weldon, near Ralph’s Barbecue. “Prince Street has one car per day,” Danek began. “Traffic flows down Woodruff Street. The stop signs are totally irrelevant to the flow of traffic.” Danek was essentially asking the Board to remove the stop sign on Woodruff Street and only stop traffic on Prince Street.

Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon recommended the Board give him time to study the area. “I would like a couple of months to study the intersection there,” Macon said. “And (to have) a chance to talk to the people that live there and see how they feel about putting a stop sign on Prince and letting traffic flow on Woodruff without stopping.”

The issue became a bit contentious when Danek asserted such a study would be a waste of the town’s money. “One street has no traffic,” Danek asserted. “One street has flow through the area.”

Macon assured the Board there would be no additional cost to the town for the study; he would do it himself. The commissioners took Macon’s recommendation; he will inform them of his findings at a future meeting.

• Heard from Police Chief Macon that he was applying for a Governor’s Highway Safety Grant, which would help fund DUI checkpoint equipment.

• Approved the appointment of Dave Eckert to the Planning Board.

• Heard from Commissioner Martha Alford announcing a meeting at Weldon Town Hall on March 24 for the Democratic Party’s First Precinct at 5:30 p.m.

• Approved the River Falls Park Rental Application of Edward Ramsey for Aug. 6-7.

• The Board went into closed session to consider personnel matters. When they emerged from the session, the commissioners announced the hiring of former Roanoke Rapids City Manager Phyllis Lee as a part-time consultant to the Board to help with budgets and financial issues.

• The Weldon Town Board of Commissioners’ next scheduled meeting is April 12 at Weldon Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.