It was a night of recognition and discussion at the June Lake Waccamaw Town Hall meeting. Mayor Matt Wilson and commissioners honored the East Columbus Junior/Senior High School Lady Gators softball team and made a proclamation to officially make June 23 International Widows Day. The board also made budget amendments for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and approved the 2023-2024 budget.
The Lady Gators made quite a splash this year during softball season. The girls were conference champions finishing 24 to 4, and they were eastern runner-up champions making it to the fifth round for the first time in school history. Senior Karli Godwin was named Gatorade N.C. Softball Player of the Year, and she broke three state records this season. The Lady Gators have been led by Coach Jason Nance for the last three years, and he has been assisted by assistant coaches Larry Godwin and Bruno Godwin.
June 23 was officially named as International Widows Day at the Lake. The day is observed to raise awareness to the plight of widows and their families globally, nationally, and locally. There are approximately 14 million widows in the United States, 258 million widows globally, and 585 million children effected by the loss of parent.
Megan Kopka, leader of the Cape Fear chapter, spoke about the importance of the support group for women and men who have lost their significant others.
“There’s a very myth says years make the years soften somehow, but my husband’s birthday was Sunday, and I had an emotional breakdown and he’s been gone four years,” said Kopka. “Just be aware and considerate of us.”
A contract with Columbus County Sheriff’s Animal Protective Service with Lake Waccamaw will be put on hold until amendments can be made to the contract and reviewed by town attorney Scott Sessions. If approved, APS will help to provide humane treatment for lost or abandoned animals, the quarantine of dangerous animals, rabies prevention, and surveillance in the town.
Lake Waccamaw has extended their contract with the Cape Fear Council of Governments (COG) through February 28, 2024. The COG has been a crucial part of recent zoning and expansion in the area as well as providing help to apply for and receive grants for infrastructure projects.
The big-ticket item on the agenda was the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget. This time Lake Waccamaw will see a small 2 percent tax increase, but that two cents collected from each household will pour $60,000 back into the town. The tax increase only covers 10 percent of the budget.
Mayor Wilson said the tax increase was a very hard decision to make, and it was met with mixed emotions.
“The cost of everything is going up. We really didn’t have a choice,” he expressed.
The area will also see the over $12,000,000 in grants used this year for infrastructure and sewer improvements at absolutely no cost at all to the town or its residents.
The largest expenditure comes from Lake Waccamaw taking on the EMS services last year, but it was a step necessary to have medical personnel at ready in the area.
Town Manager Damon Kempski said though the over $302,854 looks like a large number for operations, that number will decrease with time.
“That money has been set aside, and as revenue comes in, that number will be adjusted and will be far less,” said Kempski.
Kempski also said they are taking a very conservative approach to any large purchases throughout the next fiscal year.
