The council agreed to pay Moffat Pipe $627,395 for the first phase of the Sam's Creek Interceptor, a sewer-line project. "It starts at an existing pump station where Sam's Branch comes into the Neuse River and runs parallel with Sam's Branch and all the way to O'Neil Street," Town Manager Steve Biggs said of the first phase.

To complete the project, the sewer lines would extend further on O'Neil Street, almost to Shotwell Road, Biggs said.

Also in relation to Sam's Branch, the council signed an agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation. The DOT gave the town $600,000 for a 1.75-mile-long trail from O'Neil Street to the Neuse River. This will connect the town to the Neuse River and the Mountains to the Sea Trail.

Biggs also updated the council on the status of a pedestrian crosswalk at the intersection of Main and Lombard streets. The town will pay $10,000, while DOT will foot the other $10,500 of the project, which will include signals, Biggs said.