Carthage has been plagued for more than two weeks by failing pump systems, commissioners were told at Tuesday's regular board meeting. Town Manager Carol Sparks said the problems kept Public Works Director Rocky Davis and town crews busy.

The Leake Street pump was replaced by a spare and sent for repair. At Cox's, on N.C. 22-U.S. 15-501, only one of the two pumps at that location failed, so the system continues in operation pending its repair or replacement.

The Little River Golf Resort station has four pumps. Two of them stopped entirely, and the remaining two "were making strange sounds," Sparks told the board. "Rocky was in hopes of getting them repaired and reinstalled before the other two stopped. That didn't happen. The day after the first two stopped, the other two stopped. Rocky and his crew, along with a septic tank pumper, pumped and hauled from Little River to the lagoon."

In other business:

n Two new businesses under construction in Carthage are progressing quickly toward their planned openings.

The State Employees Credit Union site preparation has been moving along, working on storm drains and starting on the water service lines after running their sewer lines to the sewer tap. The new offices are to open early next year.

Walmart Express, with its fall opening day set for Nov. 14, has installed a storm drain beneath Monroe Street and back to the site.

"They have laid the base course for lane widening and paved the parking lot," Sparks said. "The water and sewer have been pressure tested and passed."

n Vehicles bearing certain state, county and municipal license plates will have a different look next year. The General Assembly is canceling all current "permanent" plates and requires they be reissued in new colors by the end of the year. As of Oct. 15, the color scheme changes from silver and black to orange and black.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles expects about 120,000 vehicles to be affected by the change. Most are owned and operated by municipalities and counties. The new plates are available by mail as well as from license plate agencies like those in Robbins and Aberdeen.

n Carthage computers had problems the day auditors came to do their preliminary work. Sparks said the town has encountered several computer problems in the administration and police departments. She and Police Chief Bart Davis have been working with representatives from VC3, Davenport Lawrence and Goretech.

n Approval has been given for a new sign at Dollar General and several at Walmart Express. One advertises jobs, pointing to a website (http://www.walmartcommunity.com/north-carolina) where seekers can apply online.

Contact John Chappell at (910) 783-5841 or jfchappell@gmail.com.