Town Manager Jeff Sheffield had good news to report to the Robbins board at its regular February meeting Thursday evening.

A recent survey by the state fire marshal upgraded the town's insurance classification. That means lower rates for properties in Robbins and its fire district.

Tim Bradley, a senior deputy commissioner in the state Department of Insurance, had written with the good news, thanking Fire Chief Jarius Garner and the town for their cooperation with the survey.

"The new classification should result in a decrease in the property insurance calculations for many insured commercial properties," Bradley said. "Rates on dwellings - including those insured under homeowners policies - are established by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. We are advising them of the change."

New rates will be effective May 1.

Sheffield, however, didn't have encouraging news to report on test water-well drilling.

"Three wells have been dug, and the gallons per minute (gpm) are not as hoped for," he said. "We have done away with well site No. 2 due to being within 1,000 feet of the undesirable soils at the Fire Department work site."

The town can use money meant for drilling 400 feet there to go deeper at the other sites. They will drill to 600 feet now, in hopes one or more of the test wells can produce enough water. He told the board they are only getting 10 to 15 gpm from the first wells at the 400 foot level.

Robbins has a number of new town ordinances in place. The commissioners adopted a number of changes to the municipal code. The board approved a budget amendment to cover the cost of hiring a coordinator for its Farm Incubator Project, and authorized its town manager to let contracts for $10,000 or less.

Town Attorney T.C. Morphis said that when Robbins changed its charter to a manager/council form, it never put the manager's authority in an ordinance. That is because the general authority of town managers is set out statewide in statutes enacted by the General Assembly.

Adding this additional authority for the Robbins manager to contract up to $10,000 is something municipalities with this kind of charter typically do.

In other business, a revision to rules for real estate and freestanding signs passed without discussion or disagreement. The ordinance limits signs in only two zoning districts: Central Business and Thoroughfare Business. Only one real estate sign per street frontage will be allowed, and may not be illuminated.

Also, storage of explosives is now prohibited within town limits. The new ordinance defines "explosives" as anything that functions by explosion and isn't limited to dynamite or other high explosives.

It won't apply to lawfully stored gasoline, propane or other materials customarily kept in connection with a residence or other permitted use. It doesn't prohibit - for example - storage of gasoline in tanks at a gas station, or ammunition and black powder by a gun shop.

There are two gun shops in downtown Robbins. The ordinance doesn't mention caps for cap pistols or firecrackers.

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