The Town of Columbus tabled a request again last week to reimburse Watsons Carpet and Appliances for costs incurred to clean up flood damage.

Watsons owner Larry Hill has asked the town to help with over $9,000 in clean up costs from damage caused in the spring. Hill says the building has never had a problem since 1955 until the town did street work in 2005.

The town has discussed the request on a couple of occassions publicly and tabled the issue last Thursday until the town can speak with the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) and its insurance provider.

The towns insurance company has said the damage was not caused by town infrastructure, that the private property owners drain was not being cleaned out.

But Hills engineer says the damage was caused by the town. The sidewalk in front of the store is higher than the door, according to Hill’s engineer.

The town is considering shaving off the sidewalk, but wants to get permission first from DOT, which did the work.