It has been over a year since a storm downed power lines and blocked streets in East Laurinburg, but the town is still feeling the effects.

Robert Walters, whose company was contracted to help with the storm's cleanup, was at Tuesday's meeting of the town board of commissioners to demand to be paid for his services. Robert's Tree Service's assisted the town with removing debris following the June 2008 storm.

"I don't know how you lay your head down at night," Walters said. "We worked our butts off... [and] you can't even pick up the phone and say 'Hey Robert, I'm working on it.'"

Walters said the town owes his company $145,000 including interest.

"I spent $50,000 out of my pocket cleaning up," Walters said. "The work was completed and I need my money."

Walters also questioned a document he was presented by the town that supposedly exempted East Laurinburg from making the payment.

Walters says the letter, which was supposed to be from the state treasury department, is fake.

He said the letter appeared to be printed off someone's home computer on paper lacking an identifying header or an official's signature.

Walters also told the commissioners that state treasury officials denied ever saying the town could forego paying the tree removal company.

Walters also took issue with how the town handled the emergency.

Mayor Randy Miller told Walters that he has been in contact with different agencies and was still trying to find a way to compensate Robert's Tree Service.

Miller also reminded everyone about the town recently introducing a tax rate of 30 cents per $100 of property valuation.

"[Robert's Tree Service] is one of the reasons we levied the tax," Miller said. "We are going to look at the budget and see what we can do."

Miller also denied that anyone falsified a letter.

After the meeting, Walters said he is committed to negotiating with town officials, even if it means decreasing the amount owed.

In other business, Miller briefly discussed the town's budget. He said the finance officer was under the weather and the town would have to wait until next week to finalize the budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

By law, municipalities are supposed to have a finalized, balanced budget by June 30 of each year.