Edward’s check presentation to Spruce Pine had error
A representative of U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ office came to the Spruce Pine Town Council meeting last week to apologize for promising the town $4 million when Congress had actually only approved $2 million.
Edwards visited Spruce Pine several weeks ago to ceremonially present a check for $4 million for a water tower. Later, a press release stated that the town was receiving $2 million, not $4 million.
“There was a misprint on the check, and the press release is correct in stating that the award is for $2 million,” Communications Director Sydney Jones said in response to a Mitchell News-Journal question about the discrepancy.
Hendersonville-based District Director Chris Burns explained to the town council what happened.
“In 2025, my team and I gathered 97 infrastructure projects that our towns needed throughout our district, and they totaled, if I remember correctly, a little over $360 million,” Burns said. “Spruce Pine was successful in navigating that process and was one of 15 projects that we actually got through both members of congress and got president-signed.”
Burns said that the check presentation number was incorrect because a staffer didn’t understand that the amount applied for was not the amount Spruce Pine was receiving.
“We had a person, an administrative person, in our D.C. office that transposed two numbers, and in the case of Spruce Pine, they transposed the numbers of the amount that you applied for for the water tower and the amount that you were actually approved for for the water tower — you applied for $4 million, that was the amount that we had down that you were going to be awarded, when in fact it is $2,250,000,” Burns said. “We did make a mistake, and I profusely apologize for that on behalf of our team.”
The town of Franklin received a similar ceremonial check presentation visit, and also later found out the actual appropriations the town was receiving was around half what was promised. In that instance representatives of Edwards’ office called the mistake a “typo.”