Smithfield
Town Council report from July 7 session |
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Council members present:
Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, John Dunn, Marlon Lee, Steve Rabil,
David Stevens, Roger Wood
Absent: Travis Scott
Here's the architect's rendering of the building that will be the home of Johnston Community College's engineering program. Its construction will be funded from the school-bond issue approved by the county's voters in November 2018.
Council approves permit with sidewalk
requirement for new JCCollege building
With one dissenting vote, the council approved a special-use permit for Johnston Community College to construct a 46,365-square-foot building for its emerging engineering program.
Councilman David Barbour objected to a condition attached to the permit that will require the college to build a sidewalk beside College Road to nearby East Market Street, which lacks a sidewalk on the JCC side of the street.
"Every dollar we take away from JCC for sidewalks is money that won't be spent on students," Mr. Barbour declared.
Another wrinkle was brought to the council's attention by Garrett Frank of the Timmons Group (the building's designer), who said future plans call for relocating the main entrance to the campus away from the current intersection of College Road and East Market. That could "nullify the dollars spent" on the sidewalk to be built now, he said.
Mr. Frank also said the sidewalk being required would lead to an intersection "not designed for pedestrians."
Stephen Wensman, the town's planning director who advocated the sidewalk requirement, admitted that the college's administration "is not happy about it." Even so, Mr. Frank said that disagreement would not prevent the project from advancing.
SPLASH PAD TO BE BUILT AT FORMER POOL SITE
The council approved a $119,600
contract with Carolina Recreation and Design of
Mooresville to construct a splash pad at the former
site of the Eva Ennis Swimming Pool across the street
from Smith-Collins Park.The 36-by-36-foot concrete pad will include seven in-ground and three above-ground sprayers that will be activated by sensors and automatically shut off when no one is present.
Parks and Recreation Director Gary Johnson said the facility will use close to 4-million gallons of water annually at a cost of about $9,000. The water will not be recirculated --- a feature that would cost at least $75,000 more, he said. Most communities with splash pads do not have the recirculating feature, he added.
With $125,000 budgeted, the extra money beyond the construction expense will be used for fencing and benches beneath "small shade structures," Mr. Johnson said.
PERMIT FOR A SECOND ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITY
The council approved a special-use permit for Carolina Commercial Contractors of Sanford to construct a second assisted-living facility on Kellie Drive just north of Durwood Stephenson Parkway. To be built across the street from a similar project recently completed by the company near Neuse Charter School, the second building will house 59 one-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units, and 12 "studio" units. No objections arose during Tuesday's public hearing on the permit application.
ZONING-RULE CHANGE ACCOMMODATES EXTERMINATORS
The council approved, with a lone dissenting vote by Councilman Barbour, a change in the town's land-use zoning law to allow exterminating businesses to operate without special restrictions in Light Industrial districts. Up to now, such operations have been limited to Business and Heavy Industrial zones under terms set forth by special-use permits. The ordinance change was requested by Mosquito Squad, a Raleigh-based exterminator that recently set up shop in a Light Industrial zone near Johnston Regional Airport. Planning Director Stephen Wensman said such an operation is "a good fit" for industrial rather than retail business districts. But Councilman Barbour questioned whether it's good policy to allow a business that works with dangerous chemicals to operate without rules provided by a special-use permit. Mr. Wensman countered that exterminating businesses are highly regulated by state and federal rules, and added that "most of the others in town are clean operations." No objections were raised during a public hearing on the matter.
REZONING DEEMED A BETTER FIT FOR DAYCARE
Granting a request from operators of the Kiddie College on Canterbury Road, the council approved rezoning of the daycare facility's site from R-8 Residential to Office & Institutional. During a public hearing prior to the council's vote, Planning Director Wensman said the new zoning would "more accurately reflect" the current use of the property, noting that other nearby institutional uses include the Mormon church. No opposition to the zoning change was voiced during the hearing.
COMPLAINT AIRED ABOUT CEDAR DRIVE DRAINAGE
Antoine Williams presented a petition signed by residents of Cedar Drive in Pine Acres requesting action by the town to improve the street's drainage. Mr. Williams said heavy rains since 1978 have caused flooding there that persists as long as two hours. The town has fixed drainage issues on nearby Dogwood Street and Aspen Drive, he noted, but not along Cedar.
The council approved a new contract with Grid One Solutions, which has done monthly readings of electricity and water meters over the past several years. The company's winning bid will cost the town $1.52 per meter if more than 9,500 are read in a month and $1.60 if fewer than 9,500 are read. Director of Utilities Ted Credle said Grid One currently assigns three meter readers to cover Smithfield, with plans to reduce that to two readers as more of the town's meters are switched to a more automated reading system.
GROUNDS-MAINTENANCE CONTRACT AWARDED
The council awarded a $69,000 yearly contract to low-bidder Lane Lawn Care for grounds maintenance along NCDOT roadways and I-95 exits, at the town's water plant, and inside the town's parks. Lane's price was less than half of what the only other bidder offered.
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES
The council awarded a $33,672 yearly contract to low-bidder Coverall to perform janitorial services at four facilities: Town Hall, Operation Center, Public Works garage, and police station. Two other firms submitted bids.
CONTRACTS OK'd FOR HVAC SERVICES, PEST CONTROL
The council awarded a $6,684 yearly contract to low-bidder Heat Transfer Solutions to service heating and air-conditioning equipment (HVAC) at nine town facilities: Town Hall, Operation Center, water plant, Public Works garage, two fire stations, Hastings House, Sarah Yard Community Center, and the police station. Three other firms submitted bids.
The council awarded a $2,310 yearly contract to low-bidder Clegg's Pest Control covering 11 facilities, adding the Legion Hut and Girl Scout to the list covered by the HVAC contract. Six other firms submitted bids.
APPOINTMENT TO APPEARANCE COMMISSION
The council appointed Stuart Lee to a first term on the Smithfield Appearance Commission. Two positions remain vacant on that board as well as two in-town positions on the Board of Adjustment and two positions on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.