Smithfield
Town Council report from Oct. 6 session |
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Council members present:
Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, John Dunn, Marlon Lee, Steve Rabil, Travis Scott, Roger Wood; David Stevens via teleconference phone call
Council wrestles with use of contingency
funds for stream-bank erosion projects
The N.C. Attorney General's Office has approved a $100,000 grant to the town to reconstruct the banks of Spring Branch between Fifth and Sixth streets and construct holding ponds as wetlands to mitigate stormwater damage.
The price of a proposed construction contract for that work is $200,500, requiring a $100,500 appropriation from the town's General Fund contingency account for the grant's acceptance.
 ABOVE: Spring Branch is lined by aging masonry walls, in some spots held in place by iron beams. BELOW: The bank beside the Neuse Riverwalk, susceptible to erosion, is receding once again.  |
Meanwhile, another bank-erosion issue along the Neuse Riverwalk may require another $100,000 to fix, the Town Council learned at Tuesday's monthly meeting.
If both projects are funded immediately, the town's current contingency fund of about $250,000 will be mostly drained with nine months remaining in 2020-21.
Town Manager Mike Scott said the Spring Branch project is "a true need for the town" because of persistent flooding issues for residences near the stream. He said the Neuse erosion problem is "stable" and needn't be addressed right away
--- unless it gets worse and threatens to undermine the paved greenway trail.
After getting some assurance that delaying the Spring Branch contract award wouldn't undermine acceptance of the state grant, the council voted 4-3 not to proceed, with Councilmen Dunn, Lee, Scott, and Stevens voting no and Councilmen Barbour, Rabil, and Wood voting yes.
After the vote, however, Councilman Scott (no relation to the town manager) asked that the matter be reconsidered at next month's council session. "This project needs to happen," he said.
OWNER OF FLOODED BUILDING ASKS TOWN FOR RELIEF
 A single culvert beneath the CSX railroad is getting the blame for recent flash floods damaging several businesses on South Bright Leaf Boulevard. |
COVID-19 GRANT FOR INTERNET, AMPHITHEATER PROJECTS
The council approved acceptance of a $900,000 COVID-19 Community Development Block Grant (federal funds administered by the state) for two projects: (1) $225,000 to provide wireless Internet service to the public at Community Park, Smith-Collins Park, Gertrude Johnson Park, and Civitan Park; and (2) $625,000 for unspecified improvements to the Neuse River Amphitheater on the Town Commons below South Front Street (the remaining $50,000 is budgeted for administration of the two projects). Councilman Travis Scott questioned the choice of projects: "I think we have other priorities," he said. Town Manager Mike Scott said other projects that were considered didn't meet this particular grant's criteria for acceptance. The two projects chosen, he said, is "what we thought would benefit the town the most at this time."
FEDERAL GRANT ACCEPTED FOR TRAFFIC-SAFETY TEAM
The council approved acceptance of a federal grant through the Governor's Highway Safety Program to employ two patrolmen to work as a "Traffic Safety Team." Police Chief Keith Powell said the $191,850 grant requires a match of $33,856 from the town, just above $30,000 budgeted. The grant is for one year, he said, requiring the town to reapply annually for continuation of the federal aid.
DESIGN-BUILD OPTION OK'd FOR ENLARGED POLICE STATION
Acting on a recommendation from the UNC School of Government, the council approved Design-Build Criteria for soliciting bids on expanding the town's police station. Town Engineer Bill Dreitzier said he hopes to have those bids by the council's December session so the project's design can be completed in four to six months with construction to follow. Town Manager Scott reminded the council that funding for the expansion project is not budgeted and therefore will likely require financing arrangements to move forward.
Julie Smith Carroll was sworn in as a newly employed police officer. Having recently completed Basic Law Enforcement Training, she is being assigned to the Patrol Division for field training. Prior to Tuesday's swearing-in, the department had three vacancies, according to a monthly report filed by Police Chief Powell.
PERMIT APPROVED FOR NEW DWELLING IN BUSINESS ZONE
The council approved a special-use permit allowing Michael Sherman to replace a dilapidated residence with a new house for rent on property zoned for business at the intersection of South Sixth and Lee streets. Councilman Barbour questioned whether the permit should require the applicant to erect a fence between his property and an adjacent insurance office. After Mr. Sherman said he would not agree to that condition since there have been no problems with the adjacent property in the past, the council approved the permit without requiring a fence.
SEVERAL OUTDOOR PUBLIC EVENTS PERMITTED
The council approved "temporary use permits" for several upcoming events:
• A "Theater in the Park" presentation by Cista Lueeeze's Brunch House Theatre, Inc. on the Neuse River Amphitheater stage, scheduled for October 24, to include the closing of sections of South Front Street and the greenway trail.
• A church service conducted by Alice Wells at Community Park on October 11 from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Free showing of a documentary film --- "Three Rivers, Three Towns" --- by Meg Scovil at the Neuse River Amphitheater on October 23 at 6:30 p.m. and again on October 25 at 4 p.m., to include the closing of a block of South Front Street during the two-hour presentations.
• Veterans Day Fireworks display by Smithfield Parks and Recreation at Community Park on November 11 from 5 to 7 p.m.
NEW CARDIO-FITNESS EQUIPMENT FOR THE SRAC