Smithfield
Town Council
    report from Feb. 2 session

Council members present: Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, John Dunn, Marlon Lee, Steve Rabil, Travis Scott, David Stevens, Roger Wood



RETIRING FIRE CAPTAIN TERRY STEVE SASSER . . .
was honored with a proclamation from the Town Council thanking him for 21 years of service as a full-time employee of the Smithfield Fire Department (plus two years of volunteer service). Prior to Tuesday night's meeting, Captain Sasser and several of his colleagues gathered for this photograph: (left to right) Captain Bentley Powell, Engineer Stephen Pittman, Captain Sasser, Lieutenant Travis Scott, Assistant Chief Jeremey Daughtry, Lieutenant Larry Hodge. (Photo courtesy of Councilman Scott).


POLICE STATION'S EXPANSION IN DESIGN PHASE

The council voted unanimously to move ahead with final designs for a 3,500-square-foot addition to the town's police headquarters on South Fifth Street, with financing for the project as well as a cost estimate yet to be determined. The addition will include office space, men's locker room, armory, and evidence room along with 25 additional parking spaces outside. APR Restoration & Commercial Development of Raleigh is designing the project with input from leaders of the Police Department. Council members asked APR representatives to include an option for even more off-street parking on town-owned vacant property to the south of the new addition.
COUNCIL RESCINDS APARTMENT-PROJECT ENDORSEMENT

Without discussion, the council voted unanimously to rescind its previous endorsement of private bond financing for repairs and improvements to Johnson Court Apartments off Bright Leaf Boulevard on the south side of town. Vitus, a Seattle-based company, sought approval of tax-exempt bonds for a $53.5-million project that the council endorsed at its November 10 meeting. Representatives of the firm attended Tuesday's meeting but weren't allowed by Mayor Moore to address the council. Councilman Barbour, who made the motion to rescind the November endorsement, told the Sun in a followup e-mail: "We felt that endorsing a private entity that would allow them to act on our behalf was simply something we did not feel would be in the best interest of the town and its citizens." Vitus representatives told the council in November that the town would have no financial liability associated with its endorsement of the bonds.


VEHICLES BOUGHT FOR NEW POLICE TRAFFIC TEAM

The council approved the purchase of two Dodge Durango vehicles for the Police Department's newly formed Traffic Team from Deacon Jones, low bidder in the amount of $66,836.


EXHAUST REMOVAL, PICKUP TRUCKS FOR FIRE DEPT.

The council approved a $29,893 contract with Air Cleaning Specialist of Raleigh to install a new exhaust-removal system at Fire Station No. 2 in West Smithfield. A federal FEMA grant will reimburse the town $28,398 of the cost. Also approved is the purchase of two 2021 Chevrolet pickup trucks for the Fire Department at a total cost of $62,104 from Capital Chevrolet under a state contract.


MOWER, GATOR, FURNITURE FOR PARKS & RECREATION

The council approved three purchases for the Parks & Recreation Department: SCAG Turf Tiger II mower from Knightdale Tractor and Equipment at a cost of $12,250; John Deere Gator from James River Equipment at a cost of $10,103; office furniture for the Recreation and Aquatics Center from Office Value for $8,196.


 DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD APPOINTMENT

The council appointed Kristina Whitten to the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation's Board of Directors. She is owner and operator of the Southern Bostonian, a recently opened home-decor and antique shop on South Third Street.


PEDESTRIAN PLANNING GRANT MATCHED

The council accepted a $60,000 pedestrian planning grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation and matched it with a $15,000 appropriation from the town. "The plan will likely address facilities, programs, policies, and design guidelines that encourage safe walking throughout the town," Planning Director Stephen Wensman wrote in a memo to the council. "It will prioritize investments and will set the town up for NCDOT grant opportunities," he noted.


FUND-RAISER PERMITTED IN DANCE CLUB'S LOT

The council approved a temporary-use permit for Francisco Valle to hold a fund-raiser in the Twister's Dance Club parking lot from 9 to 5 on Saturday, Feb. 20. The club is located off South Bright Leaf Boulevard between Holding and Stevens streets and backs up to a residential neighborhood across South Second Street.


SECOND STREET AT WATER PLANT TO BE CLOSED

Town Manager Scott announced that Second Street beyond North Street in front of the Water Treatment Plant will be permanently closed to through traffic on March 8 to accommodate expansion of the plant --- a construction project approved by the council in December.
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