By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The city is moving forward with the installation an electric vehicle charging station at Gateway Park.

The city council held a meeting at 217 S. Main St. on Tuesday evening. Councilman David Post and Lane Bailey, city manager, were both away at a conference.

Zack Kyle, assistant city manager, substituted for Bailey.

The city’s engineering department applied for a grant from Duke Energy’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Support Project. Wendy Brindle, city engineer, said the initial funding for the project is going to local and state governments.

The department wants to install one two-port Electric Vehicle Charging Station bollard at Gateway Park at Depot and East Innes streets. Duke Energy would reimburse up to $5,000 per port, $20,000 per site or $50,000 per entity. The engineering department hopes to receive the $50,000 per entity option.

Brindle said there has been a 19 percent increase in the number of registered electric vehicles in the state in the last year.

“During that same time period, Rowan County experienced a 26 percent increase,” she said.

It used to take an electric vehicle more than four hours to charge up, but technology today allows them to charge in seven minutes, Brindle said.

“And that’s a car, that’s not a moped-type vehicle,” Brindle said.

Brindle said they expect to be reimbursed for $27,200, which covers the cost of the port and the installation. The city would have to pay $3,200, which covers a four-year maintenance contract, and an annual $560 service fee.

Mayor Pro Tem Maggie Blackwell asked how the $27,200 reimbursement related to the $50,000 grant expected from Duke Energy.

Brindle said if they are granted $50,000, the city can use the remaining balance for another electric vehicle charging station site.

Councilman Brian Miller said two years ago there was a citizen who offered to pay the costs of a station if the city would take care of the electricity costs.

Mayor Karen Alexander said she talked with another citizen about that, but the partnership would not work well with Duke Energy’s grant.

She said they will work with that citizen for another charging station site in the future.

Miller also asked if the figures included the cost of electricity. Brindle said it just included the cost of the unit.

Alexander said a citizen asked her about the location of the bollard, and she explained that with the planned improvements to the passenger train system, a charging station at Gateway Park would help train riders.

“…That is a really excellent place because if somebody is traveling on the train, then they would be able to charge their vehicle when they get back,” she said.

The council ended up approving the installation of the station.

Brindle said the city will be notified if the grant has been awarded in December.

In other business, the council:

• Approved the consent agenda, which included:
  • Approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for Essential Tax to add an additional vehicle to the fleet.
  • Adoption of a resolution accepting a $130,000 Wastewater Asset Inventory and Assessment grant offer to assess and inventory infrastructure for wastewater operations.
  • Adoption of a resolution accepting a $130,000 Water Asset Inventory and Assessment grant offer to assess and inventory infrastructure for water operations.
  • Adoption of an ordinance declaring temporary road closures for the Veterans Day Parade and Holiday Caravan Parade.
  • Approval for the city engineer to extend agreements with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for maintenance of signs, markings and markers, traffic signals and the computerized traffic signal system.
  • Approval of a request for a temporary right-of-way use permit adjacent to 101 S. Main St. through Nov. 7.
  • Adoption of a $5,000 budget ordinance amendment to the fiscal year 2016-17 budget to appropriate donations to Hurley Park.
• Approved a $301,344 contract with Vanguard Utility Service for the Advance Metering Project large meter installation. The new meters will give Salisbury-Rowan Utilities daily information and allow customers to track water usage online and be alerted to issues like pipe leaks.
• Set a public hearing for Nov. 15 for the proposed dog park location at Forest Hills Park.
• Asked that the public apply for vacant positions on the Human Relations Council, Tree Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
• Held public comment, but no one spoke.

The mayor proclaimed Oct. 22 as National Make a Difference Day.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.