GRANITE QUARRY — Brian Ward says the smell of chicken manure wafting through his Granite Commons neighborhood can be so strong at times it invades vehicles.

“You can take it to work with you,” Ward said Monday night when he and a fellow Stonewyck Drive resident, James Dangerfield, brought to the Granite Quarry Board of Aldermen their concerns about the stink coming from a nearby farm.

“We’re looking for the town’s help,” Ward said.

Town Manager Larry Smith said Tuesday the smells are coming from a farm on Coley Road, and it’s his understanding the odor is especially pungent when the manure is brought in and piled or when it’s moved.

“Something has to be done,” Dangerfield said Monday night. ‘This is inside the city limits. … My kids don’t even want to go outdoors and play.”

Ward said a door-to-door canvas was done recently of Granite Commons’ 57 households. Of those, 43 homeowners answered the door, and 41 residents said they are being adversely affected by the odor, according to Ward.

Ward said the offensive odor lingers in Granite Commons for days at a time.

Later in Monday’s meeting, the aldermen confirmed that the farm in question is within the town limits and not in the extraterritorial jurisdiction as was previously thought.

Town Attorney Chip Short will meet with Town Planner Steve Blount to determine how town ordinances might address the complaint.

Smith said they will report back to the board.

In other public comments Monday, Randy Corl spoke in support of the Granite Quarry-Faith Police Authority’s request to add two officers.

“He needs them,” Corl said of Police Chief Mark Cook, and he encouraged all members of the town board to ride at least two shifts with an officer.

Corl said the need for more officers is a safety issue and the aldermen can never know what officers face until they walk in their shoes.

Corl described potential waits of five to 10 minutes for single officers in Granite Quarry who call for backup. He said the volume of calls for the police authority is increasing.

“It’s getting bad; it’s getting worse,” Corl said.

During the guest presentation period Monday, Howard Brown Jr., secretary for the Granite Quarry Civitan Club, said the civic organization strongly opposes changes in the sign outside Town Hall that would eliminate either the Civitan logo or that of the Old Stone House.

He said the Old Stone House is “a big draw,” and he noted all the contributions the club has made to the town over the years, including the informational sign at Town Hall next to North Salisbury Avenue (U.S. 52).

The town has ordered a new digital information sign, costing roughly $26,000, based on action taken in April by the Board of Aldermen. The sign will have text, picture, graphics, video animation and time-and-temperature capabilities.

It’s hoped it will fit within the granite frame provided years ago by the Civitan Club.

In other business, the aldermen:

• Decided to make decisions on the scope of sidewalk and street repairs at an upcoming budget work session. The maintenance department will put together a list of priorities on streets and sidewalks to be discussed then.

• Set the budget workshop for 2-5 p.m. May 30 at Town Hall.

• Learned from Smith’s monthly report that the contractor for a new State Employees’ Credit Union hopes to begin grading on the site May 28. Construction is expected to take 10 months.

• Approved construction of new steps and a handrail at Granite Lake Park.

• Entered into an agreement with DEX Imaging Inc. for the lease of a Town Hall copier in an amount not to exceed $14,384 over a five-year, three-month period.

• Agreed to extend by six months an agreement with Select Properties of the Carolinas, which is listing for sale town-owned property at 316 S. Main St.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.