By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó The town can move a step closer to its proposed renovation/expansion plans for the police and fire stations on North Main Street.
The board voted unanimously Tuesday night to submit its loan application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project is expected to cost a little more than $1.9 million.
The price includes paving and reworking the parking lot, constructing a new ramp onto the building, replacing windows and other changes to the existing police and fire stations.
The goal is to reconstruct the current North Main Street building so that it could be used for town hall and a fire station. The police department would move into town hall on Swink Street.
Town Manager Bill Pless said the police department is in need of a lobby area. If people come into the current police station they tend to wander down a long hallway in search of someone.
This way by using the town hall building they could have a lobby, office space and could also use council chambers as a patrol room, Pless said.
He said it’s so much easier to move town hall to a new location during construction.
“There could be some temporary inconvenience,” Pless told the board.
The fire department’s truck bays need to be moved from the front of the building to the left side of the building. This change would be safer.
Currently, the firefighters have to stop traffic and back the trucks into the bays. The new construction would allow the firefighters to drive around the building and pull into the station.
The town has been discussing these renovations for a couple of years. A committee, consisting of board members, and other department heads including Fire Chief Jeff Gledhill and current Police Chief B.L. Bass, was formed.
The committee discussed whether it would be prudent to completely tear down the existing facility and build new. That proved to be a greater cost.
“We thought the character of the building was worth saving,” Pless said.
The building once housed a car dealership.
Alderman Allen Welter asked about the renovation of the three facilities.
Pless said USDA funds would cover the cost of the fire/police station. The town would have to separately handle any renovations to town hall.
If the town secures USDA funding then it should take another 12-18 months to get the project moving and ready for bids.
There will also be public hearings scheduled in the future.
The board also:
– Accepted a bid from Randy Marion for a service truck and dump truck.
Public Works Director David Ketner recommended the board go with Marion for a 2009 service truck for $24,477 and a 2007 dump truck for $50,500.
Wade Ford in Georgia did give a cheaper price for its service truck with $23,7810.71, but since Randy Marion was in closer proximity the board chose the North Carolina dealer.
These items are budgeted.
– In October the new water/sewer meter software system will be in place.
The new system, “will lessen the impact and shock to customers,” said Mayor Don Bringle.
At last month’s meeting two residents spoke about the water bill increasing by 1,000 gallons a month.
– Some of the streets that would receive sidewalks have been eliminated due to easements.
The town received a $632,000 federal air quality grant to add new sidewalks, with construction to start in October. Some of the areas include: Vance, Clinton and Kirk streets.