By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Satisfied Tuesday that the project was using the lowest bid, Salisbury City Council approved spending no more than $31,500 to reroute a stormwater drainage line around a private home at 612 S. Jackson St.
Two weeks earlier, council had delayed awarding the “Storm Drainage Incentive Grant” until staff could supply more information on the base bid and bid alternates.
The 1928 house at 612 S. Jackson St. was built on top of the city drainage pipe ó a practice not allowed today. The pipe began deteriorating, meaning the house could be compromised.
The city will reroute the drainage line, with most of the work occurring on private property.
Total qualifying expenses for the work on private property will be about $63,000, meaning the city could approve an incentive grant not to exceed half, or $31,500.
Carolina Siteworks was the low bidder out of four companies. Carolina Siteworks submitted a base bid of $51,322.90 and a base bid with alternates of $55,798.27.
The contractor will need to close a portion of the 600 block of South Jackson Street while construction is taking place. Dan Mikkelson, director of engineering and development services, said the house is the only one facing this block, and driveways from the corner properties will remain open.
Owners of the house are Heidi Simmons, Jerry Stevenson and Randy Mullins.
In other business Tuesday, during a public comment section, two Rowan County opponents of the state’s involuntary annexation law briefly addressed council.
Larry Wright and Carl Eagle are both residents of Neel Estates, one of the targeted subdivisions of a 2008 Salisbury annexation that council eventually backed away from.
Reacting to a local bill introduced last week that would place an annexation moratorium on all Rowan County municipalities until June 30, 2010, Mayor Susan Kluttz said she didn’t think it was appropriate for Rowan County to be singled out.
She emphasized that Salisbury has no involuntary annexation plans in the works.
Councilman Mark Lewis reiterated something he mentioned at last week’s annual retreat when he said the annexation process the city has followed in the past needs to be improved.
Lewis agreed with what Eagle said during his remarks ó that the city might be wise to look at some of the 20 proposed changes in state law suggested by the N.C. League of Municipalities.
Though it’s arguably the most ardent supporter of the state’s involuntary annexation law, the League proposed some changes in December to the Joint Senate and House Study Commission on Municipal Annexation that Salisbury should give serious consideration, Eagle said.
Eagle particularly pointed to three proposals.
Under the existing law, a city may start looking at an area for involuntary annexation by passing a resolution of consideration, in which it studies the area for at least a year then passes a resolution of intent, triggering the public meetings and adoption of an ordinance.
Or the city may begin the annexation process with the resolution of intent and delay the effective date of the ordinance by a year.
One of the league’s proposals was to remove the option of beginning the annexation process with a resolution of intent, so the community being annexed would have more advance notice and time before the public hearings and deadlines begin.
Eagle also supported a proposal requiring the financial impact statement to include five-year projections, with accounting by revenue source and category of expenditure. In addition, the league called for financial estimates to be based on the assumption that the entire annexed area will request water and sewer extensions.
When virtually all the residents of the proposed annexation area off N.C. 150 purposely requested water and sewer service, it was a deal killer for Salisbury because of the expense it would have entailed.
Eagle said he knew his hopes and the city’s aspirations for what will emerge from Raleigh as far as annexation law changes are different, but he recommended that Salisbury officials look closely at many of the League recommendations.
In other matters, council:
– Approved the installation of a Railroad Street stop sign at its intersection with Henderson Street. This will allow Henderson Street traffic to continue moving west of the railroad tracks and keep cars from backing up onto the tracks.
As it was, the westbound Henderson Street traffic had to yield at Railroad Street, whose traffic could keep moving. Norfolk Southern and the N.C. Rail Division asked for the change.
A temporary, three-way stop will be installed for two weeks to introduce traffic to the new conditions, Traffic Engineer Wendy Brindle said.
– Approved a $1,000 budget amendment reflecting proceeds from the city’s sale of clothing that carried the new “Discover What’s Inside” logo.
– Approved the closing of Lake Drive, North Jackson Street, Miller Street, Club House Drive and Annandale Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 22 for the Out Like a Lion bicycle race.