04/07/04 — City approves purchase of litter vacuum

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City approves purchase of litter vacuum

By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on April 7, 2004 2:03 PM

Goldsboro roadways should soon be a little cleaner.

The City Council approved buying a portable litter vacuum machine at Monday night's board meeting.

The vacuum, which will remove debris and trash from roadways and right-of-ways, will cost the city $14,000.

A test was conducted by the General Services Department to see if a self-propelled leaf vacuum machine could suck up the trash efficiently and economically.

City Manager Richard Slozak reported that the test results were "very positive."

The machine will be attached to a self-enclosed dump truck. The litter vacuum will have an extended boom in order that it may reach about 25 feet from the side of the street to collect litter and trash.

Based upon the test, the machine should collect paper, cardboard, Styrofoam and other similar debris, Slozak said.

In other matters Monday the council took the following actions:

*Approved rezoning the west side of Wayne Memorial Drive between Lockhaven Drive and Eleventh Street from General Business and Office and Institutional to shopping center.

*Approved rezoning the north side of Hooks River Road between Elton Drive and U.S. Highway 117 Bypass from R-12 Residential, I-5 General Industry and Watershed Protection to Office and Institutional and Watershed Protection.

*Approved a revised final subdivision plat for Garden Walk, a planned development. The property is on the west side of Country Day Road between Wayne Memorial Drive and Wheeler Drive.

*Approved a site plan revision for the addition of a modular classroom for The Lord's Table church. The church is on the north side of Parkway Drive between North Berkeley Boulevard and North Park Drive.

*Approved a site plan revision for Deacon Jones Lincoln Mercury, allowing the business to enlarge the existing showroom and office space. The business is on the south side of Eleventh Street between Wayne Memorial Drive and Norwood Avenue. City Councilman Chuck Allen noted that the expansion would also double the parking lot, but Assistant Planning Director Jimmy Rowe said the current zoning ordinance allowed that parking lot expansion. "We need to hurry and get our new ordinance in effect," Allen said.

*Approved a site plan revision for an office addition for the First Assembly of God. The church is on the west side of U.S. 70 between Oak Forest Road and Summit Road.

*Approved $62,176 for additional containers for residents for trash and recycling collection.