City Council approves annexation, toughens traffic restrictions
By Andrew Bell
Published in News on April 21, 2006 1:45 PM
The Goldsboro City Council discussed a possible annexation, upcoming city events and possibly assisting a local program during its meeting Monday night at City Hall.
City Planning Director Jimmy Rowe said the city received a non-contiguous annexation request from the developers of a McDonald's restaurant on the southeast corner of U.S. 70 and Claridge Nursery Road.
The restaurant would be located inside a convenience store at the intersection. S.D. Wooten Property requested the annexation, Rowe said.
The annexation meets all city requirements and would receive fire protection from the city of Goldsboro. The city would have to pay the Rosewood Volunteer Fire Department for any money lost on the exchange, but Rowe said Goldsboro has not received any information from the department.
The land would also receive police protection through a contract with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, and the area would be added to the city's voting district No. 1, Rowe said.
No residents spoke for or against the annexation during the public hearing, and the City Council approved the annexation. The annexation will go into effect May 31.
The council also adopted two ordinances regarding traffic control matters. The first will prohibit left-hand turns from Parkway Drive onto Berkeley Boulevard. Goldsboro City Engineer Terry Gallimore said drivers are not allowed to turn left, but continue to do so. Now that the city has adopted the ordinance, he said the city can post the proper signs and ticket any violators.
The other traffic control matter regards an unnecessary loading zone on North James Street in front of the unoccupied McIntyre Funeral Home. Since the funeral home is no longer in business, Gallimore said there is no need for the loading zone. The council approved both ordinances.
Richard Walderman, a volunteer for the Wayne County Special Olympics, spoke to the council Monday night in hopes that the council would consider providing money to pay for a local coordinator for the program.
The amount of work needed for the position is too much for the local Special Olympics' part-time volunteers and a permanent position is necessary, Walderman said.
There are 1,400 eligible Special Olympians in the county and Walderman said the city and the county should work together for them.
"I have a son that does it. He is mentally handicapped and it doesn't matter color medal those kids bring home. This means a lot to them," Special Olympics volunteer Donald Franklin said.
The budget Walderman created would split the costs between the city and Wayne County. The council listened to Walderman's proposal but did not make a decision on the matter.
Next month, more than 600 swimmers and their families will be in Goldsboro for the 4th Annual National Black Heritage Swim Championships. The competition will be at the Family YMCA and will have contestants from throughout the nation, including Detroit, Kansas City and Florida.
The swim meet will be held on May 27th and 28th and Douglas Cross, an organizer for the event, said the event has booked every hotel room in Goldsboro for the weekend. Competitors and their families have branched out to hotels throughout the county and into Raleigh, he said.