Council to consider new fire station
By Catharin Shepard
Published in News on June 15, 2009 1:46 PM
Goldsboro could be getting a new fire station, if the city is able to obtain an American Recovery and Reinvestment Stimulus Act grant to build a replacement for the small and aging Station 3 on Patetown Road.
Interim Fire Chief Gary Whaley is on the agenda to speak tonight with Goldsboro City Council during the 5 p.m. work session about site selection for possible replacement of the station and to discuss the grant process. The city will be under a tight timeline to move on the grant, Whaley wrote in a letter to the council.
Whaley proposes three options for locating the new station: To acquire available land on Industry Court and build the new station there, to tear down the existing Station 3 and rebuild the new station on the same site, or to build the new station in the Phase 11 and 12 Annexation area.
They hope to have the application and plans ready for submission by July 10, Whaley wrote.
In other business, council members are also expected to vote on a proposal to install a four-way stop at the intersection of Audubon Avenue and Mulberry Street. The four-way stop will be in place for approximately one month, according to the agenda item, and thereafter the stop signs along Audubon Avenue will be removed, requiring vehicles traveling on Mulberry Street to stop at the intersection.
Two public hearings will be held tonight. The public is invited to comment on a proposed rezoning of the northwest corner of Wayne Memorial Drive and Fourth Street from Neighborhood Business to Residential 9 and Neighborhood Business. A hearing also will be held to allow comment on a rezoning proposed by Kenneth Wiggins that would allow change to the north side of Wayne Memorial Drive between Hospital Road and Medical Office Place from Office and Industrial-1 to General Business Conditional District. This rezoning would allow for the operation of a new pharmacy and medical equipment sales structure.
An approval for the demolition of dilapidated buildings at 704 E. Holly St., 1000 E. Elm St., 431 E. Elm St., 700 E. Elm St., 1714 S. Slocumb St. and 1116 Devereaux St. is also on the consent agenda. Other consent agenda items include a proposal to allow Finance Director Kaye Scott to apply for and receive funding to implement the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for the city. The $186,600 grant will be used to retrofit street lights in some city-owned parking lots and parks to be more energy efficient.
Francine Smith of the Stop the Funeral Initiative will appear before the council at the 7 p.m. meeting to discuss the annual Prayer Walk, planned to take place in the Lincoln Holmes area. Cheryl Alston is expected to request that the Wayne Food Initiative Community Garden use city property in Washington Park to grow vegetables for the community.