Council eyeing land buy for new museum
By Ty Johnson
Published in News on October 14, 2012 1:50 AM
The Goldsboro City Council will receive an update on its Air Force Museum project Monday during its 5 p.m. work session before potentially doubling down on its intent to purchase more property near the proposed site of the facility.
There will be a meeting of the Air Force Museum Citizen Committee Monday at 1 p.m. in the Mayor's Conference Room. The gathering will feature consultant Dan Murphy's presentation on exhibits. Assistant city manager and ex-officio committee member Tasha Logan will give an update to the council during its work session at 5 p.m. in the City Hall Annex.
Both meetings are open to the public, in addition to the 7 p.m. regular meeting for which the City Council's consent agenda contains a measure to enter an option agreement to purchase property adjacent to the former location of the Arts Council of Wayne County.
The city purchased the building at 2406 E. Ash St. from the Arts Council in the summer of 2011 for $500,000 with the intention of housing an Air Force museum in the former bank facility.
The item on the consent agenda asks for $20,000 be taken from the Civic Center portion of the Occupancy Tax Fund to allow the city a property acquisition option.
Finance Director Kaye Scott said Friday the measure, which is slated to be approved by consent, would include a $3,000 down payment on the land owned by Lynwood Williford to hold the land while the city has both its property and the additional property appraised.
The measure also allows the city to contract to have its land at the corner of Wayne Memorial Drive and New Hope Road appraised. The city purchased that land in November 2001 for $2.2 million with the intent of building a Civic Center there.
The Occupancy Tax Fund was created by legislation in 1991 to allow the city to collect tax money on hotel rooms that would be funneled into a special coffer. That money is split into a portion reserved for civic center construction and another that funds the area's Travel and Tourism department. It has since been used to market tourism events, like the Wings Over Wayne Air Show and for other expenses associated with tourism outreach.
Mrs. Scott said there's a good chance the city won't spend the entire $20,000 allocated, meaning the remainder would be returned to the fund.
Other items on the consent agenda include:
* Setting a public hearing for the contiguous annexation request from Best Properties for the southwest corner of the Cuyler Best Road and New Hope Road intersection
* An amendment to the contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates to alter its proposal for the Berkeley Boulevard widening project
* The acquisition of right-of-way for the Berkeley Boulevard widening project
* Amendment to city ordinances on animals to allow for property owners to house up to six chickens in the city limits
* Budget ordinance for $192,000 allocating additional ABC revenue received this year for demolition to Parks and Recreation, funds for worker's compensation within the Police Department and payment for customer service training and the 311 GIS web-based service order system
* Road closure for Downtown Lights Up! Nov. 20.
Monthly departmental reports round out the consent agenda.
There will also be presentations during the work session from Planning Director Randy Guthrie on the city's sidewalk plan, from Mrs. Scott on the first quarter financial update and Scott Barnard on a Petco grant sought for Parks and Recreation.
City Manager Scott Stevens will also discuss the council's 2013 meeting schedule.