Council to talk about W.A. Foster project
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on March 16, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus file photo
The existing W.A. Foster Center is shown before it had to be shut down because of problems with asbestos. The city of Goldsboro is planning to build a new center at Mina Weil Park.
The Goldsboro City Council will discuss a proposal to build a controversial apartment complex during its meeting tonight -- and is scheduled to review a plan during its work session for a new center that also sparked some debate.
The 80-unit apartment complex on Graves Drive between Berkeley Boulevard and Malloy Street has already been challenged by a petition of protest from surrounding business and property owners.
The petition of protest gathered more than 60 signatures, invoking the four-fifths rule when it comes before council. This means six of seven council members will need to vote in favor of the proposition for it to advance.
A public hearing will be held on the issue during the regularly scheduled council meeting at 7 p.m.
Also slated to be discussed is a proposal to close an alley between Pine and Corney streets, running from Gulley Street to its terminus -- another hearing related to the proposed apartment complex construction.
Three topics are planned for the council's work session, which precedes the regular council meeting.
Among them is a continued discussion concerning a plan to build a new W.A. Foster Center, which will be built in Mina Weil Park.
There is no firm date for the project, but there has been some debate about the location as residents in the area where the center is currently located have suggested that the center remain there.
The decision to move to Mina Weil Park was made last year. Council members say the move will allow a better building and more space.
When the council moves to its regular meeting, members will set a date for a public hearing on not only the W.A. Foster project, but a proposal for the new Goldsboro Country Club acquisition as well.
The council will vote on a resolution calling for a public hearing regarding the funding of renovations to the Goldsboro Country Club and funding for the construction of the new W.A. Foster Center at Mina Weil Park.
Construction of the W.A. Foster Center will cost $6 million, and renovations to the country club are expected to cost $1.5 million.
If approved, the public hearing will be set for April 6 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.
Also at its work session, council will discuss a SmART Incentive Grant Award from the North Carolina Arts Council and will hear an update by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. on a TIGER grant application.
There are several other items on the council's consent agenda for Monday night.
* After discussion regarding a training facility for the Goldsboro Fire Department at the last city council meeting, council is expected to approve plans for the construction of a $26,400 Conex box facility to be built on McDaniels Street.
An additional $3,600 will be allocated from the unassigned fund balance for a total of $30,000 for the project. The $3,600 will go toward sending two fire captains to a training school on how to build a training facility made of Conex boxes.
* Also on the consent agenda is the approval of $86,570 to replace a bulk hypochlorite tank at the City Water Plant. The tank has been repaired multiple times in the past but continues to have problems.
* After the Public Works Department conducted an inflow and infiltration study several months ago, a problem area was identified with manholes along the Little River.
If approved, sewer bonds will be used to pay for the replacement of the manholes along the Little River at a cost of $89,460, and the project will be contracted out to Suncoast Infrastructure of Florence, Miss.
* Sewer rehabilitation will continue with the next item on the consent agenda, which is a plan to install more than 7,000 feet of cured-in-place piping inside of existing clay sanitary sewer pipes throughout the city at a cost of $1,304,613.50.
The contract is expected to be awarded to Herring-Rivenbark of Kinston.
* Also up for discussion is a supplemental agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for additional federal funding for the New Hope Road multi-use trail project.
The project will see a 10-foot wide path constructed along the south side of New Hope Road from New Hare Road to Wayne Memorial Drive at a cost of $500,000.
The additional funds, in the amount of $100,000, will be added to the existing funds for the project, bringing the total cost of the project to $600,000.
* Council also will discuss the Berkeley Boulevard widening project, which has been delayed several times.
The project proposes the construction of an additional southbound travel lane on the west side of Berkeley Boulevard. The new lane will run between Royall Avenue and South Drive, which is just north of New Hope Road.
The city is required to purchase properties to acquire the right of way, and has identified three properties at 1801, 1803 and 1805 North Berkeley Boulevard that must be purchased for the project to move forward.
After initial negotiations, the city offered $55,800 for the properties, but the owner has requested an additional $11,700 for the properties.
Therefore, if approved, the city with allocate an additional $11,700 for the purchase of the properties.