Council to hold public hearing
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on January 18, 2016 1:46 PM
There will be one public hearing at the Goldsboro City Council meeting, which begins at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, regarding a request by Heights Solar Farm, LLC to have the west side of Thoroughfare Road rezoned so the company can construct a solar farm on the property.
The city's planning department received a second request from the company on Jan. 13 asking the public hearing be continued a second time until Feb. 15.
This is not expected to happen, as the planning commission has recommended the city deny the request for an extension on the hearing and will return a recommendation on the issue to the council at its Feb. 1 meeting.
Following an application by the city to host the state's Main Street Conference and Awards Program in December of 2014, the city was selected in March 2015 to host the conference from March 16 to March 18 this year.
In order to adequately prepare the downtown area, the city is expected to authorize $54,848.84 from the unassigned fund balance, general fund balance and Municipal Service District fund balance on Tuesday night to make several repairs and improvements.
The breakdown of the spending is as follows:
* Seasonal plantings - $9,500
* Purchase of 108 banners - $11,024
* Union Station window coverings - $3,200
* Repairs to the J.C. Penney parking lot - $4,000
* Repairs to the John Street parking lot - $3,500
* Gidden's clock repairs - $6,000
* Light pole planting - $8,450
* Money to cover deficit incurred by expenditures for the Main Street Conference - $4,609.92
Also on the council's agenda is an item from the Public Works Department requesting that the Sanitation Division be renamed the Solid Waste Division to allow the department name to more closely represent the services provided by that department.
This change was requested by the Sanitation Division itself, due to the division believing the name change would help to more accurately portray the services they provide. There is legislation coming before North Carolina voters in March of this year concerning a $2 billion bond package.
This legislation, called the Connect NC Bond Act, would provide funding for investments in infrastructure throughout the state.
At Tuesday night's meeting, the City Council is expected to approve an item that expresses the city's support for this bond package.
The City Council's work session begins at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in room 206 of the City Hall annex. The regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.