Council declines to vote on bond
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on August 4, 2016 1:46 PM
The Goldsboro City Council declined to vote on a proposed $10 million bond referendum Monday but plans to take up the issue later this month.
The council also made other decisions during its Monday meeting, including giving the green light on the city extending two Basic Law Enforcement Training scholarships, seeking a $200,000 downtown development grant and partnering with the county to hire a communication director.
Two residents spoke during a public hearing for the $10 million bond, including one who spoke in opposition and another who asked questions about debt financing.
Jim Wiggs asked what collateral the city would use for the bonds and questioned the financing impact on the property tax rate.
City Manager Scott Stevens said property tax revenue is pledged to pay down the bond but that no property tax increase is planned. He also explained that the city's financing plan is regulated and monitored by the state Local Government Commission.
The bonds are planned to speed road repairs in the city and supplement other funding for the construction of a multi-sports complex near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
The LGC is in the process of considering approval of the bond referendum that would be added to the Nov. 8 general election ballot, said Kaye Scott, Goldsboro finance director.
LGC approval would allow city residents the chance to vote on the bonds separately, Scott said. The $7 million bond is planned for street resurfacing projects throughout the city and for new road construction where dirt roads exist. The $3 million bond would go toward construction costs for the multi-sports complex, which will also be supported by a $3 million, low-interest Wayne County government loan.
Charles Wright spoke in opposition of the sports complex and said he didn't think it would benefit local residents but instead be a draw for people from outside the area.
"This is a project for greater tourism dollars," Wright said.
The council didn't vote on the bonds and did not discuss any reason for delaying the vote. The proposal is expected to go up for a vote during the council's Aug. 15 meeting, Stevens said.
If approved, the city's finance director will deliver bond referendum materials to the Wayne County Board of Elections on Aug. 16.
During the meeting, the council approved a partnership with Wayne County government to hire a communication director, at an estimated cost of $80,000.
The council also took actions during its 5 p.m. work session, prior to the 7 p.m. council meeting.
LAW
ENFORCEMENT
SCHOLARSHIP
Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West told the council that the city received five applications for the Basic Law Enforcement Training scholarship program.
Initially, the awards were earmarked for city residents. Because no city residents applied, the council approved awarding a scholarship to a Wayne County resident and a South Carolina resident who plans to move to the city by mid-August.
West notified scholarship recipients Tuesday and each will receive $5,000 for the cost of the BLET program and a $5,000 stipend. Following graduation from a BLET program, the officers will be hired by the Goldsboro Police Department and are required to continue as Goldsboro officers for three years.
DOWNTOWN GRANT
The council approved the city's application for a $200,000 N.C. Department of Commerce building reuse grant for a property at 300 S. Center St.
The building, which previously housed Carolina Power and Light, has been purchased and under development for future use as a medical facility, said Elizabeth Rutland, Goldsboro's downtown business and property development specialist.
The grant requires a city match of $10,000 and an employment threshold of 20 full-time workers. The award announcement will be made on Aug. 18, Rutland said.
In other business, the council approved:
* Site plans for a new Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins on North Berkeley Boulevard near Cashwell Drive.
* The replacement of 2,500 city street lights with LED lights at a $125,150 cost.
* A $274,400 contract with Moseley Architects for design services related to a future police evidence room expansion.
* A $37,593 contract with North State Resurfacing Co. to convert Goldsboro Event Center tennis courts into eight pickleball courts.
* A cost-sharing agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation for a Union Station roof replacement project. The agreement includes a city commitment to pay half the $40,000 cost to hire an engineer for the project.
* Fire department automatic aid agreements with the Belfast Volunteer Fire Department and all volunteer fire departments in Wayne County.
* A $41,723 U.S. Department of Justice grant application that would be evenly split with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. The Goldsboro Police Department would purchase 27 body cameras and the sheriff's office would buy license plate reader equipment.
* Conditional use permits for a game room inside Big Jim's Pizza, on U.S. 117 South, and a laser tag center inside the former Longhorn Sweepstakes, also on U.S. 117.
* A subdivision plan on Belfast Road where a new Dollar General store is planned; and a site plan for an apartment complex on Olivia Lane.