Council will talk system upgrades, pipeline approval
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on February 19, 2018 5:50 AM
The Goldsboro City Council will review an installment financing package for computer-related upgrades and a resolution in support of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project during its meeting tonight.
The council, which has recently considered making $850,000 in network upgrades, will review a staff recommendation to purchase the equipment during two fiscal years.
A lease purchase agreement is proposed with SunTrust Bank, for 59 months at a 3 percent interest rate. The agreement will allow for the purchase of $478,000 in equipment upgrades, including 90 police and fire laptops, storage for the city's computer network, servers, format plotters and printers and a phone system upgrade.
The city will seek to finance the purchase in March. Another lease agreement, which the council will consider at a later date, includes an additional $372,000 in equipment to complete the upgrades.
The council is also considering putting its support behind the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project, a 600-mile natural gas pipeline proposed for construction from West Virginia through Virginia and North Carolina.
The $5 billion project of Dominion Energy and Duke Energy has drawn support and criticism, especially from residents with properties along the pipeline path in nearby Wilson and Nash counties.
The council is considering the resolution due to the economic benefits of the pipeline, including additional jobs and more affordable energy supplies in the region and state. The pipeline is planned to extend 200 miles through North Carolina, along the Interstate 95 corridor, cutting through eight counties, including Wilson, Johnston and Sampson counties to the west.
Also during the meeting, the council will review for approval:
* A $48,222 stream debris removal contract with Three Deuces that involves the removal of vegetative debris from the Big Ditch, Howell Creek, Stoney Creek, Little River and the Mimosa Park ditch. The project will be paid for with a portion of a $105,355 N.C. Department of Agriculture the city was awarded for Hurricane Matthew cleanup.
* A $434,792 contract with the Century Slate Co. to replace the roof on Union Station and a $38,314 contract with R. Tadd Furrow for engineering services. The contract is part of a cost-share agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation, with DOT and the city each paying half the cost. The project requires the use of $258,293 in city fund balance reserves.
* A resolution of appreciation for Donald Collins, Goldsboro fire captain, for nearly 30 years of service with the city. Collins retires on March 1.
The council will meet at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 214 N. Center St. The council will also meet at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall annex, 200 N. Center St., for a work session.