Smithfield
Town Council report from Oct. 1 session |
 |
Council members present: Emery Ashley, David Barbour, John Dunn,
Marlon Lee, Steve Rabil, Travis Scott, David Stevens, and Mayor Andy Moore
Absent: None
The name "Ava Gardner Avenue"
will apply to the double-lined green and red
sections between Buffalo Road (left) and
Bright Leaf Boulevard (right).
The solid-green, north-south section will
remain as "Booker Dairy Road."
The orange curved short section (center)
will be "Old Booker Dairy Road."
"Ava Gardner Avenue" road's new
name,
but the council's vote was evenly split
The
Town Council approved the renaming of the widened
and extended sections of Booker Dairy Road by a
split vote: Councilmen Barbour, Scott, and Stevens
voted yes; Councilmen Ashley, Dunn, and Rabil voted
no; Councilman Lee did not vote but Mayor Moore
ruled that his inaction should be recorded as a
"yes," thereby enabling approval of the new name by
a 4-3 vote.
Planning Director Stephen Wensman recommended that the entire new and rebuilt roadway get one name other than Booker Dairy Road (which intersects Bright Leaf Boulevard near the site of the old Booker Dairy many years ago). He also noted that preliminary plans call for Booker Dairy Road to be extended northward across the new roadway toward Buffalo Road to accommodate future development.
Even so, Councilman Dunn expressed reluctance to change the name of the road in front of Smithfield-Selma High School, Neuse Charter School, plus several businesses and residences. "I hate to have anybody change addresses," he said.
Councilman Barbour agreed with the planning director that it's confusing to have more than one name for what's apparently the same road. "When you experience growth you have growing pains," he said in moving approval of "Ava Gardner Avenue" for Booker Dairy's east-west section.
Actually, his motion was the second favoring a single name. Previously, Councilman Scott moved to adopt the name "Ava Gardner Parkway," and his motion was seconded by Councilman Stevens. Voting against that were Councilmen Ashley, Barbour, Dunn, and Rabil, so the motion failed.
Mr. Wensman said a public meeting was held September 12 to get input from residents, businesses, and the schools about the road naming. "There was not a lot of consensus," he reported. "No one wants to change addresses."
Town officials told the Sun they expect the name changes to take effect in late November or December.
AMPHITHEATER REPLACEMENT PLAN TABLED
AFTER CONCERNS ARE VOICED ABOUT FLOODING
Planning Director Stephen Wensman recommended that the entire new and rebuilt roadway get one name other than Booker Dairy Road (which intersects Bright Leaf Boulevard near the site of the old Booker Dairy many years ago). He also noted that preliminary plans call for Booker Dairy Road to be extended northward across the new roadway toward Buffalo Road to accommodate future development.
Even so, Councilman Dunn expressed reluctance to change the name of the road in front of Smithfield-Selma High School, Neuse Charter School, plus several businesses and residences. "I hate to have anybody change addresses," he said.
Councilman Barbour agreed with the planning director that it's confusing to have more than one name for what's apparently the same road. "When you experience growth you have growing pains," he said in moving approval of "Ava Gardner Avenue" for Booker Dairy's east-west section.
Actually, his motion was the second favoring a single name. Previously, Councilman Scott moved to adopt the name "Ava Gardner Parkway," and his motion was seconded by Councilman Stevens. Voting against that were Councilmen Ashley, Barbour, Dunn, and Rabil, so the motion failed.
Mr. Wensman said a public meeting was held September 12 to get input from residents, businesses, and the schools about the road naming. "There was not a lot of consensus," he reported. "No one wants to change addresses."
Town officials told the Sun they expect the name changes to take effect in late November or December.
AMPHITHEATER REPLACEMENT PLAN TABLED
AFTER CONCERNS ARE VOICED ABOUT FLOODING
 The
amphitheater's stage under water at the peak
of
Hurricane Matthew's record flood three years ago. |
Gary Johnson, the town's director of parks and recreation, and Donna Bailey-Taylor, director of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, appeared before the council to seek $5,200 for preparation of a report showing the new structure would cause "no rise" in Neuse River flood levels. That would be the first step toward construction of a brick-and-mortar amphitheater and seating for 500.
Estimated cost of the project: $980,923 --- including $630,855 for construction, $90,843 for engineering, $113,554 for general contractor, $126,171 for contingencies, and $19,500 for environmental documentation.
Councilman Dunn asked how much the new amphitheater would be used. "Hard to say," Mr. Johnson replied. "There's no other amphitheater of this type in the area."
Councilman Barbour asked what benefits the Visitors Bureau sees in the project.
Ms. Bailey-Taylor said an amphitheater was one of the top needs listed in a public survey taken for development of a countywide parks and recreation plan a couple of years ago. The proposed structure would be "a showpiece" for Smithfield, she said.
Councilman Scott agreed that it is something "very needed in our community." But he suggested looking at other sites. "I wish we had a better location," he said. "I struggle spending a million dollars" for a facility where the present structure stands, he added. "Since I've been here it floods a lot."
During the Citizens Comments portion of Tuesday's meeting, Pam Lampe urged the council to consider a nearby site: 25 acres on the west side of the river that's owned by the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation. Councilman Scott also mentioned that site.
"A lot of it is in the floodway," Mr. Johnson responded, noting that other recreational uses have been considered for that location but rejected because of flooding and standing water.
Mayor Moore noted that the present amphitheater has been in place since 1987, has survived several major floods, yet hasn't cost the town much for maintenance. "It all depends on what the vision of the council is," he said.
At the end of Tuesday's discussion, the matter was left unresolved.
NEW ITEMS FOR SMITH-COLLINS PARK & DOG PARK
The council approved a $16,856 contract with Barrs Recreation of Pittsboro to install two dug-out covers at the Smith-Collins Park baseball field and two "shade structures" at the Second Street Dog Park. The price falls within the $18,000 currently budgeted for the additions.
EQUIPMENT BOUGHT FOR NEW D.A.V. FITNESS TRAIL
The council approved a $32,000 contract with Greenfields Equipment Company of Anaheim, California to provide "accessible outdoor fitness equipment" to complete the D.A.V. Fitness Trail --- the final phase of the "Partnership to Build a Miracle" project at Smithfield Community Park. Pavement is already in place for the trail that wraps around the Disabled American Veterans hut across Buffalo Road from Smithfield Middle School. Previously completed elements of the overall project are the Partnership for Children "inclusion" park and the Miracle League baseball field.
NEW FILTER PURCHASED FOR THE WATER PLANT
The council approved purchase of one of two replacement filters needed at the Water Treatment Plant. TA Loving of Goldsboro was low bidder at $59,540. Purchase of a second filter was postponed because the amount budgeted this year for both is $100,000.
WATER & SEWER OUTFALL "JETTER" PURCHASED
The council approved the purchase of a water and sewer outfall "jetter" from Southern Vac at the low-bid price of $49,500. The current budget allots $70,000 for the trailer-mounted device that uses high-pressure water jets to clear obstructions from drainage pipes.
FINAL PLAT OK'd FOR PHASE 1, EAST RIVER SUBDIVISION
The council approved a slightly revised final plat for Phase 1 of the large East River residential subdivision under construction between Buffalo Road and the Neuse River just north of M. Durwood Stephenson Highway. This phase will provide space for 40 single-family residential lots on almost 26 acres of the 68-acre East River site. Planning Director Wensman noted that the final plat does not address "overflow" parking --- a matter of concern that may have to be addressed as the entire subdivision project is developed.
"PUBLIC
POWER WEEK"
PROCLAIMED
OCT.
6-12
The council adopted a resolution proclaiming next week as "Public Power Week" in Smithfield --- a statewide observance. The resolution states that municipal electric systems such as Smithfield's are "dependable institutions that provide excellent service and a commitment to community." Smithfield is one of more than 70 cities and towns that operate their own systems across the state. Coincidentally, Town Manager Mike Scott reported later in the meeting that the town had experienced a couple of minor power outages earlier Tuesday that were blamed on squirrels. Those problems were quickly resolved, he said.
NEXT
REGULAR
MEETING
POSTPONED TILL
NOV. 12
The council's regularly scheduled meeting next month will be delayed a week from the first Tuesday till the following Tuesday, November 12 because of the November 5 municipal election.