Council to eye request for solar farm OK
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on November 1, 2015 3:05 AM
The Goldsboro City Council is expected to approve a solar farm, a massage clinic and a citizen's request to build an accessory dwelling on their property at its next meeting.
These items appear as recommendations of approval on the council's consent agenda for Monday night.
All of these issues drew criticism from their opponents at the last council meeting when public hearings were held on each matter.
The solar farm would be built on the east side of Salem Church Road if the council gives its vote of approval to the consent agenda. This issue drew criticism from property owners in the area for various reasons, ranging from a decrease in property value caused by solar farms to the solar farm's appearance.
Mark Kuhns requested the ability to construct an accessory dwelling on his property in order for his father-in-law from Michigan to stay in the building during the harsh winter months.
Carl Martin spoke in opposition of the proposal at the last council meeting, saying the accessory dwelling buildings are becoming a trend in the neighborhood and are eyesores.
The need for the father-in-law to come south in the winter months arises from the fact that Kuhn's wife's mother died recently, and Kuhns does not wish to force his father-in-law to weather the winter alone in a northern state.
There was some contention surrounding the proposal to open a massage clinic on North Herman Street, but if Monday night's consent agenda passes, Kathy Moore will be able to open for business.
Also on the consent agenda are several measures approving site and landscape plans, as well as rezoning requests that drew no contention during each item's allotted public hearing.
A change order for street resurfacing work is also expected to be approved by the council.
Barnhill Contracting Co. is already resurfacing streets throughout the city, and the change order would provide $270,137 extra to resurface additional streets.
Sections of Walnut Street, Pineview Avenue, Oleander Avenue, Slocumb Street, Mulberry Street, Simmons Street, Pou Street, Magnolia Street, John Street, Holly Street and Hollybrook Avenue would be milled and resurfaced if the additional money is allotted by the council.
The council is also expected to approve the following budget amendments, drawing the money to fund the additional items listed below from the city's unassigned fund balance:
* Sanitation Division requested six seasonal workers at the last City council meeting from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2015 to assist with leaf season and overflow over the Christmas holiday. An appropriation of $27,000 for funding is required.
* Parks and Recreation discussed Pickle Ball courts at Herman Park. The cost to convert the courts is $20,000. An appropriation of $20,000 for funding is required.
* At the Sept. 8, 2015, the council authorized the lease agreement with Suntrust for the purchase of mobile and portable radios for the Police and Fire Departments at a cost of $546,937. The first lease payment is due this fiscal year in the amount of $95,000. Since funding was not allocated in the current budget, it is necessary to appropriate the funding for this payment.
* The Police Department discussed several expenditures with council that included cell phone stipends in the amount of $20,000; physical fitness equipment for the gym totaling $20,000; and police parking lot paving and repairs in the amount of $43,000.
* The city agreed to lease three art pieces for the Streetscape Project in the amount of $6,000 along with granite base plaques totaling $5,565. An appropriation of $11,565 for funding is required.
* On Oct. 19, 2015, council adopted a budget amendment for a KaBoom grant. The budget amendment addressed the city receiving the KaBoom portion of the grant. KaBoom will purchase and pay for the playground equipment. Since they are taking care of the purchase, the city will not need to authorize its portion of the grant playground equipment purchase. The city's matching funds in the amount of $50,000 are still required.
Council will meet for its work session at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposed Business Incentive Loan program, which would give small loans to downtown business owners adversely affected by Streetscape.
The regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.
Both meetings are open to the public.