By Shelley Smithssmith@salisburypost.com

The Salisbury City Council gave its blessing Tuesday to the nomination of J.C. Price High School to the National Register of Historic Places.

The nomination was sponsored by the J.C. Price High School Alumni Association, and Alumni President Barbara Gaul of Salisbury addressed the recommendation during the public comment section.

"This building means so much to not only the black community, but the Salisbury community at large," Gaul said. "This building has been in our lives since it was built."

Other citizens also spoke for the recommendation, including the director of the Historic Salisbury Foundation, Jack Thomson.

"We applaud the Price High School Alumni Association for pursuing (the national registry)," Thomson said.

Rodney Queen of Salisbury said he and Councilman William "Pete" Kennedy discussed the school and the time they have spent in it.

"This project is very close to me," Queen said. "I can't imagine anyone would be against it. The aura of the history and background of the building, (it's) just so positive. It's an absolute must."

Kennedy agreed with Queen, calling the school, "a jewel of our community."

"Preserve this gem for an eternity," Kennedy said.

Shober Bridge

Also discussed during the meeting was the repair of the Ellis Street Shober Bridge.

City Manager David Treme said the bridge has been closed for a few weeks, and the estimated cost for the repairs is a little over $30,000. Construction should begin at the end of February, he said, and should take around seven business days.

Treme said the largest cost for the repairs will come from removing and replacing the asphalt and the deteriorating deck.

Mayor Pro Tem Maggie Blackwell gave a short report from the bridge committee's Friday meeting, noting that there was still a lot to discuss before the committee gave an official report and/or recommendation to the council.

"It seemed like the more we learned, we learned that we need to learn more," Blackwell said. "I think that together the neighborhood will work with City Hall and will find an answer."

Fire inspection fee

Bob Bailey, owner of Bailey's Quick Copy print shop, spoke during the public comment section of his concern over a new fee by the city of Salisbury for fire inspections.

"Recently I received a major shock," Bailey said, noting that he had received a bill from the city for fire inspections not only to his business, but for the building he owned in which his and other businesses operated in. Bailey said one of the charges was $75.

"My question is, what are my taxes paying for?" Bailey said. "We pay taxes annually, tax on gross revenue on our business for the business license. We also serve as a collector of sales tax for city, county and state.

"I believe the new inspection fee is unfair. Businesses are struggling to keep their heads above water. (These fees) should be part of the services we receive for our tax dollars."

Treme said the fees were for general inspection use permits, and that the fees administered by Salisbury were consistent with other surrounding towns.

Treme asked the council to suspend the inspection fee program for two weeks. At the next council meeting, he will have a prepared presentation about the new program.

In other action:

- The council heard presentations from the Historic Preservation Committee, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Tree Board and the Community Appearance Commission.

Each board and commission highlighted its past year's accomplishments and its goals.

- Sherry Hawthorne of Salisbury thanked the City Council and Mr. and Mrs. Pete Kennedy for their support during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

"My dream was to do something on MLK Drive, and Mr. Kennedy made that happen," Hawthorne said, noting that she hopes to see more activities "each and every month."

- The council recognized Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2010 as Catholic Schools Week, and Jan. 21, 2010, as Andrew Jackson Masonic Lodge Day.

- The City of Salisbury has received the go-ahead from the N.C. Department of Transportation to begin the construction of phase two of the Grants Creek Greenway, from the Crescent to Forestdale Drive.

The city applied for a $350,000 stimulus grant to assist with the construction of the Greenway.

"We look forward to adding this section of multi-use trail to the overall system of greenways in Salisbury," DOT Director Thomas P. Norman stated in a letter to Dan Mikkelson, city engineer.

- The City will hold a citizen comment session regarding the Five-year Plan and Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant and HOME Funds Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. in the Park Avenue Community Center, 632 Park Ave.

- The Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department will host the 2010 Wedding Extravaganza Saturday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Salisbury Civic Center, 315 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.

The City Council will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 4 p.m. at the Salisbury City Hall on Main Street.