Citizens speak out on bridge issue

Greasey made his debut at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Photo by Shelley Smith, Salisbury Post.

By Shelley Smithssmith@salisburypost.com

Concerned citizens of Salisbury spoke out Tuesday during the Salisbury City Council's public comment period, expressing their concerns with the future of the Shober Bridge on Ellis Street.

William Peoples voiced his concerns on the safety of the bridge, particularly when there is a fire, and firefighters have to take such a long detour.

"Looking at it from a safety point of view, there's quite a bit of time that it takes that fire truck to detour to the other side of town," he said. "I just hope the two sides can come to some type of agreement.

"Safety takes precedent over preservation as far as I'm concerned."

Peoples said if the bridge had to be moved, he'd like to see it in a park.

Sue McHugh of Salisbury expressed her concerns of where the future of the Shober Bridge was heading.

"My biggest concern is that there is a vast history on the bridge but no one knows about it," McHugh said. "It has been a fiber of that neighborhood for decades."

McHugh said she didn't want to see the bridge replaced with another plaque on the history trail, stating that it could be featured in the history trail, greenway or bike trail.

"It seems we've revisited this a number of times," she said of the bridge's future, noting that she's glad a board has been developed to go over all options.

Gwen Matthews, who lives on Ellis Street, gave handouts to each council member highlighting the history of the bridge.

"One thing that has remained constant in the neighborhood is the Shober Bridge," she said.

Matthews spoke of the promises each council member made to voters during the candidate forum at Salisbury Station, giving an explanation of how the Shober Bridge preservation fit in to each quote.

Deborah Brazee, who also lives on Ellis Street, was last to speak of the Shober Bridge, and was concerned that information on a rehabilitation of the bridge was not being fairly presented to the council.

"I've seen information that has not been forthcoming from one group to another that is vital to understanding the rehab option," Brazee said. "One has to look at the pros and cons of doing both things.

"It's clear that the rehab option is the best option. I hope the resources can be made available."

Mayor Pro Tem Maggie Blackwell gave a report on the Shober Bridge Committee meetings, stating that she has been working hard to catch up on the information that Councilman Paul Woodson, also on the committee, has heard in councils before.

Blackwell said nothing could be decided until the railroad got back to the city on approval of a two-track or three-track plan.

Woodson asked about a timeline for the bridge repairs.

"We need to do everything we can to get that bridge reopened," Woodson said. "I've received many, many complaints."

City Engineer Dan Mikkelson said railroad officials have not given him a time frame on when they will make their decision on the two or three tracks, noting that they could take as long as they wanted. Mikkelson did say, however, the repairs to the bridge were to be decided on before the tracks.

"I'm hoping very, very soon we'll hear when the repair work can begin," Mikkelson said.

City Manager David Treme added, "We've definitely requested that this move on. We're at their mercy, if you will."

Treme joked that the railroad was definitely aware of the city of Salisbury's urgency in reopening the bridge after repairs.

"They know our names, they know our numbers and they know how to contact us," he said.

Another hot topic during the Salisbury City Council meeting involved a unanimous adoption of an ordinance amendment regarding nuisance violations relating to parking.

Speaking out in the public hearing on neighborhood parking violations was Gretta Conner of Salisbury. Conner is pleased to see changes in the ordinance. But she still has issues with tractor trailers parking in her neighbor's backyards.

"I don't want it in my neighborhood," Conner said. "It should not be in any neighborhood.

"I hate to look out my window and see a big tractor trailer truck, and I'm sure others feel the same way."

The amendment the council voted on Tuesday was to allow for an increase in enforcement efficiency, as well as an updated definition of a commercial vehicle.

According to the amendment, an oversized commercial vehicle is any one (except pick-up trucks) or trailers with a commercial license plate, and, has more than two axles or four tires, is designated to carry more than 15 passengers, including the driver, weighs more than 10,000 pounds, requires hazardous materials placards, is more than 9 feet in height or is more than 22 feet in length.

The amendment also states that if someone is found to be in violation of the ordinance, notification will come from a code enforcement officer. If the problem still exists after the notification, the officer will issue a citation of $50.

"I don't think tractor trailers should be in any neighborhood," said councilman William "Pete" Kennedy. "I'm going to support this ordinance. I think it's a step in the right direction."

In other Salisbury City Council news:

- Aaron Otten, FOG (Fats, Oils and Greases) Program Director revealed FOG's new mascot, "Greasey." Greasey's theme song, similar to the tune of "Grease Lightning," was written and sung by Otten himself.

Otten said that his team has visited approximately 300 food service establishments in the past 10 months, hand delivering an informational brochure and receiving contact information for following up.

- Several people and businesses were recognized as recipients of the 2009 North Carolina Main Street Awards: Best Economic Development Incentive went to Downtown Salisbury, Inc. for Tax Credit Syndication; Best Adaptive Re-use Project went to Ted and Cheryl Goins and Gray Stout for 101 S. Main St., Pottery 101; Best Historic Rehabilitation Project went to Jeff and Christine Wilson, 128 E. Innes St., Simply Good; Best Facade Rehabilitation went to Bill Green and Alfred Wilson, 110 S. Main St., The Literary Bookpost; Best Outdoor Space Improvement went to NCDOT, City of Salisbury and David E. Gall, Salisbury Station Passenger Platform; and the 2009 Main Street Champion was awarded to Barbara Perry for her leadership and advocacy in 2009.

- Sgt. Paul Johnston was recognized for his 30 years of law enforcement. Johnston will be retiring March 1.