By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
SPENCER ó Members of the Spencer Board of Aldermen expressed outrage Tuesday over being excluded from an agreement that apparently has the potential to impact plans for the replacement of the Yadkin River bridge.
Aldermen said they learned of the memorandum agreement just Tuesday, though they said representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, N.C. Department of Transportation and N.C. State Historic Preservation Commission met on the matter last month in Raleigh, and perhaps on other occasions.
It was unclear Tuesday night if the agreement had been signed, though at least one Spencer alderman said it has apparently been approved.
Aldermen discussed the matter during their monthly meeting Tuesday.
“The town of Spencer was not invited,” said Alderman Scott Benfield. “Apparently, no one from Rowan County was invited.”
“Can we explore protesting?” asked Alderman Nick Bishop. “I’ll go out there and scream at the river.”
The agreement involves the widening and upgrade of a 6.8-mile stretch of Interstate 85 from Exit 81 in Rowan County to Exit 87 in Davidson County. The agreement also involves the Yadkin River Crossings Historic District, though aldermen agreed that before Tuesday, they’d never heard of such an organization.
They wondered aloud how a representative of that organization could be invited to participate in the proceedings, though representatives of the town of Spencer weren’t afforded the same courtesy.
Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Morris said the agreement has the potential to severely delay the widening of the interstate and construction of the new bridge, as well as adversely affect any other potential construction within a half-mile of the Yadkin River. The proposed High Rock Raceway could be affected by the agreement, and Dave Risdon, the track’s president, and several people with land around the site addressed aldermen Tuesday.
“This governs the I-85 realignment,” Morris said.
He said stipulations included in the agreement are both confusing and potentially harmful. Included is a stipulation specifying that the N.C. DOT not permit staging areas for construction within the boundary of the Yadkin River Crossings Historic District. Morris said he was told that district includes the Wil-Cox Bridge, the river island near the site and part of the Trading Ford Historic Path.
“It’s amazing how that could be established for the purpose of federal funds without any involvement of the elected officials of the town of Spencer,” Morris said of the newly created historic district. “It’s amazing that the landowners weren’t notified.”
He said he was told that Rowan County commissioners are expected to address the matter when they meet Monday. They were also excluded from talks, Morris said.
He said that other stipulations included in the agreement call for the creation of a “Heritage Park” on the Davidson County side of the river that will include a custom kiosk. The kiosk will feature interpretive panels commemorating the historic nature of the area.
Another stipulation addresses the matter of “unanticipated discovery.” According to the agreement, if a “cultural resource” is discovered during construction, work will be halted while the resource is studied.
Morris said the discovery of a single “cultural resource” has the potential to halt construction as much as 60 days while affected parties weigh in on the matter and disputes are rectified.
“As they’re grading, if anything is uncovered, the whole project could be stopped,” Morris said.
Aldermen were unsure Tuesday night how to proceed. The majority of board members agreed to attend a meeting at 3 p.m. Monday at the N.C. Transportation Museum regarding maintenance and upkeep of the Wil-Cox Bridge. According to Morris, the meeting will not involve a formal group, nor will the recommendations of attendees have any authority.
The meeting was called by Jason Walser, executive director of the LandTrust for Central North Carolina.
At Tuesday’s meeting in Spencer, Risdon, president of the proposed High Rock Raceway, spoke to aldermen.
“As a property owner, I’m alarmed and concerned about this agreement,” he said.
Rod Whedbee, who owns property near the track, said the meetings involving the memorandum agreement were held “in secret” and without public notice.
“Evidently, we have no rights,” Whedbee said.
Jack Fisher, who owns 237 acres near the interstate, agreed.
“I don’t care for someone telling us what we’re going to do with our property,” he said, reminding aldermen that the bridge and the interstate are the “gateway to Spencer.”