By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Salisbury City Council will hear updates Tuesday on several matters, including plans to invest $725,000 in three downtown parking lots.
New parking is proposed behind two cottages in the 200 block of South Lee Street.
Improvements are recommended for the central city lot off the 100 block of East Innes Street (behind Bernhardt Hardware) .
Officials also want to expand the City Hall parking lot behind Queen’s.
Staff will present layouts and construction estimates for each project.
Council meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 217 S. Main St.
In addition, council will hear updates on the recent water emergency, caused when the Yadkin River raw water pump station lost power and electrical repairs took several days. Power was restored the night of Jan. 11, and the city’s water supply has returned to normal.
Darrell Blackwelder and David Correll will update the city on the Salisbury-Rowan Farmer’s Market.
Members of the Community Appearance Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and Parks and Advisory Board will highlight their activities from the past year and present their goals for 2009-2010.
In other agenda items Tuesday, council will:
– Hold a second public hearing on the city’s application for a Neighborhood Stabilization Grant through the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.
North Carolina has been allocated $52.3 million through the federal program, and the state plans to distribute the funds to 23 counties, including Rowan County, which have been determined to be the greatest in need for acquiring and redeveloping foreclosed properties.
Salisbury intends to apply for $5 million of the money to help with its neighborhood revitalization efforts.
– Receive a petition from Lash Drive residents asking for an extension of bus service.
– Consider the voluntary annexation of the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College campus.
– Consider changes to the Historic Preservation Incentive Grant Program.
– Consider awarding a $317,316 contract to Foothills Water and Sewer Inc. for the installation of water-sewer improvements in the 2007 Camp Road annexation area.
– Consider awarding a $301,747 contract to RAM Development of Mooresville Inc. for the installation of water-sewer improvements for the 2007 Old Mocksville Road area.
– Receive a presentation on the Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) ordinance and consider setting a public hearing for Feb. 3.
– Adopt a budget change to appropriate $29,241.39 from the N.C. Department of Transportation for landscape improvements on East Innes Street. The money reflects the first phase of landscaping at the Interstate 85 interchange that already has been installed.
Council meetings are streamed live at www.salisburync.gov/council/webcast.html and shown later on Time Warner Cable’s ACCESS 16 television station.