By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
GRANITE QUARRY ó Members of the Granite Quarry Board of Aldermen had a tame meeting Monday night, but one point of discussion is sure to grab the attention of area children.
Aldermen were told Santa Claus is coming to town.
No, really, he is.
And prior to Christmas Eve, even.
Specifically, the jolly ol’ fellow from the North Pole is scheduled to make his grand appearance from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Town Hall. He’ll be arriving aboard a fire truck.
“We’ve got the Santa who looks really real,” said Susan Closner, Granite Quarry’s events coordinator. “I think he might be.”
She said Santa’s wife will accompany him on his visit to Granite Quarry.
In other matters handled Monday, board members:
– Voted to spend about $300 for materials and have town employees install a 144-foot fence at Granite Lake Park.
Alternatives board members discussed involved paying Statesville Fence $1,855 to build a split-rail fence or $2,310 for a chain-link fence at the site.
– Heard from Fire Chief David Morris that an old house in the 400 block of Barringer Street will be burned Saturday morning as part of a “live burn.”
Firefighters destroy such structures to practice various firefighting techniques. Morris said the burning will start at 8 a.m. and should be completed by noon.
– Voted to change the number of Planning Board members from 11 to nine. In addition, there will be two alternates on the board.
Closner told aldermen reducing the number will mean only five members need be present to make a quorum. Getting a quorum has been a problem at some recent meetings.
Previously, getting a quorum had required a turnout of at least seven members.
“They’re pretty dedicated and committed,” Closner told aldermen. “It’s just been a few off months for some of them.”
In the future, the Planning Board will consist of five in-town members, four extra-territorial jurisdiction members, one alternate from town and one extra-territorial jurisdiction member.
– Heard from Maintenance Supervisor Kim Cress, who said leaf pickup in town is going well.
“Many people take advantage of this,” he said of the service offered by the town. “It seems to be going well.”
– Approved a resolution stating the board’s opposition to the town taking over the maintenance of state roads within the town limits.
Alderman Bill Feather said the resolution was in response to a suggestion by state officials that they turn maintenance of some secondary roads over to municipalities.
Feather said the suggestion was a bad one.
“Towns just don’t have the equipment,” he said.
– Approved a town holiday calendar for 2009. The calendar is identical to the one for 2008, only adjusted for the difference in years.
– Approved the sale of a number of surplus properties ó a 1986 Chevrolet C-10 pickup and a 1980 Ingersoll-Rand air compressor, included.
The items will be offered for sale on the Internet site govdeals.com.
– Heard a holiday banquet for staff members and volunteers will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12.