In other action
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Salisbury City Council:
• Recognized employees of Salisbury-Rowan Utilities for receiving the National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ Platinum 7 and Silver Peak Performance Awards for 2010. The Salisbury-Rowan Wastewater Treatment Plant was one of 133 facilities nationwide and six in the state to receive a platinum award, signifying five or more years of 100 percent permit compliance.
Salisbury-Rowan Utilities was recognized for more than seven years of 100 percent permit compliance. The Second Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant was recognized for no more than five permit violations per calendar year.
• Approved $100,000 for engineering services related to the Second Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Elimination Project.
• Awarded a contract in the amount of $76,892 to Carolina Siteworks Inc. for construction of the Jersey City neighborhood intersection improvements at Mocksville Avenue, Caldwell and Cemetery streets.
The improvements will include a paver truck apron to protect new curbs and landscaping, City Planner Lynn Raker said. The intersection of Caldwell and Cemetery will be closed for 60 days during construction.
Because the project came in $25,000 under budget, the contractor may add underground pipes for drainage, which the street department prefers, Raker said. Staff will alert City Council if the work will cost significantly more than the contract, Interim City Manager Doug Paris said.
The city is using federal funding for the project.
Other improvements to the Jersey City neighborhood have included infill housing, demolition of problem rental property, a new park, street lights and sidewalks.
• Increased the speed limit on portions of Cedar Springs Road and Rowan Mill Road.
• Allowed right turns on red lights at the intersection of Fulton Street and West Innes Street.
• Approved an agreement with N.C. Department of Transportation regarding bridge inspections. The city pays 20 percent of the inspection fee, or about $520 per structure, and the federal government pays the balance.
The city has been inspecting six bridges, but a pedestrian bridge at the hospital no longer qualifies and Rowan Regional Medical Center must take over, City Traffic Engineer Wendy Brindle said.
• Met new downtown Police Officer Mark McDaniel.
• Heard an update on Grant’s Creek Greenway, which is nearly complete and will open this fall. Parks and Recreation Director Gail Elder White asked residents not to use the greenway, which is still under construction.
Considered one of the most attractive sections of greenway, the .72-mile, 10-foot-wide path starts at Hogan’s Valley Way in the Crescent and ends at Forestdale Drive in Meadowbrook, including an 80-foot wooden pedestrian bridge and 60-foot wooden boardwalk. City Engineer Patrick Ritchie designed the greenway, which winds through the woods and has almost no straight sections.
The city won $500,000 in federal stimulus funds to build the project.