2003

Council starts U.S. 301 project task

Slugline Publication Date Section(s) Page Byline 301 task force and rest of council meeting Wilson Daily Times June 20, 2003 Local News a1

By Margaret J. Stair Daily Times Staff Writer City Council passed two resolutions Thursday to begin putting into action the recommendations of the U.S. 301 Task Force, but declined to designate a full-time staff person to monitor the project. One resoloution asks that the N.C. Department of Transportation close one end of the section of Ward Boulevard between Lipscomb Road and U.S. 301 and turn it into a cul-de-sac. The section, which runs through a residential neighborhood, is used as a shortcut by drivers. The other resolution asks that the DOT improve U.S 301 from N.C. 42 East to Wiggins Mill Road with construction of five lanes, curbing, guttering, improved storm drainage and landscaping. Both of these projects would be done at state expense because they affect state-maintained roads. In a meeting earlier Thursday with Ron Gay and Hattie Ellis, representing the task force, council balked at providing a new city staff position. The person would have been dedicated to working with a volunteer advisory board, which will be formed to follow up on the task force's recommendations. City administrators told council the task force has received continuing support from city staff throughout its 18-month study of the U.S. 301 corridor. Ed Wyatt, city manager, said staff meets weekly to work on implementing the recommendations. People from a number of departments have been involved. Jim Bradshaw, who is retired director of development services, worked with the task force as a part-time consultant paid by the city. Tim Holloman, who succeeded him as director, said he could not be spared to work solely on the task force issues.

Ellis and Gay expressed concern that without a staff person to push for the group's action plan during the years required to implement it, the plan will not be carried out. They did not welcome the suggestion that a current city staffer could be assigned to work permanently with the advisory board as part of his duties. They said they believe it's necessary to have a person whose only priority would be the task force work. Wyatt assured them that their work will not get put on the back burner. "Our folks have been very resolute in moving this on," he said. "We want to earn people's trust and show responsiveness to citizens." Council members expressed concern about setting a precedent of creating a staff position to support a task force, thus creating the expectation that it would do so in similar situations in the future. In other business, council: * Approved a preliminary subdivision titled United Tobacco Company at 1701 Black Creek Road. * Approved a shopping center site plan for Shoppes at 58 West in the 4000 block of West Nash Street. * Amended the zoning ordinance to flag restrictions of temporary uses in the airport overlay district in the temporary use section of the zoning ordinance. * Adopted an ordinance to annex areas along N.C. 58 North. * Approved reimbursement for an oversize water line for Trade Oil company on N.C. 58 North. * Awarded bid for Streetscape along Nash Street from Lodge Street to Pender Street to PLT Construction Company. Total cost will be $533,360. * Approved application for a Homeland Security Overtime Program grant for the Police Department. You may reach Margaret J. Stair at margaret@wilsondaily.com or at 265-7878.