City closes in on garden contract, OKs rezonings

ASHEBORO — Asheboro has a contractor in mind to begin work on the David and Pauline Jarrell Center City Garden. At its Feb. 5 meeting, the city council reviewed the construction bids, signed a sidewalk agreement for NC42 and annexed land for a new manufacturer. 

Community garden construction 

Of the four bids to develop the community garden on South Cox Street, Assistant City Manager Trevor Nuttall said the lowest was J&K General Contractor’s for $955,281.37. It estimated completing the work in 240 days. 

Before voting, Mayor Joseph Trogdon, Jr. asked about including a performance bond. He said when bidders propose a wide variety of costs (the next lowest from BAR Construction was $1.35 million), bonding companies might express concern. 

“I think we should have some kind of backup protection if we sign a contract,” said Trogdon. “It may be $20,000, but that will be money well spent. It’s good business sense to have protection of the city.” 

Council member Mary Joan Pugh asked if the 240-day timeline was a problem because the grant money must be spent before that. Nuttall said while funds from the COVID-19 era expire in June, they will ask for a program amendment to allow for a different revenue source. 

The council unanimously voted to accept the bid contingent of verification of the cost. 

In a follow-up email, the city shared they are in the process of executing a contract. Since pay and performance bonds were stipulated in the Request for Proposals, they expect it will remain at $955,281.37. 

Nuttall said Jennifer Wagner of Prospect Landscape Architecture was chosen to be facility designer. 

NC 42 sidewalks 

City Engineer Michael Leonard presented an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation  

(NCDOT) for adding sidewalks along NC Highway 42, connecting East Salisbury Street to Dixie Drive. 

NCDOT will pay 90 percent of $352,123.80, leaving the city to pay $35,212. 

Leonard also presented the agreement to move water and sewer lines along NC 42, which could cost $847,194.37. The council accepted both agreements. 

Other business 

The council took up two zoning requests and two annexations. 

■ They annexed then applied industrial zoning to the future site of Environmental Air Systems (EAS). Gov. Josh Stein announced on Nov. 22, 2025, that the HVAC manufacturer was moving to Randolph County. 

Community Development Director John Evans said the 62 acres on US 220 Business South has been used for manufacturing and already has water and sewer lines. The county had it zoned for heavy industrial with conditions for furniture manufacturing. 

Stein said EAS is slated to create 300 jobs and invest approximately $20 million for sub-assembly production. 

■ Council approved a second annexation request by Ricky Eugene Spencer and Clarissa Spencer to incorporate 2.83 acres of land on Zoo Parkway near Old Cox Road. 

■ They rezoned 312 West Ward Street from B2-General Commercial to OA6-Office-Apartment use. Jennifer Lahn, regional vice president of real estate and facility management for Kare Partners/Compleat KiDZ, said it used to be a day care, but they plan to convert it into an outpatient pediatric therapeutic office. 

■ Outgoing City Attorney Jeff Sugg presented a contract for the communications equipment on the NC 49 South water tank. Lessee New Cingular Wireless, owned by AT&T, will pay $3,017.04 monthly. The contract sets two 15 percent escalation clauses after 5 and 10 years.