Construction-related requests pave way for new industries

Janet Imrick

Randolph Hub

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro City Council took up requests to help new businesses and housing development move forward across the city. Their Sept. 5 agenda also included pipe procurement for the Wolfspeed water line and approved bids for construction in the Asheboro Public Library and the Asheboro Regional Airport.

Building bids approved

The city voted to award a contract for a new HVAC system at the library. City Engineer Michael Leonard said the system will have eight gas-powered units on the roof.

PEG Contracting Inc. DBA 35 North bid lowest for $749,000 with an additional $10,000 as an alternate bid for boiler room demolition. This came out to $259,000 more than the city set aside in this fiscal year's budget. Mayor David Smith joked to Library Director Ross Holt in attendance, "You did away with your overdue fines? You may want to put them back."

Finance Director Deborah Reaves recommended they pull from McCrary Ballpark's maintenance and repair fund to make up the difference. Council members agreed to amend the general fund.

Asheboro Regional Airport was next on the agenda. Engineer WK Dickson was chosen to make civil drawings for the new terminal, and to work out the size, layout and bid documents for the new NC Aviation Museum hangar.

The council approved moving money into the Airport Improvements Fund. The terminal will be mostly paid for by Federal Grant Funding. Asheboro will cover 10 percent, or $43,605. For the museum, the city received a $2 million pass-thru grant. The museum's design/bidding services will cost $157,358.

Pipe ordered

According to Water Resources Director Michael Rhoney, Asheboro could get the pipe to begin work on the Wolfspeed Water Main Extension project as soon as Dec. 1. The city council approved the design-build contract amendment for procuring pipe and fittings.

To make the project easier, Rhoney said they divided the project into four phases and decided to start with Phase 4, which goes from Eastern Randolph High School to the Randolph County line. He said they can move quickly on laying pipe with fewer permitting issues.

He said this will not affect the Randolph County's request to expand the pipeline size, which is for other phases.

Watershed and Street Closures

he city council held a quasi-judicial hearing for a new business owner who wants to set up shop in Asheboro. Greg Davis, owner of the steel fabrication company Alternative Performance Technologies, sought a special use permit for 749 Pineview Road, the former site of Synthetic Fibers.

The land is within the Back Creek Lake Watershed, but it was already granted a Watershed Special Intensity Allocation (SIA) in 1998.

Real Estate Agent H.R. Gallimore spoke on behalf of Davis and the property owner SD Fibers Corporation. He said this new industry will not change the building footprint, fulfilling the SIA's requirements to minimize built-upon surface area.

— The city council also approved permanently closing a stretch of Hammer Street between West Kivett Street and Lanier Avenue. Matt Williams, the civil engineer for the Memorial Square Apartments, said this helps builder Wynnefield Forward, LLC steer clear of the creek that cuts across the land.

Councilwoman Kelly Heath asked if this is the last thing they need to move forward. Williams confirmed they already have the plans in place to begin the work.