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Sylva leaders amend budget for proposed Scotts Creek footbridge
By Justin Goble
After years of discussion, a pedestrian bridge across Scotts Creek is closer to becoming reality.
Sylva town board members July 20 unanimously voted to raise the Scotts Creek bridge project’s budget from $19,500 to $147,000. Board members also unanimously agreed to seek grant funds to help pay for the project.
According to town Manager Jay Denton, the increase in the budget will cover both the engineering and the construction of the bridge. The previous amount only covered planning and engineering, he said.
“With this bridge, we will have it to where people will be able to walk from the municipal parking lot to the park and pool areas,” Denton said. “The first allocation was only going to let us see where the bridge was going to go.”
Instead of constructing a bridge on site, town officials are looking at a prefabricated truss bridge made by the Steadfast Bridge Co. of Alabama.
“If the grant is approved, the quotes for the bridge will fit into the budget for the project,” Denton said.
The grant Denton was talking about comes from state coffers, and will pay half ($73,500) of the project costs on the condition that the town pay the other half. To cover the town’s costs, Denton said $22,000 will be pulled from the General Fund, while the remainder will be paid for by various grants. Until all of the grants are received, Urban Development Action Grant funds will be used to pay for the project, he said.
Though officials have expressed a desire to see the bridge built for some time now, not all were quick to approve such a large budget increase. Board member Danny Allen was concerned that money taken out of the UDAG fund may not be put back.
“It’s kind of hard for me to go along with it,” Allen said. “If we’re sure we’re going to replenish the UDAG money, then I’ll go along. But other boards have said they will replenish the money they took out, and they haven’t done so.”
Denton assured Allen that the UDAG monies would be used to cover expenses only until grant funds are received. Grant funds would then be put into the UDAG fund to replace what is taken out, he said.
Though most of the project is hinging on the grant from the state, Denton said the project would not be abandoned if the town’s request for money is denied.
“If we don’t get the grant, that’s not the end of the process,” Denton said. “I will continue to seek out grants to fund the project.”
Town board members have discussed options for a proposed bridge for at least a decade. The town approved $19,500 in 2003 to pay for initial engineering work and contracted with JB Associates the following year. Sylva leaders backed out of that agreement in April, citing a lack of progress. The contract, which was signed in February 2004, stated JB would help design and develop a pedestrian bridge over Scotts Creek at Poteet Park at a cost of $12,800.
In other business July 20:
– Officials heard a report on the Sylva swimming pool from Rusty Ellis, assistant director of Jackson County Parks and Recreation.
Ellis said the pool earned $59,097 during 2005, which was a sharp increase from the $47,360 earned in 2004.
The main source of the extra income was a $1 increase in fees to cover administrative costs, Ellis said.
Around $3,500 of that money was spent on a “Pool Weasel” vacuum cleaner, which will replace the pool’s stationary vacuum system. Ellis said he hopes to buy more pool furniture as well.
The pool averages between 250 and 300 people each day and has hosted several parties from groups outside the county, Ellis said.
– Board member Maurice Moody was chosen to serve on the Jackson County Transportation Task Force.
Moody replaces former board member Eldridge Painter, whose service on the task force ended when his term expired in November.
– Dowtown Sylva Association (formerly Sylva Partners in Renewal) President Sheryl Rudd presented board members with the group’s budget for 2006-07.
With the town’s contribution reduced from $20,000 to $2,000, Rudd said the organization had to use money they would normally give out in grants to make up a good deal of the $39,400 budget.
“We’re still giving out grants, but not as much as we used to,” Rudd said. “With our current budget, we can definitely exist for another year. If nothing has changed after that, we can hang on for a few months more.”
DSA’s current goal is to talk with downtown business owners about a proposed municipal service district. The MSD would add an extra tax to the building owners, and that money would be used to fund downtown renovation projects.
– Planning Director Jim Aust reported one new business in town.
Carolina Cigar Company, which is located next to Papou’s Wine Shop on West Main Street will be opening soon, Aust said. He also reported that the Triple B on N.C. 107 has changed owners and will now be called Quick Pick Drive Thru.
Along with the new businesses, Aust reported he had been contacted by at least eight developers in recent weeks. Though each asked him to keep their names confidential, Aust did say that three developers are looking at commercial plots along 107, while another is considering a West Main Street sight. Four others have submitted residential proposals.
– Public Works Director Dan Schaeffer reported on renovations to Bryson Park.
Schaeffer said he and his staff have rebuilt the gates to the park, moved the horseshoe pits, installed a new sign and put in two new grills.
Along with Bryson Park park improvements, he said town personnel have recently put up six signs directing people to the Railroad Avenue municipal parking lot in an attempt to ease parking problems downtown.
As for upcoming projects, Schaeffer said the public works department will soon be resurfacing Morris and Rose streets.
In addition, Schaeffer and his staff will begin repairing potholes in town streets. They have been marking areas to be repaired with orange paint. Schaeffer asks that any town resident who notices damaged pavement that has not been marked call him at 586-2719.
– Police Chief Jeff Jamison told board members his department responded to 32 calls during June: 17 alarms; two mental commitments; 63 business checks, with one business found unlocked; 28 vehicle stops, resulting in 25 citations, 36 charges and seven warnings; 29 arrests with 43 charges; and 51 incidents with 71 offenses.
The patrol division covered 3,514 miles throughout the month, while the detective division opened 34 cases and closed 22, Jamison said.
– There will be a public meeting concerning the proposed extra-territorial jurisdiction for the Allens Branch area on Monday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. in the Community Service Center.
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