Work on the Pleasant Hill water project should be resumed soon since contractors will be receiving payment for their work, say Ronda town officials.
Work had stopped late this spring because contractors had not been paid, said Mayor Victor Varela.
The town had not received monies from an AARA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Loan) since April, said Varela. A portion of that, money is used to pay contractors.
This week the town did receive the last installment of the $1,493,484 grant used for the extension of water lines to eastern Wilkes. Announcement of the grant to Ronda was in July 2009.
Town officials received the last installment of $41,610 on Wednesday, said Lahoma O’Lague, town administrator. The money came from N.C. DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources.)
Work on the pump station for the Pleasant Hill area should begin soon, said town officials. Also uncompleted are meter installations in the area, said Mrs. O’Lague.
The project is extending lines from the water tower in Ronda town limits, across to Little Elkin Church Road on to Austin-Traphill Road. From there lines have been extended to C.B. Eller School Road, C.B. Eller School and then on to the Pleasant Hill community and back up to Austin-Traphill Road.
The money was loaned to the town with a 20-year, 0 percent interest rate. Half of the principal amount will be forgiven, according to town officials. A letter notifying the town of its approval came from T. Vance Holloman with the Local Government Commission, based in Raleigh.
Park equipment
During Ronda’s Tuesday night meeting, commissioners heard updates on several projects.
Commissioners expect to hear in September about grant approval for work at Memorial Park, the town’s park on the Yadkin River.
Earlier this year, the town applied for the $50,000 grant to help fund permanent bathrooms costing $30,000 and playground equipment costing $20,000 at the park.
Currently the park includes a half-mile walking trail, picnic table and shelter, swings and monkey bars. It also has a boat dock onto the Yadkin River, the last designated one in Wilkes.
A committee for improvements to the park have looked at playground equipment. The town could pay for the equipment if it does not receive the grant. Plans include new swings, seesaws, climbing equipment, horseshoes and a basketball court.
Ordinances
Commissioners were given copies of a proposed nuisance ordinance written by Benchmark of Kannapolis. A nuisance ordinance would restrict junk cars in the yard and other upkeep issues. Benchmark is a firm that writes and enforces town ordinances.
Varela asked that commissioners make any needed changes for the nuisance ordinance, which will be discussed during the August meeting and hopefully approved in the September meeting.
Commissioners were also given copies of the Wilkes County noise ordinance to consider for the August meeting.
The noise ordinance will tentatively be approved in August. It is being considered because of frequent complaints about “rowdy houses” in town limits, said Varela.
Adoption of the ordinance would make it easier for the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department to answer complaints, said Varela.
Open forum
An open forum session preceded the meeting. Speaking were Manuel Wood and Kevin Reece.
Wood asked the town to put a turn-around or cul-de-sac at the end of Gwyn Street. Commissioners agreed to have Lahoma O’Lague get in touch with a contractor to see how much it would cost.
Wood said the turn-around was necessary because of buses and other traffic on the road. He said it could be placed on land owned by the town.
Reece asked for reimbursement for a 50 lb. bag of grass seed he had used after construction work for the town. Town commissioners agreed to look into it.
Reece thanked commissioners for hiring Tim Blackburn for maintenance work in the town.
The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss personnel issues.
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