Numerous projects in Alexander County will begin in the near future, according to County Manager Shane Fox, who presented a report at the January 8th meeting of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners.
County Manager Fox first reported on the Wittenburg Access Area project, which includes a new swim beach, concessions/restrooms/office building, picnic shelter, and more. He said that Duke Energy has completed the project and has scheduled a final walk-through with county staff on Wednesday, January 10.
Fox said bids are currently being accepted for the Bethlehem Park improvement project, which includes a new concessions/restroom building, additional picnic space, new ADA-compliant parking and walkway, field lighting improvements, tennis court resurfacing with pickleball courts, and more. The bid deadline is January 16. In addition to the project, the county will add a new playground at the park.
The Bowman Court sewer project is also out for bids, with a deadline of January 30. The project involves the construction of a sewer pump station and associated force main to connect property on Bowman Court to gravity sewer lines on Chigger Ridge Road.
Final details are coming together for the 42,000-linear-foot water line project that will further connect the county water system and provide water access to homes in various unserved areas of the county. Fox said the project will hopefully be advertised for bids in late January or early February.
The Bethlehem water tank project is on a similar timeline. Fox said the county is waiting on permitting approval and will hopefully advertise for bids in late January or early February.
Fox said the new fire training facility at the Taylorsville Lions Club Fairgrounds is progressing, with containers in place and welding to be completed in the next couple of weeks. The City of Hickory will install the water tap in the coming weeks. He said the training facility is expected to open in the spring.
Surveying has been completed for the new state-funded building at EMS Station #1, which will include a 5-bay garage, office area, and training/conference room. Once designs are complete, the project will be advertised for bids.
Fox concluded his report by noting that the canopy at the health department should be constructed in the near future.
In other business:
• Commissioners approved three budget amendments. The first amendment accounts for grant funding for the health department, DSS, and library totaling $60,121. The second amendment transfers $327,000 of the $750,000 state allocation for the initial programming phase of a potential new courthouse. The third amendment in the amount of $819 closes out the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) grant.
• Commissioners approved three road names: road number 1149 LC will be named Plantation Drive, road number 1149 L will be named Turnberry Lane, and Evening Shade Lane will be named Pope Mountain Drive.
• The commission meeting set for Monday, September 2 was rescheduled for Monday, September 9.
• During public comment, Loretta Savary and Craig Childers spoke regarding their love for the game of pickleball and the need for courts in Taylorsville and Alexander County. Savary has been playing pickleball for 10 years and has won numerous gold medals and tournaments. She expressed her appreciation to the board for including pickleball courts in the improvement plan for Bethlehem Park. Childers said he believes that Alexander County residents will love pickleball because it is such a versatile sport. He said courts could be taped off in gymnasiums, or even implemented at Jaycee Park.
The next meeting of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners is set for Monday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education (room #103). Regular meetings are recorded and can be viewed on the county’s Government Channel on Spectrum channel 192 or the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/alexandercountync. Meeting agendas, minutes, videos, and more are available on the county’s website at https://alexandercountync.gov/commissioners.