Council ponders request

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 16, 2007

MURFREESBORO – The future war memorial for the front of the Murfreesboro Town Hall will be able to provide pride for every one.

On Tuesday the Murfreesboro Town Council approved the placement of a handicap ramp that would lead from the parking lot to the memorial.

Bynum R. Brown of the war memorial committee came before the board to request that the town brick the sidewalk that goes down the street in front of the town hall and add a handicapped ramp to the memorial.

Brown requested that the town to lay the brick to match the rest of the historic district.

“We just think it’s really going to enhance the whole town,” he said.

Councilman Bill Theodorakis asked Brown if there was an estimate on the brick project.

“I would like to know how much it it’s going to be,” said Theodorakis.

The rest of the council agreed that they would not be able to make a decision until figures on the project were presented to them.

Councilman Lloyd Hill said that with all the projects going on the brick project may not feasible at the time.

“If it were to cost $4,000 to $5,000, I don’t think we could do it,” he said.

All council members agreed that the handicapped ramp was “necessary.”

Town Administrator Molly Eubank and Mayor Lynn Johnson asked Superintendent of Public Works Gene Byrd if cement could be poured during cold weather.

“We could possibly get it in,” said Byrd.

Before he left, Brown asked the council to make a motion on the brick project.

“I don’t think we can commit to a motion,” said Town Council Attorney Bob Lee, addressing the board.

Councilman Bill Stephens said the board needed financial figures in order to make a motion on the issue.

In other business, Byrd from reported that Public Water Supply, a division of DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), would conduct an in depth inspection of Murfreesboro Public Works.

Byrd said that at the next meeting he should have a report for the council.

The council adopted a resolution authorizing personal property declared surplus, which authorized a 1983 truck to be sold.

A change to the town’s cemetery ordinance concerning the town purchasing empty lots was also approved. The ordinance changed the refund to match the initial price paid by the owner of the lot. The original ordinance placed the buy back price at one half of the present purchase price for lots that were purchased prior to July 25, 1979.

A public hearing date was set for the 6th annual Roanoke-Chowan Pork Fest, which will be held May 19 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public hearing for the event will be held at the next regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.