City Council Wrap Up 10/01/24
Apology from Former Council Member Mike Mains
At the latest Harrison City Council meeting, several important topics were discussed. The meeting included an apology from former Council Member Mike Mains regarding his actions during Easter weekend 2024. Mains, now that his legal case has been resolved, offered a public apology to the city. He stated, "I crossed the line that I shouldn’t have," adding that what he did was "not appropriate for a council member or a citizen, for that matter."
Fire Department Upgrades
The council moved forward with approving a lease-purchase agreement for a 2027 fire pumper truck for the Harrison Fire Department, replacing an older vehicle that is nearing 30 years of service. The total cost of the new truck is approximately $962,000, to be paid over an eight-year term. Although the truck won’t be delivered for 35 months, the importance of acquiring the vehicle before the existing one becomes unreliable was emphasized. The cost will be about $145,000 annually for the city.
Public Safety Improvements
A key discussion revolved around public safety improvements, including an upcoming crosswalk study at Carolina Trace and Country Trace to address safety concerns in the area. Council members are looking into traffic studies and options such as installing a new crosswalk or other traffic calming measures. The city is also considering speed humps and other modifications at Westbrook and West Road, where concerns about speeding and unsafe turns were brought up.
$2,000 Donation to Harrison Drama Club
Additionally, a $2,000 donation from the American Legion was made to the Harrison High School drama club. Representatives from the junior high and high school shared their excitement for upcoming productions, including "Anastasia Jr." and "This Murder Was Staged," and expressed their gratitude for the generous support.
Doug Dunaway Memorial Motocross Park
Council also heard an update on the Doug Dunaway Memorial Motocross Park, where over $800 was raised within just three hours to support track maintenance. The track will close for the season on November 24th, with plans for grooming it during the winter to prepare for the spring season.
City Infrastructure Projects
The council provided updates on city infrastructure projects, including the ongoing paving of Edgewood Road, which will soon be completed with new striping, offering residents a much-needed smoother drive. However, the north side of the road will be temporarily closed for additional sewer work.
Economic Development and Career Training
Regarding economic development, Mayor Ryan Grubbs highlighted a promising collaboration with Duke Energy, which provided a $10,000 grant to help prepare the Gravel Pit property across from Harrison High School for future commercial development. This grant is part of the city's broader effort to ready the limited commercial land available in Harrison for investment. The mayor also shared news from a career development meeting with local high schools, where students are being connected with business opportunities, internships, and career training to help retain young talent in the community.
Financial Matters and Water Rate Study
The council also reviewed financial matters, noting that the city’s current cash balance remains strong at $24.6 million invested and earning interest. However, there was continued discussion about a water rate study in light of revenue shortfalls in the Water Fund. The study will help determine whether rate adjustments are necessary to cover rising expenses.
Fire Station and Zoning Updates
Council Member Jerry Wilson provided updates from the fire committee, discussing future plans for new fire stations with maximum response times of 4-6 minutes. Wilson also touched on zoning matters, including a new comic book and memorabilia shop coming to 211 Harrison Avenue and conditional use permits for other local developments.