LUMBERTON — Parents dropping off or picking up their children at Tanglewood Elementary School are having their parking options limited.
The City Council on Wednesday voted to prohibit parking on the south side of West 31st Street adjacent to the school. According to Councilman Erich Hackney, of Precinct 8, the parking and standing of vehicles on the street while parents are waiting to drop off or pick up their children has created a public safety issue.
“It’s pretty jammed up in the mornings,” he said.
Tanglewood Principal Joanna Cummings said in a letter to Hackney that parking on the south side of the street obstructs the view of a driver. She added that there have been several instances in which a crossing guard was almost struck by vehicles on West 31st Street.
The council decided to have signs placed along the street from Floyd Avenue to Rowland Avenue that will prohibit parking or standing Mondays through Fridays during the school year. Hackney added that the signs will be removed during the summer recess.
In other action on Wednesday, the council:
n Approved the renewal of a contract with Alamac for the city to provide fire protection outside the city limits.
n Approved the demolition of five unsafe houses located at 901 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, 1308 Jacobs St., 1309 Jacobs St., 3285 W. Fifth St. and 1003 N. Willow St.
n Approved a reduction in the change order for $6,605.64 from Horne and Son Construction. During construction of a Community Block Development Grant rehab project near Britt Park, crews identified opportunities to construct the new system more efficiently, which generated a cost savings.
n Accepted a $40,000 Rural Economic Development Center grant to assist in Phase III of the sewer system mapping project in East Lumberton. In addition to the grant, the Public Works department has budgeted $40,000 in its capital projects fund to match the effort.
n Approved an $80,000 contract with the Wooten Company for the GIS mapping project.
— Approved a change order for $83,970.66 from Frank Horne Construction Inc. for changes to the Harrill Road sewer extension and northeast sewer diversion project. A $245,000 Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant obligates the city to provide sanitary sewer service to the mobile home park at the corner of Harrill Road and Hardin Road.
n Referred a petition for a conditional-use permit to the Planning Board for Kenneth Kelly, who wants to put a cemetery at 275 Taylor Drive.
n Referred a petition for a condition-use permit to the Planning Board on behalf of Southeastern Regional Medical Center, which wants to rezone property on Dawn Drive from business general commercial to medical arts. The hospital plans to establish a medical campus there.
n Approved the extension of a moratorium on new electronic and cyber-gaming establishments until current, pending legislation is settled or the state of North Carolina offers clear direction on how the businesses should be regulated. The moratorium originally took effect in May 2010 and was extended last year.
n Authorized the Police Department to to apply for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant. The three-year grant, if awarded, would fund Tasers for all officers and detectives, training and overtime.
n Approved a change in the speed limit on McArthur, Patton and Eisenhower streets to 25 mph. The current speed limits on the streets are 20, 35 and 35, respectively.
n Authorized the city manager and finance director to perform budget amendments for the year end closing of fiscal year 2012.
n Approved the write-off of an interfund payable of $200,000 that the sanitation fund owes the water and sewer fund.
n Accepted a donation of a .66-acre tract of land from John E. Floyd and Frances Floyd Jenkins that adjoins Northeast Park.
n Approved boards and commissions budget requests for fiscal year 2012-2013 except a request by Colors of Life Community Development Inc.
n Adopted a resolution to enter into an agreement with the state Department of Transportation for a $120,893 VISION 100 aviation grant, of which the city and county each receive $6,045.
n Approved the days of May 17 and May 18 as the City Council’s budget workshops.
n Approved the de-obligation of $1,095 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 6 for community watch.
n Approved the releases of about $5,700 in taxes from 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
n Designated $200 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 8 for the Boy Scouts of America.
n Designated $1,000 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 2 for Community Day.
n Designated $200 in community revitalization funds each from Precincts 2, 4, 5 and 6 for Breath of Life Ministries for community programming.
n Designated $1,000 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 7 for Community Day.
n Designated $1,050 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 1 to Wycliffe Subdivision, Wycliffe Subdivision East and Oaks Home Owners Association, which each received $350.
n Designated $650 in community revitalization funds for the Robeson County Amateur Radio Emergency Services as follows: Precinct 1,$100; Precinct 3, $100; Precinct 4,$100; Precinct 8, $150; mayor, $200.
n Designated $700 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 3 for the construction of a handicap ramp at 1107 Hardin Road.
n Approved the listing of old emergency radio equipment as surplus property.
n Approved an agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation for the Transportation Improvement Project. The council in March approved an agreement with the Department of Transportation arising from improvements around the bridge at exit 22 on Interstate 95. The cost of the relocation of the city’s utilities is estimated at $215,010 and the cost of sidewalk improvements is estimated at $38,302. The city will be responsible for the entire cost of relocating the utilities and 30 percent of the sidewalk cost.














