Thomas Brennan
Staff writer
LUMBERTON — A Second Street eyesore will soon be demolished after the City Council awarded a contract on Wednesday for a Lumberton construction company to swing the wrecking ball.
Floyd Brothers Construction was among four bidders for the work, and will be paid $31,500 to drop the Goodyear Hotel and haul off the debris. The two-story brick building, which is at 316 E. Second St., beside the Christian Care Center, was condemned by the city last year and asbestos removal was completed on Dec. 13.
The city has a lien against the property. If the property is sold, the city will try to recapture the cost of the demolition.
Also during the Policy meeting, the council approved the use of $1,000 from Councilman Harry Ivey’s discretionary fund for security at Janie Hargrave Elementary School. Ivey hopes the money will pay for security doors and cameras.
“I’d like to see as much done as possible with the money I’ve given,” Ivey said. “I hope they do whatever is necessary to protect our kids.”
The increase in school security was prompted by the Dec. 14 incident at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults were killed.
“I’m doing this because they are young kids and they deserve to be kept safe,” Ivey said. “They deserve to be protected. And the school never asked for this money, I just figured I’d try to help any way that I could.”
Last month, $2,000 in discretionary money was provided Tanglewood Elementary School, with $1,000 coming from Councilman Erich Hackney’s fund, and $500 from each of Mayor Raymond Pennington and Councilman Don Metzger’s funds.
“I think everyone is concerned about violence in public schools,” Pennington said after the meeting. “Anything we can do to help the schools and make them safer is in our best interest.”
In other action, the council:
n Approved the close-out of 2011 Community Development Block Grants, giving the Lumberton Christian Care Center authority to construct a soup kitchen at the corner of Walnut and Second streets.
n Approved the purchase of portable sewer cameras at a cost of $9,300. The money will come from the Water and Sewer Capital Reserve Fund.
n Approved a $10,300 contract with DoubleRadius for the purchase and installation of data cables at the new Police Department.
n Approved the transfer of business phone lines to AT&T, a move that is expected to save the city $4,467 annually.
n Scheduled a workshop on Feb. 20 to discuss a five-year capital plan for the city.
n Approved the distribution of $500 from Metzger’s discretionary fund to the Wycliffe Association for maintenance and landscaping.
n Approved $700 of discretionary money for a black history program at W.H. Knuckles Elementary School, with $200 coming from each of Councilmen John Cantey and Robert Jones’ funds, and $100 from each of Councilmen John Robinson, Leon Maynor and Hackney’s funds.
n Approved $500 worth of discretionary money from Councilman Jackie Taylor’s fund for a community watch program in District 3.
n Approved $100 of discretionary money from Cantey’s fund for housing rehabilitation at 307 Birch St.
n Appointed Councilman Maynor to the Robeson County Transportation Committee.
n Referred a contract for an interconnection agreement with A Too D for a solar energy project on West Fifth Street to the city auditor for a reevaluation of fees.
That's our money. Returning what is rightfully ours doesn't count as *you* giving money.