NORTH – The streetscape beautification project in the town of North is winding down, the project engineer told North Town Council during its April meeting.

“We are just missing a little paint and some signage, and the project will be completed,” engineer Jamie Steele said, adding that because of the recent heavy rains, the painting and installation of traffic signs was delayed. He said the new town clock was scheduled to be installed this week.

“Although I do not have the final breakdown of the cost, I feel comfortable stating that we are within 3 percent of the budgeted amount” for the project, Steele said.

Council approved the purchase and installation of rubber bump stops (as opposed to concrete) for the parking area and also decided to ban parking on the grass and limit parking next to the new pavilion for loading and unloading only. The cost of the rubber bump stops will be approximately $1,080, Steele said.

Council decided because of the tight economy to postpone purchase and installation of a marquis sign.

Also during the meeting, Police Chief Mark Fallaw, a member of the Edisto Health Coalition Advisory Board, said the coalition received a $3,000 grant through the Tri-County Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse to engage the T John E Production Outfit from Ohio to put on an assembly for North High School students the morning of April 27 and at Branchville High School that same afternoon.

Fallaw also reported his department applied for a $28,000 non-matching grant through the Terrorism Advisory Board to place computer notebooks in each police vehicle. The notebooks are equipped with LawTrack and would enable officers to input ticket citation data directly into LawTrack and the court docket. It would also provide access to NCIC and driver’s’ licenses without the need to contact Central Dispatch, the police chief said.

In other business:

* Fallaw said the police department will auction drug seizure and forfeiture items through Joe Burns Auctioneers, Burns and Associates Inc. of Swansea. The auction is currently under way online at www.joeburns.com and will continue until 3 p.m. on April 29. Items include cameras, computers, bicycles, safes, TV’s, DVD players and tools.

* Council approved Todd Garrett as a reserve police officer candidate. Fallaw said Garrett must undergo training with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office at a cost to the town of about $125.

* Council passed the Red Flag Plan resolution designed to provide security measures related to the privacy of residents.

* The town’s financial report for March showed a beginning general checking balance of $66,348.91 and a closing balance of $18,404.94. The savings account showed an opening balance of $103,322.09 and a closing balance of $73,361.19. The CD remained steady at $20,000 while the streetscape account climbed from $3.93 to $3,848.85. Total income for the month was $49,526.55. Total expenditures were $123,636, leaving a negative net income of ($74,109.45).

* Council announced it will hold a budget workshop at 10 a.m. on April 30.

T&D Correspondent Sherryl M. Peters can be reached by e-mail at boykinbaby@surrealestate.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.