Hot Springs Town Board meets to discuss street repair assessments
HOT SPRINGS - One day after requesting $3 million from the county for upgrades to its waste treatment plant, Mayor Abby Norton and the Hot Springs Town Board of Aldermen met at Town Hall on Jan. 12 to discuss street repairs in the town.
Board member Jeanne Caldwell Gentry said C & T Paving in Leicester performed an assessment of paving needs throughout the town.
"I think for me, the most important road is (South) Serpentine (Avenue)," Caldwell Gentry said. "Specifically, where it's really straight and narrow and drops off."
According to the assessment, the South Serpentine Avenue segment is estimated to cost around $23,000, Caldwell Gentry said.
Springhill Street and Meadow Lane are also listed on the assessment. The Meadow Lane project has three patches that are estimated to cost around $1,200.
Caldwell Gentry said there is a manhole on Bridge Street that needs to be repaired. It's estimated to cost around $3,400.
Caldwell Gentry emphasized the importance of repairing Jackson Avenue
"Especially with spring coming, the speed bumps on Jackson (need to get done)," she said. "If they're coming out here, we want for them to do as much as we can afford for them to do. So, I guess the thing is, on this list, what is the most important thing to do on this list?"
Rather than voting to start paving projects, the board chose to table the vote to allow for more assessment of costs and funding the projects.
"I'm not sure exactly what the budget is for streets," Caldwell Gentry said. "Part of the (allotted) $66,000 is carryover, so we might have to do a budget to do this all at one time. So we need to get all those figures together. Maybe we can get (a C & T Paving employee) to come out and do a proposal just on what we just talked about, and then we would have an actual number."
Comprehensive Plan
The town is seeking public input for its 2022 Comprehensive Plan. Norton has included a request for residents to submit their feedback on the town's website.
"I hope this letter finds you and yours doing well at the start of the New Year," Norton said on the website. "Looking forward to 2022, the Town of Hot Springs is beginning the process to create a new Comprehensive Plan. Updating the current Comprehensive Plan, which was completed in 2008, is necessary for the Town to remain in line with new North Carolina land use and zoning rules. Creating a new plan will also support the town's ongoing efforts to secure state and federal grant funds for critical needs like water and sewer infrastructure and road improvements."
The website also offers a survey for residents to fill out. Norton said residents' input is a crucial component in helping the town devise a plan.
"Input from residents and business owners is a critical part of the comprehensive planning process," she said. "This survey offers residents their first opportunity to have their say. Please take about 5 minutes to share your insights to the questions provided. All survey responses will remain confidential. Answers to demographic questions will help gauge whose input may still be needed.
"Your survey responses will help shape what issues, needs, and priorities will be addressed as part of the Town's new Comprehensive Plan, which will be completed this summer.
"The Hot Springs Planning Board is working with Land of Sky Regional Council to form the plan.
"Please contact Paul Moon, Regional Planner at Land of Sky, paul@landofsky.org, with any questions about the survey or the planning process," Norton said. "Thanks for taking the time to share your input."
The survey is available at https://bit.ly/3FheyD5.
Hot Springs Town Board's next meeting is Feb. 7 at Town Hall.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hot Springs Town Board meets to discuss street repairs
