At the regular board of supervisors meeting last Monday, Marcus Hooker Sr. the county’s engineer said correcting plans for a road repair in Winterville and resubmitting a bridge that was submitted to the road fund created two more projects ready to program with the State Aid office, and a couple more small bridges that are back on the table.
When District Three Supervisor and President of the board Carl McGee heard Hooker mention one of the bridges, he pointed out that Hooker's efforts saved the previously lost $1,051,425.18.
“That’s the money we lost in January,” McGee said. “And we’re ready to pull that money back.”
Hooker ran through the list of projects available, and District One Supervisor and Vice President of the board Lee Gordon said he knew one of the projects well and was glad to see some progress, he then asked Hooker about some speed limit signs to go around Glen Allen Park.
Hooker said the solar-powered speed limit signs with radar are around $5,000 each but when you factor in installation and labor costs the price is more like $10,000 each.
District Four Supervisor Mala Brooks wanted the Old Leland road project completed even if the use tax has to fund it.
“We passed an order to complete Old Leland road,” Brooks said. “At this point, we need to identify the dollars available to complete this project.”
McGee said he wanted to clear it up, the board order never committed funds.
“We said we would provide the manpower and equipment,” McGee said. “And the city was to provide the materials.”
McGee described a scenario where the county would be working in or near these cities and the county would ask if the city was ready, but the answer was no each time.
Hooker said the original estimate for Old Leland was nearly $9 million, but that would go down since some of the work was completed, and even if it could be a state aid project it didn’t matter right now because there were no more state aid funds available this board term.
Brooks said the state aid money is going to McGee’s district, and Gordon’s district but not her’s.
Hooker explained the Broadway project had been planned the longest and was a priority for the airport.
Brooks said she would appreciate it if Hooker would prioritize Old Leland road, and Hooker said he didn’t prioritize anything, the board did.
Hooker finished reporting to the board by saying they were ahead of all the state aid deadlines, and ready for the next round of funding.
