Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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Approving a resolution Tuesday night, Davidson County Commissioners showed they were in support of DCCC’s request to obtain nearly $1 million in funds for road improvements near the college’s entrance.
“[The improvements will] help people get off of Old Greensboro Road and keep traffic from getting backed up on [I-85 Business],” said Larry Hamilton, director for construction and renovation at DCCC. “People are coming up [I-85 Business] and turning left across the Interstate and coming down Old Greensboro and coming into the college. It is starting to back up there. This is to help alleviate the problem.”
The improvements will include a turning lane and a roundabout at the DCCC entrance, and will also service property across the street from the college, which Samet Corp. is developing.
With the N.C. DOT recently taking some funding away from projects, Commissioner Don Truell was concerned other projects might get funding taken away from them. In particular, he was worried about another intersection for the college on I-85 Business. Hamilton cleared that up by saying right now they had the funding for the new entrance.
Truell did note the importance of requesting the funds for the traffic problems on Old Greensboro Road.
“It is the probably the worst intersection in Davidson County,” Truell said. “I’ve told DOT that.”
Providing financial backing for the improvements will be from the funds of contingency, economic development, and small construction. Samet Corp. has also committed $231,000 toward the cause.
Pat Ivey, a DOT division engineer, wrote in an e-mail that state law requires local government concurrence on all projects in excess of $150,000.
“The project will improve safety and reduce congestion in the DCCC area,” Ivey said. “There is no financial liability for the county.”
In other business:
• To encourage participation in the annual spring statewide roadside cleanup, commissioners proclaimed April 19 to May 3 Spring Litter Sweep 2008. This year’s spring cleanup will be the 20th anniversary. Six thousand volunteer groups statewide are expected to participate in the cause.
• With Commissioner Max Walser not in attendance, the board voted 5-1 to not allow the county parks and recreation department to apply for a $25,000 grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation to partially fund a new skate park in Denton.
Commissioners felt like they needed to know if there was going to be more support in policing the skate park from the Town of Denton.
A group from Denton – led by Jennifer Miller, the mother of the late Canaan Miller – was hoping commissioners would fund more than $66,000 for the skate park.
In the end, commissioners were hesitant to help with the funding after Charles Parnell, county parks and recreation director, told the board equipment for the playground at the Denton Bombay Park was more of a priority than a new skate park.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.