The City of Clinton plans to spend a half million dollars renovating and removing harmful mold from the fire sub-station on the Springdale Drive by-pass.
This will be in addition to the multi-million dollar, underway-now renovation of the main Fire-Police Complex (former city hall) on North Broad Street.
After Hurricane Helene, substantial mold was detected in the building, and firemen were getting sick, according to a report Monday night to the City Council.
The City has explored moving the substation, because of road accessibility issues, but has been blocked by a neighborhood objection on Pine Street and lack of another suitable site. The City must have a fire station on “the other side of the tracks”/the South Broad Street area to keep fire insurance premiums as low as possible for home and business owners.
A camper has been moved onto the site for two firemen to sleep in, while providing the required 24/7/365 staffing; and the trucks and equipment stays in the building. The City also has been placing fire trucks in a shed at Pine Street Park to keep the vehicles warm. The City will have to borrow the estimated, not-to-exceed cost of $500,000 - based on an accepted bid from local contractor On-Site Builders - to renovate the fire sub-station.
In another, unrelated matter, Council Member Gary Kuykendall asked city officials to pay special attention to the Lydia Mill neighborhood.
A citizen, Sherri Amick, has consistently brought concerns about the neighborhood to the council’s attention. Now, Kuykendall said, there are reports of shootings in the neighborhood, as well.
He expressed concern about “disorder and disarray” in the former mill village, which also saw extensive damage from falling trees in Hurricane Helene.
“It bothers me that we have an area of the city going through that type of life,” Kuykendall said. “Growing up here, Lydia was such a beautiful area of our city, and it has been hit by crime and disorder.”
Specifically, he asked the Police Department to heighten patrols and enact prevention measures for crimes in the Lydia Village.
Mayor Pro-tem Ronnie Roth echoed the sentiment. “We keep having people speak before council (about Lydia). That means either we are not doing anything or what we’re doing is not working. That is uncalled for - for someone to always come before us for an issue we should be solving,” he said.
But still, Kuykendall and Roth agreed, City staff has gone above and beyond the call of duty dealing with the Musgrove Street fire, making repairs and removing debris from Hurricane Helene, and planning decorations and activities for the Christmas holidays.
“The town is percolating again,” Kuykendall said, “but we have areas that need attention.”
Roth said, “It’s been a heck of a year. I think we’re coming out of this with our heads held high. I have a lot of pride in what our employees have done for us. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.”
After a closed session for discussions of contracts related to the administration department, Council accepted the resignation of City Manager Tom Brooks. It is effective no earlier than Jan. 31, but Brooks will remain in contact with city staff to consult about on-going projects. Brooks said, “I want to thank the city for the years I’ve been here. It’s been a great run. We have a great staff and a great group of people; the next city manager coming in has a great opportunity.”
