Published: July 23, 2008 08:26 am         

Council motions for stop signs on Pee Dee

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 — Pee Dee Avenue residents left the Albemarle City Council meeting Monday night with good news regarding the safety of their children.

After months of study by Albemarle Police Department (APD) and many complaints of fast traffic down the thoroughfare leading to the Five Points District, council members passed a motion to place two stop signs in the historic district, one at Ninth Street and Pee Dee and another at Sixth Street and Pee Dee.

Pee Dee Avenue resident Heather Higgins, her family and other residents represented the historic district to take measures on the matter. Higgins said meetings have been conducted with other residents as well as a signed petition from about 80 percent of residents to make this change happen.

“It’s the only historic street in the town and we think it needs to be preserved as far as architecture as well as for the safety of our children,” she said.

“People just haul buns down that street. We are very concerned about safety.”

Higgins also mentioned the amount of pedestrians and runners that use the thoroughfare, some to train on the Beach Blast course that takes place each spring.

Councilwoman Martha Sue Hall asked if information regarding a stoplight at Dun-Rite Cleaners had been accumulated from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). City Manager Ray Allen said nothing had been discussed but they should hear something shortly.

Hall’s idea is that a traffic light on Pee Dee would deter drivers to East Main Street and cut the high traffic down the thoroughfare by at least half.

“My best judgments are from the residents on that street,” Councilman T.E. White said.

“People are still going to do the 45 to 50 miles per hour after they get past that light. Stop signs will be the only things that slow people down.”

Councilman Jack Neel said there is no reason to not place a stoplight at Dun-Rite and believes NCDOT would follow through with that.

However, White reminded council members of stoplights they have requested in the past at Gold’s Gym on U.S. 52 and Ridge Street and the Northeast Connector, which still have not been granted.

White made a motion to place a three-way stop sign at Ninth Street and a four-way stop sign at Sixth Street. The motion passed in a six-to-one vote, Neel opposing.

Before these signs can be placed, the council will have to pass an ordinance on first and second readings starting at the next meeting, Aug. 4. Another petition in favor of traffic calming devices from Christ Episcopal Church was submitted following the motion.

In other business, council:

• Approved street resurfacing recommendations. Public Works Director Mike Lambert said the process will begin soon;

• Gave a status update on City Hall. Everything is going smoothly, according to Allen, with news that the plumbing inspection passed;

• Agreed to condemn the dwelling at 503 S. Second St. due to commitments of Barry Cooper that have not taken place since 2004;

• Approved placing Children at Play signs on Lennox Street by request of Phyllis Wood. Wood is responsible for paying the $71.88 for each sign. Neel opposed;

• Approved a draft letter of appreciation to Stanly County for a fire grant;

• Approved a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to be established by request of Albemarle Parks and Recreation;

• Agreed to participate in the North Carolina League of Municipalities Green Challenge which will encourage municipalities to take measures to conserve natural resources and reduce their use of energy;

• Approved Time Warner Cable to run service underground once the City Hall project is complete;

• Authorized Director of Public Utilities Ernie Borders to apply for wastewater treatment plant improvements and expansion and water system mapping and modeling;

• Adopted a rate rider for North Carolina Renewable Energy Standard charge;

• Discussed plans for groundbreaking for phase one of the Roger F. Snyder Greenway. The event is scheduled for Aug. 18 prior to the council meeting at Don Montgomery Park; and

• Conducted a second reading to allow emergency housing as a conditional use in general highway business districts.



Sarah Jane Rosser can be contacted at snaponline26@carolina.rr.com.