Badin votes to rescind alley closure requirement of survey cost

Published 11:48 am Wednesday, May 10, 2023

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The town of Badin has recently dealt with the request of two local developers for the closure of an alley in West Badin.

According to a unanimous decision by the Badin Town Council Tuesday night, the developers will not have to pay for a survey of the land.

Mayor Gary Lowder said a surveyor has drawn a plat for the alley located off Roosevelt Street, between Jackson and Sumpter streets.

The town has not been billed for the survey yet, Lowder said, but was billed for the survey for $3,240. He said the town has paid for it and neither he nor the town would ask the developers to pay those fees.

Initially, the town was going to charge for a survey fee to developers for the survey.

Lowder said he would not make the developers pay “because I made a mistake. I called for that survey when it was not needed. I don’t know. I jumped the gun. I didn’t understand (the legal statute). I’m not making excuses. I just made a mistake.”

He said there may be a bill for the plat in the future.

Town Manager Jay Almond suggested putting such a request as a motion since the council moved to “levy the bills initially.”

Councilman Dale Ward moved to not bill the developers for the surveys, seconded by mayor pro tem Demar Huntley.

Ward said it was a council decision, not just the mayor’s decision, to charge for that survey, and was the council’s responsibility.

“I appreciate the fact that you’re trying to fall on your sword, but five people voted for that,” Councilman Charlie Council said.

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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