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City sets aside $900K for used fire truck purchase

Feb. 6—As part of its consent agenda on Feb. 4, the Sanford City Council authorized $900,000 for the purchase of used fire truck after the city's No. 1 ladder truck was damaged in a recent crash. Someone ran into the front end of the city's No. 1 ladder truck on Dec. 19, 2024, according to Fire Chief Matt Arnold. He previously said the No. 1 truck, which was made in 2000, will be out of service for a long time because the parts are no longer made and will need to be manufactured. Arnold recently told council he is looking for another truck. In the meantime, the city fire department will use its backup truck, a 2008 model, that it took delivery of last year. Also as part of the consent agenda, the council approved charging a 2% fee for credit card payments. The fee will begin April 1. It is an effort to recoup about half of the $400,000 in estimated fees the city will pay this year. AUDIT The council received a good report in regard to a Fiscal 2024 audit from Joyce and Co. CPA of Cary. The city had 53% of its fund balance "available" as of June 30, 2024. At least 25% is the recommended amount as a reserve. Following a question from Councilman Charles Taylor, Assistant City Manager Beth Kelly noted that some of the $25.3 million is set aside for the Depot and Agricultural Marketplace projects. "A lot of places don't get these clean letters, and we are very appreciative of that," Councilwoman Linda Rhodes said of the audit. PITTSBORO Council approved amending the 2024-25 operating budget to the tune of $143,873 for merger costs related to the expansion of its water and wastewater treatment facility (TriRiver Water). Also approved were $25 million in revenue bonds for a Pittsboro force main and lift station and a reservoir and advanced metering infrastructure in Siler City. According to the resolution, the city would retain Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein as bond counsel, First Tryon Advisors as financial advisors and Wells Fargo Bank as the underwriter of the bonds. In comments to council, Kelly estimated the city's actual cost at between $13.3 million for the Pittsboro project with a total of $17.3 million for both. The total project cost is $105.6 million, she said, but noted that the city is getting $37 million in a state loan and $55.1 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. ANNEXATION The public hearing date of a non-contiguous annexation for the 162-acre Pendergrass Village subdivision was reset to 6 p.m. Feb. 18 due to an error in a boundary map. It was originally scheduled for Jan. 21, but that meeting was postponed due to a snowstorm. The subdivision would be located west of Tramway, south of the intersection of Pendergrass and Steel Bridge roads. BLACK HISTORY MONTH Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon recognized February as Black History Month and noted the area's first black congregation was founded in 1868, six years before the city was incorporated. "It's our history together," Mayor Pro Tem Mark Akinosho said, adding that the whole community can celebrate. Salmon also recognized Knotts Funeral Home for 68 years of service to the community.