City Manager Mr. Blanton updated Mount Holly City Council Aug. 11 on several infrastructure and development projects, including completed downtown paving, the South Gateway connector road work, a wetland pollution-control project, museum construction at the Municipal Complex, and ongoing negotiations on a Holly Springs annexation and development agreement.

Mr. Blanton said the downtown paving project and parking-lot work behind downtown businesses are complete and thanked business owners for patience. He said construction on a South Gateway connector road behind the Fairfield Inn is progressing, weather permitting, and that the city hopes to move into a phase 2 that includes a bridge over to Caldwell Drive.

On the wetland project, Blanton said work has been delayed slightly by weather but is intended to reduce flooding and treat pollution; he said the city hopes to complete it in early fall. The new municipal museum construction at the Municipal Complex is continuing on schedule, with Pinnock's Construction tasked to meet a Sept. 30 deadline.

Blanton said he and Mayor Moore attended a county commissioners meeting on the Holly Springs project and that city attorneys are working with the project's attorneys to answer questions and seek a compromise on an active annexation petition and proposed development agreement; the county commissioners will resume discussion on Oct. 28, according to Blanton.

No formal council action was recorded during the manager's report; the items were informational updates and noted ongoing staff work and scheduled milestones.