Huntersville board approves road abandonment, traffic calming, contracts and land purchase; multiple votes unanimous

The Huntersville Town Board on Oct. 7 unanimously approved a group of routine and substantive items including a street abandonment, traffic calming, a vendor contract for underground electric work, and the appropriation of funds to buy land for a replacement fire station.

The board adopted an order to abandon a short portion of Thread Lane (formerly North Main Street) that became redundant after realignment from the Main Street project. Planning staff explained the abandoned strip will be recombined with the adjacent northern parcel owned by the town; staff said the closure does not remove access for three nearby driveways.

On neighborhood traffic calming the board approved installing one speed hump on Maple Branch Drive in the Northbrook subdivision after staff presented radar data showing one study location exceeded the town’s threshold. Staff said other surveyed locations did not meet the warrant at this time and recommended retesting within 12 months if residents request further study.

The board awarded the town’s annual underground electric construction contract to Hus Boring LLC (Shelby, N.C.) for fiscal year 2026. Town staff reported the contract is a unit‑price agreement not to exceed $2,372,945; the contractor told staff it can provide three crews immediately and ramp up additional crews as needed.

The board approved edits to the town’s right-of-way abandonment policy to align the document with state statutes and the plat-recordation process.

On a larger capital item the board approved a budget amendment appropriating $900,095 of fund balance to purchase property at 15318 N.C. Highway 73 for a future fire station. Town staff and the fire department said the site provides better access to U.S. 73 and fits the town’s station spacing needs; staff said right-of-way coordination with NCDOT on an emergency apparatus median cut has been discussed.

Also on the consent list, the board reclassified an existing executive assistant position in the administrative department to a deputy town clerk (the position’s pay range and budgeted salary are unchanged), and formally accepted the resignation of Commissioner Amanda Dumas, effective immediately. Staff noted the vacancy will not be filled before the upcoming election.

All items on the Oct. 7 agenda that required board action passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Abandonment — Order to abandon portion of Thread Lane (formerly North Main Street): Motion adopted unanimously; staff to record order and recombine abandoned strip with adjacent town parcel.

- Traffic calming — Maple Branch Drive: Approved one speed hump at the staff‑recommended location; motion carried unanimously. Staff to retest other locations within 12 months upon request.

- Contract award — Underground electric construction: Approved contract with Hus Boring LLC, FY26 unit-price contract not to exceed $2,372,945; motion carried unanimously.

- Policy revision — Right-of-way abandonment policy: Approved edits to align local policy with statutory requirements and plat-recordation rules; motion carried unanimously.

- Budget amendment / land purchase — 15318 N.C. Highway 73: Approved appropriation of $900,095 to purchase property for a new fire station; motion carried unanimously.

- Classification change — Deputy town clerk: Approved reclassification of executive assistant to deputy town clerk within same pay range; motion carried unanimously.

- Personnel — Acceptance of resignation: Accepted Commissioner Amanda Dumas’ resignation; motion carried unanimously.

Several items were procedural (consent agenda adoption, agenda amendments) and also passed without opposition. The board did not take immediate action on Pottstown plan regulatory recommendations at the hearing; staff will return with legal analysis and options for regulatory tools or short-term protections if requested by the board.