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Whiteville updates projects and grant outlook after BRIC funds pulled; city cites $1.3M state match and ongoing work with Coastal Dynamics Lab
Summary
City staff reported project progress on roofs, pole relocations and airport sewer wiring and told the council FEMA’s BRIC grant funding for Molly’s Branch — roughly $5.1 million — was pulled; the city has $1.3 million in North Carolina emergency-management funds available as a match and will pursue other hazard-mitigation funding.
City staff told the Whiteville City Council on June 24 that several infrastructure projects are in active construction or planning and that federal BRIC grant funding tied to the Molly’s Branch project was pulled by FEMA.
Staff reported the roof work on a downtown or civic project is largely complete and contractors are finishing low-voltage and electrical work. An easement issue with a private utility and a property owner required moving some service poles; staff said they will meet with utility representatives to relocate poles to the property line so construction can proceed.
On project funding, staff said the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) allocation for Molly’s Branch — reported in the meeting as roughly $5,100,000 — had been pulled. Staff said it is unclear whether FEMA will restore that funding; FEMA is reviewing projects. The city reported it has roughly $1,300,000 available from the North Carolina Emergency Management fund intended to match the BRIC award. Staff said they will attempt to apply for additional hazard-mitigation funding and continue project planning with the Coastal Dynamics Lab.
Staff also briefed the council on other active items: work to install airport sewer wiring and station components, and Phase 1 of the Lewisville project with a hoped-for completion of work “by next spring.” Staff identified Madison and Robert as staff members involved in project work and said council members Clarity and Collier have participated in recent meetings with the Coastal Dynamics Lab.
Staff presented a bid recommendation for a construction contract submitted by Apex Construction. According to staff statements, Apex submitted the lowest base bid (reported in materials as approximately $1,000,000) and later figures spoken in the meeting cited a base amount of $1,393,765 plus a $75,000 contingency, producing a total of approximately $1,468,765. Staff said part of the project cost will be covered by the Land and Water Trust Fund and that the scope includes a combination of Walton Trail improvements, parking and related sidewalks and boardwalk work. After the bid presentation the council recorded a vote of “aye” and the meeting transcript records the motion as carried; the meeting did not record a roll-call tally with individual council votes for that item.
Why it matters: the BRIC funding pull could change the scope or timing of flood- and hazard-mitigation work at Molly’s Branch; the city retains some state-level matching money and is pursuing other grant options. The contract award and associated work touch public access, trails, parking and storm resilience projects that affect downtown and nearby neighborhoods.
Council and staff flagged next steps including finalizing utility relocations, continuing coordination with the Coastal Dynamics Lab, pursuing alternate hazard-mitigation funds and scheduling construction phasing to align with available funds. Staff said the DOT roundabout project in the same area is proceeding independently and, combined with the city project, should improve the site.
The meeting included public remarks and questions about independent youth softball organizations, food-truck regulation and litigation over federal funding cuts; none of those remarks changed the council’s project actions.
