Wendell Board approves budget amendment, street closure, Brownfield task orders and streetlight agreement

The Town of Wendell Board of Commissioners approved several administrative items at its meeting, including a budget amendment, a temporary street closure for a downtown event, Brownfield assessment task orders and a streetlight reimbursement agreement.

The board voted to adopt Ordinance O72025, Amendment Number 4, amending the fiscal year 2025 budget ordinance. Town staff said the amendment recognizes new revenues and moves appropriations between departments; staff summarized several changes including increased legal fees in administration, additional PEG channel expenses for public access television (offset by franchise revenue), vehicle maintenance increases in the Police Department (offset in part by insurance proceeds), transfers to cover CDL training and unexpected equipment repairs in public works, and re‑appropriation of Pleasant Grove Community Center project funds to fiscal year 2026. Staff reported net adjustments that reduce certain expense lines by roughly $830,000, reduce recognized revenues by about $732,000 (these include Wake County pass‑through amounts tied to the Pleasant Grove project) and lower planned fund balance appropriations by around $100,000. A motion to adopt the amendment was made and the board answered “Aye” when asked for approval; no opposition was recorded during the meeting.

The board approved a request to temporarily close a portion of North Main Street for the annual Pro Town BMX stunt shows. Parks & Recreation staff said the event will be staged on North Main between Third Street and the railroad tracks and that the closure window is proposed from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, with a rain date the following day. Public Works will provide barricades and cones and downtown businesses were to be notified; organizers said the stunt team is based in Greenville, North Carolina. The motion to approve the closure passed with no opposition recorded.

The board approved Brownfield Program Task Orders 17 and 18 under the town’s EPA environmental assessment grant. Staff said Task Order 17 (roughly $8,300) covers environmental assessment work at the Eagle Rock/Wendell Falls Parkway intersection, including a corner under redevelopment and an existing house on the southeast corner. Task Order 18 (roughly $46,003) covers preparation of an asbestos and lead abatement plan for the Pleasant Grove Community Center project at 948 Morphis Bridge Road. Staff said both work items fall within the grant guidelines and the town’s consultant GeoSyntec will perform the work.

The board also authorized the town manager to sign a streetlight reimbursement agreement with Fairway Crossing Homeowners Association, a subdivision near Jake May and Wendell Falls Parkway. The development’s plan shows 19 decorative street lights; the agreement would reimburse the HOA for eligible decorative lights under the town’s reimbursement policy at an estimated annual payment of about $2,100. Staff told the board the proposed reimbursements are budgeted in the planning draft for fiscal year 2026.

Other routine business

The board moved through recognitions and proclamations (Carver Elementary student and teacher recognition; proclamations for municipal clerks week and National Police Week) and received its March 2025 year‑to‑date financial report (the finance director and town manager were available to answer questions). Launch Wendell graduates were recognized; Wake Tech and the Wendell Chamber donated one‑year complimentary chamber memberships for graduates.