Clinton council approves rezoning, agrees to pass-through fire truck purchase and several administrative measures

Clinton City Council approved a set of land‑use, equipment and administrative measures at a regular meeting, including rezoning about 16,155 square feet at the intersection of D Street and Beeman Street to R‑8 residential and authorizing the city to buy and re‑sell a used fire truck to Taylors Bridge Fire Department.

The rezoning request from HHA Group LLC was presented by city staff. City staff said the lot currently is zoned Highway Commercial and has access to city water and sewer; the Clinton 2035 comprehensive plan was cited as guiding the council to consider preservation of residential neighborhoods. After a brief public hearing in which the applicant said he intends to build residences and noted the parcel has been vacant for decades, the council moved and approved the rezoning.

The council also approved a pass‑through purchase so Taylors Bridge Fire Department can acquire a truck offered by the town of Fuquay‑Varina. City staff explained the sale required a municipal buyer before the truck could be transferred; as staff put it, “Fuquay has to sell it to the municipality, and then we can sell it right back to them.” Councilors voted to proceed with the arrangement and authorized the manager to complete the transaction.

Council authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute an engineering services agreement for the Phase 4 downtown revitalization project after staff reported that only one proposal was received in the initial request for qualifications. Staff said the North Carolina Department of Commerce requires the city to advertise the RFQ; if no additional proposals are submitted during the readvertising period, the manager was authorized to negotiate with the single respondent, which has performed prior phases of the project.

Other actions approved by the council included: - A budget amendment to reflect an amended contract with Clinton City Schools for school resource officers, increasing salary and benefits lines for the remainder of the fiscal year. - Realignment of duties so the human resources function will handle workers’ compensation claims consistent with practices in other municipalities. - Surplus of a vehicle that had been retained for parts after a wreck and is now ready to be salvaged. - A resolution directing the city clerk to investigate a petition regarding annexation of property identified by the Webb family on Martha Lane. - Formal recognition of Lieutenant Robbie King on his retirement and a related resolution to surplus his department firearm to him. - A street‑name recognition: the internal road serving Sampson Community College will be recognized as Campus Drive to improve addressing and emergency response.

A public hearing on a special‑use permit for Guzman’s tattoo studio at 919 College Street was continued at the applicant’s request to the next month’s meeting.

During the meeting the finance director reviewed year‑to‑date expenditures through January and told council that the general fund showed $7,600,000 expended of a $12,800,000 budget, with about $4,800,000 remaining for the fiscal year; the utilities fund was reported at $3,500,000 expended of $6,000,000. The finance director said the city remains in a generally strong position but that some departments have experienced unexpected pressures (chiefly vehicle maintenance in the fire department) that may require budget amendments later in the fiscal year.

Several items drew brief discussion from councilors and staff about next steps and implementation timelines; where the council approved authorizations, staff were directed to complete the required follow‑up steps (advertise or re‑advertise RFQs, finalize purchase paperwork, and report back as needed). The tattoo‑studio special‑use request, by contrast, was not decided and will return for council consideration after being continued by the applicant.

Votes at a glance: - Rezoning: HHA Group LLC, approximately 16,155 sq ft (D Street & Beeman) — motion (as moved in the meeting), seconded by Reverend Beckton; outcome: approved. - Fire truck pass‑through (purchase from Fuquay‑Varina, resale to Taylors Bridge Fire Department) — motion moved and seconded on a walk‑on item; outcome: approved. - Engineering services (Phase 4 downtown revitalization) — resolution authorizing manager to negotiate/execute agreement if no additional RFQ responses; outcome: approved. - Budget amendment (school resource officers contract) — outcome: approved. - HR policy realignment (workers’ compensation duties to HR) — outcome: approved. - Surplus of wrecked vehicle for salvage — outcome: approved. - Annexation investigation (Webb property, Martha Lane) — resolution directing clerk to investigate; outcome: approved. - Street recognition (Sampson Community College internal street to be Campus Drive) — motion by Strickland, seconded by DeBose; outcome: approved. - Surplus of Lieutenant Robbie King’s department firearm (to retiree) — outcome: approved. - Guzman’s tattoo studio special‑use permit (919 College Street) — applicant requested continuance; outcome: continued to next month.

Council members and staff said they will return to council with required contract documents, advertisements, or budget amendments as necessary. No formal dates for those follow ups were specified at the meeting.