Kernersville aldermen approve capital fund for community pool, easement, cybersecurity grant and property purchase in unanimous votes

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — The Kernersville Board of Aldermen on Jan. 29 approved several routine and major items in unanimous votes, including creating a capital project fund for a proposed community pool and moving forward with land and building purchases and repairs.

The council voted to establish a capital project ordinance fund for construction of the community pool, approve an easement agreement with Transcontinental Gas Pipeline, authorize applying for a cybersecurity grant, award a renovation contract for the Morris House, and acquire three adjacent parcels on Beeson Court next to Ivy Redmond Sports Complex. The board also removed a separate agenda item that would have declared intent to seek Local Government Commission (LGC) approval for debt issuance.

Town staff said the pool fund is a bookkeeping step to carry the $10,800,000 already included in the FY 2024–25 budget across multiple budget cycles until financing and construction occur. “This is simply establishing the capital project ordinance, for the pool,” Mr. Swisher, a town staff member, told the board. The motion to establish the fund was made by Mr. Barrow and seconded by Mr. Apple; the board voted unanimously in favor.

On the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline easement, Mr. Swisher described the project area and the town’s negotiated payment for disturbance and an expedited-signing bonus. The company will pay about $4,095 for the area of disturbance and offered a $5,000 signing bonus if the town signs within 30 days, totaling roughly $9,099, according to the staff summary. Alderman Apple moved to approve the agreement, Mayor Pro Tem Thompson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The board approved a resolution to apply for a cybersecurity grant that would provide up to $100,000 in equipment funding with a 30% local match (about $30,000). Alderman Gorham moved approval; Mayor Pro Tem Thompson seconded. Town staff said the grant would help replace or upgrade servers to reduce cyber risks.

For historic property work, the board awarded a contract to Ryco Construction for $221,000 to renovate the Morris House and convert it into the town’s primary museum space. The staff memo said two other bids were significantly higher (Phelps Construction at roughly $316,000–$330,000 and Ward Construction at $735,000–$868,000). Alderman Penix made the motion and Alderman Barra seconded; the vote was unanimous. Staff said about $130,000 would remain from the museum budget for subsequent work at the Bellamy House, with handicap ramps planned for both sites.

The board voted to purchase parcels listed as 221 Beeson Court, 223 Beeson Court and 0 Beeson Court — roughly 28.8 acres owned by Nancy Sapp and family — for $1,600,000. Town staff said about $1.2–$1.3 million of that purchase would come from previously awarded state/legislative funds earmarked for land acquisitions at Ivy Redmond Sports Complex, with the remaining roughly $250,000–$300,000 from the general fund. Alderman Pinnocks moved the purchase; Mayor Pro Tem Thompson seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Staff characterized Ms. Sapp’s sale as conveying the land to the town while giving her lifetime rights to remain on the property.

Finally, the board voted to remove from the agenda a resolution that would have declared the town’s intent to file an application with the Local Government Commission for debt approval. Mayor Pro Tem Thompson moved removal; Alderman Gorham seconded. The board voted unanimously to remove the item.

Votes (summary): all recorded motions above passed unanimously; roll-call counts were not read into the public record.

Why it matters: The pool fund enables the town to manage the $10.8 million capital authorization across budget cycles as the town proceeds toward financing and design; the Beeson Court purchase secures contiguous acreage near the Ivy Redmond Sports Complex that staff said is intended for future expansion and to prevent dense residential development directly adjacent to the complex; cybersecurity funding is intended to reduce the town’s exposure to network attacks; and the Morris House contract advances the museum relocation and rehabilitation plan.

Next steps and context: Establishing the capital project fund is an administrative step; separate actions will be required to borrow or otherwise finance the pool construction. The Transcontinental easement will be signed if the board executes the agreement within the 30-day window to receive the bonus. The town will return with estimates for Bellamy House work after completing Morris House renovations. The acquisition of the Sapp parcels is expected to close in roughly 30–60 days, staff said.

Votes at a glance (formally moved and passed): - Establish Capital Project Ordinance Fund for community pool ($10,800,000 authorized in FY24–25 budget): motion Barrow; second Apple; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Easement agreement with Transcontinental Gas Pipeline (payment for disturbance $4,095 + $5,000 sign bonus): motion Apple; second Mayor Pro Tem Thompson; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Remove LGC debt-notice item from agenda: motion Mayor Pro Tem Thompson; second Alderman Gorham; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve application for cybersecurity grant (up to $100,000; 30% match ~$30,000): motion Alderman Gorham; second Mayor Pro Tem Thompson; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Award contract to Ryco Construction to renovate Morris House ($221,000): motion Alderman Penix; second Alderman Barra; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Purchase 221, 223 and 0 Beeson Court (approx. 28.8 acres) for $1,600,000 (partial funding from prior legislative allocation): motion Alderman Pinnocks; second Mayor Pro Tem Thompson; outcome: approved (unanimous).

Notes: All motion language and funding descriptions are drawn from staff presentations and the meeting record. Where the roll-call numeric vote was not read into the record the minutes state votes were unanimous; the article records that outcome without inventing exact roll-call tallies.