Morganton approves hurricane cleanup contracts, sets aside funds for park and greenway repairs

Morganton City Council on Dec. 2 approved several contracts and budget amendments to address storm damage from Hurricane Helene, including work at Bethel Park and the Catawba River Greenway.

Council voted to award a contract to Baker Grading for post-Helene silt- and debris-removal at Bethel Park for $120,000 and authorized the mayor and city manager to execute the contract. City staff told council that approximately 5,030 cubic yards of earthwork will be required to restore benching and stream-restoration features and to meet the projects no-rise certificate.

City Manager Sally Sandy said the work will be submitted as part of a FEMA claim for potential reimbursement, but "we do not know if we'll get that or not," and added that expenses will be tracked in a special Helene project fund for auditors to review next year.

Council also approved a series of budget amendments to capitalize a Helene project fund and provide authority to pay incoming bills. Motions recorded at the meeting established these transfers/appropriations into the Helene project fund:

- $370,000 from the general fund (appropriation of fund balance) - $250,000 from retained earnings in the water fund - $1,000,000 from retained earnings in the electric fund - $650,000 from retained earnings in the wastewater fund - $200,000 from retained earnings in the cable fund - An additional approval increasing the project fund by $370,000 (administrative motion to set project fund level)

All six budget motions were moved and passed by voice vote during the meeting.

Separately, council approved a contract with Butler Brothers Backhoe for silt and debris removal from the Catawba River Greenway, parking lots and other park areas at $95 per ton. Staff estimated about 500 tons of silt in the greenway overall and advised the council to authorize up to 550 tons ($47,500) plus a 10% contingency to allow for additional removal without returning to council. Staff said material is being tested and, if found acceptable, would be taken to the landfill for beneficial use; testing results were expected in the days after the meeting.

Sandy and staff showed drone footage and photos of park damage and warned residents not to remove barricades. Council members described heavy sediment, damaged boardwalks and fencing, and fields covered in silt. Staff estimated the boardwalk sustained damage along about 800 feet and said engineering and design work will be required for repairs. For one stretch of greenway bank where sloughing occurred, staff gave a preliminary repair estimate of about $1.5 million to rebuild roughly 150-202 feet of bank.

Council members pressed staff on contamination testing. Councilmember Butch McSwain said he would be surprised if tests showed contaminants and noted natural dilution, but staff said testing was ongoing and results would determine disposal options.

Sally Sandy said debris- and silt-removal contractors and associated invoices should be submitted for FEMA consideration and that staff will track costs in the special project fund so auditors can review the accounting.