Kernersville aldermen approve $2.4 million stream grant and series of infrastructure, procurement and budget measures

The Kernersville Board of Aldermen on Oct. 29 approved a bundle of infrastructure, procurement and budget actions, including establishing a capital project ordinance for a $2,400,000 stream-restoration grant at Ivy Redmond Park and awarding a contract to relocate a waterline needed for the Shields Road widening project.

The measures, most of them approved unanimously, also included an update to the town fire-prevention code to require Knox boxes for access to gated communities; the board’s approval of the low bid for the Shields Road waterline relocation; a motion to relinquish funding for three N.C. Department of Transportation sidewalk projects so money can be reallocated to higher-priority work; a sole-source authorization to buy rescue tools from the state’s authorized dealer; a resolution to apply for $20,890 from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (the town plans to appropriate $62,000 in its budget if awarded); and Budget Amendment No. 4 to fund the waterline relocation and other items.

Why it matters: The Ivy Redmond Park grant and the Shields Road waterline work both involve multi-year construction and budget commitments; the board’s actions establish the town’s accounting approach for the grant and allocate local funding needed to complete the waterline work tied to a road-widening project.

What the board voted and who moved the motions

- Chapter 7 (fire prevention) ordinance update (Knox boxes): staff recommended updating the code to reflect current practice; the board moved and approved the ordinance (unanimous). Motion and second were recorded before the vote.

- Shields Road waterline relocation: staff said the relocation is required by the Shields Road widening connected to the new Parson Rec event center, that the town will receive reimbursement through city/county utilities and that the work will extend the waterline to Beeson Road and punch a sewer line under Shields Road. The board approved awarding the contract to Mainlining America as the low bidder; the spoken bid amount in the meeting audio was garbled and is not specified in the record excerpt. The board approved the contract award unanimously.

- Deferment of three NCDOT sidewalk projects (South Cherry Street, Broad Street, Southern Street): staff recommended relinquishing the three previously awarded projects because right-of-way, utility relocations and increased cost estimates made completing all projects impractical. The board approved a motion to defer those three projects and reallocate the funds toward West Mountain Street and Harmon Lane (unanimous).

- Sole-source resolution for rescue-equipment tools: staff requested a sole-source exemption to purchase Halmatro rescue tools from Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus, identified in the packet as the only authorized in-state dealer; the board authorized the sole-source procurement unanimously.

- Governor’s Highway Safety Program application: the town will apply for $20,890 and would appropriate $62,000 in local funds if the grant is awarded. The board approved the application by resolution (unanimous).

- Capital project ordinance for stream restoration at Ivy Redmond Park: the board set up a capital project ordinance to track a $2,400,000 grant award for stream-restoration work and associated expenditures (unanimous).

- Budget Amendment No. 4 (fiscal year "2526" as shown in the packet): the amendment includes $1,093,000 for the Shields Road waterline relocation (construction and design), $60,000 to finalize police department locker-room/restroom renovations, and transfers that staff said are offset by revenue; the board approved the amendment unanimously.

- Administrative correction to Ordinance O-2021-67 (rezoning attachments): staff requested adding a missing house-elevation listing to a prior rezoning ordinance so permits could be issued. The motion to correct the ordinance passed with recorded yeas from Thompson, Gorham and Apple and a recorded no from Barrow (yes 3, no 1 recorded; the transcript lists those four recorded votes).

Staff and context

Town Manager Swisher presented multiple items and noted the Shields Road relocation will be partially reimbursed through city/county utilities and that contract bids were received. Staff also explained that NCDOT/TIP cost estimates for sidewalk projects have risen and right-of-way concerns make completing all earlier-awarded projects infeasible at present.

What was not specified in the record

The precise dollar amount of the low bid from Mainlining America appears garbled in the meeting transcript excerpt and is not specified in the packet excerpted in the discussion. The budget amendment lists $1,093,000 to cover the waterline relocation; the board also identified a $2,400,000 grant for stream restoration and the $20,890 Governor’s Highway Safety Program award amount (if awarded) and a $62,000 appropriation; those figures were stated in staff remarks.

Next steps

Staff will proceed with contract administration for the Shields Road relocation, establish the capital project account for the Ivy Redmond Park grant, and work with NCDOT and regional partners to reallocate funding from the relinquished sidewalk projects into higher-priority work.