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Raeford closes CDBG water project for Butterball, approves engineering contracts, Robbins Heights amendment and parks RFQ
Summary
The Raeford City Council unanimously authorized closeout of a $390,750 CDBG water improvement to serve Butterball, LLC, approved engineer contracts for a Highway 401 transmission main, adopted a CDBG amendment for Robbins Heights, and authorized an RFQ for a parks master plan.
Raeford’s City Council on Oct. 4 unanimously approved the closeout of a $390,750 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that funded water system improvements to serve Butterball, LLC, and took several related infrastructure and grant actions.
Manager Dennis Baxley told the council the CDBG‑Economic Development grant financed installation of approximately 4,900 linear feet of 12‑inch water main along E. Palmer Road, creating a hydraulic loop that improves capacity and reliability for the eastern portion of the city’s distribution system. The grant supported Butterball’s expansion at 1000 E. Central Avenue, which the city documented to the N.C. Department of Commerce as increasing employment from a baseline of 421 full‑time employees to 717, an increase of 296 jobs. The public hearing to close out the project produced no public comments. Council authorized LKC Engineering to prepare the closeout documents and authorized Mayor John K. McNeill, III to execute the paperwork for submission to the N.C. Department of Commerce.
On the consent docket the council approved a professional services contract with MBD Consulting Engineers for design and construction management of the “Highway 401 12" Transmission Main” project, a design fee of $105,000. The agenda materials list a total project estimate of $1,248,525 and state the city will seek funding from state ARPA allocations or DWSRF financing; Hoke County will pursue design for its portion of the interconnection in support of a bulk water sales agreement.
The council also adopted Resolution 2021‑15 authorizing an exemption from the qualifications‑based selection requirements of G.S. 143‑64.31 for design contracts with estimated fees below $50,000. The resolution passed 5–0.
Separately, the council approved Resolution 2021‑13 and an amended grant project ordinance for the FY 2018/19 CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization (Robbins Heights) program. The amendment reduces the number of rehabilitated homes from 26 to approximately 12 and removes acquisition of a store adjacent to the park. The amended ordinance anticipates $750,000 in CDBG funds with appropriations of $675,000 for rehabilitation and $75,000 for administration; adoption is contingent on final approval by the N.C. Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Division (REDD).
Council also confirmed appointments and reappointments to the Planning Board and Board of Adjustments, tabled item VI.10 (declaring surplus & authorizing electronic auction, Resolution 2021‑14) for future consideration, and approved a motion to issue an RFQ to hire a firm to prepare a Parks Master Plan with potential ARPA funding eligibility given Raeford’s Qualified Census Tract status.
All motions recorded in the minutes for these items were carried unanimously.
