Council moves forward on two property purchases and approves $3M bond authorization for capital projects

Salisbury City Council on March 23 approved steps to expand public facilities and advanced a bond authorization for capital projects.

Council accepted the purchase terms for 303 Lake Street at $385,000 to support development of North Prong Park and approved moving forward on acquiring 1123 Parsons Road for $295,000 to establish a West Side community center. Staff said rehabilitation-cost estimates for the Parsons Road property will be developed after settlement, with a preliminary cost estimate expected within roughly 90 days. Both purchases were advanced by consensus and were presented as ordinances for first reading.

Separately, the council approved second reading of Ordinance 29‑79, authorizing the city to issue up to $3,000,000 in general‑obligation bonds, bond anticipation notes, or refunding bonds to finance several public projects identified in the ordinance. The ordinance lists neighborhood infrastructure improvements, Mill/bridal (text unclear in the reading), facility improvements (including Poplar Hill and Westside Community Center), and other capital costs. Staff said there were no changes since first reading and the council approved by voice vote.

Council also approved related consent items including award of multiyear on‑call service contracts (HVAC, electrical repair, and generator maintenance) and a declaration of surplus property (including radios, vehicles and a retired canine). The financing ordinance delegates final terms to later resolution and staff action; council members requested clearer project‑level allocations in future agenda summaries.

Next steps include settlement and property closings for the real‑estate purchases, procurement and rehabilitation planning for the Parsons Road community center, and staff work to implement bond issuance only after the council adopts the required subsequent resolutions and debt‑service arrangements.