Lenoir council approves $629,500 wayfinding project and awards two-year paving contract

The Lenoir City Council approved a set of consent-agenda actions that included budget amendments, adoption of a revised capital project budget for city wayfinding signs totaling $629,500, and a two-year paving contract award.

Council documents presented at the meeting said the wayfinding signs project would be funded by an ARC grant, ARPA revenue replacement funds, local funds and an allocation from the North Carolina Tourism Development Authority. The council's summary description for the item listed an updated capital project budget of $629,500 for the wayfinding signs.

On the paving item, staff recommended awarding the FY2024–2026 paving contract to JT Russell & Sons Inc., identified in the packet as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. The recommended unit price was $103 per ton for a two-year contract; the bid packet included required bid security and an escalator clause that would allow unit-price adjustments tied to liquid asphalt price fluctuations.

A council member thanked staff for their explanations before moving approval. "I'd like to personally thank the city manager and the planning director for the tutorial to me on these items," the member said before making the motion. The council voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda as presented; the mayor announced the vote as unanimous (all in favor, 6—0).

The approvals adopt the budget adjustments and authorize staff to proceed with the wayfinding capital project and the paving contract award; staff will return to council with implementation details and any required contract documents as they are finalized.