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Washington Park approves street-tree purchase, funds gutters and ditch work; hears grant updates
Summary
The Washington Park board approved purchase of 33 street trees and authorized $7,500 for gutters and municipal bed drainage, authorized $1,500 for localized ditch work, and received updates on living-shoreline reimbursements, CAWAG wastewater analysis, and FEMA'BRIC cancellation.
The Washington Park Board approved multiple infrastructure and landscaping measures at its April 7 meeting, voting to buy 33 American Fringe trees for planting along Isabella Avenue, authorize gutter and bed work at the municipal building, and fund limited ditch repairs to address localized flooding.
At the start of the Old Business discussion, Derek Cooper of the Townscape Committee said the committee had scaled back the municipal planting plan to reduce maintenance. Frances Hogan described a plan to plant 33 American Fringe trees at $100 per tree (plus delivery and tax) in two fall phases from Walnut to Beech and Beech to Edgewater; Carolina Seasons will hold the trees until planting at no additional charge. Commissioner Belinda Cowell moved to purchase the trees with a project cap of $4,000; the motion, seconded by Commissioner Vail Rumley, passed unanimously. Mayor pro tem Jeff Peacock offered the use of his tractor to help with planting.
The board also discussed landscaping at the municipal building. Commissioners approved an allotment of $7,500 to cover gutters, drainage and bed work; Stuart Dudley said he needs additional details (bed height and soil volume) to provide a full drainage quote. Separately, after a discussion about flooding behind houses on Fairview, Commissioner Lee Bowen reported a contractor quote of roughly $1,000 (possibly $1,500–$2,000 depending on berm work) to complete a targeted ditch improvement; Mayor pro tem Peacock moved to authorize $1,500 for the work, a motion that passed unanimously.
On resilience and utilities, Clerk April S. Alligood said the town received $6,303.23 in reimbursement from NCDEQ for invoices tied to Phase 3 engineering and concept design for a proposed living shoreline; an RK&K invoice for $5,897.55 covering shoreline investigations and geotech coordination was paid and submitted for reimbursement. The town also held a TEAMS meeting March 17 on the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap (CAWAG) wastewater analysis; an agreement with Rivers & Associates is expected this month and an Existing Conditions Assessment is under review. The clerk said the town's draft BRIC Stormwater Action Plan was submitted March 20 but that FEMA cancelled the BRIC 2024 round; the state representative will seek alternate funding sources.
Finally, the board discussed equipment needs: a new garbage truck was estimated at about $150,000 and a used 2017 truck from Lee Chevrolet was mentioned, but cost and CDL requirements were not specified. The board set its next regular meeting for May 5, 2025.
