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Library hours cut and town project updates: Smoot Park, fire station and industrial park grant
Summary
Wilkes Public Library officials reported reduced hours and steady visitor numbers; the board heard updates that Smoot Park is on pace for a Memorial Day opening, fire station work is progressing toward bidding and foundation work in May, and approved a $1,201,400 Commerce Infrastructure grant application for the industrial park.
Wilkes Public Library Director Suzanne Manners updated the Board of Commissioners on library programming and operations and thanked the town for support with podcast equipment. Manners said the library records about 86,602 annual visitors and 45,388 cardholders, noted growth in the teen space and Health & Wellness programming, and said hours have been reduced due to budget cuts.
Manager Eddie Holland provided project updates: the North Wilkesboro Fire Department site plan has been completed by Blue Ridge Engineering and DEQ has approved the plan; architecture design is at 40 percent, bidding for most packages is expected to begin around April 15 and foundation work is anticipated to start the second week of May. Holland said staff hope to have an amended contract by mid-March.
Assistant Town Manager J. Dylan Blankley and Parks & Recreation Director Nate Reavis reported Smoot Park is nearing completion with painting of the pool house and pavilion, final grading to remove a retaining pond for a 1/4-mile walking loop, and ongoing landscaping; the project is on pace for a Memorial Day opening.
On infrastructure funding, the board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-06 authorizing the town to apply to the Department of Commerce for a grant to assist Wilkes Industrial Park infrastructure work. The resolution authorizes an application for $1,201,400 to extend water, sewer and street improvements and directs administration to manage the grant through the town finance office with quarterly monitoring for compliance.
During public comment, Marc Hauser praised former town manager Holly Minton’s role in bringing Provalus to town and said the company employs roughly 115 people at an average wage of $45,000. The board took no action on the public comment beyond acknowledging it.
