Cooleemee commissioners select site for community center, approve construction and park upgrades

The Town of Cooleemee Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17 voted unanimously to locate a new community center between the old police building and the cook shack and approved a series of related contracts and park upgrades, officials said.

The decision followed a motion by Commissioner Almond to proceed with “option 2” on the community-center site map; Commissioner Reavis seconded and the motion carried 3-0. The board also approved a $12,000 pre-construction proposal from Davie Construction, which Clerk Steven Corriher said will be paid from grant funds.

Why it matters: The chosen site is intended to create a campus-like setting near existing municipal facilities and allow site preparation before construction begins. Commissioners also approved upgrades intended to improve park amenities and address traffic and maintenance concerns using a mix of grant requests and town funds.

Clerk Steven Corriher told commissioners he had applied for the Davie Rec Grant to help pay for fencing around tennis and pickleball courts and new goals and posts for the basketball courts. "The total request was for $29,124 to cover half of the fencing and all the basketball updates," Corriher said, and he added the town could use old pool funds of $36,913.32 to cover remaining costs if needed. He also noted required training is upcoming to remove the town from the UAL list with the LGC and that preliminary budget numbers had been distributed to the board.

During public comment, resident Jonathan Vizard urged action on a long-standing nuisance at a neighboring property, saying he ‘‘hopes to get a resolution soon as the dog mess is very harsh.’’ The board did not take a formal enforcement vote at the meeting but acknowledged the complaint.

Other votes and authorizations approved by the board included the purchase of two solar-powered, portable speed-limit signs (approximately $8,000) to track traffic in town, a $4,500 spring-cleaning contract, and a $2,500 complete refurbish of the bocce court to reduce its height from 12 inches to 6 inches to aid children and older residents. Commissioners also authorized removing an old metal post-and-chain border in the parking area and installing a wooden split-rail fence at the police building with $1,200 allotted for both projects.

Commissioner Reavis said NCDOT would not perform work at Yadkin and Cross streets because it could not meet required specifications; local repair cost was estimated at about $7,000, and Reavis said the town should pursue a speed bump on Hickory Street to address safety concerns. Commissioner Almond said he will meet with Sheriff Hartman to discuss the next contract for law-enforcement services and that a roughly 10% price increase is expected pending negotiations.

Votes at a glance: • Adopt amended agenda and consent agenda (financial report, Jan. 27 minutes): carried 3-0. • Select community center site (option 2, between old police building and cook shack): carried 3-0. • Accept Davie Construction pre-construction proposal ($12,000): carried 3-0. • Purchase two solar-powered speed signs (≈ $8,000): carried 3-0. • Spring cleaning ($4,500): carried 3-0. • Bocce court refurbish ($2,500): carried 3-0. • Remove parking post/chain & install split rail fence ($1,200): carried 3-0. • Set first Budget Retreat for March 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.: carried 3-0.

What’s next: Commissioners set a Budget Retreat for March 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. Mayor Jeff Smith asked that work sessions continue during the community-center design and construction phases so commissioners and the public stay informed. The board adjourned after completing the agenda.