Leland council approves completion of town hall

Published: Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 9:28 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 9:28 p.m.

Perhaps as early as May, certainly by June, the Leland Town Council will meet in new council chambers at the new town hall. At least that is the hope after Thursday's vote to accept a $457,300 bid to complete unfinished repairs to the troubled structure.

Four companies expressed interest in taking on the job, Town Manager David Hollis told the board, with three companies attending a pre-bid meeting and one ultimately submitting a bid.

The council could accept the lone bid, readvertise the job, or, perhaps, remove some of the aesthetic repairs, a temporary savings of about $45,000, Hollis explained. The board opted for the first, with a wearied acceptance of the belief that it was time to put problems in the rearview mirror and move forward.

Progressive Contracting Co. has promised the repairs including major tile work, glass replacement, leveling floors, replacing carpet and necessary electrical repairs can be completed in 150 days, and Hollis vowed that the work would start "tomorrow."

The tab can be covered without dipping into general fund reserves, he told council, using about $258,000 in cash on hand, and another $200,000 or so from uncommitted cash acquired in drug arrest forfeitures, which, if carefully done, can be spent on this project.

Moving forward on town hall was the third of three positive developments deep into the Thursday agenda. Just prior to that vote, council got a positive update on both the new Cultural Arts Center, which is set to open early in 2015, and the Westgate Nature Park, for which it approved the master plan.

Council also gave final approvals for a pilot park and ride program in Leland, which will have three locations in town at Brunswick Forest, Food Lion and on Mt. Misery Road. The program is scheduled to roll out Jan. 5 in conjunction with a North Carolina Rideshare program.

"We will now become the first area in the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization that will launch these park and ride locations," said Council Member Pat Batleman, who has worked with the organization on the project. "People will be able to go onto the website, get partnered with other people who are traveling to the same location."

The council also honored Daniel Teachey, owner/manager of the town's Piggly Wiggly, as the Mayor's Citizen of the Year.

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Leland council approves completion of town hall