THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190520
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
The city and the School Board are nearing an agreement to swap downtown land that probably would provide a site for a city fire station.
The Elizabeth City-Pasquotank School Board is likely to vote April 29 on a proposal to trade a city-owned parcel on Martin Street for a 12,000-square-foot lot at Glade and Harney streets.
The board had planned to vote on the trade Monday, but some last-minute technicalities have delayed the issue, Superintendent Joe Peel said.
City Manager Steven Harrell said the City Council was considering canceling a special closed session that had been scheduled to take place before Monday's budget discussion.
No one has openly said how the city plans to use the Harney-Glade property, which sits in the back corner of Sheep-Harney Elementary School's field. But officials indicated last month that the land is slated for a second city fire station.
``I would say we're getting close to solving this fire station problem,'' Harrell acknowledged Thursday. ``Beyond that, I can't say anything.''
Finding a place to build a fire station has occupied the City Council for more than 18 months, since Station One on Elizabeth Street was ruled unsafe in 1994.
Since that time, all the city's firefighters have been headquartered in a station on Halstead Street. The station is too small for the regular 12-man shifts, and the City Council has been criticized for neglecting the northern end of town for too long.
Council members had worked for months to find a site for a second station and nearly agreed on a city-owned parcel on Knobbs Creek Drive last May. But several council members suddenly began pressing to put the new station downtown.
The downtown proponents won. But several engineering studies recommended against rebuilding the Elizabeth Street site, and there were no other properties available.
That is, possibly, until now.
In exchange for its little-used Glade-Harney property, the School Board would get a vacant lot on Martin Street, near Elizabeth City Middle School. School officials have been gathering up land around the cramped school to provide more room for parking and school activities.
``This piece will give us some access to Martin Street,'' Peel said.
The board would also receive some in-kind services from the city fire department, according to the motion School Board members tabled at their March meeting.
Peel said the School Board and the city had been talking about the exchange for a few weeks.
Fire Chief Tedd Melvin said Thursday he had not closely examined the Glade-Harney property but thought it was adequate.
``I don't see a problem with it at all,'' Melvin said. ILLUSTRATION: CHRONOLOGY
Station One on Elizabeth Street ruled unsafe in 1994
Since then, the city's firefighters have been headquartered on
Halstead Street, which is too small.
City council almost agreed on a parcel on Knobbs Creek Drive last
May, but several members began pressing for a downtown site.
City council and school board are nearing agreement on a proposal
to trade a city-owned parcel on Martin Street for a
12,000-square-foot lot at Glade and Harney Streets.
by CNB