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Wednesday, 18 October 2006 12:09 |
By DAVID FORBES
Asheville will spend $53,600 to install three decorative traffic light poles downtown, as Asheville City Council voted 5-2 on Oct. 10 to set aside funds for the project ÇƒÓ but also to pursue private funding to offset the costs.
"Weëve been looking for something like this style light pole for a long time," Councilman Jan Davis said. "This gives us the opportunity to replace what we have with something that functions and looks better. This is also a great opportunity to use some dollars that are generated by tourism to help this."
Councilmen
Brownie Newman and Carl Mumpower, who cast the dissenting votes, cited
concerns over the cost and asserting that they would prefer to wait
until the city had some pledges from private donors before committing
to spend the money.
"I
think this is really nice," Newman said. "But when I think about the
financial responsibilities that weëve committed to, weëre going to have
to step up to those. It would be nice for others to help, but without
that I canët support it."
The three poles
will be installed at the intersections of Broadway and College,
Broadway and Patton, and College and Charlotte streets. The poles are
already due to be replaced.
"The Department
of Transportation will be installing new traffic poles in these areas,"
Traffic Engineer Anthony Butzek said. "Staff feels this is an excellent
opportunity to provide some aesthetic upgrades."
"The DOT has
provided us with a plan, that, if we approve it, allows us the option
of upgrading our poles in this manner when they need replacement."
However, in
remarks before the vote, some residents voiced their doubts about the
expense ǃӨ?¨?¨?¨?¨? and the need for the decorative poles.
"We need
pavement, we donët need signs," Haw Creek resident Fred English said.
"What good is the light pole if you donët have the pavement to get
there on? Weëve already got some pretty nice lightpoles around here
now. Fifty-three thousand dollars will pave my street. If weëve got
money to waste on light poles, we should just put Christmas lights on
them and turn them on and off all day."
Meanwhile, Christopher Cabaranke said he feels that public restrooms would be a better use of the cityës money.
"Weëve got two
public bathrooms in downtown ÇƒÓ and they arenët even open on Sunday,
except for the public library from 2 to 5 p.m.," Cabaranke, who is
homeless, said. "Iëd rather see that $53,000 spent so I can go to the
bathroom on Sundays. The city could spend this and help to prevent
public urination downtown. You could probably build a safe and secure
bathroom for $15,000."
Mayor Terry Bellamy responded that city staff is currently studying the costs of more public restrooms downtown.
Later,
Councilwoman Robin Cape initially mentioned that "I really like the
idea of these poles ÇƒÓ they look very aesthetically pleasing," but
wondered if the city could partner with the Tourism and Development
Authority or other local groups to raise the money for them."
Initially, Davis moved that council modify the resolution to add the reference to getting private funds.
But Butzek noted
that "we donët have a lot of time" because of the need to work with
NCDOT on the project. Mumpower suggested that council revisit the item
in two weeks ¨?¨?¨?¨?¨?¨?¨?ǃӨ?¨?¨?¨? enough time, he noted, to see if private
donors are willing to help with the project.
In separate
remarks, Vice Mayor Holly Jones said, "Weëre probably a little behind
the gun ÇƒÓ TDA has a process they go through for donations," but added
that she would be glad to take the matter to them.
After some
discussion, City Attorney Bob Oast noted that council could pass the
resolution then and later go to private organizations to get funds to
reimburse the city.
But Newman and Mumpower balked at going forward with the expense.
"This is a lot of money weëre talking about," Mumpower noted.
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