SALISBURY — On Oct. 20, the Salisbury City Council will consider approving a state Department of Transportation agreement about the South Main streetscape funding and an agreement for the late Mayor Karen Alexander memorial mural.
As the city finalized designs for the Main Street streetscape, they now move to construction planning and implementation. The city has received multiple grants for the project at a federal, state and local level.
The agreement they are considering is with the NCDOT to confirm the funding sources and intended use of the funding. In total, the city will receive $17.9 million from grants that require a roughly $4.5 million local match. The agreement asserts that the city will have roughly $22.5 million for the project.
NCDOT’s draft agreement asserts that any inspections, reviews or oversight for the project will come from that funding, so they will earmark 10 percent for any costs associated with the project.
Salisbury Transportation Director Jared Mathis will present the agreement to the council.
The council will also hear from Planning and Neighborhoods Director Hannah Jacobson on the forthcoming Karen Alexander memorial mural set to be painted on the Meroney Theater. The council will consider an easement agreement with Piedmont Players Theatre Inc. for the wall space and a funding agreement with the artist Max Dowdle.
The Piedmont Players Theatre Inc. leadership has approved the easement to allow access to the southwestern wall. The city will be responsible for mural installation and upkeep for 10 years, with the option to extend the agreement at that point.
The artist Max Dowdle is embarking on a mission to paint 100 murals in North Carolina’s 100 counties. The funding agreement with him is $17,000 for the installation and five years of maintenance, which can switch to an hourly rate after that term.
If the contract is approved, the mural process would start in early November and, barring any weather or other circumstances, would take two weeks to complete.
The council meets on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Salisbury City Hall, located at 217 South Main Street, Salisbury. The other agenda items include:
- The council will consider adopting an ordinance amending the land development district map to rezone four parcels, approximately 3.08 acres located along the northern side of Julia Drive, west of Calvin Avenue from residential mixed-use with a conditional district overlay and highway business to general residential.
- The council will receive an update on the branding study.
- The council will consider appointments to various boards and commissions.
