Page 10A RBC ES TRL TE TP TAR a Ve pr oa Tag TTT NTR Se Rr nr re Bai EE i March 13, 2003 The Kings Mountain Herald OAK _GROVE | oo —-. NE TO KINGS MOUNTAIN TO on SHELBY, / Lif gy A aE KINGS MOUNTAIN Drawing of construction work to begin in April at Highway 74 Business/Bypass bridge. The DOT will eliminate the left turn for 74 Business westbound traffic. Motorists getting onto 74 Bypass from the westbound 74 Business must take the right lane loop. LEFT TURN From 1A Officials of the DOT and Highway Patrol are encouraging motorists to go ahead and begin using the right- lane loop to gain entrance to West 74 Bypass. “We hope they'll go ahead and start using the loop and get used to it,” Humphries said. “When con- struction starts we ask that people pay attention to the people working in the zone. We will have to close the inside lanes for safety of the workers and Highway 74 will be reduced to one lane each way dur- ing that period of time.” The inside lanes will be re-opened at night, he said. David Allen, First Sgt. of the NC Highway Patrol Office in Shelby, said Troopers will “pay special attention” to the area during the construction process. “Basically our goal is to enforce the engineering that the DOT puts in place,” Allen said. “Our main responsibility is to see that the way it’s designed is the way the motorists are using that section of roadway.” Using the right lane loop “may take a little bit more time,” Allen said, “but in the end we do believe it’s going to be safer. It’s going to correct a problem that currently exists out there. We'll be asking for voluntary compliance whenever we start with this.” According to Humphries, approxi- mately 10,000 vehicles per day enter the intersection and during the peak hour (3-4 p.m.) approximately 20 percent of the movements are from northbound left turns to the west- bound ramp. “The intersection was designed for people to take the loop the whole time,” Humphries said. “I'm not sure of the history of how it evolved the way it did (with the left turning _lane). But this will be more efficient. Turning right eliminates conflicts of turning across traffic. It will be much safer.” BUDGET From 1A said Maney. The renegotiation of the Crowder’s Creek contract, which allows the city to pay for only the sewage it sends, will save the city approximately $12 million, said Murphrey. Also the four-year con- tract with Duke Power will keep cit- izens from having a rate change for the next four years. The new peak shaving plants will also continue to save the city money. 1999 Saturn SL Beautiful 4 door, One Owner, 48K miles, 5 speed, AC Sale *4,980 or 99m" 1998 Nissan Frontier King Cab XE Auto, AC, Only 37,000 miles Sale *9,586 or 225m 2000 Chevrolet Venture One Owner, Loaded, 40K, Excellent. “We're just elated to be able to do that in these economic down times,” said Murphrey. “We're always look- ing for ways to save money. We're just excited to be able to do that again this year.” The new budget has only two part-time and one full-time person- nel proposals, including a part-time library assistant, a part-time fire- fighter, and a full-time DCI Communications Supervisor for the police department. The new budget also includes a 5 percent salary raise and a 2 percent cost of living raise for city employees. Maney said it has been several years since they have had a raise of any kind. Murphrey and Maney both com- mended the city employees, saying that they do an excellent job and that the city needs to care for them. “We want to make sure we keep the people we have. We need to take care of them,” he said. The city also continued its cycle of preventive maintenance. Several equipment purchases were added into the budget, as a result. Maney said the things he is most proud of accomplishing during his time as city manager are the renego- tiation of the Crowder’s Creek con- tract, the establishment of the peak shaving plant, and the decision to self-insure the city. The new budget will be almost $1 * million higher than last year’s budg- et, although the only major change is in the natural gas. Natural gas will cost the city approximately $1 million more in 2003-2004 fiscal year because of the recent sharp increase in cost. Because of the economic down times, the city has also opted to hold off on cycle billing for a little while longer, said Maney. City plans $160,000 of paving BY ABIGAIL WOLFORD Staff Writer The City of Kings Mountain recently began its annual paving project. This year, the paving contract was awarded to Asphalt Paving of Shelby, Inc. The city maintains approximately 56.74 miles of streets, although Mayor Rick Murphrey pointed out that the area is really twice as long once each lane is paved. The state maintains 12 miles of the city. This year, the paving will include Cansler Street (from East Gold Street to Walker Street), Goforth Street (from King Street to the dead end, from Landing Street to Mountain Street, and from Mountain Street to King Street), Ramsuer Street (from Lackey Street to McGinnis Street), Mounte Vista (from Wilson Street to Falls Street), and Falls Street (from Battleground Avenue to the dead end). The paving will cost approximately $160,000. Every year, the city applies for money to pave the streets, said Murphrey. “I think it’s important that we pave every year so that we don’t get behind in our paving,” he said. The paving money usual- ly comes from the state Powell Bill money, which comes from gas taxes, said Murphrey. The city usually receives the money in October. As soon as the winter is over, cities usually start paving since asphalt plants have to wait until the weather clears up to begin work each year, said Murphrey. The weather needs to be above freezing with no rain, he said. *O Down elivers! 1996 Chevy Caprice Classic Full Size, V8, Rear Wheel Drive, Only 57,000 miles. 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