Drexel manager provides updates on two major town projects

The Drexel Board of Aldermen met early this week, gathering at Town Hall on Monday evening rather than Tuesday, so as not to interfere with Tuesday’s municipal election.

The short meeting saw Town Manager Bill Carroll give the board updates on two major projects that will affect residents, the first addressing progress at the town’s 100-acre industrial site, and the second being ongoing renovations at the R.O. Huffman Center.

Grading work on the industrial site, formerly home to Drexel Furniture Company, has expanded from the back portion of the land to the front near Main Street, according to Carroll.

The official groundbreaking on the site was in June, and contractor Clary Hood Inc. has been working on the rear portion of the site since then. With under two months until Dec. 31, Carroll said the crews are still on time to be finished before the end of the year.

The only remaining work, Carroll said, is relocating some utility poles and the town is working with Duke Energy to get that done. Other than that, he said he doesn’t see any major obstacles.

Mayor Dennis Anthony said that, personally, his goal is to have an industry on the site within the next four years. “It just depends on how our negotiations and stuff go with everything, but it would be good to have something there within the next four years.”

At the R.O. Huffman Center, the lobby has been painted, and new carpet has been installed. Carroll said he has also signed a contract for IT work to install a projector screen, projector, computer, and internet installation in the newly renovated Cranford Banquet Room. Carroll said he is also expecting some new tables to be delivered to place in the room for events.

The restrooms have also been completed, with new partitions, new plumbing fixtures, new sinks, and hand dryers. Carroll said the restrooms have been dramatically transformed as they were not fully functional before.

“It’s nice to have a fully functional restroom and a nice, new meeting space for the public to utilize and for us to utilize as well,” Carroll said.

The town’s January meeting will be held in the newly renovated banquet hall, Anthony said, adding that the Western Piedmont Council of Governments will use the renovated hall for a meeting in May.

The town’s December meeting will be moved from Tuesday, Dec. 2, to Monday, Dec. 1, to avoid conflicts with the Morganton Christmas Parade. The Drexel Christmas tree lighting ceremony will also be moved to Dec. 1 at the downtown park following the meeting.