Valdese council learns grants approved for pool dome, sidewalk project

Two major grants once designated for other projects in Valdese now have new purposes for the town.

In March, the Valdese Town Council voted 3-2 to install a Yeadon dome over the Valdese pool rather than build a permanent structure and to walk away from constructing a sidewalk on Lovelady Road from Laurel Street NE to Crescent Street NE. Rexanna Lowman and Melinda Zimmerman were the two voting in opposition.

The actions seemed, at the time, to put nearly $2 million in grants in jeopardy.

The town received a $500,000 grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for Accessible Parks to enclose the pool under a permanent structure. The Lovelady Sidewalk project was awarded $1.4 million in federal transportation funds through the Locally Administered Project Program (LAPP) but had withdrawn from the funding.

Thanks to the work of CFO/Assistant Town Manager Bo Weichel and staff, the Town may be able to move forward with grant dollars to help support the pool dome and two sidewalk projects.

The council will consider approving these redirected grants at its June 2 meeting.

POOL DOME

The $500,000 AP grant has been amended to be used for the Yeadon pool dome. The town had been unsure whether funds could be used for a temporary structure because the grant specifically called for a permanent structure.

“The total approved project budget for the pool dome, accessibility work, site work, etc., is $767,308,” Weichel said. “Of this amount, $500,000 will be covered by the grant, leaving the remaining project cost of $267,308, which would cover the grant match.”

When the council was moving forward with the permanent structure option, a private donor committed a $100,000 grant match for the project. That donor now plans to reallocate the funds to a future, yet-to-be-determined project of their choosing.

MASSEL AVE SIDEWALK

During the April meeting, the council asked staff to apply for LAPP funding for two sidewalk projects:

• Massel Avenue SE (between Rodoret Street S and Carolina Street SE)
• Laurel Street SE (between St. Germain Avenue SE and Main Street)

Town staff submitted applications, and construction estimates before the deadline and have since learned the Massel Avenue project has been recommended for approval. The Greater Hickory Metropolitan Planning Organization (GHMPO) is in charge of allocating the federal transportation funding.

The council is expected to formally accept the grant during its June 2 meeting. The Massel Avenue Sidewalk estimated total project cost is $927,000, including a required 20% match of $185,000.

This particular section of the street is not federal-aid eligible; however, the Western Piedmont Council of Governments worked closely with the N.C. Department of Transportation, so the town was able to secure funding eligibility.