“It’s still too much money for the property,” she said.
Daniels lightheartedly accused the real estate company selling the building of “false advertising,” saying there were 100 parking spaces and that the building was “fully sprinklered.”
Quis told The Pilot Tuesday morning that there was an error in the real estate listing on the property. He said the council was aware that there were not 100 parking spaces and that the building did not have a complete sprinkler system.
One councilman commented during the meeting that the printing business had two empty buildings — the other is on Yadkin Road on the other side of town — and that the real estate company possibly had gotten the two buildings’ descriptions mixed up. Haney joked, “maybe inside the building they have 100 parking spaces.”
Public Works Director Bobby Teague said part of the building has a sprinkler system, but he understood that it was not working.
The sale will be completed and title transferred to the town on May 1, according to a contract signed by the building’s owner, Douglas G. Billian.
The building is adjacent to the town’s public works facility. The new property is to be used to assemble and store equipment for the building and grounds and public works departments that are currently kept outdoors, Teague said.
If the council decides to renovate and enlarge the police station on Broad Street, the building will also be used to temporarily house the Police Department during the construction.
“This is a good long-term purchase and also a short-term one, because it can be used by the Police Department without our having to rent or lease another space,” McInerney said.
Lower Bid Urged
The original asking price, based on an appraisal of the building, was $750,000. Daniels has consistently said the town ought to try to get it for a lot less, because the manufacturing plant isn’t in much demand because of today’s economy.
The council made a lower offer before negotiating the final price with Billian.
Quis said, “if the building weren’t adjacent to our public works facility, it probably would be overpriced.”
But since it is adjacent, he added, he was going to vote to buy it.
Some repairs will be necessary for the building, but a cost estimate was not available Monday.
Daniels said that even though the building fronts on U.S. 1, which adds to its value if someone wanted it for a commercial use, the town doesn’t need it for that and shouldn’t have to pay the asking price.
The town budget has a capital reserve fund with $670,000 for a public works complex.
Curbside Recycling
The council also decided to discontinue curbside pickup of recyclables because the only materials that have a market are aluminum, plastics and occasionally newsprint.
Instead, the council will consider establishing a recycling center, similar to one in Aberdeen. Residents can bring recyclables to the center.
Other recyclable items residents have been putting in the green recycle bins include glass bottles, newsprint, paper of all kinds, cans and other aluminum items, most of which end up in landfills anyway because people can buy nonrecycled items for less.
The increased cost of renewing the five-year contract with Waste Management to continue weekly curbside pickup of recyclable materials doesn’t justify the amount to be gained from recycling, the council was told.
The council asked Teague to come back with a revised garbage collection contract with Waste Management, eliminating curbside pickup of recyclables. He was also asked to come up with recommendations on establishing a drop-off recycling center.
Teague reported that Aberdeen has just as much recyclable materials collected at its drop-off center per capita as Southern Pines gets from curbside collection.
In other business, the council set a public hearing for April 3 at 5 p.m. on a bond refinancing order.
