ELIZABETHTOWN — The old Chevrolet dealership building in Elizabethtown is being dealt the axe, or so the Elizabethtown Town Council decided Monday night at its May meeting.

Recent inspections revealed the building has evidence of termites, contains lead-based paint, and has water in the basement. In addition, asbestos is present in the construction. The latter will require an additional $82,800.

The new figure will include demolishing and removing the existing structure and concrete slab, demolishing and removing all existing asphalt, removing the concrete apron and the concrete curbing, returning the site to a rough grade status, installing silt fencing around the perimeter, and the coordination of the cessation of all utilities and associated permits.

The work will be completed by Old Fields Construction, Inc. of Fayetteville. Work is expected to begin within three weeks and take approximately two weeks to complete.

Staff had previously discussed retaining a portion of the building.

“If we had kept the building, it would be more (costly), so this is a savings for the town of Elizabethtown,” explained Mayor Sylvia Campbell.

Campbell said plans for the new building, recently revised, are for a “good-looking building.”

In other business, the Board:

— Held a public hearing for, and later approved, revising the Code of Ordinances to reflect a change to cemeteries. After hearing from residents, staff recommended the ordinances change to allow the remains of two cremated individuals to be interred in the same burial plot. The move, staff said, would allow couples to be interred together.

— Passed a resolution supporting the efforts of the Town of White Lake to improve water quality at the lake. The resolution stated Elizabethtown’s “livelihood (is) dependent upon the lake” and “there will be an economic impact on the surrounding community” if corrective measures are not taken.

— Declared May 13-19 as National Police Week with May 15 being designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of all fallen officers and their families.

— Approved tax write-offs totaling $36,286. The statute of limitations for collecting the taxes has expired, and the town auditor recommended the town write them off.

The next meeting of the Elizabethtown Town Council will be held Monday, June 4. The Council meets for planning at noon and for its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Both meetings take place in the council chamber of the municipal building. The meetings are open to the public.

Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163 or emailing ccarroll@bladenjournal.com.

https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_IMG_0001.jpg

Chrysta Carroll

Bladen Journal