The extension of U.S. 258 North became one step closer after last week’s Lenoir County Commissioners meeting.
The county board agreed on an exchange with Walter and Sylvia Poole for property in order to build on the Smithfield Way extension.
The Pooles will convey property at 1278 Hwy. 258 North to Lenoir County. In exchange, the county will provide Tract 2A on Enterprise Boulevard and $90,000, which will be granted by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The exchange will be of equal value, as the land and cash exchanged is valued at $203,500.
There is still the need of additional property to attain before anything is finalized.
“There’s a piece of property we have to get behind the Poole’s property on 258 down to Hill Farm Road,” Lenoir County Economic Development Executive Director Mark Pope said. “We have to get the final approval from the state.”
The additional land would make the deal null and void if it cannot be acquired by Lenoir County.
“This deal won’t go through until the Council of States allows us to get the property in between,” Lenoir County Manager Mike Jarman said. “Once we get the land, we’ll execute the exchange, but if they don’t approve, there’s no need for that property.”
Pope feels optimistic the county will receive the land.
“We should get the land at the first of October,” Pope said. “We’ve been told verbally we’re getting it and they’re just going through the formalities. We have to wait for the open session in Raleigh (on Sept. 30.).”
September was also named as Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in Lenoir County, as the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the proclamation.
“It was pretty much cut and dry about the importance of this,” Commissioner Eric Rouse said. “It’s a very good program. … I have a friend who went sober and has changed his ways in a positive manner and I support that. This is about helping heal the wounds of family and friends from drugs and alcohol.”
The commissioners came to a consensus agreement to all things on the agenda, including the acceptance of a $42,000 grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and approving the fireworks shows at the Lenoir County Agricultural Fair.
Overall, to County Commissioner Roland Best, the meeting was productive.
“The meeting was very good,” Best said. “We had resolutions to be discussed and the leaders were on the same page with the issues.”
The next county commissioner meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 7 at 9 a.m.
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.