Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010

Garner lays out capital needs

Next up: setting priorities

Town leaders have laid out spending needs through the next four years.

On the list: a new town hall and police station, a community center, new sidewalks and dozens of other projects.

The plan's approval doesn't mean the projects will become reality by the end of 2014. But the Town Council will likely use the capital-improvement plan as a blueprint for spending decisions.

"It helps establish some priorities," Mayor Pro Tem Buck Kennedy said at a Town Council meeting last month. "It's a good place to start."

At its retreat in February, the council will set priorities from the plan, which calls for $48 million in projects.

The sour economy could likely affect how quickly some projects come to fruition. Some have hefty price tags, like a $15.25 million town hall and police station and a $5.2 million community center. Less-expensive projects include new radios for the police department and street paving.

The council approved the plan with little changes from what the town staff had proposed. One addition to the plan is sidewalks along Timber Drive. The state plans to spend nearly $25 million to extend Timber Drive.

The plan approved by the Town Council includes projects that the town likely won't have money for any time soon. Such projects include $11 million for sidewalks and $4 million for upgrades on Main Street and Garner Road.

The town manager also proposes $15 million to rejuvenate downtown and North Garner. Urban planners hired by the town have worked up a vision for the area, which was once the center of town. That vision includes retail and residential development.

Alcohol at auditorium

Groups that host events at the Garner Historic Auditorium will likely be allowed to serve alcohol.

That is, if they can afford it.

Now, alcohol is not allowed in the auditorium, which is home to Garner Towne Players shows and other events. The town decided to reconsider the policy after receiving requests over the years from groups that want to serve alcohol.

The Town Council has granted requests in the past to the Garner Towne Players and the Chamber of Commerce.

A new policy, which council members were expected to approve on Monday, will lay out guidelines for groups that rent the auditorium and want to serve beer, wine or champagne. With alcohol, the price tag will be nearly $1,900 for a four-hour rental.

Groups will have to pay $150 for an alcohol permit, $800 for insurance coverage, $288 for off-duty Garner police officers, $400 for the auditorium rental, $200 for an auditorium deposit and $40 for parking attendants.

The high price could deter some people from serving alcohol, said Mayor Pro Tem Buck Kennedy. "I don't know whether that's good or bad," he said.

Some groups that might want to rent the auditorium already carry liability insurance, so they would not have to worry about that additional cost, said Sonya Shaw, Garner's parks and recreation director.

Some town leaders said allowing beer, wine and champagne at the auditorium could bring in more events that have previously stayed away from Garner.

Many local towns allow beer or wine to be served at town centers.