BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

Statesville City Manager Ron Smith on Monday expressed appreciation to street crews and emergency personnel for their response to the back-to-back storms that dumped ice and snow on the region.

Some city personnel worked around the clock during the ice and snow storms that hit Statesville the past two weekends, Smith added.

The manager provided City Council members with an update on the storm response and other projects during Monday’s meeting. The meeting was held virtually due to the state of emergency declared by Gov. Josh Stein as a result of the weather.

The street department, Smith said, has been working as hard as they can to clear the roads.

The ice that coated the streets during the first storm created issues with removal.

“It’s almost impossible to get down to the pavement,” Smith explained.

Updates

Airport

Smith reported that the Statesville Regional Airport terminal building is complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9.

Police & Fire

The parking deck at the police department is nearly complete and both interior and exterior work on the expansion of the police department is underway, according to Smith. The project is expected to be completed in August.

Grading work on the Gaither Road site for Fire Station 5 is expected to begin soon. Fifteen new firefighters have been hired for the new station.

Water System

Smith also shared information about the waterspline project, which has caused road closures on Brookdale Drive. He said the project will next move to Stockton Street. The project is about 53 percent complete.

Smith said the start on Stockton Street is dependent on weather.

OTHER BUSINESS

As part of the consent agenda, which is approved in one motion unless a council member asks for an item to be removed, council approved a request to submit an application to the Governor’s Crime Commission for funding for two police officer positions.