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Sylva still waiting for news on post office site
By Justin Goble
Despite what they’ve been told, Sylva officials have to wait a little longer to find out the new post office site.
In October, town leaders were told they would know the location of the new site in one month.
At last Thursday’s (Jan. 5) town board meeting, Mayor Brenda Oliver reported that the wait for news on the site is expected to continue for another three months.
Oliver said that Bob Rizutto, a U.S. Postal Service real estate specialist in Greensboro, reported that site selection has been slower than anticipated. Also delaying the decision is the fact that Rizutto, who has been helping with the selection effort, is resigning from his post.
Oliver was able to tell board members that officials for the Postal Service have tentatively decided on one site, but have not made any legal action to acquire it. However, she was unable to say which site was chosen.
In October, the Postal Service narrowed the prospective sites to three – one at the north end of Jackson Plaza; existing space at Jackson Plaza, which is believed to be the former Karrtunz location next to Thunder Lanes bowling alley; and 2.74 acres owned by Norman Flaxman just off N.C. 107 on Hensley Circle.
“I’d prefer the post office to be located as close to the downtown district as possible, so I’d prefer it be at one of the Jackson Plaza sites,” said Oliver in October. “If it were on N.C. 107, it would add to the congestion.”
In other business Jan. 5:
– Officials approved 4-0 the town’s contract with the Golden Age Senior Center.
Oliver told the board the lease had not been signed since 2004.
Moody suggested that a date for the lease’s start date be set at the meeting. Oliver said if the resolution to sign the lease was passed, the lease would run from that day (Jan. 5) through 2007.
– The Duke Power Holiday Lighting contract with the town was approved by a 4-0 vote.
Town Manager Jay Denton said the cost of the contract would be around $1,000.
Moody took the opportunity to discuss Duke’s maintenance of the lights, which he said was sub-standard.
“I don’t have a problem with paying for the electricity we use,” Moody said. “But they haven’t held up their end with maintenance.”
– Denton told the board that clean-up efforts from last week’s thunderstorms would continue through this week.
While no damage was caused to the roads, he said that debris was still on the roads and the Public Works Department is working to clear it from the streets.
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