The Tyrone Town Council Thursday approved a design and engineering proposal for a Valleywood Road drainage project. Planners will have to wait for the go-ahead from Town Manager Richard Newbern since the right-of-way for the project has not been obtained.
The sticking point associated with the $11,500 bid from Mallet Consulting is due to property owner Bill Whelan declining to donate the 30-foot right-of-way on the north side of the road equivalent to approximately .7 acres. City attorney Dennis Davenport said meetings with Whelan resulted in his wanting to be compensated for the right-of-way. The price tag for the appraisal and the property would be approximately $10,000, Davenport said.
Reports from the town indicate that Valleywood Road floods consistently with the overflow coming from Farr Lake and from uphill sources. That flooding is more prevalent during periods of heavy rain. The town spends approximately $5,000 per year on gravel to help mitigate the problem.
The council approved the Mallet contract but stipulated that no work be done until Newbern authorizes it. No mention was made of what future attempts might be made to work out some arrangement with the property owner. The vote was 3-1, with Councilman Ken Matthews opposing.
The council also gave approval for the Tyrone Soccer League to purchase and install a storage shed at the entrance to the soccer fields at Handley Park that will be donated to the city.
The measure had already received approval but needed to be reconsidered since the shed was larger than previously thought and, according to league representative Ed Bacala, would be better suited on a permanent concrete slab.
