Wallace seeks federal funds to raze old school

WALLACE — In an effort to clean up a hazardous and unsightly old school building, Wallace leaders voted Thursday to seek federal funding to help cover most of the estimated $265,000 cost of the project.

The old C.W. Dobbins School building at 908 N Teachey Road sits among weeds, vines, trees and trash on almost 3.5 acres of land that officials believe could be better used for housing in town. The building, which has not been used as a school for decades, is nearly invisible, save the tall red brick chimney, from North Teachey Road due to overgrowth and neglect. Much of the building’s roof has collapsed. Most of the windows and doors are broken, and shards of glass litter the ground.

The town must first complete the purchase of the property from an organization known as Christians of Faith Teaching Ministries, which according to Duplin County tax records purchased it in 2003. The sale to the town was expected to be completed by July 14.

The council unanimously voted to contract with the Cape Fear Council of Governments for assistance in applying for Community Development Block Grant funds to perform the work. CDBG funds are federal tax dollars, and they are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to pay for affordable housing, anti-poverty programs and infrastructure development.

Officials will be seeking $250,000 in CDBG funds and will have to match it with $15,000 of local money, should the grant be awarded. The town will pay the Cape Fear Council of Governments $5,000 for assistance in seeking the funds.

Just prior to the vote, Council Member Tasha Herring said she would like to see bricks from the old building be made available to former students and for a brick walkway to be made from some of the bricks. Mayor Jason Wells agreed that it would be a good idea and said the town would consider it in the future.

In other business, the council agreed to request that the state Department of Transportation reduce speed limits from 1504 N Norwood Street going into the town of Teachey from 55 mph to 45 mph, and on NC 11 from Poston Baptist Church to Stallings Road from 55 mph to 35 mph, and from Stallings Road to the Interstate 40 Exit 384 interchange from 55 mph to 45 mph. Increased traffic congestion and safety were cited as the reasons for the changes.

The town’s newest police officer, Ralph Amitrano Jr., was sworn in by Wells early in the meeting. Amitrano entered the force in January as a cadet, and he recently graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training. He will now begin 12 weeks of field training as he joins the patrol division of the department. After taking his oath of office, Amitrano’s badge was pinned on his uniform by his father, Ralph Amitrano Sr.

Following a closed session, the council voted to raise the pay of Town Manager Rob Taylor, clerk Jackie Nicholson said on Friday. The manager’s salary was raised from $111,000 to $118,000 per year following a positive job evaluation by the board.

“The board has been very pleased overall with his performance since taking over as town manager and we look forward to many more years of working alongside him as town manager,” Wells said.