Robbinsville – During the Nov. 1 Town of Robbinsville meeting, aldermen voted to resolve damages caused by a water-meter cap, and opened the floor for an update on Graham County Schools’ remodel of the former Veterans of Foreign Wars building.
On Oct. 12, resident Glenda Bradley ran over a water meter without a cap on Rodney Orr Bypass. The exposed hole for the meter cracked her tire and damaged the wheel.
Town maintenance supervisor Chadd Carpenter explained how the cap may have come off.
“The top twists and it will go so far to match the pavement and it won’t go any farther. When the state comes through and paves, they usually add an inch riser and then they put the box in,” said Carpenter. “Sometimes when dually trucks come by, the tires get caught in between it (the cap and inch from the road) and pull it out of the box.”
Bradley showed pictures of the damages to the board, as well as estimates from a dealership to repair the wheel and tire. The board approved to cover the repairs of the wheel and tire, at a cost of $958.91.
Setting up shop
GREAT (Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team) Director Michelle Shiplet joined Graham County Schools Superintendent Angie Knight for an update on a 2-year project in downtown Robbinsville.
Graham County Schools received a grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation for $571,000 to renovate the former Veterans of Foreign Wars building, and also eventually help with paying the student-employees.
Shiplet and Knight held up a board showing concept art of the building and showed different materials that would be used. The building is still under construction.
Shiplet is requesting bids for various construction needs like an HVAC and more.
The general idea is that Career Technical Education students – as well as the Exceptional Children’s Program – will run a “business” during school hours, from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. One of the goals is to help the students to receive a certification in a career technical area.
The coffee shop from the high school could move into this building, along with other student-run products like sandwiches, supplemental imprinting, pet treats and supplies, and t-shirts.
Knight also hopes that over time, the store could also be open outside school hours and during the summer, to provide more jobs for the community.