♥ Troy Commissioners OK dam removal to restore creek

As published in the Courier-Tribune on August 21, 2012

By Hugh Martin

biscoewriter@yahoo.com

TROY — The U.S. Department of Interior, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has entered into an agreement with the Town of Troy to restore the natural habitat and flow of Denson’s Creek.

At the mid-month meeting Aug. 20, the Troy Town Board of Commissioners approved a contract that would remove one of two existing dams on the creek. The dam, known as Troy Reservoir Dam Number 1, is located just upstream from the bridge on Okeewemee Road.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife will cover all costs related to the removal, but the Town of Troy will provide dump trucks for the removal of the debris associated with the project.

Mayor Roy Maness explained that the dam removal will be required before a larger dam upstream could be removed. Fish and Wildlife is working to secure funding for that project.

Funding has also been secured for removal of the old Smitherman Mill Dam, located on Little River, upstream from the bridge on Troy-Candor Road. This project will take place at a later date.

The restoration of the waterways will allow the movement of fish and freshwater mussels, including some rare species, that had been impeded by the dams.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife has a goal for removal of the Troy Reservoir Dam Number 1 during the week of Sept. 10, but the project would be completed within a year if conditions require rescheduling.

In other business, commissioners Angela Elkins, Bruce Hamilton, James Hurley and Wallace Jones:

* Approved a resolution to pursue an application for a Small Business & Entrepreneurial Assistance (SBEA) grant through the Community Development Block Grant Program on behalf of Alandale Knitting LLC. Alandale plans to expand its textile operation and add up to 20 jobs.

* Approved an updated Capital Improvement plan to allow for fiscal planning for the next five years.

* Heard an update from Town Manager Greg Zephir on bidding for road paving within the town.

* Heard the plan to replace the steps on the town’s nature trail at the Maness Nature Preserve. The existing steps, where the trail crosses Okeewemee Road, were displaced due to a highway bridge replacement across Denson’s Creek. The cost of the step construction was included in the right-of-way purchase by the N.C. Department of Transportation.

* Were told of ongoing plans for a five-mile trail run, sponsored by the Montgomery County Tourism & Development Authority, to be held in November.

* Were updated on the purchase of a centrifuge system for the town’s wastewater treatment plant. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

* Heard plans for an application to host the 2014 State Dixie Youth Softball Tournament. An additional field would need to be constructed at the Peabody Park Complex. The town will seek a 50 percent grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

* Learned the swimming pool at the Denson Creek Recreation Complex will close for the season at 9 p.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 3. The pool will be also closed the last week in August and open for the Labor Day weekend.

* Discussed the possibility of a Halloween movie event Oct. 27, which is also the day of the Annual Small Town U.S.A. event on North Main Street.

* Were reminded town offices will be closed for Labor Day. The regular board meetings for September will be consolidated into one meeting, to be held Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.