The Town of Spruce Pine has awarded new contracts for upcoming landscaping and streetscape projects, streamlining efforts to enhance the town’s aesthetic and public spaces.
On April 8, the council passed resolutions for two major contracts. The mowing contract was awarded to Harding’s Landscaping, the sole bidder, with a bid of $61,910 for services spanning from April 2024 through November 2025.
Similarly, the contract for landscape services, submitted by Harding’s Landscaping and Ripple Creek Landscape Designs from Crossnore, was awarded to Harding’s. The council opted for Harding’s offer of $22,282 versus Ripple Creek for $69,816.15. The amounts bid are on a yearly basis.
The town council approved moving forward with the downtown streetscape project aimed at revitalizing Oak and Locust Avenues, to be managed by WithersRavenel. WithersRavenel is a civil and environmental engineering firm. The project encompasses community and stakeholder engagement, environmental reviews, and the creation of a comprehensive master plan. Funding for this project will primarily be made up of just under $200,000 in grant funds from the NC Department of Commerce and the USDA, with $10,000 currently allocated from the town’s budget.
Spruce Pine Town Manager, Darlene Butler, discussed potential enhancements for the Main Street district, including improvements in appearance and flow, sidewalk modifications, and the addition of green spaces.
“Having [WithersRavenel] lead us through this project will put us in a position to apply for grants,” said Butler. “There will be a lot of opportunities for public input.”
The scope of work for WithersRavenel does not include the actual implementation of any plans developed. The firm’s role is limited to planning and design, setting the stage for future execution phases dependent on additional approvals and funding.
Other town updates included the payoff of a revolving loan by Luther Stroup, a proclamation setting May 2, 2024 as a National Day of Prayer, updates about recent vandalism at Riverside Park, the discussion of possible asbestos at the South Dale property that is set to be condemned, and the pursual of various grants to support ongoing and future projects.