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©2001-2005 The Chatham News Publishing Co., Inc. - All Rights Reserved

By Joseph Pardington

Preliminary reports indicate that an unidentified Hispanic male crashed into a Siler City Police Department patrol car and then fled, leaving his injured passenger on Dec. 4 at the intersection of Fifth Street and Chatham Avenue, according to Maj. Bill Harman of the Siler City Police Department.

The accident happened as a police patrol car responded to a call by heading west on Fifth Street, Harman said.

Ptl. Steven Creason of the Siler City Police Department approached the intersection and waited until a truck, which was traveling north on Chatham, stopped before entering the intersection, Harman said.

At about the same time, an unidentified male driving a Saturn approached the intersection traveling north on Chatham, Harman said.

The Saturn’s driver did not stop, but instead drove to the right of the stopped truck, where there was not a lane, Harman said.

  more- See Thursday, Dec 8 paper: Vol 85, No. 2

Pittsboro delays rezoning request

 By Cara McDonough

Pittsboro town manager David Hughes confirmed Tuesday that he will leave his job at the end of this month.

Hughes has been in the position for just over two years.

He is taking another position as project manager with Upright Builders, a construction company in Cary that builds mostly in Cary and Raleigh.

Hughes said that he has enjoyed working in Pittsboro.

“It’s been a great place to work. The staff is outstanding and I think the town has progressed a lot in the past few years,” he said.

Hughes said that he thinks Pittsboro is in good shape thanks to an excellent staff.

“I think it’s an exciting time for the town,” he said.

Hughes will still reside in the house he and his family built in Pittsboro.

“I’ve had a great relationship with a lot of people here,” said Hughes. “I’ve enjoyed living here and I’ll continue to do that.”

The town board will now select an interim manager who will be in place until a new town manager is hired.

Randy Voller, who will be sworn in as Pittsboro mayor at the town board meeting on Monday, said that the town has been fortunate to have Hughes as a leader.

“David was an asset to the town and the town has been able to make great strides with him as the manager,” he said.

Siler City board approves plan for hospital rezoning

By Joseph Pardington

It looks as though Chatham Hospital will be able to move and rebuild on 30.38 acres of land off U.S. Hwy 64 and Alston Bridge Road.

The Siler City Town Board on Monday approved the conditional use-rezoning request of the hospital from heavy industrial (H-I) to office institutional (O-I).

The vote clears the way for construction to begin at Chatham County Business Park, once all the conditions are met.

The conditions include a storm water drainage plan, water and sewer plans, a tree survey, a wetland survey, public water hydraulic analysis, construction details and North Carolina Department of Transportation driveway permit, among other things.

The proposed new hospital will be 61,950 square feet with room of future expansions.

The site will have 70,368 feet of future medical office buildings, Town water and sewer, an access road off U.S. 64 and Alston Bridge Road and a 200-foot vegetative buffer.

The land is lot 7 of the Chatham County Business Park. H-I zoning and vacant land surround the property.

If all goes well in the construction process, Chatham Hospital should open for business by Oct. 1, 2007, according to the proposed schedule submitted by Mulkey Engineers & Consultants of Raleigh.

Previously, the Town Board approved the hospital’s request to reduce the required minimum number of parking spaces from 500 to 224. This reduction required an ordinance change based on calculations by the Siler City’s planning department and Chatham Hospital.

The Board has not yet voted on a hospital request to allow a lighted off-premises sign for the hospital.

Chatham Hospital will have 145 full-time employees, with a future expansion leading to 175 employees, total.

“The hospital will open with 25 inpatient beds,” according to Mulkey Engineers. “It is estimated that an additional 25 inpatient beds would be added within the first 10 yeas of operation.

“The hospital will open with 12 emergency treatment areas, a respiratory therapy department, Imaging Department, Surgery Department and laboratory. Future expansion within the next 10 years could include more operating rooms and emergency treatment areas,” the Mulkey study said.

Rain helps replenish reservoir

By Joseph Pardington

In a stunning turnaround, Siler City’s reservoir has risen closer and closer to normal.

As of Dec. 5 Siler City’s water supply was 41 inches below full, said Joel Brower, Siler City’s town manager.

“We’ve gained an inch and a half over the weekend,” Brower said.

Just a week after mandatory water reductions were lifted, Siler City’s water situation appeared a bit more stable.

Recent rains are the main reason for the improved reservoir levels, Brower said.

However, Siler City remains under voluntary water reductions until further notice. Consumers are still asked to avoid washing their cars, sidewalks and patios. They are also asked to avoid watering lawns, flowers and other plants.

Brower, speaking on Monday during a Siler City Town Board meeting, gave thanks for many things, including the recent rainfall.

 “I’d like to give a praise report,” Brower said.

“The Lord has blessed us,” he said of the recent rainfall. “What a difference two weeks makes.”

Brower also thanked Siler City’s businesses and residents for their work to save water during the voluntary and mandatory restrictions. He also thanked Siler City employees for their hard work. In particular, Brower praised Terry Green, public works director.

“He was instrumental in keeping this thing going,” Brower said of Green.

Brower also praised Dusty Martin for treating water that was difficult to treat. Brower praised Curtis Brown for his award-winning ways and innovation as wastewater treatment plant superintendent.

“We had a good team working,” Brower said of Siler City’s employees.

  more- See Thursday, Dec 8 paper: Vol 85, No. 2

The Chatham News

is Published Every Thursday by The Chatham News Publishing Co, Inc at

303 West Raleigh Street, Siler City, NC 27344, (919)663-3232

Alan D. Resch Editor-Publisher

www.ncpress.com

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