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Board reviews Astroturf plan at Smith fields

Posted on January 17, 2008January 17, 2008 by Staff

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

In their first meeting back after a winter break, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen reviewed plans by the county to replace worn turf at the two Smith Middle School soccer fields with Astroturf.
The project is expected to cost between $1.6 and $1.75 million. The new surface would allow the fields to be used more often and not require them to be taken out of action to allow restoration to damaged turf.
The project, initiated by Orange County, has drawn the interest of local soccer organizations that have agreed to help fund part of the effort, including Triangle United Soccer Association, Triangle Futbol Club and CHAC Soccer.
In exchange, county officials have requested that Carrboro consider waiving rental fees normally paid by the clubs as well as any permitting and engineering fees for the upgrade to the field.
While members of the board of aldermen noted that the fee waiver would not be unduly costly, there was some concern about the maintenance and use of the field.
cerned, since it has been reported that artificial fields still require a considerable amount of water. Gist also said she did not want to see the groups who helped pay for the fields have a monopoly over their use.
“For the sake of water and democracy, I’m against this,” she said.
Town Manager Steve Stewart said that since the town’s runoff requirement had changed since the fields were originally constructed, it will be hard to determine how much engineering will go into the project.
The board voted to ask the town’s staff to review the plan and come up with an additional estimate of costs as well as any rental policies that might need to be changed.
The board also reviewed the recently adopted updated master plan by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, including the utility’s plans for recycling water.
During one brief exchange, OWASA planning director Ed Holland noted that a program that removes and processes “biosolids” from wastewater produced material that could be used in composting.
“It’s producing a material that looks very attractive,” Holland told the board.
After a pause, Mayor Mark Chilton deadpanned: “I don’t believe you.”
In other action, the board:
• looked over plans for its annual retreat on January 27 and 28;
• authorized the town manager to enter into an agreement with the American Red Cross to use the Century Center as an emergency shelter;
• agreed to a street-closing plan for the annual Carrboro Classic Endurance Sports Festival on Sunday, April 6;
• authorized the purchase of an aerial fire truck at a cost of $9,11,854 and a solid-waste truck for Public Works at a cost (after trade in) of $233,371.

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