by Josh Lanier

HUNTERSVILLE – Town board members vote unanimously Monday, Nov. 7, to secure a loan for up to $5.8 million to purchase the building for a new police department headquarters in The Park.

That money will cover the purchase price of the 27,000 square foot building, at 9630 Julian Clark Ave., furniture and security upgrades to the facility and an adjacent property.

Huntersville leaders will need approval from the Local Governments Commission to move forward with the purchase, but it is expected the town will easily win that board’s approval.

First Community Bank, who was awarded the loan, had the lowest interest rate of 2.95 percent of the four banks that submitted proposals, Town Manager Greg Ferguson told the board.

Ferguson said he expects to close on the facility by Dec. 15, on schedule to have the department moved into the building by the summer.

In other board news

• Commissioners recognized Carroll Gray, executive director of the Lake Norman Transportation Commission, for his years of service at the Monday meeting. Gray announced last month he would step down from his position at the end of the year.

Each board member took turns thanking Gray who was appointed in 2009.

Gray thanked the town’s staff and said he would miss working with them, but the transportation board was heading in the right direction.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said, “and we now have some momentum, and some good things are going to happen in 2012.”

It is unclear who will take over the transportation commissioner after Gray leaves.

• The board approved allowing the developer of The Glens at Birkdale, a community for people 55 and older, to install five speed cushions in the neighborhood. Residents have complained of drivers speeding through the community, which is used as a cut through between Babe Stillwell Road and the Birkdale area.

Commissioner Ron Julian, who brought the measure to the board, said residents feared for their safety. The board unanimously approved the speed cushions even though the community did not meet the town’s speed calming standards. The developer agreed to pay for the cushions at no cost to the town.

Two cushions will be placed on Ashby Glen Road and along Sullivan Glen Way and one will be installed along Bayberry Way.

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This version corrects the bank that had the lowest interest rate bid.