Thomasville City Council approved the Capital Project Ordinance to repair 24 inches of the Baptist Children’s Home collector line that was subject to the sewage spill last August in its Monday night meeting.

The project will cost the city $537,402 in engineering, contingency and construction improvement costs — including the installation of manholes, pavement replacement and erosion protection.

The funds will be transferred from the Capital Reserve Fund, money that the city has set aside for emergencies.

“The money that is being used to finance this project comes from a Capital Reserve Fund that we’d put back over a number of years and saved,” said City Council Member Raleigh York. “I just wanted to make the point that this is money that was saved and not borrowed.”

While taking money from the city’s savings has prevented the council from incurring debt, it also limits spending options for further projects, York added.

Council also approved the annexation agreement between High Point and Thomasville, which defines the area in Randolph County that can be annexed by either municipality during the agreement’s 20-year term. The agreement is a renewal of the one made in 1999, which expires March 1, 2010.

According to Ken Hepler, planning and zoning administrator, such agreements between municipalities help to encourage the orderly growth of unincorporated areas and eliminate the uncertainty of the people residing in those areas.

While the council members approved the agreement, Barney Hill, a Thomasville resident, opposed the annexation because it betrayed its goal to eliminate uncertainty.

“You cannot hope to reduce these people’s uncertainty as long as you retain your statutory power to alter or abolish the agreement at any time, subject only to your own whim and High Point’s,” he said.

“This is a truce in a turf war.”

In other news, the council also formally honored former council member Clyde Pat Slaten;

Approved for condemnation the dilapidated structure at 19 Jordan St.;

Approved the CDBG Hook-up Grant Project Ordinance which offers funds to mid- to lower-income families to hook their homes to the city’s water and sewer lines;

Approved the consideration of the 2009-2010 General Fund budget amendment for parks and recreation lawn maintenance;

Approved the request for resolution of support for the government Bond, Stamp and Coin Program to Aid Veterans.

No action was taken in the closed session