The village of Misenheimer voted to support a quarter-cent sales tax increase to benefit county schools and considered information about possibly obtaining a curb and sidewalk grant during its October meeting.

Like many other councils in the county, the Misenheimer council passed a referendum showing its support for the increase. The option to add the increase has been voted down three times in previous years, but supporters say the list of school safety and security changes the increase would fund makes it worth it. For a list of projects, visit stanlycountyschools.org.

The council was provided a slideshow presentation on the availability of Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds that the village may be able to use.

According to the presentation from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, TAP funds can be used “to install and retrofit curb ramps to current ADA compliance.”

The village may be able to use part of the more than $15 million the state has designated for such projects in areas with 5,000 or fewer residents.

“TAP funds may also be used to install ‘broken links’ of sidewalk,” according to the slideshow. “Such links should be justifiably associated with nearby curb ramps or sidewalk. TAP funds may be used on incidental or minor ancillary work — such as crosswalk striping — provided that work does not constitute a significant portion of the cost.”

The funding could cover up to 80 percent of the cost of work for roads that are “exclusively owned and maintained” by a town, with the municipality paying for a 20 percent match. The match on state roads may be covered by the Department of Transportation, according to the presentation.

Local governments must provide a list with the intersections they are interested in applying to have done to the DOT by Nov. 12.

The funding will probably expire at the end of June 2019, according to the DOT.

Other towns in the county that are under the population limit are Aquadale, Badin, Locust, New London, Norwood, Oakboro, Red Cross, Richfield and Stanfield. Several towns in Anson and Union counties, also part of Division 10, are also under the limit.

The council unanimously approved three other resolutions during the meeting. One approves vehicle financing through Uwharrie Bank for the Police Department while another was an update to its Section 125 Premium Only Plan for employee benefits.

Another is a the first part of a loan application through the Local Government Commission for a property purchase.

The village hopes to buy the Gray Stone Building on U.S. Highway 52 North and two lots near it on Wesley Chapel Road.

“The proposed contract is necessary or expedient because the village administrative office and the Misenheimer Police Department would better serve the public in a more visible location on the main highway through Misenheimer,” the resolution states. “It would also preserve one of the well-known historic sites of the village which is also visible as part of the village seal.”

The council also heard from Sandee Lambert, who represented her husband Mike.

He is running for a seat on the county commissioners board.

The council went into closed session to discuss personnel and took no action upon resuming open session, according to village clerk and administrator Anita Blair.

The next regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 5.

Imari Scarbrough is a freelance contributor for The Stanly News and Press.