The city has received a $350,000 grant from the state Division of Community Assistance for housing rehabilitation in the 1000 block of Henry Street.

Planning and Development Director Amanda Jarratt made the announcement during tonight's city council work session.

The city will work with the Housing Authority on houses in the middle of the block to prepare them so they can be sold to individuals for home ownership.

This is a project Jarratt has been working on since she arrived in the city, she said following the meeting.

She told council tonight the full application still has to be completed. "This is very good news."

Councilman Carl Ferebee was also pleased with the announcement. "That is good news. We definitely want to see that as well as other areas getting this grant to get more rehabilitation."

In a matter related to the planning department, Jarratt announced her last day would be May 20.

Visibly emotional, Jarratt  thanked the city for the opportunity to work. "I wish the city nothing but the best."

Mayor Emery Doughtie told Jarratt, "Thank you for the work you've done. We wish you nothing but the best and good luck."

Jarratt recommended the city go through Rivers and Associates to explore hiring an interim planner until a new one is hired.

Council will consider that at its meeting next Tuesday.

In other matters:

Council was told by Jarratt the disaster recovery center at T.J, Davis would be closing down at noon Saturday.

Were told by City Manager Paul Sabiston he would like to receive council input on possibly hiring Davenport and Company to help the city refinance its theater debt.

Were told by Fire Chief Gary Corbet several hydrants during the department's annual flushing have been found to have pressure less than 375 gallons of water a minute.

They are mainly in the older sections of the city and firefighters will be placing plastic over them until they are repaired. Central dispatch has been notified to send Davie and Gaston tankers to fires in these areas.

The fire department is working with the sanitary district to get the problem resolved. Corbet said the sanitary district is seeking grant funds to address the problems.