In considering a resolution to offer street and gutter improvements for a Laurinburg street, the City Council will engage in what Councilman Kenton Spencer called “the bread and butter of city planning.”

On council’s agenda for tonight’s meeting is the petition of a Laurinburg man asking the city to pave the road and repair the ditch near his property off Beta Street.

According to the petition, the ditch floods the dirt road as well as much of his property.

“It is an unpaved street, which is a problem, and cars gets stuck in it and cut across his property,” Spencer said. “Imagine people driving across your front lawn. Not to mention when it floods, with the type of soil that doesn’t absorb well, he has a kind of flash flood type of problem.

“With the heavy storms in the summer, (the petitioning resident) really got the brunt of them.”

Spencer anticipates some of the man’s neighbors speaking out against the petition, as they will likely be assessed fees to pay for any paving operations that occur.

“It impacts all those with adjoining property on the street. They will be assessed the cost of curb and gutter and street paving. Anywhere from three to four, or maybe more (people) could be assessed.”

If locals not interested in paying for the work speak out against the petition, Spencer said that it will be a “classic individual rights versus group interest situation.”

City Manager Ed Burchins said at the city’s agenda workshop last week that he had no estimates of what the project might cost.

“It’s not going to be cheap, that’s clear,” Spencer said, adding that council will try to make footing the bill palatable for residents if the petition is granted.

“We just want to make the assessment process as user friendly as possible.”

Council will also receive a presentation of the “raw water study” commissioned by council from Burchins during the meeting and will hold a public hearing for a Community Development Block Grant currently being applied for.