AHOSKIE – As Ahoskie grows through annexation, so will its responsibility to maintain roads.

In advance of the annexation of four new areas, scheduled to become official on June 30, the Ahoskie Town Council adopted a resolution at its Tuesday meeting to take over 2.46 miles of roads currently maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT).

Ahoskie Town Manager Tony Hammond said the town, using state General Statutes, can legally petition DOT to abandon responsibility of state-maintained roads after which time the town can add those roads to its municipal system.

“All of the roads involved in our petition to DOT are part of the current annexation,” Hammond said. “Once our petition is approved, DOT will drop these roads from their system in June and we will add them to our system.”

Hammond added that the town will apply for additional Powell Bill funds, money used for road maintenance.

The roads involved are Albemarle Drive, Berkley Road (two sections), Clarendon Road, Craven Road, Forest Drive, Lincoln Road, Shaftsbury Road, VIP Road and Willoughby Road.

All are currently paved and, according to Hammond, are in good condition.

With the addition of these roads, the town’s street system will total 35.5 miles.

In other action taken at Tuesday’s meeting:

Council approved the appointments of Pat Byrd, Carl Askew and Andre Lassiter to the Ahoskie Housing Authority;

Approved two proposals from Pyrotechnico to provide fireworks for the town’s July 4th celebration ($10,000) and Ahoskie Heritage Day ($3,500);

Recognized Ahoskie Assistant Fire Chief Eric Whitmeyer as the March Employee of the Month; and

Presented a Resolution of Appreciation to W. Julian Robertson who served as a member of the Ahoskie Housing Authority from January 1981 until December 2008.