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The Knightdale Town Council has authorized the condemnation of the property on which a pump station under construction sits at the Neuse River and Hodge Road.

JDH Riverview Commons of Charlotte that planned to build a commercial and residential development at Poole and Hodge Roads misplaced an easement before it was recorded, Town Attorney Clyde Holt told the Town Council  Wednesday.

The 3,600 square-foot parcel is held in a trust. The trustees are Thomas and Iris Tilley of Chapel Hill, Holt said.

Holt told the council that the Tilleys want to connect their nearby mobile home park to the town’s sewer line in exchange for the easement.

The mobile home park is outside of the town of Knightdale.

“We can’t wait on that process (annexation proceedings) for the easement,” Holt said Thursday.

“I will contact the Tilleys again and see if we can achieve this through a voluntary conveyance,” Holt said. “ If not, unfortunately we will have to file a condemnation. That sewer line is going to serve all of the property on Poole Road between Wendell and Raleigh. It’s just a tremendous public deterrent to not moving this project along.”

Holt said he estimated the market value of the property at $5,000 and that the Tilleys would receive that amount.

The Tilleys were unable to be reached.

Knightdale has been in negotiation with JDH Riverview Commons for over a year, trying to get the pump station finished.

The lost easement is the latest in a series of delays.

A subdivision planned for the property adjacent to JDH’s development can’t pump its sewer across the Neuse River until the pump station is complete.

Developer David Menaker of Menaker and Associates has asked the council to take action because he said he can’t build without sewer.

Menaker completed a $800,000, 30-inch .7 mile, water line to the corner of Hodge and Poole road for city water to lots at his subdivision, JDH’s development and Knightdale residents who live nearby.

He was reimbursed $400,000 by the city of Raleigh for the line.

Menaker said the delays with the pump station have cost him $10,000 a lot and $400,000 in interest.

As if last week's kidnapping and bank robbery didn't draw enough police attention in eastern Wake County, why, I say, why are there so many patrol cars guarding the highway lately?

The first thing that comes to mind is the weather is nice and warm, and hey, it's summer time. People are getting out and doing things (both legal and illegal) and trying to get to their destination in record time.

But still a curiosity in my book is the joint effort between local towns' police officers on 64/264 between Wendell Boulevard and Highway 96 (Arendell Ave.).

It's got my attention because lately as you head toward Wendell from the Knightdale side of things there is a Zebulon K-9 unit monitoring the road, and then when you get past Lizard Lick (into the Zebulon jurisdiction) there are Wendell cops doing the same — more or less a role reversal. 

I thought that was weird enough, and still don't know if they're looking for someone in particular, drugs, or what, but then I saw the true conundrum — a Durham Five-O in Wendell. WOW. I know. Tell me about it. What could possibly be going on here?

One half of me wants to call the local police departments and put an end to my measureless curiosity, but the other half of me doesn't want to spoil the endless possibilities that stem from such ignorance. 

It's almost like the kind of thing that would become the perfect rumor in a small town. Maybe they're searching for aliens. If anyone knows the truth, or thinks they do, I'd love to hear about it.

Hoops for Conner, the June 19-21 youth b-ball tourney set to raise money for 3-year-old Conner Stell, of Knightdale, is a good way locals can help out a family in need.

Stell, currently at UNC-NC Children’s Hospital, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on Friday, March 27. Ever since, family and friends have been working to raise money for a bone marrow transplant.

Despite having what family members described as "real good" insurance, the insurance company won't pay for prospective donors' expenses, which can be more than affordable.

The deadline to enter the fundraising tournament is today, June 11, and the cost per team is $100. But that in no way means donations cannot be sent to the family.

Those interested in learning more about Connor Stell’s condition can visit his web site — www.teamstell.com. The site gives updates as to his day-to-day condition. People can also find out more about his story and learn how they can help. Mills said the smallest donations of prayers, money or blood can have a huge impact on the Stell family, as they can on all leukemia patients.

Those interested in a last-call registration of a team, or for more information on the “Hoops for Conner” basketball tournament set for June 19-21, contact coach Huleo Evans at 697-1139.