Regular Town Council Meeting Summary - September 13, 2022

Town Council Meeting Summary

Thank you to all who joined us for the Regular Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 5:00 PM in Municipal Hall.  If you missed the meeting, you may view the recording of the meeting here.  The following is a summary of the meeting for those who could not attend.  You may download a copy of the meeting packet here. The minutes from this meeting will be included in the following month's meeting packet. 

I. Call to Order: Mayor Pritchett called the meeting to order. 

II. Agenda Adoption: The agenda was adopted with date corrections in the Consent Agenda.

III. Mayor's Communications: Mayor Pritchett thanked attendees for joining the meeting. She shared that the Town will be the host of an upcoming state-wide cycling event and wanted to forewarn of potential delays due to the number of cyclists in town.  The event will take place on Monday, October 3, 2022.  Cyclists will be coming from Hendersonville, to Lake Lure for a lunch rest stop between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. A rest stop will be set up for cyclers in front of the Welcome Center.  Cyclists will be leaving Lake Lure and heading to Tryon for this mountain-to-coast ride.  Resident's and visitors should be aware that we have been told to expect between 700-750 cyclists on highway 64/74 and then highway 9 between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.  

IV. Town Manager's Communications: 

  • Town Manager Hank Perkins reported that the Town had a new citizen’s app for registering work orders online.  You will see the link on the home page of the Town Website, called "Fix It." is now live on the website and dam automation is complete.
  • The Public Services team has completed the automation of the dam.
  • Community Development continues to be very busy with 30 permits in various areas.
  • Fire and Emergency Management responded to 70 calls and 270 training hours.
  • Police worked with departments on active shooter training at Lake Lure Classical Academy.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Lakes had 20 hours of volunteer time at Buffalo Creek Park.
  • The Town received reimbursement from two FEMA grants completed by Communications totaling $158,000.
  • Communications Department published over 30 posts for the month with a reach of over 40,000.  The Town now has 18, 419 Facebook Followers which is a 6% increase over last year.
  • The Town received the permit for the Horizontal Directional Drilling associated with the Sewer System Replacement Project. Advertising for the work for this project will take place with bids going out in October. The work will be accomplished during the 2023 Winter drawdown period.

V. Council Liaison Reports and Comments

  • Commissioner Scott Doster reported the activities of the Zoning and Planning Board which included recommendations for the Food Truck Ordinance and the Sign Ordinance. 
  • Commissioner Scott Doster reported the activities of the Parks and Recreation Board.  He shared the following:
    • The Green Space is looking better now that the grass has been cut.  A trail counter has been added so we will know approximately know how many people are using the area. 
    • The Flowering Bridge will be auctioning off painted bears next month as a fundraiser.
    • There was a well-attended Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Buffalo Creek Park Parking Lot this past month.
  • Commissioner David DiOrio reported the activities of the Lake Advisory Board. He announced the public hearing date of 9/26/22 at 6PM for the new proposed Lake Use Regulations. the public is encouraged to attend.
  • Commissioner David DiOrio reported the activities of the Board of Adjustment / Lake Structure Appeals Board. He explained that they were seeing an increase in construction projects that are being started without the proper permits. He encouraged the public to review Town Ordinances and the Permits that are required for construction.
  • Commissioner Jim Proctor reported the activities of the ABC Board. He mentioned that they were having difficulty obtaining certain whiskeys.
  • Mayor Pritchett reported the Lake Lure Steering Committee did not meet. 

VI. Presentation: Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP).

Alan Toney, Transportation Planner with Foothills Regional Commission presented on the organization’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP). Andrew Bailey and Dominique Boyd with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) were also present and explained what the Comprehensive Transportation Plan entails and what it means for Lake Lure. They explained the CTP process and provided an overview of the history of these plans. They shared highway facility types and recommendations. Bailey provided bicycle and pedestrian recommendations. Mr. Bailey requested that the Town of Lake Lure adopt and endorse this plan.

  • Mayor Pritchett thanked the presenters for coming and noted that the CTP fits many of the interests of the Town.
  • There was a discussion about the bridge over the Lake Lure Dam.  It was noted that the latest inspections put it is in fair position, but a DOT plan includes replacing the bridge within five years.
  • The CDOT representatives noted that the bridge is not in the CTP but is in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and is already funded in the 2024 plan.
  • The next step is to discuss the plans in detail with the Town to plan for construction.  
  • There was a discussion about the current position of the dam bridge and the new location for the replacement dam being downstream.
  • The NCDOT representatives noted that there is also a need for a public hearing with the NCDOT.
  • There was discussion on what NCDOT needed from the Town in terms of the adoption timeline and there was consensus to discuss this during the September Work Session meeting and the October Regular Town Council Meeting.
  • It was noted that Boys Camp Road and Sand Branch Road were owned by the Town and connected to NCDOT roads.
  • Mr. Bailey explained that there is no DOT authority but can help with Powell Bill funding.
  • This will require further discussions but the Foothills Regional Commission can assist with identifying funding options.

VII. Public Comment: Mayor Pritchett invited the audience to speak. There were no comments from the public.

VIII. Consent Agenda: The Consent Agenda was approved.

A. Approval of Minutes  

B. Ordinance No. 22-09-13 Amending Code of Ordinances Section 4-2. Dangerous dogs; barking; leash requirements.

C. Budget Amendment #340 - Additional Costs for Capital Items Related to Maintenance Equipment for the Public Services Department

D. Budget Amendment #341 - Additional Costs for Contracted Services Related to Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) Sludge Removal

E. Budget Amendment #342 - Police Vehicle Repair

F. Suspension of Chapter 8 Article II: “Peddlers” of the Code of Ordinances and Waiver of the Noise Regulation, Chapter 20 Article II, for Hickory Nut Gorge (HNG) Outreach 2022 Fall Lake Lure Arts and Crafts Festival scheduled for

October 15-16, 2022 in front of the Arcade Building.

IX. Unfinished Business: There was no unfinished business to discuss.

X. New Business

A. Request from Property Owner, Josh Skudlarick, of 315 Lakeview Road for Written Approval from Town Council for Adding Fill at or Below the Lake Shoreline. (Parcel #225319): 

  • Community Development Director Michael Williams explained that there was an issue with an existing beach being filled in recently, which goes against Town codes due to the silt this creates in the lake.
  • Director Williams explained the timeline of communication with the property owner and the fine related to the situation.
  • The property owner requested Town Council approval to keep the fill.
  • Director Williams explained his recommendation for the property owners to get approval from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Army Corp of Engineers prior to the Town’s consideration.
  • Mayor Pritchett noted that the Council will go with this recommendation.

XI. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned shortly before 6:00 PM

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