Regular Town Council Meeting Summary - Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Thank you to all who joined us for the Regular Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, June 14, 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.  The minutes from this meeting will be included in the following month's meeting packet. 

I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Carol Pritchett called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. Commissioner Patrick Bryant led the invocation. Council members led the pledge of allegiance.     

II. APPROVE THE AGENDA: The following items were added to the agenda.

  • Under item 8 G - Add salary and grade to incorporate into the packet. 
  • Under item 9, New Business - add item G on the Communication Tower Discussion and Project Manager Discussion.

III.  MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Pritchett presented the following resolution honoring and thanking Sam Karr for his dedicated service. Mayor Pritchett announced Sam Karr will be retiring on January 24, 2023. Mayor noted that in the past 30 years, Mr. Karr has been a huge asset to the Town. Mr. Karr noted he has felt blessed to live and work here for the past 30 years. He stated that he appreciated his past and current co-workers and said that he would continue to volunteer and be a part of the Lake Lure community.

A. Resolution # 22-06-14 Honoring the dedicated service of Finance Director Sam Karr

WHEREAS, Finance Director Sam Karr will have completed 30 years exemplary service for the Town of Lake Lure from June 1992 to June 2022;

WHEREAS, Director Sam Karr has improved and maintained critical financial operations within Lake Lure to fiscally preserve the Town for future generations;

WHEREAS, Director Sam Karr demonstrated exemplary leadership and has displayed the highest degree of professionalism and integrity;\

WHEREAS, Director Sam Karr has worked closely with, fully supported, and maintained the trust of Town Council; and

WHEREAS, Director Karr has faithfully served the Lake Lure community; now

HEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that on behalf of the Lake Lure Town Council and the citizens of the Town of Lake Lure, the Lake Lure Town Council expresses deep and sincere appreciation for Finance  Director Sam Karr’s dedicated service to the Town of Lake Lure and wishes him the best in his retirement.

B.  Resolution# 22-06-14a Recognizing Region C Awardee Corporal Aaron Collins for his brave and exceptional performance in apprehending burglars who were stealing gas from the Ingles Gas Station in the middle of the night. Mayor Pritchett read the resolution and thanked Aaron Collins.

WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron Collins single handedly arrested two individuals who had been stealing copious amounts of diesel fuel from various locations including the Lake Lure Ingles;

WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron Collins has shown exemplary conduct and has executed a diligent and thorough investigation of the case;

WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron Collins has worked alongside the representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, numerous city police departments and sheriffs’ departments in his dedicated 
efforts to the investigation;

WHEREAS, The efforts of Corporal Aaron Collins has resulted in numerous felony charges against the two detained individuals and may become a federal case; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron Collins has displayed thoroughness in his work, passion for his career, and dedication to protecting the Town of Lake Lure;

WHEREAS, Police Chief Season Humphries nominated Corporal Aaron Collins for the Region C Award and Corporal Collins’ nomination was selected; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that on behalf of the Lake Lure Town Council and the citizens of the Town of Lake Lure, the Lake Lure Town Council expresses deep and sincere appreciation for Corporal Aaron Collins’ dedicated service to the Town of Lake Lure and wishes to congratulate him on being awarded the Region C Award for his arrest made and involvement in the investigation of a multi-state felony diesel fuel theft case.

IV. TOWN MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS: New Town Manager Hank Perkins provided the following updates.

  • The Lake Lure Dam automation continues to make progress under Public Service Director Dean Lindsey's leadership.
  • The Town held an Emergency Management Tabletop Exercise on June 3, 2022.  He noted that this was a good experience with a positive outcome.
  • The Lake Lure Police Department added reserve officer Peter Wan to the force.
  • The office renovations at the new Parks, Recreation, and Lake Department look great.
  • He also noted that the Town's Facebook Page exceeded 18,000 viewers in May.

V.  PUBLIC HEARING

A.  ORDINANCE NO. 22-06-14 ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF LAKE LURE

Mr. Perkins reviewed the budget message and noted the ordinance is balanced and will begin July 1, 2022. He reviewed the budgeting process and announced that the proposed budget was balanced. The tax rate is 53 cents per $100 dollar valuation with no changes to water and sewer rates. 

  • The budget is balanced as follows:
  • The General Fund is balanced at $9,928,110
  • The Water and Sewer Fund is balanced at $1,650,360
  • The Electric Fund is balanced at $400,325
  • Total expenditures are $11,978,620. , and total.
  • For the Lake Lure taxpayer, about 47 percent of property tax bill supports Lake Lure and 53 percent supports the Rutherford County, which Town does not control.
  • The tax rate of 53 cent falls in line with similar demographics in comparison with other resort communities.
  • lake Lure tax rates breaks down as follows with 23 cents for municipal service, 11 for fire protection, and 19 for dam capital reserve funds which should generate $4,536,437 in tax revenue.
  • on real, personal, and utility properties assume collection rate and noted property values.
  • There are no proposed increases in fees if a new fee schedule should be approved tonight.
  • Dredging has included $1 million for dredging as part of a 10-year commitment.
  • Town will continue to pursue a new sewer system installation, dam replacement, and valve installation at the dam.

Mayor Pritchett invited members to speak.          

VI.       COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS & COMMENTS

  • Commissioner Scott Doster announced that the Utilities Advisory Board will be dissolved. He thanked the Board members for all they had done to support the town over the years. 
  • Commissioner Scott Doster reported the activities of the Zoning and Planning Board was discussing the Master Plan which needs to be updated every 5 years.
  • Commissioner David DiOrio reported the activities of the Lake Advisory Board Working to build a protocol on how to do lake structure inspections with the Board of Adjustments and Lake Structures Appeals Board. Also working to provide guidance to Town Council on updated Lake Use Guidelines.
  • Commissioner David DiOrio reported the activities of the Board of Adjustment and the Lake Structure Appeals Board are working in coordination with the LAB on lake structure inspection guidelines.  
  • Commissioner Jim Proctor reported the activities of the ABC Board. the Board did not meet but sales continue to improve.
  • Commissioner Patrick Bryant reported the activities of the Parks and Recreation Board. Looking at the possibility of the stream remediation plan/propposal.
  • Mayor Pritchett reported that the Steering Committee did not meet.

VII.     PUBLIC COMMENT: Mayor Pritchett invited the audience to speak but there were no comments from the public.

VIII.    CONSENT AGENDA

  1. May 1, 2022 Regular Town Council Meeting Minutes, May 25, 2022 Town Council Work Session Minutes, and June 6, 2022 Special Town Council Meeting Minutes: Approved
  2. Budget Amendment #333 – To move 2 FY 2022-23 Capital Budget Requests into the Year’s Budget. E-Bikes (Fire $14k) and Docks ($86k): Approved
  3. Budget Amendment #334 – To Replace Town Boat Motors in Parks, Recreation, and Lake Budget: Approved
  4. Budget Amendment #335 – One Time Moving Relocation Expense for New Town Manager: Approved
  5. Budget Amendment #336 – TO Recognize Buffalo Creek Parking Lot in the Budget: Approved
  6. 2022-2023 Fee Schedule: Approved
  7. Salary Grade Schedule (revised in packet): Approved                                                                                                                                                                             

IX.       NEW BUSINESS

A. Resolution No. 22-06-14b Appointing Stephen Ford As Finance Officer: Approved        

B. Valve Procurement Selection: Approved the recommendation from Schnabel Engineering to award the knife gate valve to DeZURIK, and rebid the jet flow gate.

C. Option Agreement With Equinox Environmental: At the May Town Council workshop, Mr. Danvey Walsh with Equinox Environmental conducted a presentation in regard to stream restoration and the possibility of restoring the stream located at the Lake Lure Green Space property. Benefits of restoring the stream include environmental sustainability, reduced debris and sediment (in the stream and in the lake), and more. A deed of conservation easement would be required. The Town would receive money for the project. Attorney William Morgan has received the option agreement and easement templates. Mr. Walsh provided a proposed option agreement to the Town. Approved proceeding with the project and signing the option agreement.

D. Ordinance No. 22-06-14a Amending the Town of Lake Lure Code of Ordinances to Decriminalize Certain Ordinances and Otherwise to Bring Said Code into Compliance with Senate Bill 300 (S.L. 2021-138) Regarding the use of Misdemeanor Charges to Enforce Code Violations: Approved Ordinance No. 22-06-14A Amending the Town of Lake Lure Code of Ordinances to Decriminalize Certain Ordinances and Otherwise to Bring Said Code into Compliance with Senate Bill 300 (S.L. 2021-138) Regarding The Use of Misdemeanor Charges to Enforce Code Violations.

E.  Board Of Adjustment / Lake Structure Appeals Board Member Appointment: Rick Spruill was appointed as a Board of Adjustment alternate member.  

F.   Drawdown Schedule: Town Manager Perkins explained that there is a lot of work moving forward with the sewer system replacement including the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and Gravity Lift System. It was recommended that the town delay the decision due to the many variables taking place, one of which is permitting from the State. It was noted that Ruby Collins will be conducting a field study to better advise the Town on what can be accomplished during the next drawdown. Town Council plans to finalize these plans in the next two weeks at a working session meeting on June 22 at 8:30 a.m.

G.  Communications Tower Discussion:  Community Development Director Mike Williams presented an overview of the various approvals and reviews that have been conducted to approve the new communications tower.  The tower has been stalled due to a review by the NC Historical Commission.  He said that he was pleased to announce that the process seems to be moving forward now.  He estimated that the new communications tower might be in place after the first of the new year. 

H.  Project Manager Description:   Town Manager Perkins explained that the town had already incorporated the position into the budget, but a position description was needed. Perkins drafted a job description and Town Council approved the search based on this description. 

XI.       CLOSED SESSION: Town Council held a closed session in accordance with G.S. 143-318.11(a) (3) for the purpose of discussing attorney-client privilege or legal claims.  

X.        ADJOURNMENT: With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:07 p.m. 

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