Town Council Regular Meeting Summary - Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Thank you to all who joined us for the Regular Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 5:00 PM in Municipal Hall. You may download a copy of the meeting packet. 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 and welcomed everyone in attendance. Commissioner Bryant led the prayer and everyone said the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
II. Agenda Adoption: The agenda was approved as written.
III. Mayor's Communications: Mayor Pritchett recognized the Police Department for their annual efforts to head up the Lake Lure Classical Academy Raptor Round-up to obtain Christmas presents for families at the school which may not have the resources to provide these gifts. They hold a Christmas Parade at the school and pass out candy canes to all of the children.
IV. Town Manager's Communications: Town Manager Hank Perkins provided the following updates by department.
- Public Services – The Public Service Department is busy keeping everything working as smoothly as possible, from normal maintenance, to any problems the Town has that is in our realm to fix. Efforts are being made to upgrade the SCATA system and fix all of the mechanical issues in the Lift Station to ensure better operation. We will get the equipment ready for trimming tree canopies in town in December.
- Community Development – Director Williams reports another active month for community development. The department issued 33 permits compared to 32 in October and performed numerous follow-ups. This includes 10 zoning permits. Enforcement activity was increased in November, in part due to the department’s increased understanding of its responsibilities as a “local program” for the State in permitting, inspecting and enforcing erosion and sedimentation and land disturbance projects. We have been reviewing applications for our new Administrative Assistant position and beginning to schedule interviews. Cell tower project is moving again with an agreement reached with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to “mitigate” the impact of a tower by collaborating with the Friends of the Flowering Bridge to confirm their willingness to work together on getting the information on their website to “expand and update their website to reflect the comprehensive history of the bridge”, and the consulting firm working for AT&T’s construction company on permitting.
- Fire / Emergency Management – With going into the fall, it was still a busy month in November. The department responded to 36 fire/medical/rescue calls throughout the month. Additionally, members of the department completed a total of 272 hours of training in November.
- Police – While our call volume was normal for a November, the severity of calls exceeded itself. We had many calls for domestics, fights, subjects with weapons, intoxicated subjects and drug charges. The majority of these calls were from visitors to the area. Officers were able to take advantage of continued education as well as all officers have now participated in the yearly Firearms Qualifications, where our own Chief of Police Sean Humphries was awarded Top Gun for the highest score overall. Two officers recently completed their General Instructor’s School. This will allow them to teach others and assist with instruction in training of “rookies”.
- Parks, Recreation & Lake – Director Dean Givens and Parks & Trails Coordinator Dana Bradley continue to provide exemplary oversight of the Parks, Recreation, and Lake Department. Led the various and numerous trail work days at Buffalo Creek, Weed Patch Mountain and Dittmer Watts trails. Total volunteer hours for the month was 104 working in various areas. Givens and Bradley have been working on dredging, deep water launch permit, the Boater License test and much more.
- Finance – Revenues and Expenditures Reports are provided as separate attachments to supplement this summary. The Town continues to have a strong financial position with an unreconciled bank balance of $9,100,000 for all funds other than special revenue (the Dam Fund). There will be a cycle of expenditures and reimbursed revenues that will occur during December and January due to the first phase of the sewer project. Near the halfway point in this fiscal year, revenues are continuing to be received in higher percentages from our local and state funding partners. Expenditures are still being responsibly made by department heads with no major variances on a monthly basis. Applications are being received and reviewed for the approved Accounting Clerk I position. Hopefully the entire process can be completed for the first of the calendar year.
- Communications – Communications Director Krejci continues her community outreach as she has posted 28 news articles that illustrate town-related news, a listing of these articles with hyperlinks was emailed to over 1,840 citizens, along with a link to the Town Calendar of Events. There were 7,792 website users in November. This represents a 14% increase in users (+952) over November of 2021. Social Media: Published 62 Facebook posts for the community with a post reach of 40,497 for the month. The Town of Lake Lure now has over 19,152 followers as of November 2022. She coordinated three town events last month; Lake Lure Walkway Ribbon Cutting, Lake Lure Veterans Day Program; and Lighting Up Lake Lure Program with Lake Lure Classical Academy and the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge
- Manager / Clerk / Admin Summary - November was a busy month including an array of staff, council, and board meetings and everchanging day-to-day operations. We continue to work with Labella Engineering on the new sewer system and planning on directional drilling (HDD) activities in the future. We are planning on the advertising of the HDD to be done again in January of 2023. In addition, we are anticipating the advertisement on the Dam 20’ Valve Installation. The delivery of the valves continues to be on schedule for the month of May, 2023. In the midst of major project, the Town continues to strengthen the relationship with state entities. We conducted a tour of Morse Park with Tim Johnson of Destination By Design with a representative of the Water Resources Office in preparation for an application for funding on the Morse Park phase 1 master plan project. We also worked with Ruby Collins on the passage of the Amendment to the Design Build Contract for the Sewer Casing Boring Contract for Sunset Cove and amended the Capital Project Ordinance for the project as well.
V. Council Liaison Reports and Comments
VI. Presentations
A. Advisory Board Presentations
VII. Public Comment: The public is invited to speak. Please keep comments limited to three minutes or less. Comments may also be submitted in writing to the Town Clerk, ostewman@townoflakelure.com, at least one hour prior to the meeting.
VIII. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of the November 8, 2022 Regular Town Council Meeting Minutes and the November 30, 2022 Special Town Council Work Session Meeting Minutes
B. Adoption of 2023 Town Council Meeting Schedule
Town Council reviewed the proposed 2023 meeting schedule at the November work session. Council will hold regular meetings the second Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. Work sessions will be held the 4th Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m., excluding November and December due to holiday conflicts. The schedule also includes a Town Council planning retreat on January 11th.
C. Adoption of Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Calendar
Town Council reviewed and discussed the FY 2023-2024 Budget Calendar at the November work session. The purpose of the Budget Calendar is to ensure that Town leaders have a clear timeline to follow in order successfully craft and adopt the FY 2023-2024 budget.
D. Adoption of Resolution No. 22-12-13 Water Resources Development Grant
The Town is applying for a North Carolina Division of Water Resources (DWR) Development Grant to assist with funding the completion of Morse Park Master Plan Phase I. Resolution No. 22-12-13 details the Town’s intents and responsibilities in regard to the DWR Development Grant.
E. Approval of Division of Water Resources Development Grant No Conflict of Interest Certification
The No Conflict of Interest form ensures that there are no existing conflicts of interest for any employees, contractors, subcontractors, designees or other entities or individuals involved in the Morse Park Plan Phase I project. This form will be included in the Town’s application submittal for the DWR Development Grant.
F. Adoption of Ordinance No. 22-12-13 Amending the Town of Lake Lure Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30 (“Traffic and Vehicles”), Article III (“Parking Violations: Enforcement”), Section 30-62 (“Parking and use of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations”) and Section 30-63 (“Penalty”)
Ordinance No. 22-12-13 clarifies that parking violations be treated as civil citations. Town Council reviewed the Ordinance, which was drafted by the Town Attorney and Police Chief, at the November work session.
IX. Unfinished Business
A. Belt Press Discussion
X. New Business
A. Hearing: Request to Appeal Denial of Lake Structure Variance Request #202203
B. Duke Energy Easement (Parcel #1649620)
C. Drawdown Preparation Work
i. Jay Freeman
ii. Barge #2
D. Designation of the Legislative Goals Biennium Voting Delegate
XI. Closed Session: In accordance with G.S. 143-318.11(a) (3) for attorney-client privilege or legal claims.
XII. Adjournment
