Minutes

 Spruce Pine Town Council

January 9, 2006 - 5:30 PM

A meeting of the Town Council was held on January 9, 2006.  Present were Mayor Wes Foy and Council Members Gregg Henline, John Boone, Phillip Hise and Rocky Buchanan.  Staff in attendance included Richard Canipe, Tina Buchanan, David Lindsey, Coy Hollifield, James Ramsey, and Dale Blevins.  Other attendees included Robin Beard, David Niven, Michael Hall (Mitchell News-Journal), Dave Cooley, Linc Vance, Kay Goins, Lori McIntyre, Jessie Stewart, Michael McIntyre, Joel Emmett, William Harmon, Doug Emmett, Jon Beard, Cory Gunter, James McIntyre, Zackery McMahan, Jon Johnson, Tiffany Riddle, Chance Shepherd, Roxanna Shepherd, Jason Stewart, Keith Stewart, Bill Johnson (BRP), Matthew Burleson, Tim Hyder, Cody Crowder and Randy Tucker.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Foy called the regular meeting to order at 5:30 PM and Rocky Buchanan gave the invocation.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Phillips Hise moved to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2005 regular meeting.  Rocky Buchanan seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. 

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

No comments were made.

PUBLIC HEARING - none

DEPARTMENTS:

WATER/SEWER

• Dave Cooley reports that all Lead and Copper Public Notices have been distributed which completed the first step of the notification process.  The Corrosive Control Treatment Plan (CCT) is expected to be done by February, which is earlier than required.  The wastewater plant is running well.

PARKS & REC

• Rotary Playground should be complete within next couple of weeks and is looking good.  Pete Jarrett will mulch bank behind old daycare building and town will maintain thereafter.  Old Ford pick up truck has been retired and the ton truck will be used until April.  At that time, a new Parks and Recreation vehicle will be needed.

PUBLIC WORKS

·         Richard Canipe reported for Elbert Stamey who was absent.  Christmas tree pick up will continue thru Friday January 13^th.

POLICE DEPT

·         Things are going well for the department.  Officers are acclimating to new positions very well.

MAIN STREET

• Kay Goins reported that the Blacksmith Festival, “Fire on the Mountain”, is scheduled for April 29, 2006 and things are going strong.  Advertising is ongoing and rack cards are being distributed to all visitor centers in North Carolina.  Main Street board is continuing discussions to change the name of the Hillbilly Heritage Festival and working toward a decision on combining the Story Telling Festival with the Heritage Festival.

FINANCE

·         Property tax collection rates stand at 89.8%, an improvement from last year at this time of 83.5%.

APPOINTMENTS

·         Lori McIntyre spoke in regard to a Continual Care Home she hopes to locate in Mitchell County.  It will be for males only aged 17 and up who have aged out of the foster care system as assistance to self sufficient living.  This would be a non-profit organization with partial state funding.

·         Jessie Stewart requested support from the council in his effort to have a skate park.  Bill Johnson, BRP, pledged support.  Randy Tucker, U-Turn Ministries plans to spearhead the efforts in acquiring 501-C3 status to apply for grants on this project.  Tucker’s organization plans to obtain property, provide insurance and supervision for proposed park. 

ISSUES

No issues at this time.

MANAGER'S UPDATE

• The first annual Collection System Inspection was conducted by Roy Davis and Don Price of DENR and went very well.  The Town was commended as being very ahead of other towns our size.  It was recommended strongly that Public Works purchase a new pressure washer and look into a video camera system for the collection system.   Two people must be certified for the Collection System, Elbert Stamey will be certified and a second will be named at a later date. 
• Updates are needed on the Capital Improvement Plan.
• Phillip Hise moved to adopt the Fats, Oils and Greases Control Ordinance.  The motion was seconded by John Boone and carried unanimously.  Said ordinance is incorporated by reference and attached to these minutes.
• The police car should be here soon after January 25, 2006.
• A public hearing for the annexation of the Byrd property on Creekside Court will be held on January 23, 2006. 
• It was the consensus of the council to assist the SPBA with $2000 for an observation deck at the old bridge abutment over the railroad.
• No action was taken on a request to name the bridge over the Toe River in memory of Jim Jennings.
• Rocky Buchanan motioned to remove Danny Young from the Wachovia signature card and from the Wachovia Platinum Plus for Business credit card and to add David Lindsey.  The motion was seconded by John Boone and carried unanimously.
• Gregg Henline motioned to authorize David Lindsey to sign checks for the Town of Spruce Pine.  Phillip Hise seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned upon motion of Phillip Hise.