A meeting of the Town Council was held on August 28, 2006. Present were Mayor Wes Foy and Council Members John Boone, Gregg Henline, Phillip Hise and Rocky Buchanan. Staff in attendance included Richard Canipe, Darlene Johnson, Dave Lindsey, Coy Hollifield, Elbert Stamey and Dale Blevins. Other attendees included Kay Goins, Donnie Wisor (Mitchell News-Journal), Steve Murphy (WTOE), Heather McClellan, Daniel Barron and Dave Cooley.

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Foy called the regular meeting to order at 5:30 PM and Phillip Hise gave the invocation.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Rocky Buchanan moved to approve the minutes of the August 14, 2006 regular meeting. Phillip Hise seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – No Comments

APPOINTMENTS
Heather McClellan, on behalf of the Mitchell County Youth Cheerleading Club, requested a solicitation permit date change to September 1 from 90:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the intersection of Hwy. 19E and 226S. Phillip Hise moved to grant the permit. John Boone seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

Daniel Barron, the new interim director of the A-M-Y Regional Library System, introduced himself. He touched on needs of the local library.

PUBLIC HEARING - none

DEPARTMENTS:

PUBLIC WORKS
The crew has found no direct cause for the small sinkholes near the sidewalk in front of Wellborn’s Store.
The new well should be operational within the next two weeks.
The mud flap will be replaced on the dump truck.

PARKS & REC
Dale reported on park revenues.
Pool steps construction will begin this week. The pool will be painted after the steps are complete.
A mobile aquarium will visit Brad Ragan Park on Sept. 19 and 20 for local students.

MAIN STREET
A planning session of the Main Street Board was held on August 22, 2006. Some items of discussion were recent accomplishments, committees, the old bridge abutment, holiday decorations and appearance improvements needed on Oak Avenue from Canipe’s Service Station to Liberty Motorcycles.
Kay Goins suggested scheduling some work days before the October festival. Some events planned for the festival are helicopter rides, a strolling magician, a mechanical bull, etc.
The Main Street Railroad Committee will meet Thursday morning.

WATER/SEWER
Work has begun on valve installation at the water plant.
Dave Cooley and Richard will have a presentation soon concerning sludge belt presses and interim solutions for disposing of sludge.
The drought is beginning to affect levels at the Beaver Creek Dam.

POLICE DEPT.
Chief Coy Hollifield noted that Jon Deese, the new auxiliary officer, is riding with officers.
The Chief is beginning the process of disposition of seized weapons and hopes to trade them to a law supply company for usable weapons for the department.
FINANCE
Dave Lindsey and Tina Buchanan attended a Citipak Users’ Conference last week.
2006 property tax bills are in progress.
Gregg Henline moved to adopt a General Fund Budget Ordinance Amendment to increase appropriations to reflect a Dept. of Crime Control & Public Safety Grant in the amount of $6358.66. John Boone seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Said amendment is incorporated by reference and attached to these minutes.
The consensus of the Council was not to pay off the street sweeper due to low interest on the loan.

ISSUES - none

MANAGER'S UPDATE
Richard Canipe requested that the Council advise him on the priority level of street paving needs.
A letter from Mitchell County Manager Ryan Whitson stated that the contractor will repair damage to Balsam Avenue when the retaining wall repair is complete.
A contract is in place to paint all buildings at Brad Ragan Park.
Legal counsel has advised that Tex Woody’s incidental home occupation of mower repair is in compliance with the zoning ordinance. Only one sign is allowed at Mr. Woody’s home and must be no larger than 2 square feet. Other town-wide signs that violate zoning ordinances will be investigated.
The solar panel is installed on the radar sign. New batteries are needed.
Richard will meet with Martin-McGill tomorrow to continue the process of acquiring the Duncan mobile home park property.
A bid opening for the Beaver Creek Dredging Project is scheduled for 2:00 PM Tuesday, August 29, 2006.
Richard will look into the possibility of assistance from Appalachian State University for the updating of town ordinances.
Richard noted that he wrote a letter to the editor of the Mitchell News-Journal at the request of NCDENR. The letter explained the wastewater discharge permit process.

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