Minutes

 Spruce Pine Town Council

October 09, 2006 - 5:30 PM

A meeting of the Town Council was held on October 9, 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, Dale Blevins, Billy Summerlin and James Ramsey.  Other attendees included Nathan Hall (Mitchell News-Journal), Kay Goins 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 September 25, 2006 regular meeting.  Phillip Hise seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – No Comments

APPOINTMENTS - none

PUBLIC HEARING - none

DEPARTMENTS:

MAIN STREET

• The Heritage Festival will be held on Saturday, October 14.  Work will begin at 7:00 AM.  Helicopter rides will be available from Phillip Frye’s parking lot for $20.00.
• Thursday, October 12, will be a clean-up day downtown.

WATER & SEWER

• Dave Cooley is completing a punch-list of required tasks before bringing the new well on-line.
• An operations manual will be developed for the well.

POLICE DEPT.

• Chief Coy Hollifield noted that things are going well.
• Plans are in place for the festival and race on Saturday.
• Staff is soliciting proposals for a new patrol car.

PUBLIC WORKS

• Things are going well.  Staff is gearing up for leaf pickup.
• Elbert will address the crack in the sidewalk where water is going under it.
• Work orders will be created to check the water pressure at David Greene’s meter and to check septic at Seth Buchanan’s.

PARKS & REC

• The pool is filled, treated, and will be covered tomorrow.  Railing for the new steps will be installed in the spring.
• Parks will be winterized on November 10.
• Staff will blow fall debris off the walking path and check the path when cleaning the restrooms nightly.
• A leash-law sign will be placed in view of the walking bridge.

FINANCE

·         The audit report is expected this week.

·         Dave Lindsey distributed a budget vs. actual report for the first quarter of FY 2006.  For the general fund, revenues total 24%, expenditures total 25%.  For the water/sewer fund, revenues total 27%, expenditures total 14%.

ISSUES

• The walking bridge needs painted.  One spotlight is out.
• Speed bumps will be installed on Shannon Drive.
• A gutter drain is needed for the older mausoleum.

MANAGER'S UPDATE

• John Boone moved to support Avery County’s pursuit of a feasibility study regarding the extension of water to the Avery County Airport at no expense to the Town of Spruce Pine.  Gregg Henline seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
• Dr. Womble, Mitchell County Superintendent of Schools, may pursue avenues of funding for extension of water to the High School.
• Phillip Hise moved to sell water to Wade Hughes at Ridgecrest Drive at outside rates with no annexation.  John Boone seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
• The consensus of the Council was for Richard Canipe to apply for a grant for sidewalk planning and development along Oak Avenue from Highland Crafts to Liberty Motorcycles.  The $20,000 grant requires a 20% match.
• Sidewalks along Altapass Rd. are still planned.
• No estimates have been received for the repaving of the Crystal St. sidewalk.  Plans are complete for the Link St. sidewalk and the project should be up for bids soon.
• The Landmark Property grant agreement has been signed and returned to NC Emergency Management.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned upon motion of Gregg Henline.