Minutes

 Spruce Pine Town Council

December 11, 2006 - 5:30 PM

A meeting of the Town Council was held on December 11, 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, Dale Blevins, Michael Briggs, Billy Summerlin and Elbert Stamey.  Other attendees included Nathan Hall (Mitchell News-Journal), David Hughes (SPVFD) and Dave Cooley (American Water Services).

CALL TO ORDER

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Phillip Hise moved to approve the minutes of the November 27, 2006 regular meeting.  John Boone seconded the motion, which carried with four in favor.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – No Comments

PUBLIC HEARING - none

DEPARTMENTS:

PARKS

• Progress Energy will work on the lights at Brad Ragan Park.
• Dale Blevins distributed a list of winter projects at the parks.

POLICE DEPT.

• The new car has been ordered.
• Officers are aware of out-of-the-ordinary activities by unknown visitors to Berry Chapel Church.
• Chief Coy Hollifield expects to lose Officer Ben Young to the NC State Highway Patrol.

PUBLIC WORKS

• Elbert Stamey noted that the sinkhole near Wellborn’s Store on Locust St. is still on the list to address.
• NCDOT is looking into the standing water on Beaver Creek Rd., and hopes to repair a nearby drain.

WATER & SEWER

• The water quality parameter study results were good.
• The pump for the new well is not pumping the expected 425 gpm.  The pump installer and manufacturer will be on site this week to address the problem.

FINANCE

·         The property tax collection rate is at approximately 42%, with taxes due by January 5, 2007.

APPOINTMENTS

Cody McKinney, CPA, the auditor for the Town of Spruce Pine, presented the completed audit report for FY2005/2006.  He noted that the town received an unqualified opinion signifying a clean audit.  He commended Finance Officer Dave Lindsey for an excellent job during his first year.  He noted that the Town of Spruce Pine is in sound financial shape.

ISSUES FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL AND ATTORNEY

• Council requested that letters be sent to the owners of the old Robo Carwash property asking that the property be cleaned up.
• Council requested that thank you letters be sent to Shirley Hise and Patty Jensen of the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce for their efforts with the “Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree” project.

MANAGER'S UPDATE

• Richard Canipe advised the Council that he plans to issue a Manager’s Weekly Update to the Council each Monday.
• The application for the pedestrian planning grant has been filed and an award decision should be made in January.
• A request for bids for the construction of sidewalks on Link St. and Greenwood Rd. will be published this weekend.  Council requested that the winning contractor quote an additional price for Crystal St. sidewalks.
• The Christmas Open House for town employees will be held on Wednesday, December 20^th from 2-4 PM.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned upon motion of Wes Foy.