Town Council - Regular Meeting

Is that good? Good evening. I would like to welcome everyone to our March town council meeting. Thanks for everyone joining us in council chambers as well as those watching on our YouTube channel this evening. We will move right into our agenda and first up is our agenda adoption. Is there a motion on the floor to approve the agenda as presented this evening? So move second. I'll second. All in favor? Thank you. The motion is carried. At this time we will have Councilman Thean lead us in our invocation this evening.

Thank you, mayor. Let's pray. Father, we thank you uh for a rainy day today. Lord, we're just so thankful that we didn't have too much damage from storms. And God, just ask you to be with those who may have suffered some uh some damage with all this wind. God, just ask you to be with our meeting tonight. Guys, we always pray just Lord, we just ask that you bless us with your presence and um keep us all civil and respectful in our debates and we'll give you glory for it in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. Thank you. Would everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We do not have any special presentations this evening, so we will move into the public comment portion of our agenda. Anyone wishing to address town council may do so. Um we do have several folks that signed up to speak, so please be courteous. Make sure you state your name and address for the record. Each um speaker will have three minutes and we will move right into I believe it's uh Jim Fairchild is first on the list.

Hi. Yes, I'm Jim Fairchild. I was here a few months ago. Um, and I've been in Harrisburg for 33 years and just recently moved from Pratford Park to Robinson Courtyards on Robinson. So, what I wanted to talk about today was uh that and we just moved to that neighborhood and they've got one of the me reasons that we moved to that neighborhood was because of the connectivity that it was going to have with all of the different trails and and pavements that um Harrisburg has their developments do. So it was a big uh factor for us and we're we've been thrilled especially since uh you all produced got the uh connector uh at Berg Church with that with that you can get you can walk on Fuda Creek come around Fuda Creek go up or around the other way and it's a um through the um Back Creek uh trail and it's it's really a nice hike. So thank you for that. Um, I can't wait for the other connection con connections to be um developed and created like the Farmington one in particular because that would get get us over to our old installment grounds. Um, and the uh and then there's another connector that Robinson uh Courtyards is going to be creating and they've done the bulldozing on it. Uh but they haven't gotten they they're not going to be able to get people working on the paving and stuff on that until they get the connectors not the connector the the second entrance done if you're aware of that. So uh if there's anything that we can do to speed that up I'm all for that because I want to get the trail done. Um yeah the uh let's see that's okay. Yeah. The another

thing I wanted to bring bring up was I was thrilled also when I saw uh earlier that uh you're going to be putting a kayak launch in um at Farm Mill. I tried to go out there and find where that might be. I I walked on the Farmill trail there, but I didn't see that. So, but wherever that is, whenever it's going to be there, um that would be a great thing because I'm also an avid kayaker. um when I looked at your publication of the results of the survey, that was a good thing as well. So, I'm I'm really quite pleased with what you guys are doing. Um that the placement of the um the connections, the connected Harrisburg and and uh can we do more trails that uh pavements and stuff that was like top three or something in there. So that was also a good thing. So [clears throat] really what I wanted to do was say a couple of things that uh are specific to my living in Harrisburg, but also to thank you for uh driving toward the connected Harrisburg.

I think that's a great um a great goal and and one that can really help. So that's all I had to say. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Fairchild. Rosa Sims.

Good afternoon. Uh, Rosa Culver Sims, 9445 Leighton Drive, Harrisburg, North Carolina. So, here we are again. If any of you have seen the movie um, Groundhog's Day, where they keep going over the same thing over and over again, that's how I feel that we're in a loop. we keep revisiting the same issues. I understand that uh there has been some concern about how Dr. Bank's name is appearing on the website and here on the dis she has was elected and voted on uh or she was voted on as mayor pro Tim in January.

No, she was not. She was not. No, she was not. She was voted on as a council woman. She was appointed Mayor Pro Tim by the council. Okay. So, she was appointed Yes. unanimously. Yes. Mayor Proim in January. Yes.

Right. In previous years, Mayor Proim has always been identified on the website with a name tag as Mayor Pro Tim. For some reason, that's not the case this time. I don't understand. I don't know why we're spending energy and or time not doing something as simple as that when it's already been voted on. She's mere prom. She should be identified as mayor pro Tim. Yes, she's a member of the council. she and that's the governing body, but as me mayor pro Tim and something that you all voted on that should be noted on the website and on her name plet. Now, I don't want to be in this groundhog loop the rest of this year. So, I sincerely hope that we can correct that by the next time we have a council meeting. But if not, I will be here saying, y'all, we still stuck at Groundhog and we need to get this right. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Dems. Karen Powell. Hi, Karen Powell. 5641 Berry Ridge Drive. I too was here a couple months ago and I'm just here to say thank you. I want to call out Mr. Ryan McDaniels, Mr. Tom Leser. Um, even Miss Glover approached me to help me out. Um, I we had some horrible noise coming through our neighborhood over there in Orchard Park. And they came like Mr. Lester was at my house within two days. And I don't know what they did. I don't know what magic they did. I stayed out of it and they fixed it. It's over and it's been fantastic. Back to hearing the birds chirping. So, I just want to say thank you. Thanks for the responsiveness. Appreciate it.

Thank you. you. Glad they were able to resolve that so quickly for you. I think we were all quite intrigued to see where that noise was coming from. Mr. Nagabanti. [clears throat] Hello. Good evening. Uh this is the first time I'm uh speaking here uh Hong Kong

council and I just I'm just here to thank you all like uh for all your service what you do like uh most of the time it goes unnoticed so I took some time uh and came here to thank you for all your service like long hours long meeting tough decisions and um and all in all like your care for the people of uh Harrisburg and your genuine concerns and inputs and valuable time that you put uh to make this place uh a better place to live. So I sincerely uh on behalf of my community as well as uh my friends and family, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you so much for coming and sharing that with us tonight. Justin Lutter. [clears throat]

Good evening. Justin Lutter. I'm a resident of Canapapolis. However, I'm here in my duties as the chair of the Black Political Caucus of Cabaris County. And we just want to express our concerns regarding the same premise that Miss Sims raised about how this process was handled. Um, making Dr. Banks the mayor prom. We're glad that the policy and the tradition has been carried out, but we would like to see that also imaged on our website. And we would also like an explanation as to why it was thought necessary to question that policy that has been in practice for several years, if not longer. Uh, also, we just want to make a statement that the Black Political Caucus endorsed Dr. Banks. Uh so her success, her ability to serve holds both our expectations and our aspirations. So we're going to pay very close attention going forward to how uh she delegates and does her job, but also how she is treated on this uh council. We expect that she be treated like every other council person with respect uh that she be afforded the responsibilities, duties, respect and privileges of the mayor prom going forward. and we look forward to hearing the great news and accomplishments that she will perform for us as both uh an organization and more broadly as voters and community members. So, we are excited that uh this issue we're assuming right now is put to rest. Uh if it is not, we will be back and we'll come with more people and we'll continue to come and make it difficult for uh operations to maintain without due process and things going forward. So we wish you all well for a great new year. Uh we personally want to thank uh Mayor Pro Tim. Uh we look forward to seeing you work. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Leader. I'll go ahead and address this as well. Um this was actually all put to rest back in January when we went through this process. I have actually spoken with um Dr. Banks and also sent a follow-up email. I think we agreed to disagree on that process, but everybody up here has equal power and authority. That's how we should be presenting oursel in the community as a collaborative effort. Um, you know, leadership doesn't come with a title. This is a situational and functional appointment. This is not something that someone was elected to. It is not something that you are stepping into unless I am out. That is the only duty of mayor prom is in my absence at one of these meetings running the meeting. That is it. That's what we discussed in January. That's what I have discussed with Dr. Banks. It does not affect the community at all. It does not affect her role in standing sitting up here on this dis. They are all treated with equal respect and equal responsibility. Next up, we have Miss Dr. Reverend Jordan, Mr. Roland Jordan, Miss May, male pro team, manager of town of Hazburg. I greet you again in the name of Jesus. I'm not worthy to do God work, but I'm worthy to do the best I can. But anyway, um I think it's been about 10 years now. I'm still trying to give a street name a boulevard plaza. And I know y'all y'all can do it. Y'all got a good town here. Don't have too much violent here, and that's a blessing. And the good thing about it, you got two blacks on the board. Praise God. I know Dr. King was very proud of that. That's what he died for. Civil rights, human rights, unity. People come together, make a difference regardless of the color. Praise God. I know sometimes

do run in the way sometime run away with me, but I have to pray about it. Same way y'all have to do. Praise God. But actually, you treat our people fairly. That's all we ask. Praise God. And that's a blessing when we come up with the most voters traditionally. [snorts] That mean the people respect Miss Banks and others on the board when they have more votes. Praise God. So I know y'all can work that out cuz it take the power of Jesus cuz for me to love my enemies take a lot of prayers. Praise God. It's not easy to do but it can be done. God bless. Thank you Reverend Jordan.

That concludes the public comment section. So we will move into consent agenda. Is there a motion on the floor to approve consent agenda as presented? I heard motion. Who? Mike. Second. Second. Oh, double second. All in favor? Motion is carried. Thank you so much. Communications reports. We'll start with Rob.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, mayor, as you know, I'm a little bit under the weather this evening. Um, and I do have a presentation at the right [clears throat] at the um at the end. So, I'm going to push, you know, most of my stuff off to Ben and I relate some of the events and things that are going on. But I also didn't want to blow past the opportunity to um take any questions if you guys had any. I'm I'm happy to answer anything that council has of me this evening. If not, I'll turn it back to you, Mayor.

Great. Thank you so much. Next up, we have Brian Lee with our finance report. Good evening, mayor and council. Have your finance report as of the end of February, which is 2/ird of the way through this fiscal year. So, you can see tax collections have reached 98% as of the end of the month. So, we're essentially done collecting our real property taxes. Have a couple more months of motor vehicles. Uh but again, this year we should end up at about 101 102% of our estimated revenues on property taxes. The general fund overall is at 88% much in line with where we stood at this point last year. So no concerns there. The water and sewer fund continues to outpace by about 1% per month and so that has reached 73%. So a really good result there. We do have a couple hundred,000 in asset sales uh this year that's contributing to that. uh but still the operations of the fund are trending a little bit ahead of schedule and the storm water fund is essentially right on target at 66% uh through the fiscal year. Departmental expenditures over operations are shown at the bottom half of the screen and you can see that all the departments are ranging there from 60 to 65% so no concerns across those departments and the same as we look down across the remaining general fund departments uh the water and sewer fund is at 58% and storm water at 55. So actually our focus now in the next couple of months before we round out the fiscal year is looking at what projects, initiatives, what things do we actually need to make sure we get off the ground and get under contract and get finished up for the fiscal year. Whereas a lot of municipalities are looking at where can we cut off spending right now and pull back uh on things. So it's good that we get to focus in the other direction. And lastly on this slide here, salaries at the bottom are at 62% uh where we sit 67% of the way through the year. Moving over to our single-year project dashboard here, the first to draw your

attention to is the branded gateway sign on Rocky River Road that shows about 40% completion and that represents the fabrication taking place. Uh so no construction out there yet, but by the end of this month we should have that sign out on site getting installed and then we'll have lighting and landscaping to finish off as well. Then the next one here to show is the artificial turf project at Harrisburg Park. You can see the picture of the field laid out there. This was about a week and a half ago or so when they were getting some of the um top dressing on the field there and working on the logos and some of the finer details. So, they'll continue that work and a lot of the site restoration over the next several weeks and then this field will be ready for ribbon cutting uh before we know it. [clears throat] Here's a look at our multi-year projects in design. So, we had a little movement on a couple of projects, but these two in particular had some public engagement meetings that took place at the beginning of February and the beginning of March. So, now that these two have checked that off, uh they'll incorporate that feedback into the design plan and continue on with design and engineering for these. And now moving over to our projects in construction. We had a couple with uh movement here. And the first is the traffic mitigation project for Cambridge Drive. The uh covert and concrete work have been completed and then they've graded in that road that you can see there. So we'll have the road connection and the pedestrian connection between Davis Creek and Town Center. Um then they'll restore this site and we'll see what is remaining in this project as we approach the greenway connection. That is the last part of this project. And then also the restroom facility at Hulcom Woods. That contract is on the agenda tonight. So Jim will discuss that later on this evening, but um happy to see that one getting off the ground. That one, if approved tonight, should be a pretty quick hitting construction project. And so we hope to have that one finished up uh by the summer. Here's a look at our equipment projects.

We had a couple move here, but no real milestones to report on. And here are vehicle projects. You see the top um grouping of deputy vehicles there shown at 60% completion. So we have a couple of those placed into service. Uh but about I think one or two vehicles left on that grouping. Um we had a couple other vehicles that are close at the 95 to 99% mark about to be placed in service for the water and sewer department. Uh but notably this month we had two deputy vehicles placed into service that you see pictured here. So that finished off two groupings of vehicles on this schedule. Um, and it's nice to close out a couple of these vehicle projects for the deputies. Uh, these here are not striped because one belongs to an investigator and one belongs to uh a supervisor. And so these are what these vehicles look like placed into service. Lastly, here's a view of the professional services projects that we have going on right now. We have added the fiscical year 2026 financial audit. That contract was on the consent agenda tonight to get that audit started back up. And then we've got the comprehensive strategic plan that is slightly over 50% complete. And the second open house for that project was held in February at the YMCA and we had about 50 um people show up as well as staff and many members of council and the consultant. So we had a really good turnout there. Um in the coming weeks the consultant will schedule a technical committee meeting with town staff and then also a third steering committee meeting. So a couple more things to come on that project as it moves through the summer. And then lastly, our budget calendar. We're heading into workshop two on Saturday the 21st. That's this upcoming Saturday, where all departments will present to council about their department and what they have planned for the upcoming year. And with that, I welcome any questions you may have.

Just have one question. Um, fuel prices. Yes. And our deal with the county sheriff, are we paying the gas bill or We do pay the fuel. They use our our pumps at public works. Okay. And is there any point where that would hit materiality for us? Five bucks, six bucks, seven bucks a gallon. And would we ever curtail services or we just suck it up and keep [clears throat] going? Um, that is a great question that we have never really had to contemplate. We would suck it up too much. We wouldn't curtail services. I mean, I just don't, you know, if I don't even know if our fuel bills $100,000 and it goes up 20%, you know, that's

Yeah. I mean, we we we try to budget it pretty appropriately, but even if it went up 100%. If gas went to $7, we would still provide fire, EMS, everything. We've got that that's less than contingency. So, um there's no scenario where short of fuel um rationing by the federal government, but we're I've not heard anything like that. So, um cost wouldn't be prohibitive at all. And we we also buy in in wholesale and have it delivered. And so we're not paying anything close to what you see at the pump. We're, you know, 70 cents to a dollar cheaper than that. So that helps. I'll be over to fill up. [laughter]

No, thank you. Any other questions for Brian? Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Next up, we have Captain Nash with our law enforcement update this evening. Good evening, Mayor Council. We'll jump into our February numbers. For our law enforcement related activities, we had 3,791. And as I was looking through these slides, I noticed something that stood out to me. If you look back to June and July, our numbers were significantly lower and then it's constantly been an increase. So, we've had the upward trend. So, I was thinking, you know, what caused that increase? That is when we put our two new sergeants into place. So originally we just had two sergeants that were trying to split their time between four shifts. So there was a lot of times their work supervisors there. So now we have a sergeant on every shift working with their people. And the two sergeants we have in place are when they were on regular patrol, they were traffic guys. They have to stay active. So they're they've been great mentors to their people and holding them accountable. So that's I truly think not just me as my retired. I truly think the sergeants are why the numbers have gone up, just the accountability and having the supervisors on shift 247. For security checks, we did have a dip in February of 1,700, but you can still see the overall trend upwards since June and July of last year. Traffic stops, we had 1,034, which were pretty close to average there. And then our non-emergency response time, those are numbers that we don't want to see go up. Our ones for February was 7 minutes and 32 seconds. I like for them to stay around 7 minutes. So I did look into why our numbers were higher this month. One one example I can give, we had a deputy that was dispatched a call and he was busy. So another deputy picked that call up from him and the first deputy was never taken off that call. So they've showed in route for an hour and a half. All that goes towards

our time. And then another one we had a wreck in Harrisburg. Our deputy had to do a follow-up on the other side of Charlotte. All those count towards our response times. So once I pulled all those outliers out and looked at them and that, you know, saw they were legitimate, just kind of out of the ordinary, our response time was right at 7 minutes. So rest assured, our normal response time for normal calls is still around 7 minutes. Would the snow have had anything to do with that, too?

It could. It could have. I mean the calls I mean traffic stops and everything would have been lower but response time getting somewhere could have had something to do with that but those two two particular calls were just something kind of out of the ordinary that drove the times up and last month you asked for year-over-year crime data so I'm going to provide you some of that you can see our numbers for 2023 24 25 and then year to date 26 crimes against property are usually a law enforcement agency's highest numbers. That's lararsenes, breakings, breaking and entering property damage. And I'll give you example of some of the lararsenies we had last month. One was a tag off a car, one was a shovel. So big crime. We also had some laundry detergent taken from CVS and some building supplies taken for a construction site. So within these disciplines, we look to see, you know, is there a trend? Are we having multiple is our new development going in and we're having building materials stolen? So that might be when we need to look at having our crime reduction unit work some night shifts, putting up cameras, doing more security checks, but for the most part they're kind of sporadic, but we do address them how we can. And the next slide is the exact same numbers as the previous slide, but it has our 2026 projected data based on the numbers we have so far and then trends that we've had in the past year. So, we look to be on track to be pretty much equal to where we were last year. And then this is the crimes by discipline again broken down a little bit more um year to date 2026. I will address address the kidnapping because everybody I think we all have visions dramatic visions of the kidnapping. You're in a dark alley and somebody grabs you and throws you in the trunk of a car. Most kidnap most kidnappings do not happen that way. This one happened to be two people that knew each other that were in a car riding

around and the passenger started saying, "Take me home. Take me home." And the driver just kept driving. They're still being held against the wheel, but it's nothing as traumatic as what we all visualize. So, I did want to give you a little bit of background on that. Um crimes against property again are our highest numbers of breaking in or lararsenies. We had we've had 28 year to date. White collar crime, fraud being the big one. The banks call get fraudulent checks or people fall for scams over the phone. Our vice crime that is one discipline that is really pushed by how active our vice narcotics group is. If this showed zero drug offenses, that would just simply mean that we're not being active and not arresting people. So, we have a great group of people at the sheriff's office that they're out doing the drug deals, looking for the big time drug dealers, and their um arrests have gone up. So, they're doing a great job. and then crimes against society which includes DWIs and then our non non-reportable and I'll take any questions you have

on your previous or your it was like four slides back on stops September had a high 1500 um it's about 500 more than all the other months what was going on that month was that a we had that's when our newest DRA traffic guy came on and I think [clears throat] honestly [laughter] I think they were just all excited and out there really working. Um,

we didn't and we also have the county comes and they do special initiatives. The county traffic out is out here several times a week in addition to our traffic units. It could have been they were doing extra during that time. I can find out for sure and let you know, but all that co coincides together. That's what I was wondering if if it captures when the county participates with the other municipalities to

the county is out here every week because they are a county traffic unit. They look at the highest traffic accident areas, which we do have several of those in Harrisburg. So, they don't just stay in the county. They come, they're out here at least twice a week doing their initiives in addition to our traffic officers and deputies. So, they they share the love with Harrisburg. Any credence to the ATM theft? Uh, I saw rumblings. I guess it was like a week and a half ago um about a van was pulled over and uh had an I don't think that van that was pulled over they were involved. Okay.

Um but they are still looking for who was in the truck and our detective has been working on that and has some leads. Basically we think it was someone that stole a truck and then went and tried to pull the the A team off and they did succeed in pulling it off but they didn't get any money or and they left the truck behind. So, we've started backtracking to see who had the truck and he did report it stolen and trying to trace it that way. Where was the ATM at? Chase [clears throat] Bank. Chase. Oh, okay. Thank you. Any other questions for Captain Nash? Thank you. Thank you. Next up, we have our fire department update with Chief Dunn.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

So, the fire department report for the month of February. We start off with our fire marshall activities. Uh you can see at some site visits, consultation, preseals, some special event planning. As far as fire prevention events, uh we did hold our quarterly stop the bleed class where eight people in our community did attend. And I'm sure you saw in our social media where we were part of the Duke University's race car uh teaching CPR to as many people as we can. We uh partnered with the YMCA on a particular day. We did train 119 people out of the 809 that were trained in Cabaris County. So, a pretty good uh activity there. To the right on the graph, normal graph, you see where most of his inspections are general site, strip malls, things of that nature. Uh he did complete 27 inspections in the month of February. 20 of those were first and then seven reinspections. And then the graph to the right shows some of the violations that he does find uh in our community. As far as operational, we did respond to 244 incidents in the month of February. And again, we're we're uh reporting in the 90th percentile. If you remember last month, we were about at 7 minutes and 40 seconds. So you see that that did improve uh greatly to seven minutes and 13 seconds. Uh we did have eight fires in the month of February. Uh and to the right top graph you can see what those were. A couple of them were construction waste fires, vehicle fires, large vegetation fires, and we did have two two fires that involved structural involvement or other other ways to put that a house. To the bottom left, you can see the property and contents that were saved. That's the value of all those properties

together. And then the loss that we did have of those as well. And the major majority of that was on the fire that was in Abington. And then that that's what we short and sweet. Any questions for Chief Dunn. Thank you, sir. All right. Thank you'all.

Just a couple mayor comments. um the Cabaris Visitors Bureau. We are in the process of working through a destination strategic plan for the county. This is really an important step to make sure that we're maximizing our visitor dollars and supporting our local chains and businesses. So, I will keep you updated as we continue to work on that. Um several of council and staff attended the chambers legislative breakfast a couple weeks ago. That was a great opportunity to hear from our state legislation as well as well as hear from several candidates that were running for office in the county. Um, we did have our Highway 49 improvement plan. I think Brian had some great slides and pictures of that in his presentation. We had a great crowd of business owners and residents of that area that came um gave us some great suggestions. So, we are continuing to have those public engagement meetings for the entire Highway 49 process. And thank to everyone that was engaged with that. And then lastly, there is Pancake Day benefiting the Boys and Girls Club. That is happening this Thursday. That is an all day event. Um, if you have not been to that before, I highly encourage you to go. It's pretty spectacular and such a signature event that our county has to support the Boys and Girls Club. It is held at their location in Concord. I believe it's 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. That sounds about right. Um, it's great food. You'll get to see lots of people there. So, um, mark your calendars and come on out on Thursday. And with that, we'll move into council comments. I have council I have a a couple comments. All right. So, thank you, Mayor uh council. Um I do have a couple comments and I'm going to speak to what uh was mentioned earlier. It is all and I'm going to read a prepared uh prepared comments just so that I don't miss anything. Um, so it's always been my goal to be transparent and to follow the rules and to be collaborative and I want to address the concerns that have come

up to me regarding titles, more specifically the mayor prom title not being reflected on the dis or the website. I have since asked these direct questions as Mayor Teague alluded to um to her and to our town manager Rob Donham about why the plate or the website has not been updated to reflect the vote that was held in January, the appointment that was held in January that was unanimous. I was told by Mayor T that she did not want an appearance of a hierarchy. Well, I agree with the hierarchy piece of that conversation and I told her that and that we are an equal board. But whether we agree or disagree, this singular decision by Mayor Teague is not in alignment with the North Carolina General Statutes, the Harrisburg Charter, or the suggested rules of procedure for Harrisburg Town Council Part 4, letter C. As a matter of fact, I just recently completed my newly elected official training with the North Carolina School of Government a few weeks ago. That was very, very informative. And I had the opportunity to learn more about governance and procedures and to speak to my colleagues across the state. And I learned that having a title on both the website and the das is a pretty common practice in Cabaris County across the state and this country. Three statutes stood out to me more specifically. The first is the North Carolina General general statute NCG S6160A-70 and it says as been has been mentioned that the mayor promp step in in the absence of the mayor um and is otherwise a council member with voting rights. The second statute that stood out to me was NCGS160-69 and it says that the mayor's position is ceremonial and is one that officiates the meeting and has no voting rights

only in the event to vote to break a tie. And lastly, the the statute that stood out to me was NCGS 168-67. And it says any decision that is made by this council needs to be collectively made by this voting body. All of this me all of these statutes that I'm talking about that I've mentioned here are in the charter. Uh the Harrisburg charter specifically are article 3 section 3.2 two and has is also in the suggested rules of procedure of Harrisburg Town Council Part 4. Letter C. No singular person andor an individual on this voting council gets to make a decision by themselves. We act as one collective body. So despite this change in standard procedure, and yes, I was appointed council member, I'm sorry, I was voted on by the people of Harrisburg to be a council person. and I thank you for that. But I was also appointed by this council to be mayor prom, which I plan to do fully. I am here to support the mayor, mayor T, and when and if needed, if she needs me, um to to do these meetings and to stand and before the committee, uh the community at any time that's needed. That's what I'm here for. That's what I that's why I decided to serve and to run to serve this community and to do it well. because my philosophy is if you can't do anything with excellence, we don't do it at all. Lastly, I'm also here to work collaboratively with this council. I actually enjoy the people I'm up here with and I look forward to working with them the next four years. So, it is my hope that we can finally resolve these issues and get to the business of Harrisburg and not keep rehashing Groundhog Day as as mentioned. And if anyone has any concerns, again, I I campaigned on this and I said it before,

I'm about transparency and fairness. And I want Harrisburg to be known to do the right thing and not to be known or or have the perception that we're doing anything other than right by our people. And so with that, I just I I want to um make sure because I would be remiss if I didn't say anything. But I also know that on this council we have former mayor promps who who have served in served in this role. And I would just be curious uh council uh Smith and councilwoman Glover on how you feel about it and if your name was on the dis andor the website and how you feel about this apparent um need to depart from what has been happening before. And thank you for your time and those comments.

I'll jump out on that one. Um, first and foremost, I sent each of you, all the council members, your NO information for this year. All the road projects that are scheduled for Royanne County Division 9 and then all the road projects for division 10. Also, jump uh sent [clears throat] out with that all the acronyms and all the idiosyncrasies that go on in those meetings. you really need that in your back pocket some days. But um and then last one was um the trans transportation confirmity plan which is for the next 20 years. Keep in mind all that is, you know, somewhere in the wind, right? Because they're out of money for the next 3 to 5 years. So we'll see how that works. um that they were excited and I think most are aware that Union Cemetery Roads being reconstructed and fully funded. So that was the big hoo-ha the last meeting was that it's been such a a pain for all these years and they finally got it moving and and now the rumblings are people being inconvenienced for um traffic. So if you have any questions on any of those uh documents that I sent, please let me know. Um, and Councilwoman Banks as far as placards and all that. First, I mean, you you read the statues. I want to believe the statutes are did we honor and appoint a mayor prom? Yes, we did. Um, I don't think statues apply to the name plate. That's always been [clears throat] up to the mayor. If you go back to when I got Mayor Pro Tim, honestly, I was surprised I even got it because I was being censured at the time.

So, um, if you know anything about what happened with me, um, I was the odd man out and I and for me to get mayor pro Tim, I was like, great, okay, whatever that means. I have actually and I confirmed with Rich the last time this came up and I and I'm confused why we continue to go down this path because this is nothing that the community votes on. This was something that the council made many many years ago and it's a council decision. Name plates are mayor decision, not ours decisions. Um, but I've had the fortunate opportunity to invoke Mayor Pro Tim twice and it spann in both instances no more than three minutes. One was to open up a hurricane meeting for disaster declaring a disaster because our mayor at the time was hiking a trail somewhere in the Midwest. Opened it up, we declared it, meeting ended, we were done. uh that was so we could receive funds from the state in in the situation of the emergency. The second time was mayor was stuck in traffic. I opened up the meeting. He showed up within a minute and a half after I opened it. And I asked Rich later on, "Do you remember?" And he could not remember the last time it had been used prior to those two instances.

So, it's not like it's a grand position. Um and I jokingly said that night if I went to McDonald's and said I was mayor pro Tim, but wouldn't have got me a cup of coffee. You know to to me I am more proud and if you know anything about me I am very proudful about this town and I take it very seriously anything that I do. So for me being a council member that's the ultimate pride that that's the the biggest stamp out there is to say that I have the capacity to represent these residents and I do it every day. I mean Chris you shared a story with me when I walked in the door. This guy is in Myrtle Beach and runs into somebody that knows me because of what I do on this council and they don't live here anymore and they still follow Ron. I need that.

Right. So I I don't I mean and and Rosa I forget your last name. I would call Sims.

Miss Sims. Okay. You know, to me, there was some this was a a Democrat or I mean, I'm nonaffiliated. Some are Democrats, some are Republicans, but I will tell you, none of this has ever been we vote this way because this person's Republican or this person's Democrat. It it disturbs me and irks me so much that when these things come up to us that it's we're focusing so much on one stereotype. And it's not there's no stereotypes in here. There's never a decision made based on a stereotype. For the 12 years that I have served, I promise you there has never ever been a stereotype addressed in this room or any decision made on someone's specific belief with regards to their political, whether it's their skin color or anything else, it has always been at the best of whatever the decision was for the community. Miss Council Member Banks and Coun uh Mayor Teague, that plaque is between those two. That's not between you and them. That is between these two. I don't know how many times we can say it. You can fill the room time and time again. But that is a mayor decision. If you choose to to have that discussion with the mayor, then please have it. But understand we as a council are not involved in this. This is this whole dis is the mayor's undertaking and we the seating follows by her and everything else. So I, you know, for you to ask me that. I gave you a long answer, but it truly comes from my heart. I I never looked at it as it was a placard or anything else when the day I got council member. That was the the best thing I could have gotten. So I'll leave it at that.

So I'll answer the question since I was asked. Um well, let me start with making a statement. I somebody's going to have to show me where it says that it's a mayor's decision of what a name placard says. Um I have not read that anywhere. So that'll be important to share. The second part to that is is um with that I think it is appropriate and I understand that I wore this with a badge of honor when I was mayor pro Tim. When you're the highest vote getter as a first time person to run um I think that is something to be proud of. Similarly to what um Dr. Bank shared, when I do something, I try to do it incredibly well. So yes, I don't I think it's all I I do believe that the title for mayor prom should be there for Dr. Banks um on the website as well as here in this room on this dis. And I do believe that um Ron, I think you alluded to, you know, there being some other reason for I don't know what the reason is. is I don't want to put words in anybody's mouth but changing from what you've always done in a town so suddenly and it leaves people to question the motivation of such. So I mean I hear you in what you're saying but again the easiest way is let the public know who your highest vote getter was for this election. That's been the premise of which this decision has been made anyway. So why why is the question why the change now? Well, I mean, you know, it's crazy. Maurice was the, you know, the the mayor pro Tim before you and then you were the mayor pro Tim and then council member Banks was the mayor prom

and I I didn't understand why it came up. You had said there was a discussion that you wouldn't be made mayor pro tim. I I don't remember that discussion. I don't know who was all involved in it, but I I I was caught off guard by that because you said that was in your circles and

I I never heard that, right? And that was the discussion I said that night and I still say it again. Um, I can say I honestly did reach out to Ro Rob um right after you were made because there was a concern with the health of the mayor and I said given you're so new, it may be a conversation where we let uh you fill in until everybody was comfortable because everybody knows you need six to eight months up here to paddle paddle paddle before you can really jump in and swim. You sink really quick if you're not careful.

But with that, I mean, I I just I don't understand why we've got this churn on this. Um, you know, you said you don't know where it's written. I I can tell you what I have experienced. Um, I I don't know the official handoff between a mayor from one mayor to the next, if there is such a thing, but the in the I've served under two different mayors and I've always seen it set up by that mayor. that's you know they have part of their duties whatever it is is that's their call and that's the way I've always interpreted it. So to say is it written? I don't know that it is written. I it's just been, you know, that's the way I've always understood it. But

let me just and thank you uh Councilman Smith and Councilwoman Glover for your um your your experience and I and thank you for for for answering that question so candidly. And let me say like you uh Ron, I I am proud to serve Harrisburg. Proud. and and and was this on my bingo card before? Absolutely not. Right. But here I am and I'm ready to do the work of this community. But I'll also say similar to what council um woman Glover said, I too want to see where it was written because as I took the time and I'm going to tell you, I'm a researcher. That's what I do. And I look took the time to look at these statutes and nowhere in there uh does it say anything about um that that's the mayor's decision. But what it does say, as I mentioned in my statements, is that any decision that is made is made collectively as a council and that the town manager then is directed to do what the council collectively decides to do. And no one person makes a decision. Not me, not Mayor T, not anyone on here can make a decision by themselves. That's not why we were elected. We were elected to be transparent and that's what I'm going to do. And so I just want and and because this departure seems so um immediate. It it has me to wonder why why it's a placard. And let me tell you, as long as Mayor Teague is here, we're going to be here to support her. It's it's not going to usurp the the the procedure and how this meeting is governed. Doesn't change any of that. So, I don't I actually don't understand what the big deal is, right? And that's why I mentioned like why and I actually went to um our town manager after the last meeting cuz I thought it was just timing like they just didn't get around to it. Not that it was all of this

because trust me, I want to talk about our survey. I want to talk about Highway 49. I want to talk about the connectivity of those trails. That's what I want to come here to talk about. But until we get things right, I'm going to talk about this because that's who I am and that's why I was elected by the people. Any other council comments?

Okay, we do not have any public hearings and we do not have any old business tonight. So, we will move into new business and first up we have Jim Spina. He is going to give us the consideration of the contract with Kell Marketing to construct the restroom facility at Hulcom Woods.

Good evening, Mayor Council. It's my pleasure to be here tonight to talk uh about our uh possibility of adding a restroom shelter facility at our Hulcom Woods athletic complex facility. A little background, [clears throat] excuse me. Hulkcom Woods uh athletic complex opened up in the fall of 2021. The town operates that 3.5 acre complex and we host spring and fall youth soccer there as well as adult flag football uh on its two fields. The gated parking lot there is open to the public during those program seasons only. The current situation is the Hulcom Woods Athletic Complex does not have a permanent restroom facility. We have employed portable restrooms since its 2021 opening. And since that opening, [clears throat] it's been a very popular place uh for our programs. And we have welcomed over 30,000 participants, friends, and family members to the Hulcom Woodsfields for our youth youth soccer and adult flag football programs. So, let's talk about the restrooms and shelters in our other parks.

[clears throat]

Adding a permanent restroom facility with a built-in shade structure uh to our Hulcom Woods facility would give our program participants, residents, and their friends and families a quality structure that matches the facilities that we have in our other parks. And I've given some examples here. If you look um on this one right here with the where I'm pressing the dot on, that's our shelter three uh shelter uh three facility in Harrisburg [clears throat] Park. The next one here is our shelter facility at Stallings [clears throat] Park. The next one here is uh our facility at Farmill Park. And the last one is our facility at Harris Depot. And the and one common you thing you'll notice is that each one of these have a shelter. They also have a a public bathroom here. There's one in the back there, one in the back here, and one in the back here. The only difference between these four, really the major difference is the shelter three, the Harrisburg one, you enter from the inside of the underneath the shelter for the bathrooms. The other three all enter around the back of the facility into the bathrooms. And so this is a quick look at what we're looking at uh constructing out at Hulcom Woods. You can see it's very similar uh to uh the ones that we have in our other parks. Um, these will be uh uh colored the same uh as the facility that's in the residence uh amenity. So, it matches uh into the Hulkcom Woods facility. Um these bathrooms will have uh the men's room will have one urinal and one uh toilet facility and the female will also uh toilet facilities, two toilets inside that facility. You also see we've added water uh fountains and we're adding a b bottle filler to that too, which will serve well for our participants and our kids playing there. And underneath we you'll see some picnic tables here. This is a concrete pad. And so we're uh

pretty happy with how it looks out how it matches some of our other facilities. And as far as location goes, um we've bounced around here with different locations out on the fields. Um I was uh lucky enough to have uh engineering uh as well as public works and of course my staff out uh one day to kind of really look at the different different ideas that we had and we came up with three potential spots that might work. One of them was right about here in between the playing field and the sidewalk. Um the negative to that was that it would kind of cut into any future plans that we might have to move something different around in this field. So we kind of thought that's not a bad place. The other concern was what's underneath this field. You know, that was brought in and filled when they built the the facility. Um, another portion over here. We thought it'd be a nice tuck away corner. There's a uh a path here. And with plans from our staff to at some point put in a nice little path in through here a little bit for the to kind of complete that. But the top topography is bad on this. It's very hilly. We would had to move some earth and move stuff around to do it. The final spot was here. This was kind of our original spot in the first place. And then we kind of start looking at other ones. But this spot is nice. It's between the parking lot and the and the road here. That's a hill that comes up. For those of you who've been there before know that that the field sits below grade of the of the community itself. And so um the advantages here are one, it doesn't impact field, doesn't impact parking. Um utilities are placed right about here where we can grab water and electric and sewer is somewhat nearby in here from what I recall. And um we also can easily access this from the sidewalk with another little access sidewalk right up to the front of it. And the shelter part will be in this front this first twothirds of it which means if you're under the shelter you could still see the field and watch the games and you know if your kids are just playing you can watch and keep an eye on them. So you have a really good access point here. If we put it on the side we would have had to turn

it sideways and you would probably face this way a little bit. So, um, so we really love this spot and we thought that was the the best spot for it. And again, that was made through a a a discussion between all three departments to come up with the best plan for that location. So, the fiscal impact of this contract is approximately $235,000, including a 5% contingency uh budget. Um, public works uh staff will help us with by making those utility connections uh for water and sewer. the contractor itself, he's responsible for the the electric uh connection. And in total, the project will cost approximately 245,000, which includes the addition of that covered shelter amenity. And with that, I'll take some questions if any of you have them.

Jim, I do have a question. Um, I'm thinking about a a father with a three-year-old girl and he doesn't necessarily know which room to go in or send her in with a stranger. How much of that 235 or 45 would it take to put a family lockable door for us grandparents and fathers with little girls who want to go to the bathroom and not we have a contingency as something I I guess work with Rob on that a little bit and engineering I guess. But do we have any of those in any of our We have a family locker room at Harrisburg Park. Okay. Where's that one at? Up by the splash pad. Right next to the right off the breezeway. Okay. Yep. We have any issues with

I know James um when we did the other shelters was worried about people kind of locking themselves in there and not having access, but he put keycard accesses on those ones in case. Um but yeah, and I did talk to James a little bit about this and that well the other doors unlockable. I mean you can make them unlockable but to say occupied or Yeah. Um I don't think it's a big deal when you're in if you want to turn it, you know. I don't think that's a big deal to have. It's a quandry for me when I take my granddaughters out. I'm Please don't have Don't come in. Don't come in. Go anywhere. Yeah. Yeah. That's something I've been there. Something we can act. I think that's something we can do easily.

I I would be worried about security for that. Like I know Compton Mills they have one of these, but it's not like open to everybody. You have to like call security say, "Hey, can you walk for me?" Like I I don't know, especially with the location being far away. um you know having like a walkable one but complete door might be well that's we can work our way through that and come up with a really good opportunity there for yeah I I don't know if you know if it's hundreds of thousands of dollars or no it's another 10 grand to fix it just something to think about and will this shelter be eligible to be rented like the others yes

so is there any opportunity to move the doors to the bathroom on the side of the building because when if somebody has that reserved it feels intrusive to walk up on a party that's there to use the bathroom. Good point. One of the concerns we had about the side was excess Oops, wrong way. There we go. Still close to the parking lot,

but that's something we could probably maybe get some concrete or something and put something up there. So, something to for sure we could think about. I don't think doors make a difference in the big picture. And and Jim, the uh the look and the feel of that example you had from three really looks like the signage at the Y and the signage when you come in town that stone work. I don't know if that was contemplated in the Yeah, that first one there part that looks slick. Yeah, this one I don't know if I understand. He's talking about the um siding and architecture of it. Yeah,

this one is built to match Hulcom Woods um HOA pool building so that it kind of meets the theme of that that neighborhood. Um [clears throat] you know, we could go with with the Rock Water Line. It's obviously going to be a little bit more than this. Um originally this was like a $200,000 project, which this all fits well within if not for adding the shelter. So, the the change order or um the budget amendment that you see tonight is just to add those uh picnic tables and and the overhang shelter. But it's certainly if it's something that council wants to see is more of that stonework, now's a good time to

be there forever, right, Jim? The the other thing is is that um and I I have to believe it's already built in there. I was trying to look it up, but I couldn't tell the materials. Um, when we built Harrisburg Park, the flooring was not what we anticipated and I think you guys went back in in the last year or so and changed that out. So, would this be built with the newer, more manageable type surface? Yeah, we're we're this the flooring is uh going to be where we can wash it, spray it down, do all that kind of stuff. Yes. So, um

and there's four drains in it, the whole thing. Um, we tried to match up some of the stuff we did with Harrisburg Park. Thank you. I have a question about the bathroom. Is this gonna um be locked when it's not any when it's when it's there not any activities? I'm just asking that because I'm very familiar with this area and uh it's a lot of heavy traffic all the time because it's there, right? Even when it's closed. So, I'm just curious as to how you going to manage. Is it going to be locked when it's not in use? When it's not soccer games? Like how does that work? Yeah, the time the plan would be have James come out and do us do the timers for us so that we'll just set a timer for it like we do with Harrisburg Park.

Um all of our all of our uh other electronic timers. Okay. Thank you. Yep. That's part of the contingency and different things we're going to do. Couldn't get a really I know James got some ideas and changing things around. So he and I have spoken. Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome. I do like on your plan that you're not taking up any of the parking spaces because like I know parking gets really tight, especially if both fields are being played. Um, and also if that continues, I think that's great. But then also if there's any additional dirt or something, if they can even out some of the banks potentially because I know people with trucks especially can park on the sides if there's no parking, you know, make it a little more. Yeah, like on the sides like if they need to put that dirt somewhere like just kind of keep in mind that I I don't think you can expand the parking lot, but maybe Yeah. use that as an opportunity to Yeah. give people a little more room to

We've recognized over the last couple years of the problems we have with parking. Um I've met with actually uh the HOA to discuss further as to how we can remedy that. One of the ways and it's been better. It still can be crazy sometimes, but it's a lot better because what we've done, we've built in more time in between games to get people in and out of there. Um because last thing we want is people up here and they do they'll park right up here along the road and they'll park in the amenity, which isn't usually so bad cuz when we're playing the amenity is not open necessarily, but it is at the beginning of one season and the end of the other. So, we tried to keep them out of there. It's been much better. We've [clears throat] even talked to the contractor about his ability that we're he cannot use this to stage anything. M

he's got to find a place to stage outside of the parking lot because we can't afford if we do that which the plan is to start this as soon as we can and our season will be uh games will start here in another 3 weeks or so. So we've talked to them about that. So we've we've kind of taken that in consideration of making sure we're friendly to the to the the community. I have a question. Yes. Uh there's a grade coming off the road. Yeah. The the Yes. It goes down to the parking lot. Correct. Okay. And so this would be at the bottom of that grade. Is there any potential water runoff issues or

Yeah, that was a huge question for us for engineering and public works. Um we went out there and they felt that it wouldn't be significant enough and that we would probably build that uh foundation just a little higher just in case you get a really heavy rain or something, but they didn't feel that was one of the concerns we had to start thinking about moving it over here. But when when we met with engineering and public works, they all felt very comfortable that that would handle any problems. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions for Jim? Okay. Thanks, Jim, for presenting that. With that, is there a motion to approve a contract with Kell Marketing for approximately 235,000 to construct a restroom and shelter facility at the Hulcom Woods Athletic Complex?

Motion. Is there a second? Second. Before you get a full vote, mayor, we we did have some discussion there about did we want to do a brick water line or a stone water line or are we okay leaving it matching the the pool house? It would be that kind of um would that change the It's going to change the price. I mean, it's Well, I saw the word approximately. I just want you guys to [laughter] have a flex approximately $100 billion. Yeah. I mean, I don't think it's going to be $100,000, but it's going to be, you know, probably 15 to So, what what you guys had it constructed at meets with HOA for it. It will match the HOA's amenity building, which sits up above just above the fields.

Yeah. I I just want you guys to have the flexibility to if you want to do the things that we said and it's 10 grand more. I don't know if approximately is covers that, right? So, you don't have to come back. you say I mean if you if if and I might be you know stepping on Brian's toes here um if you want to amend that that motion to add a little bit add another 20 on the approximate is extremely small on this one [laughter] good to know um you would want you would want to change your motion to to add that add some amount to the contract and then we would do a related budget amendment to make that work so whatever you feel you want to add to the contract we can make the rest of it work can you extremely small. Oh, $100.

Oh, [laughter] man. It has it has a contingency built into it and we have an amount of money in that budget for the utility connection, but the actual contract with the contractor is like 2349. So, there's no there's nothing else there. You know, I I would say, you know, add 25 to 30 if that's something you're comfortable with. We would go back to the contractor, look for design for stone and brick to add masonry probably three foot high or two and a half foot. Um, if it exceeds that, we'd have to we'd have to go back. And you can certainly go under and still get Yes. Okay.

Question though, if we want to do that, does that design change have to go back through their HOA? We didn't go to the HOA for the design. It's our property and it sits below the community. You're just doing it as a courtesy. As a courtesy. Correct. Okay. But I think if along that same line, not the HOA, but I think if you're making that change, you need to make a greater change and say going forward, this will be the design structure for like all I think our park facilities, our intent here is that we theme each park,

right? So in Harrisburg Park, everything looks like Harrisburg Park, but if you go out to Farm Mill, we have a lot of natural materials. We're we're talking about playgrounds that are more um integrated with the with the canopy, the tree canopy and and all that. Out here, it was okay, let's make it look like the community. Now, we can certainly make it look like Harrisburg Park if that's what it is, but this wouldn't be appropriate at Farm Mill to right to go with a more masonary. We would want more natural woods and and thing like things like that. So, we tried to meet that intent with this of just saying let's make it look like what does what like Hulcom specifically, but you can kind of see each one looks.

Yeah. Here's I put those back up so you can see the different looks. But I I I agree with Councilman Fall that, you know, Harrisburg Parks the the prettiest, right? I mean, that's that's the one I like, too. Now, I'm biased because I picked that, but but it's not consistent through any of our parks. Cricket F. No, they're all themed slightly different. If you look at Harris Depot, that's going to look more like a historic um post office and and fill in.

Um I just want to add that I know that this is town property, but I think it would be courteous if we talked to the HOA just to just to let them know what's coming and what it looks like. Um just as just as a nice gesture. Um uh even though we know, you know, that this is town property, I think it would just be nice for them to know so that um that everybody's happy, you know, just as just as a recommendation. Yeah. Okay. So, I I would be in favor of this if we can put in that amount of money to give you guys. Yeah. Whatever. And I guarantee it. And then you can come in under if you want. So, so 260.

Yeah. So, if he used 260 in that motion, um, then it would be 260 on the contract, 275 on the project budget overall. Sounds like you had a motion for Chris. Yep. Uh, amended. An amended motion. Amended motion. I still think you need a second to approve. Second for 260. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion is carried. Thank you. Thank you, council. Next we have Devin and he is going to give us the consideration of a change order one with Kimley Horn for professional design services contract for the Hickory Ridge Road sidewalk overkill.

Good evening mayor, members of council. Uh as mayor said, this is the consideration for the first change order for the Hickory Ridge Road, hopefully the last uh sidewalk design. Just as a refresher of what this project is, it's the the sidewalk connection that's going to start right in front of the middle school. It's going to run down Hickory Ridge Road up to Stallings and make that turn there and then connect over to the uh Veterans Harrisburg Veterans Road intersection and make that nice connection going up that road. [clears throat and cough] And this was originally approved, the contract for design was originally approved back in March 2025. So that the original the way these contracts works the design contracts they're just the scope of the design and everything is based off of the known conditions. They no field of studies or surveys have been done. So we have to base it on what we know. Uh and and the consultant did do that. It's been reviewed and everything. And then we've now started those field studies and done that survey and we found new information. Uh we've also submitted multiple times through DOT and received comments from them and through that process we've found out new information we didn't have before that needs to be addressed which was not included in the original scope. So as as that comes additional work and we have to come and ask for additional work to be added to the scope which comes with additional costs unfortunately. So, in order to move this forward and get through to the final design, we're going to adjust the scope of services to account for some additional engineering costs, right? Um, this will include just some additional drainage work that's going to help us avoid any costly impacts to some additional impacts to the Duke Energy poles out there. Uh there's also been some stuff that we found at the bridge itself, the waterline impacts, the uh some encasement that's going to need to happen to the water lines out there and

then the abuckments for the bridge. Some just some impacts to the utilities out there and there are some poles that based on the footprint of the pedestrian bridge that will have to move that the original assumption is we weren't going to have to move those. So all that means there's [clears throat] additional utility coordination through Duke that also is part of this change order. So all that's included.

So our fiscal impact for this through the town because this is a grant project. It is 80% refundable. Our total impact for this specific change order is only going to be about $5,900 to the town. Um NC DOT has already reviewed and approved the scope here and these fees that are associated with it. So it is eligible for that grant reimbursement. So it is already vetted by them and reviewed. And the next step is to get it to the contractor so they can start and do these revisions and get us onward to the final plans. And so our recommendation is just that. Let's get this change order one approved [snorts] so we can get the professional the designer through and get this get this approved.

There any questions for Devon on the project? Go ahead. My question is um will this project speed up the likelihood of a crosswalk or speed up the crosswalk being there? Will it slow down the crosswalk? You know where the kids cross going over to um Bridge Point. Thank you. Bridge Point. Bridge. So this image right here, is that not going to connect or delegate the image?

Bridge. This image right here is being this is actually from the plans. This is included in these plans. Yes, ma'am. Okay. So when this project is is uh constructed, this is actually the rapid the rectangular rapid flashing beacon. That's so hard to say. The RFB. Um and that is part of this design. So at that intersection will be this 10- foot wide crossing. It's actually got a pedestrian refuge there um in the middle of Hickory Ridge Road. And so the cost of this is low because this was already a council project that we were It's a grant, right? I'm sorry. Okay. The gr Oh, the grant. So go ahead. I'm sorry. The grant is it's a federal grant. So this project was awarded

uh for a certain amount and 80% of that amount is [clears throat] covered for the federal and 20% is the towns. Yes, ma'am. So this is just part of the design that's being incorporated into the overall project design. Okay. No, that makes sense. We just been talking about that crosswalk for a long time, right? So it's incorporated as part of this. So once this project gets through construction, it'll be it'll be part of that. And this is part of what they'll be finalizing in the design and we'll go through to the final. Do do we have a verbal from NC do on this one because because they wouldn't before.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. In the past, they've not been in favor of this. That's why I'm like I don't want us to go spend the money if we know we're going to hit a brick wall continuously with NC DOT on this. I know we have changed when in our representation from the bottom to the top in the NC DOT. So they're these guys may be more malleable in their decision for this, but do we know if they'll even entertain this right now? the the project the crosswalk the c this was actually the the pedestrian refuge was actually actually one thing that they said that we had to include.

Okay. Um the RFB I was part of the scope and there were a few comments prior to me taking over this. I don't know if it was something that we proposed or something they required, but there's a conversation. So, as far as I'm all of this is they're on board with

in the past, we have advised the residents that had wanted that that we were challenged by NC DOT because they wouldn't allow it. So, I just wanted to make sure if if we're moving forward on it that one, it would be allowed. So, we're not wasting our funds. This this portion of the design is has been reviewed so far. We're at roughly we're between 30 and 70 75 has been submitted percent plans. Uh this was commented on in 30% plans and they were good with the responses and design and then the 75% plans were submitted to address some of the comments on the 30% and that's where what was done wasn't fully acceptable. So that's where this change order kind of came in place and this was this part was has been acceptable up to this point. So I don't foresee any further issues or comments.

The other question I have is when you first started your presentation you your first slide was the overarching image of all the sidewalk. Keep keep going back. Um, yes. So, where's the sidewalk going to be on stallings that would connect to Hickory Ridge? Is it on the side of Veterans or is it on the side of Hickory Ridge? So, it'll it's going to run up to the intersection roughly where the guardrail is. Yep.

In front of the the two white houses. And then there'll be a crossing across Stylings to get to Veterans. And forgive me, I'm I'm trying to picture where the sidewalk is on the other on the other side of the intersection. Yeah. You got sidewalks that go if you're at Veterans, you're at the T. You got sidewalks on the left side that go towards the park, right? So my question is is if you're building So are you going to put sidewalks that are on the opposite side of the road there, or are you going to go on this side now and go down that way? because if you're building or pricing out or getting these uh crossings, you're going to need one there, too. So, let's do two.

This this scope of this project includes stopping at the intersection and then the crossing across Stylings Road to get to what exists on the Harrisburg Veteran Side. It doesn't continue beyond the intersection along Stallings. So that would that does that's not included in the scope of this project. That would be a future future scope project. No sidewalk there now at all.

No, that's what I'm saying. I'm trying to understand what direction we're going with this. I mean because there's if you go on the side where the guardrail is, there's really no land there for a sidewalk to be honest. I mean it's straight down and every car that's gone over that has proved that. Uh if you go back the other way, there is some land, but you're still creating a crosswalk at Hickory Ridge and Stallings at Covenant Church, which is just ugly in itself, too. But there is a stoplight there. So, you have that in your paper, right? There's We would love sidewalk everywhere. Yeah.

When this was scoped, I imagine I wasn't here at that time, but I imagine this we get what we would like to scope and that makes sense at the time. And this is this is a great little scoping here. Makes a good connection. And then those next ones may be a little bit more challenging and would come in the future and we'd see what we can work into another project. Yeah. I I just wanted to see if we could combine any efforts and get the most bang for our buck and any if we're getting one design, can we get another design? But I get it. But this shows that connecting at veterans. So I think the question is where's the sidewalk on stallings? Yeah, that's what I'm trying to understand. There's not there's not existing sidewalk on either side of the road there.

Well, there is on your side on on the Stallings Park side. There is a sidewalk that section. There's not right. That's what I'm trying to understand is where it he's saying it ends at Veterans, but there's a sidewalk over the bridge. Yeah. Yes. On both sides. On both sides. There's a sidewalk on the north side of Stallings. Yeah. So, there's a sidewalk that goes to the park, but there's not a sidewalk that goes towards Hickory Ridge. And that's what I'm asking. Are you going Are you going to go to the guardrail side or are you going to go

It looks like it's on the guardrail side, the south side, and then would cross at Veterans. Is that correct? Yeah. So, this this sidewalk is on this sidewalk is on the south side. So it's on the guardrail side and it [clears throat] runs up to the Harrisburg Veterans intersection and then if you wanted to get to the park, you would cross Stylings and then cross over. A different argument, different day, but goodness gracious that that guard rail and a sidewalk is is just there's not enough land for the two,

right? The sidewalk doesn't cross in front of the guardrail. It stops before it gets to that guard rail. So if you if you pull up if you're on stylings and you pull up to the intersection like you're going to go to the park and you're sitting at the stop bar at that light waiting to go straight right that c you're going to be stopped at the crosswalk that the sidewalk stops at. So you'll you'll look to your to your right and there'll be the sidewalk and and then the ramp will that's where the sidewalk will terminate and you'll cross over to get to Harrisburg Veteran. So, it'll be that that'll be the the [clears throat] uh the Hickory Ridge side of the intersection that the sidewalk will be on.

And a pedestrian light will be incorporated into the existing line. I'm assuming like, you know, little handic I'm Does that intersection already have a It has a cross. There are signal. There are signal. There will be there'll have to be. Yeah. Yeah. There's there's signal changes incorporated in the scope. Um

motion to approve. There's a motion to approve the change order in for the Hickory Ridge sidewalk in the amount not to exceed 29,600. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion is carried. Thank you, Devin. Next up, we have consideration of the contract with Lumen Strategies for legis legislative advocacy and education. And Rob is going to present that to us this evening. Thank you, J. All right. Can everybody hear me with the with the mask still on? I can I can pull it off. But um

I think the second second to last thing we have here is a contract for your consideration with Lumen Strategies for legislative advocacy and education. First thing I always like to to go through is understand you know the purpose of of why why do we need something? How does it meet our goals? What have we been challenged with to do? So, in in getting our U legislative adi advocacy consultant on board that specifically meets our strategic goal number five, which is the town of Harrisburg will actively plan for our future with compassion and respect for our heritage, specifically including serving as an advocate for the community. I think one of the things that we've talked about as a group up here is that we're under a constant barrage of legislative changes that that we can't keep up with. We're reactive to them. We're doing um resolutions quite often. Uh we have a great relationship with our local legislative contingent, but in order to really understand what's going on in a timely manner and to be able to advocate for our residents, we really need a consultant on board that can help us do that that's doing that dayto-day. We also discussed in in our priorities, the manager and council priorities, a specific need to develop that advocacy plan and to have a strategy and to have that strategy for the legislative priorities coming up in the in the future budget session. So this partnership really delivers that clear strategy, also gives us active representation in Raleigh as well as DC and public communication, those educational materials, the briefings, the outreach, um so that we can then communicate that back to our residents so that they understand how their daily life is being affected by the decisions in Raleigh or in DC. We're obvious we obviously know we're a growing community. We're we're proud of

of you know our growth, but we're also proud that we have one of the lowest full service tax rates in the region. In order to keep kind of both of those things as as core values of ours, uh we have to prioritize our money in in a smart way, right? So that rapid growth, it puts, you've seen it tonight, all these competing interests that we have on infrastructure, public safety, service demands. Um, we also have and and I think you guys have seen this the most in the town council this um increasingly I'm going use hostile um attack on on home rule in in municipalities. We're a Dylan rule state so we can only do what the legislature says we can do. But it seems every new session there's more things that tie the hands of the local community prohibiting us from providing the services that that the residents ask for on a daily basis. So um federal grant opportunities are also um something that will require that proactive engagement. We can't react to some of these grant opportunities. We have to have our strategy and we have to to be ready well ahead of time so that we know what we're advocating for. And then here's a list of just some of those projects that that we're looking at. The Amtrak station, Coldwell Road extension, you heard some things about utility relocation costs, um public safety expansion. [clears throat] We'll be doing fire station one um in a few years. I'm not sure where it's at on the CIP, but that's like a $14 million project. And the state legislature loves to tell us how they uh really support public safety. So, we'd like to go after and make sure that uh they're putting their money behind public safety just like our residents are. Next, I'm going to ask Sarah, who some of you have have met. She uh presented at the legislative breakfast and also

represents Central Regional Council of Governments. Sarah's our u representative on Lumen who I'll be dealing with daytoday. and let's ask her to kind of uh go through two slides here and and tell us all about Lumen.

Sure. Good evening, Mayor Teague, Council, Mr. Donham. Thank you so much for having me here and thank you for consideration your consideration of this contract. Um yes, so I am Sarah Principy, vice president of advocacy for Lumen Strategies. We're a strategic communications and advocacy firm. Um we have worked with um a lot of chambers of commerce, several nonprofit entities as well as municipal clients. Um we track legislation, we do lobbying. Um we really help our clients strategize and come up with an advocacy program. Um so we just do a range of services in regard to government affairs and advocacy. Um I'll just start with myself. Um my my municipal background um is with the city of Hickory. I worked for them um as an employee for almost 12 years in various capacities. So I I learned um municipal government really well. Um and prior to that I was actually um right out of college I went to DC and I was up there for about eight years working for the US Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. So, I started with some federal service, came um I grew up in North Carolina, so I came home um worked for the city of Hickory and I really fell in love with local government. That is truly my passion. Um but I've also really um been involved at the state level between lobbying and being a legislative liaison. So really familiar with all three branches. Um and it's really just a privilege to be able to serve in this capacity. This is such a a marriage of all of my interests. So it's a great job. Um, so that's a little bit about me, but I do want to introduce the team. One of the best things about our firm um is that we we are a package deal. You get all four of us. Um, and while you know, should you move forward with this contract, I will be um likely be who you see most often, but you have full access to all of our team members um who bring a variety of experience.

Brian Fox is our president and CEO. um he uh was a longtime congressional staffer and was also the VP of public policy for the Greater Durham Chamber for several years and so he is our newest member but he has come on um he he is actually the owner of the company president and CEO so we've um en enjoyed working with him Britney Burton she is our director of communications and advocacy and she is all things communications um she has handled multiple strategic communications clients and she's also now doing some of our advocate Y work as well. Brian Francis um is our strategic adviser and he was actually the founder of our company, but he has since scaled back his role and serves in a strategic advisor capacity. Um and so we are pleased with all of the um experience that he brings to our team. He worked for Meckllinmberg County. Um the former vice president of public policy programs at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Um is very well-versed in public policy generally. So um I hope that you feel like you are getting an experienced team. And like I said, we we all work together really well.

Thank you, Sarah. And um I'm going to go through just um some of what we we get as far as our comprehensive advocacy and engagement. And you know, we were so fortunate to just kind of um happen in in Tulum. Um we were looking for um lobbyists for for Raleigh and had interviewed some and just there there wasn't really a good fit. And I actually knew Brian Francis because he um represented the regional chamber locally and I didn't realize Brian was doing um local government stuff and asked him for a reference and he said, "Oh, we've we've got S Sarah's the the best." So um that that one thing led to another and we looked at different options of what they're able to do. And I I really think it's important to to have a comprehensive advocacy plan. Um the value is is a really good value, but when we talk about, you know, our our different options, I think, you know, we are a full service community. We have a lot of irons in the fire and this this partnership gives us um state and federal legislation tracking, weekly updates, um custom legislative trackers, um setting a bi-annual agenda, representing us in in DC and in um Raleigh as as a lobbyist as well as attending committee hearings on our behalf. So, you know, we can't travel to Raleigh every time they're having these committees. Fortunately, Blumen has a team where one of them will be there and they're able to give us quick updates. And when I say quick, I mean hours and we're not, you know, they I don't know how they do it, but uh they really stay on top of it as well as representing the town with legislators maybe that aren't our local contingent. I I think our local contingent is best um if we interact with them and and Lumen had that same perception to say look you guys have the the best connections with your local folks but you know our local folks are all aren't always in a

position of leadership in in Raleigh. So um having somebody in Raleigh that that can attend those committee hearings, represent the town, advocate for different appropriations. And then finally on the on the far right you see more of the engaging the congressional delegation um drafting bills. If if we need if we want to put a bill in they can help us draft that. And then I think most importantly the educational content and the kind of council management community briefings and having that constant education back to us so that we know what's going on before it's going on and then we can communi communicate that back out to our community who then reach out to their legislators or we can reach out on their behalf or we can do our resolation u resolutions. But in order for us to advocate effectively, I think we need a a great partner on this and and Lumen just really checked all the boxes. Um I'm going to skip over some of this um and and hit the highlights, but we're looking for a 24-month um contract on this. And that's really important because our budgets are on two-year budgets now. will be wrapping up. We should have wrapped up this budget um quite a while ago, but we anticipate really diving into the next budget. So, having um these folks [snorts] on board so that the short session we can we can get a plan together and then ultimately when the long session comes the year after, we'll be well positioned for appropriations, for any type of bill changes that we want to do. And ultimately I see this partnership where we have um Lumen Strategies who's interviewing and dealing with staff and and what our needs are on in a legislative but also dealing with management and council on you know our priorities which might be different. You know Shelley is going to have things in planning that [snorts] we're not aware of and I think so that's important to have that full team engaged.

Here's an example of some of our um kind of buckets of utility costs and and home world. These are all things that we would put together as part of our strategy with Lumen. And then the 24-month engagement would really start now, end in March of 28. You can see, you know, we would have constant contact with the educational piece, but really gearing up for that phase 2 long session. Um and then really we we'd come back and regroup in between sessions and come up with a new strategy, see where we were successful, see where you know we have opportunities and really comes at a great value. Um you know, not everyone is is doing advocacy. I think communities like ours who are high growth communities, it's it's really um not an option. If we want to be successful here locally, we have to be successful in Raleigh. we have to be successful in DC. So, this contract annually works out to 0.1% of Harrisburg's operations and capital budget. I think it's money well spent. One or two projects that our local residents may not have to pay for if we were able to get an earmark would more than pay for this. But again, more importantly, that outreach, that education, that understanding how Raleigh and DC affect our community is something that we don't have currently. and and we really need as part of our team. So, I'm going to open it up for for questions. Obviously, our recommendation you guys have in your packet is to enter into a contract with Lumen Strategies, registered a state and federal lobbyist for the town. So, Rob, we know how North Carolina works. We often municipalities often compete for the same amount of money,

same bucket. How does this work? Or if Lumen is representing another municipality that's on the opposite side of the spectrum, you know, you're going to go talk to this legislator and they're a key voter. Harrisburg wants it this way, this municipality wants it this way. They're polar opposites. How are you advocating on both? um or in that other scenario, how are you advocating if we're both going after the same amount of money, who gets priority in that space?

Sure, that's an excellent question. Um, and I'll be honest, we're a very small firm and so far we really have not run into that yet, but I see that is very likely something that could happen. We are really big on transparency and so as soon as we realize that there is an issue, we will come to you with that concern as well as our other clients and we will we will figure it out. I know that's not a great answer but whether it is we have someone else lobby who is not me but conflict of interest is very important um that and that can't be overstated. So we do realize that there could be the potential for that. It has not happened yet, but our first step would purely just be to point it out to you as well as our other clients and then we'll talk about how to move forward.

Would in in the aspect of when we're competing for the same dollars, if you've got a municipality that you're in contract with that's also competing for those dollars, would you be transparent enough to tell us that you have another interest that also is competing? I mean, absolutely. So that we understand. Number one, we want to make sure that everyone knows um you know where we are, what what we are working on um so that there is no no wondering or no no backroom deals are going on. We will be very upfront about it, [clears throat] right? I mean like with the MO today, Salsbury, Concord, Harrisburg, we all compete for the same dollars, right?

And a lot of it is who's ahead of the game, who's got the parts and pieces in place. So Harrisburg's done a very good job about having projects ready to go. So the first one at the finish line often is the one that gets the, you know, the higher rank and all of that, the one that's ready to go. And I guess that's the the other side of it is is would you be giving us insight early enough on so we can be prepared on these things so that we are ready to to compete and

Sure. Absolutely. As soon as I get information, I will relay that to the manager's office. Um and and and you're correct, it's it's important to be prepared early on so that you can jump when you need to. And so that's um that will be a big part of our role is making sure that you have that information so that you can move forward appropriately.

And I'll add that one of the one of the deciding factors in in selecting Lumen was that they represent like clients. Um so central line regional council governments who were a member of um the chamber who were a member of right. So the these there's a lot of synergy in in who they represent. There were some that that we had spoken to that also represent a lot of local cities. It's like well there's probably more of a um likelihood that we're going to end up in that scenario. Now generally when we talk about legislation, what's bad for a city is bad for a city is bad for a city. We we we very rarely are at odds where one city wants downzoning and another [clears throat] doesn't. Right. It's it's generally um cities are are all on board with each other on legislation when it comes to to earmarks. Those are those are you know those appropriations are an entirely another animal. And I think what Lumen brings on on that side is just what you mentioned getting us prepared so that we understand what's the decision criteria and making sure that we're well positioned for that. I don't think there's a lot to be done as Sarah said with like backroom deals, right? You're not you're not up in Raleigh slipping something in at the last minute. Um we're going to be asking our local legislators to do that. But but what do we have to have in place here? I think that's what Sarah and her team can can help us be successful in. Similar as we successful,

I think that goes both ways. I mean, if we educate you on what we have sitting on the shelf ready to go,

that if you're in conversations and you're hearing, you know, this is coming available or there's going to be these opportunities, you can be like, oh, you know, I I know a guy, right, that uh I know a town that has these things in their bucket of what they want in their wish list. I mean, we have several things that are sitting on the shelf kind of waiting to go for these opportunities. So I my questions are strictly as it relates to the state, not any federal legislation or lobbying being done there. When I look at this list of the things that we'd be getting, more than half of them are things that the league already does for us. So I'm not convinced this is a good use of our money. Um, and I know you're talking about like yeah, they'll serve as an advocate and the first thing that came to mind was the downzoning bill. Well, that was 131 pages that was that was passed on the first read. there was nothing a lobbyist could have done to help us there. Um, and we did pass a resolution for the housing affordability piece. I would say lobbyists probably were helpful there. I don't know that a private lobbyist for us would have been as beneficial because the league provides us updates. Um, I get a weekly update and if there's something quick that's coming out, I get an update like when they're in session. They're really good about sending out their communications. So, I'm I'm not understanding like what the difference is um

in the level of service. I don't think the league provides things to me. I I appreciate the league and they send out broad statewide stuff, but many of the bills that we've passed resolutions on here weren't in the league update and the league represents a big group of individuals. We're not a big fish in that pond. We're not Raleigh. We're not Charlotte. We're not Greensboro. You know, I mean, that's fair, but municipalities of our size typically don't have their own firm.

I I don't I don't think most do. Most most of the communities are not interested in advocacy or um or getting appropriations, but I will say, you know, take Midland, who's right next to us for an example. They have one. They had 11 million in the last budget. I mean, that's fair, but also that special use funding is gone. And the last and there's all indication to say that we're probably not going to get that if we ever get a budget. Understand we don't have I think we're talking about the next budget. So this this one maybe something happens in it. But I I think it when you look at the next budget cycle being prepared to understand what's next, what bills are coming through

that are going to hamper us? Um I had a conversation this morning um about the elimination of parking.

Right. Um so I'm looking into that. that I'm pulling all that. We don't have staff locally that can spend the amount of time that Lumen Strategies would understanding how do these bills affect us, what can be moved, what can't be moved. Um, if I reach out to the league, they're not our law. They'll say, "Well, we'll pass it on to our lobbyist." So, you certainly we're we're represented by the league, Central Chamber. Um there are folks that we have similarities with. Um but I think with the amount of demand that this council has and and has set this as a goal saying we want to be outfront on this

then but but what are we up front on? Are we like do we have a special project that we're working on? Are we just looking for communication? Like I mean this a list that you sent us. I think I think all of these projects right because we talked a lot about this train station. Yeah. That we need 9 million for the train station. We've we've lobbied for that ourselves and we've come pretty close. But my questions are specific to state, not anything federal. Yeah, this is for state. We lobbied at the state level. Went to Senator Newton's office and said, "Hey, you know, let's let's kick this can. Apply for federal. get get denied at federal then come back for a state appropriation. I think that's where Lumen Strategies would help us with that.

I say if Yeah, if I can can also weigh in on that. Um I love the League of Municipalities. We have a great relationship with them. I know their staff um and they do a great job certainly, but what they can't do in representing an entire state of municipalities is really look at each one uniquely um and look at your individual projects or what your specific priorities are because sure, a lot of them will be the same. there is there will be some overlap um especially when we're talking about these development bills and municipal authority and and all those things and um so certainly having the league as an advocate is is a positive but we can bring um just additional uniqueness and personalization to your town that the league just isn't capable of doing because they can't do that for every municipality in the state. Um I think

Yeah. Sorry, sir. No, go ahead. I was going to say I I pulled up the options to kind of show some of the things like yes the league has a legislative tracker but it's not unique to us. We we we really care about high growth towns. The things like you know the parking and stuff will will end up in there but there were a lot of things we were out in front of of the league and to everybody else like how house bill I forget what it was 765.

There you go. 7 House Bill 765. I think we were the first in the state to pass a resolution because our staff found it and you know having that custom legislative tracker um the bianual legislative agenda like that's going to be your agenda not not the state's agenda. So it becomes very unique to this town council. I I think it's a really good idea and I think that we're basically getting at a cost of like less than one employee that would be knowledgeable in this kind of work. our healthcare is like 30,000 a year. [laughter]

And then yeah, and then the other thing is I do like the length of the contract. So it's long enough for us to kind of try it and then see what the results are and um kind of do a debrief after and just see if we've gotten anything out of it or not. Yeah. And I think it's and all of these is manageable.

I'm sorry. And and all of these contracts, we can separate it at any time. I mean, Lumen doesn't want a client that they're not getting along with and and the town doesn't, you know, want to have a an advocacy group that isn't doing the town's work. So, those are always built into here where they're very easy to to break loose. Why I put the two-year in is we really want to commit to to having a legislative agenda and we're not going to get everything done in the short session. It's really going to start in the short session and move into the long session. So we probably will see dividends on this at 18 months at 20 months um outside of the public education and engagement which I think is fantastic

to council to what councilwoman Glover says though

you know you you referenced that we're a small town and you know the beauty that we are a small town but we are head and shoulders above many others that are our same size today and I say that With regards to there are a lot of municipalities that are struggling today and we have, you know, through grit and grime and digging made this town were, you know, in the financial position that it is. um from one that has sat here for 12 years. I can tell you we went from [clears throat] it would be a nice to have to okay now we're competing and and then you know just [clears throat] and I'll reference the the no stuff just sitting in a room knowing you're beating out Salsbury and Concord and they're actually bragging

on Harrisburg and the work that Harrisburg's been doing is an amazing feeling to be sitting in that room going but Salsbury's three times the size of us Concord boards probably four, you know, four or five size, four or five times the size of us and we're getting the accolades. I mean, I think it it's dovetailing in to where we've been, you know, on that path, that trajectory that we're on. I I mean, I'm kind of with Councilwoman Cotel on this one that I think it's a it's a good fit for where we've been and where we're headed. But

yeah, and I mean and I want to be clear like I want us to have the advocacy and also just because we have it to spend doesn't mean that we should. So when we look at what it costs, um I looked it up. This is more than what the league pays for their contractual lobbyists. Yeah. I don't know. I do not know what a significant delivery like if we're going to pay more than what they're paying for their lobbyists. So again, I think that it would be worth I just I I'm concerned about paying for double services. Yeah, there there are cheaper options. I personally

No, I'm not saying cheaper. I'm No, I'm saying even here like option one, two, and three were were cheaper. My recommendation based on what y'all have presented to me to say here's what we want to do on advocacy. Here's the projects we want to go after. here's the legislation that we want to be ahead of that we want um our council going to Raleigh um and and advocating for us. We want you guys getting more involved with this outreach and networking. I think this is this is a very good value. Now, that's up to the board if we don't want to do advocacy.

Listen, I I I think uh Councilman Smith kicked it off correctly. If you're advocating for us, that's great. But if we're carrying the water for Mount Holly or somebody else, like why am I paying for that? This needs to be Harrisburg specific because I'm sure there's plenty of advocacy going on if our needs are the same as Fagatville or you know, whatever. Um the other thing I think uh when you say plan Raleigh and DC trips, I think our mayor's a wonderful representative, is that all baked in? We'll have our town manager there. Nobody can tell our story like we can. Uh, you have to point us in the right direction. Don't talk to him. Talk to her. Follow me. Um, sounds like you've lived on K Street for a little while, so you know how that works. Um, but but I want us to get also similar to what we get from the chief. How much property did you save this month? How much did you make the town this month? I don't want to wait until the end of 24 months, even though I know it's a long cycle. You get us $11 million. $66,000 seems pretty cheap. at the end if all we did was make life better for Huntersville because they didn't hire advocacy, I'm not happy. So,

um I just want to add also I I think it's great that we'll have someone on call that can do this work, but I'm also concerned with redundancy, right? And and another question is at the state level because we have the lead, are we truly tapping into that and all that they can give us? Right? Have we assessed that? And again, I'm right on the cusp of coming from that training and it was a lot of information and they are very knowledgeable. Um, I just don't know and I'm I'm I'm new so I don't know. But the the question I have is are we have we and are we tapping into what the league offers already fully and if we aren't have we asked the question of can they do this or we need this because they haven't met our needs right but you know luminance seems like they are will be available and they can and they you know they these teams like these these deliverables seem admirable and great but I'm just concerned with um you know 66 $6,000 doesn't seem like a lot when you're getting a big ROI, right? But I don't I I just want to make sure um that we've done our due diligence, that we've we've made sure that the league is giving us what they're supposed to give us, and if they haven't, have we asked the question of why, and can they give us um more information or lobby whatever it is that we we think that we're not getting?

Yeah. Well, those are I'm sorry. I was going to say for us to do that we would probably have to hire like Orion for legislative type things you know or you know or somebody specific like like we hired Ryan to do you know economic development like if we want legis like but then to hire someone we would have to find someone and they would have to do all the work and develop but this is already to me it looks like a built-in service that they can do for this price and then at the end of two years we can see okay do we like are we getting anything out of it? And maybe well, we'll hire someone to just do that.

And I'll say we just went through this with Central. So, we had a um firm before Lumen. They went through a pretty rigorous um vetting process with the Central staff as well as with the executive board. We're also part of League of Municipalities and they were not able to dig in and help with some of these specific projects for the nine regions that nine counties that they represent. So I think this is much more personalized and dedicated than what you get with league municipalities. They're like big umbrella, but they're not going to dig in and go say, "Okay, we're going to go and ask for Harrisburg to get a train station." That's not that might be on their broader transportation plan, but you're buying for the same dollar across all of those.

But have we asked them? Yeah. So, if you if you look at this this list, there are things they don't do and we have asked draft bill drafting. The league will not draft a bill for a specific municipality.

They're not going to review that state bill language for a municipality. They may say, "Hey, for for everybody, these are kind of the broad strokes." Um, they're not going to engage the congressional delegation on Harrisburg's behalf. They might do it on the league's behalf, but that's a league. That that's not us. Um, council staff and and community briefings. Again, how does it affect every community in the entire state? Yes, they'll give a briefing on that. How does it affect the high growth suburban communities outside of Charlotte and Raleigh? No, they're not going to break it down to that. They're not going to develop a bi-annual budget for the town. Um they're not going to represent the town with the legislators. They're definitely not going to advocate for specific appropriations for the town. Um

on those briefings, could we expect that to be like we get a briefing from finance and police and all that or is it going to be here's an email, read it, Sarah? How would how would we do our quarterly council briefings? I will be at any meeting you want me to be at to provide an update. But come Saturday, we're there all day. [laughter] I'll be there on Saturday. Anytime you want. Um, no. Likely what we will do. Um, and and this is open for discussion. However, you best want, you know, get the information or want the information, we can accommodate that.

Typically, I would say when we are in session, um, they typically will finish up their work on Thursday afternoons. So either Thursday evening or Friday morning, you're going to get an email from me with an update about that week. But now as far as presenting in meetings or I mean all it is all up for discussion for how um you know you you want that information presented to you. Um but we have a we can create videos, we can create written updates. Um but for sure when they are in session that will be weekly um except when there are urgent situations that arise because things either sit really really slowly in the general assembly or they move like that and so we really want to stay on top of that. So if there is something urgent obviously we're not going to wait until the end of the week to notify you of that. Um and just as an example, um Wednesday the um the House Committee on Property Tax Reform and Reduction will be meeting. So I know that's of interest of everyone. So as soon as that meeting is over um or within that same afternoon, you'll get an update of what was covered in that meeting that would be of interest to you. And I'll brag on Sarah for a little bit because we actually had an executive board meeting with Lumen Strategies and I think like two hours prior to our meeting they had that committee meeting and we had a one-page summary that far exceeded any updates we got from anywhere else. So thank you for that. Thank you very sharing that.

In the event that this would get approved, could we ask that we get a quarterly update? Yeah, I mean quarterly council briefings are included in this. Um and again we can we can develop how we want that report and you could you fold that into your town manager report.

Oh for sure we could fold it in there and and you know once we're we're I think it's it's session and timing specific there may be times for instance we need to facilitate an agenda workshop. We need to set our agenda that's really coming from from the board right and so something like that we we probably all need to meet and and set that. Now, we're going to want to get all the information from staff first and understand what are the pinch points, what are the problems that we have. Now, when we we do updates moving on, well, I think if it's a lighter update, it might be something that's good in a managers update at a council meeting. If it's really heavy, some of these workshops that that we're putting in, that could be something we invite the folks at Lumin out and say, "Hey, why don't why don't you come out and and tell us all the big stuff that is going on or give a briefing." But it really this this gives you the opportunity to craft that how you want. Um I've been at the town nine years now. I have a pretty intuitive feel for the quality that is expected when we do something. And so I think you either don't do it or you do it right. And I I I do think option three and lumen strategies are the right choice and the right product in order to get what you what you need done. Now, can we still, you know, use the league and use Central and you sure there's strength in numbers there, but I think this really fills the the gap in between what maybe the chambers priorities are, what Central's priorities are, what the league's priorities are, and what Harrisburg's priorities are. And if those diverge, we've got our own advocacy. we don't we don't have to get in line behind all of the the larger cities that typically dominate the league.

I I just have two more quick questions. Are you guys physically in Raleigh and Washington anyway? Are there people there? So, I will be um when session is in. I actually live in Hickory. Um but I will be in Raleigh a significant amount of time when they are in session. Okay.

Um we do not have anyone on the ground in DC at this time. I do federal lobbying for the city of Hickory as well. And that experience has mostly been working with um staff in the district, but I will say that we have a really good partnership with a firm that is on the ground in DC. Should we need to engage them, we can absolutely do that at no additional cost to you. That's something that we have discussed. Typically, I think you'll find federal lobbying to be around grants. Um it's rarely policy change. I mean, that can that can come up. I actually worked on an EPA issue um for the city of Hickory, but typically it's about getting support for your grants and things like that that we can do mostly through email and phone calls with um congressional staff.

Okay. And that was my second question. We're not on the This is a fully loaded number. We're not on the hook for travel and Absolutely not. Okay. Oh, so you winning me a little bit. So, I mean, I don't like it. I like to [laughter] have that that extra piece. However, um if we when if this is approved and we start working on this and it and we don't get these things that we're talking about, what's the termination like? How does that work? Like, you know, are we fixed in two years? Like, I just want to have be clear on that. No, I'd have to look back at the at the contract language, but I think it's

I was say in in fact, I believe I'm pretty sure in the contract there is a 60-day termination clause. So, you do not have to go through the whole two years if you are unhappy um with our services, which you will not be, but if you are um a 60-day termination clauses, yeah, I was going to say it's 30 to 90. Okay. Okay. Sarah. Any other questions for Sarah or Rob? Should this move forward, you'll be at this meeting on Wednesday that you just referenced? Correct.

Okay. Okay. If there's no other question, is there a motion to approve the 2-year contract with Lumen Strategies for 66,000 per year for legislative advocacy and education services? Motion. Is there a second? Second. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Is everybody approved? Did you I raised my hand. I mean, I just asked questions for clarity, not to disagree. Oh, no. I raised my hand for yes or no. Everybody. Okay. Thank you. Motion. Motion is carried. Thank you, Sarah. It's like, wait, I can't see. All right, with that, we do let's see action items. Oh, wait. Oh, yeah. I do have one. Thank you, Brian. [clears throat]

You mind just giving us the title slot?

All right. So, uh this evening, the last item of new business that we have is a resolution and an oath of office, um for a deputy finance officer. So [clears throat] the finance director title and assistant finance director title are uh slightly different than the finance officer designation. So the finance officer designation um you can have a couple in a town. And so that's right now we've got myself and Lee that are finance officers. So that means that we can pre- audit contracts and agreements, sign [clears throat] checks, open up bank accounts, and initiate transfers. And so we would like to add a third finance officer to the team. And so we've have uh Maggie Padudo who's our assistant finance director. She's been in that [clears throat] role for a little over a year now and been with the town for about four years. And uh last year she also got certified as a North Carolina certified local government finance officer. Um so Maggie is the person that makes me look good in all the presentations I have with you all and she's very highly trusted. Um, and so I'm really happy and proud of her um to to get this appointment from you all with your approval tonight and see her take her up. So any questions before we

you know Maggie was she came on during co and I and the only reason I remember this Maggie is [clears throat] we would look at who's all in chat on the uh council meetings and I'm like who's this in Paduto who [laughter] and I Yeah. So I could remember looking up your name a [laughter] few times. Yeah, she's been at every meeting for years. So, I'm a dedicated YouTube and Zoom attendee. Your attendance was noted. [laughter] Are you ready to take the oath, Maggie? Let's do it. [clears throat] Oh, what? Jennifer

Rob I don't think the town coun the town council doesn't approve. The deputy finance office just has to be sworn in. Okay.

Raise your right hand. I, Margaret Badudo, do solemnly swear I Margaret doly swear that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States. That I will support and maintain Constitution and laws of the United States and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina, not inconsistent there, not inconsistent there. and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office as deputy finance officer for the town of Harrisburg as deputy finance officer for the town of Harrisburg. So help me God. So help me God. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause]

BRIAN, quick question. Lee's Lee saying you do have to have council approve the the appointment. A resolution. Yeah, there is a resolution. Do they need to make a motion for that? Okay. So, as soon as the mayor sits down, we'll make that motion. And too late now take rewind.

[clears throat]

head. So with that, is there a motion to approve the swearing in and oath of office for deputy finance officer Maggie Padutoo? Motion. Second. All in favor? Motion is carried. action items. Rob, what do you have? I think we had some questions about the sidewalk and the park building. Yes, we added money. We'll follow up with you what that cost addition [snorts] stuff if it's over. We'll come back on that.

James have my mic on. Um, let's see what else I had. Uh, I did get a question from um, council member Glover about statute um, authority on the mayor presiding over the meeting. So, I'll send that out. But that's really all my question. You asked where it was written. is that I mean if it's not an action item. No, my question was about the singular ability to determine whether or not a name plate was changed. It wasn't about presiding over a meeting.

Yeah, that that is that is the genesis of that. The mayor presides over the meeting. She's in control of the dis. It's not a a manager administrative thing. So, um I'll send that out. But there's there's there's not going to be a state legislative authority that says you can or cannot and who controls name plates and things on the dis. it's just inherent in the um presiding over the meeting part. But of course, you know, that's up to council if you decide to to change that. But there is no council policy that we have u that contradicts that. So that's again like Councilman Smith had mentioned, it's how it's been the nine years I've been here. That is what's used as presiding over the dis instance like the agenda. Yes. I said, you know, we create the agenda from staff, but it's the mayor's agenda. Like the mayor can add, delete, say, we're not putting something. The mayor sets the agenda, and that's a singular decision that your mayor gets to set. Um, now council can add things to to an agenda with the four votes. Um, but the mayor can add things to the agenda just through that presiding language. So, I'll send that. But that's the only if that's an action item, that's the only

Yeah. Yeah, I just I don't want to belabor, but I it would be helpful cuz I I don't think the issue is about presiding. I think the issue is the departure of of the decision to to to not have the name plate in the website indicate the title. I think that's the issue cuz I think we're all clear on presiding and as long as the mayor is here, you know, she presides that's not that's clear. I read it in the statute. That's not I don't think that's the question. I just want to be clear on what the action item is and what we're asking.

What was the question for me then? So the question is uh because the statute says that no singer singular vote or person can make a decision. It needs to be collective a collective decision by the council. And so the question so because the mayor uh mayor te wanted uh it it not to be the case as it has been in the past. So that's where the department that's where the discrepancy is. is why now is there discrepancy on the title and the website not about presiding over the meeting and and so I guess and I don't want to speak for you counciloman Glover but I think the question is where is that right because it's not about the meeting it's about this dis this um

the name plate in the website you know that's the question and if you can show that to me because I've been done a thorough

uh check on that and I it's not it's not clear so it's up for interpretation and My concern is that it's very subjective, right? And my concern also is that is if this is a direction that we're going to go in two years there's going to be another election. And so if we're going to make that and it's let me let me finish and in two years it's going to be another election, right? And so I want it to be documented. If we depart right, from what we've done in the past and what other uh municipalities in Cabaris County has done and other places in the state have has done, we need if we want we need to have that on record that that's what we decided to do and that's what procedure and governance says. Yeah. And and that's all good. That's not an action item for me, though.

But I'm just making it clear. I'm just making it clear since you brought it up. I'm just making it clear what the ask is.

Yeah. I I think I thought and maybe I'm wrong that councilwoman Glover asked me where that's that's written at the count that the mayor decides on a name plate. My understanding of that is because the mayor presides over a meeting. She's in charge of this dis. I think Councilman Smith mentioned it earlier. That's how it's always been. Whether or not you know you want to talk to you know town attorney through some emails and send these statutes and stuff that's just not a staff thing and and the other stuff isn't. But if there was a action item there, that's what I was bringing up is that I can send that mayor presides statute, but that that would be the only thing I have. [clears throat]

There is one item I didn't get a chance to say earlier and I forgot. I think we'd all be a miss if we didn't is Casey did have her baby. I saw today. So, we wish her well. Um, yeah, she's done a lot of communication for us and I think that's the least we could do for her is at least wish her well during this time. Yes. Very nice. Thank you, Jared, for being in the audience with us tonight.

Casey's learning a lot right now with her first child. So, um, and um, one more thing, mayor, I just wanted to, you know, we we talked about a lot of stuff tonight, but I did want to thank our our staff in general and our community members that that showed up. I do think we it's very unique. We're doing so many things and our staff [cough] I I [clears throat] couldn't be more proud of what our staff does on a daily basis to get all of these things done and we always do it in in the highest quality and the highest fashion. And I think you you've seen that from some of the residents that come in who have just said, you know what, just thank you. We we've done a great job. You've done a great job. I love living here. You you heard me gush on this with our quarterly report um last month, so I I won't go into it again, but I'd be remiss to say, you know, we do just have a phenomenal staff. They work really hard. Um we push them pretty hard. We ask them for a lot of things and and they do a great job and our community is very supportive and that's not that's not normal right now either. I think society um we take for granted how good a community we have here in Harrisburg is, but society in general is kind of um up in arms right now. But I I really appreciate our community rallying behind us and I appreciate the the work that our staff does on a daily basis.

That's all I have. We do not have a need for close session. So with that, is there a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. Second. All in favor? Meeting is concluded.