Town Council - Regular Meeting

the Scholes, the Vandereets, and Mike's family there. So, I appreciate everybody coming tonight. But, uh, I got a special guest to do our invocation. He's done it one time before, but I'd like to bring up Stuart Ramirez. Stuart is a me, uh, in Stallings, lives in Kerry Green. Uh, I've worked with him since 2013 with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He works full-time for Fellowship of Christian Athletes here in Union County. And then he helps me with Thank you, David Ch. and he and I do independence together where I went to high school. So, and then uh Mark Talbert right there in the tan jacket is the one that hired Stuart for FCA in 2013 somewhere in there.

And uh Stuart is Mark Tabert's been a longtime friend. I think he went to elementary school with my wife and I've known Mark since high school. So, we played ball together. So, he's Thank you for coming tonight. So, after this I'll I'll talk a little bit more.

You need to introduce your family. I will in a minute. I'll let them get to Stew a little bit. Go ahead, Stewart. Kick us off. Let's go to the Lord. God, it's an honor recognize you first, Lord. You are the governor authority, Father of all. Your word says in Romans 13:1, "Let every person be subjected to governing authority." There's no authority except from God. And those who those who exist have been instituted by God. Whoever resist the authority resist God. Lord, we just want to come to you now and thank you for what I've done done for many years here. Father to many people in this town, many different type of works here. We just thank him this team here Lord that put in the time and effort to get started. Lord God, we want to welcome David Scholes now and his his team. Father, I pray that you give David wisdom. Give this team wise counsel. Build this town up. All subjected to our with. Father, you are the the one authority, Lord, that Washington, Father, we give you praise, opportunity, Lord, to pray. right away start a new year.

Amen. Thank you, Stuart. Y'all please rise. We'll do the stat uh pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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.

All righty. First up is uh uh public comments. Uh we open it up to the public. Anybody wants to talk for three minutes and uh had a couple people said they were going to show up and talk for three minutes, but they didn't didn't show up, so didn't have to gave them down. But uh so we'll kick off the uh meeting here. We got a consent agenda with the minutes and the audit contract extension. Does anybody have any questions on those? No. Mayor move approval. Motion by Brad to approve the consent agenda. I'll second. Second by Steven. All in favor? Eyes have it. All right. Reports from the mayor. So, I got a few things.

So, uh if any of y'all have ever been to a meeting, I don't talk much, but I'll have to talk a little bit tonight. So, first off, I I'll introduce my family. Uh, who my wife I don't think has ever been to a meeting, but she's here tonight. That's Terry, my wife. That's right. First and last.

Yeah. So, we've been together 52 years. So, uh, known long. Then I have my daughter to her who um Ally Dunn who lives I've told y'all lives here in Stallings over at Stone Creek Town Homes. But uh she rep represented Stallings in 2016 as most of you know I like to brag on her is Miss North Carolina. And then uh she rep she was Miss Stallings in Miss North Carolina. So she's here. And then we have Tyler. Don't raise your hand. Tyler's you know I brag on him. He's my US Navy pilot now. He flies for American. And then and then my oldest, he's just a chemical salesman just like me. That's all we do is we sell chemicals and make money. That's all that's all we do. So, uh, they surprised me and got me here. But, uh, some other people I'd like to recognize is Jill Reed. Jill, hold your hand up there so everybody knows who he is. When I ran for election in 2005, Jill Reed and Linda Paxton were one of the ones that uh, helped me get elected. And so, I couldn't have done it without Jill's leadership. She's a very smart lady and I just thank you for your friendship and your leadership when it got me elected there in 2005. So, thank you. a few uh uh other when we had our uh 50th reunion or celebration at the park, they asked me a few things about the highlights. And so some of the highlights, you know, in our my 20 years here that some people have been here all 20 years, but some have not is one of the biggest things that people don't realize the bypass and Linda Paxton and I uh were the two people that wanted to bypass where it is right now. There was a huge contingent that wanted it to run through fair fair haven pl fair haven neighborhood and the stallings elementary parking lot and that made no sense to us. So we we won that battle and so the other thing was the school uh we got uh uh my neighbor and Jill's neighbor Bruce Randall his wife Brooke

Randall was the one that spearheaded getting Stallings Elementary where where it is now. She led the charge. They were going to build it out by the airport which made absolutely no sense. we didn't have one. So, she led that charge. And then secondly, the board of education wanted to name it after some bureaucrat and and Monroe. And so, we had to go down to BOE meeting and get that uh changed there. And so, finally, they voted for Stallings Elementary. Another big achievement is the hospital. Uh I didn't have anything to do with that. I think they just, you know, the land is uh the location is great and so it's just a great place to have a hospital. due to the location, but uh I'll take credit for it since it was on my my term. So, uh but uh and I've had to use it twice since uh so works out pretty good. And then the other thing is uh that a lot of people remember is we've had two tax decreases in in Stalling's uh history the last 20 years and both of them were led by me. So, uh, I'm very proud of that. And so, we cut some spending down and made some cuts and so, but services remained high. So, I was very proud of that. So, those are some of the highlights. But, uh, I just want to thank some other people. We had a nice lunchon today. But, Aaron Nichols, the town clerk and assistant town manager, she's a wonderful lady and just keeps me uh, informed and couldn't do it without her. Melanie Cox, our attorney, is wonderful. keeps us in in line there and just unbelievable attorney. So, thank you for everything you've done for us. Uh Karen Reed is not here. She's been with us a long time. She's our personnel director. Then we got our chief of police, Dennis Franks. I can't thank him enough for what he's done for my family and then because whenever I call him, he needs me. He he he responds. And so, just thank you very much, Chief. Uh Ununice sitting beside her is our park and recck director. If you haven't gone over and seen our park, uh, Saturday night we had an unbeliev another

unbelievable turnout. I don't know how many children were there, but I I would have guessed it was over 200. And then, uh, they just surrounded Santa Claus when we lit up the tree. It was just a nice, you know, just a great a great feeling that uh, we're doing things to help the community and the community falls in behind us and appreciates what we're doing. So, uh, let's see who and then of course these these people up here and then congratulate David Schaw here. He'll take the oath of office here in a little bit and congratulations to Brad and then John Vandere and Mike. Congratulations to y'all. So, it's been a great 20 years and then of course I thought I was going to retire and then uh a few people called and wanted to know if I'd want to run for county commissioner. So, uh I am. So, uh, so we'll see how that goes. So, uh, in March. So, I appreciate any support and any guidance and, uh, any any advice anybody can give me, but, uh, they asked me to run a couple years ago, but I turned them down, but, uh, it might make sense, but I get some time off there. But, thanks again for everybody up here, and I appreciate it. And, uh, we'll go from there. So, uh, reports from our council members. Anything? Well, I would um I echo your sentiments about Ununice and the parks department. That was a beautiful ceremony and festival on Saturday, but I also like to thank her for the veterans breakfast. I mean that I was really touched by, you know, just being together with I'm a veteran with other veterans and, you know, going over, you know, where where'd you serve, where'd you serve, what' you do, and

that kind of thing. So, thank you, Ununice. Did a great job. Yeah, Stephen, I don't really have anything official. I did want to say thank you. Uh you've been a mentor since I joined uh the chaos here. I know that we didn't always agree on budget type things. I like to spend money. He likes to save money, but uh but uh I do appreciate everything that uh your mentorship, your knowledge, and your help while being here. You're welcome. Well, you're a big asset to the town. Thank you.

All right, David. Any report? It's hard to follow these, but I will try. Um, Alex and I went to the uh annual chamber awards gayla at the a center the other last Thursday and um at was up for best what was the title? Best something best big business uh employer of choice

employer of choice which is something that's pretty um something we should all all businesses should be aspiring to I suppose. and they uh didn't win, but they got a nice chance to meet the director or talk with him again about projects. They're in the middle of beginning the process to more than double the hospital beds there and the tower is underway. Oh, is it? Oh, okay. Seth Seth was there. No, Michael Jordan. Oh, okay. He was there. So, always a good uh not the Michael Jordan. Clarify that. So does he, although you wouldn't know it. It's nowhere near it. Um, and Wyatt, it's been a pleasure sitting next to you or near you um for 10 years. I mean,

appreciate all that you've done for the town and all all you've done for mentoring all of us and me, too. You're welcome. You've been great asset to the town. Mayor, no report for me, but thank you for your service, too. A big inspiration. All right. All right. Any reports from our town departments? Chief Ununice Jesse. Oh, Unice, you have a

All righty. Well, lastly, I'll say uh I mentioned the the the service we had uh at the uh park to lighten the Christmas tree to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It's It's my favorite event of the year and town staff allows me to read the Christmas story and uh I tried to go uh off uh by memory this year and my wife said I did a fair job but but I was following United States Congressman and a preacher Mark Harris and uh who is a you know just a wonderful speaker and led us off with a beautiful prayer. But uh and my wife Arg and I've debated this for years. I don't believe in the separation of church and state. So when we meet our maker, you know, I don't want him to have any doubts of where I stand. So thank you all. So with that, we got our agenda approval. Any changes? Anybody backing out of office? May I make a motion to approve the agenda?

All right. Motion by Brad, second,

second by Lori. All in favor? I I have it. All righty. Okay. your right. I, David Schul, do solemnly swear that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws. I, David Schaw, do solemnly swear

I, David Schaw, do solemnly swear that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States. that I will maintain maintain and support the laws of the United States and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina and the Constitution not inconsistent therewith not inconsistent therewith. and that I will faithfully discharge the duties And I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office of my office as mayor of the town of Stallings Town Council. as mayor of Stallings Town Council. So help me God.

So help me God. My daughter bought me a bought it and um with one of the more meaningful well they're all meaningful with grandpa. So before I was mayor and now that I am the mayor I state your name.

Constitution and law. not inconsistent therewith I will faithfully discharge presence. Yeah. I, Michael Cousins,

I, Michael Cousins, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support and maintain that I will support and maintain the Constitution and law and laws of the United States of the United States and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith not inconsistent therewith and that I will faithfully discharge and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office as a member of the Stalling town council as a member of the Stallings Town Council. So help me God.

It's official now, man. I John and maintain Constitution and Law

of the United States. Constitution of laws. Wyatt, if you wouldn't mind coming to the podium. You're unofficially. Well, you're you are what you are. Our excellent our excellent

mayor. We have a few things for you. Recognition of your proclamation honoring your service. proclamation honoring the service of Wyatt Dunn as mayor and council member for the town of Stallings, North Carolina. Whereas Wyatt Dunn has faithfully served the town of Stallings as council member since December 2005 and mayor since December 2013 and years of service have been marked by Mr. Dun to the best interest of the community. Now therefore be it proclaimed that the mayor of the town of thereby express sincere appreciation and thanks to Mr. D for his distinguished service to the community. Our best wishes in our future and we all know that this is one of your favorite things to do.

Oh yeah. We have most recent Y don't come to I mean you come every year. It's an amazing tree. Now this is something that I often wonder what we do with this. You'll find a reason something to do with it. It's a key to the city.

There we go. in the park. Wanted to make sure you had everybody seen it. It's on one of our

not in every single letter. All right. Thank you. There's one more thing. Oh, yeah. All right, we're leaving.

Good night. Oh, bring him up. Got you. Thank you. Oh, Mike and John, if you please would come up for now, find an empty seat. We'll do seating next uh next meeting. Hi, Clarence. I'm not leaving. Bye. Bye, Mayor. That's awesome. Thank you. Bow, please. On your knees.

All right. Now, we got got to get some work done here tonight. um organizational uh appointments to various committees. Uh let's start with my left and move that way. Unless you guys have a preference on which way we go and how we do this or let's just go by the agenda. Never mind. I see that the agenda appointment of the mayor prom. We'll nominate Brad Richardson for mayor prompt. Second. All in any others. All in favor? I

I

All right. Thank you. Excuse me. Appointment of Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization Karpo uh alternate delegate for that one. It's kind of an unusual slightly unusual. Brad is the vice chair of the Karpo. I don't think we want to move Brad out and put me in because I'm not going to be the vice chair. That's an influential position. So, my thought would be that Brad would be the the mayor's automatic. I will be his backup, but Brad would be the primary since he is also vice chair. That would be my preference.

So, you can't make that. I think it's a vote. It's a vote, isn't it? Do we have to? So maybe maybe it'd be we just make a recommendation and then second and vote on it each one of them. Okay. So I'll make a a uh recommendation that Brad continues to be our CRP PTO uh primary delegate. Second. Um all in favor? Yeah. All in favor? I.

And then I am the automatic de delegate. So I'll be number two. In this case, I'm going to let Brad continue in that primary role because that's pretty important. Um appointment of Central Regional Council delegate and alternate. Another very similar case. I am the um vice chair of the Central organization. Um I'm going to be that. I'm going to remain as that. So why I need a backup for central although I don't need to I don't need you the backup won't have much to do. So if you're interested in learning more about the region I'll do the backup because I think I'm the backup now technically think you are now I think about it.

Everybody good with that? That as well do we have to vote or just a consensus? I'm looking at the rules right now. I feel like it's I think it's better to vote. All right. Make a motion Steve be the backup alternate for CRC. I'll second. Okay. All in favor? I I Okay, that's done.

Planning board of adjustment. That has um John was interested in that. Anybody else interested in planning board? The liaison to the planning board. It's important to attend as many as you possibly can. I think over the the years it's uh hit or miss. Um there's a lot going on and the more interaction there is I think the better. So this one needs inperson attendance rather than catching it online and talking about it later. So

John, you will serve nominate John for the planning board. And Mike as the backup and feel free, you know, not totally a backup. You can go as often as you want. That's right. I'll second that. Oh, so that's that's a great point. So it's not a backup. It's two council members serving for two years. So I nominate John and Mike to be the planning board, board of adjustment members.

All terms are two years except aster. Okay, got it. So we're nominating John as the planning board rep. Is that correct? Want to do it? M. No, go ahead. Okay. Oh, it's John. John. All in favor or second? Second. All in favor? I. All right. Community committee. I want I've talked about jumping back to that one. Who's currently serving? Uh, Graham and

Taylor Ray. Taylor Ray. I'll do the community um community committee also. Is this two or one? Two. Perfect. Um let's go. I'll make a motion for Steve and Lauri to be a representative to the community committee. I'll second. All in favor? I I Hey, this council's going along pretty quick tonight. Transportation. Oh, wait. Wouldn't that combined with something? Yes. Leave that as a typo. So, please say storm water and infrastructure.

I'm currently on that one and I would like to stay on that one. Mike. Yes. I'd like to do that as well. Both of you. I move for Steve and Mike to be on the storm water infrastructure committee. I'll second. All in favor? I. Got it. Thank you guys. historical committee. Who's on it now? I'm on it now. And the mayor, I I can stay on that one. Um, okay. That's two people. How about Graham? Well, who who is the same person? Okay. When you said the mayor, did you mean this mayor or the old mayor? The old mayor. Wyatt was on there with you.

Yes. Okay. So Lori and then one more. Put Graham on. Okay. All right. In his absence, we'll just nominate Graham. All right. Well, if he doesn't like it, he can we can talk to him. I move for Lori and Graham on the historical committee. Second. All in favor? I I Hey, do I get to vote anymore? You don't get the vote. Must be a hard habit to break. only there's a time. Yes. Five of us. So we uh school system UCPS. Can I nominate one person? This is one person.

Am I allowed to nominate? Just not vote. Nominate John. Oh, never mind. I concur. John John worked for the school system long time. He knows a way around. Oh, did you second that? I I do have a question around this one. Um I don't recall us ever talking about this one here in six years as far as Oh no, it's it's a any any type once once the school system got built a school built got built and if they ever needed trailers that would be an issue we would have to leazison with. Okay. If if it happens but they're running on their own and well there was probably some discussion when when it came to an SRO.

Yeah. Okay. So occasionally but not much. Don't recall us ever talking about this one. Quad allow alliance. Um going to do that as well as I'll be the primary on WMA. And you wanted off of Wuma or I think I wanted to be secondary. Um That another one person. Yeah, that has an asterisk.

Well, informally, I was the backup to Stephen. So, when Steven couldn't make it, I just I did it a couple times a year. So, we can change that though in the meeting, right? That's up to the bylaws of

usually we every place does have a primary and a secondary. We'll figure it out. But for now, I will wa but I might defer to Stephen since he's ongoing and I know Mike was interested in it if but he's been doing it and I think it needs well it needs a leader. Somebody's been involved and knows this side of the county pretty well. It's always open though. So and we're very uh so I mean and it's going to be interesting to see who participates going forward with the turnover of um you had mentioned there would be some turnover there's going to be

a lot well I would say 20% 30% of the folks so we definitely I think there's definitely going to need to be effort put forward to make sure that it keeps running and I think that with kind of this changeover it's going to give us an opportunity to uh reorganize a little bit. You need to um my opinion um Indian Trail and Waxaw need to be participants, active participants. Waxaw is Waxaw is

well without Indian Trail still the biggest town in the county on the also on the western side. So I think guys don't get along very well. I don't care. All right, that takes care of the committees. Um, clarification on the quad. Yeah. So, that's the mayor. So, I'm move that the mayor mayor mayor represent on the quad alliance and Wilma and Wilma. Second. I can't. No, I'll second. All in favor? I

I thank you. There you go. All right. Did you guys write your um committees that you got appointed to down as we went along? Aaron did. Yeah, I I did. But did everybody get something they're interested in? Yes. Um we can address this later. I know Graham isn't here and he only got one, but and I don't want to hog everything either, but there's a couple of important ones that the mayor's always involved in. So, um, moving on. Rules of procedure readoption. Sent that out, didn't you? Yes, sir.

You ever have a chance to read it, understand what the rules of the procedure are? I forgot to ask earlier today. No changes, right? There are no changes. Just our policies. Those are I'll make a motion to approve the rules of procedure readtion. Second. All in favor? I I I approval of the 2026 holiday schedule. That also went out in our our packet.

I move that we approve the 2026 holiday schedule as um up to us. Second. All in favor? I annual retreat date January 24th, 26. Did we skip the uh meeting schedule? Yes, we did. Thank you. Good catch. Approval of 2026 meeting schedule. That we approve the uh 2026 meeting. Second. All in favor?

I now annual retreat January 24th, 26. Do we decide on the location? Perfect. Everybody good with that? Yes. So, do we feel comfortable? I mean the last couple years it's been like at the end of the year I mean end of February and our uh host has said that it's been difficult to get everybody's input before that date. Do we feel like I mean

that's only that's only a like three weeks before after everybody's back from vacations and holiday. Do we feel comfortable that that's going to be enough time for us to get everything together? And Great question, Council Member Ays. I've talked with Mr. Walton and he believes it is enough time. Okay. All right. Concur. I mean, I already have my meeting with him Wednesday, two days. So, pumping on it right right away. Okay. I just know that there's been some difficulty getting finished. There has been. Yes. All right. All right. Um,

so I move that we approve the um annual retreat in Jan on January 24th, 2026. I'll second. All in favor? I none. Thank you all. Got through that. I'm thinking we should probably go over it one more time. Make sure we're good. We good? Go over it one more time. Yes. Let's do that cuz I know that you want to do that. All right. Splash pad contract award. Ununice. Would you like to?

Mr. Mayor, as Miss Donley's approaching the podium here, I do want to mention that we are submitting the budget line item transfers request uh for the record.

Thank you. Good afternoon, council and new council members. Welcome. This is exciting. And thank you guys for pushing this agenda item as I was out of the last meeting when this was supposed to be on here. I love daycare, child care, and having a baby in sick season has been really wonderful for me. So, I appreciate you guys being flexible. This is the splash pad redesign project. This was approved in the fiscal year's budget. So, just to give you guys a little bit of a backstory, we have ran into issues with our current splash pad. The spheres have been a safety concern of ours for a few years. if you're familiar with it, they have these uh pretty round hollow concrete spheres out there that kids jump on. They stand on top of them. They bounce around and they are very expensive to replace. So, what has happened? We came to the last of our sphere that we've had in backstock. And to get these remade, it was going to cost the town to replace all of them about $45,000. So, and this is something we go through a sphere or two a season just due with the complexity of the design. So, we didn't think it was in the town's best interest financially to move forward with what's out there. We love the aesthetic look. So, that's how we came about this bid. So, just a little background too with the bidding process. It wasn't the most pleasant of those out there. Finding someone to come out willing to do this project was a little hard just with the nature of the beast, as you will. It's a pretty complicated system and the only company that would bid on it is the company that actually built the splash pad. So, kind of a best case scenario, they're familiar with our

system. I'm more than confident that they're going to be able to do the work. And that was after we extended the bid three times for the public. I've even had people come out. I've gave them a tour of the place and I think they're just a little nervous to touch it. It, like I said, it's a little complicated. Be like coming in and fixing a house that you didn't really work on. You don't really know the bones of it. So they were just kind of hesitant. So that's how we came to this bid. After working with the company, we have kind of landed on a design that we believe is the best fit for the town. And that is the cheapest option. Yay. The right under $40,000. And that is transforming all the spheres into just flush jets. So all that means is the water would come directly out of the ground. I'll show you a picture later next to see kind of what that'll look like, but it was probably the best case scenario. one for the safety that we wanted to address and also just keeping the aesthetic design of what is currently there. Now, in a few years, do we want to come in and maybe add something fun, change it out completely? Absolutely. But that is going to come with a price tag. We do believe that this is probably the best fit for the splash pad now, as well as making sure that it opens for our summer season. So, with this sphere removal, we also wanted to update our chlorination system to kind of just get with the times. So we're very fortunate to have a good contact in Monroe. So what we did is we went out there, we kind of our maintenance team looked at what is going to pass code inspection and what that is with us doing this new work. We're grandfathered in to an old system, but with changes we have to get up to code now. So what that looks like is taking all of our chlorination and it has to be in a separate building than what we currently have. I could talk about this all day, so I'll try to keep it short. We're proposing a chemical cabinet ourselves as well as the contractors think this meets state code. However, Union County is going to give us the final approval. So, that's why I'm asking for you guys to award the

contract for the price now up to that $110,000 that's in the budget cuz there is a chance they could come back say the chemical cabinet that is proposing bid does not fit their requirements. And all that means is we would kind of just put a small brick building attached to what we have out there. It wouldn't be anything crazy. We're just I'm a little nervous that they're going to have a hard time with the chemical cabinet, but that is the cheapest option. We still think it'll be aesthetically pleasing out there. So, it never hurts to ask. So, I would hate to kind of do something that's a little over our budget or, you know, right there at it when we could have got by with something that still fits our needs. I know I kind of ran through that a little fast. So, do y'all have any questions before I kind of show you what this will look like?

You mentioned that you want to have it done for summer. Like, what's a best case scenario timeline of of how this gets completed or when, I should say?

Oh, best case scenario is y'all say, "Thank you, Unice. We're going to approve the contract tonight. We'll let them know tomorrow and this work will start almost immediately." So, there's some stuff that they can get done inside the building with our chlorination system and the spheres will get removed as soon as the Christmas tree comes down. So, that's why we're trying to get this passed before the holidays are over. So, that way we can kind of work it together. We don't want them to come out here and do work while we have that Christmas tree. If y'all feel differently, please let me know, but I just didn't want them to kind of run into each other. Our season runs Memorial to Labor Day to just give you some background. So, we're hoping that gives us enough time to get this work completed before then. Thank you.

Yeah, of course. Thanks for asking the qu question. You have a question. Yes, Brad. Yeah. Did I did I understand you correctly that the the second service is the chemical cabinet system renovations by a Monroe company? Right. So, this is I'll retract because I could see how that was a little confusing. We went out and toured Monroe's splash pad. Our maintenance team did because theirs is newly built. So, we wanted to see what new code was, if that makes sense. A physical display that's actually in the county that the county approved for us to move forward with company or one company.

It is the same company. Same company doing two scopes of work. One being a chemical cabinet. And the question I have is a chemical cabinet. Is that like an above ground cabinet that holds the chemicals? Yes, sir. Makes sense. Yes, sir. But if it's not to code, the code might require a separate structure to be built that like would a brick lockable building. Correct. Could be the increasing cost. Correct. Yes. So, what we'll have to do is Monroe I'm sorry. What does Monroe have in their splash pad with regard to chemicals? Is it a structure like a brick building? Yes, sir. It's just almost like a small brick building attached. I mean, it's built off to what they store their pumps in. And we have the setup now to do that.

Oh, I was confused. I thought that the we might have new construction if the county says we need a new chemical cabinet building, right? It would just be an attachment to what we currently have. So, we have the the big house. This would be almost like putting a a small little doggy door for an example. That's probably the best way to think about it. And I'm happy to send y'all some photos. We got some We kind of went and did our homework at Monroe, so we took bunches of pictures. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, you're welcome. I know this thing's a little It's complicated and they have some tricky rules that change every year depending on what kind of happens.

For some background for you guys, this wasn't originally intended to be a splash pad. It was intended to be just a water uh a fountain kind of thing, a decorative fountain. So this whole chemical uh it was all a retrofit to a system that was never intended to do this in the first place. So just kind of a little bit of background there. Happy to give you a tour whenever you want. It's warmer.

Yeah. When it's warm or when it's warm. But happy to do that. Um but I'm happy to kind of scroll down and show you guys what the design would look like. Like I said, we're really not changing anything at all. But you guys kind of can see these flat jets out here. That's where the spheres are currently at. We're just replacing those with flush features. That is the only thing aesthetically changing. Going to bring that brick up. Um, still make it look nice. And I know on these they look a little confusing. They could only do so much. These are the benches that are already out there. I I was a little concerned that they looked very cornery for a

Yes, sir. a place a lot of kids are going to be running around at. So, I was kind of very sharp. Yeah. Um I did have a couple questions. Go ahead.

And and I've kind of talked to these through uh Alex already, but I guess when we talked about a redesign, I guess I went down a rabbit hole. I kind of thought we were going to kind of redo the whole thing. So, I mean, is this for the most part uh primarily to kind of get that chlorination system up to snuff and get rid of the spheres. And I guess the sec and the second question I had really was with the chlorination system getting fixed, if we decide a couple years down the road that we want to do something fancier with the with the splash pad, does that allow us to do it?

Yes, sir. So, one, you absolutely could change however you wanted. Uh, the great thing about these flush features is they're going to be something you could pop right out and put something a little bit crazier there one day down the road if you wish, but we thought this as of right now fit the aesthetics of what council wants. If that so does change in the future, you know, we're happy to walk down that route with you guys of what that looks like. I'll prepare you. It is pretty expensive. Um, so you're looking at something like that. And also just safety was our biggest concern. So putting anything out there, we just kind of got to look at that as well. But definitely a conversation that we could have. But as far as the chlorination system goes, we're definitely a little um just outdated. So there's some things we just need to change anyways. And just for example, Monroe's, their new chlorination system now has like a lightning detector on it. So it'll automatically turn off the splash pad. What we've been doing for the past 5 years is we have a lightning app and we actually have to be on site. So there's always someone here at the splash pad to make sure it gets turned off safely. So there's just some things too to kind of streamline our process that this is going to help us with for the community.

I just know that we've, you know, obviously we've been working a whole different whole bunch of different things trying to create destinations downtown. I mean, so obviously this is what is our destination town. So So that's where curiosity came up. All right. Yeah. I just want to keep it on. People will start coming from my job if this thing goes off. So, try to keep it running as smooth as we can. Pressure to to get any changes done before the season starts. Can you tell? Um, any questions,

Unice? As far as like the safety of not having the spheres there has was this design submitted to like our insurance provider to see if it is more favorable uh for safety reasons?

Yeah. So actually they were the ones when the lead came out and tooured the park. They had concerns of the spheres. So they were the ones that kind of started the conversation in my brain about two years ago about have y'all looked at taking these away? What's the next steps? If y'all go out and look at splash pads, they're very different than the one we have right now. Ours is definitely more of like Stephen said, the aesthetical fountain. So the removal of them are actually going to be uh very favored by the leak. So, we're excited about about that. Um because it gets pretty scary if you've been out there over the summer. People love it. Is wild. It's like parkour. So, yeah, it's pretty intense. But thank you for asking.

Anything else? Questions. You're looking for a vote. Yes, sir. I will scroll up to what I am asking for. So essentially, I just request the town council to move forward with awarding the splash pad renovation project to the fountain people and authorize staff to proceed with the flush jets option and chemical cabinet and system renovations not to exceed the $110,000 that was allocated for in the budget.

It's important to understand that that was already approved, not the project itself, but the 110 already in the budget. We already talked about it needing work, not knowing the details. Now we have the details and the amount. So 110 is not new money. It's already in the budget and and if we need more, we will have to come and ask you guys for that. So that will be part of that piece as well. How's the council feel? I move that we um approve the um splash pad renovations as explained by Ununice and um not to exceed the $110,000 that we've already allocated.

I'll second. All in favor? I passes yours. Thank you guys and the community thanks you as well. Have a great night. Thank you. Thank you. I I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I That was Well done, guys. And gone, mayor. And gal. You know when I say