Town Council - Regular Meeting

Denise is running a little bit behind, but she will join us in a few minutes, I believe. Everyone had an opportunity to look over the agenda.

Motion to adopt.

Second.

All right. Public comment. Mr. Danny McIntosh, first on the list. September's.

One of the big things going on is Katie's not here tonight. I'm going to talk about it. 15 years ago in September, Cooper and Jake were born. And Katie is now in Cincinnati with Cooper for his annual checkup. You know much about Katie's life story. You know that Katie has overcome a lot of obstacles. for all she's done. You may hear her complain. You can hear her a lot. You may hear her complain about something somebody else has done. You'll never hear her complain about her situation or her circumstances. She's pretty amazing among other things. All right, after that. All of you might remember the movie Dirty Dancing. Virginia. And that filming coincided with myself and Fred and Gerald Penland starting GWP as a trucking company that same year. We started in May, and by September, it was obvious that if I was going to do what paperwork was to do, I was going to have to have a copy. I went and ordered one at an office supply place out on Smoky Park Highway. I forget the name of it now. But anyway, this fellow came. He brought it, delivered it. He was setting it up. And I'm thinking, wow, this is a big deal for me. I ain't got anything like this. And he says to me, he said, you know anybody might be interested in a 1957 Chevrolet? I said, of course, the next question is, how much? He said, I want $3,500. I thought, well, you just spent $5,000 you didn't have on a coffee. So you're probably not going any further than that. I said, well, Gene Higgins and Dennis McCurry have a Chevrolet place. One of them might be interested in it. That's on West Main Street, just uptown, not far if you want to go by there and check it out. So he left and I went on. Didn't think too much more about it. Until I saw Dirty Dates. And then when I saw Patrick Swayze take that guardrail post up out of the ground and beat the back window of that 57 Chevrolet, I thought, uh-oh. You've made a bad mistake. That 57 Chevrolet brought quite a bit more than that $3,500 he was talking about. So, I don't have anything to do with the town. It just has to do with me and Dirty Dates. And the reason I thought of that, they are having a movie night up at the Mass General Store in the community room where they're showing Dirty Dates. And I was reading about that in this week's paper. So anyway, it's September, and I love September. Cut me off there, but send me a tax bill, and I'll pay you.

Thanks, Danny. All right. Mr. Chuck Ivey. Two good things.

Two good things.

I like that.

Thanks for all y'all are doing. Mayor, counselors, the rest of y'all. Two good things. So the Friends of Yancey County Library is going strong. We have full board. We have volunteers helping us shelve books and sell books. We're open every day that the library's open in there. The library generously gave us a really nice room. So if you haven't been up here, second floor, up the elevator and step off and you're looking at our door. So come on out and see what's going on there and become members of the Princeton Library. We'd love to have you. The second is, hey, no problem. Following up on Danny's comment last minute, the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival, And Corbin always does a great job of getting the room ready and helping everyone out there. I love that. I'm excited about the keynote author on Saturday night, Daniel Wallace. The one thing I remember is that he wrote a book called Big Fish. and became a movie, and became a Broadway play, and everything like that. So it's our chance in Burnsville to get some cool time with people who've done good things, literary-wise. So, Saturday night, come on out. It's a nice place to have a fest.

Thanks, Chuck. Ah, Miss Lucy Dahl. Block and stop sign.

And I want to add to what Jeff just said. In case you don't know, Fothound Bookstore has artwork by Daniel Wallace, which it's kind of cartoony, but that's kind of stuff I like. So some of it's signed and some of it's not. But definitely check that out. He's multi-talented. I want to object to the fact that there are flock cameras anywhere. We are not, should not be in a surveillance state. Yeah, it might grab a license plate or something, but it has been misused. It's not necessary. This is America. We are free to do what we want as long as it's not illegal. And those things need to just go away. And I think you're the guys that can make it happen, right? Because they're in town.

We don't have flock cameras.

There's one on the top of... What are the buildings around here?

Flock cameras are not what you're talking about. That's not what we have.

What are those? They're a company called Verkada. They don't go statewide, nationwide. They don't run plates automatically or anything like that.

So they're not flock?

No, they're not. It's a company called Verkada.

Okay.

It's separate.

All right. And is it a free service?

A free service?

Yeah.

No, we pay for the cameras. Yeah.

Okay. All right. Well, pardon me on that one, too. The other thing is, back on the bottom of Summit Street, there are two stop signs 20 feet apart. And Azalea Lane always had to yield. to summit because they're coming in from the right. And I can't remember now because it's ancient history, but Teresa Coletta got mad at me and wanted to make sure that I stayed upset about something. And so she had that stop sign put in. It's totally not necessary. And I very much like if people did not have to stop twice in 20 feet. Just let something be the right of way, have the right of way like it always used to. That's pretty much it, and I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Lucy.

Welcome, Denise. Thank you. Sorry I'm late. I told everybody you'd be just a few minutes away. I appreciate it. Everyone had an opportunity to look over the minutes from our regular meeting on July 30th and a special meeting on August 24th. Motion to adopt, Mr. Mayor. I'll second. All in favor?

No.

No public hearings, no presentations. We'll move on to Ms. Hockaday.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. everybody I'll start off with the 118 North Main renovation which is super super close to being finished they got most of the paving in the front done I believe and are working on the back had a meeting with the contractors and the architect today and they had a punch list of items inside the building that they're working through and getting closer I think they had about 40 small items left to go And then we'll be ready for a CO maybe by next week when they finish the pavement behind. So then we can make our plans on how these people are getting over there. So we're excited about that. Got any questions on that one? I put their monthly report. I'm getting my Harpers and my Herons mixed up. Harper's monthly report with photographs on what they did. Y'all should have that. We have a resolution to consider for entering into a commercial lease agreement for Area C with Remax with Leinart Realty. And they have already sent the lease back signed. So I would need a motion to approve the entering into the lease and authorizing the mayor to sign the agreement.

I'll make that motion.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Planning is underway for the Helene anniversary, the second anniversary event. It is being led by AMY Wellness and the county and the town and Chief Cares, which is the Eric Church Foundation. They have some really good stuff planned. We had our first meeting yesterday, but that will be on Sunday afternoon, September the 27th here on the square from 2 until it's either 5 or 6. I can't remember. They're still working on the run of show, but there's going to be entertainment and some speakers. and some special presentations for some very well-deserving groups in the community. So I want to just get that on everybody's radar. There'll be a lot more publicity about that coming. The Pine Swamp wastewater treatment plant. We have had a situation brewing out there in the three plant and Shane can give a lot more detail, but basically the gear drive has given up the ghost. We have to have it. We've been limping it along using the five plant, but then with the excessive rain we had last month, there's been some issues. The Department of Environmental Quality inspectors have been out. They have issued an NOV and so we have to get this taken care of. As soon as possible, we have a quote for emergency work from Heron Construction Company. They're already on site working on the county funded property or property project on our property or on the town's property to get this replaced. The quote is for $157,029. But we got to get this done because there's, you know, And there's no time to go through a long bidding process or anything like that. They're there. And they have been talking with Shane for a while, knowing that sooner or later something had to happen. But it's got to a critical issue now. And so they've made this proposal or given us there's a 12-week lead time. On the gearbox. So we're going to need to move kind of quick to get that ordered. And I just need, you know, y'all's approval. We do have it in capital outlay to pay. But we need to get it going. And I'm hoping that DQ, if they see us moving fast, they're going to abate any kind of fines or issues with that. So just really need approval to move that forward. And once we get contracting from Heron to allow the mayor to sign.

I have a motion to approve the emergency.

I make that motion.

I will let them know tomorrow. Okay. The EDC board is being revived. Miss Erica Dayton has offered up her services to the county to get this thing back and going. And the town, under their bylaws, has certain positions that we have to fill. And I'm going to look here on my list, because that's where I have it from Erica, to make sure I'm telling you the right... The right ones. I know that our mayor is supposed to take on the position as appointee of the council. If he can talk one of you other lovely people into doing it, then y'all can.

Any volunteers for any? Yeah.

Yeah. I think I'll pass, but thanks. This go around.

I know Judy did it for years. Judy sat on that board for years. Unless Russell really wants to do it.

I don't have to, do I?

No, you can be the mayor or the mayor's designee from the council.

Denise Collier said she'd love to.

Okay.

That was easy.

I cannot believe that.

Denise.

Well, I took high country from her. It's a trade.

It's a trade. Okay.

She gets to go to Burns, and I have to go to Boone. Right.

The next... Next year we'll switch. We'll swap back. Yeah, we'll swap back.

You're probably closer to Boone from your work now. Yeah.

I'm just joking. The next appointment for us this go-around, I don't know who came up with this idea, but anyway, it flops back and forth between the county and the town different, is financial services. So Jim Gentry... with Edward Jones has agreed to serve. That would be the next name on our list. Morgan Bryant has agreed to serve as a small business representative. She has a service business here in town. Bobby Hensley has agreed to serve from Glen Raven as the largest industry position. So those are the names, Jim Gentry, Morgan Bryant, Bobby Hensley. Denise Collier that we would need to appoint my understanding the county appointed theirs at their last meeting and then they're going to try to get this thing gender back up and hire a director and and move forward it would be great it would be so great yes it's been missed so motion to approve that list

I agree.

All in favor? Aye.

Before they change their minds.

Real quick.

Real fast. And the last thing I have is the tax report, which you guys have, which hasn't changed, I don't think, since last month. Other than we did have one that was outstanding. It had been in an estate, and someone came in and paid those. So we have less. But the big news on the tax front is the new tax bills are getting ready to go out.

There you go, man. Thanks.

There you go. And that's all I have.

Thank you, Heather. We'll move on to Mr. Fox with a clerk's update.

Thank you, sir. I got the updates to our employee handbook sent out to y'all with a couple pages of fairly minor updates. The vast majority of them were updating the language that had the personnel panel administrator to town manager, which was a long overdue update for new employees. It could be a little confusing. the way it read before, a few typos and consistencies that we've found, and then just various other topics that I listed that just needed some minor tweaking. And if you all are okay with that, there'll be some more stuff later on in budget time. We might do another little update next year. So those look good to you. I'll get them worked in, printed, and we'll have some stuff updated to hand out to folks.

Do you need a motion?

Any questions on the handbook?

No, he sent it out. It's pretty good.

So you just need a motion to approve. I'll make that motion. Second.

I'll second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye. Thank you. Two positions. We didn't have any other applicants, but both folks said they were willing to be reappointed if you all saw fit to do that. Both Ann Minore and Danny McIntosh are willing to serve another term, if that's okay with you guys. I have a motion to approve.

Motion to approve.

It's the best board you've ever been on, Danny. It's the best one you've ever been on.

Congratulations, Danny.

Congratulations.

Appreciate it. Thank you, Chad. Mr. Shane Dale, Public Works.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Waterline Project.

I guess everybody can kind of see from... Everything's complete. They are still a couple of things that we're trying to work through. Some of the old lines have still got some water on them that we're trying to figure out where it's being fed from. So they will be probably just a little bit more digging in a few different places where we're going to cut and cap some of this stuff and try to get the old lines dry like what they should be. The main line project You can see everything's on that side down there now. What they're wanting to do as far as the timeline right now is try to lay the rest of their line completely out before they test anything and come back and make their tie-ins. So what did he say today? Maybe a month from now in that neighborhood?

To get from... So they've tested down to... They've tested to Bennett Street. To Bennett Street. So from Bennett Street and they're...

Down around Indian Trail.

Yes. So when they've got to get to the laundromat or just right beyond it. Right at Hunter Street. Right at Hunter Street. So they don't have too much further to go. It just takes, they thought it made more sense to wait and test that second run. And I think they were talking about paving the top.

Yeah. Looking at paving this section here down to Benick Street because you really wouldn't want to pave anything past Benick Street because you have to dig anything back up. And then they've still got a few areas back through here off of Main Street and a couple of parking lots that they've got trenches cut through and a few little spots here or there that they're gonna try to get in the next couple of weeks and try to get that situated. As far as the water line projects, we're getting closer. Still not there, but we're getting closer. I can say anything that's on the side streets over there, they will be a little bit more digging in a few different places. We're looking at three different spots right now to try to maybe get some of these old lines, get the water out of them. It's still traveling through them. It shouldn't be. It's just a lot of stuff that was tied in that was never mapped. There's probably some old 2-inch lines that's running around that nobody knows about. Truthfully. That's pretty well where we're at on all that.

Thanks, Shane. Ms. Leslie.

Thank you, sir. I don't really have anything. I sent the budget versus actual out in the overtime report. But I'll probably bring in a budget amendment maybe next month. Maybe depending on the project ordinance update, just depending on for at least the building, just to see. But I'm getting ready to start auditing. So other than that, that's about it.

Do you have any feel for the new auditor?

Well, I've uploaded.

Not yet.

I've uploaded. Chad's uploaded. Jackie's uploaded. But 50 items. Already in their system. So sure. It's like I'm not even sure whether But anyway, I don't know we'll see we'll see how it goes Thank You mr. Mayor you do have

passed out to you we have 38 for the month bring this to 301 for the year so far um pretty much most of what we've had has been routine types of things we only had one fire this last month and it was a mutual aid call for newdale so that's that's a blessing in disguise there uh we have started doing our Some of our flow testing on the hydrants outside the corporate limits. Thank you. We're not going to mess too much with this and let it settle a little bit. But out on 19 East, we started on the east end out here. So if people call in and say they see geysers, that's probably us out flowing some hydrants. Unfortunately, when we do this, if there's any weakness in the line, it usually finds it. But it's one of those things we have to do if we keep our rating. So we're beginning to work on that. So that'll be going on until weather prevents us from getting us to vote.

Thank you, Niall. Chief Buchanan. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

We have our activity report as well. We've made a few credits there. And we've got a couple of events coming up that we will need to do our usual procedure about passing an ordinance to close the road. That would be the old timey day and the extra events. You mentioned the Helena anniversary. That's the 26th and 27th, a Saturday and a Sunday. You should have had those in your packet and we just need to make a motion to approve those so we can be good with the state.

Those are those two different days.

Two different days. One is the old timey days on Saturday and then the anniversaries on Sunday.

I have a motion to approve those closures.

I'll make that motion.

Second.

I'll second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Thank you. And we have made efforts to try to let any businesses that are normally open on Sunday know of this new change. Talked to several of them just to make sure they're aware because it's something that was a little unexpected. We haven't normally done. The zoning code enforcement was, as Chad mentioned, we do have some changes to make to the zoning ordinance. The state legislature has made some regulation changes about what we can and can't regulate. So we're going to make some alterations there. There'll be some things that we found, some definitions we don't have in our ordinance that we need to get put in there. So we're gonna be bringing that to the Planning Board probably at their next meeting. I think they meet in October. If we don't have to meet before then, we'll be getting it together for them to look over and give a recommendation to bring back to the council for you all to look at it and maybe have a hearing and approve. That's all I have.

Thank you, Brian. All right, Mr. Corbin, Town Center.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I always struggle to figure out how to work this. We have 16 events for September, but that's 21 days rented, multiple events renting multiple days. Just some of the ones coming up is Dylan Wilson's putting on a show at the town center on Saturday. Next Saturday, as you heard, which is, well, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the 10th, 11th, and 12th, you heard this literary festival. Thrive Appalachia is having a public event on the 17th and 18th. And that's all the public events that I really have other than October the Music has been doing a couple Thursday events at the town center. And then in October we have 30 separate events booked. Dig In will be there on the 2nd of October. And we have Christy's craft show will be on October 10th. And Real Fest will be October 24th. So we are in the busy season. That's all that I have.

Thank you, Corbin. Did anybody notice when Chuck was bragging on Corbin, he reached up and turned the microphone up? We'll make sure everybody heard that. Thank you for all you do, Gordon. Thank you. Chamber.

Good evening. Joanna is on vacation in Scotland and Ireland. Oh, I see. So y'all can stick with me. Of course, we just got through with our 2026 Mount Mitchell Craft Fair event. and everyone from the chamber cannot thank the town enough for the tremendous amount of support that we got from every one of you and we really really appreciate it um i think that loading was probably the easiest day i was like scared to death that something was getting ready to happen because it was just almost too smooth i've heard a lot of people say that it was wonderful um Of course, it rained, but we expected it, and we're glad that it rained when it did and not smack dab in the middle of it. But we really, really appreciate your support. We have a lot of our feedback from the craft fair. And it was about 95% positive. And one of the most negative things that we heard is that we did not have enough food. And we on purpose this year eliminated all of the carnival food and only relied on our local food trucks and our local restaurants. And we did that on purpose. We did have Rue Down who was going to join us. but they had a death in their family and had to go to Florida, so they were not able to participate. And they have already said that next year they're definitely gonna be there. So from the board, our perspective is that, of course, we want everyone to have a very positive experience when they come to the craft fair. We want every vendor to be successful. But as the Chamber of Commerce, we have a responsibility to our businesses that are here the other 363 days. And those businesses did fantastic. Our downtown merchants were busy and our restaurants were just had waiting for people backed up to get in. And our local food trucks said that they've had, like some of them said they had the best day in their career. And so that is worth, um, A little bit of negative feedback, in our opinion. And plus, the feedback is anonymous, and so it could have been the Carnival People's Friends. So, we don't know. We had the most successful ribbon cutting yesterday that we have ever had at Rebuilding Hollers. We probably had about 75 people there. We were thrilled. Thank you, Niall, so much for being there. We have our next ribbon-cutting and open house on September the 15th at 2 p.m. at Tiffany's, A Touch of Grace, and that is at 57 Pleasant Valley Road. We will play a supporting role and use our volunteers for Old Tommy Days. We would like to thank Danny for renewing his membership. He is a friend of the chamber, and we appreciate him. And if anyone else would like to be a friend of the chamber, it's just $75 a year to have a membership. On October the 31st, of course, we have our big Trick or Treat Main Street event. And this year, one of our members, Deanna Lewis, is at the town center. She is having her third birthday bash and fall festivals. And at that event, the chamber is going to sponsor a movie in the afternoon from 2 to 4 in the main room at the town center. And so it is going to be a family-friendly movie. And we have a couple of tricks up our sleeve. So stop by, see what we've got planned for that. Then on December the 5th, I want to tell you, Remember, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is our shop local Saturday, so we will be pumping out the advertisement for that. On December the 5th is our annual Christmas parade. And to play off of our 70th annual Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair, the theme to our Christmas parade this year is going to be a homemade Christmas. And then on December 11th, we have Mary Main Street. And then on January 2nd, we start planning the Crosby again. Again, we appreciate your support. And if you need anything from the Chamber, then we are here. Just please let us know how we can help. Do you all have any questions for me?

Got hard hats for the shingles.

I went out there and looked today, because I volunteered this afternoon, and all I can say is it is a very long ways from where that roof is to where that dumpster is. I told Pete that we're going to have to, you know, those big magnets that are on wheels, that we're going to have to find one of those. When they leave and do our parking lot, they're taking up three spaces. But we're going to have to do something to get all of those nails out of those three parking spots because I'm sure there's going to be some. All right.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Bill's not here and I don't have anything to report on from High Country. We'll skip that one. We're going to go into closed session in just a moment pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11. I have a motion to enter into closed session.

I'll make that motion. Second. Hold on.

Good morning.