Council - Regular Meeting

This time I'd like to call the July meeting of the Town Council of Boatsburg-Lewisville to order. We'll start with the invocation. We're called to order at 7 o'clock p.m. We'll start with the invocation presented by Ms. Kathy Knox.

Ms. Powerheads, please. Father God, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we come to you tonight thanking you for all the blessings you've given us, Lord. And help us as we go through this evening that we use the mind that you give us to keep our town the way you've designed it for it to be. Lord, we just want to follow your rule and what you want for us. And we thank you, Lord, for giving us that mind. And Lord, thank you for the rain today. Thank you for the safety of all that are here tonight. And as they leave and go home, keep us all safe and in your hand. And we bless you, Lord, and thank you for everything. In Jesus' precious name, amen.

Thank you, Ms. Knox. If you're able, please stand and join us in the pledge to the flag led by Councilman Bo Turner.

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.

This time I'd like to entertain a motion to approve the agenda.

So moved.

Second. All right, we have a motion and a second to approve the agenda. It's now open for discussion. There's no discussion. We'll vote district 1. Yes. District 2. Yes. District 4. 4. Yes. District 5.

Yes.

District 6. Yes. District 7. Yes. District 8. Yes. Mayor votes yes. The agenda is approved. Next, I'll entertain a motion to adopt the minutes of the regular council meeting on June 8, 2026. So moved. So moved. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes in the June 8th council meeting. It is now open for discussion. If there's no discussion, we'll vote. District 1? Yes. District 2? Yes. District 4? 4, yes. District 5?

Yes.

District 6? Yes. District 7? Yes. District 8? Yes. District 8 vote yes. And the mayor vote yes. The minutes are approved for the June 8th council meeting. Now I would like to ask for a motion to approve the minutes from the special council meeting on June 29, 2026. So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second. that we approve the meetings from the special council meeting on July 29, 2026. It is now open for discussion. There's no discussion. We'll vote. District 1? Yes. District 2? Yes. District 4? District 4, yes. District 5? Yes. District 6? Yes. District 7? Yes. District 8? District 8, vote yes. And the mayor votes yes. The minutes from the special council meeting on June 29th are approved. Presentation of awards and proclamations. We do not have anything there, so we'll move on. To the mayor's report, next regular council meeting will be August 10th, 2026. Council Committee's report, Central Midlands Councilman Joe Montgomery.

Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, we met on June 25th. It was more of a seminar or information meeting about AI and data collection centers and the impacts that they can have on water and energy and other resources like environmental or whatever. Listened to four or five people's explanations of what they've seen and we made a A recommendation is to set up a regional committee because everyone advised not for a local municipality to go through this by themselves and to make a good deal for the community. And that was the majority of our meeting on then and we will not have a July meeting this month. So my next report will be in August. Excuse me, September.

Thank you, sir. All right. Environmental Planning Advisory Committee. Councilman Bo Turner.

Mr. Mayor, the Environmental Planning Advisory Commission did not meet last month. They are trying to get a July meeting, but time is short, so we did not meet.

Thank you, Mr. Turner. All right. The Joint Municipal Water Sewer Commission is... I'm a delegate to that. So we did meet, and our primary business at that meeting was to approve the budget. We did have some executive session stuff that we really can't talk about because we didn't prove anything out of executive session. We will not meet this month. So our next meeting should be in August. All right. B&L Chamber, Commerce Update. Mr. Taylor.

As we are aware, on July the 3rd, we celebrated our 150th birthday of Leesville and Batesburg. I want to thank the town of Batesburg-Leesville for a wonderful evening of entertainment, historical awareness, games, and food. It was well done and enjoyed. I appreciate it. The next day, our nation celebrated its 250th birthday. So it's quite a two days. And we're celebrating our 80th year of serving the community. Last month, I reported that the chamber was organized on March 1, 1946. It wasted very little time in organizing a corporation for buying real estate and financing buildings to house factories. In April of 1946, Bakesburg Leesville Developments Incorporated sold stock and was capitalized at $100,000. That month, all contracts were signed to bring Twin City Manufacturing Company to our community. Bakesburg Leesville Developments Incorporated was to buy the building and the plant to employ 200 people and have a payroll of $250,000. I hope you don't mind, just provide a little history as we celebrate our 80th year. In May, my chair, Sharon Ergel, and I attended a Meeting the Moment Leadership Summit at Columbia Convention Center. Approximately 100 individuals from the millions gathered to set priorities that participants believe matter the most to helping our region navigate growth opportunity through 2035. Listed are eight priorities and a brief synopsis of each. Number one, build infrastructure and transportation that keeps the region workable. Infrastructure is not a background issue. It is one of the main factors determining whether growth becomes an advantage or a source of ongoing strain. Number two, create stronger workforce pathways and expand economic participation. Workforce development is not just about filling positions. It's about building long-term regional capacity and making opportunities more reachable for more people. Number three, expand access to affordable and workforce housing. Housing is not simply a development issue. It is one of the systems most responsible for determining whether opportunity and workforce participation remain reachable over time. Number four, strengthen regional and intergovernmental coordination. Long-term competitiveness depends not only on investment, but on the region's ability to coordinate, make decisions earlier, and act together under pressure. Number five, build public trust through transparent communication. Public trust is not a secondary issue. It is directly affected whether growth feels manageable coordinated and sustainable over time. Number six, strengthen educational quality and K-12 competitiveness. Education quality is not only about schools. It's about whether the region can retain people, prepare future talent, and build long-term regional capacity. Number seven, ensure long-term leadership and decision-making capacity. Leadership capacity is ultimately about governance under pressure who can make difficult decisions, build alignment, sustain public trust, and help the region navigate growth as it becomes more complicated. And finally, number eight, support child care for a 24-7 workforce economy. Supporting families more effectively is directly connected to workforce development. workforce stability, economic participation, and long-term regional alliance. This is what we came up for the Midlands area, but it's pertinent to Batesburg-Leesville and its growth that we're coming into right now and enhancing it for the future. Finally, and not most important, but important to us, our 38th annual auction comes up on Saturday, August 15th at TNS Farm beginning at 6 o'clock. Of course, it's our largest fundraiser. Our budget at the Chamber is around $100,000 to $104,000. Not quite a third of that is raised through membership. The rest is through events that we hold and the accommodation tax. And other endeavors that we have. So this is very important for us and we look forward to it. We appreciate your support and the community support. Any questions? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Mike. Appreciate that very much. This brings us to public comment regarding items on the agenda. We don't have anyone that's going to do that. We don't have any unfinished business to take care of, so that takes us to new business. The first item of new business is the first reading of an ordinance to amend the Batesburg Leasable Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Article 3, definition of terms used in this ordinance, and Article 7, District Regulations R2, an addition of tiny home definition. Do we have a motion to approve this first reading?

I make a motion we do.

I second.

We have a motion and a second that we approve first reading of this ordinance. It is now open for discussion.

Mr. Mayor, if I may?

Yes, sir.

Do we have someone here from planning to answer questions?

Yes, sir, we do. Ms. Becky?

Will this code allow an individual to bring a 40-foot container on a property and result in a mini-home? Can a 40-foot container be modified to make this?

To my knowledge, there are minimum sizes that the state requires, or that, I'm sorry, that the building code requires for a tiny home.

I understand that is 320 square feet. 320 square feet, a 40-foot container will meet all of the requirements specified by that. And I note that we have the universal building codes with the appendix. Did we adopt appendix code Q?

I believe we did. I don't think we included anything.

But at the same time, a suggestion would have been that we include the requirement that many homes meet the HUD requirement for a manufactured home. That would pretty well lock things down. But I'm concerned that people will start bringing in 40-foot containers, and they're not that attractive. So will this permit them to do that? If I may, Becky.

Sure. If you look at the last Section 7-3.12, Tiny Homes, it has the definition there. It also would be included in the definition section of the zoning ordinance. They did write that as a 400-square-foot floor area, so I'm not sure what... That's the maximum. Well, okay, so 320 to 400, sorry.

It is the maximum. Okay, great. 320 minimum, 400 maximum.

And it does state that it has to be brought up to international, the IBC. So as long as they do that... And they're... There are plenty of examples throughout the country. We've had one gentleman that expressed some interest in doing that, but we do not have any in town at this time. But that is the definition that they provided, and it does have to meet building code.

Would there be something to address appearances or whatever, like some kind of a siding or something attached to it or a brick or something to make it more...

less obvious as a container uh this does not spell that out um you know i think that council could uh if you if you chose to you can alter this uh you can table the motion and send it back to the Planning Commission with a couple of suggestions. You know, it's got the motion, but it doesn't have to be approved right now. Again, if that's a concern, I would recommend that we pause it, table it, send it back to the Planning Commission or Council can make those adjustments as you see fit. I'm a little bit more of the let's get it right the first time instead of rush something and then have to go back six months later and change it. So I would rather you table it or just vote it down either way.

Personally, I'd like to see something more aesthetically, you know, appeasing than just a container.

Mr. Mayor, if I may. Thank you for taking notes. Yes, ma'am.

I... As though I agree with you about a container housing, I don't think we can stipulate what type of siding residences have without it becoming issues, legalities. I don't know. What are we looking at with that, Mr. Cunningham?

I'm looking at this definition of tiny homes, and I'm like – I guess it's possible, but you've got to put a toilet in it and have plumbing fixtures and everything to it. I'm not sure that can be done.

It can. Can it? In a tiny, yeah.

I mean, I guess if they meet code.

Yeah, I've seen pictures of them, you know, throughout. But I just don't know if you can tell me what I can put on the outside of my house, siding-wise, you know, whether it's brick or whatever, unless you're going to do that to every neighborhood. Mm-hmm.

Do we have an architectural review committee?

No.

Okay. Probably not.

Mr. Mayor? Yes, sir. In that vein, I make a motion that we table this until council can hold a work session to discuss the recommendations and the changes in detail.

Second that motion. I have a motion to table. Let me write it down.

And a work session.

I'm making notes. All right. At the present time, we have a motion to table and a second and call for a work session by council to work on this. Since the motion is debatable, I'm assuming the motion to table would be debatable also.

I would just like to know if we could have someone from zoning commission be at the work session to also have input.

But I don't see why we would not available.

That's okay.

Yeah.

And also, I mean, if you wanted to have a joint work session with the planning commission, that's as long as we understand that is a joint meeting and they get just as much input as council's got.

Yeah, we can all speak. So it's going to be a joint work session.

All right. Thank you.

Any further discussion on the motion to table? If not, we'll vote District 1. Yes. District 2. Yes. District 4.

District 4 votes yes.

District 5.

Yes.

District 6.

Yes.

District 7. Yes. District 8.

District 8 votes yes.

And the mayor votes yes. So we have tabled that motion until we get a work session done. All right, that brings us to the second item, which is approval of mutual aid agreement between the B&L Police Department and the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. Do we have a motion to approve this?

Could we show the second page of that agreement? Okay. All right.

Thank you. I make a motion that we approve.

We have a motion. We have a second.

Second.

We have a motion and a second that we approve the mutual aid agreement between the P&L Police Department and the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. It's now open for discussion. If there's no discussion, we'll vote. District 1. Yes. District 2. Yes. District 3. He's not here. District 4?

District 4, yes.

District 5?

Yes.

District 6? Yes. District 7? Yes. District 8?

District 8 votes yes.

And the mayor votes yes. That carries. The third item of business and new business is approval of SRO contract between the town of Batesburg-Leesville and Lexington District 3. Do we have a motion to approve this Contract.

Motion to approve. Second.

We have a motion and a second to approve the SRO contract between the town of Batesburg-Leesville and Lexington District 3. It is now open for discussion.

Mr. Mayor, again, could we show the second page of that agreement? I'm operating from memory. I'll up just a little further.

There's a termination date on there that's a mistake.

Yes. So we should not adopt it as presented. We need to amend it.

That is correct. I was just waiting for a little space to be able to say the same thing.

My apologies, Councilman.

Because it had to be changed.

It seems like it's beside a number two, but it references that right there. Number two, term of service. It says June 30, 2023, terminate.

Yeah.

I'm sure it's a form. It just needs to have the date changed.

Is that a typo?

Is it?

Term of service.

We're going to amend it.

Can we amend the motion, too?

Is that a typo? No, we can amend that. Again, that was just not updated by the school district, and I didn't catch it.

So we're going to do a motion to amend it. We're going to do an amendment to that and change it.

Yes, sir.

All right. Do we have a motion to amend this motion?

I'll amend my motion to adopt. with the understanding that the date under number two, term of service, will be changed from June 30th, 2023 to June 30th, 2027. Second.

All right. We have a motion and a second to amend that motion, changing the date to 2026? 27. 27. This year through next year. Oh, yeah, 27. Okay. It's now open for discussion. The amendment's now open for discussion.

Who seconded that amendment? I did.

Okay.

Other than that, isn't this agreement the same as it's always been?

It is. Yeah, the terms are the same, 75%, 25%. They will pay 75% of the salary and vehicle.

All a point of order right now. We're only discussing the amendment.

Oh, sorry. All right.

Any further discussion on the amendment? If not, we'll vote on the amendment. District 1.

District 1 votes yes.

District 2? Yes. District 4? District 4 votes yes. District 5? Yes. District 6? Yes. District 7? Yes. District 8? District 8 votes yes. And the Mayor votes yes. So now we're back to discussion of the motion as amended, changing the date to June 30, 2027. That is open for discussion.

And I apologize. Now my question is the same as it was, that it has been.

In the white paper, you'll notice that the financials are the same as before. So this is for two of the positions. 75% of salaries and benefits are from Lexington 3, 25% from the town. Same applies to vehicle costs. Again, remember we have two other SRO positions that are 100% funded by the state, correct, Dave? Yes.

Any further discussion?

Yes, I'm sorry. The positions funded by the state, does this mean that they will replace vehicles at the end of service life?

Yes, we typically get a vehicle, I believe, every other year through the state. We did not get one in this budget. We had one in the last budget. Well, I will defer to the chief.

Do not think we get a vehicle every year, but when we do need 1 replace when it meets the state's replacement requirements through that grant, there is usually no issue getting the funding from the state for those 2 positions. Like the manager said, we did receive 1 last year. The other vehicle for the grant position, I believe is only 2 years old. So it's not at that threshold yet.

And the 1 from the 2 from the school district.

1 of those is. It's an older vehicle with minimal mileage. I don't know the exact mileage in front of me, but that would be the high school SRO's vehicle. I know it's less than $100,000. And then the one for the middle school, that one replaced... Approximately three years ago, if I remember correctly.

Let me redirect the question. The school vehicles, what percentage of the cost will the town bear when it is time to replace?

I would assume that would fall at $75.25. I don't remember in years past how they've done that.

I do not know that 100% off the top of my head. I know that they paid 75% of the maintenance, repair, and fuel cost.

Let me see if... Could we get clarification of that for future information?

We can certainly get clarification.

Mr. Mayor.

Yes, ma'am.

I have a question.

Just for clarity, this is the exact same agreement that it's been signed in years past.

It is? It's the exact same. Then it looks like a 50-50 split then. Is that it? 75-25. 75-25. No, for the equipment. It's the same? They were looking for that. Ownership of equipment addressed in Section 5. Paragraph down further. Should the agreement be terminated? 50%.

50%. So that is for the ownership.

That's ownership. So is that our portion?

Yeah, number five comes in if they terminate. The district will provide funding for 50% of the equipment for the SROs. This includes, but is not limited to, vehicles meeting the standards of the Bates-Perlis Police Department, lights and siren for vehicle markings, vehicle radios, portable radios, sidearms, and so forth. They're at the top of the screen in item four.

I'm just interested in funding requirements down the road that may occur, and if we already know about them, then we can

In previous discussions, I know that have taken place with the police department, the school district, usually funding is not an issue with adequate notice to them. Whatever the contract, we've never had any issue with getting money from them for anything. Not necessarily vehicles, but any of the other items that we've discussed as far as funding goes that were not covered by the SRO grant from the state.

Does that include body armor?

According to that, what I read there, yes.

So each time we get a new SRO, they will replace the body armor since body armor is pretty well fitted.

It is purchased for the officer yet, or that officer has been in that position long enough where it's a 5 year lifespan.

Thank you.

We do currently receive Patrick body armor grant and then we received I can't remember what the title of the other 1 is. We pretty much keep 50% funding all of the time for body armor from from grants. Uh, but there's another 1 that's going on and we still have funds in it that pays 100% if we did, if we already expand. Expended all the Patrick grant money, but if it pays the balance of the 50% on the otherwise.

Thank you any further discussion if not, we'll vote on the motion as amended district 1. yes. District 2? Yes. District 4? 4, yes. District 5?

Yes.

District 6?

Yes.

District 7? Yes. District 8? District 8, vote yes. And may I vote yes. That motion carries. That brings us to the manager report. Mr. Hendricks, you're up.

All right, good evening. It literally just hit me that I didn't wear my coat in here, but I don't think anybody's going to hold that against me tonight. And I think, Dave, I think it's Leahy, isn't it? Good Irish name, perhaps. All right, so just running through a few things. Our next town holiday, and you have this on your dice, the next town holiday is Labor Day, September the 7th. We also, in the updates, reminder MASC conferences this week. Just about everybody is attending that. Cricket will be your point of contact. She will be up there with you. So if you need anything, give her a call. Speed dial. Speed dial. Polina Commission, they have a meeting and work session on July 20th. And then just... I'm going to be traveling over the next two weeks, so you have in front of you just that memo that just kind of reaffirms that cricket is going to be that point of contact in my absence. I will have limited availability. Doesn't mean call me, though, cricket. I'll have Kim answer the phone. Some event updates. Mike mentioned the July 3rd event. It was hot, but we knew that. Unfortunately, attendance wasn't as big as we were hoping. The band was good. The magician had a good turnout. We had moved that indoors into Haines. We did have two buildings with air conditioning, so that was a good thing. A big thank you to Lexington County Library and the Lexington County Museum. We also had several churches that participated. So we were able to do a... time capsule, celebrate the 150th of Batesburg-Leesville and also the 250th of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As I've mentioned before, we will not be doing July 3rd or 4th events moving forward. We're not going to That is not going to be a regular. It's a one-time only thing. Summer movie series at Hanes continues tomorrow. Zootopia is at 10 a.m. And then the last one for the kids will be on the 28th with Charlotte's Web. Again, 10 a.m. Hanes Auditorium. And always a big thank you to Hewlin Baptist Church. They have always supported movies with popcorns for the kids, and that's always great. So free for kids. all the kids and parents to attend. The summer concert for August 16th is the Lonesome Outlaws. That'll be at 7 p.m. at Leesville College Park. Staff, mainly the police department, Al, is working on the National Night Out event. Again, that is going to be held on September the 10th, which is a Thursday. at the old high school, middle school property on Highway 1. That will be coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. And then the next few days, September 11th through the 13th, is the Foodies Fest, which will also be held at the old high school and middle school property. A few project updates. We are working on Andrew's going to be hitting up a work session for August 24th. going to be focused on the utility side. We're going to have the utility impact fee and capital improvement plan presentation. I can't remember the name of the company that we're working with, but they will be able to present that. We also should have a presentation on the decommissioning of the water plant. and several other things that are going to be related to the utility fund. So that's August 24th. Utility staff is also having weekly meetings with project managers about AMI, so you'll get a good report on AMI at that one as well. They're finalizing the design on antennas, and the meters will be ordered soon. They're also coordinating with the billing staff on the integration with Springbrook. There will be a test run first, and then they're anticipating meter install beginning in about three months. possible to be completed by the end of the year, but Andrew was saying certainly this winter. And then speaking of Springbrook, we are entering the final stages of the software conversion. Currently we're dealing with utility billing. It's fun. Everyone has a new account number, so all customers have a new account number, and that has led to some problems, but they're working through that. So staff has been double and triple checking numbers just to ensure that everyone is yet properly credited also wanted to mention that was sent out to you on Friday the RFP was posted for the capital improvement plan and impact fees for general fund and H tax I believe they're due on August 20th and we will possibly have that in that work session on the 24th we might squeeze that in there we feel like having a late night we'll have 90 days to select so we don't have to rush them August but we could And on the backside of your paperwork, just to break down the July 1st accounts, We'll give you the rundown. The BLPD drug forfeiture is $15,206. Municipal court, $57,410. Utility, $89,373. Capital improvement impact fees, $394,796. Fire department 1% is $38,346. Town is $1,128,779. We transferred more of that to LGIP, but it came in after we got transferred after the 1st. Police donations was at $23,226. H-tax at $205,709. Victim's assistance was $12,967. And senior assistance was $2. LGIP accounts, general funds of $1,653,884. Utility, $3,011,273. And H-tax, $1,148,854. I also kind of gave you a breakdown below that, the total account balances from comparing July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026. We had an increase in the general fund checking in LGIP. Utility was down from last year, and then H-tax is down some as well. I'm not going to run through all of that, but it's in front of you. Just a reminder, there were some emails about it. The Dominion franchise fee, which is $526,000. Which is received in June. It is for their franchise fee is based off of the numbers from the previous budget. So that was deposited in the twenty five, twenty six, the fiscal year twenty six budget that will get us on the right track. But that did create two deposits in that line item for this year. So you'll notice that difference in the general fund account, so that 526 is part of that being inflated. The utility account, again, just to give you a little bit of background, there was a $400,000 deposit in that July 1 of 2025 that had not been paid out at that time. cleared yet. So that was a little bit inflated due to a grant payment. And then we also had a lot of activity with water project, water sewer line project, and the water valve study this past year. So there was grant funding, a lot of match money in there. So that accounts for some of that drop in the utility fund. Does anybody have any questions?

Yes. Are we installing the new meters ourselves with new installs?

No, sir. That will be part of the company. GRP Wegman will handle that.

So we're going to install a mechanical meter now, and then they're going to come back and remove it and replace it.

Are you referring to the test that they're going to do?

No, I'm talking about the meters. I mean, we have agreed on a meter, and why are we continuing to install mechanical meters when the new – more precise meters are available.

Andrew, do you want to tackle that one? We have been working with them on that, but I'll let Andrew do it.

So that was a conversation that we had. There were some warranty questions with the AMI meters about if one were to be installed today versus six months from now, how would we keep that separate as far as versus what the company did we also had some meters in stock already that were the old style that you referred to the mechanical so at this point we are still installing the old style based on some inventory we had but we have just made a new order of the new meter that we will be using Technically, any meter maybe that gets purchased tomorrow wasn't included in the original GRP Wegman discussion. So we will be transitioning to installing the new meters, but we're hoping that the old ones that we have in inventory will get us to the point where GRP Wegman starts their install. Yeah.

Now, the warranty that they quoted was the manufacturer's warranty, so it would apply if we did the... I'm just... What does a mechanical meter cost versus the new meter? I mean, is it economically feasible to avoid paying them for replacing... meter that we've just installed? Is it the cost of a mechanical meter the same or less than what it would cost for them to come in and replace? I'm just saying it may be more economical for us to sell these meters to some other water supplier and go ahead and start installing the new meters. from an economic standpoint.

Yes, that's a valid thought. We've been in discussions with the technical aspects of the meter and how we really want that meter to function for us. So the meter that's specific to us is not necessarily sitting on a shelf waiting on someone to buy it, whether it be us or our neighbor or whatever. Just the way they operate, I could tell y'all more if you wanted me to tell you more, but the way it operates would be specific to us. So there's not a meter out there per se right now that's just ready for us. There's some design as far as how it operates, how it counts. So we have ordered those meters, but we don't anticipate having a meter in hand very soon. It would be likely at least a month or two before we even have the appropriate meter that is exactly like GRP Wegman will be installed.

So we're installing a unique meter and there are features on it that we could not change on the fly. It's not like software. It's not like software. It is firmware that is involved.

There are some features specific to us, the way we're going to use them. Yes, sir.

I noticed we've already paid them $500,000 or better on the contract.

Yeah, I think that was to go towards the meter purchase to go ahead and get that order started.

We're paying in advance. Is that the terms of the contract? May I get a copy of the contract? Yes, sir. Okay, thank you. All right. That's okay. Thank you. All right. One other one, please. You distributed a memo of understanding or whatever the term was. for an auditor. It is my understanding that this council has not hired an auditor, which we are required to do so by state law. Is there a plan? We need to do that by July 30th. Now that is within, if I may, with our Learned Legal Council, that is within the purview of the council. And in fact, actually required by law.

Hiring the auditor? Yes, sir.

Yes. And we have not done so. There's no contract, which would be one. So council may not be aware of its legal obligations in some of these issues. And if the mayor would indulge me, I would recommend we go into executive session to get some legal advice on the council's obligations on this.

Here, I've got a point of order. We can't go into executive session with something that's not published on the agenda ahead of time. Is that correct?

That's correct, sir.

So we've got, we're going into executive session. We owe. But we can't discuss that in executive session tonight. It would have to be at a later time when it's published.

It is my understanding that going into executive session for legal advice is an exception to the and can be made an exception if it is not on the agenda.

I'll divert to our attorney.

I always ask that it be listed what the topics were going to be.

That was my understanding that it's supposed to be that way.

Okay.

We can certainly have that at a later time.

We have a July 30th or the state will cut our funding.

All right. Anybody have anything else?

Mr. Mayor.

Our next work session is.

We don't have a work session scheduled prior to the August 10th council meeting. We'll get some clarity.

I have a question. Do we have a contract with an auditor at this point?

We have the agreement that I sent out to council. I think that was Friday, is what we have signed for the last several years with McGregor & Company. That was the company that has handled our auditing for four or five years now, and actually maybe even longer than that. So we have not had that request come from council to change auditors or to review it. We've maintained that same agreement with mcgregor and company for multiple years so it has not come back before council since they were selected it's just continued to roll over thank you since those questions about what what legal implications are we facing if we don't do this so

um there is a provision i understand that you can if you show cause you can get request a 90-day extension um but uh i'd have i don't know what that process is but i believe there's a provision for that can we pursue that avenue That's what I'm looking at. Okay.

So I guess the conversation, not a vote, obviously, but would be is there a desire to bid out auditing services to try to find a new auditor, or are we good with the auditor that we currently have been using? That would be the question is if we are looking to bid it out or if we are comfortable staying with the auditor. Okay.

certainly if we are going to bid that service then 90 days would be necessary so if I may it is not my intent to actually change auditors that's a decision that would have to be made based on councils vote as to what to do but my concern is that council has a responsibility to hire an auditor. And it has to be done, again, our linear attorney has to be done by an act of counsel and a formal vote. And so, therefore, my question is, how soon can we actually bring this issue forward and handle a formal vote? If council looks at what has happened with the auditor and decides to make a change, then that's council's purview.

I mean, we could bring a contract from McGregor and Company. I'm sure they could update their pricing to reflect changes other than... What we have on file. But we could have something. I will not be here, but Cricket could run the meeting next week if y'all want to do a special council meeting next week.

Is that acceptable to everybody?

Absolutely.

Okay. Then let's plan on that.

Thank you. All right.

Well, that'd be next Monday. Next Monday.

Next Monday. When would you, I mean, I don't, I'm pretty much wide open at night.

I mean, we could, I mean.

The Monday date. Monday, we have a planning commission.

You don't mind me in work clothes, I'm good. And what time does planning meet? 630? That really shouldn't be a problem.

Can we request the attorney be present for that work session?

I have another council meeting that night, but I can kind of slip out and be available. Excuse me by phone.

What time is that?

6 o'clock.

under Tuesday or something.

How long is this? The planning commission is going to be a long...

They don't know. Can we move it to Tuesday of next week? We have a planning commission and then a work session. That won't work. To keep from interference with them and possibly running over. How about Tuesday of next week?

How about that Tuesday? I mean... The 21st. I don't know if they're having it.

The 21st. Tuesday, good with you. I'm good.

I don't have any other. That would be my joint municipal, and this council I'm not meeting, so I'm free.

Seven. Tuesday, six. What time? Six or seven.

I don't care. Seven would be better for you, wouldn't it, ma'am? Cricket, what's better for you, six or seven? Seven. Tuesday.

Seven on Tuesday.

And still be available by phone.

We're not traveling together.

Yeah. But didn't we have a designee if he was unavailable?

That's what I said.

Well, we should invite that. He can have it with you. So we'll do Tuesday, 7 p.m. All right.

Then we stand in at Tuesday at 7 p.m. Do you have an attorney?

Do we have an attorney?

I'm sorry, I'm making notes. All right. Does that end all of this? Then we are ready for a motion to go into executive session for a contractual matter, potential property transaction. Kathy, we have a second. Second. I have a motion and a second that we go into executive session. Now for discussion. If there's no discussion, we'll vote. District 1? Yes. District 2? Yes. District 4? Yes. District 5?

Yes.

District 6? Yes. District 7? Yes. District 8?

District 8 votes yes.

Mayor votes yes. We're in executive session at 7.54. We have a motion and a second that we return to regular council session. It's now open for discussion. There's no discussion. We'll vote. District 1. Yes. District 2. Yes. District 3. It's not here. District 4. 4 votes yes. District 5.

Yes.

District 6. Yes. District 7. Yes. District 8. District 8 votes yes. And the mayor votes yes. We're back in regular session at 830.

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion for adjournment.

Okay, but we need to get some potential stuff. Just give us a second.

Sorry about that.

I'll second it anyway.

All right. We need anybody got potential agenda items for next month's meeting, which will be August the 10th?

Yes, sir. I would like to look at an ordinance about curfews that we're working on right now to possibly be on the agenda.

Sorry, I did not. Would the council member repeat that?

I'd like to see us put something on the agenda, possibly, about some curfew ordinances that we may come up with. There might need to be a work session.

I don't know, but... Yeah, I think we definitely need to have more to work on. Yeah, I think that would be a work session. Okay.

What kind of curfews? This is my first hearing of this.

I'd like to see us... present a curfew that would involve youngsters under maybe the age of 12 or maybe under the age of 14 that there'd be curfew times like between 10 at night and 5 in the morning that they're not out without a parent. Where's this coming from?

I don't know. From childhood age. I'm sorry?

Because there are children that are on the streets at late at night. Small children. Are you aware of this? Yes, ma'am.

I don't know any 12-year-olds that's out that time of night.

Nine and 10-year-olds, yes.

We definitely will discuss this. Yeah. This is not a dictatorship country here.

Thank you.

When we make those kind of rules, we are not the parents of these children. So as a community, we need to see what's best for our community. But when we start imposing regulations to tell people when to be off the street, you're going to have problems.

Mr. Mayor, I'm making a motion to adjourn.

Mr. Mayor point of order we had not moved on from adding items to the agenda I have three I would like to add ordinances involving food trucks code enforcement and councils conduct of meetings those three ordinances we need to address and I would like to have them on the agenda for the August meeting food I will have something yes

Food trucks. Would you say and begin food trucks?

Food trucks, code enforcement, and council's meetings. For clarity, you said you're going to provide those ordinances. I'm going to provide the raw changes to existing R&U ordinances.

Yes.

Council's what? What was the third one?

The 3rd, 1, food trucks, meetings, conduct of meetings, conduct the meetings to being able to speak on emotion 1 time. We need to open our meetings up to the public. Food trucks code enforcement and conduct meetings.

Now, I'm talking about what you said about the public.

But we need to open our meetings up to public expanded to abilities to comment on issues involving the town that may or may may not be on the agenda.

I think I would like to add into that establishing. Town hall meetings. either prior to that and to accomplish that instead of trying to open that up in a council meeting, it could go for a long time.

Not if we allocate one half hour with priority given to three minute sessions of those items that are on the agenda. And then if there is excess time, individuals may have three minutes to address issues that are not. And we need to hold a firm one half hour.

With all due respect, been there, done that, and I have two T-shirts, and that did not go well.

Mr. Mayor, ordinances that we're going to be voting on next month, what he's bringing on the agenda, or should we not have a work session on these prior? I mean, if someone's making new ordinances, then the rest of the council is going to vote on them? Or are we going to agree on the new ordinances in a work session before the vote is taken?

I do think that there are ordinances that we do need to work on, but I agree with you it needs to be work sessions first before we come in here.

Then we need to schedule work sessions.

Well.

Yeah, we need to have work sessions on it. Mr. Mayor, I withdraw my motion. I didn't make a motion.

I just asked for it to be on the agenda. This is really not in the form of a motion for this, is it?

It wasn't.

So this is just a sample for this.

In the past, we have voted on whether or not we were going to add them to the agenda.

But it's... I'm sorry. It's not stated where we have to do that. I mean, we just ask for potential items to be presented and you really don't have to vote on that if we can ask for it to be on there. And we can also ask for work sessions, which some of these things, some of these ordinances need to be talked about before we get in here to vote. I think as far as council is concerned, and I think a work session would be more in order before we put it on the agenda to vote on it, before we do that.

And the planning department has worked on a food truck ordinance that is either an August or September goal of having that for council. Actually, I think I've got it September is what I was shooting for.

Would it be improper to add to the agenda the first reading for the ordinance after we have our work session?

Sure. I mean, I think we can just handle that when we get to it.

And is it possible that we see any food truck ordinance that's being worked on prior to it coming before council for a vote?

Becky can send that out.

I may have seen a draft of that, and it did not include protecting our existing vendors, nor did it require permitting per se.

We typically get these proposals in our packet before we meet. These aren't snuck in on us.

Well, the thing about doing a work session on it, work sessions are open to the public. And if the public wants to come here, they can't comment, but they can come in and hear what we're talking about. We need to be transparent everything we do. So I think a work session where we actually broadcast work sessions too, do we not? Yes. People the public can see, even though they can't comment, they can certainly get in contact with our council member and we'll be completely clear with everything that we're going to do instead of coming in here. That's 1 thing that I don't like about the way council member councils done. You come in here, we get a packet. We know what's there, and if you've read it, you know what's there. If you don't read it, then you're sitting there lost. But if you read that packet, but the public doesn't know what's in our packet. So we have information that they're not privy to, and sometimes they might think we're making stupid decisions when it's actually we're making sound decisions because they've not been privy to all the information. If you have a work session, they come in here and listen, then they are privy to the same information that we are, and you can't be unless we have to do it in executive session. And it opens it up and it makes it clear and you don't have any questions. You kill the Facebook warriors to a certain extent that are killing us for everything that we do. But you just, we aren't open enough. And what we do, even though we're not hiding anything and we're not making dumb decisions, we're making informed decisions. But the constituents don't know we're making informed decisions because they don't understand how it operates. I have no problem with a town hall, and I have no problem with a work session where they will have understanding of what we're talking about.

One option that I've talked about with some other administrators is a work session prior to the council meeting. Have a one-hour work session to go over all of the agenda items before the actual vote happens. And that's one option if we want to have a 6 p.m. work session before every council meeting so that we can have a more casual conversation about all of the agenda items. That's one option to consider.

However, that still puts us in the position of these proposals being given to council on a binary vote up or down. It sort of ties our hands to have an input. Most of these ordinances are concerning policy, and as I understand it, setting policy is the purview of council. So therefore, if the purview of council is to establish policy, it stands to reason that policy should be discussed before it's presented to us on a straight binary up or down vote. I agree with the mayor. Work sessions are a great thing. And some council members may not be able to dedicate the time. But we have a long list of... antiquated ordinances that we're facing in a rapidly expanding town and we need to put in the effort. I mean, I took an oath, all right, to do for my constituents what was in their best interest. All right.

But as we talk about all these ordinances that we want to change, do we have a comprehensive plan yet to even know where we want to go with these ordinances?

No, do you have any this is this is getting we're leaving. We're getting down the slippery slope of talking about stuff that's not on the agenda. We have to watch ourselves, but can I ask a question about that comprehensive plan since somebody broke subject? How close are we? Do you know?

I don't know what your last conversation was. You reached out last week to the guys. Did you get a firm answer, Becky? Yeah, the plan, they have said that it's imminent. They've been in it now for a couple of years. Yeah, y'all have seen all of the drafts that they have prepared. So the next step is to have that presentation for a public input meeting. presentation. I would assume that could be in August, but I don't have a date.

Making sure we don't have to shoehorn ordinances that don't fit after the fact doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It'd be better to make sure everything's aligned ahead of time.

Well, if I may suggest, we, council owners, should take and divide the ordinances into whether or not they involve the comprehensive plan. The food truck ordinance would not necessarily involve the comprehensive plan. An ordinance on how we conduct meetings would not. An ordinance on vacant buildings would not. There are numerous ordinances that would not involve the comprehensive plan that can be addressed. This council needs to do something that I've been sitting here for six years. I started preaching about the Comprehensive Plan in 2019, all right, or excuse me, 2021, all right, when I first came on, because the Comprehensive Plan was dated in 2008. Got us nowhere. But council needs to address our obligations to our constituents and work on these issues I mean, and it will take our time, but work sessions are a great place to start. Town hall meetings can be held by individual council members without full council. And I think full council may inhibit those, but my recommendation is that we take an aggressive approach about holding work sessions. make a comprehensive every council member probably has his own idea of what priority should be and if we have a work session to establish and agree on that we will concentrate on those ordinances that do not require the comprehensive plan we can move forward well I'm gonna make to one thing now that I'm sure I'm gonna be real popular with everyone but I

And I thought this was going to be a short meeting. It's fast turning into not a short meeting. But we could help matters by having two council meetings a month instead of one.

If I may hear, hear.

That's it would be, I know no one wants to hear that, but no one likes to sit up here till midnight trying to hash out all this stuff's got to be done. So I think it would be in everybody's benefit if we went to two a month instead of one and try to get business conducted in two hours tops. So it's worthy of consideration. Yes.

Just one thing to consider with that is public notice for ordinance changes would still require it to be a month delay between those first and second. There will be some legal things, but just that's one thought.

Not everything we have to go just when we make those types changes.

Is there a 14 day delay or a 1 month delay?

14 is 2. it's a 2 week notice. Well, I think it's technically 15. Yeah, it's 15 days.

So it's 15 days. So basically we could. Do it in 15 days. If we had two meetings, you can do first reading in the first of the month and second reading in the second month, and we can actually do something.

If you spaced it out three weeks or so, yes. It's just got to be in a newspaper, so it would require a couple of days extra. For the Twin City with a Friday publication date, it's got to be 17 days, I suppose. So if you had a three-week gap, yes, you can pull that off.

So we're discussing another ordinance that we're going to have to change on the way we do business here.

That is part of the recommendation that would be made on how we conduct our meetings.

That should be another work session.

Yes.

I want to know if we're still talking about potential items on next month's agenda.

I said we were going down a slippery slope. Yeah.

Okay.

I would say not because we can't get everything on that process. And so we'll call upon order and stop this discussion.

Okay.

For 12 years I represented Mr. Stavalides and he contacted me because he's your newly elected county council member and asked if I could arrange for him to come to a council meeting. Basically just to introduce himself and meet you guys because he's expressed that interest.

I think it would be great. That's a good idea.

I think it would be good. I'll take care of that part then. Thank you.

All right. And will he stay around afterwards for questions?

Mr. Mayor, will you entertain a motion to adjourn?

At this time, yes, sir. Are you making that motion, Mr. Hall? Motion to adjourn. Second. Who did the second? Call for the question.

It's not debatable.

We'll vote District 1. District 2. District 4.

4, yes.

5, yes. 6, yes. 7, yes. 8, yes. And the mayor votes yes. We are adjourned at 8.49.

I'd be fine if we met twice more.