Town Council - Regular Meeting

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I'd like to call to order the Oakidge Town Council meeting for January 8th, uh, 2020. 26. Uh, I would ask that, um, Myra Blackburn come forward for the invocation. Thank you, Myra. And everyone stand if you're able. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege to meet in peace and safety. As we gather here today for the town council meeting, we ask for your guidance and wisdom in all of the discussions and decisions. Grant us the clarity to address the needs of our community with diligence and compassion. Let us ground ourselves in our shared commitment to Oakidge. May the council's deliberations be marked by respect for one another and a shared commitment to the common good. Help all who serve both in official and voluntary capacities to act with integrity and fairness, always seeking the path that best serves the residents of our town. inspire everyone to work collaboratively and productively so that the outcomes of this meeting will lead to a stronger more vibrant community for everyone. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

Amen. Amen. If you'll stay remain standing and join me and pledge allegiance uh to the flag 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.

Thank you. [cough] And again, thank you, Myra. The uh next uh part of the agenda is is the approval of the agenda. Do I have a motion to move? Second. Second. Okay. All in favor? I. The next is the approval of the December 4th minutes. I move that we approve the December 4th, 2025 minutes. Is there a second? Second. Okay. All in favor? I I

Okay. Our fourth item is resolutions, proclamations, and announcements. And after talking with Mr. Bruce, uh, our proclamations will be part of the manager's report and new business later. So, we'll move on. That means we're at the next item, which is the report from the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, which I know the council has received a modified version since their system is not working. So, do we have anybody from the sheriff's department? Okay, then we'll move on from there. I do believe we have someone from the fire department, sir. Yeah, there we go. And we look forward to hearing your report, sir. Thank you.

Good [clears throat] evening. I'm firefighter Liberty. We had a total of 90 calls this month. 23 were all other responses which include smoke scares, lockouts, animal rescues, etc. Uh false alarm responses. Uh we had 10 fires and brush, grass, and wildland. We had two fires outside of structures with value involved were one other hazardous responses including uh arching wires, bomb removal, power line down, etc. We had two and then we had 52 uh EMS responses. Uh we had a total of 39 training hours and a total of 972 calls for the year of 2025. Uh for this month's fire safety tip, I'm just going to read off of here if that's okay. We have uh when using space heaters um on your fireplace this winter, maintain a clear three-foot safety zone around all heat sources. Keep furniture, curtains, bedding, and any flammable materials at least 3 feet away. This helps prevent heating related fires which are common in January and February. Why this matters in January? Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during cold months. Keeping flammable items away dramatically reduces the risk. Um, Oakidge Fire Department winter safety guidance also stresses safe placement and use of heaters and the importance of working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Um, just some extra quick tips for January. Never leave a space heater running when you're asleep or out of the room. Test smoke and CO detectors and replace batteries if needed. And have your chimney and heating equipment inspected every before heavy use. Staying aware of this of these simple precautions can help keep your home warm and safe this winter.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks, sir. Thanks. Thank you. Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir. You have a good We appreciate our firefighters. Okay. So, uh Sam, it's uh time for the annual financial audit report. And will you make the introduction or Yes, sir. This is Chad. He is actor director with Forvis. Uh Chad has worked with us for several years and he is a homeboy. He was raised here in Oakidge.

That's right. Yeah. Thank you, Sam. and and thank you council members. Um again I'm I'm the lead auditor for the town's account from Forbus Mazars in our Greensboro office and tonight I'm presenting the results of the town's financial statement audit for the year ended June 30th 2025. Uh this report covers our audit approach findings and required communications at the conclusion of our audit which is required by professional standards. Um, in addition to the required communications, I've also prepared just a one-page handout that that you all should have in front of you, which is a financial financial highlights from fiscal 2025 as compared to 24. And I also have some comments prepared uh at at the end of my presentation as to some of the reasons you may see swings with within those figures this year. Um, one other item I'd like to point out is that while the financial statements have been finalized, um, they've been submitted to the local government commission, they are still subject to their review. So that that is in process currently. We do not yet have their final approval of the financial statements. Um but once we do um I'll also provide hard copies of the financial statements to anyone that that wishes to to receive a copy and I'll coordinate that with Sam following their approval. Okay. So jumping into our required communications. Um first audit scope and responsibilities. Uh the audit was performed in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States as well as government auditing standards. The town did have federal and state uh expenditures exceeding $100,000 combined again this fiscal year, which is why we had to also perform the audit in accordance with government auditing standards. It's not not every year that that happens, but because of the grant activity going on the last couple years, uh we we've had that additional reporting requirement. Um our responsibility is to express an opinion on whether the town's financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States, which for the town would be the Gazsby standards. uh and management and council do remain responsible for the the presentation of the financial statements or excuse me presentation and oversight

of the financial statements. Um audit results the town did receive a clean or unmodified audit opinion again this year. Uh we had no disagreements with management during the audit process. Uh no unusual accounting policies were noted as a result of our audit and we had no difficulties encountered in in completing our audit procedures. Um, as far as significant account accounting changes go, there there was one new standard effective for fiscal 2025 as Gatsby statement statement number 101, which is a change in the way that compensated absences are accounted for. It has had an impact on some municipalities across the state, but due to the limited size of the staff for the town determined there was no material impact. Essentially, what we had to do is determine whether or not we needed to bring on an additional liability for acred sick time uh that that the town has been carrying. Traditionally, the only liability you'll see in the financial statements is acred vacation time that is paid out. But under the new standard, you also do have to at times record a liability for time that has been earned, even if it's not going to be paid out at termination if you think that they may use that in in the future. Um, so no material impact. We did not have a restatement of beginning balances for that standard, but did have to go through the process of just determining whether or not it it it had an impact for the town this year. Um something else we like to point out accounting estimates and sensitive disclosures. Uh so certainly there are estimates that are inherent within the financial statements. The significant estimates that we've identified in the audit include the depreciable lives of capital assets. Uh as well as estimates related to pension related balances. So the the local government employees retirement system pension liability that the town carries um which is is based on a third party actuarial valuation that is uh done through the state. And so the numbers are just kind of passed down to the town from that from that uh valuation report. But we do like to point out that it is a it's a sensitive estimate because what you'll see in the financial statement footnotes a 1% change in the discount rate that they use in that valuation could actually

double the liability of the town. So it is it is a significant estimate. Certainly we review their work and make sure that it's in accordance with professional standards. Um but nonetheless it is an estimate. Um internal controls. Uh so in accordance with government auditing standards, the audit included obtaining an understanding of the design and effectiveness of internal controls, although we don't directly provide an opinion over the operating effectiveness of controls. Um but as part of that process, certain adjustments were required during the audit. Uh all of which were are reflected within the financial statements um which collectively were determined to be material. Uh management's response to this weakness is included in in the financial statement report. Um other communications again we had no significant difficulties were encountered during the audit. We had no consultations uh with outside accountants or disagreements with management as it relates to the application of accounting policies. All proposed audit adjustments uh were either recorded or deemed to be immaterial. So there there are no uncorrected misstatements uh that remain that we are aware of. Um and lastly, there is a management representation letter which was provided at the conclusion of the engagement which is uh it's included as a an appendix to our report and just outline certain uh representations that management makes to us at the conclusion of the audit. Um lastly, we are required to present to the town council any financial performance indicators of concern or FPIC's uh which are determined by the the local government commission based on information that's contained within the financial statements. So at the conclusion of the audit, we input the data from the financial statement package into a portal site that the LGC has set up and it determines whether or not there are any any FPIC's. Uh this year that the town had just two FPIC's. Um one as I I previously mentioned related to just the material audit adjustments um which is reflected in the report. The second relates to a budgetary violation within the phase one heritage farm capital project fund where

expenditures have exceeded the budget by about $79,000 in total. Um that that's a recurring one from last year and expenditures it it's it's caused by expenditures that were paid by the phase one heritage farm capital project fund that were originally budgeted for in the general fund. So in totality the project has certainly been fully budgeted for. It's more of a classification issue just in terms of where the expenditures have have been incurred versus where they were budgeted. Um, that really concludes all the required communications. So, next I was going to run through the financial highlights, but certainly would like to stop if anyone has any questions about just the audit process or anything that I've mentioned so far. Do we have any questions? Thank you. Okay.

All right. So, moving on to the the financial summary. Just real quick, we'll run through uh highlights for the town at the end of the fiscal year. So, Roman number one, you'll see cash and investments across all funds is up about $280,000. It's a little bit deceptive. Uh the increase in cash is it's really within the capital project funds from for some grant money that's been received. Um within the general fund, there's actually been a decrease of about $600,000 in cash year-over-year from fiscal 24 to 25. Um general fund available fund balance is at 2,18,000. It's a roughly $174,000 decrease or 8% from the prior year. That's largely due to balances that are owed to the general fund from the phase one capital project fund for the for heritage farm park as well as the elevated water tank capital project fund. So you'll see there are some receivables within the general fund offsetting liabilities within those capital project funds where some some cash was used out of the general fund, you know, related to those projects that will need to be reimbursed. uh Roman numeral 3 general fund revenues and other sources. Um advorum taxes or property taxes obviously the largest source of revenue for the town again this year at 1.27 million versus 1.19. Um so roughly an $81,000 increase there. The property tax rate did remain flat, but there was an increase in property valuations of approximately $71 million compared to the prior fiscal year. Uh just, you know, due to an expanding tax base with new developments coming online. uh unrestricted intergovernmental revenues which which includes things like your sales tax revenues um very very consistent. So it came in about $1,300 off from from fiscal 2024 at a million and $21,000. Restricted intergovernmental revenues that's entirely made up of capital project uh related revenues. Um, so for the current year that includes about $380,000 for the farmhouse community center, $173,000 for future water projects, and then 75 $70,000 for park

security. I think the cameras that were installed, a grant received for those. Um, as far as the rest of the items go, fairly small in terms of permits and fees, a little decrease there, but not a large source of revenue for the town. Um, miscellaneous revenue is very consistent with the prior year. Uh moving into expenditures, you'll see overall in Roman numeral 4, this is general fund expenditures and other uses. Uh in total, pretty consistent, about $8,500 difference from the prior year, a point 3% change. Um as far as actual, I guess, departmental expenditures within general government, there was a $76,000 decrease. Um it's made up of a few things. There's actually an increase in personnel costs of about $47,000, but that's being offset uh by a decrease in capital outlays from from fiscal 2024 to 25 of about $173,000. So in total down down 76,000 for culture and wreck or or the park. Um very consistent about a 0.7% change uh year-over-year. Um [clears throat] so yeah, just very consistent across operations as well as the capital outlays at the park this year. Um, you will see a new line item for water. That's that's related to uh water related capital projects that are being paid currently out of the general fund. I believe that $82,000 relates to capital outlays for the water tank that were incurred before the separate elevated water tank capital project fund was was established. Uh, and then the last last item there is debt service. The only uh outstanding debt of the town is is the debt related to the town park that's held by Truist. And so there's there's u annual debt service on that of $36,000 for the year. Um in total you'll see at Roman numeral five the percentage of available fund balance to budget versus budgetary basis expenditures and other uses is at 69.73%. So a slight decline of about 6% from the

prior year. Um but overall still very healthy. Uh the average of similar units provided by the local government government commission is about 63% within the state of North Carolina. Uh so still still above above the average but a slight decline there from the prior year. And then property tax collection percentage obviously property taxes are collected by the county and then remitted to the town but it did remain strong at 99.8% this year versus 99.79 the prior year. Uh the LGC considers collection rates below 97% of budgeted to be a potential performance indicator of concern. Uh so certainly well above that that threshold. Um but that that really concludes my presentation but again certainly happy to answer any questions now about the financial statement figures uh or just the the audit process in general.

Are there any questions? No. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Thank you Sam. All right, that brings us to public comments and community community organization reports. I'll ask that those that want to address uh those issues come to the podium, state your name and address and try to limit your comments to three minutes. Or do we have any people? Angie, welcome. Hello. Uh, good afternoon. My name Well, good evening. My name is Angie Williams. For those that don't know, I live at 6015 Oakidge. Um, sorry, Dawn Ridge Trail. I don't even know where I live anymore. [laughter] As many of you know, I used to work for Orma. I've now changed companies. I did that in um December. What I realized was that nobody knows about the company that I work for now. It's another nonprofit. Uh it serves Guilford County only. The name of the company is Operation Excel and it provides a free after-school tutoring programs and social emotional learning programs, summer enrichment programs at no cost to the families that we serve. Um predominantly there are seven sites all over uh Guilford County itself, including two in High Point, but there is one in Stokesdale just by the buy rate. So, since it was so close to you guys, I thought I would come and let you guys know um a little bit about the organization. It's been in business for 18 years, founded by a lady named Charlene Gladney, who and it was a response, she's a pastor's wife. It was a response to the high dropout rate in high school. like so many kids were not

graduating from high school, particularly in uh communities that had so low social economic um backgrounds. And so she she couldn't stand it. She she just couldn't stand the fact that these kids were dropping out without giving themselves the opportunity to um educate themselves. So um that she founded this this and it has grown. It has grown from 12 kids and no funding to now we serve over 800 kids in Guilford County um and at seven again at seven different locations and provide about 130,000 hours of services throughout a year. Um it also provides a six-w week summer enrichment program absolutely free for the families. It's an all day thing in order for the children not to slide back. um a lot of times over summer break they'll forget things and they're behind when they start again particularly if they are educationally challenged or they are uh facing some kind of struggles or hardship at home. So that's what the after school pro I mean the summer enrichment program kind of addresses. Um I think that's it. I think that's the things I wanted to tell you about it. Do you have any questions or anything I can provide? Is there a website or a phone number or

There is. I brought some brochures for you guys just so you so you have them. Is it all right if I give them to you, Miss Andrew? Okay.

Excel. It's a It promotes leadership and education here in Guilford County. Um mainly because what we want to do is support uh economic growth in the area. And so often a child h is on their road to whether they're going to be in college or trade school or even graduate from high school by the time they're in sixth, seventh, eighth grade. So because we start with kindergarten and helps support them to learn, it um helps them understand what they're doing. There's a whole s uh steam and robotics portion of it. So they learn some hand hands-on skill. They we provide weekly unique uh field trips during summer enrichment that may be they currently uh recently the girls who game club went to one of the um one of the uh um colleges locally. It was the first time some of these kids had ever been to a college campus. I mean they're sixth, seventh grade, but they had never seen something that big. and then went to UNCC to uh kind of compete or observe the competitions that were happening. Um and so it's it's kind of it's kind of an interesting thing, but I I wanted to come and share. Um

thank you. Sure. Absolutely. Thanks. Good to see you. Good to see you guys. You're welcome anytime, Angie.

All right. Is there anyone else uh that would like to make a public comment or has a report from a comm community organization? Yes. Come come forward. I'll start with the lady Randy if that's all right. Good evening. My name is Cinnamon Hunter and I'm a candidate for the Guilford County Clerk of Court position. I wanted to come and greet you all. Um, I am a resident of High Point, a real estate agent, and a former educator. So, I'm looking forward to serving you, and I just wanted to greet you this evening. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

So, Randy, would you please approach the podium? Good evening, council, and happy new year. Happy New Year. Um, Randy Floss. Um, I'm here not only as a resident but the president of Oakidge Plantation, HOA. Um, Bill and I have Did you state your address? Add your add your address. Oh, for 5914 Tarlton Drive, Oakidge, North Carolina. Thank you.

Um, Bill and I have had several conversations and I know you're talking about doing some things, but I just wanted to share because for us it's been a process. Uh the crosswalk has been great to have in front of our neighborhood. Uh but if I go back 12 years ago, we we basically Bruce petitioned NC DOT and we eliminated the passing zone. Used to be a passing zone. So when people would come from the school, they would blow past our entrance and it used to be 50 miles an hour. So we got the passing zone eliminated. We also got the um speed limit reduced. We pushed for it to go all the way down to Willard, the reduced speed limit, and we really pushed for 35. It didn't happen. But since then, we now have um several things. We have the park. Um we have a lot of people that not only come from our neighborhood, I mentioned an they come from 12 Oaks. They walk through and around our neighbor neighborhood. And we have people that park in our neighborhood on the side of the road and walk across the street. I shared one idea if we didn't want to get into electrical um at that location and they have these at friendly. It's where they have the lights around the crosswalk sign and those lights are driven uh by sunlight and they go 247. Um anyway, just wanted to share as you guys try to figure out how to make those crosswalks safer.

Thank you, Randy. Thank you. Any questions from the council? Okay. No, thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to uh take advantage of this time for public comments and community organizations? Okay. Then we'll close close that section up and that tease off Mr. Bruce for town manager report. Thank you, M. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh the first item on my report tonight is a request uh to consider approval of appointment of Jim Kennan uh as a treeboard member.

Do we assume we need a motion for that? Mhm. Uh any anyone like to make a motion or discuss it first or so move? Second. Any discussion, Miss Clark? No, I'm good. Mike. Okay, Miss Snder. Okay, no discussion. Uh then, uh since there's been a mo motion in a second, I ask that everybody vote in favor by saying I or nay. if you are against it. I I I

All right. So, congratulations. Uh Jim, welcome back to the tree board. Thanks.

Uh second item is a request to consider resolution 20261 to request NC DOT to study and reduce the speed limit on Alhorn Road within the Oakidge Town limits. Uh and by way of background, you'll recall that during the public hearing of a residential resoning request on Alorn Road, uh both the applicant and several residents expressed uh concerns related to traffic safety along Alorn Road, especially along the big curve where the new development was proposed. uh the developer uh of that particular property, Craig Fleming, uh consulted with DOT um and has requested of the town council uh a concurrence uh to support NC DO's analysis of the speed limit to determine whether a reduction from 45 to 35 mph would be warranted. Um in my discussions with Mr. Fleming. It sounds like DOT was uh very much uh supportive of the analysis and found some components of that road that would support that speed limit reduction. Um and they're asking for a resolution from the town to support that analysis.

Do we have a motion to support this uh this resolution? I move that we approve resolution R20 uh 2026-01 to request NC DOT to study and reduce the speed limit on Alorn road within the Oakidge town limits. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Um since you made the motion, do you want to Yeah, I comment.

I voiced support for this. I know others did as well during the uh public hearing for the reasonzoning last month. I'm grateful to the developer and to NC DOT for moving this forward so quickly. It makes sense for everyone, those who live near there and the many people who drive and speed through there. We're hoping they'll slow it down a little bit. Thank you. Any other comments? Okay. I was going to say what Ann said. So I'll hold my comments and since there no further discussion uh uh if if not all in favor say I I not oppose I was an I.

I think four zero. Okay. So Bill back to you. Um [clears throat] the third item is a request to approve the updated continuity of government plan contacts page and that's simply to update uh based on the new composition of council uh contact information should there be a need to um should there be an emergency in which uh council members and staff need to be contacted for continuity of government. Is there a motion? So move second. Right. There's a motion, a second. Would you like to uh have further discussion? No.

All right, then. All in favor say I. All oppose say no. I I I. So I think that's uh done too. Is there any other business, Mr. Bruce? Okay. Okay. So we're in new business. Um so number A is consideration approval of Heritage Farm Park phase 2 design contract. Um I think all of us have been given background on that. Um previously

manager might want to present Bill. Do you want to make some uh present some uh ideas on that?

Sure. I can provide a little background um on this request. Um at the September 4th, 2025 meeting uh town council instructed staff to issue a request for qualifications or an RFQ uh for design of Heritage Farm Park phase 2, which was based on the master plan that was developed by McGill Associates and approved by town council. Um the process to procure architectural engineering and surveying services is governed by state statute uh which requires the local government to solicit qualifications as opposed to proposals. Then the first step being uh the town is to select the most qualified applicant um or the most qualified uh uh firm. At that point a fee can be negotiated but only after the qualifications are decided. Um at the uh parks and recck advisory board in December they reviewed uh four actually it I think it was November reviewed uh four qualifications submitted. Uh Revington Reeves uh Benes Stewart and Davis Martin Pal all submitted uh statements of qualification. Uh after discussion, the Parks and Recre Advisory Board unanimously selected Revington Reeves as the most qualified firm uh not only through the expertise demonstrated in their proposal, but also through their previous work uh with the town uh designing and administering the construction of the Veterans Honor Green. Um and their uh fee proposal is attached to uh this memo for your consideration tonight. Um, and it includes comprehensive survey design and construction ready documentation uh for eight lighted pickle ball courts, two tennis courts, a basketball court, fitness stations, additional parking and sidewalks, as well as several uh shade structures. Their total fee uh is $133,974

which I will note is about $60,000 less than the estimate that we received for design work uh from McGill. Uh so the action uh requested of council is to consider and approve uh the proposal from Revington Reeves for Heritage Farm Park phase 2 design. Do we have a motion to approve the Remington Reeves proposal? So move second. Okay. Since you proposed, do you have any discussion, comments?

Yeah, it this is just a part of the process of getting to the point where we can actually get a design, get costs. Um it's going to cost money to do this, but it always does. So um folks have spoken loud and clear about the sports court. So this is the next step in the process. any any other comments?

Um, I would just say that uh not not a surprise that Revington Reeves came forward with a very comprehensive approach to this. And I think, you know, when you're talking about $133,000, even though it is $60,000 lower than the estimate we received from McGill, I think it's important to explain that there's a lot involved in design in the design and engineering for phase 2. So, they've put together a team of civil engineers, electrical engineers, land surveyors, and structural engineers. and they're going to provide us first with the schematic design that addresses the materials, the utilities, the grading, the lighting, the electricity, all the needs of the the areas we want to develop together with review meetings with the town. So, a lot of this the timeline is going to be up to us and with Guilford County. And then they'll create a full design and full construction documents for the whole site addressing all of those areas plus all the little details that you don't think about regarding hardcape, seating, trash cans, shelters, walls, fencing, um everything else plus all the required uh permitting. In other words, every detail that we need to be shovel ready. And then and also they'll give us they'll give us updated much more specific cost estimates. Um and all of this would guide construction once the town is ready to move forward. And so when I looked at the full scope of work, I thought, wow, it I understand why it was estimated higher. And I'm grateful to Revington Reeves for giving us such a tight budget on this and lower. But based on the excellent work they've done for us at the Veterans Honor Green,

uh this proposal is worth every penny and more since you can't put a price on integrity and commitment, the kind that they bring to every project they do. Thank you,

Yeah. on to add um their proposal. Uh I did appreciate that they did build in plenty of time uh like Ann said, you know, to take our time with this uh meetings to have input from the council to make sure that we deliver what the town wants um so that we can see, you know, what they propose, if we have any changes or concerns. I think that we'll have the opportunity to do that uh during the design phase. So, I think that'll be good. I don't have a u a comment just a question. It did not it did not include any horultural design you know for plantings and things like that in the in the in the proposal. I did not see that.

No, but I would imagine there will there would be an element of landscaping um in the project. It's not specifically called out in the proposal. Okay, that that's that's what I just wanted to planting plan. Under deliverables, they will give us a planting plan. Oh, okay. And they've got a horiculturalist on their team. Okay, good. That's that was the question. Okay, we have a motion. Uh since we we have a motion, if uh if all are in favor, say I. If not, say nay. I I

It's four zip. Okay. The next thing, uh, Mr. Bruce, consideration approval of resolution R 20262. Um, this is a, um, procedural resolution to announce the council's intent to hold a public hearing to close the public trail easement in the Asheford subdivision. Uh this is required by statute uh that council would adopt this resolution setting a date for the public hearing um at the February meeting. Um I believe uh Mr. Thomas had a few words he wanted to say as well.

I want to note that the uh res the resolution tonight as drafted is sufficient in referring to the trail easement in the Asheford subdivision because there's only one For purposes of the legal advertisement and the final actions by this council, uh there will be a somewhat more particular description of the easement with reference to the recorded subdivision and the lots and general dimensions because it is an interest in land and the proposal is to vacate and close that interest in land. So I just wanted to note that. for tonight's purposes and to initiate the procedure the draft resolution is sufficient.

So is there a motion to uh to approve or not resolution R20262? make a motion that we approve uh resolution R2026-02 to hold a public hearing uh for the public trail at the Asheford subdivision. Second. Since uh you made the motion, do you want to continue with discussion?

Yeah, this is uh simply a housekeeping matter. U this was set on the calendar about 18 months ago um by Mr. Harton. um we delayed any decisions for 18 months. Um this is just moving the agreed upon process forward. It doesn't do anything other than um give the the citizens the opportunity to have input. This is just the intent for a public hearing. It doesn't do anything to the the trail easement itself.

Any other comments? Um, I would say this isn't a housekeeping matter because I think it's unwise for this council to consider removing this public trail easement since it's in the public interest, which should always be our primary concern. Any other comments? Um, yeah. I just like to comment that this is like Mike said, just kind of a decision to have a hearing but not actually make a decision at this point just to not hold up timeline.

Yeah. Going back to what was roughly two years ago. Uh Mr. Burgerer, welcome. Um going back to two years ago, there was a proposal from Asheford asking for 10 years to make a try to find solutions for this particular uh easement. Uh 10 years was far beyond the uh the ability to commit the previous town council. Um and we agreed to extend that hopefully based on progress uh being made on that. Obviously, I don't think that progress has occurred. I think some of us that had been recently put on council, which would mean Mr. Grace and Mr. Stone and I felt that if progress were continuing to be made, uh we could in this council extend that uh period of time, two more years for a total of four. So, we felt that that was a good uh strategy for the town council at that time. Uh unfortunately no no progress has been made and so this resolution is there to address next month.

I I would I'm sorry I don't remember it quite that way and I I know that one of the reasons that progress hasn't been made by the MST committee is because we've had a lawsuit pending by Miss Clark against the town and it's been difficult for uh committee members to be sort of in the crosshairs of that. So, their work was basically put on hold. I would be in favor of waiting a year or two more to give the committee time uh once the town defeats this lawsuit or Miss Clark elects to drop the lawsuit so that we actually could move forward. Okay. Any other comments? Um,

just from my chair has nothing to do with a lawsuit. doesn't have anything to do with anything other than um as a council we made a collective decision to move this process forward. Um no progress as Mr. Harton has pointed out has been made. So um we should do what we said we were going to do and just go and move this forward. Again doesn't do anything until we have u two public hearings. So, I'd like for us just to move this forward.

Any further comments? Okay. Uh we have a motion. Uh is there any u if if there's no further discussion? Uh all in favor of the motion say I. Those say two to two. Well, that doesn't carry. Okay. So the motion was not approved. Okay. So there we go. So [clears throat] what's next step? We bring this up and put this back on the agenda when we have council of five.

Okay. I'd like to make a motion that we continue uh resolution R2026-02 to the February meeting. You can't continue something that we've just voted on. And I don't believe I believe there's a hold in the rules of procedure when something has been voted down. I believe you can't just keep bringing it up. I'd like to refer to the rules of procedure. Uh are you does that make sense to you at all, Mr. Thomas? I'm sorry. What? Myself? I don't

Did you get near your mic? I said I'd have to consult the rules myself. Uh the rules we adopted a couple of years ago. Uh I don't recall the exact situation coming up before and how much of a delay a failed high vote imposes on the ability of council to reconsider the matter. I would stand to be corrected or or pointed out exactly what that is because I can't recall. So, will you provide that information to us as soon as you can?

Council member Schneider may have that answer for I'm looking to reconsider. The council may vote to reconsider its action on a matter provided the motion to reconsider is made at the same wait to revive consideration. The council may vote to revive consideration of any substantive motion that has been deferred. Well, this hasn't been deferred. Okay. The council may vote to reconsider its action on a matter provided the motion to reconsider is made at the same meeting during which the action to be reconsidered was taken and by a member who voted with the prevailing side. Uh yeah, there's no prevailing side.

Yeah, there is. This the the side that prevailed is the side that voted nay. Why

there? because you you have to have a majority in favor for something to pass. Um, I think we need to study this before we can put it back on the agenda. I I don't want to say the wrong be referring to the wrong part here, but it sounds like if it's appropriate because there's there's um I think for for purposes of tonight, the motion has been uh the motion failed, but the issue of whether two council members can request to be added to a subsequent agenda is the question that needs to be answered. So, it doesn't need to be resolved right now.

So, it was my it was my recollection that it's not it's not appropriate like once something gets voted down, you don't just keep getting to put it on the agenda again, but I'm not sure the section I read addressed that. So, we should put it under advisement with the attorney. I will circulate an opinion to the full council as soon as I can do that. Uh again, this the motion was def uh did not prevail. It was effectively defeated by a tie vote, but uh I'm not at all sure it can't be brought back up by a majority of council. Uh I will circulate an opinion on that. Thank you, Mr. Thomas.

Sorry, I don't have the answer right now. Okay. Okay. So, Mr. Mr. Bruce, I think we're through with new business.

Okay. So, we are now to to the monthly financial update for Mr. Anders. Good evening, council. Yes, I had to tilt the mic down. Um, and Chad is proof that there are tall CPAs and also tall folks from Oakidge. Um, everyone should have received a copy of the finance officer's report and the financial statements email last night. Um on the activity if you look at the uh financial statements the compilation um we're holding steady with 2.12 million of uh current assets liabilities net assets uh fund balance of 2.1 million so only about 16 a little less than 17,000 of liabilities. Uh behind this is your normal um sheets for the different funds showing budget to actual um then the bank state uh bank schedules and everything. I won't bore you with the details. They're all still in the same order as before. Uh debt is back there and fixed assets. Um overall fairly normal month for December. um revenues came in a little bit low, but um I'm expecting with the payment on the property taxes by uh the fifth of the month. Some years people pay early, sometimes they pay later. This one looks like everybody's going to be doing the

final payment late. Um as far as revenue sources, this is my data sheet that we get on the the dashboard for the fire department. uh since the department and the town overlay each other. Um advorum taxes which is our property tax 87% collected through December 31 for the year. Motor vehicle tax 64% and sales tax 60%. Uh those are good indicators because motor vehicle is paid every month. It rotates around. So essentially we're at 50% of the fiscal year and we've had 60% of the budgeted collection. So there's an upward trend on that. Um the other thing is um excuse me 64% on motor vehicles sales tax is set at 60%. So that's a good indicator that at least here locally the sales tax right now is performing ahead of budget. Could be that that's a little bit of a Christmas bump for the month of December. But um those numbers have been holding you know reasonably well uh for this year. Um a wire transfer uh notification was received. The total property tax was 118,55797 motor vehicle 979874 for a total of 128 356 and that's as of 1231 um revenues monthly sales and property tax we received interest for December franchise taxes telecom uh video program and electric power and pipe natural gas uh we received those we're still seeing the trends that we've been observing on those uh when we have a colder winter, colder um uh hotter summer, the electricity will be up, colder winter, electricity and gas will both be up. Uh I have heard several people uh complaining about their gas bills coming through the office. So I'm taking that as an indication of cold weather and um

uh that franchise tax will be tracking accordingly. Uh we've had HBC donations, town special event revenues, park revenues, and income into the water enterprise fund. the investments at the depository banks. We're still monitoring those like everybody. We're watching the interest rates. We've had another uh drop in the prime. So, you know, we're hopeful uh that we'll start, you know, still be able to have some good revenues. Um on the investments on the idle cash um on support of staff grant compliance, we're still working through um we're working with Bill. We're getting ready to make another request in on the ARPA monies for the water tank. Um CIP process, we're getting geared up for that. Bill, Sandra, and I are going to be meeting to start our end of that in preparation for that next month. Uh work on the water system. We're still working on that of course with the water lines uh capital fund, the water tank capital fund and um just in general the paperwork on that and and working out some of the details and the annual audit is completed. So that's a good indicator. Uh I will be uh preparing uh this is the reporting month. We have to do the collateralization report. The um notification to the banks which is done now through that same process that we're actually a municipality and the banks need to um uh they have to annually be reminded of that fact so that it endorses all the legalities around dealing with municipal funds. And then the TR2, which is the reports we have to send down on valuations, 99% of that report is done by the county and they're working on that now. So, um I'm expecting all of that and we'll have all that filed uh by the end of the month. So, overall fairly normal to uh get ready for this year uh starting out. We

do have the new year. Um, and um, I'm sure everyone has gotten their notice of reevaluation that's going to be coming out. Um, I strongly advise everyone to read it and look at it and, um, see what is on there. Uh while the county has a very high percentage of accuracy on most of its tax stuff, um anytime there's valuation issues, um as you've heard me talk about with the motor vehicles with the uh misallocation based on incorrect codings, they really worked hard on that and we're seeing extremely high accuracy, but with just the sheer volume, everybody just always look at that, including your property tax bills that you do get and your motor vehicle bill on uh your license renewal. But that's everything I've got.

Any questions for Sam? Sam, I have one. It has to do with I don't know what page is on, but it's near the back. It has to do with the truest heritage uh where where it has balance and for example where it has balance 25 26 and we would owe approximately 2.4. Is that date the anniversary date of of the loan or is that going to be a an April 1 or May 1 date which says balance or is it Yes, sir. That should be a May 1 date. Okay.

Because uh we pay it by the month and then that is the anniversary date is the uh um in the month of April actually 46 and I believe the trigger on most of the paperwork is 412. Okay, that was a few days differential in uh the loan and they have to register that loan down at the LGC and and record everything. Okay. I just want to make sure it wasn't June or December. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Okay. Any further questions to Sam? All right. We need a motion. I move that we approve the financial report as presented. Is there second? Second.

All right. All since there motion has been second um ask that you vote uh I if you agree with the motion and a if you don't I I thank you Sam. All right. Thank you'all. Mr. Mayor, uh, I'd like to, uh, move that we amend the agenda to move public comments up before the committee reports since I think we all noticed that Senator Phil Burgerer has come and I thought maybe he'd like to say something. Is there a second? Would anyone agree with that? Yeah. If you agree, say I I

I Okay. Thank you. Welcome, Glick. Good to see you.

Thank you. And and I do appreciate that. Um I I just wanted to stop by to um just say hello. Uh happy new year. But uh in addition to that to u point out that we'll be going back into session the legislature in the spring. Uh if there are any local bills that uh council uh wants uh us to consider for the town of Oakidge, we uh certainly would be willing to hear what they are. Uh in addition to that, uh I uh wanted to make sure that and I think you do uh that everyone on council uh knows that if there are issues with the interface with state government that uh I and my office stand ready to uh uh try to assist with that. Uh obviously it's uh it's something that um uh you know dealing with the state sometimes is uh is easy. Uh but many times uh it uh it it presents all sorts of problems. I noticed one item on your agenda and I hate that I didn't hear what the result was, but uh the reduction of the speed limit uh with DOT. If that's something that y'all passed, then I'm more than happy to uh have uh uh my office reach out to uh to the local DOT folks and uh uh give them a little encouragement uh in terms of uh of taking care of something. Thank you.

That would be appreciated.

Sure. Those are the sorts of things that uh that we can do. Uh in addition to that, from time to time, uh we have uh an ability to direct some state re resources to uh to the local uh area, and we've been successful in doing that uh on behalf of uh the town of Oakidge uh uh and other local communities uh here in Guilford County. Uh, I hate that when I got here it was dark and I couldn't see the progress on the uh on the water tower, but uh certainly was pleased to uh uh be able to work on uh on on helping with that. I think it'll be a good thing for the town and uh certainly the citizens will uh will appreciate that. Uh beyond that, my office sends out a uh weekly email. Uh if you're not already on the email distribution list, uh if you'll just send me an email, phil. burger atnerg.gov p i l.brn.gov. We'll get you on the list. Once you're on the list, if we send you something, you say, "This is not worth my time. I want to be off the list," just tell us. We'll take you off the list. Um, if you have u uh a uh a matter uh that you would like for us to highlight uh on behalf of the town of Oakidge in our u email, we're more than happy to consider that. if you'll just submit the information to us and uh we'll take a look at it. Um um my my office uh in Raleigh uh I have a number of members of my staff uh uh each of them uh specializes in a particular area uh whether that area be u uh health and human services or local government or uh law enforcement or anything like that. So uh or or transportation or I mean you pick whatever state government is involved in. Uh so I think if there is a question we can generally get you an answer. We may not get you the answer that you want but uh we we certainly are

willing to uh uh to help try to get uh answers and to the extent that we can work on issues we're more than happy to do that. And uh again just want happy new year. Uh it's a pleasure to represent Oakidge and uh and Guilford County and um happy to respond to any questions people have. You have any questions or comments from council? Thank you for being here and happy new year to you. Come have coffee with us again.

Yeah, I I would I would say you you you're well aware of the things that this council faces, but we made good progress over the past se several years. water we're seeing we will start seeing I think in the next few days really I looked at Mr. Bruce but the water main coming from Foresight County up to the commons and down to the fire department should start in the next few days. So, we'll have more construction in this town. And if you came through the intersection of 150 and 68, you know, we have construction going on there for the for the next year or two. Uh, and I I'd say the the last and biggest thing is the continuation of trying to develop our our park and our park plan. U there would off the top of my head they're the three top issues that I would share with you over coffee or whenever phone call like we had before uh and light up the night and u but I appreciate you being here today.

Sure. And as far as phones are concerned u my cell number is 3369329899. If you don't have it um I I again just let me know. I'm more than happy to uh to to share it with anyone. If you have questions you want to give me a call. Um, if uh if I don't answer, leave me a message. I will get back to you. And uh again, pleasure to see y'all tonight. And um it's it's good to see Michael Thomas. Uh uh he he and I sort of started practicing law about the same time. Uh he looks like he's held up a little better than me. [laughter] Anyway, thank you for joining us today. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Okay. Thank you, sir.

All right. Since we shifted public comments, are there other public comments uh from from those that are here tonight? If not, we'll wrap up. Uh oh. Oh, John,

just one, please. John Browning, 8024 Lynville Road, Oakidge. Um, I've got an economics and business degree from NC State. definitely no legal degree, but uh and I really don't know exactly with the Asheford subdivision what's going on there, but it strikes me as I know there's a difference uh legally and ethically, but it seems like with all due respect to Miss Clark, I'm looking forward to working with her on my committees, but with somebody that's so directly involved with um issues with the town, what level of involvement should she have as far as voting uh on an area uh that that concerns everybody including her. So anyway, that's just my two cents uh for that. Thank you.

Thank you, John. Okay, any other uh public comments, then we will wrap up uh item 13 and go back to item 12 with committee reports. Uh do we have anybody from board of adjustments? They didn't meet. I don't think they met. Um, mountains to see, I don't see. They did not meet. They did not meet. They were here last month, though. Uh, conservation easement didn't meet. Bill.

Um, special events. Uh, we welcome Patty. Happy New Year, Patty. Patty Dumchowski, 7320 Hidden View Drive. Okay. Veterans Honor Green. Uh we just received our actually our 21st order for pavers so that we can go ahead and try to place a fourth order for pavers. But going forward with the pavers now, we've kind of I think come to a an not an end, but they're coming in few and far between. So I think that we need to put in place a annual process for ordering the pavers. Uh so we can tell people what they can expect. Um suggest that we collect the orders and send them in in September and install them by Veterans Day in November. Um, and I need to discuss this with Bill further to see his ideas and how he thinks he we should handle this. Light up the night. Our light up the night event went well. Uh, the committee met in December and we always discuss what went right and what went wrong. Um, so we can improve upon next year. One of the things that, uh, we'd like to change next year is to see if we can get a local landscaper um or lights person to install our luminaries. Uh it's getting really harder and harder to get volunteers to come out and um install the luminaries. And don't take this the wrong way, but our committee members are getting a little bit older and they're not as flexible that you have to stay down on the ground all the time to put the luminaries in. So, um we're going to see if we can get some um maybe some budget costs on this and then we'll talk to Bill about that and council and see if this is something realistic that we can look at.

Um, I'm going to be meeting with Parks and Rex tomorrow to review our requests for their assistance with several of the tasks that we currently do. Ashley and Brock will be I'll be meeting with them. Uh, 911, I met with the parks and w advisory board at their last meeting and we did get their approval for our small 911 memorial. Again, it'll be in Oakidge Park and at the flag pole. Um, additional items. Last one. I will meet with parks and reccks advisory board to get their approval for our 2026 special events calendar. We usually have to tell them ahead of time what's going to go h on with the year. And the only additional thing that we have this year is that we would like to do a concert at the amplitheater 4th of July for our 250th anniversary for the country. Questions, comments? Thank you. Happy new year again.

I did have a quick question. Um, as far as volunteers, uh, have you all reached out to different organizations like we do we we go to Orma, we do to the Oakidge uh, youth association, we go to the garden club, we go to the women's club, we go to the Lions, um, scouts, the scouts, uh, we we we try to reach out if you have somebody else, but um, it's Yeah, I was Yeah, like scouts or school organizations or just the merchants. We've gone out to we I think we tried to reach everybody that we can out there. It's just we even moved it to Saturday uh instead of a weekday this year hoping we would get more people and we really didn't. So

yeah, we've really explored every avenue including lots of Facebook posts and um I mean we can still keep working on it but I think it just it is it is what it is getting really difficult. Yeah. So, so your proposal at this point is to have conversations with Bill with Bill and and to see realistically what a lighting company um a landscape, you know, it's usually their off time, so we're hoping maybe uh they would be looking to do something at that particular point. So,

sure. Okay, good idea. All right. Thank you, Patty. Uh, tree board. I do do not think Matt uh parks and wreck. Do we have uh Mr. Browning?

Yes. Hello again, council. It's good to be with you tonight. Um John Browning, 8024 Lynville Road, Oakidge. I did want to backtrack just a little bit to our tree board. We did not have a meeting, but thanks for for appointing U. Jim Kerman to our our our board. He's been a a regular visitor to to our board from in times past just as a citizen is off offered good uh good input. So so we look forward to working with Jim on the tree board. Um so now switching over to the parks and recreation advisory board. We did not have any agenda items so we did not meet in December but we certainly do uh appreciate uh and the fact you you chose uh Revington Reeves for the design. and they were our unanimous choice with that. So, so thanks for your uh choosing that company to to lead us into the phase two of the farm park. Um, basically I'm here to present the 2025 farmhouse community center usage information. About a year ago, uh, council voted for us to do a sixmonth and 12 month um, usage update. So, with all the delays, we we have finally gotten six months under our belt. So, we we've had some some good usage that we're uh excited about. So, beginning June 1st, um the Farmhouse Community Center opened for some soft openings. We didn't have any marketing. It's just kind of word of mouth referrals, but uh it opened June 1st for rentals. Um so, I'm going to uh separate it into two time frames. June 1st to November 9th, we've had seven rentals, five residents and two non-residents, 35 hours total um of rental hours with an income of $940 to the town. Again, that's June 1st to November 9th. And then uh the

Farmhouse Community Center was added to my wreck so people could look on the website and see what they were um what the farmhouse was all about. and they have pictures in there. Uh, and we we, you know, have upped our our marketing so people can see pictures of what it looks like when it's decorated and get a little bit more of a um uh notice or just see see how the farm farmhouse looks. So, November 10th through December 31st, we had six rentals, four residents, and then nine uh one non-resident, 27 total hours in those months, and then $460. So, um anyway, those are the two time frames that that equal the six months. So, so we're excited um happy with with the rental so far with with really the lack of of any good marketing. So, um going forward, tardy mark targeted marketing is planned once the parking lot issues are completely fixed, which we hope will be soon. Uh with emphasis on senior hours um uh that we can entice our senior citizens uh in future renters to uh um enjoy the farmhouse. So that's all I have and at your discretion we could keep on with the six months uh just give you update on on on the uh activity at the farmhouse. But again, we're excited going forward with some more marketing and to to get that um place up and going and and uh being important part of our our park. Any questions or other comments?

Any comments to Joe? Questions? Thank you. Thanks.

Thank you, John. Personally, I think every six-month review would be adequate. Okay. So, the next is the finance committee that did not meet, but they will will be meeting here shortly uh starting the process. Um water advisory committee did meet. Bill, Bill, do you want to we the council got a review from Spencer. Do you want to make some key comments about that? I would just point out that the uh the committee will be meeting on Wednesday um at a different time. They're meeting at 10:30 on Wednesday morning um to continue discussion over the community well uh amendment uh to consider um reducing the community well threshold under certain circumstances and also just uh um some updated policies and procedures for our water rules. Uh and to report on the great progress that's being made uh at the water tower. or they're on schedule. Had a a meeting with the construction team this morning. Um, and everything is progressing uh on schedule and within budget. So, that's great news. Um, and you had pointed out earlier that the water man construction began on Monday. You can see the utility locator folks all over town. Um, they'll be starting with some work at the credit union here in the next week or so. Um, they'll be working on some major underroad borings and then starting in March, they'll be laying some pipe.

Okay. Thank you. Uh just additions to that, this this uh Saturday at 10:30, there's another the second open house. That was 10 o'clock. It's 10 o'clock. 10 to 12.

Uh 10, excuse me, 10 o'clock here at town here at town hall uh to to uh for the water committee to answer questions from the community. We did this, I believe, in December or early December. So, this is our second attempt. Um, the other thing is that Mr. Bruce and and Spencer Sullivan and I will meet with Guilford County officials after the water meeting in the afternoon uh to talk about connection for Oakidge um elementary school. So think a lot of things happening with water and there's still a lot of work to be done by this committee uh historic preservation commission Courtney Harton 5901 Pepper Road I'll be giving Debbie's report tonight for HBC uh she told me to say good evening happy new year is me. Uh HPC has not met recently, but uh we'd like to share the good news that we've sold 376 books and have marketing plans for the remaining 1254 124 books in stock. I had to do math because she texted me that it was 376 now, not 375. Uh, we've had book signings and made sales at Lowe's Foods. Open sales are still in progress and are available here at Town Hall. The price of the book when purchased here is $25. Any questions?

Thank you. No questions. Thank you. It's a great book. Yeah, it's Historic Oakidge. We forgot the title, Courtney. It's uh it's also international. We have great reviews from Vancouver, Canada. I can tell you that. Uh planning and zoning board. Did they meet? Didn't meet. No, I don't think they met. I don't think so. Okay. So, that's all the committee reports, public comments. So, we're now to council comments. Mayor, if I may. Yes, sir.

Uh and I apologize. I didn't have I should always have the council rules on me for these meetings and I didn't tonight but uh Bill Bruce provided me with his so I had a chance to review the pertinent provisions regarding the earlier motion on the u uh resolution regarding the trail easement. And there's a basic distinction here between procedural motions and substantive motions under the council's rules. And the procedural motion section specifies 15 procedural motions which uh councilwoman Schneider referred to one or two of them earlier. Uh those are for the purpose of doing your business within a meeting, hence procedural. the setting of the hearing on a resolution of intent to close a street or in this case the the trail easement is under the state statute. It's a requirement of the state statute to do that. That's a substantive motion and the provision on substantive motions which proceeds procedural motions which is rule 30 and uh impertinent part says once the council disposes of a substantive motion it may not take up a motion that presents essentially the same issue at the same meeting unless it first adopts a motion to reconsider pursuant to rule 31 motion 14. one of the procedural motion. Hence, you can't do it without that compliance tonight at this meeting, but it can be on another meeting agenda if it complies with the agenda setting rules, which is request seven or more days before the

meeting to put it on an agenda under that rule. So that would be my opinion as to where that stands given the two two vote which meant that the motion failed at this meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Thomas. Any any other comments or questions to Mr. Thomas? Okay. So, we're at council comments. I'll look first to Miss Clark for her comments. Uh, sure. Thank you everyone who came here tonight. I hope you all had a happy new year and good holiday break and that is all. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Stone.

Uh, everybody notices that uh Mike Greon's not here tonight. He is under the weather. Has been for a while now. Um hopefully he's watching the meeting, sending him um get well wishes from the town. Thank you. Yeah, from all of us, Mike. Yeah. Okay, Miss Snyder,

I meant to mention that earlier. Thank you for doing that. Yeah, we we miss having him here. So, happy new year to everyone who's here, everyone watching online. It was great to have uh the president prom of the Senate here briefly. Um I like the reporting on the farmhouse community center and just want to emphasize that the you know we've gotten some traction so far but without any real marketing because of the situation we've been in. Um wait there was one more thing I wanted to say. Oh, a word about property taxes because there's a lot of unst and understandably about the county's promised pretty substantial revaluation. The primary uh burden for reducing the effects of this reval should be on the county which accounts for nearly 80% of your property taxes compared to about less than 9% that comes to us here in Oakidge. My understanding is that several members of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, possibly even a majority, are concerned enough about the negative effects of this revaluation to consider significantly lowering the county tax rate to absorb most of the increase. Please join me. I encourage everyone to reach out to your count to all of the county commissioners to ask that they take this kind of path. There's plenty of room to trim fat at the county level as a means of undoing the worst effects of the coming revaluation. And please feel free to reach out to me to discuss tactics. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Um then for me I would just like to make some general comments looking forward. Uh it's hard to to start by saying we have approximately 700 days of this of the term of this council and there's several areas that we will need to put our attention and hopefully and uniformly uh make an impact. The first, of course, we've talked about with with Senator Burgerer earlier. All you have to do is look behind the building to see the the rising of the water tower behind town hall. But very soon, pipeline installations will begin along Highway 150 uh from the Foresight County line up to the Commons down to Lynville Road to the fire department. Uh this additional construction will comment uh compound the current traffic issues already being observed with the DOT expansions of the intersection at Highway 150 and Highway 68 and the two planned circle uh traffic circles on the same roads. So we will continue to ask staff to to keep everyone advised about changing traffic patterns and issues. Uh but we ask you as citizens to adapt to these projects by first slowing down, observing and uh adapting to the changing conditions. U I think all of our drivers and whether they're from Oakidge or coming through Oakidge could help by just being a little slower and recognizing that the the traffic conditions are changing. Uh, another area that's going to require council's attention, uh, is the planning for the Heritage Farm Park phase 2. Uh, at this time, I don't think that anyone

on council is opposed to adding tennis, basketball, and pickle ball courts and needed parking to accommodate these amenities. The issue is how and when the town can afford the estimated 1.8 8 million needed for this investment while continuing to pay down the current load of around 2.4 million that's already exists for phase one that I mentioned with Mr. Anders earlier. Uh I have asked the finance committee to pay close attention to this as they go through their process and provide guidance to this council during our CIP process. Last, as a as a short-term issue, I have asked council to review the town strategic plan. Uh I looked at this uh in December. Uh the plan was initiated, to my understanding, in 2018 and updated in 2023. But if you read it, you can see that it is already in many areas uh out of date, mostly due to the immense progress made over the past few years on projects that are already in place or are currently being implemented and will soon uh be completed. On a longer term basis, I think that the council, and Mr. Stone and I discussed this the other day at the briefing or after the briefing. I think council will need to look at things outside of Oakidge that impact our town such as the rapid development of the aviation injur industry south of us or uh at the airport or the potential for rapid development north of us in in Stokesdale. Uh, also I think we will need to develop an improved strategy on how the town can impact uh on these kind of issues um that occur outside of Oakidge. Uh so they're the key areas that I hope council will impact in 2026

and maybe 2027. Certainly there are others, but many of those projects are either winding down or similar in scope. Uh, so I look forward to working with this council, our wonderful staff in the many effective committees on these many issues. Thank you very much. Okay, any further comments? All right, it looks like we're at the end. I have a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. Second.

All in favor? Hi. [music] Heat.

[music] [music] [music] Heat.