Town Council - Regular Meeting

and I'd love to hear from you whether you agree with me or not. I think we all benefit from open conversation. I appreciate your time tonight and thank you to the council for your service to this town. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak during public comment? If not, we'll close out the the first section and turn it over to the manager for the manager report. Thank you, uh, Mr. Mayor and councel. Uh the first item tonight is to request um reappoint of John Browning and Mike Kimmel as regular members of the parks and recreation advisory board. Is there a motion to do so? So moved. Okay. Which one want to say? Oh, second. How about second? Okay.

So Ann made this first and Mike made the second. Uh any discussion? All those in favor say I. Opposed. The eyes have it. Uh secondly, a request to reappoint Brian Hall as a regular member of the water advisory committee. There's a motion. So moved. There a second. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. The opposed. Um third is to uh appoint Todd Hall and Paul Magnabosco um who are currently alternates uh to appoint as regular members of the water advisory committee. Is there a motion? Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I.

I. Opposed. Um, next uh is a request to approve a proposal uh from the Seagar's Fence Company to install fencing around the Heritage Farm Park maintenance building. Uh, this is both a security and a safety improvement at Heritage Farm Park. Uh, the work generally involves installation of roughly 450 linear feet of 6 foot high black vinyl coated chain link fencing uh, including gates. Uh we did budget uh this project in the current fiscal year at $21,000. Uh we did receive three quotes. Seagars came in um at the lowest at 19,196 and uh staff recommends uh council's approval of this um proposal.

Any questions? Is there a motion? I move that we approve the proposal from Seagar's Fence Company for $19,196. Is there a second? Second any uh Miss Snder? Uh no. This is a reasonable and important project as Mr. Bruce said for security and safety of for our maintenance building in the Heritage Farm Park. Anyone else have any comments they'd like to make? If not, all those in favor say I. I.

Opposed? The eyes have it. Um next you'll find in your packets three proposals to address drainage uh concerns immediately surrounding the farmhouse community center. Um there are some minor differences in the proposal. Um each of contractor visited the site offered um their expert opinion on the best way to remediate drainage concerns. Um all three of the proposals were remarkably similar uh which led staff to believe that these were all well thought out and um were uh the types of improvements that we need. Uh essentially um there is some ponding around the house. Uh council is well aware that there was a disconnect um between the two projects um the the construction of the farmhouse and the site work that was done around it. Um this is work that's needed to um to rectify those issues. Um we did reach out to nine contractors uh to get three uh proposals. Um, I will note that the low uh bid from New Garden Landscaping did not include a very crucial piece which is repair of concrete that would need to be uh saw cut to accommodate the drainage. Um, uh, staff based on our experience working with Pedmont Site Works recommends uh their bid as likely to be the lowest once all the work is taken into effect. Um, and we can also vouch for the excellent work that they've done repairing a drainage issue at Heritage Farm Park. Uh staff is requesting approval of the Piedmont Site Works proposal for $27,750.

Any questions? If not, is there a motion to approve? I make a motion we approve. Okay. Second. Um I don't have much to add to this. Uh uh there was we we've all admit that there was a disconnect. I know uh Mr. Bruce has reached out to the the architectural firm to see uh what went wrong there. Uh but in the meantime, we do need to resolve this issue. Uh otherwise, we have an asset that we're not able to fully utilize. So, Mr. Greon, you know, I don't support the project, but I'm going to vote for this since we need it. So, I'll be voting for it.

Mr. done.

Um March of 2022, the council allocated $200,000 for this project. In June of uh 2022, um the estimate was $455,000. At that time, two council members that are still sitting on this council said it's an armchair estimate and it's high and it's going to come down. Um March of 23, the council accepted Bar's bid of $630,000, which is $175,000 more than the $455. Um December of 24, um we asked to have a meeting with bar to try and bring down the projected cost at $650,000. No luck there. But let the attacks begin on actually asking to look into the numbers. I'll be the first one to admit when I was wrong. A year ago, I sat here just over a year ago. I sat here and I told the citizens that this project was going to cost us $750,000. And I was wrong. It's now up to $955,000. I will not vote to keep funding this boondoggle. I made a commitment to the to the citizens when I was elected uh to start conversations on sports courts that's going to would have cost less than this house. We just heard from a developer that's going to build, as he said, million-doll houses um that are 3500 to 4500 square ft. Well, that's $225 to $285 a square foot. Right now, the Redmond house is sitting at, let's see,

$633 a square foot. Three times what a million dollar house in Oakidge costs today. By the way, we own the land and we own the house. This is all renovation costs. It's not buying land and building a house. Just like a real business, conservatives would say, "Wait a minute. This is costing too much. We need to stop." Or at the very least go, "If we're not going to stop, find the money somewhere else. Stop taking money from the taxpayers for this project." So, I'll be voting against it. Not because we don't need to protect that house, but too much money has been spent on this project. Mr. Martin.

Um, I invite anyone in the town council uh audience uh and town council if it rained in Oakidge like I drove through from South Carolina, if you go tomorrow, you'll see that clearly this work needs to be done. This work needs to be fixed. Uh there was a gap between the architect and the um landscape architect on how to deal with the drainage. Um but go you'll see the need for it. We as Mr. Stone say we own the house. It's ours. Uh we're we need to get it with full occupancy. This is one of the steps we need to get there and I will be voting for it.

Miss Schneider.

Yeah. Um, I I've always supported this project because I think it's important to our community, but equally important to our community is to be honest about the costs. The number that Mr. Stone is referring to includes the town park entrance master plan, which has extensive sidewalks, trees, plantings, grading that is not part of the house, but is part of the park. We would have had to do all of that work. Even if we had torn this house down and put something else up in its place or not, we would have had to connect this part of the park. There aren't a lot of things more expensive than sidewalks. So, construction costs, if you include septic and furnishings, which aren't usually included, the furnishings at least as part of a construction cost, the house cost 660,000. If you want to include earlier costs of architectural plans and construction administration, there's another 45,000. And if you really want to get nitpicky, you can say, okay, of that town park entrance master plan that included the small parking lot and that costs somewhere between 30 and 40,000. If you include the max of all of that, you get to $775,000. What Mr. Stone also routinely always consistently forgets to mention is that we received 380,000 in grant funding for this on the merits of the project. That brings the total cost down to 397,000. And I would point out again that the restroom at Heritage Farm Park that was new construction cost in in excess of $500,000. And that during the period from March 20 uh of 22 through 24 um that entire period we experienced ex uh a huge

amount of inflation. The co cost of Heritage Farm Park doubled as did the cost of other projects that the town has taken on. Looking ahead, the renovation of this house to serve as a community gathering place is an investment. This isn't just spending of taxpayer money. It's an investment both in the unique historic character of our community, which we were just talking about with uh the discussion about the resoning of Miss Carolyn uh and Sandra's family's property, but it's also we're expanding the facilities that we offer in our park. I can't tell you how many people have thanked us for saving this house, the last remaining tenant farmhouse on over 140 acres of town-owned property. This house has deep roots in our community and it will continue. The house has already hosted two baby showers and a few meetings and will soon host two parties and it's not even open yet. This is a great investment. Thank you. I will vote for this this adjustment. Any other comments,

Mr. Mayor? Just a response here. Even the former mayor um recognized that without the house, there wouldn't be the need for all the elements on the corner. Yeah, we put a sidewalk around there, but I don't believe we put a million-doll sidewalk around there. As far as the $380,000 grant money, that's still taxpayer money. Everybody wants to ignore the fact that we pay those taxes, too. And everybody, or not everybody, several people want to ignore the fact that our taxes went up because of the vote of this town council and we're spending it as fast as we're bringing it in. It it it just doesn't make any sense to suggest that I'm ignoring or or playing fast and loose with any of the numbers. This is the spreadsheet that comes from the town manager. I don't believe he's playing fast and loose with the numbers. You know, I didn't make any of these numbers up. As far as the facts that I laid out, every single bit of this came from either a town council meeting from the Northwest Observer. So, I'm not making anything up. These are real costs, real dollars that are paid on this.

The motion's on the floor. Any other comments? Uh, if not, I'd call the motion for a vote. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed? No. It's four to one. Thank you. Any other business?

Um, I'd just like to uh comment that uh you'll have noticed a lot of construction activity around town, not just uh along the roadways, but also behind town hall. Um uh the work to uh erect the uh elevated water tank has begun. Um crews have been on town hall property for the past two weeks. Uh it's a congested area. We appreciate everyone's patience as they're uh navigating Lynville Road and allowing those workers to uh offload the rebar that they um that they can't get up the construction access. Over the next few weeks, they will be uh drilling the piles for the deep foundation and testing the stability of those piles. Um and uh again, we just appreciate everyone's patience uh as the uh workers are um uh progressing with that project. Uh secondly, just uh to let everyone know if they're curious about uh road work status, uh our Facebook page is routinely updated every Monday with reports from NC DOT on what to expect in terms of construction in the upcoming week uh to help you plan your commute and to uh plan your way around town uh as NC DOT is working on improving our roadways.

That's an impressive drill bit. It's about as tall as the tower will be. Yeah, it's impressive. But as I I was going out today, there was every once in a while they're going to stop traffic in front of that construction site because they have to offload things. So, please be on the lookout for that. Uh new business consideration. Can I just make one additional comment? And it's it's um

with all the construction, um it would behoove every citizen in Oakidge and the people that visit on their way through to other places to slow down. Um this construction uh I was making a turn uh the other day into town hall. Somebody came me I had to be going at least 50 plus miles an hour in a essentially the edge of a construction zone. So please slow down on both of these projects and do so for the next year to few years.

All right. Uh new business. We have some very significant uh event here and uh would you introduce the u resolution

um in your packets is a resolution of award of bid for construction of 17,000 uh linear feet of 12 in PVC water transmission main. Uh this is the project that will uh connect the uh Winston Salem Foresight County utility system with the elevated tank under construction. Um uh the town received uh five bids uh at the bid opening uh two weeks ago. Uh the lowest responsible responsive bid was from Park Construction of North Carolina at 4,416,26. Um this is fantastic news to finally get a bid that was uh consistent with what uh we were um estimating and within our budget. I've included uh what the total cost of the construction of the water man uh is projected to be which includes the contract with park as well as construction administration and observation from the Wooten company um and a 5% contingency uh that is the recommendation of Wooten as well uh to bring a project total cost to four mill 4.9 million um you'll see uh in the next agenda item but I'll also point it out here that we have grant funding uh AAIL available in excess of the project cost. Um it's staff's uh request to um consider and approve the attached resolution. And I will note that the approval of the bid is contingent on approval of the award by the Division of Water Infrastructure, who's the primary funding agency uh for this project.

Is there a motion to approve resolution 2025-06? I make a motion to approve I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough to resolution R 202506 to bring a waterline 17,000 linear feet from safe county to our town. Second.

All right, Mr. Hart, you made the motion. You can speak first. U just briefly I've um I've been following water in even though I haven't lived here all that time probably uh been following water in Oakidge probably for certainly 20 25 years to uh when I moved back in 16 uh there had been a mu a very large project going for all of northwest uh Guilford County which I think was over $80 million uh by parceling it out and getting is uh to be able to find a contract, have a contract with town of Winston Salem and Foresight County to be able to have the money for the water tank going in which was the first installment of infrastructure and the ability to to have this system paid for by grant money and still have some a little bit left over. I think this is a great first step uh for the town of Oakidge and it'll probably be another 150 steps over the next 30 years to get a complete water system, maybe even longer, but I think this is a great opportunity, a great first step. So, I'm totally in.

Mr. Greon, uh no comments. Mr. Stone, no comment. Mater,

um well, this is I this is so exciting. I I know everyone shares this excitement, but approving this resolution for the water man does represent just yet another but really huge step forward for the water system that we've been hoping to develop for 25 years and seriously planning in its current form since early in my time as mayor. Thanks to funding appropriations championed by former Representative Faircloth and his staff and Senator Burer and approved by the entire North Carolina assembly during my term as mayor. This project is entirely grant-f funded and we are so fortunate to have this infrastructure funding. We have a long way to go to bring municipal water to all of Oakidge and future phases may require us to put more skin in the game, but I'm confident that we can continue to move this effort forward. And even the grant funding that we did get was a huge surprise. Even though we asked for it, it still was a surprise that we were able to entirely grant fund this as quickly as we did. So, there may be future wonderful surprises. Um, I'm also excited that we'll soon be rolling out options to connect Oakidge water to residents along the path of the water man and Oakidge Elementary will be connecting and ongoing discussions begun many years ago with Oakidge Commons may also be coming to fruition. All of this will help our burgeoning water system become profitable relatively quickly, which will then build up our reserves for system maintenance and expansion. Keep in mind that all of these funds revenue and expenses are kept will be kept in our water enterprise fund and remain separate from the town's general fund after this construction is complete.

It will also help realize one of the key planks of our water advisory board's strategic plan for municipal water to gain uh customers quickly. Thank you. May I add one quick add?

Sure. Go ahead. Um, I'd be remiss since I'm on the board of the fire department to not mention the fact that this water mane and I forget the exact distance, 800 feet or 1,000 ft somewhere in that neighborhood. Uh, as it comes up uh, Oakidge Road to Lynville Road, there will be fire hydrants uh, put in place which will improve uh, access to water for fire control and fire suppression. And that's a big big piece of this this project going forward. Sorry for mentioning when I looked up I thought fire department. Thank you.

Um this has been a long uh long journey. Uh the journey was started by uh Roger Howton. Uh I invited him tonight but he was not able to attend. Uh that journey was also uh put forward by Ray Holmes. Uh and also um all the council me council that's been in in in phase since the incorporation. Um the next step was impossible without the step before. So uh this is definitely an accomplishment uh of uh 25 years. Uh so it's definitely something we should be very proud of. Um you know so it it does open up a lot of opportunities. uh as I mentioned fire hydrants uh that's a big deal uh but also with the possibility and likelihood that we would be able to run the water main down into the commons um and then from there potentially hook up uh a number of other customers as I said may maybe uh advancing this five or six years from our timeline right now the timeline without anything happening uh is five or six years before we probably would be uh revenue positive, but with these events that we've been talking about with our discussions, uh we may be able to move that timeline up great a bit more. So, this is a monumental um step and it's it's a it's it's something that took a long time, a lot of councils, a lot of effort. Um so, good job by everybody. Uh with that, any other discussion? If not, all those in favor say I.

I opposed. The eyes have it. Uh, now we have to approve the capital project ordinance. I move that we approve resolution R2025-07 to approve capital project ordinance for the water main construction. Is there a second? Second. Uh, I'll just open up for general comment. Anyone have any general comments they'd like to add? No. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. The eyes have it. The exciting part finance report. Hopefully it's a boring report. We don't like exciting finance reports.

Normally I would be offended if somebody kind of made the inclination that I was boring. I didn't say you were boring. I want the report to be boring.

Just remember, the only difference with CPAs is we get excited about boring stuff. That's the that's the uh the trademark. Uh good evening, council. Um everyone should have gotten a copy of the financial statements. Um we received the um well, let me just do it here. Uh on the wire transfer we received 86,57221 from July and motor vehicle taxes of 1151928 for a total of 98,000. Um this is tracking with the data that I also share uh from the fire department. Um very unusual and surprising uh tax collection fairly early. Um, also doubly surprising, um, I don't know if everybody has heard the news, but Guilford County had a wee bit of a small, very dirty, sy nasty fire in the Green Street office building where finance and some other county functions are. Uh, this happened back in um early July, late June, early July. And um, as everyone here that knows, especially you, mayor, with a computer, uh, computers don't like soot. And um it's really turning into a very dirty little fire. It didn't do a lot of structural damage, but a lot of contents damage. I tell you that to tell you this. The county finance um had to close down. They had to move, get new computers. Um, I talked to the head of emergency services, Jim Albreight, and they he said the county came to the conclusion that it was much easier and more costefficient to buy new than it was to try to clean due to the need for special ultrasonic equipment, etc., etc. Um, with that said, our transfer from the county was up and almost exactly on

time. They managed to rebuild and get the finance department back up. Uh tax department uh was not affected so much, but all the reports and all of our transfers and everything really they did a phenomenal job getting back online. Uh I was sweating it initially because of the amount of the damage and as they got into it um because everything is computerized, but they did a phenomenal job. We got a record amount of collections for July and uh they are working on u well they're going to be in their temporary quarters for probably quite a while. Um one of the things I could discover with the fire is the building has got to be brought up to current code and given the age of that building there's some other structural issues the county is going to be addressing. So um all in all they're in a temporary quarters. They're rolling at 100% almost right now and I expect 100% in the month of August. So, we'll be in good shape. Um, the reports I sent out for the month, we had sales tax, property tax as normal, some interest for July, uh, planning and zoning fees, grant income, the ABC distribution that was already reported, donations with the Veterans Honor Green, and some miscellaneous park revenues. As always, we're monitoring our investments. And then with the staff it was grant compliance through the month uh supporting ARPA CIP process. And the fun thing for us the initial uh audit fieldwork um was started uh they were out visiting with us for about a day. Most everything else has been done remote with computer. Um but turning to the balance sheet, we're holding a a strong position at 2.7 million in uh current assets, liabilities, um 72,683, total fund balance of 2,680. Uh this does not reflect the capital project funds. Um, behind this you've

got your income statement fund by fund with income and expenses to each fund. The schedule of the cash deposits which are at Truist Bank of Oakidge and Pedmont Federal. Uh, following this, you've got a detailed breakdown on all income and expenditure items on schedule two, which is the longest part of this. Uh, again, fund by fund. and then the uh debt service assets or assets debt service and the water fund. Um overall a fairly good uh normal month starting. Um the good news is we've started with audit and uh the county um um excuse me the state has actually due to problems uh across the state with audits they have extended the due date for the audits to be turned in until December 31. Um we are on schedule to complete earlier than that. we uh had scheduled this year with them coming out earlier with a target of being done in October as we traditionally have been up until last year. So, we should be on schedule this year. Everything's going fairly smoothly. U I've already uh told them the potential for another capital project fund. Um and we'll make the arrangements on this now that y'all have approved it. Um, the only problem I've got with all the capital projects we've been doing over the last few years is what weird color unusual color of check we'll pick for this fund. But we will find something. U I don't know if polka dots or something may be in order, but um we're uh we will be uh supporting this fund as well. Um overall everything went well. The only other housekeeping item I've got for you is um pertaining to the engagement letter. Uh professionally, we're required to have

an engagement letter for the work we do. We have to update these yearbyear. This is in essence the exact same um letter as you had last year. Feeds the same. Everything's the same. However, I will put a little uh spot in. If you will look at the top right under the firm logo on the left corner, it says 21103 Oakidge Road. I'm very pleased to announce that all operations for the firm were transferred from 8004 Lynville Road, Sweet G, to 21103. We started the move Monday morning and we completed it about 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night. Um, systems are all back online. a couple of little tweaks on some new equipment. Uh, your scans that came out looked a little different. Um, finally took me a while to figure out that this thing will scan colors uh because the blue ink on the signature shows his true blue instead of as black. So, um, I am very pleased that we are in the new location. And, uh, on a personal note, I would like to thank every member of the staff. thrown especially has been very crucial with all of our plans over the last two and a half years. Uh Bill has given good advice. Uh although my builder drew the line at having my portrait painted on the side of the building so people would know who owned it. Uh but everyone's been really great. uh the permitting process, the the least problematic part of building a building was the town of Oakidge. The DOT, half of them were really good. Half of them took three and a half weeks for one signature, but overall everything went very very well. Uh we were on schedule uh opening up, but like I said, the best part of this was working with the town.

it was the easiest and the govern government government that is the closest to the citizens works the best and it did. But um that's everything I've got for you tonight. I would just u ask for approval of the report and adoption of the engagement letter and then at the end of the meeting I would need to get your signature on two copies. One for me and one for the clerk. Okay. Is there a motion to approve the finance office report? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I I opposed. And then we need a motion to approve the engagement letter. Is there a motion? Mr. Mayor, I move that we adopt the engagement letter as presented by Anderson Barrow, CPA. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion?

All those in favor say I. I opposed. Congratulations on your move. Yeah, congratulations on the move. It's fantastic. Is it true you're going to call it Sam's Place?

Um, no. I've not heard anything about it being called Sam's Place. Um but um um the nice thing about doing a project like this is when people especially from other towns that have ridden through have actually called and said how good everything looks. So uh my builder Tim Frasier did an excellent job and my partner Jennifer Barrow. Um once y'all once we finish up everything, we still got some other furniture coming in. We're going to have an open house and everyone's going to be invited. Um, and you will readily see that the inside of it is not the battleship gray that Sam usually likes. So, the decorating compliments goes to my partner Jennifer Barrow and actually to the builder. Um, they basically chose to ignore me most of the time on picking out colors, but uh, look forward to having everyone in.

Committee reports, finance committee. I don't think we need that. Uh, water advisory committee, would you like to say a few words in celebration? Spencer Sullivan, 7917, Quiet Place. Um, I I give you fair warning. Uh, my hearing aids broke over the weekend. They're at some factory somewhere being repaired. So, I did not get the opportunity to understand a lot of what you said, but I sure heard the eyes when you voted to approve the contract. Thank you very much. And I appreciate your reappointing Brian Hall and appointing Todd Hall and Paul Magnabosco to our committee. Uh they all bring significant expertise and experience in both development and construction. Uh and they'll be a great help as we go through the next year or two. committee did meet on July 9th and the primary order of business was uh to meet with three local developers, one of whom actually happens to be a member of our committee to discuss two proposed text amendments related to our new municipal water system. Uh we had a cordial and lively and sometimes loud, as Councilwoman Snyder has pointed out, discussion um and a good exchange of information. I I I think it was helpful for both them and us. And at our next meeting, we'll take their perspective and ideas u uh into consideration in drafting our final recommendations for those amendments. Our our goal in making those amendments is to build infrastructure and to build a customer base as quickly and as costeffectively as possible. Um the committee, now that the contract

has been awarded, the committee can now begin to implement the marketing plan to familiarize our citizens with our new municipal water system and encourage those nearby to connect to it. Uh this will include mailing out a brochure that the committee developed and holding some open houses in the fall and that will be what we will be working on hard for the next few months. Any questions? Thank you so much. Thank you. Historic preservation.

No. Planning and zoning. Sean, is there anything you'd like to add from the planning zoning? I think we they they approved the resoning and they also continued the two tax amendments. Anything else from their meeting? That was it. Okay. Board of adjustment. They're going to meet just to approve their minutes. They met already. Okay. Mountain to sea trail conservation easement. Is there anything you'd like to add? Okay. Special events. We can always depend on Patty.

Patty Damchowski 7320 Hidden View Drive. Uh, speaking of construction, um, our current construction of the boardwalk at the Veterans Honor Green is approximately 75% completed. We anticipate that it will be fully completed by the end of August. We have a gentleman there, Shannon Parker, that is unbelievable crafts person that is doing this and just is is an amazing person. Um, compliments all around to him. The third order of our pavers uh started to be installed today and should be completed tomorrow. The weather affected the um pavers being completed. You couldn't put the grout in on the side when it's wet. Um and our parks and recck crew were trained on the installation of the pavers so that in the future we'll be able to use them al to use them to install the pavers. I'd like to point out that today is National Purple Heart Day. It honors all of those that were wounded or killed serving in the US military. 911 uh Sunday, September 7th through September 13th. The display will be put up and the 911 ceremony will be on Thursday, September 11th at 9:00 am at the flag post in the Oakidge Town Park. I met with fire chief uh Ken Gibson and the fire department will be participating this year. I also spoke to Angie at the Orma concerning their participation and we're waiting for them to get back to us on this. Our Heritage Day, September 27th, we'll be having an old-fashioned muffin baking contest and details and rules and entry blanks will be on the website. Veterans

Day will be on Tuesday, November 11th, and we'll also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army, Navy, and the Marines. December 6, our light of the night. We're um having dis we're in discussions right now with a local sign company for a Santa and reindeer display on the lawn. And in addition, we'll be working on um the town's uh celebration of 250 years for our country. Questions, comments? Great job as always. Thank you. Thank you. Tree board did not meet. Parks and Wreck,

Adrien Ekernod, 5679 Timberace Way. Uh, first just want to thank the council for reappointing um, John and Mike. Uh, their seasoned experience is very invaluable to our committee. Uh, parks and rec board did not meet in July as there were no new agenda items to discuss. Um, there are some dates I just wanted to let everyone know. Uh the heritage farm perk survey is now closed and McGill will be presenting the concept uh designs based on that survey feedback at our upcoming August 21st meeting. Uh all farmhouse states are currently tentative um with the contract uh requirements that are out of our control. Um so the the soft opt excuse me soft openings are still ongoing um which have provided good feedback and management guidance to the town. Uh September 28th is our tenative open house and first music on the lawn uh permitting the construction. Uh up other upcoming events uh we have movie in the park tomorrow uh that starts at 6:30 with food vendors, games, and the movie will start at dark. Uh recommended to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Uh music in the park is this Saturday featuring the Alex Otway Band. And our next and final music in the park for the year will be on October 11th featuring Retro Vinyl Band.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh we have our second public comment section. Anyone wish to speak uh come to the microphone, state your name and address and the floor is yours. Sam looks like he wants to talk. Three minutes. Sam,

I know. True. Um Sam Anders, 1829 Oakidge Road. Uh, Oakidge, North Carolina 27310. Um, I just wanted to publicly and personally express my thanks for your vote tonight for the water system. Um, Jim's already talked about how crucial it is to the fire service. Um, this is a very happy moment because if you had told me, uh, it's soon going to be 45 years in about another month that I joined up. And when we were learning how to throw hard suction tubes off the nose of the 54 fire engine into lakes, ponds, swamps, theoretically, we were prepared to get to a pool before they had fences, but um we had to get water anywhere we could and we were trained on how to use the old truck. And the reason we use the old truck, uh if you park one of the big ones on the side of a pond, it may just kind of slide on in the pond. The bank may break away. So we had to adapt and overcome. Uh from there we started having dry hydrants which enabled things to be a little bit better uh a lot better for a while and then as we grew people didn't want a fire truck coming into the pond or whatever. The state changing bridges and things like that. So we've had other issues. So we've had a constant struggle for almost 45 years to have a sufficient water supply. uh super tankers and things like that that we do. Um that was the evolution. Uh I very rarely say this, but I'm hoping that before I finish my fire career, I do not have to be on a truck committee buying another super tanker to move water around. This is one of the greatest things that y'all could have done for the community. Um, even with the existing structure we've got needing

to haul water with the tankers, a tyrant scattered out around the district gives us an immense strategic advantage and a tactical advantage on fighting the fire. Um, when we don't have to send another engine to go to a dry hydrant to pull draft with manpower and hoses, pump it in the truck that you can set up. You don't have to have another truck there. It saves you extra manpower, saves you an extra truck. So these things that you're doing are efficiencies that will also come down through the fire service over the next few years. It'll allow us to change our strategic and tactical operations, more efficient use of manpower, and help us be more costefficient because, you know, just taking one tanker or one engine out of the rotation will save us a truck and anywhere from two to four firemen who can be at the scene actually fighting fire. So, um, I'm very excited, uh, to see this and I want to personally say I thank you and I don't feel that I'm going out on a limb when I say thanks on behalf of all the members of Oakidge Fire and Rescue, past and present. Thank you.

Thank you, Sam. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? If not, we'll move to council comments. Mr. Greon, no comments. Mr. Stone.

Yeah. Um, Ridgefest is coming up September. Um if uh you're interested in participating or volunteering there, see someone with the with the merchants association. Heritage Day is in September as well. Um contact Sandra here at the town hall if you want to set up a booth or if you want to volunteer. Um nonprofits uh get places for free and uh but uh it's always a fun time. Um, just quickly, reszoning, they're never easy. Sometimes they might seem that way, but they're really not. Um, almost always they impact individuals or neighborhoods. Um, and it's a it's a situation that weighs on you, but if you like change, um, but change is kind of an inevitable thing. The ordinances that we have route us and require us with our decisions to an extent. And then we've got a responsibility as far as property rights. And you know, while again, a certain person may not want the property beside of them or behind them developed, um the rights of the people that own that property uh are very real. So, please don't take the um the quick pace of a reasonzoning as being anything other than there's a a structure to it. Um I believe with all my heart that everyone up here takes that very seriously and they take it to heart with these decisions. Thank you all for uh coming out tonight.

Mr. Harden,

a couple of things. Uh first I believe on Monday there is a Red Cross uh blood drive at Oakidge Methodist in the afternoon. Um Oak Oakidge Methodist blood drive in the afternoon on Monday. Um relative to water. I want to thank the committee. I've been kind of involved with that for four plus years now. It's been a great committee. You heard tonight there's changes, but uh the fact that we hit this milestone tonight with the decisions we made, it's just the beginning of a whole lot of work for many, many decades. So, we have a great committee going forward. I want to thank Spencer especially. There's probably no one who knows more about water and water uh systems in in the town than Spencer and he's been a great uh member, leader uh chair and leazison back to the town council. Um so thanks to the water committee and thanks in to the future to what they will be doing mo mostly on marketing and planning activities for future neighborhoods. Uh the last thing I want to thank u the council mayor uh and council. Uh today was uh a difficult day for me. It was um but it's been a difficult three years for a good friend of mine and his family. Um so I was happy to go down and support him and I couldn't have done it without the support of this this council. So, thank you, mayor. Thank you, Ann. Thank you, Mike. And and Mike, and apologize for being late, but uh you know, I got here as quickly as as I could. Thank you,

M. Snider.

Uh ditto what uh Mr. Harton said about the water advisory committee. We couldn't have done it without them and especially without uh Spencer Sullivan. Um, and thank you uh, Councilman Stone for your thoughtful comments on the resoning process. Like you, it feels awkward to me that we have to that we move forward so quickly, but I do agree. We're we're all thoughtful about this. And I think maybe more than most council members end up understanding the sort of difficulty of change in our community almost more than anyone else because we see it from so many people's through so many people's eyes and it it is difficult. Um thank you Patty for mentioning National Purple Heart Day. That's important for us to remember. And I want to thank again the uh new principal and assistant principal for uh being so eager to uh meet people and reach out to the community with their meet two meet and greet sessions today. That was I I learned a lot and I was able to make some good connections with them today. Uh thanks also to everyone who attended tonight either in person or virtually. We're grateful for your interest and involvement. And um in terms of involvement, I also want to announce in this forum something that I've already announced online on social media. I've decided to run for reelection to town council. I enjoy my service to the town and I want to continue to make our our town the best it can be. both in terms of preserving what we all love about it, its small town charm and its natural and historic resources, but also planning for its future. I believe I have the vision, the integrity, the experience, and the energy necessary to accomplish these goals. So, I ask each of you to consider

the work I've done on council, both as mayor for four years and as council member for four additional years, as you consider your voting choices. Most of all, I encourage everyone to make sure they're registered to vote and to mark your calendars to vote on November 4th. And as a reminder, I'm always open to emails, texts, uh sitting down and talking to anyone who has questions or comments for me. Thank you.

Um make it quick. Um, agree. Just want to reinforce the the Methodist church does have a blood drive uh every even month on the second Monday of every even month. So this Monday, the August 11th, they do have a blood drive. I will have some sticker doodles there for you. Uh, but Bob Yarbor does a great job with other stuff, too. Um, want to reinforce that, uh, if you're not registered to vote, please make sure you register to vote. Uh, and make sure you vote. No matter who you're going to vote for, please get out and vote. Um, one little thing. Um, I'm a with the Lions Club. Uh, we're installing what we're calling a tranquility garden in the, uh, Heritage Farm Park. Uh, and the design is is that it'll be a reflective area where we will plant trees and plants and have some benches and things like that to remember uh, members of the Lions Club that have passed, but it's also going to be open to the public. So, if you're thinking about uh someone you might want to remember, there'll be a place over there for you to uh plant a memorial tree uh for that. Uh we we will accept donations for uh the Tranquilia Garden. So, if you're interested in something there, but it's still in progress, so we're we're working out the details, but the concrete has been poured. Uh but if you want, you can take a nice walk over it's behind the multi-purpose fields. Uh but we're really excited about that with that. Uh oh, the other thing is with the uh the meet and greet, the biggest thing they talked about, which is no surprise, is drop off and pickup for children. Uh NC DOT does have a plan, a a pro, a project slated for them to start in September or October that'll add a third lane to the pickup and drop off area. That's not going to fix everything. Uh so the biggest thing they've been asking for is make sure you have patience and understanding that things aren't always going to be perfect. Uh but also if you are dropping your child off or picking your child off, please be respectful of

the plant the plantation development and also 12 Oaks to make sure you're respectful of their driveways and things like that. So that's the biggest thing they tal at least the great session I went in that was the biggest thing they talked about was that the town does provide two weeks of sheriff support to help with that. But again, it takes a little while for everybody to get used to the new system. Uh if there's nothing else, is there a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Is there a second? Second.

All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. The eyes have it. Thanks. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]