Town Council - Regular Meeting

on January the 20th, 2026. Let's stand and pledge allegiance 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. Remain standing for the invocation. Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity of being here this evening to conduct the business of the town. We just ask that you um bless this meeting, Lord, and bless the decisions made that they would benefit all the citizens. In your name we pray. Amen. The first item on the agenda is to approve the agenda. We approve the agenda.

Motion made by Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman McGawan. All in favor? All opposed? The next is the consent agenda items. You've had a chance to read through them. Motion made by Councilman McGawan, seconded by Councilwoman Riley to approve the consent agenda items. All in favor? All opposed? The next item on the agenda is an ordinance to extend the corporate limits of Gordon Road parcel ID05 IO5021E until February the 16th. Just uh clarify. I think you were moving to continue the public hearing on that, right?

Is that correct? Right.

To Okay. Any comments? Okay. All in favor? All opposed? And I didn't say who made the motion. McGowan made the motion and Mr. Brown seconded. I'm sorry. The the attorney interrupted me and [laughter] I got confused. Okay. We have a public hearing extension on the ordinance to amend the zoning for zoning partial ID55021E until February the 16th. Motion made by Mayor Pro Tim Triet, seconded by Councilman Brown. All in favor? Okay. The next item is our first open forum. Anyone wishing to address council, please come forward, state your name, your address, and limit your comments to three minutes. No one wishing to come forward. I am closing the public uh forum at 6:34. Okay. The next item is comments by the mayor. And I would just like to say that I hope everybody had a very happy holiday and are getting ready to go back to work. Maybe we can stay cold free for a little while. Um I had did attend the mayor's meeting this month in Princeton and we are still

as a group of mayors talking about the reasonalization of water and sewer for Johnston County as we're moving forward. Um, I also had a meeting with our representative, Larry Strickland, um, talking about some issues that we have in town and some some things that we might need to work through with some help from him. Um, I have a meeting planned this week to meet the new principal of the high school, which is Mr. Chad Everett. He is u going to meet with me um, tomorrow afternoon. We're going to sit down and just talk about some of the issues. And I will bring up the transportation part because everybody keeps asking me and I don't know what DOT is going to do with the roads, but I'm going to ask him what he knows DOT is going to do with the roads for our new high school. But I will be meeting with him tomorrow. um and have had several meetings with county staff and uh we'll be having some more uh in the near future. But um just trying to get the year started and and doing the things that are needed to be done in the town and if anybody has anything that they would like to bring to me, I'm here. I don't have an office in town, but I will meet you there anytime you want me to. That's all I have. The next item is from Le.

Just really quick before we go into the fee schedule, I did want to update you on the council chambers. We had a a meeting this morning and as you know, one of the delays right now, the major delay is redoing the canopy height on the front side of the building. And they the engineers are redrawing that so that they can go in and the structural engineers have to do a redrawing of that. So they're going in to do that. And right now they're looking at hopefully an inspection and CO date the first week of February. That's for everything to be completed. Um just because we would then need some time to look through a punch list. I'm not sure if we're going to plan the open house for the February meeting or if we will just plan to meet in that space in February and do the open house in March just to be sure that all the bugs are out. We don't have any issues, nobody's coming in to touch anything up or we're making sure we know how to run the AV system and all that. So, I think right now to reduce stress levels, we'll probably plan for the open house in March.

I think that's I think that's a good idea. Um, the other item that's on the agenda is the approval of an updated fee schedule and you got in your packets a copy of the current with the red line changes. So, my staff and I are open for any questions. I think as usual, the biggest changes come from the planning department and so Wendy's here to answer any questions about that that I can't. I have one question. the site plan review was completely taken off. Is that because it is added in somewhere else? So, all of those items are put in with something else, right?

I know that it was on the non-residential. Wendy, do you Okay. We got a lot of feedback from our developers because they would call and ask about their fees and we're like, "Well, the fee schedule's online." Okay. But it's in two or three different places. So, in speaking with them and seeing what their issues were, that's when I went through and saw where we could combine some things. Okay. And it would not be as confusing to the ones picking it up trying to to remit money to us. So it is all combined into other places.

So these items were actually combined maybe in in the major subdivision review or and the minor subdivision review. Yes, ma'am. Okay, I did. Am I on here? Okay. I I did go over each one. And is there any rhyme or reason to the increase? I mean, it looks to me just like a 50% across the board or was there is there a theory behind it or

um my staff actually went through local towns around us to see what they were charging and compiled a list for me and I used that with what we were currently charging to come up with our new rates. This puts us more in line with everyone else around us. The only thing I would I would comment on is the fact that a lot of the fees are for developers and things like that and I fully understand that they're going to get their money back, but is there a way again I see us doing 50% across the board. Is there a way that we can be a little bit friendlier to the the residents of Wilson's Mills and rather than just going to 50% across the board increase or 100% across the board increase on some of them? You know, pet registration fees, no big deal. But is there any way we can just say we're keeping it down? We're not like the others. We keep it down for the residents or you know, you see what I'm getting at? I I it just this just came to my mind. the biggest um the biggest fees that our public pays at this our citizens pay at this point is for their zoning permit.

So that would be the place if you wanted to cut some of the fees for them. That would probably be the place to do it is with the zoning Yeah. some of the zoning permits. Yeah. It's not like I'm coming up for any kind of votes or anything. I'm looking to to to impress the citizens, but I'm just saying across the board that there's a way that we can be a little a touch friendlier to the citizens and not just because everybody else does it. Does it would it hurt that much? I don't know how the how the board feels about that. Are you just or you just looking at like a single family dwelling? Um,

something went from 200 to 400, which I'm sure it's in there somewhere. Make it uh 200 to 300, not up to 400. Let's Let's take it give our citizens a little bit of a break. I don't know. I'm just throwing that out there. Anybody has any Are you sure I'm already up? Okay. Anybody else look at them in depth and have any feeling around that? The storm water review one is the one that went from 200 to 400 per disturbed acre and that's what the developers pay. That's the that's a developer fee is a storm water management fee.

And I'm not saying we only need to go up on the developers fees, but that's the only one that went up from two to 400. Developers are going to get that money back in the long run from the citizens. Um, yeah. I don't I don't know. I'm just throwing it out there. I'll be glad to sit down and we can talk through some of these if you decide you would like to to sit down and talk meet with someone and talk it out before you definitely decide to adopt it. Well,

I have a question. Okay. Most of these fees are for staff doing work to say for a a zoning compliance. Um they they want to build a house. The staff has to do the same work whether we charge $100 or $250. Is this correct?

Yes, ma'am. So what we're trying to do is to say, okay, we're trying to recoup some of the time and effort that our staff puts into it to to pay for this. Something else that we have started doing in the last year and a half with our zoning permits. There's also a zoning inspection that goes with that. And I built that inspection fee into the application fee. I did not clarify that on here. Well, perhaps I should have put more thought into it. So, but it was just a thought, you know. So, so that is included in with the zoning fee. Yes, ma'am. That's included with the application fee that covers their inspection fee.

So, um so these things that are listed are what's needed for our staff to be able to do the job that our citizens are requesting for them to do. and that covers the inspections and the the the fees for the application and reviewing the application and and and all of that. So, so Wendy, just just for for my my benefit and and maybe someone else's, so [snorts] of of this fee restructuring, when's the last time we done a fee restructuring? 2019, if I'm not mistaken. So, that's what, seven years ago, roughly. Mhm.

So tell me on on and I've looked at all of them. Um but but but tell me what impacts citizens, not developers, just the average Joe citizen that goes to town hall on these fees. What's the most impactful one? Zone. What is going to cost them? So So explain that to me. So, if I want to reszone, no, no, no. If you want to place an accessory building in your yard, or if you want to build a fence in your yard, um, you would have to have a zoning permit

and you would come in, fill out the zoning application, and we have the different tiers. Now, with this, um, different tiers, whether it's a fence, or whether it's an accessory, structure, shed, porch, pool, or paving. And that money that they're paying, say the $50 for the fence per permit, uh that covers the time that the staff takes to process the application and approve it, get it sent everywhere it needs to go out to the fence companies, back to the homeowner. Then once the fence is up, the staff rides by and verifies the fence is where it's supposed to be.

Okay. So, so it's just basically if I'm going to add on, I'm gonna bring you in a storage building, a fence, I'm gonna build a deck, th those sort of things for your average homeowner. Yes. Okay, that's Yeah, that's

Okay. Anyone else have any questions or do you want to go back through it again or what do we want to do? Do we want to I'm I'm I'm satisfied because I didn't really think through the idea of the staff having to, you know, re re-evaluate everything. So, well, I No. Well, I I I'll just make the motion that we approve the um the proposed fee schedule changed for the town of Wilson. I'll second that. Motion made by Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman McGowan. Does anyone have any more questions? All in favor?

I. All opposed. Okay. The next item on the agenda is a budget amendment from Miss Sherry.

Evening council. Um in your packets you have um a first budget amendment of the fiscal year 2526 um for the general fund and also our master plan fund. Um for the general fund this it covers a lot. However, I feel like there'll be another one at the end of the fiscal year for the master plan. I think that will cover it for the year because we are like getting in the short rows of finishing that fund up and just clearing out that um grant. So, have you have any questions in reference to what has been presented? Make a motion we uh approve the the budget amendment number one for the town of Wilson's Mills as presented

for the general fund and master bland fund. Yeah. Okay. Motion made by Councilman McGawan, seconded by Mo Mayor Proan Triffet. Are there any questions for Sherry? All in favor? All opposed. Okay. Thank you, council. Thank you, Sherry.

Do we have any comments from the members of council?

Yes, I have two. Um, Jen, I I sent an email I sent an email to Jen earlier this this month after that that last um staffing report and it had to do with what was the the the contractor's Can you fill me in on that again because I left that at home. But the the question was we didn't need to have or or or a contractor that we were going to do business with did not have to have insurance. We determined that and my question to you was I'm not comfortable with that. Would it be okay that we insist upon a whole harmless agreement? You were going to take that before council. Correct.

Correct. So I did reach out to Gabe in regards to it. Um so long story short, we don't have to have an agreement. Um there's not a big liability to us, but I can let Gabe touch base on the attorney side of things. Yeah. was yeah yeah so it's a mobile detailing um

right so uh Jenny sent me that email with a question that you had posed about requiring a hold harmless agreement for a mobile detailing company that my understanding was would come on to town property and perform detailing for town employees uh as a courtesy or convenience so they wouldn't have to go to the site right to offsite to do that. Um, and I just explained that in terms of liability, um, you're not you don't owe them any any very high standard or guarantee their safety like any other guest on on property that's owned by the town or or even people who, you know, in their private ownership of property. the duty that you owe to guests or invitees um is simply one of reasonable care and um that that translates to negligence. Um you know if if if you violate the duty of care that's owed to another that's the standard for negligence. So only if the town were negligent in um in this situation would there arise any liability and it was difficult for me to foresee of course of course there could be something that I can't foresee but how liability would rise merely by providing a a place for this to occur a piece of the pavement or water. Um, additionally, a hold harmless would be directed at injuries or damages to the company itself. In other words, they if you were to do a hold harmless, they would say, "Well, we we uh agree not to hold you liable for any injury or damage to us in performing those duties." And those would seem to be again like I said relatively narrow set of circumstances where something like that would happen. You

more common sort of not maybe more common but you know compare that to for example somebody who was having their vehicle worked on who had damage or somebody who slipped and fell in the soapy suds that they spilled on the ground while performing this. that would be a different the hold harmless wouldn't protect you there then in that case you would need an indemnity agreement where they agree to hold you harmless from third party claims and and I don't think any any company would be willing to do that simply in exchange for performing a service um if they were if they were you know wanting to contract with the town for for some sort of consideration then then indemnity becomes part of the discussion but I I don't think in this case, unless you want to make it a practice requiring anybody who comes on a town property to to sign a hold harmless agreement, I don't think I think it would it would run them off, honestly.

Well, yeah, that's true. But I just I just I look out for the town in this case. That's all I'm looking at. And I know how people are are quick to uh to get involved in lawsuits, figuring the town's got deep pockets. Don't want If you're comfortable with it, then then I'll go with it. I'm comfortable with it. I'm not guaranteeing you that nothing will ever occur, but but I'll draft it if you like, but I I I that's between you and and Lyanna. I'm not concerned if if you're comfortable with it. Okay. I'm okay.

Okay. The second thing I had Thank you, counselor. And Jen, thank you. The second thing I had was um I don't know if this was a one-off situation, but the other day I was coming down fire department road and it's it was dark and the traffic backed up to get into the school was just I mean people were having to go into the opposing lane of traffic and I did it too. Cross over and go around. You didn't see this. You didn't hear it. Go all the way around and come in and but the school had some for some reason blocked off. You know how they always go into the parking lot and circle around? They had it blocked off and and now everybody's out on the street. What's the What's going on? I mean, that's very dangerous.

Well, I go by here by there several times uh daily and it it's like a certain time and and I think probably probably without knowing for sure probably the reason they do that is because if you line cars up in the parking lot like when I was picking up my children here, nobody in the parking lot can get out. you can't back out and leave. So, I think they hold that open and at a certain time then open it so people in the parking lot can exit the the school because if not, then you're not going to leave until that whole line is is done.

And and and I think it goes back to planning. Um when they planned this school and and and the traffic, it it we had nothing of the the traffic that that we do now. it. A lot of it is 95% of the the mamas won't let them ride the bus the bus home. They got to come and pick up their little ones. Well, I I will tell you that the school system is talking about fixing it so that the parking for the children will come this way and go all the way around the school. And then pick up whatever it takes to get them off the street.

That would be a a How many kids are going to be tempted to sneak out and go out there and meet mommy out there at the highway? I I don't know. I'm just saying it's very dangerous for for them as well as us as drivers. Well, the teachers are not supposed to allow them to go out until they've been called. But I'm just saying I'm just that's that's what's supposed to happen. And I think now that we don't have baseball fields back here that is it it is it is very appropriate to have a drive all the way around and that'll that will accomplish a lot of that trying to come in that small parking lot. whatever we can do to encourage them to do that that that is on the books to be done and that might be something that mayor can can you know the school board's catechist yeah I've got another meeting with them so

that's all I have thank you

okay anyone else okay it's now time for our second open forum anybody that has any comments that want to address council come forward state your name your address and limit your comments to 3 minutes. No one coming forward. I close the second open forum at 6:55. Motion will go into close session concerning 143- 3181 A3 consult with attorney 143-3181 A6 personnel.

Okay. Okay. All in favor? Okay. So, we're going to go into close session in the school. The attorney Hello. [laughter] The attorney is going to be probably about 15 or 20 more minutes. So, we will do the um item B first. Okay. And then So, if you would also just mention that Wendy will come in. Okay. and and Wendy the first part Wendy the first part or the second I mean to the second second part okay so we'll let Wendy

give her a heart attack do we need to amend that yes he uh he needs to amend his motion my motion to include Wendy the planning director into the part with the attorney close session okay you going to second it you oh yeah second okay all in favor Thanks for coming out. Sorry, but exciting.

Yeah, we're going into there. First,

I think I want to go ahead and invest in I bought that hobby the other day. Yeah, nice again. I I see online really nice.