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[1:35] All right, we'll call the June town council meeting to order.

[1:41] Welcome everybody. See first item for

[1:48] consideration is um adoption of the agenda.

[1:55] Are there amendments or

[2:00] other on on the agenda

[2:05] including the consent agenda? I would like to remove the item seven cash

[2:10] management policy and item eight fund balance policy from the consent agenda.

[2:17] Just for want me to be here and share some updates, a couple quick things. Uh

[2:21] I would say it slowed down a little bit after graduation. It is not. Crown is on

[2:25] campus. So we see a lot of uh high school students running around and next

[2:29] week we start some more camps. But since the last time we were together, we

[2:32] hosted a Memorial Day event as well as graduation. So we appreciate every came

[2:36] out to those events of celebration and remembrance as well. Um, tickets are on

[2:42] sale for our summer concert series at the amphitheater at the Brinkley

[2:46] Amphitheater. Uh, Robbie Marcales and Philadelphia big brass concert is this

[2:52] Saturday. Um, so it's not too late to get your tickets, but hurry up. It's

[2:56] coming quick. Uh, Carl Carti and special guest is on July 20th and we're working

[3:00] on a third concert in August. We're not quite ready to announce the name yet

[3:04] because we're still in the contract negotiations with that artist, but stay

[3:07] tuned. That'll be coming out soon. Speaking of tickets, football season

[3:10] tickets are now on sale. Two time defending champions. Come out and watch

[3:14] them. Uh they are back on campus and I can tell you they are getting bigger and

[3:18] bigger every year. Uh we we have grown men walking around the uh the cafeteria

[3:23] now. And then as a reminder to everyone in town, the Starbucks and Chick-fil-A

[3:27] are open with modified hours. Please come out, grab a cup of coffee in the

[3:31] morning, grab a lunch at Chick-fil-A. And then the last thing I have is an

[3:34] academic update. You may have seen it, but we're excited to announce that

[3:37] anyone who has attended and graduated from Cleveland Isoothermal and Gaston

[3:42] Community College is looking to come through one of our nursing pathways. We

[3:45] now have what we call the Foothills Nursing Promise, which is a 50% off

[3:49] tuition for them. Just another way that we're trying to serve the backyard first

[3:53] uh and making sure we're taking care of the region and the community first and

[3:56] foremost. So, thank you guys for the opportunity to be here.

[4:03] Is there anyone that has signed up for public comment that is not on the

[4:06] agenda? Please step forward state your name.

[4:09] Yeah, my name is Matthew. I'm a general contractor here in town. Been here 25

[4:14] years. Uh mine is fairly simple. I'm really looking for just um putting a

[4:21] little bit of idea before the board on system development fees that are just

[4:27] part of your online 23 24 budget. Um I've got access or we own 25 plus lots

[4:36] within the city of town springs. So for us, you know, when we get into lots that

[4:43] are pre-tapped with water and sewer historically when we these properties

[4:48] they're they're pre-tapped. Now, if we've got new business, it's something

[4:51] different, but majority of what we have is is purchased pre-tapped. So, we're

[4:57] used to paying water tap numbers and sewer tap numbers for connection fees,

[5:02] but I've got the new 2324 stuff for all of these that are have system

[5:07] development fees tied to them. So, these system development fees for each lot

[5:11] come to around $4,500. That's $112,000

[5:16] on just that we have here in town for the same

[5:21] things that are already pre-tapped. You know, we're not we're not adding any

[5:26] more work. We're just hooking on to existing tax.

[5:31] Um other municipalities Shel half price basically Cleveland County uh whether

[5:37] it's Gaffne P County all these are probably 50% of what we're

[5:44] doing here. So I'm just kind of putting toward you guys to see if there's uh

[5:48] something we can do for uh properties that are pre-tapped or just connection

[5:53] fees versus new work, new builds, new money for new developments coming in.

[5:58] I've got all existing stuff.

[6:03] Yeah.

[6:09] Next on the agenda is adoption of the consent agenda of course minus items

[6:15] number seven and eight. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda?

[6:20] So move that motion from Councilman Wood. Is there a second?

[6:24] Second. Second. Council Green. Any further

[6:27] discussion on the consent agenda? If not, all those in favor say I.

[6:32] Oppos? Likewise. Consent agenda is adopted.

[6:36] That will take us to regular business and we will begin with the cash

[6:39] management policy. And Mr. Parker, I'll let you take over.

[6:45] Yes. So, if you all would turn to page 21

[6:49] of your agenda, this is the substantive change to that cash management policy.

[6:55] And so, uh, this policy has been in place. It's policy that affects our

[6:58] finance department. It's part of Miss Allen standard operating procedures. And

[7:03] so, this policy spells out how we will assess

[7:09] our um our monthly utility payments. And so,

[7:14] Substantive change is again there on page 21 under a deposits third paragraph

[7:21] down. Utility payments will be applied as follows.

[7:26] Um this amendment to the policy is including item two listed there which is

[7:33] yardbulk waste. So what happens is if you have a

[7:38] $50 bill from the town of Boiling Springs and you say I am only going to

[7:42] pay $19 which is what you charge me for water we will then apply that bill in

[7:48] the order listed under utility payments will be applied. So we apply to

[7:51] penalties first then yard bulk waste then recycling garbage waste water then

[7:57] water. The reason for that is that we cannot turn off your sewer use but we

[8:02] can actually we can turn your water off. And so you as the consumer will tell us

[8:06] where to apply the money. Council has said that. And so that's what this uh

[8:10] policy update does. It incorporates the yard bulk waste item that's located in

[8:16] the proposed budget that can be incorporated even if uh that fee the fee

[8:21] schedule is set at zero. It just updates the policy to reflect that.

[8:27] And Rhonda is nodding at me. I had to check to make sure

[8:33] is not she's nodding at me. Rhonda is not

[8:38] questions or comments from council.

[8:43] I have a couple questions on section A number item.

[8:50] Are we g are we giving cash receipts to customers?

[8:54] Yes. Yes. Who reconciles cash receipts or who

[8:59] reconciles receipts to deposit? Emily does that every day?

[9:05] Yes, Emily reconciles what is in what is reported in utility billing.

[9:17] Emily reports what is reconciles what is reported in utility billing with the

[9:21] receipts that were taken in. And then I match those um those those documents

[9:27] with what is actually hitting the bank. Okay. And general statute requires that

[9:35] we deposit cash daily cash and check

[9:38] $250 or more. This policy is

[9:45] just to clarify there. The only change was um what Mr. Parker said that um we

[9:52] were adding the yard waste fee but it has a long time since it was passed. So

[9:59] there may not any. Okay. And item C the two random risk

[10:05] space and time. Are we are we doing that?

[10:09] I do that. Um I probably do it more often than than that.

[10:17] And section B item D annual supplies inventory. We taking an annual supply

[10:22] inventory.

[10:32] Tell me which section B

[10:38] is okay inventory.

[10:46] So that physical inventory like

[10:52] a physical inventory of supplies. Um

[10:57] I mean I don't know that we necessarily take a physical inventory. So I I would

[11:02] say no with an aster that we only order supplies when needed.

[11:09] Um so we expense all supplies bought when

[11:13] purchased. Yes.

[11:14] Yes. Okay.

[11:21] And then the dual signatures for tab checks. Who's approved to sign checks?

[11:26] Rhonda and I. Right now it's just us.

[11:29] Okay. And we do not employ I mean it allows us

[11:32] to use electronic signatures but we do not.

[11:38] Okay. That was all the questions I had. Anybody else?

[11:43] Other comments or questions on the cash management and policy?

[11:47] My question would be you say that uh you expensive when you buy them. Are we cash

[11:52] or acrual basis? Cash basis for budget purposes and acral

[11:56] basis for reporting purposes. So both sides of the street.

[12:01] I am on both sides of the street. Yes, I have to report. That would be cash basis

[12:06] when you expense them with your person.

[12:11] At the end of the year, I will acrew um we get an invoice that comes in in July

[12:17] for something that was done in May or June. Of course, I will acrew that

[12:20] accounts payable and it'll get reported as an expense for this year rather than

[12:25] next year.

[12:29] That leads to your question. But yeah, we budget for cash, but we have to

[12:33] report for approval.

[12:37] But each individual would have to do an inventory,

[12:42] right? Yeah.

[12:46] I guess what? Yeah. You know, we don't really, I

[12:51] guess, take an inventory, per se, but Emily pretty much keeps up with what we

[12:56] need in orders. If I happen to notice, I see all of the bills when they come in.

[13:01] If I happen to notice something is we've ordered a lot of paper in a month, then

[13:05] I might question that. Or I have questioned before, if we're ordering

[13:09] envelopes and we shouldn't be needing them, then I'll question that. But, you

[13:13] know, as far as going out and counting how many rings of paper we have, we

[13:18] really don't need that. Does apologist need to protect that?

[13:28] If it's there, then we and we don't do it. We either need to do it or we need

[13:32] to take it out. Yeah.

[13:34] As far as Yeah. taking an actual physical count. Emily routinely goes and

[13:40] make sure that we don't need anything. But with our with the admin side, the

[13:45] police probably do something similar on their side. And I'm sure do something

[13:49] similar on their side. Yeah, I know state I have to deal with

[13:54] that. We do semianual and annual inventory and that's how we do our

[14:00] ordering and that's how we set our budget

[14:05] but we don't need to have that in there.

[14:12] It probably is. I'll look at it.

[14:16] And it's just weird like open this box of pins and it's lost or it's whatever.

[14:23] So it really for me I would consider that immaterial

[14:27] but now if Mike has pipes and whatever I'm sure

[14:31] that is material and he probably does keep an inventory of that but I read the

[14:35] paper's immaterial for us. So we're talking versus copper fittings

[14:46] and I'm sure the police have their own ammo and vests and that kind of thing.

[14:51] We don't think we have anything that's worth

[14:55] anything that's listed as as an asset is all now master asset list. So we do have

[15:01] an am asset management list and so all that

[15:07] some of it's listed physically some of it the lion share of especially with

[15:11] regard to public department and the broader greenway uh is listed in an

[15:15] electronic database that we use called asset centrals.

[15:24] Is there is this something that we that you feel we should we should table until

[15:29] next meeting to discuss this particular item or

[15:33] I I would be okay if they just we approve it as amended take that take

[15:38] that

[15:42] section

[15:48] I think it's the number of assets I think is probably

[15:55] Well, if you can if you don't if you take out the whole um

[16:00] the the nonmaterial assets, if you look at what Mike and them have, it may be

[16:05] material because it's not just what we have.

[16:08] Well, whatever whatever the policy said we should do. So, if it says policy says

[16:12] we should count, then you should count too. Everybody's account or we need to

[16:16] have sections of the policy that says Mike will do his inventory and and chief

[16:22] will do his inventory and and you won't you know whatever the

[16:26] policy says I think we should do or we should the policy should be what we do I

[16:32] guess and I guess we can set a dollar on that

[16:36] it's an item x number of dollars greater than the

[16:41] yearly

[16:45] paper and pens, papers, pens and paper clips.

[16:50] You sort of get into the weeds a lot. So, I wanted to make it straight

[16:53] forward. I guess that's what I consider is what

[16:56] is material. Um, we've got a box of paper sitting inside the copy or is that

[17:01] really material to the rest of the town and its assets?

[17:09] And I and I agree. I don't consider it, but I think, you know, Mike, he's he he

[17:15] has he could have a handful of things could

[17:18] be worth thousands of dollars. So, I think it's I think it's different,

[17:21] but I think the policies should reflect what what we're doing some way or

[17:26] another. It should say office supplies or

[17:31] something. I think whatever policy should say what

[17:35] we're doing policy says now we everybody's counting

[17:40] and we are going to this is part of what was in our manager's report we are going

[17:44] to undertake over the next two months a comprehensive review of our policies for

[17:51] that are internal policies um to make sure that they align with what we're

[17:55] doing and we're going to also work on developing common procedures and plans

[18:00] for for what we pertain to So this was we're going to look at this again in the

[18:06] coming June July. So that again

[18:10] comprehensively. So is it something that that could wait

[18:16] to be approved or does this need to be approved?

[18:21] I would recommend since we're adding the yard to go ahead and approve it. And if

[18:26] we wanted to amend it um as Mr. said, Commissioner said, that

[18:32] would be appropriate and we can always revisit if there's something else in

[18:36] there. And I want to make sure you understand

[18:38] I'm not in any way saying I think you should be taking inventory. I just think

[18:42] whatever policy I agree absolutely that's why we have

[18:46] policy. And if I were an author, that's I'd say

[18:50] you're in violation of that policy. Policy says you should count. Says you

[18:54] are count. Well, yeah. It doesn't

[18:57] doesn't differentiate between

[19:02] how you maintain appropriate levels if you don't

[19:10] some periodic basis. Right. And that's what so I think we can

[19:16] we will undertake a thorough review of this policy going forward. So if council

[19:22] this evening just wants to change the section that has yard waste, we will

[19:28] revisit this and it can be as soon as the July meeting or August meeting or

[19:33] whenever Rod and I can can sit down and she can

[19:38] tear this thing apart and tell me what needs to be what.

[19:45] That's up to you all.

[19:50] Is there a motion to move forward?

[19:54] I'm okay moving forward as long as we, you know, review it and I don't want to

[19:59] make it, but I do think, you know, we should follow it. But I'm okay for

[20:11] evalu

[20:29] I think the the changes due to um you know 8% of Boiling Springs is a lot

[20:34] different than 8% of the city of Charlotte's budget and it's to reflect

[20:38] that. Questions or comments? Further questions

[20:42] or comments on fund balance? Well, I had two questions. So, I think

[20:47] you just answered one. So, this is not new. No,

[20:51] not down toward the middle where it says

[20:54] finance director shall prepare report document status of the fund balance

[20:58] available to town council as part of the hand budget prep.

[21:04] That is something I will make my best I'll give it my best attempt.

[21:14] Let you know what it is the previous year for sure.

[21:18] Is that going to be determined per the audit

[21:23] or is the audit the previous previous year?

[21:28] The audit determines what the final of course percentage is. Um I can do my

[21:36] best but there will always be adjustments that they will make that

[21:40] will affect that. Um, I can just recommend we need to try to put some

[21:46] aside because our fund balance is a little low or we think we've got this

[21:51] that we can spend this year. We need to move some money out of um out of the

[21:56] unrestricted fund balance.

[22:01] Yeah, I can't speak for Mr. L, but I think that's what we've been asking

[22:05] several times in your question discussion. What was the restricted fund

[22:08] balance? What do we have? where we apply it, how do we apply it in the future?

[22:13] So, I think that would be very helpful, but I know it's a moving target

[22:18] a lot of different things and I don't know how you really put that into a

[22:22] document. It is difficult because at any given

[22:25] time during the year, our fund balance will be different. If you if I check our

[22:30] fund balance in October, it's going to be great because we've just received a

[22:35] lot of tax money again if we check it in January. But now, when you don't get a

[22:41] whole lot of tax money. The May and June, you know, from then on it's going

[22:46] to go down because we don't get that influx of of tax money coming in to the

[22:51] general fund. So, you know, I I do my best to to try to and and depreciation

[22:58] also, everything, you know, um goes into that calculation um which isn't

[23:06] calculated until the very end.

[23:12] I I can't obviously calculate it unless it's something that's purchased at the

[23:16] end of the year. We make adjustments for uh debt service payments and

[23:30] other questions or comments.

[23:37] I think

[23:41] so.

[23:46] Yeah, we need another person to

[23:50] work with her. She might retire or something.

[23:55] I got that. Sorry.

[23:58] Is there a motion to adopt the fund balance policy?

[24:01] Councilman Green with the motion. Is there a second? Second from Council

[24:05] Ellis, I believe. Further discussion, questions.

[24:10] All those in favor say I. I. Likewise. Fund balance policy is adopted.

[24:16] Moving on with regular business. Uh final item in regular business, the Ruby

[24:21] Hunt YMCA agreement. Mr. Parker. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You all have a paper

[24:27] copy of this here in front of you. Um this agreement is what um we

[24:36] approved back in 2223. And so this was at the request of the

[24:42] YMCA that we use this agreement. This was my understanding the last yearong

[24:48] agreement that the town had with the YMCA.

[24:51] I believe after this agreement we went to the sixmonth

[24:55] interim agreements which we are currently in the second half of one of

[25:00] those and is set to expire the end of this month.

[25:05] The big substantive changes between the two agreements

[25:14] are on page two under item five, recreation services.

[25:24] Uh number one, town residents will receive a minimum of a 10% discount off

[25:28] the joining fee. Currently that is 50% off the joining fee.

[25:34] Participation in athletic reads and programming were at a reduced rate. What

[25:38] I did was I went back and figured out what council at the time felt like were

[25:43] the issues with this specific agreement. Um and then tried to to preempt what we

[25:49] thought they would be again. Um and so you uses reduced rate and there was some

[25:53] trepidation about what that means. Um let's see here.

[25:59] Item four uses the language reasonable daily fee

[26:05] and council at the time felt like we needed to firm up exactly what that

[26:08] meant. Um and then there was just a a note on there about baseball and item

[26:14] seven though the current agreement doesn't doesn't call out baseball. It

[26:18] spec says that the recreation management program or recreation program will be

[26:23] left to the discretion of the YMCA. But this is a

[26:28] here proposed agreement that we received from the YMCA. It will need to go back

[26:33] to the YMCA if you all choose to adopt it. Um it will need to go back to them

[26:39] for their signature and approval. There is also an additional request that

[26:47] moving forward um oh I left a piece off. Sorry that's

[26:52] why I've got the notes. Uh we did remove article 4 under facilities.

[26:59] Item B, the one that you have does not say

[27:04] uh that the YMCA will share 25% of renovations and major repairs at the

[27:11] town park. The YMCA requested that we take that

[27:15] language out. That language was taken out of the sixmonth agreements.

[27:22] Where where is that specific conclusion? Where was it?

[27:25] It was under B. So under uh section 4 facilities on page two B town park

[27:33] maintenance. It was in that section and it said that

[27:37] the town would fit 75% of maintenance costs and the YMCA would

[27:41] do 25. That is not currently in the agreement we have with the YMCA.

[27:48] It was taken out at some point. Um,

[27:52] and so this is a $48,000 one-year contract.

[27:57] The YMC is also requesting that in subsequent years, um, the town considers

[28:04] a request that the recreation budget um, percentage that's according to the

[28:11] YMCA be set at 1.25% of the total town budget from the

[28:16] contract agreement.

[28:20] And I can run that number for you.

[28:26] Where where is that specifically? That's the first time we have seen this

[28:31] and I mean it's the first time I've seen it. That's why I'm asking so many

[28:35] questions. Yes. Um so that part is not in this

[28:39] deal. That part is is for future consideration

[28:45] as we move. So under the assumption that council agreed to this current document.

[28:52] Um the YMCA is requesting as we move into next year we consider

[28:58] earmarking 1.25% for of the total budget

[29:05] total budget. Yeah. Yes.

[29:07] How much is it?

[29:12] 60. Let's see here. 45.

[29:21] Approximately 56,000 of this year's 56 or 66

[29:25] 56 of this year's budget approximately. So

[29:31] almost two cents.

[29:38] I'm not in favor of adding that. Yeah. And so that was I think that's

[29:42] what they're thinking for next year which we

[29:45] still obviously know we've got time to look at that again to figure out why

[29:50] subcommittee want to get together discuss that robustly.

[29:53] Yeah. Let's let's take up the agreement as it is.

[29:58] First of all didn't didn't we approve this agreement on the town level what we

[30:03] want to present to we did.

[30:06] Yes sir we did. We submit at all levels.

[30:11] Yes, sir. Okay. And then they come back with this

[30:15] document.

[30:19] Yes.

[30:22] And we're seeing this for the first time.

[30:24] Yes, sir. And we're being asked to consider how

[30:27] this plays into our budget and how that deals with the 48,000.

[30:33] Yes, sir.

[30:39] Further comments, questions?

[30:48] I have a question. Uh the 48,000 that we're speaking of as

[30:53] far as the budget that we're presenting tonight,

[30:59] would if we table this agreement as it's written from the Y

[31:05] The 48,000 is is earmarked for the Y. But if we passed the budget and we did

[31:12] not pass the Y agreement, we'd have $48,000

[31:16] for possibly setting up our own sports leagues and using that money from

[31:21] something else. So that $48,000 would be used for something for the town. So we

[31:27] could still leave that 48,000 in there. We don't have to pull it out. We can

[31:31] leave it in. It may not go to the Y else. Is that correct?

[31:35] Yes, sir. So, when you all pass a budget ordinance, what you are directing me and

[31:41] Miss Ally is that these are these seven buckets

[31:44] and you are giving us the dollar amount that goes in each bucket. We do not the

[31:50] statutes don't allow us to budget by line item. And so, Miss Allen and I are

[31:54] able to move those line items and that's part of the budget ordinance as well.

[31:58] And so it may say that that we're putting it in a you know whatever fund.

[32:04] We might call it salaries today, but in a year from now we didn't need it in

[32:07] salaries. Miss Allen and I may have needed to use that money to renovate

[32:11] Hannah's coffee house until we can we can do that.

[32:15] We can make those adjustments. It will be under contracted services as

[32:19] it is now, but it come out of contracted services if if the law agreement doesn't

[32:23] pass. Yes, sir.

[32:31] Do we currently have a representative to the max?

[32:38] No, sir. It's my understanding that we do not.

[32:41] And that's been part of every agreement that we've had for years and years and

[32:46] years and years and years. How many years?

[32:54] And we've had contract type issues were relative

[32:58] application. Why would we go back to a 22 23 agreement that we already had

[33:03] difficulties with

[33:08] we already passed something that we had talked about in house and we said hey

[33:12] this is what we want to see as far as the contract.

[33:16] That's my question to the other council members. Imagine many years ago if we

[33:21] took that same amount of money, that $800,000, we put it into a town called

[33:26] Parks and Recreation and we had our own facility,

[33:30] where would we be today? I feel like we've been faithful partner

[33:35] to the YMCA and from my understanding they rejected what we have offered

[33:42] with something much less.

[33:52] I say we don't I say we gave them what we wanted and they rejected

[33:59] and we could take the money we could set aside in a special park and recreation.

[34:03] We develop our own department and begin implementing our park master plan. We

[34:08] could look at funding if we're doing 1.25% % of budget and let's put that in

[34:12] our own facilities as our own projects because right now it's it's really a

[34:17] struggle over control. We give them money under contract. We ask them to

[34:21] fill the obligations. We ask for metrics and sometime

[34:26] so to me if we had any other type of

[34:30] service we had this type of contract issues with Republic with

[34:36] animal control with the physical management of soft

[34:41] any other contract service. Would we cancel that service or we continue?

[34:47] That's a question of answer.

[34:54] Further comments, questions.

[35:19] I think we considered the contract that they predicted

[35:24] we as signed by we don't have

[35:30] effective June 30th I guess I mean this is for next year but

[35:38] You know, we've had a a long partnership for 17 18 years and

[35:44] I think at some point it's just healthy and some point to step back from

[35:49] to consider where we are as far as the town and look at whether we're all in

[35:55] and we're going to do something with our parks and recreation or if not we're

[35:58] going to keep contracting that we need to be all in and commit to the so they

[36:02] can do their strategic planning as well. I don't We could we're sort of riding

[36:07] the fence here both ways, right? So, I think tonight we need to make a

[36:12] pretty difficult decision about things. Maybe not tonight. Maybe we'll

[36:17] pass it on down the road for a little while, but it does have a budget

[36:21] tonight.

[36:29] Other comments? We got this tonight. There's there's too

[36:34] many unknowns in it for me to

[36:39] support. And if we supported this, why did we

[36:43] change it? You know, why don't we amend it? If we

[36:46] we were okay with it, why why did we amend it? You know, if we're okay with

[36:50] it, we should have just kept kept on. So,

[36:55] I'm very disappointed. And

[37:01] I don't I don't think I've ever heard since I've been on the council when we

[37:05] when we when we come up every year we tell how much money we allocate for

[37:08] them. I don't think I've ever heard somebody come before this council say we

[37:12] appreciate your money. It's always it ain't enough.

[37:22] We're the only no other municipality who who attends or uses the Ruby W

[37:28] contributes and to my knowledge they never solicit

[37:31] money from Moberore Kingtown.

[37:38] I think we've been a faithful partner for a long time. We're the largest

[37:41] contributor to the Y. It's not not the B Springs wise, but

[37:46] down Frank was the largest contributor to the construction of the

[37:51] up.

[37:54] I think that's the part that a lot of people our citizens people do not see.

[38:00] They just see that bigger contract. They don't understand that we've been

[38:04] partners with them a long time and have put a lot of money in it as

[38:10] council talked about. I don't know the exact figure, but it's a lot. It's six.

[38:17] So,

[38:24] and I think I would be remiss if I didn't basically say I know that the

[38:29] YMCA is a gathering place in town. I know that it is a wonderful opportunity

[38:34] for kids, for senior citizens, for everybody, but I also know that not

[38:39] every person uses the YMCA and I still feel that we are subsidizing recreation

[38:44] for greater western county and beyond and

[38:51] and we just have some budget constraints this year that we're looking at funding

[38:54] major projects and we're looking at where we go with infrastructure and CIP

[39:00] and many things. It's not we don't provide funding for recreation, but it

[39:05] gets to a point where my opinion if we're going to provide a certain level

[39:09] funding and we need to keep it all in house so we have internal controls

[39:12] internal policies on what

[39:18] I also would like to say I think I think Miss Pitch does a wonderful job

[39:22] operation. I think she does commendable job there.

[39:28] And I and I've said this a thousand times. I don't think anybody believes

[39:32] it, but I am not anti-wise. I think the Y is is a great institution.

[39:38] I'm glad we've got it. But when I put on my town commissioner hat, we're talking

[39:43] about the town the town citizens and and the representation that servicing

[39:49] everybody. I think I think the dollars just don't add up. I think and like

[39:58] Councilman Thomas said, if if we had if we had a if Mike had 45 $46,000 in his

[40:05] budget, he couldn't tell us where he spent every penny of it,

[40:10] we'd have issues with that. If McGill or somebody couldn't fulfill the contract

[40:15] obligations, we wouldn't continue those contracts.

[40:18] And we had we had a conversation about the cash budget and counting all the

[40:23] beans here and either we need to count the beans of all that those beans or we

[40:29] need to give freely with the understanding that hey we'll loosen the

[40:34] controls and I think there was a there was a young lady at the Ruby Hunt board

[40:37] and she was in finance and I remember what she said very clearly she said

[40:42] would there be any opportunity to reduce um the town's control over the funds and

[40:47] keep the funding at the same amount of money and I think that's what this

[40:50] agreement in essence is trying And I told her truthless no that's not

[40:56] what my feelings would be that we would loosen the controls. In fact we want to

[41:00] see greater metrics about where the money is and that's just from a physical

[41:04] standpoint.

[41:13] So I'm not sure how we proceed. Mr. Mayor, is there a motion to proceed?

[41:19] to proceed. Question.

[41:23] I guess we have a couple considerations. We could consider um tableling this

[41:27] agreement and continue working on the agreement at a later date to be able to

[41:33] bring that back and we could do budget amendments to reflect that whether we

[41:37] reduce our amount from that based on this contract

[41:42] or whether we increase our bas

[41:48] if if the Y wants to come back to the table

[41:51] and work. But I think if the shoe was on the other foot and we had given the Y a

[41:56] contract that was changed or had some stuff omitted, I don't think they would

[42:01] be approving it on the same day that I'm not complete understanding.

[42:06] I think I think we're just kicking the can.

[42:10] I mean, I'm willing to go back to the table and talk with them if that's what

[42:13] they're willing to do. But if they're not, then I don't know which way to go

[42:18] because this contract's too for me to approve.

[42:25] So we've approved a contract and they rejected and now they approve the

[42:30] contract to us. We either have to reject it or approve

[42:33] it and effectively ending the contract. What kind of notice do we have to give

[42:38] to the mean under the current contract?

[42:41] So I think you said expired anyway. So you you are not under any obligation

[42:49] this evening to approve or deny any or table for that matter any deal because

[42:54] we have a deal until June 30. Now that deal will expire and so that means that

[42:59] effective July 1, we will be out of the contract period. If council wants us to

[43:05] pick back up with an additional contract, we will just date it after

[43:08] July one, whatever that contract may be. It seems to me we are always the one

[43:16] that's having to

[43:20] renegotiate. I I thought I thought we were very

[43:24] adamant when we gave them this contract that that was the contract that we felt

[43:28] good with and they rejected it which

[43:36] I I think we should move on with our budget and I think our budget I don't

[43:40] think we should change the the that a rate we're going to win anything

[43:44] because of the Ruby Hunt, but I think we should just proceed with our budget

[43:50] without the Y agreement and then we can decide if we want to how we want to use

[43:56] those funds. We want to hire our own recreation director or we want to hire

[44:01] somebody part-time. Do we want to do we can decide that ourselves?

[44:06] That's that's what I think we should do. I think we should move on. I think we

[44:10] should consider their contract.

[44:15] And that would not require action because I mean this is presented to you

[44:22] for your consideration but no action required unless I mean if you do nothing

[44:28] to it it goes away. If you want to keep it then we need to

[44:34] take it but if you take no action then it will just be recorded that it was

[44:39] presented in the minutes and no action was taken and so it just naturally goes

[44:45] away. I will say um kind of to bridge

[44:51] you all also allocate funding for the Ruby Hunt Library and so if if your

[44:57] instruction to staff is that we need to take away the funding for rep services

[45:03] there is not to my knowledge an agreement we've discussed this before

[45:08] there's no kind of written contract that I have found and I reached out to

[45:13] Cleveland County to They have Cleveland County contributes $18,000 a year.

[45:18] That's a line item on their budget that's earmarked. They give it to the

[45:22] town. Rhonda then takes $8,000 from the town budget and adds it to and

[45:29] they she flips that to the YMCA. Um

[45:33] I want to bring that up just because while we're talking about this, it's

[45:36] something that that you all have mentioned to me before.

[45:40] And so there is that potential $8,000 as well.

[45:48] Is it under administration? I'm going off memory now. Rhonda,

[45:52] it's a recreation. Is it? I couldn't remember. So, it's

[45:55] under parks and wreck as well. Yes.

[45:59] 8,000 parks and as well. So, there's 48 and then our additional 8,000 that we

[46:05] get. Now, the 18 from the county is recorded

[46:09] on the revenue sheet as library donation. And so, comes in at 18 goes

[46:14] out at 18. So it breaks and it's allocated for the county.

[46:20] The county has listed it in their budget as Borland Springs library.

[46:27] So if we and I'm not I'm not anybody saying that they should do this, but if

[46:30] we stop our eight, they still get the 18.

[46:37] I'm not I'm not suggesting that. I mean, yeah, I made a promise to Nancy.

[46:44] If you know Nancy. Oh yeah, I know you should make I know

[46:47] you shouldn't make promises to her either.

[46:50] She she talked to me about continuing funding for the library. This been a

[46:54] long many many years ago and that she hoped that we could continue funding the

[46:58] library and I would not be in

[47:06] but she was a strong advocate for that for libraries and for reading and she

[47:10] still and it is the western Cleveland County

[47:14] Library and that's why the county provides funding for it.

[47:17] I guess she wouldn't mention mind mention apologize to remember.

[47:24] So is there a motion to adopt the agreement? Is there a motion

[47:30] to table the agreement? And

[47:34] or if none then no action is required. I do want to offer the opportunity for a

[47:41] motion to table if that is desirable.

[47:48] So what's the difference between table and no action?

[47:52] Tabling means that we will bring it back.

[47:55] No action means that it will expire at the end of the month.

[48:00] Wouldn't preclude further discussions or negotiations or

[48:04] anything else. It would just be starting from scratch.

[48:13] All right, hearing none. Moving on

[48:18] uh to public hearing for lease agreement on

[48:22] 103 North Main Street. I will open

[48:34] after the public meeting has been opened. Citizen speakers will be

[48:37] acknowledged in the order in which they've signed up as a speaker and will

[48:40] address all comments to the council as a whole and not one individual. Council

[48:44] members speakers will address the council from the speaker podium at the

[48:47] front of the room and will begin their remarks by stating their name and

[48:51] address. Discussions between speakers and members of the audience will not be

[48:54] allowed. Public hearing is not intended to require the council to answer any

[48:58] impromptu questions. Speakers are expected to be civil in their language

[49:02] and presentation. All comments from the speaker shall be directly related to the

[49:06] subject of the public hearing. Each speaker is allotted three minutes.

[49:09] Speaker is not permitted to share, reserve, or relinquish any remaining

[49:13] time allocated to them to another speaker. Any written materials,

[49:17] petitions, photographs, and or other documents may be delivered to the town

[49:21] clerk. With that, we will open the public hearing for the lease agreement

[49:26] for 103 North Main Street at 7:21.

[49:33] and

[49:37] discuss

[49:41] people to speak. Yes. And I can start off by saying this is our lease

[49:46] agreement with Laura England for the property uh list at 103 North Main

[49:53] Street. We all call it Satara. And so this is a 16month agreement. The reason

[49:58] it's a 16-month agreement is because this will then bring the STAR property.

[50:04] Uh that lease to the same term as the post office building

[50:09] because the build the lease for the post office is also expiring on October 31st

[50:16] of 25. Um, you've got a letter there from real estate appraiser Bill McCarter

[50:21] which says that uh $710 is the fair market value for that building due to

[50:26] its age and condition. If there are any questions on the staff

[50:32] side, we are here to answer questions or comments from council.

[50:38] Question is Miss England. Yes.

[50:42] approved and ready to sign. I think it did reflect like a $10

[50:48] increase or something like that. Yes, sir.

[50:50] So, one question I had is, you know, she mentioned that she her husband did

[50:54] substantial upgrades to that building. How's that ever factored into I guess

[51:00] negotiations on I know we've already purchased property and all that stuff,

[51:03] but is that just the risk that you doing the upgrades?

[51:08] I spoke with Morer about that because I'm not I don't know about commercial

[51:11] real estate. Um and he said yes that is the risk that you took when she

[51:15] renovated the building. If she if it's a fix to the building it

[51:19] becomes part of the building. If it's quicker or something like that remove it

[51:23] but it's part of the structure it's part of the structure you can't remove.

[51:29] A lot of laces, especially the ones with the state, if there's a significant

[51:33] amount of upill dollars required, then less

[51:43] is the landlord in other words typically recoups that over a time period

[51:50] all typically. But now if the lease the renter is doing it then like council gr

[52:02] and I think the the understanding that I've always kind of and vicious does

[52:07] significant amount of of commercial uh lease work in his practice but I think

[52:12] that kind of the thought we've always had is the town does not really so we

[52:17] the first thought was we don't really want to go into the lease business but

[52:21] we've blown through that one a little bit. That's fine. Uh and then the second

[52:25] kind of thing is we really don't want to be in the business of upfitting and

[52:29] fixing a lot of that. We would much rather have tenants who are willing to

[52:33] do that. Um and we have been lucky so far and that we have found tenants who

[52:38] are willing to to do that or a significant portion of

[52:44] I had one question about light. You know it it says in there light pictures.

[52:50] Okay. They put up a light fixture then it's a fixed in the building that that

[52:54] belongs to the landlord if they leave but I couldn't find anywhere in there

[52:58] where it addresses light and I'm possibly overlooked

[53:05] that's been a sticking point in a lot of the state leases that I've had

[53:09] experience with over years and finally went back in there they went state

[53:14] property went back in there and put a specific wording in there that says who

[53:18] is responsible for tubes.

[53:23] If it's in there, you can point it out to me.

[53:34] Light tubes, light bulbs. In commercial properties, you typically

[53:38] have light tubes. A lot of people gone to LEDs. So, you

[53:42] don't have those anymore. But typically, if you've got things like

[53:44] light fixtures, you know, you know, and they have just standard, they want like

[53:49] this could do that

[53:57] would allow for a tenant to restore it back to the way it was when they vacate

[54:02] the property and just take that back out. they restored the property and at

[54:07] their expense made sure that it was done right

[54:17] if they got a burnout light they call to send somebody

[54:23] that would be possibility and I don't think it's spelled out but I

[54:27] mean it doesn't necessarily have to be feel good about it's not spelled out if

[54:32] picture don't work that should be our the physical

[54:37] system

[54:43] all I assume you'd be talking like if it's

[54:46] got a just a regular res

[54:55] but we wouldn't be required to fix

[55:01] the other

[55:08] Is there anyone from the public signed up for this?

[55:16] Are there any further questions or comments from council before we close

[55:19] the public hearing?

[55:24] Close this public hearing at 7:27.

[55:30] And what is the pleasure of council regarding

[55:33] police agreement 103? Police agreement 103 be approved. Motion

[55:40] from council green. Is there a second? Second second council Thomas. Further

[55:44] discussion questions. All those in favor say I. I. Likewise.

[55:51] This agreement is entered into. Before we move into the second, I just want to

[55:56] be clear after opening, we'll do the staff report and then we'll have public

[56:02] input and then we'll have council uh comments just to to clear up that

[56:08] process. All right. So, we will open up a public hearing uh for lease agreement

[56:14] at 145 South Main Street. That's the gym 728.

[56:20] And Mr. Parker? Yes, sir.

[56:22] Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mayor, this is the town owned gym behind the old town hall.

[56:28] This is currently being used by the Gardenwood University wrestling

[56:31] department. This is a lease amendment and so it still follows those same

[56:35] requirements. We are just changing the original lease dated uh here while ago.

[56:41] I'm sorry. U it was the lease deal back in 2020

[56:46] uh that we had originally signed with with Gardner web. The substantive change

[56:52] is twofold. Firstly, the uh proposed rent on this property is going from $100

[56:59] per month to $500 per month. And you have a email chain there from me and Mr.

[57:06] Marter which suggests that that is the fair market value of that building. Um,

[57:12] and then the this is for a three-year term with two additional optional

[57:19] renewal periods. Um, the tricky thing with this one, because it is an

[57:25] amendment, Mr. Schwepy and I needed to renegotiate parts of it with with the

[57:29] university because we cannot lease property for longer than 10 years unless

[57:35] we undergo the conveyance procedures as if we were selling the property. So,

[57:39] once we after a 10 year period, we have to pretend that we're selling it to. And

[57:43] so that's why we want to keep this one. This will keep the life of the lease at

[57:46] nine total years. And so this just allows us that that

[57:51] three year initial period, Mr. Mayor. And I'm here for questions if is anyone

[57:57] signed up to speak on this. Thank you. Does that mean that for n for the nine

[58:03] terms of lease it'll be $500 a month? Yes.

[58:09] years that captures that's starting the original plus amendments. So it's not

[58:14] starting a new nine yearly. This is um three years and then two

[58:20] three and two. Yeah.

[58:21] Yes sir. But but the the rental will be locked in

[58:25] at $500. It will for the first three years and

[58:29] then we have the option to renew um in two additional terms. So if at

[58:35] that point we decide we do not want to renew, we're under no obligation to

[58:38] renew, then we can say, "Hey, Bill, what is the fair market value of this

[58:42] property now?" And he can say 550 and then we will

[58:47] Well, I just I'm not I just thought, you know, things could happen

[58:53] maybe somebody maybe somebody else come by and say, "I'll give you $1,000."

[58:57] Right.

[59:02] And so what happens when If we get to demolish the entire property

[59:08] when we discussed this last that the gym was uh not something the council wanted

[59:15] to look at demolishing and so when we had looked at that back in March I

[59:21] believe is what it was. U we had gotten prices on demolishing our entire portion

[59:27] and then also prices to demolish just the uh the property less. And so um at

[59:36] that point my recollection was that council wanted to move forward with the

[59:40] lease because we we want to keep the gym for

[59:45] either cultural and historic value and or for its utility. But moving forward

[59:51] we have enterprise to go there. The lease would not necessarily limit us to

[59:58] demolish.

[1:00:01] So we would be locked into three years back in contract, right? At least three

[1:00:10] years

[1:00:13] that yes, we would need to

[1:00:17] we have to wait three years before we could demolish that.

[1:00:25] I think we need to clarify that we're not right now not considering that. I

[1:00:29] mean think that

[1:00:38] and I wouldn't I think it does not knowing that the college has

[1:00:42] a substantial investment there in that property. They have upgraded that

[1:00:46] property and they they maintain it well. So

[1:00:49] you know we talked about and how she did that

[1:00:55] with this facility. They've been a good

[1:01:01] and I agree with that. But I also see a time that maybe it would be mutual

[1:01:04] beneficial for the town and for the university that

[1:01:11] I do and you know I see maybe not but I see they might come to look at maybe

[1:01:17] their own recreation program maybe. always brings a fitness center and

[1:01:25] but I would also I don't think the council ever just say

[1:01:31] hey you're out tomorrow

[1:01:36] would be mutually agreed upon as possible if you

[1:01:40] put in that time other questions and comments for council

[1:01:46] regarding the lease agreement at 145 I make motion agreement be approved.

[1:01:51] Motion for Mr. Green. Is there a second? Uh yes, we do. Uh we will end the public

[1:01:56] hearing. Any other further comments? Okay. Uh

[1:02:00] we'll end the public hearing at 7:33.

[1:02:04] Mr.

[1:02:08] Motion from Mr. Green to renew the lease. Second from Councilman Ellis,

[1:02:12] excuse me. And uh any further questions, comments, discussion? All those in favor

[1:02:18] of renewing the agreement with 145 South Main Street. Say

[1:02:21] I likewise and that carries.

[1:02:28] Thank you Daniel for being really a good not good very often.

[1:02:37] All right, we will we have one more public hearing. This probably won't take

[1:02:40] long. Um, so we will open up the public

[1:02:45] hearing for the proposed budget for fiscal year 25 at 7:34.

[1:02:53] Mr. Park, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, and I, Miss

[1:02:59] Holland is coming up the budget presentation. I will start off by saying

[1:03:05] that this is the third edit uh to the slideshow so that I can exercise the

[1:03:11] maximum amount of brevity that you all are used to receiving from me but on a

[1:03:17] very serious note you know I appreciate council's willingness to work and this

[1:03:22] is in the slideshow but I'll say it now appreciate you all uh for what you've

[1:03:26] done your willingness to work appreciate the department heads and our town staff

[1:03:30] as you all know this budget has been labor of love for us for the past

[1:03:35] several months. And so it's definitely something that we

[1:03:43] definitely something that we've worked on both uh as a group of seven as a

[1:03:48] group of of council and department heads and then we've received some public

[1:03:52] input. I'm sure that you all have as well. So it's definitely something that

[1:03:56] um I think we we can all be proud of where we're potentially headed. Um, you

[1:04:04] all received a copy of my official budget message and you have got the 2425

[1:04:10] budget ordinance staff report there. Um, you are being presented this evening

[1:04:17] with two options. And so option number one or option A,

[1:04:23] I don't really surprise you. Option A, yes, it's okay.

[1:04:31] to levy the adorum tax rate at 41 cents per property valuation. Option B uh is

[1:04:38] to levy the adalorum tax rate at 40 cents per $100 property valuation.

[1:04:45] Um the the substantive difference between the two is that option A would

[1:04:52] allocate an additional $33,000 to the solid waste department where option B

[1:04:58] would not allocate that additional $33,000 and council has expressed an

[1:05:02] interest that that $33,000 be put into the reserve for a trash truck fund.

[1:05:13] And we are now up and running.

[1:05:24] [Music]

[1:05:34] relationship with the dog. Yes, that's that is Leo. Yes, the town.

[1:05:41] Tracy keeps wanting us to have that for that's a whole another topic.

[1:05:46] That's a whole deal. We'll get to that.

[1:05:53] We are just

[1:06:00] all right. So, we started off uh with a tax rate of 38 cents. Um, you have all

[1:06:06] heard me say that one penny is $33,000. That's an approximate number. The actual

[1:06:12] is $32,800. Uh, but I can't I can't think that way.

[1:06:17] So, I have to round up. Um, with the consumer price index, um, projected

[1:06:22] inflation rate at what I checked today was 3.4 uh, percent.

[1:06:28] and the North Carolina League of Municipalities suggesting that we

[1:06:30] decrease our sales tax revenue by 7% which equates to approximately $45,000.

[1:06:36] Um, and we also started the year off by increasing our debt service by $102,000

[1:06:42] and some change. This is what staff considered when we began the budget

[1:06:47] process. Next, um, and so from there, we worked

[1:06:52] with with you all in council. We received feedback from council. We

[1:06:55] worked uh department heads and tried to put our heads to use the people's money

[1:07:00] to accomplish the goals uh that council has in mind for the upcoming year. Um

[1:07:06] these are just the highlights from the six uh departments. There are seven in

[1:07:11] the budget ordinance, but I combined streets into one. And so it tells you on

[1:07:15] there administration, we're focusing on intersection improvements while also

[1:07:20] making sure that we meet those debt service obligations at the post office

[1:07:23] and sat property. uh upgraded equipment for our police department and also

[1:07:28] allocating money for animal control. The fire service 8.75 cent tax uh which is

[1:07:36] based on our total property valuation. Um the streets department which is

[1:07:41] divided into two parts paddle bill and non-paddle bill. Palville money comes

[1:07:45] from the state. We use that for paving and sidewalks. Non-paddle bill money the

[1:07:50] overwhelming majority of that goes to Um there's also the safe streets for all

[1:07:56] grant in that line item as you're looking at your budget ordinance there.

[1:08:00] Um the next one is solid waste and so we were met with some challenges in our

[1:08:05] solid waste department both in terms of an increase in tipping fees from the

[1:08:09] Cleveland County landfill but also a 5% increase in recycling fees from Republic

[1:08:15] which is our third party vendor. Um, and the cost of trash cans continuing to

[1:08:22] increase. Right now at $69 per can, that is trash and recycling. Uh, both.

[1:08:29] And then, um, recreation, including the YMCA agreement, ongoing maintenance to

[1:08:35] our park, which is in the budget for us to replace ceiling tiles, sinks, and

[1:08:39] toilets at both of our bathrooms at the shelter facility. Making sure that the

[1:08:44] town's long-standing commitment to the Broad River Greenway is continue to be

[1:08:47] realized, which I know is a priority for council. Um, and then making sure that

[1:08:52] we continue to invest in our community events, including music on main websock,

[1:08:58] the Christmas tree lighting,

[1:09:04] which I was that it.

[1:09:07] Oh, okay. Next.

[1:09:11] Um, and so then totaling the general fund, the total general fund will be

[1:09:16] approximately 4.54.65

[1:09:19] million. That is a 2% year-over-year increase uh when you compare it to last

[1:09:25] year's budget.

[1:09:31] Um, and then in the water sewer fund to just always remind us that it is an

[1:09:35] enterprise fund and so by definition it is designed to make money. We have to

[1:09:40] run it a little bit differently than we do the general fund. Uh we inherited a

[1:09:44] 4% water increase from the city of Shelby, a recommended 2 and a half%

[1:09:48] increase from the North Carolina Royal Water Association, which is how we uh

[1:09:53] staff settled on our recommended increase amount at 6.5%.

[1:09:58] This will go to fund um capital assets in the water sewer fund. As council has

[1:10:04] reiterated several times, we are concerned about our capital capital

[1:10:08] asset condition ratio which is currently at 50%.

[1:10:14] Um though on the upcoming audit, as Miss Keller discussed, we are in danger of

[1:10:19] taking below that number. And so the only way to get that number back up is

[1:10:23] to replace our capital assets with with new assets. And so we've got to get some

[1:10:28] of those older depreciated things off. Um that's going to happen equipment

[1:10:33] purchases. Sorry, equipment purchases, but then

[1:10:38] also um through our capital projects like the South Main Street water line

[1:10:45] replacement um and upgrading that line, which

[1:10:49] services all of University from a cast iron pipe to iron pipe, but then also

[1:10:54] undertaking some some needed and critical upgrades at our wastewater

[1:10:59] treatment plant. And I put this in my letter and I meant it. Um, you all have

[1:11:04] always reiterated to me that you want our infrastructure to be the envy of

[1:11:09] this region of the state and to be a gym uh that we have here in town. And we

[1:11:15] have heard that. Um, we were on the phone with someone from North Carolina

[1:11:19] Department of Environmental Quality. He's one of our regulators, Mike. Um,

[1:11:23] Todd Isaac and I were were on a team's call with him the other week and he

[1:11:27] said, "I am frequently told that you cannot have crystal clear water if it

[1:11:33] comes through the UV process." And I always tell people, Boiling Springs uses

[1:11:38] UV bulbs and their water is sparkling crystal clear. And that is the

[1:11:42] reputation that we want to have. Um, and so that is what we kept in mind as we

[1:11:48] looked at recommending water sewer increases.

[1:11:53] Um I promise to be brief and so you all have before you two options option A

[1:11:59] which is to levy that add the alarm rate of 41 cents per 100 a 6 and a half%

[1:12:04] increase in the water sewer rate and adopting the proposed feed schedule. Um

[1:12:10] that option allocates $33,000 to a capital reserve line there in the budget

[1:12:17] which would be used for a trash truck. That is the option that staff

[1:12:21] recommends. Um option B is to levy the adalore rate

[1:12:26] at 40 cents 6 and a half% increase in the water sewer rates and the adoption

[1:12:30] of the attached fee schedule. The only difference in the two options is that

[1:12:36] option A includes the additional penny on the rate and that money then goes to

[1:12:41] the capital reserve for potential purchase of a trash truck. And with

[1:12:45] that, Mr. Mayor, I conclude our Thank you. Is there anyone from the public

[1:12:50] signed up to speak regarding the budget? Nobody signed up for the public hearing.

[1:12:54] Y'all had me read that statement at the beginning. I thought we were going to

[1:12:56] get

[1:13:00] uh council comments, questions. Of course, this is something that we spent

[1:13:05] a lot of hours with and I know there's probably some

[1:13:10] um desire to move forward with one or the other, but as always, your

[1:13:15] thoughtful discussion is I respect it and appreciate it. So, uh with that,

[1:13:21] floor is open for whoever wants to comment or ask questions.

[1:13:25] I I'll comment as as I've stated before, I'm in favor

[1:13:30] 41. $33,000 reserve

[1:13:35] because uh I think how much new how much would a new

[1:13:40] garbage truck cost Mike

[1:13:44] $250. So 250 $300

[1:13:49] if if we had to purchase a new truck today,

[1:13:53] we'd be looking at raising taxes 10 cents,

[1:13:57] wouldn't we? So I think if we're going to be

[1:14:00] proactive, we need to start having some money put back. Also, we're in danger of

[1:14:06] our fund balance to be falling below that amount.

[1:14:12] I know you look up there and probably majority of the citizens look 40 or 41.

[1:14:18] I'll take 40. But I think it I think if they if they really understand what

[1:14:23] we're doing with that is rather than having a drastic property tax increase

[1:14:27] when that happens then we have been proactive in preparing for that and

[1:14:34] not be looking at a steep increase.

[1:14:41] I also council

[1:14:46] 41. I was on the council when we started putting money back and boy we were glad

[1:14:52] we put it back when we had to get that garbage truck. We had to put extra money

[1:14:57] in. We had something to start. So I think that all things that we

[1:15:03] didn't want to do the citizens of springs which got

[1:15:09] things in there and I don't know what we cut out

[1:15:14] further comments or questions.

[1:15:18] So, we're just doing comments now. We're not we're not motioning for anything.

[1:15:22] So, my comments would be to to go with the option B, the 40 cents. Um,

[1:15:29] we're talking about that 33,000 I think it is go forward to trash truck.

[1:15:34] We pretty much got that money for uh that we didn't have on the budget for

[1:15:39] the retail strategies that Cleveland County gave us. If we were going to cut

[1:15:44] anything, it was going to be retail strategies. Retail strategies got funded

[1:15:49] through the county. So, u I I say I I would comment that I would lean towards

[1:15:56] the 40 cent rather than 40. Option B.

[1:16:04] So how does the that 48,000 that was was going to be allocated? We could to

[1:16:10] change we can change any of those numbers now and we can make an amendment

[1:16:15] saying we want to put a line of 35,000 for recreation or parttime whatever and

[1:16:21] we could allocate 13,000 from that toward

[1:16:25] trash. I mean we we could make some

[1:16:29] recommendations to change stuff like One thing that I don't know that I agree

[1:16:33] with in the budget is 3% 3% merit. I would suggest 3% 2% merit 1% which is

[1:16:40] roughly $12,000 11,000 something

[1:16:45] 11,000 with 13,000 $24,000 for a trash and we still accomplish the same thing

[1:16:52] by having 24,000 set aside

[1:16:57] and on the hunt.

[1:17:01] But it reduces that 48,000 recreation down to where we have 35,000 and there's

[1:17:06] a lot of consideration going in that compete with the YMCA on providing

[1:17:10] baseball league. What does that look like? Do we then charge fee if the YMCA

[1:17:15] wants to use the baseball league and that generates revenue?

[1:17:20] There's a lot of lot of things could happen with that. or we just setting

[1:17:23] aside $48,000 to say we're going to do something recreation

[1:17:29] and I'm not I don't know that I would agree just let that money just sit there

[1:17:33] for so I don't know that's just my ide

[1:17:42] for me would be 40 looking at reducing some of this funding and it's not that

[1:17:48] I'm not promp employee I just think what I'm looking at across the board 5%

[1:17:55] cost everything 5%. I mean I know that still affects the bottom line but that

[1:18:00] that gives the town some money to be able to put in reserve for trash and

[1:18:04] accomplish our goals without heavy taxation.

[1:18:09] So, so you were saying that you'd want to change the budget to say 2% from

[1:18:17] three to two uh 3% cola 2% merit and then that that

[1:18:21] 1% saving add that to capital reserve for which I think is 11,000 12,000

[1:18:28] I think it's 11600 now we went off memory.

[1:18:31] Yes. 11600 plus 13,000 would give us $24,600 that we can put aside. That's

[1:18:36] that's a pretty good And I think that would be something that

[1:18:40] I would like to see. But that's just my opinion of trying to crunch numbers and

[1:18:44] trying to be a good steward of dollars

[1:18:50] because we do need to set aside. But with the YMCA agreement going to

[1:18:57] end, what do we do? I mean, either we need to earmark that money for a project

[1:19:01] specific purpose or what's what's the plan now?

[1:19:04] I'd like to $1,000. We can discuss that later. That there that we don't need to

[1:19:09] decide where that money goes tonight. I don't I agree, but I have a question

[1:19:15] that would be in I don't know in that discussion. Could that $48,000 go to It

[1:19:22] would be in park to recreation would it not? Could it go to uh the some upgraded

[1:19:28] park? It can. It can go to whatever. So the 40,000. So if you all will look at

[1:19:34] the budget that it's got FY2425 budget ordinance, it doesn't matter which one

[1:19:39] you look at, you all are telling Rhonda and many would agree, but most that you

[1:19:48] are that you are accepting that a column we're getting this much money, but that

[1:19:53] you put that money in these spaces and that's all you're doing. So if we

[1:20:01] Rhonda and I move up to 10% of a total account out. And so like if you all said

[1:20:07] to me, Zach, we want to take of the 48 I Rhonda and I can take up to 26,000

[1:20:14] roughly out of that 48,000 without it ever coming to you. So you can say,

[1:20:19] "Hey, we want to do this." It doesn't require a budget amendment. Ronda and I

[1:20:23] can move that money without much hoopla. anything over that 10% threshold between

[1:20:28] the departments, Rhonda and I will come to you all and say we are moving X

[1:20:34] amount of dollars from recreation to trash truck reserve or whatever you all

[1:20:41] choose

[1:20:44] as long as I get the non. But is the line,000?

[1:20:51] It says YMCA contract with the line item. The state doesn't allow us to

[1:20:55] budget by line item. And so though you all have seen the line

[1:20:59] items, those are not reflected at all in the budget or

[1:21:02] you contracted services. It's contracted services YMCA, but you

[1:21:07] all are just putting them into big buckets. these buckets and then Rhonda

[1:21:13] and I move them interchangeably between items. So it we could put in there

[1:21:17] whatever we want to and call it whatever. We can move them around

[1:21:23] with no issue. So we don't earark money in the same way that in the traditional

[1:21:28] sense where it has to be used for that purpose. That's not that's not an action

[1:21:32] that you all are taking. If you want to do that, we can. There's a another way

[1:21:36] that we do that. What about under expended accounts.

[1:21:42] If we get toward the end of the year, those underexpended accounts, can any of

[1:21:45] that money be earmarked for trash?

[1:21:50] We can as we uh so I think probably and what normally happens is at the end of

[1:21:56] the year, so June 30, Mary Grace will get all the auto paperwork together and

[1:22:01] start compiling that and then all of that any overages where we have more

[1:22:06] revenues than those undered to fund balance automatically. Now, if

[1:22:11] you want to say we need to restrict x amount of $33,000 for a trash and I

[1:22:19] don't want anyone to touch that money, then that's a that's a different ball

[1:22:23] game. That's a restricted.

[1:22:24] Yes. Right. Then it comes out of that regular

[1:22:28] that regular pot and it goes into its own separate account there.

[1:22:34] You have any idea about how much that might be unexpended.

[1:22:41] I do not not right now. I don't Would it be a substantial amount? Would

[1:22:46] it be I mean just from years past maybe. I'm not I'm not

[1:22:50] Gosh, every year so different. Um this year has been pretty tight, but

[1:22:56] we've had some um vacancies in the police department

[1:23:01] budget. So, I'm still trying to hit moving targets at this point. I have

[1:23:06] some accounts that need some money, some accounts that have some money. So, this

[1:23:10] is that time of year where I'm hitting moving targets

[1:23:14] before the right now. Yes, it is.

[1:23:17] Yes, sir. How about lap salaries? How is that

[1:23:21] treated? You have a you have a position vacant for a month, two months.

[1:23:28] How can we treat lap salary dollars? So that is um like with the upfit to the

[1:23:36] old the old post office what will become Hannah there's in the police department

[1:23:42] there was a because there were two positions that were not filled until

[1:23:46] recently. So there was extra money in salaries. Well Rhonda and I can pull

[1:23:50] that out and put it somewhere else so long as it's under the 10% of the total

[1:23:54] account. Um we can do that. So that's how we did not have to do a fund balance

[1:23:59] appropriation to cover the up and renovation of that building because we

[1:24:04] use salary money that was left over to plug that hole. And so that's what we do

[1:24:08] on items that lines where they have gone over. We can

[1:24:13] just internally move that again as long as it's not over the 10%.

[1:24:20] And so Ron and I make those adjustments as needed to, you know, I'll give you

[1:24:26] the prime example. Street lighting is going to be over. Uh because Doom Energy

[1:24:32] is going up, you know, that left and right. And so we are we have to just

[1:24:36] naturally find money somewhere in the budget to plug that hole. And the merit

[1:24:40] is a a natural place where we can do that. So by having money allocated to

[1:24:46] the merit bonus um we're able to have more flexibility

[1:24:51] and we can use that money to fill in the gaps with whatever issues may arise that

[1:24:56] that we don't budget for.

[1:25:00] I can agree with Councilman Thomas on the 40 rate and a 5% raise. I think the

[1:25:06] 5% is consistent with municipalities

[1:25:14] across the state of North Carolina. There'll be a lot of people They don't

[1:25:19] get 3% 4%. But

[1:25:26] they're going to have to fund all the increases that potentially pass this

[1:25:30] budget.

[1:25:35] So I have a question, I guess. So what we're looking at now is adding a

[1:25:41] third option, option C, which is just like option B except for the merit. Is

[1:25:49] that correct? So I guess possibly we'll have three

[1:25:54] votes possibly.

[1:26:01] Are there any other comments or questions before we end the

[1:26:08] not in favor of reducing from six to five. And you know,

[1:26:14] I know I and I don't I don't mean it's exactly

[1:26:18] like it sounds, but to me, I'm not worried about what everybody else is

[1:26:21] doing. To me, I'm looking at what I think we need to be doing. And I think

[1:26:26] we have examples all over the board where we can't find people fill

[1:26:30] positions. And I think one way you do that is by treating them well when they

[1:26:35] get here. So

[1:26:40] I'm in favor of of the proposal budget as it was far as

[1:26:48] I think you had projected like 2.3%. I mean because of the longevity of the

[1:26:54] employees and stuff like that not everybody's going to receive.

[1:26:58] Yes sir. Not rest assured if it is 2% not

[1:27:04] everyone will receive 2%. We are running a meritocracy here at the town of

[1:27:09] Springs. Um and so when you say to me we put in 2% 3% 12% merit. What you are

[1:27:16] saying is every employee does not get that or we would have called it a cost

[1:27:20] of living adjustment. And the town's been really good in the

[1:27:24] past few years with inflation several things. ARPA

[1:27:29] funds we've done 7% I think at point and continue to look at percentages.

[1:27:35] Is that not correct? Couple years ago 7% last year it was 7%

[1:27:40] and uh so so we I definitely agree with Mr.

[1:27:44] circumstance. We want to continue to retain good employees and

[1:27:52] maybe that's why police department it had been pulled in.

[1:27:57] Yeah, there's a lot of variage.

[1:28:10] Yeah, it's a whole package but we looked at adding um insurance plans and

[1:28:14] different things. So, so I think in general the the board has been extremely

[1:28:20] promployed and trying to keep the stable workforce. I I don't think that would if

[1:28:24] reducing it that 1% this year to say that they're not fulfilling their

[1:28:28] obligations. It's just we have other financial obligations. We're trying to

[1:28:33] spread spread the budget as we can still providing that 5% increase

[1:28:41] $1,000 $1,600 is that

[1:28:47] it goes towards something.

[1:28:59] Any other questions before we difficult close the public hearing

[1:29:06] continue to have discussions? Mr. Park, I have a um so if

[1:29:15] I'm open to whatever uh you all leave that indirect. If we are going to make

[1:29:21] these adjustments, we cannot approve the ordinance as it is

[1:29:25] written because you have to tell us exactly how much money Rhonda can put in

[1:29:30] every bucket. So, we'll need to meet again. I think that the same thing can

[1:29:35] be accomplished by approving option B.

[1:29:41] Then we can do a proposed budget amendment at our next meeting.

[1:29:48] So that would be before July. Well, so if we approve option B tonight,

[1:29:53] that sets the rate at 40 cents, which I think Councilman Thomas is what I

[1:29:57] understood more.

[1:30:01] Okay. And so then we set it at 40 cents and that does not fund a trash truck.

[1:30:07] But if that is council's desire, when we reconvene either July one or whenever.

[1:30:13] You all can then say to to Miss Allen and myself, we want to take what would

[1:30:20] have been $48,000 in the um

[1:30:26] YMCA in the YMCA general and take 33 of that

[1:30:29] and put it in the trash truck fund. Does that make sense? And then I can also

[1:30:34] norm the um I can build in and norm the merit

[1:30:40] based increases because you the personnel policy gives

[1:30:44] me discretion over creating the rubric by which we assess merit based increases

[1:30:49] and so I develop that that rubric. I can norm that so that um we we give out a 2%

[1:30:57] max. I can do that without it being an issue if that's what you all want to do.

[1:31:01] That way we you're not coming back in another week or two because Ron and I if

[1:31:06] we do start rearranging things these numbers on the page are going to change

[1:31:10] and Ron and I have to the numbers have to be correct for the major assignment.

[1:31:14] So you can nor it's 2%. I can understand that.

[1:31:18] I I think it is important to state that the reason why uh the increases have

[1:31:24] happened over the past couple of years for staff pay and and benefits is

[1:31:28] because with the salary studies we had done we were well below uh m

[1:31:35] municipalities of our comparable municipalities. So I I don't it's it's

[1:31:39] not as if we have just been boosting salaries for the heck of it. we are

[1:31:44] trying to catch up and still are not caught up. Um I do I do think it's worth

[1:31:50] uh mentioning that. So that's that's all we're

[1:31:53] Yeah, we were not we're not even to this point.

[1:31:56] I I have one other and I probably don't know how I feel about it, but if if

[1:32:00] we're going to start moving that $48,000 and everybody's on agreement here that

[1:32:05] doesn't matter what the Y does, they come back and you know want to

[1:32:08] renegotiate and that that door's closed, we're spending the money somewhere else.

[1:32:17] I mean, I just everybody needs to know, you know, we start moving that money and

[1:32:21] even if like we tabled it tonight or something and it like

[1:32:28] our attorney says, uh, that doesn't preclude us from

[1:32:33] starting all over from scratch if they come back if if that's the desire. But I

[1:32:38] just want to make sure everybody understands if we move that money out,

[1:32:42] we're pretty well saying at least for the next year or we got to come up with

[1:32:48] that money somewhere. We haven't moved any money out at this

[1:32:51] time. And we will not move any money out until

[1:32:54] you all meet. So that 48 if we and I may be just reading the

[1:32:59] desire. If if you would like us to rewrite the ordinance, we gladly will do

[1:33:03] that. that will just require us to meet again in toward the end of June. If

[1:33:08] that's what you all want to do, that's perfectly fine, too.

[1:33:11] Yeah. But my my point was maybe they don't

[1:33:14] come back till August

[1:33:19] and the money's and the money's gone. We already that's

[1:33:23] too late and and I'm okay with that myself. I

[1:33:26] just want to make sure everybody understands, you know,

[1:33:31] let's um let's close the public hearing and then we can move on with motions and

[1:33:36] discussion and action. So we'll close the public hearing at 85.

[1:33:45] What's the pleasure of the council regarding the budget for this year?

[1:33:50] Well, I motion that we adopt motion. All right, councilman Wood

[1:33:59] with a motion for option B.

[1:34:04] Is there a second?

[1:34:16] Hearing none. That fails. I move we adopt option A.

[1:34:23] All right. Councilman Green. A motion to adopt

[1:34:29] option A. Councilman Ellis with The second

[1:34:34] discussion from council.

[1:34:48] Any comments? We have a motion and a second on the table.

[1:34:52] With no comments or discussion, we'll call the question. All those in favor

[1:34:58] say I. And let's do raise your hand so that we can

[1:35:02] All those opposed like sign. So that fails. So we have

[1:35:10] failed on option A and option B. Um

[1:35:15] so we will now have perhaps another option. Uh but this is going to require

[1:35:22] we'll need to set a date. We're going to have subsequent budget.

[1:35:26] Yeah. We'll have to have a we have to get this done before July 1.

[1:35:30] Uh and we have to have 10 days or whatever when we present the new

[1:35:34] document. Uh and so we'll have to uh once we figure out well I guess we

[1:35:40] could we could come up with what we want to present in the document tonight and

[1:35:45] that could be hashed out or we could not and then we'd have to have another

[1:35:49] meeting before uh so uh back to council. I guess you

[1:35:55] could enter another Another

[1:36:01] motion for option two. No, I mean I guess we could return back.

[1:36:06] I mean, so since we proposed both of those, could we not have another

[1:36:16] option or

[1:36:23] I'm not sure about option B because there was not a second.

[1:36:26] Motion was reconsidered. my

[1:36:30] one time.

[1:36:34] Um,

[1:36:40] you would have to reconsider.

[1:36:44] So, option

[1:36:50] option A is now because it failed. So it is beyond.

[1:36:57] Yes. Uh option B

[1:37:02] it failed for lack of a second but it wasn't necessarily voted down. I

[1:37:10] think I think it'll have to be a change. I think whoever made the motion

[1:37:15] potentially make a change. I think failed failed for

[1:37:20] that motion did for sure.

[1:37:26] But it's still going to require you to come back.

[1:37:29] So, Councilman Wood would need to modify his motion.

[1:37:33] I wouldn't know what to modify because if I modify it, I'm going to make it I'm

[1:37:37] going to make it option C with changing the u uh the cost of living, leaving it

[1:37:46] the same, and changing the uh the merit raise 2% which Mark uh Councilman Thomas

[1:37:53] uh mentioned that you said if we did that we'd have to come back even

[1:37:57] right I think the mayor was saying pretty

[1:38:01] we could tell what we want to do we have to come back

[1:38:03] right kind

[1:38:07] discussion like we had especially budget discussion it sounds

[1:38:14] for you to come back you would crunch the number based on just like you did

[1:38:18] with a budget discussions you're doing a motion the next whenever

[1:38:26] the substantive change I think from B could potentially be that we option B

[1:38:33] with the addition of a $33,000 just to move $33,000 from the recreation

[1:38:42] budget and put it into the um

[1:38:48] sanitation budget or solid waste. if you wanted to put it in the the trash truck

[1:38:53] item line item. I don't know.

[1:38:57] Would that be a because that's a change in the motion.

[1:39:05] I don't I think I think you're going to have to come back.

[1:39:14] So June 25th, uh the 18th is the planning board

[1:39:19] meeting. So we are not bound to Tuesdays. Um, we can do the 13th. That

[1:39:25] is a Thursday. Well, well I have we decided we got to come

[1:39:32] decide not to meet again. Yeah.

[1:39:35] Gentlemen, we've we've been at this for a dozen hours now.

[1:39:38] Can we not? not a his we've been at this for a dozen hours

[1:39:44] and with the motions on the table, no one was offering any comments and we're

[1:39:48] just kind of spinning our wheels here. I agree.

[1:39:50] And it's it's just a little bit disappointing. Now, please go ahead,

[1:39:54] Council L. And I think we all knew what the two

[1:39:59] options were going to be when we got here.

[1:40:01] And and I didn't need any comment because that's what I voted on. A

[1:40:07] Yeah, we got a second. There was no comments from me because I knew what I

[1:40:10] wanted and I think I'm not speaking for council green but that those two votes

[1:40:14] were there. Now what what do we need? I I'm confused

[1:40:20] on what's was that I mean are you asking for that

[1:40:25] report? I mean I'm just you're going to have to come to you know basically

[1:40:30] either a budget meeting now or or or sometime enough time 10 days notice to

[1:40:37] you know vote again you know have something present to the counter for the

[1:40:41] public review.

[1:40:48] just mean to further hash this out.

[1:40:57] My goal record is saying whatever is brought back, I'm going to vote against

[1:41:00] it, but I'll support whatever the vote is.

[1:41:10] I'm happy to continue resolutions if we can't come to

[1:41:15] the

[1:41:19] There are um though every day that we go after July 1st that we're in a

[1:41:23] continuing resolution the expenses of that day are immediately deducted from

[1:41:28] our funds upon the passage of the budget.

[1:41:32] Is is it possible to take a five minute recess and find out if a

[1:41:42] motion fails to get a second can actually

[1:41:47] So, so do we need a motion for a fiveminut recess? Is there a motion for

[1:41:52] a fiveinut recess? Motion for five.

[1:42:11] Maybe

[1:42:18] brick river.

[1:42:46] This is all I do.

[1:42:53] Like I said,

[1:43:07] appreciate you coming

[1:43:11] up. Reconider

[1:43:16] motion.

[1:43:50] So that's that's different.

[1:44:33] Yeah, he can't. Whatever he says.

[1:44:46] You can't

[1:44:52] process

[1:44:57] the issue.

[1:45:01] failed. Canision

[1:45:22] problem with that is because

[1:45:57] I mean seriously.

[1:46:14] How's the Kit Kat today? Good.

[1:46:18] Took it to the vet and his paw.

[1:46:23] He sent a picture. Oh,

[1:46:26] well, he's so stinking cute. Leave Tyler alone. They say it was a

[1:46:30] boy. I thought it was a boy, but tell him

[1:46:33] they're real little, but Yeah,

[1:46:35] that's right. Um, but they didn't say what was wrong with this.

[1:46:40] I didn't say

[1:46:45] what you're saying.

[1:47:03] I know, right?

[1:47:26] So, he's pretty healthy then.

[1:47:31] It's a little kitten. A it got stuck in a car

[1:47:36] up in like the wheel. Well

[1:47:45] you got any pet? I got all pet I need.

[1:47:49] Okay. Same. I got a few I can give away.

[1:47:56] My babies. Every time Woody sends me another

[1:48:00] picture of another doll. Like that's grounds. That's grounds.

[1:48:03] I thought you were talking about getting rid of Woody. That's what I thought you

[1:48:07] got to get rid of. Well, he'd probably go before my dogs.

[1:48:13] Don't tell him that. Who causes more trouble around the

[1:48:16] house? Depends on the day.

[1:48:20] I'm going to get my put up so that way you can grow up with a dog.

[1:48:33] Yeah.

[1:48:48] We're calling the meeting back door recesses ended. Um, with with no second,

[1:48:54] it is as if the motion never happened and could be brought back up. Uh, if

[1:49:01] there is a desire for that, just to put that on the table. The the option A was

[1:49:09] voted down uh 3 to two and so it cannot be

[1:49:14] reconsidered. Option B because there was no second was as it is as if it never

[1:49:22] occurred um and can maybe be in introduced again.

[1:49:27] Can the same person introduce it? So someone had to

[1:49:31] you can kind of treat this as as a as a motion to reconsider if the prevailing

[1:49:36] side. Well, there's no so anybody can make a motion

[1:49:42] clean slate. Well, I make the motion to reconsider

[1:49:46] option B. All right. Councilman Woodri

[1:49:53] it's not reconsideration.

[1:49:57] Okay. I make the motion once again that we uh approve option B.

[1:50:03] All right. Council with a motion for option B. Is there a second?

[1:50:11] Second. Second from Councilman Thomas.

[1:50:14] Is there discussion for option B?

[1:50:19] I want to hear back from the manager again about the possibility of

[1:50:26] the 3% raise and how to change that into roots to 2% down the road if we would

[1:50:33] amend a budget possibly amend the budget down the road. Let's talk about

[1:50:39] marriage.

[1:50:47] Yeah, I came from you.

[1:50:49] It did come from I mean I can I can do that. I can say hey y'all guess what bad

[1:50:54] news three if you got to get 100 to get 3%. Right. And no one's going to get

[1:50:58] 100. So I can do that now. But the reason that the budget is normed at an

[1:51:04] expense level and so the revenues I mean if you go

[1:51:10] later and amend the budget and you were to say

[1:51:14] to me I want you to figure out what 1% merit is that we budgeted for across the

[1:51:21] board and take that from the individual salary lines allocated to each

[1:51:25] department because that that's what you're asking. Um,

[1:51:28] that's what I understood. You said, "Yes, I mean, and I can I can do that.

[1:51:34] Um, is there a place that you would want the approximate one $11,600 to go?"

[1:51:44] We can do that. I mean, that certainly can. Um, you wouldn't need to

[1:51:51] I mean, you can amend the budget to move money into a reserve line item at

[1:51:57] anytime. Okay,

[1:52:00] that requires three people to agree on. But I mean obviously it either happens

[1:52:05] or it

[1:52:08] answers my question. What he's saying is like weren't able to

[1:52:14] do that. Yes.

[1:52:18] Yes, sir. Any other comments, discussion, or

[1:52:22] questions? Option B has a motion.

[1:52:31] If none we will call the question on option B. All those in favor say I.

[1:52:37] I. All right. And those opposed?

[1:52:42] Okay. That carries three to two. So option B is adopted.

[1:52:52] All right.

[1:52:55] Thank you for your patience. Um,

[1:53:00] Mr. Parker. Yes, sir. Um,

[1:53:07] couple things here. So, I've already talked about over the summer months.

[1:53:10] We're going to work on reviewing uh some ordinance information. I'm going to skip

[1:53:15] that one. The town of Baltimore would like me to convey a thank you to the

[1:53:20] town council for not increasing their base sewer rate uh this year. Um Kim

[1:53:26] Duran and Renee Welsh are in Mon at the Southeast Tourism Marketing College. TDA

[1:53:32] sent both of these individuals and Kim will graduate with her three-year

[1:53:35] certificate in tourism marketing and festivals and event planning and she

[1:53:39] asked me to tell you all about that um and to thank you for our continued

[1:53:44] support to the TDA. The TA had an intern this spring who worked on media contact

[1:53:49] list, itineraries, etc. But uh an important item of note, the TDA is now

[1:53:55] suspending uh grant applications due to some uncertainty around the American

[1:54:01] hotel. Um

[1:54:05] sign update. We have a new battery that we are testing out. It is a lithium

[1:54:10] battery um on the monument sign on West College. We purchased that. that came in

[1:54:15] and was installed yesterday. Um, and Mike can monitor the battery on an app

[1:54:21] from his telephone. So, he will be doing that to see it alerts him to when it is

[1:54:26] dead. That would be of interest. Uh, the town won the 2020 Ford Vision Zero

[1:54:32] Safety Award for hitting the ground running and making strides and keeping

[1:54:37] momentum. So, I wanted to share that with all of you. Related to our

[1:54:40] continued support of uh Vision Zero Communities,

[1:54:45] does the uh is there a desire on the board to not have the July meeting is my

[1:54:51] last item that requires a vote from you all to cancel that meeting if you so

[1:54:56] desire.

[1:55:00] And with that, Mr.

[1:55:04] All right. Uh, is there any appetite to push the next meeting until August?

[1:55:11] Uh, seeing that we've met several times in May, not only for the council, but

[1:55:16] for the staff. We're scheduing

[1:55:26] that one in August is August 6th.

[1:55:35] motion

[1:55:41] council Thomas with a motion second from Council Ellis. Discussion on that

[1:55:46] matter. All those in favor say I. I.

[1:55:51] Likewise. Okay. That passes unanimously. Um we will go

[1:55:57] from right to left tonight. Council Green

[1:56:01] just like to commend the staff on all the hard work on the budget. I know

[1:56:05] haven't done that for 18 years. That is not an easy task and

[1:56:11] I want to commend you on the job that you do and how you do it. Uh the only

[1:56:16] other thing is I had a GCL meeting went well. Uh council Linton would know that

[1:56:24] I was elected vice chair of that. Well, the chair

[1:56:29] relocated. So I am now on the chair. Found out in my last meeting, but

[1:56:38] so things are going well there. Highway funds, you know, all the a lot of good

[1:56:44] projects and we have some good ones there. There's no money, you know,

[1:56:46] they're really struggling with more electric vehicles, not paying road tax.

[1:56:51] The road tax is really really suffering. That's a that's a dilemma really dilemma

[1:56:56] for the country not just for for North Carolina but

[1:57:01] keeping along maybe somewhere we'll get some money

[1:57:07] and the foot meeting is next week and not present so I'll be on approve

[1:57:14] next week far away that's all I got

[1:57:20] Thomas

[1:57:24] This budget cycle has been a challenging time and I'm just thankful to be working

[1:57:30] with this group of individuals and the staff to be able to come up with some

[1:57:34] options for the town and it's very difficult to consider all the different

[1:57:39] pieces and how they fit in. So I'm thankful that we can have discussions

[1:57:43] and work through these

[1:57:47] when Rhonda was talking about financials and things earlier. I just want to say a

[1:57:51] special thank you to her. She She looks after town in a great way. I

[1:57:56] appreciate that. I attended the Ruby Hunt YMCA advisory

[1:58:02] board meeting just recently. And I came away from that meeting discouraged and

[1:58:08] sort of felt like the end of

[1:58:12] I want to express my thanks to the YMCA and to really and to the previous town

[1:58:18] council members who saw that through that facility and to have that as a part

[1:58:24] of our community consider where we go with recreation and

[1:58:30] what we're going to do and how we fund and it's just not always easy easy

[1:58:36] decision but I'm thankful to be here and working through many different steps

[1:58:41] thank you to the staff regress me I'd like to have read to the

[1:58:46] record that talk with some of the other board members who

[1:58:52] made the point to let me know that Council Thomas represented as well. They

[1:58:56] were very impressed with the way he conducted himself and the way he

[1:59:01] presented our issues. So, I think that our becom

[1:59:13] No, I don't think what I understand you didn't fail at all. I think you did a

[1:59:17] great job. And if it was because of something I

[1:59:19] said or something I did,

[1:59:23] Nobody I've talked to a couple and nobody has indicated that to me at all.

[1:59:27] Excellent. Council thank you to Rhonda and staff for

[1:59:32] working on the budget. Rhonda, thank you for answering questions. They're not

[1:59:37] pointing at you. We're just you just happen to be the person.

[1:59:43] I didn't at first I didn't see you tonight. I thought who's going to answer

[1:59:47] the question? So I'm glad we're here. I appreciate you answering that. Uh if

[1:59:52] there was any information that came out of that web followup, I'd like to see

[1:59:56] that at some point, please. Uh I would also like to

[2:00:02] look at the original agreement between the Y and the T if

[2:00:09] I need to come over here and dig through the minutes. I'll do

[2:00:13] I would like to see the very first one.

[2:00:17] The very first one. graduated

[2:00:23] scale as far as was that 2007 2008

[2:00:28] or 8 n somewhere in that ballpark I think right I don't know who I look

[2:00:36] I also did online we'll find it

[2:00:39] we can find it I mean don't put it top of the priority list but I mean if you

[2:00:43] can find it or if I need to come over here and search I'll be glad to

[2:00:49] Can you narrow down for me on that website

[2:00:53] follow up? Are there specific things that you're looking at?

[2:00:57] Well, the town and regard meeting with any kind of minutes or

[2:01:03] anything that came out of that.

[2:01:13] I was just curious. That's all. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

[2:01:18] Councilman Wood. Uh, yeah. I was I was thinking when I

[2:01:22] got elected for this position that I had, as I've gone through this, I had no

[2:01:27] idea what I had gotten myself into. Um, I remember the day after I was elected,

[2:01:33] I drove through town and I thought, you know, this is really my town. I make a

[2:01:37] difference in this town. And I felt a little different. And I still feel a

[2:01:42] little different. But I'm telling you what, this budget process, I guess now

[2:01:44] I'm a full-fledged council member for the town of Springs, it's been tough.

[2:01:51] And the other council members have talked about it's been tough. They've

[2:01:55] been through other budget meetings or going through other budgets. But these

[2:02:01] guys, all of us, we may not agree on everything, but when it's all done and

[2:02:06] said with, I think about what Councilman Green said from the very beginning. Once

[2:02:11] the votes had, then we're still the council and we're united with whatever

[2:02:15] the vote is. Whether we agree or disagree, when the votes over with,

[2:02:18] we're one council. And I think we represent the town of Orman Springs as

[2:02:22] one council, not individuals on the council. And I'm proud to serve with

[2:02:26] each and every one of these. And I'm glad we got a mayor that'll

[2:02:30] circle wagons and get us get us back in the direction. I'm glad we got an

[2:02:34] attorney that can help us get things worked out where we don't have to have

[2:02:37] another budget meeting and start this process over again. So, I'm just glad

[2:02:41] we're leaving here with with a voting on budget tonight. So, I appreciate Ronda

[2:02:46] and Tracy and Isaac. And Rhonda, I'm gonna have to say

[2:02:51] about you. You make Zach look a whole lot better

[2:02:55] than he really is.

[2:03:02] But no, we got we got we got a great staff. Chief Phillips, everybody, Mike,

[2:03:08] the whole everybody. And I mean, I can't say enough about how much we appreciate

[2:03:12] you all. I hope you don't feel bad that maybe we took 1% of your merit raise

[2:03:17] away tonight. We should feel bad. We didn't

[2:03:22] but I mean I I just I don't I don't want them to feel underappreciated or

[2:03:26] underserved because we thank the world of just say that's just that's all I got

[2:03:30] to say. Thank you sir.

[2:03:32] I think when I lay my head on that pill I just think what a place to live.

[2:03:37] Amen. I mean, and our staff. I say it's I want to take care of our staff because

[2:03:43] they take care of us and our citizens and uh and it's the leadership, Zach,

[2:03:49] and his position, but it's all the people tonight, especially Rhonda, you

[2:03:53] were kind of put on the spot for a little bit, I thought, and you came

[2:03:56] through with flying colors. I just I think we live in the best town in

[2:04:01] America, and I still believe that I want to live here. Thank you for taking care

[2:04:07] of us. Can I

[2:04:10] So now that we have a budget, I think it's important we communicate while we

[2:04:16] have is there a way that we are communicating

[2:04:20] the increases? People are going to ask risk increases. I mean, is there a way

[2:04:24] that we can do that either and some type of written communication,

[2:04:28] some type of something because somebody's gonna say, "Hey, my water

[2:04:31] bill went up. I'm having to pay all this extra fees.

[2:04:35] And I think if we get ahead of that and we say, well, the reason we're doing

[2:04:38] this because we want to continue the citizens. So, I don't know if that's

[2:04:44] something that's commonly done or is that something we even want to do,

[2:04:49] but for me, sometimes it might explain it to me. I got to see

[2:04:57] I think I think it's very valid. I think we if we're going to remain united,

[2:05:02] I think we all need to be talking the same thing. So, I I would I think it'd

[2:05:07] be great if you come up maybe some bullet talking points for us. We're all

[2:05:12] We're not out there saying I'm I'm not out there saying, "Well, I

[2:05:15] didn't I didn't book it." It's not my

[2:05:18] I mean, you know, page 75 in our wide proposed increase and it names 4%

[2:05:24] increase in from the water the water's easy. I mean, the

[2:05:29] only thing I don't know, it says increased lab fees, increased utility

[2:05:32] costs, inflationary pressures, increased permitting costs from the state, but now

[2:05:37] the ongoing CIP efforts. I don't know if I could tell my neighbor what that is.

[2:05:41] He probably didn't know either. So, the 6 and 12% increase to water

[2:05:46] sewer, 4% came from the city of Shelby, 2% came from the North Carolina Rural

[2:05:51] Water Association's recommendation that council approved and adopted a few years

[2:05:55] ago. A two cent tax increase covers the post office debt service of $102,000 a

[2:06:02] year less $33,000 approximately. Um which leaves us with

[2:06:08] about $66,000 that we're on the hook for. And so that's that's the two cents.

[2:06:13] Mr. Mayor comment um no one came to look at the budget. It was open. Did anybody

[2:06:21] come to see the budget? So that's that's probably not happened a lot. And There

[2:06:26] wasn't very few people here about that. But I I'm the same way. I think we need

[2:06:30] to be able to tell the people this is why we're doing it. They may not agree

[2:06:34] with at least we can tell them this is why. So I think that bullet like you're

[2:06:38] talking about is a good thing and we can make something that goes in

[2:06:42] the newslet. Well, I think that's good. I mean I

[2:06:45] think we I think we all should be able to defend whatever

[2:06:48] I think we should be defending it by the same things. Exactly.

[2:06:51] And maybe maybe I don't and I don't necessarily think we need to go out just

[2:06:55] I think it'd be good in the news, but I think we should be prepared when they

[2:06:58] question. Exactly.

[2:07:00] To be able to say well because some will some will be concerned about the yard.

[2:07:05] Some will be concerned about sewer rate. So they'll be concerned about different

[2:07:09] things. So I think and some will be concerned about the Y2.

[2:07:13] So my hope is that we can get ahead of those things and it's about

[2:07:17] transparency. It's about open communication. It's about what what we

[2:07:20] do and it's not an easy decision but it's in the long run that we find some

[2:07:25] way of communicating that and that we have a unified message and we're sorry

[2:07:31] that's not in the town manager letter and that's probably the most thorough

[2:07:36] letter I've ever seen it is

[2:07:40] I see a lot of people open their water bill and they look at the water bill

[2:07:44] they don't read that you know somebody asked me something said well that was in

[2:07:48] the newsletter I had one guy said Where'd you get that newsletter?

[2:07:52] Oh, you know, I'm serious. You didn't need just got the bill out.

[2:07:57] I said I That's what I told him. I said, "You

[2:08:01] need to read it." I like I prepared the budget graphics

[2:08:03] for you all that those kind of things. I can We have that. That's not anything

[2:08:08] that's fancy or new or innovative. We can prepare something like that that

[2:08:12] says, "Hey, this is what your guard your yard waist fee goes to this. These are

[2:08:17] the you know, if you want me to can inflation. I could put sales tax goes

[2:08:22] rur whatever. So whatever I think you all know I have a problem with depth. Um

[2:08:27] so I will go into the weeds very quickly and so I will have the staff read that

[2:08:31] and tell me where I need to cut but to whatever level you all are comfortable.

[2:08:35] I mean I'm happy to do that. Yeah. Just something basic and as transparent as we

[2:08:41] can be. So something needs to be sent out as a draft. We can

[2:08:45] I guess give it a thumbs up. That's important that we communicate

[2:08:50] that because we don't have a whole lot of people here. Maybe they're live

[2:08:54] streaming. I don't know what. Yeah.

[2:09:01] And so we, you know, I always think and I ask my wife and I ask a lot of

[2:09:05] neighbors, do they know what really goes on,

[2:09:07] you know, and they like no, but then we get asked a serious question

[2:09:12] by a few people and I just think it would be very helpful. So

[2:09:16] citizens and taxpayers should also be more engaged. Anybody

[2:09:20] else? All right. Um, a couple things before

[2:09:24] and then we we have a close session together. Um, I really am looking

[2:09:28] forward to July 20th. Um, I know that not to dismiss the jazz man coming up

[2:09:33] this weekend, but uh, I've known Carl Carti for quite a long time and so

[2:09:36] having him back is uh, is going to be a really big deal and that's going to be a

[2:09:40] big day for the town as well because that's our memorial for for Mr. Hinsley

[2:09:45] as well. Uh, July 20th, we got a little bit of music. on that day. I'm right on

[2:09:49] that day, am I? You are.

[2:09:51] Are you serious? Yeah.

[2:09:52] Yes, sir. You are correct. But then that will follow. All that will

[2:09:55] follow and it'll be an amazing day. Um I will say that the um most positive and

[2:10:02] unified that I get feedback from from the town is when the uh the green and

[2:10:08] gold charger flags are flying in town. And really what that is is a huge thank

[2:10:14] you to the educators and a a pat on the back to the students.

[2:10:20] We're a town that's built on education. Uh we have two of the finest elementary

[2:10:25] schools around in our town. Our middle school, Crest High School, is number one

[2:10:30] in the county in terms of test scores. Has been for the past several years. Um

[2:10:35] we are only trailing elementary schools who have fewer metrics. I just wanted to

[2:10:40] toot our horn just a little bit. Um but so many of our kids are graduating and

[2:10:46] going to step on to campus and become running bulldogs and we just support

[2:10:51] each other. And to be a town that's built on education is what I'm about. Uh

[2:10:56] and and I'm so proud to be a part of the entire package from prek all the way to

[2:11:03] graduate school uh at Gardener Web. Um so thank you to everyone who is involved

[2:11:08] in that. And finally, we've done a lot of the respectful part of the respectful

[2:11:14] growth over the past eight years. Um, we've been very careful and have been

[2:11:20] very respectful and this budget steps into the growth part. And I think that's

[2:11:25] why it has been painful because there are really difficult decisions that

[2:11:28] we've had to make, tough choices, but we're moving. We're moving places.

[2:11:33] Things are going to begin to happen, right? Aren't they going to

[2:11:38] to happen. But seriously, I I apologize if I lost a little bit of my temper. Um

[2:11:45] I don't think I've ever hit that gabble before.

[2:11:48] Good. Felt a little felt really good. I didn't. But seriously, I always

[2:11:54] appreciate the the the efforts that the staff put in day in and day out. But I

[2:11:59] say it every week and I really don't say it just to say it. the wisdom and

[2:12:05] forwardlooking uh vision of this council. It is a

[2:12:09] privilege to get to work with. So, thank you for what you've done. Thank you for

[2:12:13] the efforts that we've put in um and honored. Um with that, we do need a

[2:12:18] motion. Got one more comment. I'd like to say that how much we appreciate your

[2:12:24] leaders. I think I think you do a fine job and I think uh you get a little

[2:12:30] heated when you need to get a little heated. I think you get us back on

[2:12:33] track. So, I think I think we should we talk about the council, but I think

[2:12:37] you're you're kind of the head of the pack here.

[2:12:41] We got the results. That's all. You lead us. So,

[2:12:44] thank you, sir. Uh, is there a motion to go into close

[2:12:48] session? So, motion from Mr. Council Thomas. Is there a second?

[2:12:52] Second. Second from Council Green. Uh, all those

[2:12:54] in favor say. You guys are welcome to stick around.

[2:12:58] Some of you have to stick around.

[2:13:07] Yeah, we'll go in the we'll go in the conference room uh if you guys need to

[2:13:11] take a quick bathroom break. But listen, we'll make it quick.

[2:13:17] Three minutes. And we've got a couple of issues. Mr.

Boiling Springs Town Council 6-4-24

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