[2:02] Great, we got quorum here already, too.
All right, Austin.
[2:06] All right.
Mic is on.
[2:09] Okay, thank you. Thanks, Austin. Good
morning, everyone, and welcome to our
[2:14] August um
PRNG board meeting. Going to meet call
[2:18] the meeting to order at 9:00 exactly.
So, thank you all, welcome. And we also
[2:22] want to welcome Councilman Eck who'll be
on our agenda for later today
[2:26] this morning.
Um first up on the agenda is consider
[2:29] allowing remote participation. We are
all in present.
[2:33] None needed, okay.
Second item is the adoption of today's
[2:36] agenda as published. Take a motion to um
adopt as published. All in favor?
[2:42] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[2:43] » Aye.
>> Motion passed.
[2:45] Next up is adoption of the previous
meeting minutes that Austin has
[2:48] distributed from the July 14th, 2026
PRNG meeting. Um any questions? back. I
[2:55] guess the motion is to um pass the to
adopt the meeting minutes as published.
[2:59] All in favor?
>> Are you making that motion?
[3:00] » I make a motion to pass to make a motion
to adopt. Making a motion to adopt the
[3:06] meeting minutes from July 14th, 2026.
All in favor?
[3:10] » Aye.
>> Okay, motion passed.
[3:13] Next up we have public comments, and I
know this week we have a new process.
[3:17] Anything?
>> We we do, but no one has signed up, so
[3:19] you're good to move on.
>> Okay, so we'll move on. Moving quickly
[3:22] through the agenda. Uh first up is our
presentation um public and private
[3:26] partnerships, and we have Councilman Eck
here to present that to us.
[3:29] » Um I'm pulling it up right now. Give me
1 second.
[3:32] » Uh
Thank you, board. I really appreciate
[3:35] the the time that that you're taking out
to um
[3:38] hear a proposal that I've uh
wanted really throw out for the board's
[3:43] consideration.
Um
[3:46] and as we
bring it up, there we go. Um
[3:50] I I just kind of cut to the
One of the things I've I've noticed um
[3:54] since being on the board since, you
know,
[3:57] December
is the
[4:00] great potential that Marvin has to build
public and private partnerships. I think
[4:04] it's a very wealthy town, to be quite
frank. Um and a very generous area. And
[4:10] I think there are a lot of opportunities
that we can use to
[4:16] tap into the the generosity and the
willingness of individuals and companies
[4:21] to contribute to the improvement of
Marvin. Um and what I was
[4:27] um thinking is that it would be a great
place to begin to kind of tap into that
[4:32] potential.
To work with the the planning board on
[4:37] the setting up, you know, some kind of a
more formalized public-private
[4:41] partnership process where we could tap
into,
[4:45] um like I said, the individuals and
companies in and around Marvin um to
[4:50] improve Marvin. And the
um Parks and Recreation Board looked
[4:54] like it was the most natural place for
that because that's the kind of place
[4:57] where
I I think there'd be the most interest
[4:59] from the public in, you know,
contributing to improving Marvin. Um so,
[5:03] let me just kind of
go through here.
[5:07] Um
[5:11] And and the the reason why I wanted to
to do that is obviously is it helps keep
[5:17] our tax base down and it also
provides an opportunity for the people
[5:21] who care most about a project to
contribute to it. So, whether it's
[5:26] medians
improvements or um go to the next slide.
[5:32] Um roundabouts or park infrastructure,
I think it'd be a great opportunity for,
[5:38] you know, folks to contribute. I think
what we what we really need is a way
[5:44] more, at least in my mind,
a more formalized way of doing it.
[5:48] Because we'll have grants and then we'll
we'll go around and we'll do interlocals
[5:52] and things like that, but really not
tapping into the residents directly or
[5:56] or into the companies. And I think if we
had a more centralized function,
[6:02] like maybe
and I was going to say that like a 501c3
[6:06] ultimately, that could
establish the relationships with the
[6:10] companies and the individuals and then
prioritize specific projects for that
[6:15] public-private partnerships.
>> I was going to throw in and just to kind
[6:21] of
add to to what Tom said, you know, I
[6:24] think many of us have had children that
have come up through Marvin Ridge High
[6:29] School and so forth and you know, one of
the things that we've always seen there,
[6:34] you know, everybody has their their kids
in one activity or another. But but I
[6:40] remember when my kids were doing it and
doing cheerleading and theater. You
[6:45] know, you had a
a vested interest of people, you know,
[6:49] but not only do they look to give their
own money,
[6:53] but many of them are corporate
executives, you know, that that
[6:57] you know, are looking for
beneficial relationships with you know,
[7:03] their their local governments and things
like that. So, you know, [clears throat]
[7:06] I think in some ways if if any of you
folks have had
[7:10] experiences with the PTA or the booster
club or things like that. Those are some
[7:16] of the skills and and and capabilities
that you know, we think might also help
[7:21] translate, you know, to to helping to
make Marvin a better place as well.
[7:26] » And I give you another example, too, is
which and I'm not saying that this isn't
[7:31] necessarily true, but let's just say
ballfields. You know, if we do a survey
[7:36] of all the residents in Marvin, most of
the residents will say the ballfields is
[7:40] not a priority. But it's a big priority
for a smaller percentage of folks. And I
[7:46] I I personally think
we we'd benefit from it. Um and I'm
[7:51] thinking this would be an opportunity to
you know, for those folks that really
[7:54] want, let's say, to have ball fields to
you know, leverage um their passion by
[8:01] you know, reaching out to other folks
who may be interested in you know,
[8:05] contributing to to creating them. So, I
think it it long way of saying I think
[8:10] it it fills a void um that may not
necessarily be you know, addressed by
[8:14] tax dollars.
>> Yeah, and and we may tell talk a little
[8:18] bit more about this, but you know, we've
been discussing the sport park and and
[8:23] something
>> Fitness, please.
[8:25] Okay.
>> fitness place
[8:26] » Right. The pickleball court.
>> And
[8:28] you know,
if you get a chance, you might go back
[8:31] to to our meeting yesterday and we did
have some discussion about that and I'll
[8:34] share more about that later. But, one of
the things that you know, you come to
[8:38] realize over time
is that when opportunities present
[8:43] themselves
you have to be in position often times,
[8:47] especially when you have grants that
have matching things, you know,
[8:51] these type of things
if you have a planned infrastructure in
[8:56] place um where where you know, you have
different areas that you can tap and
[9:02] things like that it's a lot easier to
react and respond to opportunities
[9:07] knowing that you have you know, this
this underlying structure in place, too.
[9:12] So, part of this might be helping to
kind of build that that infrastructure
[9:16] so that when we do have opportunities,
we're we're better able to take
[9:20] advantage of them.
>> Right. Yeah, yeah, locked and loaded for
[9:24] getting those grants.
>> So, I I was just saying the grants has
[9:26] really been a big I mean, driver of so
much of what we've had in our community
[9:29] already. I mean, and I don't know if
some of the public grants we're
[9:32] receiving, are they allowed to have a
matching grant from a corporate donor or
[9:35] does it always have to come from the
too? Do we know that? Because um
[9:39] » Jill, Jill, do you
do you have any feedback on that? You
[9:43] know,
um
[9:44] » Yeah, as long as the village commits to
a match, they don't care where we
[9:47] actually get it. So, in fact, there are
times, for instance, with part F where
[9:52] we received a $500,000 grant. We had to
match it 500,000. We actually matched it
[9:59] 250 because we received a grant to cover
the other 250 of our match obligation.
[10:03] So, that's totally acceptable to most
grant agencies, yeah.
[10:07] » And that's kind of stacking grants and
so forth, but uh
[10:11] I I think the question was also coming
from private resources. Uh are those
[10:16] typically acceptable, you know, to to
help with matches and things like that
[10:20] as well?
>> I believe so. We'd always have to check
[10:22] the fine print of any grant that we're
agreeing to receive, but again, I think
[10:27] the grant agency only cares that we come
to the table with our matching portion.
[10:32] I don't know that they care as much
about where that match matching portion
[10:35] comes from, whether it's private,
corporate, or a village-funded um
[10:40] payment through our own, you know, taxes
or revenue sources.
[10:44] Okay. Thank
[10:47] » Um
any other questions before I move on a
[10:50] little bit? Um so,
kind of moving on to the division thing
[10:54] here, I think the the I I think there's
a great opportunity there. And then the
[10:58] I think the next question is, well, our
how would we go about operationalizing
[11:02] that and and realizing a a centralized
way of obtaining commitments for,
[11:09] you know, improvements. And I I think
the way to do that, and and this is
[11:13] what I've seen like in Charlotte, for
example, the there they set up a 501c3
[11:19] like foundation that is the hub for
those grants. And that's one of the
[11:24] things I think ultimately
um the Village of Marvin could do, but
[11:29] uh you know, you got got walk before you
run. It's like, can I get an idea of
[11:32] where we'd be able to, you know, tap
into those resources and those matching
[11:36] funds
from
[11:39] uh you know, the Marvin residents or
adjoining companies and stuff like that.
[11:43] So, that that's kind of the way I I see
it shaking out. And the reason again why
[11:47] I'm coming to, uh explain
my vision thing to the um board is
[11:53] I think it would sit here and I'd you
know, appreciate as a councilman I would
[11:57] definitely appreciate your feedback on
it, but I also think it would be a good
[12:00] thing for the um
parks board to consider exploring and
[12:05] carrying the water on ultimately.
So.
[12:09] Any questions?
>> Austin, this is is this appropriate now
[12:13] to then questions? Is there anything
else on the presentation?
[12:16] » Uh it's it's all kind of in there. Um
but it's and like as far as like the
[12:22] next steps, um you know, consider
Yeah, basically I think it would be
[12:27] helpful to have a lot sort of an
exploratory committee to see if anything
[12:29] I'm saying makes any sense at all. And
if it doesn't, I'm perfectly happy to
[12:33] say, "Thank you for your efforts."
Um
[12:36] but uh you know, I like I said, I think
it presents a a unique opportunity or I
[12:40] think Marvin is in a unique situation
where we can really, you know, do some
[12:44] of the stuff that isn't a priority for
everyone, but is a big priority for
[12:48] some.
>> Okay.
[12:50] » And and I don't know that it's
specifically this board and its members,
[12:55] you know, the ones eventually driving
it. It's just
[12:59] to what extent it, you know, almost kind
of like Marsh kind of came out, you
[13:03] know, of of um
you know, a need that was seen in the
[13:07] community.
Um and and it kind of grew out of that
[13:11] way for, you know, environmental type,
you know, concerns and things like that
[13:16] and wildlife and and and and those
things. Um whereas this might be a
[13:22] little bit different, but um I I can say
that my experience has been over the
[13:27] years that um
I think I saw a pickleball called court
[13:32] on there and
we've heard that before and you know, um
[13:36] we had one gentleman, you know, actually
send us an email and say, "Listen, I'd
[13:41] be willing to pony up $4,000, you know,
if it you know, thought." And once you
[13:46] think that there's one person like that
in Marvin, then all of a sudden you
[13:51] think there may be 10 people like that,
you know, or you know, that that one and
[13:56] that's just one example. Um but yeah, I
think what Tom's talking about is more,
[14:02] um you know, having that discussion to
see if it seems something relevant and
[14:08] we would even then, you know, just
through talking about it, you might find
[14:12] someone in the community watches one of
our meetings and then says, "You know
[14:16] what? Yeah, I'd be interested in in in
doing that." Because we've also had, um
[14:21] you know, one of the things Marvin
doesn't hear have and I mentioned this
[14:25] last night, uh we were talking about our
land acquisition fund, you know, and you
[14:31] know, one thing Marvin doesn't have is
its own
[14:35] little league, uh
soccer, you know, athletics type things
[14:39] and
we have an issue where we don't have a
[14:42] whole lot of land left for that and so
forth, but if the opportunity were to be
[14:47] available for us, you want to be ready
for that opportunity with real estate or
[14:51] things like that. Maybe there's a piece
of property between us and Weddington or
[14:56] us and Waxhaw where interested people
might not want to go all the way to
[15:01] WCWAA
or Waxhaw Athletic Association, you
[15:05] know,
Marvin just won eight state
[15:08] championships, you know, but we don't
have our own youth leagues by and large
[15:14] really because we we we don't have the
places to do them. So, I I I think you
[15:18] may find that as we investigate this,
you know, we may see, you know, core
[15:24] folks within the community kind of come
together. Might be made up of coaches
[15:28] and things like that, you know, that
that have an interest.
[15:32] » Okay.
So, I That's awesome.
[15:34] So, question Can we take questions now?
Okay. Yeah, we'll feed back from anyone.
[15:38] I've got a few, but I'll let you all
speak.
[15:40] » Um I was hoping you could talk a little
bit more about the inter- the
[15:45] the legal setup of it, looking at this
last side slide, and the interface
[15:50] between this board and whatever board is
created, cuz they're not one in the
[15:53] same. We're just an advisory board.
>> Right.
[15:56] » So, I mean, we can say, "Yeah, we're in
favor of exploring this." But we It just
[16:00] everything we do goes back to council.
So, clearly you're I mean, I can see,
[16:04] you know, independence from the village
with its own important bylaws. What does
[16:07] that look like and how does it interface
with us here?
[16:10] » Yeah, I'd say ultimately it would be I
mean, the dream thing would be an
[16:14] independent 501c3 that would be, raising
its own money and and getting its own
[16:19] contributors.
Um
[16:21] that that I think that's probably a
little ways down the road. I mean, it
[16:24] may not be as far as it seems to be, but
from a legal standpoint, I would see
[16:28] that as being like an independent
foundation that would make would
[16:31] ultimately make the matching grants. You
know, the money would come in and out of
[16:35] that
foundation as opposed to coming in.
[16:38] » money holding foundation, and then with
regard to how that money gets dispersed,
[16:43] that then is up to recommendations of
this board and approving of council.
[16:48] » I think that's what I was saying.
>> Obviously, somebody has to say
[16:50] » Yes, we want this in our community.
>> Well, I I think the dispersal actually,
[16:52] cuz if if it's going to be independent,
the dispersals would have to come from
[16:55] the foundation.
>> Well, yeah, but
[16:57] » They'd have to make the decision. But I
think they would go
[16:59] » They can't just say, "Oh, we're going to
build a soccer field here" if council
[17:02] doesn't want a soccer field there. So,
there has to be some sort of
[17:06] interaction, obviously, and and I'm not
asking for like the exact details, cuz
[17:10] obviously the document hasn't been
drafted. I'm just trying to get a feel
[17:12] for
what that that interaction is. I mean,
[17:15] the foundation holds the money.
Council has to approve the project.
[17:21] I assume.
>> Or or the council would go to the
[17:23] foundation or or parks would go to the
foundation saying, "Hey, you know, we
[17:27] have
>> Right.
[17:28] » a pickleball court or something that
we're thinking about. Foundation, would
[17:31] you you know, is that a priority for
you? Can you Can you match our grants?
[17:36] » I would also expect I mean, you know,
with any 501(c)(3), you have to have a
[17:39] mission, right? And so, we're I feel
like some of this might sound a little
[17:41] broad right now when I hear mixing of
the roundabouts and roads with something
[17:45] such as a park or a greenway. So,
there's some you know, maybe that's
[17:48] something that we'll do as an
exploratory because if it's a foundation
[17:50] as you're raising funds, you know,
there's two different expectations when
[17:53] someone is contributing to traffic but
you know, mediation versus you know, the
[17:58] wildlife the the things that
>> Yeah, it's a little bit of a chicken and
[18:01] the egg thing. It's like, "Okay, well,
so what's your mission?" And your
[18:04] mission's kind of be I think a little
bit determined on where you can get the
[18:07] money, you know, where where the money
is.
[18:09] » Also, but is the mission then to support
to augment Marvin? I guess that's what
[18:12] I'm I'm kind of hearing this is to
augment the taxpayers, you know, deficit
[18:15] or whatever I'm not saying deficit, but
what we're saying is this is where we
[18:18] can't meet the needs of the community.
We're But that's not a mission to me.
[18:21] That's just a funding source. That's a
>> think the roundabouts and medians is
[18:24] just the landscaping beautification of
>> Okay, I'm sorry. I I heard it. Okay,
[18:28] thank
>> Yeah, I I noticed that this morning. I
[18:30] was looking at that. I mean, it's kind
of a lightning rod. It's like, you know,
[18:33] let's talk about the landscaping.
>> That that makes sense of where we found
[18:36] where we're tied back to.
>> Well, and any any nonprofit foundation
[18:39] has the ability to restrict gifts. So,
if a donor is
[18:44] very passionate about bringing
pickleball to Marvin, they could
[18:48] grant a substantial amount of money and
specifically state with their gift, "I'm
[18:52] restricting this money to only be used
on pickleball." So, that the foundation
[18:56] couldn't then hand that money over to
council for beautification of a median,
[19:00] right? So, um there's ways that
donors can restrict what and so that
[19:07] they only support what's important for
them through the foundation.
[19:12] » Cuz we really don't have any kind of
mechanism for that today. Like, you
[19:14] know, we were we were talking about just
last night we were talking about the
[19:18] um athletic court proposal that National
Fitness Council had had thrown out. And
[19:24] I
as much as
[19:27] the members here did vote for it. It and
eventually we took a pass on it. Um but
[19:31] one of the things that struck me even
though I voted for it, I'm like, that
[19:33] has a $240,000 price tag. That is pretty
pricey.
[19:37] But and we may be able to get, you know,
contributions from other municipalities,
[19:41] but we didn't know for sure. And if we
could have had, let's let's say we had
[19:45] this 501c3 in place and we could have
said, all right, well, we have a
[19:48] commitment from the 501c3 to pay 20 or
30 or 40,000 on it. That makes it a
[19:53] little bit easier. And it's a little
more formalized as as opposed to
[19:57] um you know, having to kind of jumble
around each time an opportunity comes up
[20:01] like John was saying. You need to be
able to pounce on these grants.
[20:04] » Well, it's been that's been an issue in
the past is we've been like, hey, it's
[20:07] totally in favor of this project. That's
great. But um can we even afford the
[20:10] grant?
>> Mhm. Yeah.
[20:11] » You know, I mean, we've got all this
money
[20:13] » to look for the grant. Yeah.
>> get reimbursed or we have to match and
[20:16] so there have been grants that we've
potentially had to decline
[20:20] because we don't have that funding
source in place. So, I think it's a
[20:22] brilliant idea.
>> Yeah, and and and and that that is what
[20:26] we did last night, but part of it was
we'd have to start spending
[20:31] you know, at least the 35,000 part of
what we'd be quote matching
[20:37] within 60 days.
>> Right.
[20:39] » You know, cuz there's often time
limitations on these things that you
[20:42] have to respond and and stuff like that.
And when you think about having to go
[20:47] through the budgeting process and you
know, how we kind of have to lay out our
[20:52] priorities for a year. Even if something
is in our capital improvement plan,
[20:57] it's not necessarily funded. So, then we
have to, you know, take the time to have
[21:01] Jill work through [clears throat] and
and and do those things. So,
[21:05] um you know, and and you know, part of
it may also still be working with
[21:10] organizations like Habitat Builders and
things like that on projects that are
[21:15] important to them, right? But we still
have this funding structure in place
[21:19] that, you know, might also bring funds
to the table for, you know, things that
[21:24] that that align with their interests
there.
[21:27] » One of the things I could see this being
helpful for is, you know, state statute
[21:32] is very
clear on what I can and cannot spend
[21:37] your tax dollars on. And a lot of it is
some of it is gray, but a lot of it is
[21:42] just wrapped around this concept of
public use, right? So, for instance, we
[21:46] have neighborhoods that maybe have aging
or dilapidated signs at their entrance,
[21:53] and they don't have the funds that they
would need to replace those signs or
[21:58] beautify them or make them look good,
but they feel like they don't want their
[22:01] neighborhood to be the eyesore in
Marvin, right? So, obviously some of
[22:06] those neighborhoods have already reached
out to us because of our outgoing grant
[22:10] um
program that we just recently started,
[22:13] but it's a really tough gray area where
we sort of have to decide, you know, are
[22:19] we spending taxpayer dollars to make one
neighborhood sign look pretty, you know?
[22:25] And could someone argue that we're not
using the funds for the public at large,
[22:30] we're just benefiting private owners of
one neighborhood, right? So,
[22:33] that's where this type of stuff could
come because
[22:37] there's probably people living in Marvin
that obviously there are people that
[22:41] care about what Marvin looks like, that
want to see these neighborhoods look
[22:44] beautiful because it just makes Marvin
as a whole continue to be a wonderful,
[22:48] beautiful community. But if
if the village can't legally spend
[22:53] taxpayer dollars on it, then a
foundation like this would be able to
[22:57] meet that need and stay within the
statute the statutes and authority. So,
[23:02] I think that would be another sort of
helpful way that this foundation could
[23:07] help where there might be neighborhoods
that have a surplus of funds or just in
[23:10] a private donor who's
if it's only a few thousand dollars is
[23:14] willing to pay to bring this older
neighborhood up to up to speed, so to
[23:19] speak.
>> Right. And
[23:20] and speaking of taxes, um sorry, didn't
mean to interrupt, but
[23:23] » No, I just wanted to mention my Rotary
Club, we have a So, the club is a civic
[23:29] club and then we also set up a 501(c)(3)
so that um
[23:34] we have members that are retired and
they have to take their required minimum
[23:39] distributions and what they do is they
donate it to the foundation. So, I'm
[23:44] sure we have a lot of residents that
have to take their RMD and
[23:50] you know, need avenues to donate that.
So, there's another source of funds that
[23:56] could come into to help cover.
>> [snorts]
[24:00] » And that would be
and that's tax deductible if it goes to
[24:03] a 501(c)(3), so it's kind of a win-win.
>> Um
[24:07] we just had to set up separate board
members for the club and the foundation,
[24:12] so
but it it works out to keep things
[24:15] separate and then when we do our
fundraisers
[24:18] then
you know, they can donate to
[24:21] the foundation and I can send them a
donation letter which is very helpful in
[24:25] getting donations.
>> Yeah, to Jen's point, I definitely think
[24:30] we would have to be really careful how
we set up the the working arrangement
[24:34] even if
um I don't know if it would be a
[24:37] conflict of interest. I don't think so,
but I would think maybe even
[24:40] somebody
whether it's someone employed by the
[24:44] village or even a council member would
probably want to potentially be a board
[24:48] member, but obviously would recuse
themselves from certain votes and
[24:52] things, but there's got to be some
synergy where we can't have a bunch of
[24:56] private residents pushing a ton of money
in there to get their agenda pushed
[25:02] through a private foundation and
councils over here going, "Well, wait a
[25:05] second. That really doesn't fit in with
our strategic plan for the town or what
[25:10] we're trying to do." But, you're sort of
circumventing that potentially by going
[25:14] through a private foundation. So, I do
think there needs to be a synergy and we
[25:18] would need to iron out those details,
but definitely a worthy um cause. And
[25:23] this is super common. A lot of
municipalities have foundations,
[25:26] especially when they're looking to have
a library or something like that. Um
[25:33] Yeah. So, I mean, I'm happy to reach out
to other municipalities that have a
[25:38] foundation like this through my finance
listserv and maybe even just have a
[25:42] conversation to ask, "What worked well
for you? How did you get this off the
[25:46] ground? What are the pitfalls that we're
unaware of that you kind of learned the
[25:50] hard way?" And maybe we can glean some
really great feedback and um avoid some
[25:55] of those pitfalls as we get this
launched if if that's what you all
[25:58] decide to help with.
>> Thank you. You need a knowledgeable CPA
[26:01] to guide through some of that.
>> Yeah, I mean, hopefully that's
[26:05] » Accounting.
>> Hopefully somebody who's on the board of
[26:07] this foundation would have that
background because they are going to
[26:10] need somebody and it can't be me to um
run their books and um there's going to
[26:16] be reporting requirements and you know,
um
[26:20] reconciliation of of their they're going
to have to file their annual tax
[26:24] statements and all of that. So, they'll
need somebody with a finance background
[26:28] to do it. Yeah.
>> As I hear this and I and I think I like
[26:30] the concept makes sense where we find
the funds. I'm very concerned about kind
[26:34] of the bandwidth in the of the community
to to contribute because I guess we all
[26:37] know in the schools, usually when your
children in schools or sports, that's
[26:40] where our residents put their effort.
And I'd love to think that there's lots
[26:43] of folks who are going to show up and,
you know, queue up to be in our board,
[26:46] but I am concerned. And there's also,
again, a lot of folks because of their,
[26:50] you know, either their their work
positions or their, you know,
[26:52] involvement in the community have other
foundations that they're a part of. So,
[26:55] I'm not saying we're competing, but I
do, you know, given this what do we
[26:59] have? 6,000 residents, the capacity of
our community to step up and fill this
[27:02] board. I am That's just one
question in my mind is do we have the
[27:07] people who will step up and consistently
I mean, because running a board is time
[27:11] and we
don't fill these seats too well often.
[27:14] So, that's
>> You don't know until you try, right?
[27:16] » And I agree and that's why I think
you're saying we do some exploratory I'm
[27:20] not and I'm not putting it down. I'm
just saying when I hear that, I know how
[27:22] this community has worked. There's been
a lot of focus on children and education
[27:25] and sports and I obviously it would be
wonderful if folks come out and want to
[27:29] support this town as well.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I totally agree, Christian.
[27:32] I I think one of the things like the
first steps would be like reaching out
[27:36] to friends and family to figure out, you
know, reaching out to your networks and
[27:39] see whether or not there might be an
interest and, you know, really whether
[27:42] or not we're going to be able to deliver
on anything. Cuz you raised a good point
[27:45] is
you know, we're competing with we would
[27:48] be competing with a lot of other
good causes. And it it is a pretty small
[27:53] community. We have a pretty small pool
to draw from.
[27:55] » But I think that's what we're saying.
Just, you know, you you
[27:58] signs on the field of Marvin Elementary
are the same signs we'd want to have
[28:01] what in our park, you know, so that and
but but all good. I mean, if those same,
[28:05] you know, groups have contributed, then
maybe they just don't know there's an
[28:08] opportunity to contribute also in our
village.
[28:10] » Well, I think the other benefit of this
concept and it definitely would be in
[28:13] favor of of pursuing it is that in
addition to our actual community, it
[28:17] gives us an opportunity to go beyond
this community to get that funding.
[28:21] Because we're looking at corporate
partnerships and civic communities. So,
[28:24] they don't have to be in Marvin to
contribute to Marvin. They just need to
[28:26] have some sort of nexus here to make it
worth their while.
[28:29] » Like right across the street.
>> Yeah, yeah. When when when you think
[28:32] about it, you know, when we talk about
joke about the the donut holes in Marvin
[28:37] and things like that. But, you know,
I've always seen these are all members
[28:41] of our community that we go to church
with, we go to school with, we, you
[28:45] know,
>> Corporations and people
[28:47] » all sorts of things we work with, yeah,
you know, on on a daily basis. So, you
[28:52] know, it's almost like you're looking at
the opportunities here aren't just the
[28:56] 6,000, you know,
citizens of Marvin that are in this, you
[29:01] know, 10 square mile area. It's it's
really the 16,000,
[29:07] you know, residents of the community
that are in this area because if it's
[29:11] focused to public service projects,
it is things that you know,
[29:17] helping out their general community.
>> And I wouldn't be surprised
[29:20] » without being the village of Marvin.
>> They may not staff the board, but they
[29:23] may contribute to the funds. Am I right?
That's what I was thinking more on the
[29:26] actual manpower.
>> Or they could be on the board too
[29:28] because that would be a totally separate
financing
[29:31] » So, just just for clarity on next steps,
so you the board, you guys are going to
[29:35] talk amongst your own networks and see
if there is general community interest.
[29:38] Tom, are you looking for any other
action from them formally or are you
[29:42] planning to go to count take it take the
idea to council next? Or
[29:45] » Uh I'd love to get feedback from parks.
That's why I'm here today is to get your
[29:49] feedback and um
you know, before we do anything with the
[29:52] council and I'd love to you know, come
back the next meeting and see if you
[29:56] guys have any feedback or
where we could go from there.
[30:00] » Okay. Everyone okay with putting this on
the next agenda just to come back to it?
[30:03] » Yeah, if you're willing to wave
for us to
[30:05] » Yeah.
>> Think amongst Think amongst ourselves.
[30:08] » Well, yeah, I mean it could do it the
next meeting when we talk about
[30:11] it's one of the hard parts of the way
the calendar works for us now because
[30:15] we're not going to meet again until
after this meeting.
[30:19] » We should change that.
>> [laughter]
[30:21] » We're doing I'm having them change it
for next year cuz council used to be
[30:24] second Tuesday, then y'all moved it to
the front and they'd already adopted
[30:28] their schedule for the year, so
>> Okay.
[30:30] » So, for next year they're going to move
it to the second week.
[30:31] » Okay, cool.
>> Yeah, that that'll make it a little bit
[30:34] easier. I mean, I think I mean, if you
needed
[30:37] you needed a recommendation immediately,
we could probably all chime in.
[30:40] » To do an exploratory.
>> Yeah, to do an exploratory. Yeah, we're
[30:43] not officially committing, but um
>> Yeah, I think we might need somebody to
[30:47] kind of take the point on doing the
exploratory.
[30:50] » Do we have any
Well, again, we could talk amongst
[30:52] ourselves unless somebody wants to
>> depends on your time frame whether or
[30:55] not you can wait till the till the next
agenda.
[30:59] » Yeah, no particular time frame. I just
don't want to lose momentum on it cuz
[31:01] you know, if we set it too far out, then
everybody kind of forgets about it.
[31:04] » all have If you all can make a consensus
right now, you don't you don't have to
[31:07] discuss it again in a month if you're
just giving consensus on exploring your
[31:10] networks. You could make that consensus
right now.
[31:13] » Do we need to make a motion, Austin?
>> So, just a quick point of clarification.
[31:19] Um
[31:21] you guys next month will actually meet
before council. So, if you do meet on
[31:25] September 1st to If you want to discuss
during your September meeting, council
[31:28] won't meet until actually the 14th.
They're only doing one meeting that
[31:31] month, so this board could have another
discussion before council has another
[31:35] regular meeting. So, you council have
work session, they would meet, and then
[31:38] they would they you guys have your
regular meeting, so if you do want to
[31:40] continue this conversation a month, that
wouldn't be too bad on schedule.
[31:43] » That makes sense. Let's just um put it
on the agenda for September and then
[31:47] continue.
>> Okay.
[31:48] » We can do that.
>> Um
[31:49] I don't know if this is closing this
topic, and maybe this is coming up later
[31:52] in Jill's report because you did mention
um
[31:55] the sportsplex being funded.
>> share that as part of my council report.
[31:58] » have some questions on funding, but
we'll get to cover that then. Okay.
[32:01] Thank you.
Okay.
[32:04] » Great.
>> Thank you.
[32:05] » Thank you, Tom. Appreciate your
>> Thank you.
[32:08] » Good to see you, sir.
>> Thank you.
[32:12] All right, next up on our presentations,
we have unfinished business. Next up is
[32:17] discussion recommendation on trailhead
signage. I know Austin has attached it
[32:21] um
a mock-up of proposed signage. Just to
[32:25] kind of give background, we have been
talking about the need to identify our
[32:28] trails and greenways in the Village of
Marvin so folks know what they are
[32:31] accessing, as well as potentially
providing information about any of our
[32:35] rules, restrictions, and and as things
change and update, folks know, you know,
[32:40] what is out there. Did some research and
I think everyone who's ever walked on a
[32:43] greenway has always seen some sort of a
signage. In communities like our size,
[32:47] Davidson, Chapel Hill, they actually
have signed ordinances within their
[32:50] parks and greenways stating how they
want to have their greenways identified.
[32:55] Um so, it's you know, very common
practice. I don't think there's any
[32:57] question that folks want to know where
they are. The other reason too is as we
[33:00] invest time and effort from our public
works staff to go and maintain these
[33:05] trails, we need to recognize the work
that's being done and also have folks
[33:08] have a way to communicate back. If
you're on a trail and you have a tree
[33:11] down, who do you communicate if you
don't know what what you're on. So, I
[33:15] think there's good rationale for why we
want to have signage. The question is
[33:18] » where you're where where it's not.
>> It's not Well, that's true. Yes.
[33:22] » Because, you know, there are concerns
Well, that's exactly it. There are
[33:25] concerns within the community that there
are private trails that some some
[33:29] particular neighborhoods have and things
like that. So.
[33:33] » Just a quick note on the signs. I took
Christina's feedback, made a generalized
[33:37] sign. You are You guys already have
signs on trails for
[33:41] no motor vehicles. So, this is just just
to mark this is a trail and here's a
[33:45] link to our trail map. So.
>> But this is this is where you're
[33:48] accessing. Is today the only place we
have that signage is within Epperly
[33:52] Park. And so, that's of course when that
was built and I think that was the Eagle
[33:54] Scout project or some Boy Scout project,
which has been helpful. We're not
[33:58] talking about wayfinding with actual
miles and and direction. It's really you
[34:02] are on a greenway.
>> scout wants to take that on.
[34:04] » Exactly. That could be something in the
future. Or even as we talked about
[34:07] sponsorship, I've seen trails in other
communities where, you know, there might
[34:10] be a sign this trail is supported by and
then we could put whoever our corporate
[34:14] sponsor is. But for now, you know,
Austin and I were talking about keeping
[34:18] this generic because, you know, we want
to have a consistency. So, that's why we
[34:21] just say trail access. We're not naming
the trail. We're not putting an arrow to
[34:25] where you're going. It's really And then
there's a familiarity. Folks will see
[34:28] this when they go to different parts of
the community and now now I'm on a
[34:31] Marvin Greenway because this is what our
signage looks like.
[34:34] » No, I like it.
>> Any feedback, questions from what you
[34:36] see there?
>> I liked
[34:40] the genericness of it.
>> [laughter]
[34:42] » Yeah.
>> I mean, we could have, you know, we
[34:44] could title the trails or or whatever,
but um
[34:48] this just serves all purposes.
>> As far as ordering, too, it's a little
[34:52] simpler, right? I mean, then we're not
This arrow goes this way, this trail's
[34:55] name is
>> yeah, I mean, it probably wouldn't kill
[34:57] us if it we, you know, had it had
individual signs and and name to them,
[35:00] but it's kind of superfluous
and
[35:03] » Mhm.
>> easier to order in multiples if
[35:06] » Sure.
Michael, you good?
[35:08] » How many signs would you be planning to
put like in each park or trail?
[35:11] » I think at at a minimum, the key
entrance point, correct, Austin? We're
[35:15] talking for
>> for trail heads, so these should
[35:16] » Trail heads.
>> These should be publicly accessible
[35:18] entrances.
>> Mhm.
[35:19] » Um entrances that
are on village easements.
[35:24] » Yeah.
So, when you look
[35:25] » Not on the ones that are
>> Right. So, there's an Amber Meadow trail
[35:28] that's going to cut off of Tom Short
Road. Right now, there's just a vehicle
[35:31] sign, right? That that would be a where
a sign would go.
[35:34] » And that's one entrance. That's that's
one entrance.
[35:36] » a one entrance. I think that where we
might have some managing the signs is
[35:39] like on the Marvin Loop because you can
access it from multiple points off of
[35:43] Joe Carr Road and down here and so, we
don't want to like clutter it too much
[35:47] with signs, but at least at kind of
maybe one end or the other and in the
[35:50] middle point, so when folks are
accessing it.
[35:53] » And and it's a process over time.
>> Right. You can put them on
[35:57] » We don't have to, you know, put
everything out at once. We're we're
[36:00] we're starting now. We're done We're we
we would look to identify some of the
[36:05] main areas of need. Um and then, you
know, as we budget, you know, a certain
[36:10] amount maybe each year or something like
that. Um we we kind of fall into a a
[36:16] cadence where, you know, we we
eventually do more of them and so forth.
[36:20] » we start small and then, I mean, minimum
one entrance per, like you said, per
[36:24] trail or if there's a two entrances,
then there's two.
[36:27] » These signs really only make sense at
trail entrances.
[36:29] » Yes, cuz it says access.
>> Quick side note, I know this board likes
[36:34] to do kind of projects throughout the
year like signs here, signs there. In
[36:38] future future years we probably should
start planning an intentional budget
[36:42] each year that way whenever you guys
want to implement something we can make
[36:45] sure that we have it in the budget and
then we're not looking for funds.
[36:48] » Yeah, and I was
>> Yeah, and and and that's something just
[36:51] so you're aware cuz you folks haven't
necessarily gone through our budgeting
[36:55] process.
Um
[36:57] I as your PRG liaison, I would probably,
you know, start having those
[37:02] conversations
with
[37:05] um the rest of council when we do like
our retreat in January usually like like
[37:10] the first or second week in January is
where we even start kind of
[37:14] brainstorming the ideas, capital
improvement projects that are either
[37:19] dedicated for the first year, three
years, five years, 10 years down the
[37:23] road. Um you know, just so that we're
looking at our overall financial
[37:28] picture.
And then as we get into the budget
[37:30] season, you know,
um
[37:34] you know, we expect while we may not be
replacing Tyler with a PRG person, um we
[37:40] are still looking to fulfill that role
with, you know, more of kind of a
[37:44] project manager. Um so that might be
someone that we would work with to to,
[37:50] you know, make a recommendation to
council maybe in February or something
[37:55] like that of, you know, these are the
areas that we'd want to target and if we
[37:59] could get a certain amount in the budget
for the for this and and so forth. But
[38:03] we we haven't been involved much in the
budget process because we don't control
[38:07] any money. Um that's really, you know,
up to the council to to decide.
[38:13] And yeah, and and and that I think that
would be a a good thing, you know, for
[38:18] us to
start doing kind kind of at Austin's
[38:21] behest and and probably Jill, of course,
because anytime we find these little
[38:25] needs, Jill's the one that has to
scramble around to see if there's
[38:29] pockets that are that are available to
pull them.
[38:32] » And And if if And John, if I may, what
we can also start doing is like during
[38:35] the CIP process when we're prioritizing
trails, is just kind of bake some of
[38:40] this estimate for, you know, a sign or
two, depending on which trail project it
[38:43] is, into that CIP estimate. Where um if
we're looking to construct
[38:49] you know, for example, the Heritage
Trail.
[38:51] » Um you know, where I don't I don't think
those are as part of this site uh
[38:57] this plan right in front of us, but in
short, it's like if we're building a
[39:01] trail or portion of a trail that year,
type thing is maybe just go ahead and
[39:04] plan to have signage installed as part
of that project as a whole. I mean, I
[39:07] think that's another way we can kind of
start doing it where we stay on top of
[39:10] it with any new construction.
>> Yeah, I talked to Austin a little bit
[39:13] about this um earlier this week, where I
definitely uh maybe one of our fall PRG
[39:20] meetings, we'll put an agenda item for
us to be thinking about next fiscal year
[39:26] and any potential wants or needs from
this board, because what I would like to
[39:32] do is start planning ahead, put that in
the CIP, present it to council in
[39:36] January, get their um backing behind it,
and then be able to build it into the
[39:42] budget, versus now, where Austin will
come to me and say, "Hey, PRG wants to
[39:46] do this." And then I say, "Where am I
getting the money for that?" And we
[39:50] we're kind of putting the cart before
the horse. So, um and that's not a
[39:54] criticism of y'all. That's just we have
I don't think we've done a good job of
[39:57] really pulling you guys in early and in
and saying like, "Hey, let's have
[40:03] conversations prior to budget season of
what goals or needs this board has or
[40:08] can anticipate prior to to going out for
funding." And so, that's going to be a
[40:12] priority for myself, but also hopefully
the the new program manager, project
[40:18] manager coming in.
>> you're telling us that now helps us
[40:20] start planning cuz January, that's
perfect.
[40:22] » Yeah.
>> And as far as these signs go, though,
[40:25] um if
if this board wants to recommend
[40:28] approval of purchasing and installing
these signs, that would then go to
[40:31] council. Council would make that final
call. So, just know that what you're
[40:35] recommending approval of might not be
final form. Or council may may choose
[40:39] not to do it. It just depends on what
they want to do.
[40:42] » Okay. And then so this will come up at
the next council meeting, the way the
[40:45] process works. Do we need to come and
speak to any of this or can we help I
[40:48] mean I'm just wondering can we help
provide more context? Obviously, John
[40:50] will, but is there anything else we can
do from, you know, other examples of
[40:53] communities? I just feel like this has
come back and forth so many times and
[40:56] I'm, you know, I don't I don't I feel
like this has been a lot of effort from
[40:58] our Austin, but just as a community we I
think well, I know that we all believe
[41:02] in this process. So, how do we
>> Yeah, I I well, I think the fact and and
[41:06] and I do like the idea of us having
these more generic trail signs because
[41:12] information can change and by
referencing them like this specifically
[41:16] to the QR code, that gives us more
flexibility in terms of being able to
[41:20] change things on the back side as
>> literally move it around.
[41:23] » as they're needed. Yeah, absolutely. So,
um
[41:27] you know, I I think, you know, it
doesn't it doesn't hurt and, you know,
[41:31] Tom's very approachable, the other
council people. So, you know, it it if
[41:36] you want to reach out and just express
because, you know, we've had it both
[41:40] ways over the years. There's waves of
times where people say,
[41:44] "Listen, I went to the website or this
or it's confusing and I'm not sure where
[41:49] the trail is. I saw it on the website,
but I went there and where do you park?"
[41:53] and, you know, stuff like that.
And then, you know, we at one point I
[41:59] » [clears throat]
>> I remember us talking about signs that
[42:01] actually had named
signs for that and how long it was till
[42:06] the next trail head and things like
that. And people were like, "Well, no,
[42:10] we don't want that much information, you
know. So,
[42:14] it it it it's really trying to strike a
balance. And I think from council's
[42:18] perspective, you know, when we're
talking about just the costs of
[42:21] implementing these signs and so forth,
the fact that they're more generic like
[42:26] that make makes you feel, you know,
quite a bit better about, you know,
[42:30] buying 10 or 20 of these, you know, than
if you're buying individual signs of
[42:36] things that information could change and
and, you know, then you're chucking that
[42:41] sign out with the with the bathwater,
you know.
[42:44] » They're about $45 each.
>> $45 each, okay. And we have eight I
[42:49] mean, we have five trails that don't
have signs.
[42:51] » So, you'd probably start off with
10 signs.
[42:54] » 10 because we have different access
points like Marvin Loop and probably
[42:57] » You don't need them on the Marvin Loop.
You really don't need them on the loop
[42:59] because the loop doesn't really have an
entrance.
[43:01] You wouldn't You wouldn't put them at
the park cuz you already have them. So,
[43:04] between Amber Meadows, Talamore, uh the
Preserve Internal Trail,
[43:09] » Mhm.
>> uh
[43:10] » Heritage.
>> Heritage.
[43:12] » Mhm.
I still believe somewhere on the Marvin
[43:14] Loop, I know we don't have an entrance,
but it still feels funny not ever My
[43:17] only concern with Marvin Loop would be
we never acknowledge that it's Marvin. I
[43:20] mean, I think many folks might just
think it's Marvin Creek because it's
[43:23] surrounded by Marvin Creek. So, it This
is also part of recognition and branding
[43:27] of our community assets. So, that would
be a um
[43:30] » I might just want to maybe put a sign or
two in the areas that aren't clearly
[43:34] sidewalks.
>> Yes.
[43:35] » And and and the other thing though is
when you're looking at these things,
[43:38] when Austin works with the vendor, I'm
sure there's some sort of economies of
[43:42] scale where
>> Not at not at this size. We had to
[43:45] purchase a lot more for
>> Okay.
[43:47] Well, I I I was even thinking like 20
might be more than two.
[43:52] A better deal than two, you know, or
something like that.
[43:55] » Okay, but 45 Do you have a question?
>> Yeah, I was going to say, isn't there a
[43:59] entrance in Marvin Creek for the
Marvin Loop?
[44:03] » There is when you come out of I think um
>> Painted
[44:07] No, no, not Painted Woods.
>> the one
[44:08] » It's a cul-de-sac, yeah.
>> All right. Marvin
[44:09] » Yeah.
[44:16] Yeah,
but but what you also understand is that
[44:20] any sidewalk is also essential for the
Marvin Loop is also essentially a
[44:25] trailhead to to some degree because you
know, the sidewalks are all public. So,
[44:32] we're talking about
you know, it being public use as long as
[44:37] our
Greenway like or the loop for instance
[44:42] is connected to a publicly maintained
Village of Marvin sidewalk.
[44:47] That's that's essentially a connection
there.
[44:49] » Well, the good thing with the signs is
as the loop grows, we can just keep
[44:52] moving them out. You know, I mean I'm
just saying there's there's there's room
[44:55] to put them. So,
>> And
[44:57] and we've always talked about we don't
want to inundate things too because
[45:01] that's certainly something that we don't
want in Marvin is just a litter of
[45:04] signage, you know.
>> I do need a motion I do need a motion
[45:07] from you all if you want to send this to
council. So, you would need a motion to
[45:11] recommend approval of the trail access
sign and to recommend installing the
[45:14] signs at Village Trail Heads.
>> Okay, I make a motion. Do you want me to
[45:17] repeat that then?
>> decide that.
[45:19] » So moved. All in favor?
>> Aye.
[45:21] » Motion passed.
>> I'll put that on council's next agenda.
[45:24] » Okay, and thank you again Austin. You
have done a lot with signage for us in
[45:27] the past year
and two.
[45:30] Appreciate that.
Okay, next up we have the discussion of
[45:33] 2026 Arbor Day coming around the corner.
Hunter.
[45:37] » All right. Um, so just want to have a
brief discussion and kind of start
[45:40] getting some
getting a game plan together for our
[45:43] Arbor Day event on Saturday, October
24th.
[45:47] First thing I kind of wanted to discuss
is
[45:49] when I I would
uh
[45:51] invite all you guys to attend if
possible. We had a really good turnout
[45:55] last year and want to kind of like I
said find a way to continue to grow this
[45:58] and grow the programming of the event.
With that being said, last year we did
[46:03] it from 1 to 3. Um
and I would just want to get some
[46:06] feedback from the board and if that's
kind of a similar time frame we want to
[46:10] do. Uh essentially last year we did
uh it we kind of coupled it with the
[46:14] plant exchange and um
we did a kind of planting um
[46:20] educational
uh
[46:22] type thing where uh Trees Union we
planted a tree. Uh my plan this year is
[46:26] we we do something similar there again,
but we might even plant a few more. Uh
[46:30] even uh with some of the baby trees we
got. Um and so uh
[46:35] does any you know, does the board have
any feedback? Does 1 to 3 sound good? Do
[46:38] we or do we want to look at um something
earlier in the day, something longer? Uh
[46:44] just trying to get some initial guidance
there um for this event.
[46:50] » I don't see any problem with the 1 to 3.
I'm trying to it it kind of depends on
[46:55] what we're going to do. Like if we're
going to plant 100 trees, which we still
[46:59] have, well, 99 anyway. Um
that's a different gig than planting the
[47:05] one big one, right? They're little.
Well, they're not that little, but um
[47:10] » Are you envisioning like a kickoff like
hey, we all land like whatever you say
[47:13] you you rally folks and we all land in
the park and then at 1:00 everyone
[47:16] disperses to plant their tree and comes
back? I mean or are you saying
[47:19] » So completely random planting.
>> Like a tree cleanup.
[47:23] » Right, like a like a trap.
>> Well, no, you you have a flag where you
[47:26] want them to plant it, but I'm just
saying are you thinking like this is the
[47:28] day where you get folks to come together
and plant versus just assume they're
[47:31] going to do it on their own?
>> Well, no, we have a lot of volunteer
[47:33] organizations that we can tap that I
think would if we would get it on the
[47:36] schedule, they're ready to go.
>> Yeah, that's kind of what I want to try
[47:39] to get some of this nailed down so we
can reach out to uh you know, the state
[47:42] forestry service, uh Trees Union, um get
Keith here with uh urban forester.
[47:48] Uh which a lot of them have these the
states already in their calendar. I'm
[47:50] just trying to get the time has uh
finalized. Um
[47:54] I know some of the uh additional
programming that we talked about is
[47:56] potentially doing some trail walks uh
with um I know Christina Cole and I have
[48:01] talked about that.
And opportunity once again look at trees
[48:06] along our trails. I mean and other
educational opportunities. I mean so if
[48:10] we want to stick and you know to that
one to three again like I said that's
[48:13] completely fine. If we want to expand it
this is kind of you know last year we
[48:17] were
putting together this application for
[48:19] our tree Tree City USA. We kind of
Christina Cole and Bob Nininger can't be
[48:24] very helpful with me and I with the
initial planning of this and now that
[48:29] PRNG is our also the fact of tree board.
You know this is something that I want
[48:33] like I said to
you guys to help grow
[48:36] to grow the the event as in general but
also grow you know these educational
[48:41] programs for our Tree City USA
certification.
[48:45] So
any I mean
[48:49] I mean I said the time I mean one to
three do we want to stick with just one
[48:51] to three this year and then we or do or
is that all good with everybody?
[48:57] » Well
is it something where
[49:00] » [clears throat]
>> it might be one to three which is the
[49:02] formal event but then people are
dispersed from then to go do
[49:07] » Yeah.
>> We could do some pre-work and we could
[49:09] do some after work if we needed to. So
one to three is nice in the middle and
[49:13] we can work around it.
>> Yeah we can advertise it from one to
[49:15] three.
[49:19] » I just just to add you had originally
had us hold on the calendar for you
[49:25] eight to two. So we do have someone that
is looking to rent the barn starting at
[49:30] three.
>> Okay.
[49:31] » So whatever event you have if you could
try to be at least no longer needing the
[49:36] barn by three that would be great or I
can just move that renter out further.
[49:40] » We shouldn't need the barn
um
[49:44] Yeah I mean we can do we want to look at
doing from like 10 to 12?
[49:50] 10 to 12 and then that gives us a little
leeway after if anybody wants to stay
[49:53] and maybe do a treat, you know, a trail
walk and stuff.
[49:55] » Yes.
>> Okay.
[49:57] » Yeah, so it's because of that. Yeah.
>> Or 11 to 1.
[50:00] » 10 to 12.
>> Yeah, will be the formal event.
[50:03] » No, that's that's what we're going to
talk about right now. So, she just asked
[50:06] the question, um, are all those trees,
and we're probably 120, let's say,
[50:11] because it was a hard survey. We have
120 trees of various sizes and types. We
[50:16] talked about Meadowlark, right?
>> We we did. I and so my thought, this is
[50:21] just another thought, want to get you
guys' feedback. Now, once again, it's
[50:23] going to really depend on, uh, turnout,
is I do think there's a potential
[50:28] opportunity for residents that do come
and participate, maybe of giving them a
[50:32] tree.
Um,
[50:34] uh, now granted, if we have 99 people
show up, I I mean, we're not be very
[50:38] impressed, but I I do plan on using some
of those trees for some other, uh,
[50:42] plantings, uh, throughout the village,
but, um, you know, I can look at, you
[50:47] know, further conversations with Trees
Union and and Keith to see if if any
[50:50] other tree, cuz I plan on getting a
larger size tree for the actual planning
[50:54] educational portion,
um, similar to the one that we did last
[50:57] year, but we do have, like I said, those
smaller baby trees that we potentially
[51:02] can look at giving giving some away, or
we can do some type of raffle. I I don't
[51:05] know, we can that's
>> When he says baby trees, some of them
[51:08] are
>> Our talk Yeah, they're not Yeah, they're
[51:10] still
good size, but they're
[51:13] » Some of them are this size.
>> Yeah.
[51:15] » But kind of going back to what Evan was
saying, I think Meadowlark was one maybe
[51:18] for this year with the, like you said,
maybe a
[51:20] » a portion of it goes to the community,
but should we target some of for this
[51:22] year the greenways where we have kind of
spots? I mean, they've been on the loop
[51:26] kind of right out here. There's a lot of
sun exposure, so would this be a
[51:28] thought? I mean, and the park, I mean,
Christian, you have a better sense of
[51:31] where we could use them. I know we
talked about HOAs also picking them up,
[51:35] but I feel like for now, we've got this
surplus, we've got some greenways that
[51:38] have opportunities in parks.
>> I would I would like to focus on trees
[51:42] that I know are going to get planted.
Meaning, if you give them to somebody,
[51:46] giving means they they don't have any
value. So, they're going to sit
[51:50] somewhere and maybe not get planted. So,
I would prefer to focus on plants I know
[51:54] are going to get planted. So, in common
areas of HOAs, if we kind of help direct
[51:59] that because also getting them planted
properly, it's not hard. It's just
[52:04] really easy to do it wrong.
>> And And maybe what we can do is offer,
[52:08] you know, if a resident or you know, if
there's a member of an HOA that's there,
[52:11] we can offer Yeah, because I said it's
giving it to them cuz I think if you I
[52:15] if they if we we are offering and they
are interested in it, I'm hoping that
[52:19] means that they are interested in them
planting it.
[52:22] And so, and then maybe we'll just set
aside anywhere from like 20 to 30 and
[52:25] you and I can get together on just kind
of giving those out.
[52:28] » The toughest ones.
>> Yeah.
[52:31] And
And so, and then yeah, so maybe what we
[52:35] can do is like I said, just keeping this
high level and we'll get the more
[52:39] details for the September meeting.
So, we'll do it from 10:00 to 2:00.
[52:43] We'll do one big tree educational
planting.
[52:47] And I mean, we can also potentially do
even a small tree like a smaller tree
[52:51] planting to show if there's any you
know, from an educational standpoint,
[52:54] especially if we're giving some of them
away. I think it'd be helpful to do.
[52:58] And then do some tree walk and or trail
walks. And is there anything else that,
[53:04] you know,
>> could do another plant exchange if
[53:05] people are interested in that.
I think if we promote it more doesn't
[53:09] hurt, doesn't cost anything.
>> But
[53:11] let me ask this. Um
would it be
[53:15] helpful to plan something like our
public works
[53:20] » [clears throat]
>> team being available, you know, if we're
[53:23] trying to do a lot that day or something
and providing when maybe we rent an
[53:29] auger or something like that
that can that can help to
[53:34] » Well, the new the the new trees we're
talking about are like,
[53:37] » We would need an auger for the big tree.
>> big one, yeah.
[53:39] » Which last year one of our former
council members dedicated his time and
[53:44] and dug that for us. I can reach out to
him.
[53:46] » Okay.
>> Um to see if he wants to do it.
[53:48] » that's what I was wondering. It might
help it
[53:50] » Yeah.
>> even not just that one, but if you know,
[53:54] for
if we're 12 10:00 till 2:00 or 10:00
[53:58] till to noon, you know, if we have
>> We all have our own goals that we want
[54:02] to do.
>> We can send our volunteer groups out to
[54:04] those spots on the greenways.
>> And we can like I said, we can kind of
[54:06] get some of those details planned out.
I know Christina and I Good with
[54:10] Christina on that.
And if we need the rain, I'll get to see
[54:14] if we have money. But I'll reach out to
to Andy to see if he wants to also, you
[54:18] know, volunteer.
>> tell I just spent two days this week
[54:21] digging out some fence posts and
in our Cala
[54:25] Carolina clay and rock and cement, so
that's that's why I'm thinking sometimes
[54:31] work smarter, not harder.
>> Yeah.
[54:33] » The other thing to wrap around that is
the possibility of doing a mulch day,
[54:38] which Matt and I have been talking
about. I can get It's one of those
[54:41] things that I can get um
volunteers to do really well is mulch.
[54:47] So, we can wrap that around that day,
too, and really add some mulch to the
[54:51] trees that we already have, so that we
get to the drip line instead of
[54:56] » the cone.
>> whatever.
[54:57] » volcano
>> Yeah, well, we don't have any volcanoes,
[54:59] but
>> We don't, but I'm saying
[55:01] » But we could that that's another thing
that we could add to that day. If you've
[55:04] already got people out,
you know, most of the time people want
[55:09] to do a couple of hours of volunteer
work if they can.
[55:12] » I said my goal my vision for this
uh event over time is like where we do
[55:17] spend a full volunteer day like half day
or something like that and we're
[55:21] planting trees at the park or or or at
some village property.
[55:25] Um and uh because I know like
Huntersville last year for their Arbor
[55:28] Day, they planted like like a hundred
trees in one of their parks. Like And we
[55:31] have And we we walked it with um
uh our the
[55:35] state forester when he came to give us
all our lovely tree guides and stuff.
[55:40] But we have a lot of opportunity at the
park that you know, to enhance the
[55:44] canopy out there, but still, you know,
giving it having areas to to utilize if
[55:49] it's in the lawn, but it also help with
maintenance from from our guys over
[55:52] time. And so that I mean that's
something like we're going to be
[55:55] building out the next year is building
out a planting plan that we can start
[55:58] Hey, this year we're going to plant X
amount of trees based off of this and
[56:01] here's, you know, the general locations
of what we're looking for. So Um this is
[56:06] just like I said
second annual one and we're going to
[56:09] like I said my goal is to continue
continue to have it grow and make it
[56:13] something special for the village.
>> And and Matt did just share with me that
[56:17] we actually do have in-house an 8-in
auger.
[56:21] » Okay, perfect.
>> So
[56:25] » [laughter]
>> I don't use public things for my own
[56:30] But uh
>> The bigger tree we would have to either
[56:33] rent or
>> Okay.
[56:34] » talk to the former council, but uh
>> Cuz that was a big hole.
[56:38] » Yeah.
>> But with the smaller ones we do have
[56:40] in-house auger and we can
assist in any way possible.
[56:43] » No, that'll be perfect. Perfect.
So I'm wondering what what would be like
[56:46] I said you'd be you'd throwing out some
ideas next next meeting in September we
[56:50] can kind of finalize all the ideas.
>> Yeah, I'll come with a more finalized
[56:52] plan. We're going to start Lucas is
already putting together the banner and
[56:56] some advertising materials
and at the September Council meeting
[57:00] Council will adopt their proclamation
proclaiming uh
[57:04] » Which one?
>> the 24th or the Yeah.
[57:06] » Do you need PR and D then to come up I
mean I think we've tossed ideas the
[57:08] forest walking, the plant Do you want Do
you want something from PR
[57:11] » Yeah, pick out some space at like where
we think if we're going to add some to
[57:16] you know, some of our areas if you're
out walking one of the trails and
[57:20] » I used to see them all the time.
>> know, this is a perfect place for Let's
[57:22] let's start kind of mapping those out in
our minds and come back.
[57:26] » Let me let me add this idea. If you're
in a forested area and you want to add a
[57:30] tree, you are very limited as to what
will live in there. They like sun. So,
[57:35] adding them out where we put the one
last year,
[57:39] putting more out there,
there's a lot more likelihood that it
[57:43] will survive than putting them in
But, like I have to
[57:47] » And that's why I was thinking there
might be areas along the Marvin Loop.
[57:52] » Or the edges of the edges of things cuz
we do have
[57:54] » Or the trailheads, you know.
>> We have redbuds and and dogwoods. Those
[57:59] are all ones that like the edges are
inside the the the tree line a little
[58:04] bit. What I'll do is make a list of what
we have.
[58:07] Uh we've only lost like two,
I think.
[58:11] » Do we have any evergreen trees that
>> We have We have some uh Eastern cedar.
[58:16] » Okay.
>> Would you want to put those along
[58:20] Meadowlark?
>> He's working on a plan over there.
[58:22] » Potentially to screen for the We can
start like
[58:27] we can for anything Meadowlark and
Heritage, we'll I'll hit on them when I
[58:30] get um in that update. Just
>> Okay.
[58:33] » Keeping it separate, but yes, we I've
got a plan for that, too.
[58:35] » But, what I'm going to do is get the
volunteer organizations that I know get
[58:39] this on their calendar so they know
show up and be ready to do something.
[58:44] » And then we'll have a plan of where they
were going to plant. That's what we'll
[58:46] work through over the next month.
>> Hunter has his marching orders, but we
[58:49] do for clarity, you guys have
Someone said 10 to 12, someone said 10
[58:53] to 2. What's the time?
>> 10 to 12. Right. And then we might
[58:57] extend it
on either end of that. Just not
[59:01] officially.
>> From 10 to 12, yeah.
[59:03] » is what we're advertising. That's what
you need to worry about.
[59:05] » And and then when do you need to know
the specifics of what we're going to be
[59:09] doing in addition to the planting if
we're going to do with the forest walk
[59:12] or the um plant exchange? Because for
public for for communication, Austin.
[59:16] » I think as long as we have that hashed
out for September, then we can start
[59:19] kind of putting I think in our social
media posts. We're going to be like come
[59:22] out, you know, for you know, tree
planting educational um potentially, you
[59:26] know, take home a tree. Well, if like
start kind of putting that in the in the
[59:30] like com- or in our thing.
[59:44] We'll do We'll do it the week of.
Cuz I know we I do know we have the
[59:49] trick-or-treating in the park and so
I'll just you we can get together cuz my
[59:53] thought is in that same area where we
planted last year
[59:56] um and so as long as that's not being
utilized for parking and we just rope it
[1:00:00] off for safety.
[1:00:07] Shouldn't
>> You guys can have this conversation
[1:00:10] outside of the
>> I shouldn't need anything from me but
[1:00:13] we'll talk.
[1:00:18] » Okay.
Um, thank you Hunter for your leadership
[1:00:21] on this and exciting to have a
next round of
[1:00:26] And I have 100 trees that just got
>> Right.
[1:00:29] » And thank you to Troop 99 for watering
those
[1:00:32] three times a week. Yes.
Well, not lately.
[1:00:36] » Definitely needed it this year.
>> Mother nature has been taking care of
[1:00:39] that the last couple of days but yeah.
>> Okay.
[1:00:42] » Um, our next item up is for Hunter
again. This is new business and we are
[1:00:46] talking the recap of the comprehensive
plan Greenway Master Plan open house
[1:00:50] that was held last week.
>> Yeah, so we um we had our open house uh
[1:00:55] I guess a week and a half ago now. Um,
we had pretty good we had really good
[1:00:58] turnout. We had about I would say
approximately 30-ish residents. Um, in
[1:01:04] short uh
a lot of feedback received regarding um
[1:01:09] the new kind of the new way Came Worth
kind of showing our conceptual trail map
[1:01:13] and the
prioritization over short, mid, and
[1:01:16] long-term. Um
I know both Christine has seen that and
[1:01:19] John. This uh all this will be provided
to you guys at your September meeting.
[1:01:24] We should be getting a final draft.
Staff should be getting a final draft
[1:01:27] sometime in the next week or two. I
actually have a call with Kimley-Horn
[1:01:29] right after this meeting.
And that final draft will come to to the
[1:01:34] PRNG board in September.
Ultimately,
[1:01:38] I would say I have not received any type
of formal like
[1:01:42] document of
summarizing all the feedback, but based
[1:01:45] off of
discussions I had with multiple
[1:01:48] residents, you had you know a mixture of
opinions on certain projects and and
[1:01:53] prioritization. You had I would say a
majority of of what I heard is once
[1:01:58] again focusing on trying to complete the
loop. It would be priority number one.
[1:02:02] And then having you know any then future
trails having you know connection or
[1:02:06] tying to the loop. And
and that is kind of how we do have it
[1:02:11] you know prioritized in the current
draft. There were other areas where
[1:02:17] you know some mapping of
old from the old map into the new and
[1:02:22] getting those updated for clarification
for any anybody in the public that's
[1:02:26] looking you know reading the document
and there there's no kind of discrepancy
[1:02:30] there. So that's kind of been identified
as well and and addressed to
[1:02:33] Kimley-Horn. We're also
putting together one thing that our 2020
[1:02:36] plan lacked
that our 2008 plan had was you know kind
[1:02:41] of differentiating where we already have
easements and not. Once again, these
[1:02:46] these maps are conceptual. These they're
they're showing routing between points A
[1:02:49] point A and point B. The goal is like
you know if you have easements, great.
[1:02:53] But it's also you know to further
conversations with community members if
[1:02:56] it's HOAs,
private you know private property
[1:03:00] property owners, or future developments
and trying to then you know build out
[1:03:03] your connectivity over time. And so
I think overlapping it where we have
[1:03:08] easements is also kind of important to
see where we from the prioritization
[1:03:13] standpoint. And so all that information
was sent to Kimley-Horn last week. So,
[1:03:18] they'll be kind of incorporating that
into the plan and and into their maps
[1:03:22] and recommendations as well. So, other
than that, um once I get uh that
[1:03:28] information, I said I'll be sharing it
with uh
[1:03:31] Christine and Christina for first kind
of review and John, since you guys have
[1:03:34] been on that working group and then that
final draft, Haley from Kimley-Horn will
[1:03:39] be to present as of right now
tentatively should be your September
[1:03:41] meeting.
>> So, Andrew, it's great 30 residents. Do
[1:03:45] we know kind of did they represent I
don't know if we captured a broader
[1:03:48] range of neighbors or what was the
>> I'll say so, this was um
[1:03:53] out of all the recent open houses,
public engagement type events, I I would
[1:03:58] say I met
maybe 12 to 14 new people, which was
[1:04:03] very that's why I was you know, I
thought it was good turnout. I I spoke
[1:04:06] with
a couple from Firethorn that I've never
[1:04:08] met. There was actually a couple here
from the Heritage at Marvin, you know,
[1:04:11] newer residents. I spoke with resident
in Carrefour Creek. Um I think another
[1:04:16] one from Innisbrook, Meadowlark,
Preserve, Marvin Creek. I mean, so feel
[1:04:21] like there was a good representation. Um
I would say
[1:04:24] » Oldenburg. There was that
>> Yeah, there was a couple even though
[1:04:27] they're not in Marvin, I mean, from
Oldenburg.
[1:04:30] So, uh you know, it was one of these
things like I would say
[1:04:35] there wasn't anybody maybe from like
Weddington Chase or any kind of you
[1:04:38] know, that side, but I still think we
had a very good representation of of a
[1:04:42] lot of the subdivisions here around
specifically around like the Marvin Loop
[1:04:45] and and the tying into there. So, um no,
I I was I was happy to see that we had a
[1:04:51] really good turnout in that in that
essence there.
[1:04:54] » Okay. And then just another question
because you know, we Christina and I
[1:04:57] have seen the new maps. As you said,
we're trying to was did you get a sense
[1:05:00] the folks could interpret them well? I
mean, because this is kind of a kind of
[1:05:02] a litmus test of like if you look at it,
does that make sense? What was the I I
[1:05:05] know I know you're capturing feedback,
but just as a whole, was this okay?
[1:05:08] » It's
You know, and And something that we've
[1:05:10] discussed with Kimley-Horn is trying to,
you know,
[1:05:13] it's why I say it's conceptual, right?
You know, it's one of these things that
[1:05:17] you hear
that from some residents they don't want
[1:05:20] certain connections and and other stuff
and and and I get it, you know, that's
[1:05:24] opinion that's incorporated into the
plan.
[1:05:27] But the the biggest thing is especially
from a Greenway map is having it all
[1:05:32] connected. That's kind of the goal of
having a Greenway plan in your in and
[1:05:37] you want it all connected. Um and so
like I know there's one uh
[1:05:42] for example, there's one on the
conceptual plan that goes through
[1:05:45] Windham Hall Bridal Path through
Canterfield that ties into Tollamore.
[1:05:50] Is that practical? Probably not. One
because lack of easement, but two
[1:05:55] there's really not any great
opportunities as specifically through
[1:05:58] Bridal Path and um
uh Windham Hall. And so that's where
[1:06:02] like, you know, my conversation with
Kimley Horn is looking at adding a
[1:06:06] uh just routing path along Rea Road to
even though that's outside of Marvin
[1:06:11] Marvin's limits, it's still where we
work with the Marvin Commons project.
[1:06:14] There's certain thing like it's somewhat
already disconnected with how Marvin's
[1:06:17] laid out.
But there is opportunity and I've had
[1:06:19] conversations with the county on this
cuz there's some existing sidewalk
[1:06:23] outside of Hunter Oaks. Like there's a
way to potentially still get
[1:06:26] connectivity from Rea Road all the way
to Village Hall for example. And so kind
[1:06:32] of identifying those alternatives is
something we we heard some feedback on.
[1:06:36] But you know, ultimately the biggest
thing like yeah, this is a plan. It's
[1:06:41] somewhat of a wish list with somewhat
also showing, you know, these
[1:06:44] expectations. These expectations were
initially identified in our 2008 plan.
[1:06:49] And that's how we got certain
trails or green or easements, you know,
[1:06:54] for example, the Preserve like cuz it
aligned with that 2008 plan which was
[1:06:59] the adopted plan at the time. And so
um
[1:07:02] you know, it I think I do think the way
we've laid it out looks better now
[1:07:07] in regards to prioritization. Uh because
the biggest thing is like even though
[1:07:12] we're showing it as a, you know, 10-year
kind of horizon of of what we want to
[1:07:16] achieve, there's other factors that are
obviously going to come up that are
[1:07:19] still funding up, you know, funding
limitations, there's still potential
[1:07:22] easement acquisition that would be
needed, but that at least gives staff
[1:07:27] PR&G and council kind of an outline of
like, okay, if we're looking to do this
[1:07:30] trail in a 5-year plan, we know that,
you know, easements are required or
[1:07:34] needed from a CIP standpoint and from a
staffing standpoint, that's stuff that
[1:07:37] we can start working on and having those
conversations if that's still the vision
[1:07:41] that we're trying to achieve.
[1:07:46] » I
appreciate that, Hunter, and thank you
[1:07:47] for that.
That's going to be the last open house,
[1:07:50] is that correct? To the last
>> Correct. And and so the next steps is so
[1:07:54] once again, you got your your comp plan
and your Greenway master plan, they're
[1:07:57] two separate projects. They go hand in
hand, but they're still two separate
[1:08:01] projects cuz
the Greenway master plan is an update to
[1:08:04] what's already, you know, an update to
the 2020 plan which was an update to the
[1:08:07] 2008 plan.
Um and building off of that. And so the
[1:08:11] next steps for that is, I guess I said
tentatively, would be coming to PR&G for
[1:08:15] review and recommendation in September.
It could be October, um
[1:08:19] but uh I would say October at the
latest, but you guys will then review,
[1:08:22] provide a recommendation, and then it
will go to council for adoption.
[1:08:27] The reason why it might be a month
behind is cuz I am trying to,
[1:08:31] in a way, uh in this week conversation
with Kimley-Horn because these are two
[1:08:34] separate plans. Um
not trying to have them adopted at the
[1:08:39] same time to confuse people if that
makes sense.
[1:08:41] Um I think uh so
if
[1:08:45] Kimley-Horn gets me a draft for the comp
plan overall like this week for me to
[1:08:50] review, then if potentially that will be
on planning board in August and then
[1:08:53] council in September.
Uh but at the same time, if they don't,
[1:08:57] then that might be September and then
October and then and then and map master
[1:09:01] plan might be October and and November.
Um, like I said, I'll get a better idea
[1:09:05] after our bi-weekly call here later
today and I'll go from there. But, um
[1:09:10] but yeah, I think I think ultimately
it's going to be a good product that's
[1:09:13] going to definitely going to be a a
great resource and tool for the village
[1:09:15] on both ends.
[1:09:19] » All right, thank you. And thank you
folks. I know we have folks in PRNG come
[1:09:22] out and support this, too. So, I'm glad
to hear that you had good representation
[1:09:25] across the board.
>> Yeah, no, I appreciate, um, you know,
[1:09:28] everybody that that attended and like I
said
[1:09:30] keep on coming out and participating cuz
that's we we want to hear everybody's
[1:09:34] opinions so we can incorporate it in as
we do these projects.
[1:09:37] » Okay, thank you.
Next item up is the discussion of the
[1:09:41] pension the bench the pen the bench and
pergola really bench and pergola
[1:09:46] installation at Houston Ross Park.
>> Before you guys start, I know Matt had
[1:09:50] an update he wanted to give today. Do
you want to go ahead and do that, Matt?
[1:09:52] » Sure. Thank you.
>> Um,
[1:09:54] public works update
parks and maintenance, nothing new.
[1:09:59] Routine maintenance been performed.
Uh, same with the greenways. Uh, the
[1:10:05] completed project is a new sign for
Village Hall and Houston Ross Park out
[1:10:09] here.
Uh
[1:10:11] big one I want to share is multiple
repairs to the community garden fence at
[1:10:14] Marvin E. Odum Park and I do recommend
us replacing that fence in the fall and
[1:10:20] the winter, 800 bucks
for material.
[1:10:24] Uh
>> The rabbits have figured it out now.
[1:10:26] » Yes, ma'am. And the new one that I
quoted is the half-inch square.
[1:10:30] » Okay.
>> So
[1:10:31] uh
current projects pertaining to the
[1:10:35] inside installation for the uh
where it got damaged out here.
[1:10:39] Also, the county water being hooked up
for irrigation cuz the well is uh
[1:10:45] down, not being repaired.
Uh
[1:10:48] upcoming projects, we got the mulch
installation, we got uh the pergola
[1:10:52] building installation
drainage repair here at Village Hall
[1:10:56] from where it was damaged for the
equipment out here.
[1:10:59] Uh and then also of course the
irrigation.
[1:11:03] Uh this is my big one with everything,
safety. Uh we do got a piece of busted
[1:11:07] concrete at Marvin D Efird Park at the
restrooms. It's getting a little worse.
[1:11:12] Uh gentleman's Johnny Mack's going to
meet me this afternoon, give me a quote
[1:11:15] for that so I can bring that back.
Uh
[1:11:19] public works also on safety. When you
pull in the park
[1:11:22] uh where the trail comes out of the
butterfly garden, that was very thick.
[1:11:27] We opened that up cuz we couldn't see
people walking into the road out of the
[1:11:31] park out of the trail there. So now you
see it's more open. You can see people
[1:11:35] coming out of it.
Uh
[1:11:38] Public works continue to monitor
sidewalks, trails, playground areas,
[1:11:41] trees, and other public facilities for
potential hazards. The 2026 annual
[1:11:45] playground state inspection was
performed and good for another year.
[1:11:51] Uh
>> I didn't know that was a thing.
[1:11:54] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Okay.
[1:11:55] » Makes sense.
Yes, ma'am.
[1:11:58] And then the public works, we've
completed 128 work orders since January
[1:12:03] 1st of 2026. This does not include our
routine maintenance that we do on a
[1:12:07] daily basis. This is just extra stuff
such as a door broke, a fence broke,
[1:12:12] stuff like that, you know. We've
completed 128.
[1:12:15] Uh public works continue to routine uh
routine maintenance inspection and
[1:12:19] repair repairs while prioritizing safety
and maintaining the village's park,
[1:12:24] recreational facilities, and greenway
systems.
[1:12:27] » And when he says safety, he means they
they take care of the roundabouts and
[1:12:30] the edges of the roads. And so that
means they're out there mowing and weed
[1:12:34] eating while
>> Yeah.
[1:12:36] » you know.
Yeah, it's it's a little scary.
[1:12:39] » Yes, I incorporated for us this year to
start. If you see us out there now when
[1:12:43] we're doing the median, I'm behind the
mower with the truck slowing traffic up
[1:12:48] coming behind us. And then I go to the
roundabout, turn around, do the same
[1:12:51] thing, just a safety precaution.
>> me on some of mine. Yeah, same thing.
[1:12:56] » That's good.
>> Yeah. Yeah, thank you, Beth.
[1:12:57] » Just a quick note, I know we we we still
got enough time. Once we get to reports
[1:13:02] and updates, I'd like to do trails and
greenways first cuz Hunter's got a 10:30
[1:13:05] call to get to, so let's go ahead and uh
do the do the bench and pergola
[1:13:08] discussion and then jump to trails and
greenways report.
[1:13:11] » Okay.
So, now we're doing bench and pergola.
[1:13:13] » All right. And I think I guess maybe
maybe part of Matt's report, too, is
[1:13:15] that as I understand, the park has now
been turned over to public works. Is
[1:13:18] that right? From
>> Oh, yes. I'm sorry. We're not
[1:13:20] » No, that's kind of I know you were for
>> We are maintaining that now.
[1:13:23] » You are maintaining that, too, so okay.
>> Yeah, we are maintaining that now.
[1:13:26] » Yeah.
Well, and I guess the bench and pergola
[1:13:29] is just kind of waiting cuz they got the
the pond guy here
[1:13:33] that's, you know, kind of doing his
thing. And as you can see, there's a lot
[1:13:37] going on with that. I
I looked really cool when I saw the
[1:13:41] cisterns, I guess. They were all stacked
up and getting ready to go, so I I think
[1:13:46] that'll be a
very useful feature, you know, to help
[1:13:49] us with the water and and everything.
Did Did I hear you mention, Matt, that
[1:13:53] the that the old well
has been kind of declared dead at this
[1:13:58] point?
>> Yes, sir. It was hit by lightning.
[1:14:01] » Uh so so is the well dead? Not No, no,
no, no. Is it the water or is it just
[1:14:05] the pump?
>> Yeah, the the well is uh
[1:14:08] has minimized gallons for in the past
five three years, I think it was. It's
[1:14:13] went down five gallons per minute it's
producing. That's cuz other wells in the
[1:14:16] area being drilled in that same vein.
However, we was on the irrigation wasn't
[1:14:22] coming on, so we checked it. We was only
getting five volts at the board. That's
[1:14:26] a 240 system. So, got to looking at it,
it's been hit by lightning and fried. It
[1:14:31] was close to three grand to repair.
And so, uh they just decided to go ahead
[1:14:36] and not repair that while we're doing
the county water.
[1:14:40] » Got you.
>> Okay.
[1:14:42] Okay.
All righty. Thank you.
[1:14:46] Christina, you want to Well, I guess we
were talking my maybe group. We were
[1:14:49] saying that so the pergola is going to
be
[1:14:51] um it was purchased and it's going to be
set up through your
[1:14:54] » Oh, it's it's sitting at the shed,
right?
[1:14:56] » Okay.
>> not built.
[1:14:57] » Right.
>> We've got it constructed. We're just
[1:14:59] waiting
for it to be cleared to put up over
[1:15:02] here.
>> And then maybe you and I can exchange
[1:15:04] emails, but the the location has been
defined, right? Do you remember?
[1:15:06] » So Well, here's a good question though.
The location, does that change relative
[1:15:11] to the the drain that That's the drain
that got kind of crushed and you're
[1:15:16] going to have to redo?
>> The pergola is 16 ft long, 12 ft wide,
[1:15:20] and between where the trail entrance
comes up to the new sidewalk and the
[1:15:25] not the drain, but the edge of the
broken dirt from the drain is like 17
[1:15:30] ft. So, it'll fit right in there.
>> So, does that make do
[1:15:34] » Uh probably easier to see it, but yes,
you can Okay.
[1:15:36] » out and look, but but it's where we said
we were going to put it.
[1:15:39] » Yeah. And so, the long side is up
against the sidewalk.
[1:15:43] » Parallel with the sidewalk. It's long.
>> up against Yeah, parallel to the
[1:15:46] » Okay. And then the benches and I think
maybe that's maybe it's Jill's report.
[1:15:49] You You They're going to be ordered and
placed.
[1:15:51] » I think she's ordered them.
>> They've ordered, yes.
[1:15:53] » Yeah, so I ordered three benches. Two
are going under the pergola. I ordered a
[1:15:58] third TBD. I know you guys wanted one
kind of near or around the pond. Um so,
[1:16:05] I did order a third and then um
I'll also be ordering
[1:16:11] uh
I'm going to get with Matt on this, but
[1:16:13] I'll also be ordering some trash bins
that match those
[1:16:17] that like the nice ones. Um but want to
know how many Matt thinks we need and
[1:16:22] confirm that he's good with the ones I
choose first, but yes, I There are dog
[1:16:26] waste stations planned. Again, I got to
get with Matt on that because his guys
[1:16:31] can take care of that and that's what
they do at the other park as well, but
[1:16:34] as far as where and how many, I'll defer
to Matt for that decision cuz
[1:16:39] that really
I I rely on his expertise.
[1:16:43] No, yeah. We don't need too many.
[1:16:53] I got three benches.
[1:17:02] Yeah, and that's okay.
[1:17:08] The benches will be in They'll be
They'll be screwed into the ground.
[1:17:18] There There are like mounting
installation kits that I'll get from
[1:17:21] Matt's team that really long screws that
go deep into the ground.
[1:17:26] All right. So
And we're not going to change our minds.
[1:17:31] » [laughter]
>> Okay. So I think that's it for that,
[1:17:34] right? Uh Christina and I just have to
change some emails. All right. Next up
[1:17:38] Did you want to change order?
Okay, we're going to move up the Trails
[1:17:41] and Greenways report from Hunter.
>> Okay. Um so last night council approved
[1:17:45] the quote for the construction the for
the remaining portion of the Heritage at
[1:17:49] Marvin Trail.
Um and so that that quote was for a 5-ft
[1:17:54] wide natural surface trail.
Um it came in under our
[1:17:59] amount that we received for the fee in
lieu.
[1:18:02] Same vendor that has pretty much that we
always have worked with Blue Ridge Trail
[1:18:05] Works. So next steps on that is that I
actually texted Scott this morning to
[1:18:10] let him know that that was approved and
we'll get the contract executed as soon
[1:18:14] as our interim manager gets back from
vacation next week.
[1:18:17] Um I will be
basically he'll go out and flag the
[1:18:20] route. Um
and as previously mentioned Jones Homes
[1:18:24] has already agreed that, you know,
basically
[1:18:27] they plotted the easement kind of
in the common open space, but that
[1:18:32] you know, completely open for us to go
out and flag what we find what we think
[1:18:36] is the best route to limit any type of
vegetation removal Um but also just you
[1:18:41] know with the existing topography and
everything out there and any areas that
[1:18:44] we will need to relocate they've already
agreed to
[1:18:47] to basically work with the village to
get those properly easement that updated
[1:18:52] easement agreement executed so we'll go
out and flag it
[1:18:57] then we're I think I've already talked
with Christina Cole kind of walk it to
[1:18:59] identify any areas regarding potential
screening needed I've also as they as
[1:19:05] the developers closing out on the
development and to have their bond
[1:19:09] release and roads accepted we did a walk
through last week for the to get their
[1:19:14] punchlist items one of those is also
having some additional screening planted
[1:19:18] at the back of those lots that's in the
common open space where they have the
[1:19:21] room and so so the goal of that is one
putting putting some of that on the
[1:19:26] developer that will benefit the homes
along that area to be screened with some
[1:19:30] evergreen screening they've done this if
if you go into the heritage and you pull
[1:19:34] in and you look left and right you see
some screening kind of already installed
[1:19:38] essentially on the left side they'll
extend that all the way down
[1:19:41] and so uh
that will hopefully help address with
[1:19:45] any type of concerns with some of those
new residents along that trail easement
[1:19:49] and then I said where we can identify
some opportunities to do some some
[1:19:53] plantings and it it may be with some of
the plants that we have or we may have
[1:19:57] to see you know do some type of
partnership and work with with the
[1:20:01] developer and
and other things of trying to you know
[1:20:04] identify some plants that are going to
grow in shade
[1:20:07] because you know luckily along the back
end of those lots where the developer is
[1:20:13] going to be plant should be
in the sun correct
[1:20:17] so and like I said over time that
evergreen screening will will grow and
[1:20:20] and grow in and create the visual that
they're trying to achieve but then where
[1:20:24] we can also find opportunities
especially to kind of screen from maybe
[1:20:28] the metal arc road side Um, think that's
where we can kind of identify some of
[1:20:32] those areas, too.
>> Did you specify what size those
[1:20:34] screening trees need to be installed
size?
[1:20:38] » I think our ordinance says they have to
be a minimum
[1:20:41] Don't quote me on this. I'll confirm.
Uh, it's a minimum either 12 or 15 ft or
[1:20:47] between 10 and 15 ft high and I think 4
in in diameter.
[1:20:51] » When they're installed?
>> Yes.
[1:20:52] » Wow. Okay.
>> It's 3 or 4 in in diameter and 10 to 15
[1:20:55] ft in height.
>> That's that's a big tree.
[1:20:57] » Yeah.
>> Hopefully they'll wait till fall.
[1:21:00] » That and I've I've requested that. Um,
cuz they did already have a few few
[1:21:03] trees in their common
areas that um,
[1:21:07] didn't make the the heat. Um, and so
they they have those warranty. Those
[1:21:11] will be replaced as well as part of
their process.
[1:21:13] » There's a lot of trees being replaced
this time.
[1:21:15] Okay.
>> So, that's good to
[1:21:16] » And then just just to kind of recap for
folks who may not heard in past the
[1:21:20] whole distance of the Heritage Trail.
And what's the the distance of the new
[1:21:23] the new part? Just the whole overall
>> 1,300 to 1,500 linear ft.
[1:21:28] » Okay. Um, that's that's the entirety of
the Heritage Trail or the new part?
[1:21:32] » just the new part.
>> part is the
[1:21:33] » Yeah, I would have to get the total.
Like I said, the
[1:21:35] » through the woods.
>> Yeah. The um, the asphalt portion's
[1:21:39] already in and um,
and they have benches installed along
[1:21:43] that as well. That was part of their
original agreement. There's two more
[1:21:45] that they have to
install, but they do have benches along
[1:21:48] that.
Um, I do recall I think what one of the
[1:21:51] initial discussions here was potentially
some low voltage lighting uh, maybe
[1:21:54] along the paved portion, but I don't I I
know if I recall 3 years ago when that
[1:21:59] original committee you guys I know there
was also some environmental concern with
[1:22:02] and so there's no lighting proposed
along the Meadowlark side. Um, there's
[1:22:07] no lighting currently installed along
the Newtown Road side, but that is
[1:22:10] something that you know, we can look at
it if that's uh, something the village
[1:22:13] wants to do in the future, but
um,
[1:22:16] but no, it'll like I said, that the
asphalt paved portion looks good. Um, it
[1:22:20] gets utilized. This will kind of
complete an internal loop and then, you
[1:22:24] know, long term the goal would be if we
can get the loop extended,
[1:22:28] um, there or even potentially, uh,
you know, opportunities to find
[1:22:32] additional connectivity for those
residents to be connected to, you know,
[1:22:35] village hall, the park, and, uh, through
some existing trails and some some
[1:22:38] smaller projects there. But, uh,
but it's, you know, one step in the
[1:22:41] process and at least get them their
amenity and then, you know, some in the
[1:22:45] future that we'll be looking at is if if
if at all,
[1:22:48] um, if there's any type of amenities
that the village wants to do on that 2
[1:22:51] and 1/4 acre, uh, that we that they
dedicated for a park. I don't
[1:22:55] we can leave it wooded and that's a
that's a conversation for a different
[1:22:58] time. Um, like so right now we don't
have any plans.
[1:23:01] Uh, and and whatever would go there I
think would be very low impact or low I
[1:23:05] mean cuz you don't have parking. It
would have to be something that's like a
[1:23:07] walkable kind of passive type, uh,
amenities. But, um,
[1:23:11] but yeah, we're we're moving forward and
I would I would think,
[1:23:15] uh, depending on our trail builder's
schedule that they would, uh, he would
[1:23:17] begin construction probably in October,
November.
[1:23:20] Um, and that will also provide another
opportunity to identify any gaps for
[1:23:23] screening that could be, uh,
that we can do some plantings for.
[1:23:27] » And you'll let me know for a
walk-through.
[1:23:29] » Yes.
>> Of when they first look like they're
[1:23:31] done. Perfect. Thank you.
All right. Any questions?
[1:23:35] » Thank you.
>> Thank you, Andrew.
[1:23:37] » Thanks, Andrew.
>> So,
[1:23:39] go back to Jill for the, uh, event
planning report.
[1:23:43] Tonight.
>> Hi. National Night Out tonight. Rain or
[1:23:47] shine, we're we're going for it. That's
what
[1:23:52] that's what, um, the deputies wanted to
do. And so, it's just too hard to
[1:23:58] reschedule fire, EMS, deputies, and all
the things. We did it last year.
[1:24:03] This year they've decided we're going to
pray to the rain gods to stay away. A
[1:24:07] little bit of rain's okay. It's not
going to hurt anyone. We've put on
[1:24:10] social, bring your umbrellas and your
slickers and come on out and have some
[1:24:13] fun with us. Um, I'm more worried about
lightning and things like that, but
[1:24:18] we'll have to take shelter in the barn
if that's happening and hopefully it
[1:24:21] doesn't.
>> It will be memorable.
[1:24:23] » I mean, it it sure will. So, um
Yeah, no, we're really excited. Um going
[1:24:30] to be spending a lot of time today
running around getting food and things
[1:24:33] for it. I can't really buy that stuff in
advance, but um the public works guys
[1:24:38] are going to head to Fire Thorn today
and pick up the grill that they're
[1:24:41] letting us borrow.
Um and really, honestly guys, I'm just
[1:24:44] going to be prepared on the fly to kind
of make some decisions about shifting
[1:24:49] things around, relying on Matt and his
expertise and his team. But, um
[1:24:55] like we might relocate the grill to the
back side of the barn, you know, under
[1:24:59] the cover if if it's raining on
on you guys, and might even
[1:25:04] um
have to Normally, people just kind of
[1:25:07] get their food and they sit around the
park or they use the picnic tables. If
[1:25:10] it's raining, we may have to set some
tables up inside.
[1:25:13] So, we're just going to play it by ear
and watch the weather and be um
[1:25:19] What's the word? Flexible.
And
[1:25:22] positive at the same time.
And positive. Yeah, we'll make it work.
[1:25:27] I mean, it is what it is. It's going to
be fine.
[1:25:29] Um
So, yeah, it The event starts at 5:00.
[1:25:32] We've We're asking all vendors um and
everybody to be ready to go by 4:30 just
[1:25:36] in case we have some folks starting uh
arriving early. I'm trying to overbuy
[1:25:41] this year cuz I'd rather have too much
than have to run to Publix in the middle
[1:25:45] of it all, which we've had to do in
previous years.
[1:25:49] » We did it three times last year.
>> I know.
[1:25:52] » So, we don't danger that without this
year is since it's raining, we might not
[1:25:55] have a lot of turnout.
>> I know. So, that's that's the conundrum.
[1:25:58] But, um
we're going to overbuy, you know, we can
[1:26:02] always return unopened packages of hot
dogs or buns that we don't need. So, I'd
[1:26:06] rather buy too much and have to return
some stuff or
[1:26:10] than than not have enough. So, that's
kind of my my goal for today. Um and
[1:26:14] then after that, the next the next
things we have coming up is
[1:26:18] » Sorry, go ahead. Two things on tonight's
event. So, we do have the Young Men's
[1:26:21] Service League.
Will they be the primary
[1:26:23] » Yeah, we have 10 volunteers coming from
them between them and the moms. So,
[1:26:28] they're going to be serving residents
again.
[1:26:30] » 10 of them?
>> 10 total, yep.
[1:26:32] » That'll be good because sometimes
they've had almost more than
[1:26:34] » Oh, yeah. There'll be like three guys
standing. Do you have
[1:26:36] » Right. There's nothing wrong with too
many volunteers, but that probably
[1:26:39] sounds like a better balance than
>> Yeah, we talked about that. If if we
[1:26:42] have too many, there are some of them
might go over and just keep an eye on
[1:26:45] the bounce house and make sure the kids
aren't getting a little too wild and
[1:26:48] crazy. So, we'll we'll put them to work.
>> Okay.
[1:26:50] » And some of them are also what like if
public works has trash they want them to
[1:26:54] go around and pick up or anything. I
mean, they're they're happy to do
[1:26:57] whatever they can. So, they don't all
necessarily have to be standing at that
[1:27:00] table.
>> And then I know of course
[1:27:03] PRNG's planning to be there, too. We had
talked a bit about having a table set up
[1:27:06] around
>> Yeah, we have a table for PRNG, we have
[1:27:08] a table for Union County Board of
Elections, CRTPO will be there, Union
[1:27:12] County GOP will be there. Um
Habitat Builders will have a table, the
[1:27:18] sheriff's deputies will have multiple
tables.
[1:27:20] » Okay.
>> So, lots of We'll have a face painter,
[1:27:23] bounce house, DJ, all the typical stuff.
>> Are the tables in the barn or outside?
[1:27:27] » In.
Mhm, in the barn.
[1:27:30] » That changes my
>> Yeah, last year the deputies had their
[1:27:33] swag table outside, but that's cuz the
weather was nice. That's probably going
[1:27:37] to be inside this year. So.
>> That's cool. And are we going to post on
[1:27:42] social media that lots of this is
inside?
[1:27:45] » Yeah, it already happened. So.
Yeah.
[1:27:48] » Because that would make me come out more
likely if I thought there was stuff
[1:27:52] going on in the barn.
>> Yeah. Any other questions for me about
[1:27:56] tonight?
>> What time do you need us there?
[1:27:59] » I would say 4:30-ish.
>> Okay, I'll probably be there before that
[1:28:01] to set up
Habitat Builders table and then I'll be
[1:28:04] working.
>> Okay, perfect.
[1:28:06] Um and then next things after that is
just going to be um
[1:28:11] we have a car show, but again, those are
those are like self-sufficient. They
[1:28:16] don't really require much from me. I
know Matt's team is involved. Then we
[1:28:20] have the ribbon cutting the next
weekend. What's that? The last car show
[1:28:24] was in
>> again?
[1:28:24] » The car show is the 17th of September.
It's actually a British car show this
[1:28:29] time, so it's different than what we've
had in the past.
[1:28:32] » 19th
>> Um
[1:28:33] » September 19th.
Saturday.
[1:28:36] » That's the night Are you sure?
Yeah, 19th. Thank you. And then one week
[1:28:41] » month?
>> September.
[1:28:43] September 19th.
>> September 19th, yeah.
[1:28:46] » Yeah, that's a Saturday.
Yeah, we already had the car show for
[1:28:49] for the most recent one was last month.
It was in July. Um so the next one is
[1:28:53] this British car show, which is in
September on the 19th, and then 1 week
[1:28:57] later is um our ribbon cutting here uh
for Houston Ross Park.
[1:29:03] And um then we go straight into
We're supposed to technically have
[1:29:08] another car show in October potentially,
and then
[1:29:11] it's
trick-or-treat and Arbor Day.
[1:29:15] So, busy.
>> Trick-or-treat before the Arbor Day or
[1:29:17] no? Cuz
>> That's the night before.
[1:29:19] » Okay.
>> Yeah, so it happens on Friday night, and
[1:29:22] then Arbor Day is the next day.
So, um I know Deb we've already
[1:29:26] discussed starting to work on vendors
for trick-or-treat.
[1:29:31] And then um I'm going to put it on the
next agenda for us to have a
[1:29:34] conversation about the tree lighting.
There has been talk about making it like
[1:29:37] a Christmas vendor market.
Um we just I think we need to put some
[1:29:42] conversations and some thought around
that. I know um Mayor Pro Tem had
[1:29:46] offered to
spearhead that herself if she had to
[1:29:51] because I don't necessarily have the
capacity, and I don't know if we'll have
[1:29:54] someone in place.
I'm really going to get with Lehman when
[1:29:58] he gets back from vacation that I can't
I I like I need him to prioritize
[1:30:02] getting a job description together for
this role and getting it posted and
[1:30:07] potentially getting someone hired
because
[1:30:12] I honestly don't see the point if I'm if
by the time we hire this person, I will
[1:30:16] have done 90% of the work for all of our
events for this calendar year. It
[1:30:20] doesn't It's almost like what's the
point? What are they going to do until
[1:30:24] spring, you know?
So,
[1:30:25] » [laughter]
>> I want to get them in here sooner rather
[1:30:27] than later. Um but
yeah, so that's going to be a priority
[1:30:31] of mine. But I I'm I'm going to put it
on our agenda cuz I do think we need to
[1:30:34] discuss some things. Like we're not
going to be able to put all the vendors
[1:30:37] in the barn, or maybe we do and we move
the tree and the actual event outside
[1:30:44] and the vendors are in the barn, or are
the vendors outside and we continue to
[1:30:47] do what we do in the barn, but then
it could be a cold night for those
[1:30:51] vendors. So, it would really feel like a
Christmas market, but it's going to be
[1:30:54] chilly and we need to prepare for that
sometimes.
[1:30:56] » all the weathers.
>> All the weathers. Hot, we've had
[1:31:00] freezing. So, you just don't know what
you're going to get.
[1:31:03] » And and just as an update, you know,
normally it's the village manager that
[1:31:07] would be hiring for that that role and
so forth. We have an interim manager,
[1:31:12] but um we we have made some pretty good
progress in terms of initial interviews
[1:31:18] occurring, you know, things like that.
>> For for for the actual manager's role.
[1:31:23] So, we're we're getting ready to move
forward with some next steps on that and
[1:31:28] um
you know,
[1:31:30] hopefully once we get that in the place
and then some of the other dominoes
[1:31:34] also, you know, can can help to fall
after that.
[1:31:37] » Yeah, but we should be able to use the
interim to just at least get the job
[1:31:41] description and get it posted and start
getting cuz we have to post it for a
[1:31:44] certain period of time and open it up
for an application window. So, hopefully
[1:31:48] that part can happen and then um yeah,
ideally the new village manager would be
[1:31:53] the one to hire that person. So, that's
the goal. Any questions for me about
[1:31:58] anything?
Any questions about the ribbon cutting
[1:32:01] or anything?
>> Well, you've done a tremendous amount
[1:32:03] and obviously PR and G is here to help
support the village too. So I mean we
[1:32:06] know not just showing up for these
events, but you talk about these
[1:32:09] planning things. If there's something
real specific and we amongst ourselves
[1:32:12] can talk about who may want to step in
and maybe help with some more of the
[1:32:15] planning or even kind of evaluating the
logistics for the Christmas market. So
[1:32:18] don't feel like you're alone. So most
certainly if it helps delegate, you
[1:32:22] know, we've got folks here who can at
least
[1:32:24] » Thank you. I know Deb's already offered
to help with vendors for the
[1:32:28] trick-or-treat and the good news is
we've done this for a few years, so we
[1:32:31] have a a good lead list of the past
attendees.
[1:32:34] Um so we'll reach out to them first and
invite them to come back and then
[1:32:38] um it's just a matter of promoting it
and um
[1:32:42] you know, I don't
in
[1:32:45] we probably should set a goal for how
many vendors we want at trick-or-treat
[1:32:50] and it's it's nice for us to have a
number, but then you know, really we
[1:32:54] should be bringing public works in into
that discussion because they're the ones
[1:32:59] that have to figure out where to space
them all on the the lawn and last year
[1:33:03] we had a pretty good number that we were
able to just go all the way around the
[1:33:07] sort of the tree line and the outer
edge. Um Matt was sort of saying if if
[1:33:12] we were to try to increase, we would
possibly have to like snake vendors like
[1:33:16] this.
So we had some in the middle of the lawn
[1:33:19] as well, but make it like a little
right? That's what you said. So it's
[1:33:23] just something to think about if we want
to go big and we want to get more,
[1:33:27] um then we can certainly do that. We
just have to sort of think about that
[1:33:31] and make sure that we get with public
works to to make it work properly.
[1:33:35] » Okay. But yeah, just an example of that
or even like you know, even some of the
[1:33:38] legwork too. I know today you're saying
you're running around. I mean I get
[1:33:40] myself to volunteer others, you know, as
you think about that or as Halloween
[1:33:43] comes up because you are wearing
multiple hats and we do have some
[1:33:46] capacity in this group too. I mean we
many folks already put time in, but just
[1:33:50] to know that feel free to reach out and
ask. I mean folks
[1:33:52] » I will. Thank you. Luckily the public
works staff is awesome and I like um
[1:33:59] it's obviously Tyler's not here. Last
year he was big enough to go and grab,
[1:34:04] you know,
10 cases of water and ice and all the
[1:34:08] things. So, public works will be helping
with that today, thank god, because
[1:34:12] that's a lot for me. I can go get the
hot dogs and the buns and the ice and
[1:34:15] the cookies and the chips, but the water
is like a lot. So, um
[1:34:19] and they're going to drag out the big
coolers and fill them with ice and and
[1:34:22] help out with that. So, um but no, thank
you for the offer. I appreciate that. Um
[1:34:28] and we'll definitely take you up on that
for for trick-or-treat or any other
[1:34:32] event that we have.
>> And you mentioned Houston Ross that date
[1:34:34] just to confirm because last week we
were last month we were talking about
[1:34:37] potentially looking at dates just to
make sure everyone's aware we are
[1:34:39] sticking with the the 26th, yes, as as
the opening. Okay. We've been cutting
[1:34:45] for Houston Ross Park.
>> 9:26
[1:34:47] » 9:26, that Saturday afternoon. Again,
can you just reiterate the times so we
[1:34:51] have that?
>> So, it's 1:00 to 3:00. Um we'll have
[1:34:54] vendors here and set up by 12:30. DJ
with the microphone and
[1:35:00] um we have a coffee cart person coming
and a slushy person coming and there'll
[1:35:05] be some food charcuterie vendors.
There'll be some things. Um
[1:35:09] » By vendors we're meaning we're providing
that it's not the purchase that's to be
[1:35:12] had, correct?
>> Um the yes, we are
[1:35:19] It's a good question. I don't really
have a budget for this event, but I did
[1:35:25] I did
Obviously, I was purchasing all of the
[1:35:28] food and all of that and the slushies.
I'm pretty sure I'm paying for the
[1:35:31] coffee, too. Yeah, I think I'm paying
for everything. Yeah.
[1:35:34] We'll pay for everything.
I'm not expecting a huge turnout, so
[1:35:38] it's we can absorb it.
>> Okay, so
[1:35:43] » Listen, I picked I picked a really great
fall menu for that coffee cart, too.
[1:35:48] It's
I'll show you what it is. I'll send it
[1:35:51] to you.
>> Okay. And then when does three and then
[1:35:52] we'll have maybe next week next month
we'll Oh, no. We'll have one more
[1:35:55] meeting. Is there like a time frame too?
So, I assume at X time, you know, is
[1:35:59] Mayor Barbara speaking and who are the
presenters of this too? Do we have a
[1:36:03] » Yeah, I had a I had a potential
um program outlined that I thought I
[1:36:08] already shared with you guys. Maybe I
didn't, but I thought I did. But yeah, I
[1:36:12] mean um that was sort of back when we
weren't 100% sure who was running point
[1:36:17] on the event. Um so, maybe I'll be
prepared to show that uh share that with
[1:36:21] you guys at your September 1st or
whatever date that is that meeting. Um
[1:36:26] but yeah, I mean pretty much it's just
opening remarks and
[1:36:30] the biggest thing is um
I don't have direct access to the
[1:36:34] descendants, so I don't know what I
don't know. I don't know if they want
[1:36:38] microphone time. I don't know if they
have a speech prepared, so
[1:36:41] » So, I don't know we need to work with
Angel because she's interfacing with
[1:36:43] them as well as the historical society.
>> But I've I've built in time for that. I
[1:36:47] want to make sure that if any of them
have comments or they have prepared
[1:36:50] statements that they can speak as well.
So, and if in the absence of that
[1:36:54] there's an opportunity for Angel or
someone on council to get up and say
[1:36:58] something. And then um the actual
cutting and and then just music and
[1:37:03] refreshments after that. So,
>> Just letting you guys know we're we're
[1:37:07] we're a little bit over time.
>> Okay. Thank you. I just but I I'm glad
[1:37:10] because you spoke I thought you were
going to jump in and say the signs are
[1:37:12] ready. Do we have a timeline on updates
for those
[1:37:15] posts?
Okay. But they will I mean I obviously
[1:37:18] between now and the 26th they'll be in
place before
[1:37:21] » That's the goal is to
to have them all installed by the ribbon
[1:37:25] cutting.
>> Okay.
[1:37:27] All right.
Anything else? Thank you Austin for the
[1:37:29] reminder.
All right, we'll see you tonight. We'll
[1:37:33] be
this afternoon.
[1:37:36] Tonight oh, I was going to come around
10:00 when we're cleaning up. I'm just
[1:37:39] kidding.
>> Yeah, probably that would be very happy.
[1:37:41] » All right, let's last up is the village
cannot last up but um the village
[1:37:45] council report, John.
>> All right. Well, uh
[1:37:48] couple of things, some some that we've
already talked touched on um
[1:37:52] as um Hunter reported on the Heritage at
Marvin Trail, part of our consent agenda
[1:37:58] was uh the approval of Blue Ridge Trail
Works to go ahead and um you know, we
[1:38:04] got that uh RFP submitted and approved
now, so they're ready to move forward
[1:38:10] with that. Um the other uh item that um
we discussed in depth is the Sport Court
[1:38:16] grant and uh you know, essentially Jill
did a great job interfacing with the
[1:38:23] Fitness Foundation and we did receive
this $35,000 grant. The discussion last
[1:38:29] night was whether about accepting it. Um
in the end um that vote failed three to
[1:38:35] two.
Um and and it wasn't so much that it
[1:38:38] failed because nobody thinks it's a good
idea. Um just the way that kind of the
[1:38:43] calendar has rolled out um and and after
our discussion last month, council last
[1:38:49] night was kind of faced with you know,
we've got 60 days, you know, to to
[1:38:55] essentially provide them a purchase
order for a
[1:38:59] for for a good chunk of the equipment
that would be our match to the $35,000.
[1:39:05] Um but but there was a lot of
conversation around
[1:39:09] whether or not, you know, right in front
of public's there um and one council
[1:39:14] member had some concerns. There's two
fitness,
[1:39:17] you know,
um
[1:39:21] membership clubs that that are right in
that plaza. Um how it could potentially
[1:39:26] affect them. Um and and there were
conversations, well, it could be good
[1:39:31] and it could be bad. They might actually
utilize it, you know, or something like
[1:39:34] that.
So, there were some concerns around
[1:39:37] that. I I did ask the question because I
didn't know if we had considered it and
[1:39:42] we hadn't really yet. Um might it be a
better um spot where the the Heritage
[1:39:49] um
um park that um we're wondering 2 and
[1:39:53] 1/2 acres there.
Is that something, you know,
[1:39:55] potentially?
Uh well,
[1:39:58] uh no parking.
One thing that we did um
[1:40:02] well, kind of a separate issue. So,
in the end, you know, and even one of
[1:40:06] the council members that said no, we're
we're not really prepared for this. And
[1:40:10] you know, that's why
um I thought it important when we were
[1:40:14] having those conversations about public
private partnerships, things like that.
[1:40:19] When we have opportunities like this or
other things,
[1:40:23] it it it's important that we're ready
for them sometimes, you know? And and
[1:40:27] and and you know, yeah, it it doesn't
feel great when yay, we got $35,000, but
[1:40:34] no, we're we're we're not going to take
advantage of that time.
[1:40:37] » They told me this quick on that. We Was
it a matching I assume I'm What was the
[1:40:41] overall price? We were
>> So,
[1:40:43] it it would have been matching, but then
overall, even if we could get some
[1:40:47] sponsorships or other people to come in
on it, the total cost was going to be
[1:40:52] about $205,000.
>> Okay, which we don't have in
[1:40:55] » And and and that that we don't have
budgeted stuff. So, you know, yes, there
[1:41:00] are were other areas that Joe could say,
well, we might be able to pull from this
[1:41:05] and
but with having to make that initial
[1:41:08] investment within the next 60 days of
our match of $35,000 for equipment that
[1:41:16] then it's very hard to kind of back away
from if if we can't put it all together.
[1:41:20] And it doesn't preclude us from from
looking for this grant again or looking
[1:41:24] for other grants and things like that.
But but I think it brings up an an
[1:41:28] important point, too, about being
prepared. I know like the Heritage Park,
[1:41:34] you know, we've wondered, what do we do
with that?
[1:41:36] We we
We do want to start to have more of a
[1:41:40] vision of what we want to have available
for some of these things.
[1:41:45] You know, and it doesn't need to be one
vision. It could be multiple. But what
[1:41:49] are the acceptable uses for these
things? You know, what
[1:41:53] when we do have an opportunity, bang,
you know, we're ready and and and you
[1:41:58] know, we we at least have some thought
already baked into it. So,
[1:42:03] you know,
So, we didn't end up taking the the
[1:42:07] grant for the sport court.
Many did think it was a very good idea.
[1:42:12] Some had concerns about the location.
Some had concerns about the timing. But
[1:42:17] it is something that they would support
in the future. It's just
[1:42:21] just a not now thing. Okay?
We did also
[1:42:26] discuss and
this is for, you know, kind of the
[1:42:31] benefit of Village Hall here, but also
for the Heritage and District in
[1:42:35] general. And you were just talking about
parking.
[1:42:39] We we did have a conversation and we are
moving forward to have discussions about
[1:42:44] partnering with
Zepsa as he develops Marvin Grove, which
[1:42:49] will be next door.
That kind of in the front part of the
[1:42:54] woods here, we still own a 0.46 acre
piece of property that's not part of the
[1:43:00] Village Hall Park right now.
But if it were to be developed in
[1:43:05] conjunction with what he's doing because
if if you've been back there, you know,
[1:43:10] the elevations get all kind of wonky and
you know, there's storm water runoff
[1:43:16] that gets directed one way or the other
based upon the the lay of the land.
[1:43:22] And [clears throat] the goals with doing
this would be to to do a couple of
[1:43:25] things. Well, we're disturbing a lot of
that land already
[1:43:29] as Zepsa has the right to do to develop
their project.
[1:43:34] Essentially that little parcel would
become landlocked forever. You know,
[1:43:40] um because we wouldn't be able to get
another
[1:43:43] kind of cut off the roundabout or
anything like that. Um so, you know, the
[1:43:48] discussion was around we could increase,
you know, uh parking availability for
[1:43:54] when we have larger meetings and stuff
which we've run into here at Village
[1:43:58] Hall already where
people are parking out on the street in
[1:44:02] the road and stuff like that. Um so, we
would be able to improve parking for us.
[1:44:08] We would be able it would be shared
parking like all is in the Heritage
[1:44:12] District and with a new state ordinance
that came out, we can't require minimum
[1:44:18] parking for any future commercial
projects. They just don't allow us to do
[1:44:22] that anymore. So, any parking that is
available is kind of take it when you
[1:44:27] can get it at this point because we
can't
[1:44:30] force, you know, developers to to add
that in the future. Um and then also
[1:44:35] from the stormwater perspective, there's
some things that can be done to take
[1:44:39] that natural flow right now where it's
currently kind of going down and
[1:44:43] sometimes adversely affecting folks like
in the preserve and things like that. Um
[1:44:50] speaking with Hunter, there's things
that we may be able to do that um can
[1:44:54] help alleviate that utilizing the
retention pond that the um uh Marvin
[1:45:00] Grove is already kind of looking at
incorporating there anyway. So, um we
[1:45:06] did talk about um
it being a pervious type surface if we
[1:45:10] were to do something like that. Um we
did talk about wanting to keep, you
[1:45:15] know, of course, as many larger trees
and and kind of any buffering around it
[1:45:20] that that we would be able to do. Um and
um you know, so, that you know, in
[1:45:27] speaking even for whatever we do end up
doing with the Heritage Park,
[1:45:32] if it were fitness or something else,
people would at least have a short walk
[1:45:36] with some parking available. So,
>> That parking would also be, I guess,
[1:45:39] something picturing you would then walk
down the Marvin Loop that cuts through
[1:45:42] the park, right? I mean, that's the
logical way to go.
[1:45:44] » And well, probably because they're
they're adjacent to each other, we
[1:45:48] probably will have a direct connection
from that parking lot into Houston Ross
[1:45:52] Park.
>> potentially in the Marvin Loop goes
[1:45:54] around park there if you want to get on
the loop without having to park in the
[1:45:57] Village Hall.
>> Yeah.
[1:45:59] » So, what you're saying, John, is when
that's developed, it sounds like the
[1:46:02] village is going to partner with them.
>> we we we directed staff to work with
[1:46:06] Zephyr because they were kind of getting
ready to move forward with their final
[1:46:09] construction documents.
And if they kind of did that, you know,
[1:46:14] you can imagine, you know, a lot of
times that they'll get their elevations
[1:46:18] and then right at the property line, it
could be like an 8-ft drop or, you know,
[1:46:23] something that would make it far more
expensive and complicated to ever do
[1:46:28] anything in the future.
>> So, we would still have to manage that.
[1:46:31] It's not there He's not going to develop
that parking lot for us.
[1:46:34] » The that Well, we we may could The
ownership will probably lie with us
[1:46:39] because um that that is the easiest way.
It's we wouldn't want to be
[1:46:46] providing just free
you know, something free to a private
[1:46:50] developer. You know, there there are
guardrails around that in state
[1:46:54] statutes.
But to coordinate with the mono project
[1:46:58] is is something that's totally doable.
And and the access that it would be
[1:47:03] shared access just like everything is
for the um
[1:47:06] for the um Heritage District.
>> It would also be shared access for his
[1:47:12] property, too, right?
>> Correct. Correct. Yeah.
[1:47:16] Um and then um
the parking and
[1:47:21] Um
>> the the last thing is just something
[1:47:23] that we kind of touched on. Jill brought
this up from a finance perspective, but
[1:47:28] um, we have had over the years and we
haven't used it because we've never had
[1:47:32] the right opportunity um, 250,000.
250?
[1:47:38] In the land acquisition.
>> 350.
[1:47:40] » 350,000
dollars in a land acquisition and you
[1:47:44] know, PRG in the past has talked about
well, you know, if a property and and
[1:47:50] there's not that many properties
available around Marvin these days,
[1:47:54] especially even at 350,000 dollars, it's
a pretty small property. Um, but but if
[1:48:01] in the event something, maybe it's
between us and Waxhaw, Weddington, if
[1:48:06] something came up that could be good
seed money at least for um, potentially
[1:48:12] acquiring. We've talked about sport
youth sport leagues or something like
[1:48:16] that and you know, if it would ever make
sense to partner partner with another
[1:48:20] municipality or something like that. So,
we did have a conversation around that
[1:48:25] um, because we do have other competing
needs. So, we have this in the budget
[1:48:29] each year. We haven't used it, so we've
kind of rolled it over. Um, I hope I
[1:48:34] hope I'm portraying everything properly
here, Jill. Um, you know, um, um, but I
[1:48:41] but I think council by and large, you
know, understands that. If there are
[1:48:46] other priorities like roads or something
where we definitely need the money
[1:48:50] » Okay.
>> we could always reallocate those funds
[1:48:52] to
>> reallocate it to another area. the park
[1:48:55] acquisition
>> It's not allocated It's allocated to
[1:48:59] land acquisition. Whether public works
might need something or
[1:49:04] if we had to pay for part of land
acquisition for a roundabout or, you
[1:49:09] know, who
>> Yeah, I mean, it's really going to
[1:49:10] depend on on council priorities and
consensus and you know, um,
[1:49:17] this sort of came up in our strategy
funding call when we were looking at how
[1:49:21] what funding pathways we might have for
the fitness court. And I know there are
[1:49:24] some council members that feel like, you
know, just because we need money for
[1:49:29] roads, they're they're not necessarily
really pro, let's drain every other
[1:49:35] account and move everything to roads.
Like they want to make sure cuz I cuz
[1:49:38] like we have a quite a substantial
amount in greenways and trails, for
[1:49:41] instance, that
we don't necessarily have a lot of trail
[1:49:45] projects anymore that that money would
go to. So, um, but the the idea being,
[1:49:51] well, if it's already there and it's
already been appropriated for parks and
[1:49:54] recs, let's leave it in parks and recs
and um, and try to spend it in that
[1:49:59] area. But they can decide at any time to
reallocate funds
[1:50:03] through a consensus. And so, we are
going to talk about these funds a little
[1:50:07] bit more in January at the retreat and
kind of figure out what makes most
[1:50:10] sense, where to shuffle things around.
But, um, that's why I'm glad that we
[1:50:15] will have a chance to have a
conversation in the fall as we're
[1:50:17] preparing the CIP for what we want to
see happen, what you all want to see
[1:50:23] happen in parks and recreation for next
fiscal year, so that I can advocate for
[1:50:28] that and advocate for those funds to
stay in parks and rec for those various
[1:50:32] projects if council agrees and approves
them in the CIP.
[1:50:36] » Yeah, and that kind of makes sense cuz
we're getting the publication of the new
[1:50:38] parks and greenway plan, right? So,
that's I mean, we've got the
[1:50:40] recommendations there, so that's the
follow-up.
[1:50:42] » Perfect timing.
>> That's pretty much it for me. I just
[1:50:45] wanted to keep you, uh, you know, and
that's more of a tangential one, but
[1:50:49] because we've had those conversations
about land acquisition, public private,
[1:50:54] you know, partnerships and things, and
even kind of like what what Tom was
[1:50:58] talking about today, you know, um,
it it's about being prepared. If we if
[1:51:03] we don't have a land acquisition fund,
then
[1:51:07] an opportunity may pass you by just cuz
you're not pre- not prepared for it,
[1:51:11] either, you know? So.
>> Yeah, because then I would have to
[1:51:15] potentially wait for a council meeting
to get approval to move money out of
[1:51:18] unassigned fund balance into land
acquisition and then, you know, that
[1:51:21] delays everything. So, um a good news is
they council is, you know, as John said,
[1:51:26] they are not saying no to the fitness
court. They actually are very intrigued
[1:51:31] by it. It's just let's take some time
and let's figure out maybe we delay a
[1:51:35] couple years because the Heritage Pocket
Park is a better choice and I know some
[1:51:39] of them want it to be
centrally located to that downtown area.
[1:51:44] Some of them want it to be walkable or
bikeable. Um
[1:51:48] but I, you know, yes, parking is going
to be a concern and some people are
[1:51:51] going to want to drive to that amenity
and may not be able to. So, we'll keep
[1:51:54] flushing that out, but it's going to
become a CIP project that um
[1:51:59] will get prioritized and/or funded as as
we're ready to move forward.
[1:52:06] » That's it. Thanks, John. Good update.
>> Thank you.
[1:52:09] » Last up, we have a review of action
items, Austin.
[1:52:11] » Uh you guys will have the public-private
partnerships back on your September
[1:52:15] agenda. I'm taking the trail head signs
to council for their work session.
[1:52:20] Uh
Jill is going to have a discussion for
[1:52:23] the tree lighting on the next meeting in
September.
[1:52:26] And I have actually already followed up
with the sign vendor for Houston Ross
[1:52:30] Park. I'm just waiting to hear back.
>> Okay.
[1:52:33] And okay, so so our motions
go into your action items like the
[1:52:37] motion we made on the sign. Is that's a
>> motion?
[1:52:39] » No, no, we made we approved the signage
to go to council. That's that's not an
[1:52:43] action item, right? Because it's
>> No, I'm I'm taking it I'm just letting
[1:52:46] you know I'm taking that to council at
the next next meeting.
[1:52:48] » Okay.
Great. And then any ongoing action items
[1:52:52] on the list?
>> Nothing's Nothing's urgent on there. Got
[1:52:55] some long-standing ones, but they're
>> Okay.
[1:52:58] » more important things.
>> All righty. Last up is our board member
[1:53:00] comments. Anyone have anything to make
comment on?
[1:53:03] Deb?
>> I have a comment.
[1:53:05] So,
Stroll bound to or I'm sorry, Stroll
[1:53:10] Firethorn is a publication
It's called Stroll Firethorn. It's a
[1:53:15] publication that gets mailed at
Firethorn.
[1:53:19] And they would like to start featuring
the village's events in their
[1:53:23] publication. They can also share it on
their social media as well if you're
[1:53:27] interested.
But they would like photos.
[1:53:32] » We don't have photographers at our
events. It's just whatever photo
[1:53:35] » Whatever we take. Okay.
>> I don't have
[1:53:38] » Yeah, they haven't done a good job is
the long and short of it. Like we
[1:53:41] In the past we've taken pictures, but no
one has had time after these events to
[1:53:45] like What are we doing with them? Who
has them? Where are we storing them?
[1:53:49] It's something that we'd like to change
moving forward.
[1:53:52] » I have taken them, too.
>> Yeah, I have them. I have I I have sent
[1:53:56] them to people in the past, but then
like sometimes pulling me will use She
[1:54:00] She would use them to do like a graphic
to put on social or a newsletter, but
[1:54:04] then whatever happened with the
originals after that I'm not really
[1:54:07] sure, but I thought about going through
my files.
[1:54:12] » our new project manager can
>> Yeah, for sure. Yeah. And and it's a
[1:54:17] it's a fun volunteer opportunity when
people are like, "How can I help?" I'm
[1:54:20] like, "Run around and take pictures and
then give them to us after."
[1:54:24] » [laughter]
>> That's a good idea. Maybe something
[1:54:25] through the high school as well. But so
Deb, but I think the main thing you're
[1:54:28] saying is the Firethorn would be willing
to support publishing our events. Is
[1:54:32] » So,
it's not through Firethorn.
[1:54:35] » No, whatever the Stroll um
>> Right.
[1:54:37] » Okay.
>> Right. So, you would just need to get
[1:54:39] the events calendar like Austin
publishes and then you would just relay
[1:54:43] it to
>> It's and it would just be more
[1:54:45] information sharing within the
community. Another avenue.
[1:54:52] » All righty. Thanks, Deb. Anyone else
have comments?
[1:54:55] For today? All right. Um
Then that with that we will adjourn
[1:54:59] today's meeting. Look forward to seeing
everyone this evening. Make a motion.
[1:55:03] I'll make a motion. Yeah, sorry. Just
want to say we'll look forward to seeing
[1:55:05] everyone tonight at the night out, um,
rain or shine, and that
[1:55:09] making a motion to adjourn today's
meeting at 10:53. All in favor?
[1:55:13] » I.
>> I.
[1:55:13] » Okay, motion passed. Thank you. Meeting
adjourned.