Oh. Order. I seal those
commission meeting by 23rd.
Um I have two board members abain
motion that would track line item number 11 until the next meeting. I'
» like to make that motion. >> Motion. Do we have any discussion?
All in favor raise your hand say I like sign. Motion carries.
[clears throat] Now I will entertain a motion that we
approve the agenda. Make a motion have a motion. We have any
discussion favor.
Opposent
agenda. So we have anyone signed up for public
moves us on reports start with me. Um
they might have spoke briefly about this but we have a slide up on Ridgeway
Street some concern very well be rather
expensive. have a meeting today and Jake's going to
join me gonna meet with Roy Sesser and JMT Engineering Farm to take a look at
it and give us some other options and some thoughts about
» um what time is that? >> 1:30.
» I need to be there. >> Okay.
He's going to give us off the cuff opinion and then if we're interested
they would be glad to give us anything we need to know.
» What? Robbie, what time's you today? Three.
make everyone aware of that and that that firm has done a good service for
the town for a while. That's all I have.
» Okay, good morning everyone. Um the historic preservation commission, he met
on Monday the 20th. Um, and I just want to give a a big shout out to Rockstar
Bryant um putting together a potential uh Jackson County Heritage Rec
recognition program,
potentially going forward having signs or some kind of recognition
for um things that are significant
locally that may or may not have can get the recognition at the state level or
the national level. Um, and but they demonstrate a cultural or social,
political, economic or architectural significance uh to Jackson County. Um,
and it's based on the the kind of neighborhood programs in Greensboro and
Durham. um and produced a packet here and we're we're
working through that. And so um for those interested in it, yeah, definitely
reach out to the Historic Preservation Commission and I'll have more news about
that going forward. That's all I have. Thank you.
» Thanks, Sam. >> Good morning, everybody. Just wanted to
give a little update on water fountain. For those of you that didn't know, the
county actually owns fountain and town maintains all the work being done, but
since it's a a major cost, passing that over to the county,
Jake, you may highlight a little bit, but uh
we've had a few estimates and pass that over to the county manager. He's looking
at it and assessing it. So we are working on it.
» So that brings us to our manager report. >> Morning.
» Um so Jake will cover the rain event that we had last Friday. um as an
employment update. Um Austin Whitehead has accepted a patrol officer position.
He's coming he's previously been with the sheriff's department. So we want to
welcome him to town employment and we have applications open for the town
clerk position and we're accepting that. So hopefully we'll have that filled
soon. And uh Mayor Phillips and I met with
Representative Anna Ferguson this week um to talk about the appropriation Silva
received in the state budget and requesting a technical correction that
hopefully the legislature will review the beginning of August to allow
the appropriation to be used more generally for infrastructure.
Um, and please remember the Southwestern Commission's annual meeting is Monday,
this coming Monday the 27th at 5. That's all I have this morning.
» Public reports. >> Good [clears throat] morning everybody.
» Yes. So, the storm and the slope failure be the first thing I speak on this
morning. Um, as y'all are well aware by now, Friday the 17th, we had about 2 in
2.3 depending on where you were of rain across that 24-hour period. 95% of that
rain fell in a 2-hour period. We had sections of West Main flood and close.
We had Caldwell Street flood and close. Um, thought for a minute we were going
to have to close downtown. We avoided that. And most notably, we had a
landslide on what I refer to as Upper Ridgeway Street um near near the top.
It's about a 30 foot long failure between two sections of the road. So,
there's a switchback right there. Um the town owns Ridgeway Street and the
rideway for Ridgeway Street. Portion of property that actually failed and
contains a slide is private property and there was private property downs slope
of the failure that was affected as well. Um me and my team have worked to
mitigate that slide temporarily as much as we can. It's sandbagged and we've
done a lot of ditch work and water temporary water breaks with all this
rain coming back in. It's not something you can fix with a finger snap. Um
emergency management is aware. Jackson County code enforcement is aware. We'll
keep you guys updated. Like Johnny said, it will likely be a significant expense
to the town. We were not under any emergency
declaration at the time of the storm. So that that's going to affect how we fund
this as well. Um Paige and I met yesterday with Rich Adams. He's a an
engineer and a slope stabilization estimator for Worester Incorporated.
That's who did all the Allen Street slope stabilization. and Paige and I
have an excellent relationship with him. Um, [clears throat] currently estimating
between $400,000 and $500,000. That is a fluid number and subject to change in
either direction as we learn more about this and develop a strategy for repair.
Um, want to update everybody on the community table as well. Starting early
next month, we're going to be doing some pretty intensive foundation repair at
the community table building. Uh we'll be jacking up floor joist, reinforcing
with steel. Um we got a lot of unlevel, a lot of settling. That's an extremely
old building. Uh nothing dangerous at this point, but we're trying to prevent
any kind of future damage uh there. Um and the community table is splitting
that cost with the town. So they they've been a fantastic partner. We own the
building. Um but they're happy to help financially anytime they can. on the
Scots Creek retaining wall project. We've completed the phase one
archaeological study. Uh there was nothing of concern found by that
archaeological study and they're currently preparing the report so that
we can get that to FEMA, get the project to run back through the environmental
and historic preservation process of this. Once we obtain that approval,
hopefully we can fasttrack that project and get it completely funded. Um, in the
meantime, we have continued with the engineering and design team. So, that
phase of the project is on schedule. So, as soon as we get go ahead from FEMA,
we'll be able to start contracting and procurement on that as well. Um, far as
the part of improvements go at Pinnacle Park, uh, Paige and I have completed the
RFQ for that. um hope to get that published in the next in the very short
term. Hopefully next week and start soliciting for a design build contractor
for that project as well. Um other departmental updates, public works is
still down an employee. We have a vacancy. If you guys know of anybody,
please send them our way. And uh as we prepare for hurricane season, we're
working on resiliency as much as we can to the extent that we're able.
Any questions? I just want to say thank you Jake for
team for all the hard work and especially during this
time. I did have a question about the community table is during the repairs
that going to impact >> they'll be able to operate full capacity
throughout the repair. U I'll add that I did go up and look at
the slide and uh kudos to public works for doing everything you've done to try
to safe it up and keep the water out of a great job. Thank you.
» Thank you. Thank you. We have a report from our police
department. Morning everybody. Chief's on vacation.
You get to hear from me again today. Uh since the last report, we responded to
495 calls. Kind of a quick breakdown of those. That's 73 traffic stops. Uh 16
traffic crashes. We investigated 58 park checks, 33 follow-up investigations. Um
had a total of four felony arrests, 14 misdemeanor arrests, and then we also
issued six parking tickets downtown for violation of the downtown parking
ordinance. Some staffing updates. As Paige
mentioned, we picked up one officer. So that leaves us at two vacancies. Um
we're interviewing somebody at three this afternoon. Maybe we'll cut that
down to one and hope hope to be back to full staff soon. We've been doing a lot
in the way of like community engagement. Uh some highlights from that. Gladriel
is partnered with Via Health. Uh they've been putting on CIT training. It's
crisis intervention training. after the last one that brought us up to with the
exception of the officers we're hiring in. We only have two officers that have
not been able to complete CIT with the goal of getting them through here pretty
soon. Uh the chief presented to the Rotary Club the other day about the PD
and the services and everything that we offer. Um we've partnered with the
Department of Justice and Center for Domestic Peace uh for the new lethality
assessment program. Uh it's related to domestic violence. Um, and we completed
the train the trainer for that. We're doing the roll out to the officers uh
first week of next month. And then Gabriel and I have been working
with uh Jody at the health department establishing a re-entry council. Uh
it'll be kind of three counties wide initially. Uh it'll be Haywood Haywood
Jackson Swain and Mon. And and the goal of that re-entry council is for folks
that are being released from the jail at the hill or prison, they're coming back
to Silva to get ahead of any issues they may have with resources to help them
come back in and be, you know, productive and not wind up back in
prison. So, there's actually a meeting in Mon County this evening that we're
going to and then another one here in Jackson uh on the 30th sitting at that
re-entry council. Um, we also had [clears throat] the fourth uh worked
that I think that went very well. Uh, good attendance. And then I just want to
thank everybody involved that helped with that. Jake and his crews, fire
department, emergency management for that and then also the weather incident
last week that kind of got off the rail real quick that afternoon. So, any
questions? >> Thank you very much. Uh I I will add
that I've heard a lot of very complimentary comments from citizens
about our police department performance and and quite a few good things about
GL. I've heard a lot of good things
u from our fire department. >> Morning.
» Um I really don't have a whole lot to say. You know, things been going pretty
good for us as far as it goes. We've been pretty busy. We're up to a,021
calls this year. So, just a little over halfway.
We can probably close to 2,000 calls for years old,
which is a bunch. 20 years ago, we run about 300 to give
you an example. So, uh, other than that, that's really all I
was going to talk about this morning. You got any questions?
» Thank you very much. She's fine. Thank y'all.
I think you have a live group. >> Um during the storm, Jackson County
Emergency Management was great. They were proactive with us to let us know
what was going on so we could prepare for the concert, whether or not to have
it. They helped us call that. Um so nobody actually showed up except for a
couple vendors. They were able to get their things out. But they have been
rescheduled. It's Arnold Hill. They'll be rescheduled for October 2nd from 7:00
to 9:00. Um, also the 4th of July is um, as was mentioned, it w it was very well
attended this year in honor of America's 250th Mountain Winds Community Band
played before the concert, so that was extra as um, followed by the 1776
reenactment. So, it was a great event all around. Um, two weeks ago I
presented to the Silva Rotary Club about Silva as a small town with big use,
which is so timely considering the storm we just had. Um the crowd was amazed at
how much the town was able to accomplish. Um and I I had a quiz and
asked them how many public works folks they thought we had and we had numbers
from you know 30 to 40 that sort of thing.
» [laughter] >> So um so it was good to have that kind
of discussion and so I want to express our gratitude for public works police
fire department um who work tirelessly through that whole process and continue
to do so um so that we can host these great events and things like that. Um
North Carolina Main Street funded a professional video shoot for each of its
Main Street programs, 80 of them. So the team will be filming in Silva on uh July
31st. So, we'd encourage everyone to fill the streets that day and evening
during Concerts on the Creek. Scott City will be playing. Um, and we hope
everyone will come out to make that film as great as it can be.
» Does anyone have any questions? >> Thank you very much.
» You uh you wear a lot of hats. Do a great job. Thank you.
» Do we have a port for the planning board?
» Uh, no. Planning board doesn't meet in July. Okay. What about TWAS?
» Twos also cancelled their meeting this month.
» Do we have anything from Pinnacle Park? >> Only what was covered with the part of
RFP. Um once we get that out, we will select a contractor and they'll we'll do
phases of trail improvements. Um the as a reminder the elements that are
included in the part of grant um trail rehab, a new trail construction, a view
a viewing platform somewhere that has a good view of a ridge line. Um improving
the accessibility trail at the bottom and storm water in the parking lot and a
ball toilet. And then there are benches and other amenities, but those are the
highlights. >> Outdoor classroom.
» Oh, outdoor classroom. >> A lot of details with Pinnacle Park. And
I'd like to thank Paige for handling all of that. Every ounce of excellence there
is on keeping all the grants and the money straight, who's doing what and
what phases it has to be done in, what governmental agencies you're dealing
with. I mean, it's amazing how you handle all that. So, thank you. Thanks.
Okay, I think that concludes reports. Uh that moves us on to new business. Um
and we have strick and line item number 11
for our next meeting. So the last thing on our agenda is
pride parade approval request.
You want to open that up to discussion.
Um
of the past we created a policy close the streets with five things
and u those five things being the smallest group involved there is Western
Carolina University.
I don't know what the pleasure of the board will be here. U
if we uh if we want to entertain approving this request
might be appropriate to have discussions about cost and how that would be shared
and whether or not board feels this taxpayers responsibility to pay for
that. Anybody else have anything to add?
So, I've been in contact with Mr. Oval Tree um who sent in the appeal and I
know that there are some fun fundraising things that they have in place to raise
the money to cover cost. Um not sure of what that is going to entail. We know
that if you start a fundraiser and you set a mark, you hope to meet it, you
hope to surpass it, but you may not. I know that they are going to be doing
their part to try to cover as much cost as they can.
Um, I've I've spoke with each of our board
members and we have two members absent today. Um,
I don't know if you want to wait till you have everyone here to do that or if
you want to go ahead act on it now. Um, the uh
part of the discussions have been to some fashion of accomplice.
being between no and the taxpayers fully paid for it.
That compromise to me is that any small group other than five street closures we
have that they would pay for it. And there's also the issue of dealing with
people who other folks that have been told no for the same reasons.
I think we need to put a strong consideration into treating everyone the
same and
our town will be welcoming and inclusion for everyone.
We need to be right careful what we invite to anybody to come pay for their
own parade. >> Does need to make a decision on this
today because we're we submit the road closure resolutions to DOT 60 days
before the event.
So um can I jump in? Absolutely. >> So uh yeah this is a this is a divisive
topic had pride parades in the past. Um, and
as a local growing up here and recognizing the Silva that I grew up in
being a very welcoming place and growing up and the values instilled in
me and many others, you know, you're we're supposed to be our brother's
keeper and that's what that's just what mountain people do. We we may not agree
all the time, but we still look out for each other. Um that is um I think we
need to think about that. Um the other thing I'm thinking about with this is
public spaces [clears throat] and again having a fair policy treating everybody
fairly and everybody should have access to apply go through the process and I
think um really respect our community spaces. community here is is really
really important. Those community spaces should be
available to whoever um you know not everybody
agrees with Pride. I think Silva should treat
Pride and all of our fairly. Um, I think we have an opportunity here to
show Silva as a model how mountain towns can handle disagreements,
respect freedoms, protect our neighbors,
and work through disagreements. I I really do not want Silva to be a
cautionary tale what not to do. Uh, I think we can be a
model town here to show how welcoming and to all our neighbors
and show good government as well. Um, you know, everybody's watching.
A lot of attention here. Um, I think we need fair policies that level the
playing field and uphold the public good. I mean, that's our that's our job
and I think everybody wants to make things safe
and streamline and it seems like we've had
some questions about money and logistics and it seems like we have a plan and
getting public works on board and downtown businesses,
civil police, the fire department. think
as long as we have everybody on board with this and we've done it before, you
know, we're not jumping ahead and making a decision and trying to figure out the
plan later. We've kind of done this before.
So, I think it's an opportunity for still to live up to North Carolina State
motto, right? Be rather than to see. And we are welcoming police
should live up to that.
I'll also add that I do want our time to be inclusive for everyone.
I also have no choice but to recognize that our job is to be physically
responsible taxpayers money at a time when we have [clears throat] a
dam on Fisher Creek that needs a very expensive repair and a slide on Ridgeway
Street that's going to have expensive repair. got a fountain on main street
that very well may cost the town some money whether it
would pay the full expense or any portion depending on the county's
decision and we're also living in a time where we just lost 42 buildings that
somebody used to pay taxes on I think we're at a time with our town
that we need to consider needs first and wants
No, I totally agree.
» Well, there is the potential that the money could be raised to cover these
costs. >> I would be fine if that's the the
motion.
Now, we know that there's fundraising in place
as of now because this was so new and pushed as quickly as it was. So, as of
now, there's not a guarantee that would happen, but it would at least mitigate
portion of the cost. And these costs haven't been put out for the last three
years since Pride was canceled. So, essentially, this is a threeyear cost,
which actually makes it kind of less for the town.
It didn't happen in the years prior and it happened before that. So now that the
cost said it was to shut down Main Street, it's now spread out over the
three. It also didn't consider the 100 years
before that the first time
responsibility with the taxp money is what's most important to them.
I think if there's an agreement that they pay for and that's what's in the
motion to approve be good.
I'm a historian, so I of course I got to bring in history here and think about
compromise and you brought compromise up and trying to
during my campaign asking local businesses and getting
input all sorts of residents and our
staff here what you know logistics of this um and thinking of a compromise
isn't that you know with the founders as to how they set all this stuff and is a
compromise for trying to pay all of it. Is that the
compromise or is the compromise the town pays half and we pay half and that's
fiscally responsible
shows goodwill and between all parties.
We can say we've saved taxpayers money and show that how welcoming we are and
taking every application and appeal seriously and trying to think of all of
the logistics.
That's my thought. What is what what is the comp? Is it half and half or is it
all? And you know that that's totally up to the board members that have a vote
and I do not have in my mind the compromises between the time fully
paying for it and no that's what's in the middle is cost at a
time when we're not in position to start honoring some student needs right now.
Yes.
I think meeting in the middle of compromise, you know, as you were
talking about the taxpayers, there are plenty of taxpayers would like to see
this as well. and [clears throat]
understand the needs and wants, but that if you're left in a situation,
will we ever be able to recognize the wants or the needs?
[clears throat] The hope and dream is that we won't always be in the financial
crash. Someday we can redevelop 107, reestablish a budget that allows us to
have more money for emergencies and quests.
just
that's just my view.
I guess at this point um have probably had enough discussion. Does any board
member any board member like to make a motion?
» Make a motion that we approve if you >> for the two block route
» for the two block. you is does your motion include them
paid for it? That two block route was $2,200. Is that
correct? >> The cost estimate for staff overtime is
$2,280.
» Is that the motion? I would say with them doing the
fundraising as a show of good faith, we cover the cost and see what they can
raise. I do have good faith in the town and the people who wanted this requested
this for the last few years that we could that they could raise the money to
cover the cost and I'll be the first one to donate to the cause.
» How would that work? where we agree to pay for it and then
accept payment for it when they don't have to pay for it.
» So if you agree to pay for it, what we'll do when it when the money comes in
is just put it take it as a don either a donation or a park rental and
» it's nothing more than a donation. >> We're still taxpayers now.
Well,
generally it would have been part of their park application.
Um
the fee I mean the fee that they paid for the park application. So
if you if the board wants to do it like that and then see what pride raises
figure that that out is just accepting the payment and how you
and how is how it goes into the system >> code management.
» Yes.
» Any more comments from any more? >> So I'm just trying to understand. So,
you're saying it's just as smooth having a payment up front as having the pay?
» Well, having a payment up front, of course, would be smoother, but since
that's not what we're looking at.
» And when is the deadline for the payment?
» Well, so it should be before the event. >> Before the event.
And you actually have a deadline on a donation.
» Well, I'm saying like a payment versus a donation.
If we do want to revise the solution, the payment up front
because you're worried about the taxpayer involved, you know, paying that
and then reimbursement if it's paid for instead of a donation. It's just paid
for. What's the deadline for any of those? Is
it two weeks two weeks before a parade? in this other
» I think 30 days might be what we've got patient.
» Okay.
» So when is the [clears throat] date that they want to have it?
» September the 20th. >> So 30 days prior to that would be what?
» August 20th.
» Can that be a stipulation? Could
more come in after [clears throat] that deadline?
» Just be a donate. That would be the donation. So, it's a payment and a
donation.
» I think we're getting into the weeds here.
» Yeah. Right now, we have a pending motion. So, if if you all can discuss
it, you can vote that down, make another motion um or vote it up, and then it is
what it is. So, right, it's just right now we have a pending motion. So, Perry
can either withdraw it and make another one or you all can vote on the pending
motion.
My thoughts with the compromise is just I pays half and pays half. That's where
I see compromise. But if if this is the way we want to go,
» I think to make that 30-day prior deadline, I think making a halfway mark
since that's about halfway to the event. Can I revise my motion to
be pride and the town covers up? >> Yes.
» That's your official motion.
» All in favor of approving that motion. Raise your hand.
All by side motion carries.
» Okay. So now can we get a motion to approve the road closure for the the two
block route? >> A motion that we approve the road
closure for road.
Have a motion. Do we have any discussion?
All in favor say I. I oppose the lights on motion.
And at this time I'd entertain a motion that we
have motion to adjurnn. We have any discussion
all in favor hands out by sign.
saying it's the first time you've ever been to town.
I know I was
questionable.
Appreciate it. >> Yes, sir.
» To see you outside.
Pleasure to meet you. >> So nice to meet you.
» We did the bridge.
[laughter]
» This frame. >> I'm looking out the window and getting
twitchy. Yeah, I guess you got the thing to go like 8:00. Sure did.
» Yeah, I got that yesterday from J while I was sitting at dinner.
My wife was like it's watch
that was >> I appreciate you thinking about
» the cops had mud up on their knees too
» I think right after I moved too I'll
right after you guys
because you said I remember you said I was getting up there
on Main Street.
» Yeah. Yeah, we got it.
» So, yes and no. And that's the thing about
the job.
dinner or you know big stuff. Yeah.