1 00:02:07,479 --> 00:02:11,640 Good morning. Welcome to this special 2 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:15,280 meeting of the Blowing Rock Town Council 3 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:17,560 on this August 28th, 2026. 4 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:20,880 I'm calling this meeting to order. 5 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:22,720 Uh we have a few council members out on 6 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,360 uh probably vacation. 7 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,000 Um 8 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,840 So, roll call. David. 9 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,600 » Here. 10 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:29,240 » Wait. 11 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:30,560 » Doug. 12 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:33,040 » Okay. 13 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,560 So, we have a quorum in attendance. If 14 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,320 you would, please stand for the Pledge 15 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,320 of Allegiance. 16 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:44,160 » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the 17 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:47,280 United States of America, 18 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:51,320 and to the republic for which it stands, 19 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:55,480 one nation under God, indivisible, with 20 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,480 liberty and justice for all. 21 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:02,959 » All righty. 22 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:05,959 E-FLAP grant MOA amendment Middle Fork 23 00:03:02,959 --> 00:03:05,959 Greenway. 24 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:11,600 Alice. 25 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:14,160 » Thank you, Mayor. Um I'd like to invite 26 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,440 uh Brian Johnson, our zoning enforcement 27 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,680 officer, 28 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:20,560 up uh to the podium. Uh I have received 29 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:24,400 communication earlier this week 30 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:27,160 requesting sign-off uh for Town Council 31 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:28,947 to approve um 32 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,720 a memorandum of agreement 33 00:03:28,947 --> 00:03:32,720 [clears throat] and authorize me as the 34 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,200 town manager to execute necessary 35 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:38,200 documents to meet a September 2nd 36 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:41,440 deadline. Um hence the reason we needed 37 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:45,280 to call a special meeting for today, um 38 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:48,280 which concerns the E-FLAP grant. Um so, 39 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,560 I will have um Brian go through and 40 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,680 maybe give some background on that 41 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:54,280 project briefly and then answer any 42 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:57,000 questions. 43 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,800 » Thank you, Mayor. Council. 44 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,640 Good Friday morning for a meeting, 45 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,640 right? Joey said he had to come out in 46 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,317 the suit today. He's like, "What?" 47 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,337 » I'm happy to do it for you guys. 48 00:04:04,317 --> 00:04:06,337 » [laughter] 49 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,760 » Uh 50 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,800 update and then 51 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,360 I've got a map here. I I didn't know if 52 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:16,880 some of the other council if everyone 53 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:18,880 was here that was as familiar as someone 54 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,880 or some of you are. 55 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,240 This has been going [clears throat] on 56 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,640 since 2016. 57 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,440 Um 58 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:28,200 but we're progressing very slowly. We we 59 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,360 we have nothing on the ground yet, as 60 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,360 you can see, and I know 61 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,160 Uh 62 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:35,520 we've got some things phased up, and 63 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,413 we're getting really really close. 64 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,080 Um 65 00:04:36,413 --> 00:04:41,880 » [clears throat] 66 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:44,320 » Phase phase 1A and and 1C um 67 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:46,960 which is 68 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,840 Phase 1A is from our original trailhead 69 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,520 at um 70 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:55,440 at [clears throat] the shops 71 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:55,440 down to the 444 uh construction 72 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,120 site. 73 00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:01,919 And phase 1 74 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,400 AC is from 75 00:05:01,919 --> 00:05:05,919 um 76 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:08,360 basically from the Parkway 77 00:05:05,919 --> 00:05:09,280 bridge down through Excuse me. I'm so 78 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,040 sorry. 79 00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:14,360 From the Foley Center bridge 80 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:17,160 on down to where our jurisdiction ends. 81 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:20,840 So, if phase 1A 82 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:21,608 and 1C and B is still in progress now. 83 00:05:20,840 --> 00:05:22,120 Um 84 00:05:21,608 --> 00:05:24,640 » [clears throat] 85 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:27,240 » We originally had broke out 1A 86 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,080 uh and 1C because of 87 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,800 the work and design we were having to go 88 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,760 through the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's 89 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,880 been a been a tough endeavor there. Um 90 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:38,440 So, 91 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:40,919 phase 1B is still in progress. 1A and 1C 92 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,800 we're really close to getting 93 00:05:40,919 --> 00:05:45,360 to um 94 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,400 authorization for construction. 95 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,880 Um 96 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:52,440 but this 97 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:55,600 time lapse, number one, number two, the 98 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:57,200 the the design issues and and time with 99 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,480 the Blue Ridge Parkway has drove the 100 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,840 cost up significantly. 101 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:06,960 Um 102 00:06:01,840 --> 00:06:06,960 mainly in the design aspect. Um so 103 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:11,240 end of last year, 104 00:06:09,280 --> 00:06:13,480 um the state had reached out to us that 105 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,840 they had a surplus of 106 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,440 E-flat monies. Um 107 00:06:15,840 --> 00:06:18,800 just because 108 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,680 there weren't a lot of applications to 109 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:23,720 fill the whole uh $10 million grant that 110 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,680 was that was offered. 111 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,800 So they reached out, we've got extra 112 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,800 money. We had originally 113 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,040 when they was kind of identifying, "Hey, 114 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,360 you know, we're realizing we're going to 115 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,560 be short on some monies here." 116 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,880 Um 117 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,680 because this took so long. So 118 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:41,600 we had requested a million bucks out of 119 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:44,600 that. They awarded us 400,000. 120 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:47,080 And this was back late last year. We 121 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,040 just Well, we've been we've been working 122 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,240 with them, "What's the status? What's 123 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:52,240 the status?" through um 124 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,919 through spring and up till till summer. 125 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:56,000 Then all of a sudden, you know, a few 126 00:06:53,919 --> 00:06:57,080 weeks ago, here we are, "You're approved 127 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,919 for it." 128 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:02,040 Uh so that's our request today. Um 129 00:06:59,919 --> 00:07:04,919 is to get the memorandum memorandum of 130 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:07,600 agreement revised and and accept this 131 00:07:04,919 --> 00:07:09,640 400,000, which will help towards phase 132 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,240 1A and 1C. 133 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,680 Um 134 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,320 by getting this approved and getting the 135 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,080 funds there, 136 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:18,200 we're anticipating 137 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:20,680 getting approval from DOT 138 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:24,919 to go to construction and go to bid. Um 139 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:26,800 hopefully with within this month. Um 140 00:07:24,919 --> 00:07:28,400 this has been a long endeavor. It's been 141 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,120 a tough process 142 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,400 with some of the property owners of the 143 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,080 Blue Ridge Parkway. It's just it's just 144 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,760 their process. It's it's part of the 145 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:38,720 part of the beast there. 146 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:40,360 Uh phase 1B, we're still 147 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,920 working on that, working in in 148 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:45,280 identifying the route and making sure we 149 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:47,320 can get to construction there to work. 150 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:49,000 Um I think at some point Wendy is 151 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,760 wanting to come back in and cuz it's 152 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:53,440 been so long again to give y'all an 153 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:55,480 update at some point uh of where we're 154 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:57,400 at, so. Um 155 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,840 that's [clears throat] the request to to 156 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:01,040 authorize Alice to move forward with 157 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,480 this memo- memorandum acceptance 400 158 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,720 towards the 159 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,760 um 160 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,680 phase 1A and 1C. 161 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,840 Questions if you got them. Questions, 162 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,360 Council? 163 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:14,360 » Um [clears throat] I just want to clear 164 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,360 one thing and 165 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,800 the 166 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,800 brief says that 167 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,560 the town is not putting up any funds for 168 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,120 this. 169 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,760 » That's correct. 170 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:28,480 » But the MOA section [clears throat] F 171 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:30,960 says that we will cover any shortfalls. 172 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:33,200 So, if there are 173 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:35,640 future shortfalls or construction 174 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,320 overruns, that would have to come back 175 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,039 to us? 176 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,400 » Yes, that would have to come back before 177 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:41,840 Council. 178 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:43,960 If any funds were to be expended. 179 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,960 » Okay. 180 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:50,000 » All the match is coming from 181 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:55,320 Blue Ridge Conservancy and their donors 182 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:55,320 and folks have committed funds there. 183 00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:01,520 » The only thing you hope is you don't run 184 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:04,600 into any more snags because 185 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:06,839 it was like a million dollars 11 years 186 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,360 ago when we were going to be number one. 187 00:09:06,839 --> 00:09:10,760 11 [clears throat] years later, look at 188 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,760 what the price tag is and we're still 189 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,880 not started. 190 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,240 » And we are not 9 years later, 10 years 191 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,600 later. 192 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:19,160 » I do have a quick question. That is Are 193 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:22,880 they working on that section down there 194 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:24,400 at Mystery Hill up to uh 195 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:26,760 Eho Road? Is that what they're doing 196 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:29,600 there with all that heavy equipment? 197 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:31,120 » That is part of the Conservancy. They're 198 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,000 I think it's a twofold there. They've 199 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,040 got a stream restoration project going 200 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,480 on. 201 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:39,080 And I think as part of that, they're 202 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,600 they're laying out the route as well. 203 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:43,120 Um I I don't know the whole scope and 204 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,360 where it ends and where but that's part 205 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:47,880 of 206 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:49,760 two two part project there, I think. 207 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,200 » Did they do any when they was doing the 208 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,320 restoration there behind the water 209 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,440 plant? 210 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,680 » It's It's complete. 211 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,680 Um if you have I don't know what kind 212 00:09:56,680 --> 00:09:58,760 » Behind the water plant? 213 00:09:57,680 --> 00:10:01,200 » Yeah, it's been 214 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,600 It's been two or three months. Just the 215 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:02,840 restoration. 216 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,880 » Just restoration. They didn't do 217 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:07,520 anything with 218 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:08,400 » Right. But they did all the rock and 219 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,240 » Oh, yeah. 220 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,640 They did it quickly. 221 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,600 » If you get a chance to go see it, it 222 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,480 looks looks really good down there. 223 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,360 » Okay. 224 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:17,880 » Um bought us some time with the water 225 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,440 tank there. 226 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,947 » We fixed our fence. 227 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,040 » It told us. 228 00:10:20,947 --> 00:10:22,240 » [clears throat] 229 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,120 » I don't know if I noticed the fence or 230 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,320 not. 231 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:28,440 » It's not hanging down. It was cut off 232 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:30,880 clean, but I don't know if it's been 233 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:32,560 enclosed yet. 234 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:35,320 But we we gained back 235 00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:35,320 the land we lost there. 236 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,200 It's It's awesome job they did out 237 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,200 there. 238 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,160 » But 239 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:45,440 Thanks for Mar- Margaret has picked this 240 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:47,320 project up 241 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:50,640 and 242 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:52,680 done a lot of work. Um it it's a lot. It 243 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,720 It's a lot done with this grant number 244 00:10:52,680 --> 00:10:56,080 one and number two it 245 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,720 Blue Springs Parkway has been tough and 246 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,400 it's like I said it's just a process. 247 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,640 We're getting there. 248 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:03,720 Um we're anticipating getting this to 249 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:06,320 bid with within the next few months and 250 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:08,560 hopefully wrapping up phase 1A and 1C 251 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:11,839 through through next year. 252 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:14,280 Um hopefully 1B shortly behind. 253 00:11:11,839 --> 00:11:15,240 But again, I think Wendy's wanting to 254 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,080 um 255 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:20,280 give y'all update at some point just 256 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:22,640 because of the time lapse here. So. 257 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:24,560 » Council, do we have a motion? 258 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:28,560 » Move. 259 00:11:24,560 --> 00:11:30,839 » I make a motion to approve the Alice Run 260 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:32,640 being able to 261 00:11:30,839 --> 00:11:34,480 execute these agreements? 262 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,880 » Yes. 263 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,880 » Second. 264 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:39,480 » How do you vote? 265 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:40,280 » I. 266 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:40,840 » I. 267 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,400 » I. 268 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,640 » Okay. 269 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,240 There you go. 270 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:45,560 » Thank you. 271 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:46,920 » Thank you, everybody. We appreciate 272 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:48,760 » Thank you, Margaret. 273 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,560 » Thank you, Alice. 274 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,520 Brian, Kevin. 275 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:52,720 » Servatius. 276 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:55,680 » You think we'll 277 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:57,920 You know, by the time this gets to Foley 278 00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:59,198 Center, they'll wheel us down from Foley 279 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,720 Center. They'll look at it. 280 00:11:59,198 --> 00:12:02,200 » [laughter] 281 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,783 » They've been talking about the trail for 282 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,720 you down the road. 283 00:12:03,783 --> 00:12:07,920 » [laughter] 284 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:10,040 » No brakes. No brakes. 285 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:12,160 » We anticipate them coming back probably 286 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:13,720 at the October meeting for an update 287 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,720 where we'll have the agreements to 288 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:22,000 update with both Blue Ridge and NCDOT. 289 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:22,000 So, we we anticipate October time frame. 290 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,360 » Got a motion to adjourn. 291 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:27,640 » Move. 292 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:28,080 » Second. 293 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,040 » Second. 294 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,640 » Okay. 295 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,640 All right.