[0:13] Everybody's freaking out. I'm getting blown up right now.

[0:30] call to order the city of Trinity City Council meeting for December the 8th,

[0:35] 2025. Want to welcome our guests and visitors.

[0:40] And this time we're going to stand and

[0:44] pledge allegiance to the flag and then Mr. Welurn will have the invocation

[0:53] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it

[0:58] stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[1:04] for all. >> Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we're

[1:08] thankful for this time of year. We're thankful for that rescue mission for a

[1:13] lost world that is called Christmas. We're thankful for um the meaning way

[1:19] beyond gifts or family gatherings, but that that uh true gift of hope that we

[1:25] have and peace and joy that we can experience at Christmas. Lord, we ask

[1:32] that you guide us in the decisions we make here in Trinity, that you bless our

[1:37] citizens, and that you protect us, Lord, from any kind of evil forces that may

[1:43] affect this world. Lord give us strength and courage and again hope for you Jesus

[1:49] name. Amen. >> Amen.

[1:59] » Okay. We have a amended agenda which everyone

[2:05] has. So I'll take a motion to approve the amended agenda as it states.

[2:12] Motion we approve the amended agenda. >> Second.

[2:16] » Okay, we have a first and a second. All in favor?

[2:20] » Okay, thank you.

[2:27] Okay, public comment. Have no one signed up for public

[2:32] comment. Is anyone have anything they'd like to share with council?

[2:39] » Okay, public comment. All right. Uh, number five is approval

[2:46] of consent consent agenda items. I'll take a motion to approve the consent

[2:51] items. >> I make a motion to approve consent

[2:55] agenda items. >> I'll second it.

[2:57] » I have a second. All in favor?

[3:03] » Okay. Thank you. And you'll take care of that thing,

[3:09] right, Bob? >> Yes.

[3:12] expenses. >> Uh, next on the agenda is the Randolph

[3:16] County Tourist Development Authority with the annual report and I believe we

[3:21] have Annette with us tonight

[3:30] and we have some stuff in our book as well

[3:35] like this too. >> Yeah, we have that too.

[3:39] So, good evening. It is my pleasure to present the Randolph County TDD TDA's

[3:44] annual report for 2024. I'm going to highlight the significant economic and

[3:49] community impact of the tourism industry in Randolph County. In 2024, the

[3:54] economic impact numbers, the tax savings for the residents. Each Randolph County

[3:58] resident benefited from the tourism industry and received a $9348

[4:03] tax savings in 2024. Our state tax revenues totaled 8.6 million and our

[4:10] local tax revenues totaled 5.21 million. Employment and payroll, the industry

[4:15] supported 1,164 direct tourism jobs and that was 44.83

[4:22] million in payroll income. Visitor spending in Rolph County in 2024

[4:26] generated 199.86 million in visitor spending, representing a strong 5.4 4

[4:33] increase from 2023. In 2024, occupancy tax revenues and

[4:39] lodging performance is for our lodging. Our lodging sector demonstrated robust

[4:44] growth in 2024. Our occupancy tax revenues totaled 1,523,584

[4:52] and that's a 5.45 increase from 2023. Remember that these taxes are collected

[4:58] from hotels and motel, bed and breakfast ins, Airbnb properties, and campground

[5:04] structures. The average occupancy was reported at

[5:08] 62% which is a 5.3 increase from 2023. The average daily rate, which is ADR, on

[5:16] room rentals was $12841. That's an increase of 2.1% from 2023.

[5:24] Revenues collected by Randolph County averaged $84.13

[5:28] per room and that's a 10.7% increase compared to 2023.

[5:34] The demand for hotels rooms increased 8.4% compared to 2023 and that's an

[5:40] overall revenues increase by 11% compared to the prior year. Our

[5:45] strategic data collections allows us to understand our audience and optimize

[5:49] marketing efforts. As we look at our attractions, the visitations of the 32

[5:54] attractions surveyed, they reported approximately 1,71,999

[6:00] visitors for the calendar year in 2024. That was an increase of 8.6% from 2023.

[6:08] So you may ask yourself, where are these visitors coming from? The top states

[6:13] were North Carolina and Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Ohio,

[6:18] Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Within those states of North

[6:23] Carolina, they were traveling from the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill Triangle

[6:27] area, the Charlotte metro area, the Pedmont Triand area, Hickory,

[6:32] Statesville, Salsbury, Fateville, Lumberton, and Larnburgg.

[6:37] The collection of these details data enables us to plan for strate strategic

[6:41] advertisement placement in the states and regions and they are already

[6:45] visiting our area encouraging them to return for additional visitor spending.

[6:50] The I7374 visitor center has a partnership with North Carolina

[6:54] Department of Transportation at the I7374 visitor centers and they are

[6:59] located in Sagrove. This provides critical face-to-face visitor outreach.

[7:04] These buildings were built in 2009 and we started running them in 2012. In

[7:09] 2024, our team assisted 133,827

[7:15] visitors and that is an increase of 22% from 2023. Our visitor center staff

[7:21] handed out over 40,000 heart of North Carolina travel guides, 30,000 NCDO

[7:26] depart uh transportation maps, and 28,450

[7:30] North Carolina travel guides. They reached the guest registry at 2,933

[7:37] and that 23 additional guest international guest registries and that

[7:42] was top countries of Canada, United Kingdom and Italy. Moving on to the

[7:46] social media and website review. Our social media presents expanded

[7:52] significantly in the total page reach. The heart of North Carolina flagship

[7:56] account audience reach grew to an impressive 543,863

[8:02] visitors through the targeted paid content and digital influencers.

[8:06] Our dynamic website is the heart of our making efforts. The website visits were

[8:12] 281,000 in 2024 with a total page view of 1,326,325,

[8:20] demonstrating a highly encouraging user experience. We refreshed our website in

[8:24] 2024 as well. The calendar of events listing as a root source of information

[8:30] for advertising, social media content, and media hosting. As we look at the

[8:35] 2024 public relations and social media marketing efforts, we hosted 15 members

[8:40] of the media, including digital influencers, editors, and freelance

[8:45] writers securing valuable placement. The online placement was 85, and that was an

[8:50] estimated use of 4.87 87 million. Print placement was 13 and that total

[8:56] circulation was 2.34 in million. Television segments were 11. That was

[9:02] statewide and triangle triad markets. Links below to the website were 15 and

[9:07] that was at the heart of North Carolina.com.

[9:10] The most important number is 71 and this number is the number of tourism partners

[9:14] and small businesses that we featured. Posts from media were 147. shares of

[9:20] media stories was 18.2,000. Instagram reels reached 446,000

[9:26] and the Tik Tok place was 5.9 million. Some of the highlights based in Ashboro

[9:32] were the county miracles book released in September of 2024. We partnered with

[9:37] North Carolina's top influencers and Visit North Carolina to promote the

[9:41] Ashboro based novel by Nicholas Sparks. Ashpeil Adventure Tour is where we

[9:47] invite influencers and their families hosted in 2024 of April resulting in 28

[9:53] online broadcast social placements. The visual advertisement in 2024 we executed

[10:00] over 150 advertisements that's print and digital strategically pling markets in

[10:05] the triangle greater North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. Our key

[10:09] partnerships were with the Triangle Media Partners that was focusing on the

[10:14] Chapel Hill, Chadam, and Durham areas. Randolph Hub, that's local community,

[10:19] Military Families Magazine, that's targeting the North Carolina military

[10:22] market. And we expanded partnerships with our state magazine, blending print,

[10:27] digital newsletter components, and new social media reel produced by our

[10:33] production by our state. The new outreach was the daily downforce by Eric

[10:37] Epstitz out to the groove his YouTube channel. He has 150,000 subscribers.

[10:44] On the day of his visit, he and Thad Moffett tooured took a tour of the zoo,

[10:49] visited Victory Junction, and finished off the day at the race at Careway

[10:53] Speedway. On the creative content, the 50 fabulous finds in the heart of North

[10:58] Carolina booklet created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the North

[11:02] Carolina Zoo. And this was featured in all nine municipalities.

[11:06] County miracles was a tour site posters featuring quotes from another from the

[11:11] author Nicholas Sparks. Our 2024 success is a statement to be

[11:17] collaborative spirit of our community. Our marketing efforts are continually

[11:21] fueled by our nine municipalities and the unique attributes they offer. The

[11:26] tourism partners are our true heroes because the visitors experience they

[11:31] provide solidify our commitment to hospitality. Their passion keeps us

[11:36] focused on being an affordable, family-friendly destination

[11:39] strategically located in the heart of North Carolina. So, I want to thank you

[11:43] for your time and if you have any questions about our report, I'll be

[11:46] happy to answer them. >> Any questions related?

[11:51] » Sounds like y'all doing a great job. >> Well, thank you.

[11:54] » Thank you. >> Keep it up. Thank you.

[11:55] » Thank you, ma'am. >> Okay.

[12:02] Annual report. Mr. Rick Austin's going to give us an update on how the Haven

[12:08] went, is going to be a record.

[12:14] » Good evening.

[12:18] Earlier this year in spring, y'all awarded a contract to

[12:24] wall asphalt to do some resurfacing. In that contract was 100% extension clause

[12:30] which y'all elected to exercise. The first part of that contract you did

[12:36] Colonial Village, all of Colonial Village subdivision.

[12:40] the with the money from the extension we did we did Stone Gables, part of Siler

[12:47] Street, part of Bellwood, uh the first block of Bordeaux and Chalet,

[12:56] um going into the Bellwood subdivision. So, the front part of that subdivision

[13:01] got resurfaced. Um,

[13:06] we did some curb replacement on Ser Street because we saw that it was

[13:13] holding water that homeowners association had had added it. It's a

[13:17] ribbon street and that's the only piece of it's a small small piece of curb and

[13:22] gutter there that was holding water. We replace that and the contractor

[13:28] had a lot of damage to the curb in stone gables

[13:34] and he cleaned what he had sprayed with asphalt and I cleaned what he hadn't so

[13:40] it all would match. All right. And so between between the

[13:45] two resurfacing contracts and the little bit of maintenance work, we spent close

[13:50] to half a million dollars on streets this year. this calendar year.

[13:56] All right. When you're resurfacing, you're always at the mercy of the

[14:02] trucks, the number of trucks. So, they they come in in waves and then you got

[14:06] downtime until they can go to the plant and refill and come back. So, I used my

[14:12] time during the three days that I was here looking at the resurfacing to take

[14:17] and ride your streets and start working on your

[14:21] street report that will the part of the retreat.

[14:27] Okay. I saw I saw several streets that could use crack porn and I found two

[14:35] pretty large places that needed

[14:41] patching. When I say patching, I mean my what I what I mean by patching is full

[14:48] depth reconstruction. Okay? See, I'm digging out the street

[14:52] and I'm putting back as much asphalt as the original specifications required as

[14:58] far as traffic strength. So, I found I found um

[15:08] it's it's impossible to take and figure out how much crack pouring you have that

[15:13] you can't measure them. If you painted them, you might be able to measure them,

[15:17] but that would look awful. And then they depend on how thick they are and how

[15:22] deep they are. So there's no way to come up with a number. Last time that we did

[15:26] crack pour in Trinity, I'm thinking that we did 10,000 pounds

[15:32] and we got most of the whole town. So you probably need to do that again.

[15:38] And then you've got uh some patching that needs to be done. And there may be

[15:45] a couple streets uh I have found a couple streets that might

[15:51] that might fit the minimum for be to be resurfaced. So all that'll be in the

[15:57] retreat. Okay. Your streets are generally as good

[16:03] as anybody any you'll find in the state. They're in excellent condition.

[16:09] Uh we're keeping them. There's a rating system that's from zero to 100. Your

[16:16] city streets are all, I would think, are all above 90.

[16:20] Um, you're keeping them where they're in the the least cost to take and maintain

[16:26] and own. And you'll be able to continue to do that because you get a lot of

[16:31] power bill money compared to your street mileage because of the population

[16:36] component of the power bill equation. Over time, you're going to get more

[16:42] miles and it will get harder and harder and eventually

[16:49] maybe you'll get like Raleigh where you've got a 15und a 50y year re

[16:55] resurfacing cycle because the funding they have you

[16:59] can get around to all the city streets in 50 years. And I'm high point I asked

[17:05] for and got laughed at want a 20ear cycle. they were funding about a third

[17:10] of that to get. So I guess they had about a 60 year cycle when I was there.

[17:15] So anyway, the people we had no complaints or except that we had no

[17:22] unresolved complaints. Okay. [snorts] And people seem very genuinely

[17:28] appreciative that city's out doing stuff for them. So

[17:34] any questions? >> You going to work? Do we going to do

[17:37] what you're talking about come next this coming year or

[17:42] » I'm I'm gonna suggest that to you >> January [clears throat] February.

[17:46] » Uh crack pouring is best done when the pavement is cool and the cracks are

[17:51] open. >> So

[17:53] » that's January February.

[17:57] » I need I need to do it probably March, April.

[18:00] » And that's before the new budget. It may be before the new budget's approved. And

[18:05] I may ask you to go ahead and approve it at retreat or

[18:10] » we'll work it out. >> We'll work it out on that.

[18:13] » Any changes? >> Crackorn is special in a way because you

[18:18] have a local contractor that's on the state list.

[18:22] And last time if I add it to a resurfacing contract, it's going to cost

[18:27] me $6 a pound. You do it by the pound. He bid a $1.75,

[18:33] [clears throat] >> but he did 10,000 pounds in two days.

[18:37] » Well, good. >> He's a local It's a local guy, but it'll

[18:40] have to be done probably by purchase order.

[18:46] » All right. Any questions for our engineer?

[18:49] » Rick, does the city have any input on what the state does?

[18:54] » Yes, if you if you take it. What do you mean if I take it?

[19:00] » If if you call them up, uh when I when I

[19:05] was with Lexington, >> the city did a p a pavement maintenance

[19:11] survey of the whole town that rating system.

[19:15] » Uhhuh. >> And while I was there, it dropped from

[19:20] 72 to 68 because they didn't spend any money for three or four years. And I

[19:25] thought they were going to run me out of town because my had a failing grade. It

[19:29] was going to take it took a million dollars to move that about

[19:35] I think maybe one point. We had the numbers and the state does

[19:41] have system. They go they they have their maintenance people go out and rate

[19:47] their system and it's complicated and some of them they they booger it up.

[19:53] Okay. and we would take and interpose our numbers over their numbers and say

[19:58] we want this done in Lexington over this because we're we're seeing

[20:03] that this is in worse shape. >> Yeah.

[20:06] » Uh and the biggest problem I had with that

[20:09] is they're so slow they would ask they would ask in June city council would

[20:16] vote in July or August to make a send a letter to them. and they send a letter

[20:20] to them requesting something be resurfaced. They would include it up the

[20:26] ladder all the way to Raleigh and in February or March of the next year

[20:31] commission would vote on the award and the contracts that been written and then

[20:35] it would be the following August before the work was done. So it be it take a

[20:40] year and people would get impatient with me want to you said they were going to

[20:44] do this and why they done that Rick and I'd say you know they ain't got to it.

[20:50] » So if we have a street that's really in bad shape that's a DOT street we have to

[20:56] request that they take care of it. >> You don't have to request it. They would

[21:02] they would use their judgment and do what they felt like was in their best

[21:05] interest. what what I need to be communicating to you

[21:08] » as a political body. If you take and send them a letter saying we'd like this

[21:13] to happen, they will count that five or six times over a homeowner calling up

[21:19] saying I wish. >> Right.

[21:21] » Okay. >> So if the city So like if you got a list

[21:26] together for us for the worst state maintained roads in Trinity, we could

[21:31] send a letter on those. >> Yeah, we could do that.

[21:36] passion. >> Yeah.

[21:39] » Yeah. That's what that's the way we would do it. We'd have a you'd have to

[21:42] pass a resolution. >> Yeah.

[21:44] » And it would need to be >> uh something that was within the scope

[21:50] of what they could budget. You can't you can't ask that they

[21:55] resurface everything in town. They'd laugh at you.

[21:57] » No, I know that. >> You'd have to have to be a reasonable

[22:00] request. And I'm not real sure

[22:03] » what the upper limit to a reasonable request would be.

[22:07] » They always tell me they ain't got no money. Yeah,

[22:10] » that's a bad answer for governor. >> When you get them in public like I do

[22:13] sometimes with pop star and I show my butt, somebody's on the phone going, "We

[22:19] found some reserve money." >> Well, does is the state the same way as

[22:23] the city? They get power bill money. >> They don't.

[22:26] » They get gas tax money direct state tax. >> You're getting out of their out of their

[22:31] pool, out of their pile of money, and they don't like it. But that's the way

[22:37] it is.

[22:48] system.

[22:56] So when it comes out of that

[23:01] street [clears throat]

[23:07] [clears throat]

[23:12] » Yeah.

[23:21] And that's no different. >> They're the ones with the most traffic.

[23:31] » There's also this thing that they want you to take them over. They don't want

[23:37] they don't want to maintain residential streets inside of city limits. Right.

[23:42] » So, >> they gonna let them get looking a little

[23:46] worse than the ones out in in the county.

[23:49] » Yeah. >> Because they feel like they are more

[23:52] their constituents. >> Yeah.

[23:55] » If that makes sense to you. >> Sure.

[23:58] » Thank you. >> Okay. All minds clear.

[24:02] » Thank you guys. >> Christmas. Hope to see y'all again in

[24:06] about another three or four months. >> Yep.

[24:09] » All right. We hope so.

[24:13] All right. Uh, next is a utility regional meeting that

[24:18] the city manager and me and Mr. Walker attended the other day.

[24:23] » That's right, Mayor. On Friday, the three of us attended a countywide, all

[24:26] the municipalities in the county were there about a a

[24:32] multi-billion dollar, it was with a B, uh regional wastewater plant that would

[24:37] serve Guilford and Randolph County. How Trinity fits in that, we're not

[24:44] quite sure yet. We just want to get that in front of the council. There'll be

[24:49] more coming up in the out years. You know, as you know, we our wastewater

[24:53] goes into two plants or we'll go into two plants. Right now, we go all into

[24:56] Thomasville and then we'll also go into High Point's West Side, but High Point

[25:01] is part of this regionalization. So, we'll just see how it goes. I just

[25:06] want to get that in front of the council because

[25:10] um if you wanted to build that plant to start the construction, it's probably 12

[25:17] or 15 years out. And if it's 1.3 billion today, what will

[25:22] it be 10 or 12 years? Yeah. So, uh, that's that's the way the

[25:29] wastewater business is going. And unless you have anything to mayor add to that,

[25:34] that's all I have. Mayor, >> well, it's coming. Archdale is in it

[25:36] because Archdale feeds High Point. We going to be feeding High Point.

[25:40] Thomasville won't be in it, but we found out and we most of us realize

[25:46] that just like us partnering with the SH if we regionalize that we don't

[25:53] everybody don't have to have all the same equipment. So it makes the cost

[25:56] come way down even though it's going to be very expensive.

[26:01] They're talking about Ram and who was up farmers

[26:06] » Franklinvilleank. >> You know, they're cost [clears throat]

[26:10] down the road is going to be $880 for a,000 gallons of stuff.

[26:16] » If they don't regionalize it then. So, you can see

[26:22] if they regionalize you, what was it, Robbie? Three threeund something dollars

[26:26] a thing. So, >> I'm not sure what's going on in

[26:28] Franklinville. They got a mess. >> Yeah. having a ramshore boat. But

[26:31] anyway, but it's going to come and we're going to have to deal with it

[26:35] » however we have to do it. >> Well, I think the goal right now trying

[26:39] to get started now is the goal is 2050. >> That's correct.

[26:42] » So, >> but I told the mayor and mayor pro Tim

[26:46] that I didn't have all the answers, but 25 years ago I was sitting in that room

[26:51] talking about the Paymont Tri Regional Water Authority and it's up and running

[26:55] now. Yeah. So >> I may I plan to be here 25 years from

[27:00] now but not sitting in that room. >> Yeah.

[27:03] » Well, >> you may be in New York.

[27:05] » Maybe some of us will be here. >> But it's something we're going to have

[27:10] to deal with. And John just wanted to make sure that the rest of you knew what

[27:14] we know. And they've done a study for two or three years. And uh so the main

[27:20] thing is getting communic getting the uh the whole

[27:25] operation for everybody to to join in instead of

[27:30] half of them join and half of them don't join.

[27:33] » And obviously I know the council knows this but the folks on YouTube might know

[27:38] this. The more partners you have the more federal support you'll have. More

[27:43] federal dollars and more state dollars. If we all row our own boat, then a city

[27:49] like Trinity, you'll probably get not much of anything.

[27:53] » We get all the cities. We had everybody I was kind of surprised we had every

[27:57] city in Randolph County there. And uh so if we all like John said, if we all get

[28:02] on that boat, then we got pulled from the state and and the federal. So,

[28:10] all right. Well, number nine says, "Merry Christmas.

[28:14] Happy New Year. City Hall be club is December 24th, 25th, 26th, and January

[28:19] the 1st. >> Y'all put me on an order at that

[28:22] meeting. Mayor, you and the mayor proed to be through at 7:00 and at 6:58.

[28:30] » We have to drag it out for two two minutes.

[28:33] » John, are we still looking at January the 5th for Michael?

[28:36] » Yes. >> And Michael Burrough, our incoming city

[28:40] manager, was there at that meeting. And uh January 5th, watch your mail. And uh

[28:45] we'll be getting the invitation list out too. And I spoke with Michael today to

[28:49] get his mom and dad's address and his family and all that. Be a big day. So

[28:54] watch your email for the invitation. >> We're going to do that here.

[28:58] » We'll do that in here. Yes. >> Okay. Anything else from council for Mr.

[29:03] Walker does his job?

[29:08] » Motion we adjourn. >> Second.

[29:10] » Second. All in favor? I told Mama Michelle to come tonight.

[29:15] It's going to be less an hour and a half.

City Council Meeting December 8, 2025

Transcript