City Council

TOWN OF ELIZABETHTOWN July 10, 2023 Rescheduled Meeting The Elizabethtown Town Council met for its rescheduled meeting on Monday, July 10, 2023, in the Council Chamber. Those present were Mayor Sylvia Campbell, Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, Council Members Howell Clark Jr., Rich Glenn, Paula Greene, Ricky Leinwand and Herman Lewis, Town Manager Dane Rideout and Town Attorney Goldston Womble. Department Heads in attendance included Police Chief Tony Parrish, Assistant Town Manager Pat DeVane, Planning Director Rusty Worley, Director of Communications & Marketing Terri Dennison, Public Works/Engineering Director Stephen Duffy, Town Clerk Juanita Hester, Fire Chief Hollis Freeman and Finance Director Sharon Penny. Representative from the Press was Sara Fox, “Bladen Journal.” Mayor Sylvia Campbell called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. The presentation of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance were given by Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy Cadets. Mayor Campbell then called upon Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd to give the invocation. Item #3.1: Approve Consent Agenda Items Upon a motion by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, the Board unanimously approved the following Consent Items as presented: A. Proposed Agenda, B. June 5, 2023 Noon Work Session, C. June 5, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes, D. June 23, 2023 Special Called Meeting Minutes. Item #4.1: Town Manager Updates: (1) Mayor Campbell called upon Assistant Town Manager Pat DeVane to give an update on the street paving project. Mr. DeVane noted that 3 years ago the Town started a highway study for the streets to bring them up to par. SEPI Engineer graded our streets from worst to best. After 6 months of investigation, they recommended that the Town pave, patch pot holes, crack-seal city streets and finish with chip-seal. The process started last month but there were several complaints, so the work was stopped. Fog sealing was done in Forest Hills and west of Forest Hills. The crew is now busy and they are scheduled 2 years out. The intent is to go back and Fog seal in November. (2) Assistant Town Manager noted that the Town is waiting on the HUD Environmental report from the Federal Government for CDBG-NR Community Center Project. (3) Town Manager Dane Rideout noted that the Town is waiting on approval from the Federal Government. Item #5.1: Professional Services Contract for Administration Services (CDBG-NR Community Center Project) – Insight Planning and Development Town Planner Rusty Worley noted that Insight is a company from Wilmington that will process grant information and reports. Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, moved to approve Professional Services Contract for Administration Services (CDBG-NR Community Project) -Insight Planning and Development (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #5.2: Bid Award – Runway & Apron Paving Rehabilitation Project Mayor Campbell called upon Town Manager Dane Rideout to present. Mr. Rideout noted the project had been rebid by W.K. Dickson with one bid having been received on June 21, 2023. There will be milling and paving, replacement of taxiway, lights to get on the taxiway and there is a $407,000.00 match. W.K. Dickson & Company recommends awarding the contract in the amount of $3,968,720.00 to Barnhill Contracting Company. Council Member Herman Lewis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, moved to approve Bid Award- Runway & Apron Paving Rehabilitation Project (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #5.3: Proposal – Fog Sealing for Remaining Streets Council Member Ricky Leinwand, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, made a motion to approve Proposal from Riley Paving in the amount of $66,780.00 – Fog Sealing for Remaining Streets (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #5.4: Request for Designation of Deputy Finance Director Finance Director Sharon Penny requested the designation of Santanna Edwards as Deputy Finance Director for pre-auditing disbursements and signing purchase orders. Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., moved to designate Santanna Edwards as Deputy Finance Director (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item # 5.5: Appointments – Elizabethtown ABC Commission; Elizabethtown Airport/Economic Development Commission; Bladen Housing Authority; and Local Firefighters’ Relief Fund Trustees Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, seconded Council Member Rich Glenn, made a motion to reappoint Mr. Glendell Robinson to the ABC Commission, Mr. Fred Tate for Airport Commission (1- Year Term), Ms. Jessica Graham for Bladen Housing Authority and Mr. Wayne Edge (1- Year Term) and Mr. Larry Richards (2- Year Term) for Local Firefighters’ Relief Fund Trustees (Unanimous). Item #5.6: Monthly Finance Report Finance Director Sharon Penny noted that on page 2 revenues are over expenditures, water fund $1,180,019.00, page 1 sales tax estimated for April, May and June $215,000.00, utility franchise tax estimated $65,000.00, fund balance $1,441,582.00. Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, moved to approve monthly financial report (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #6.1: “Briefly” Town Manager briefed on the following: Thanked Bo Barefoot for all the activities going on at the Farmer’s Market. Sunset Jam Concert July 21, 2023 at Goldston’s Beach 7-10:00 pm. Public Services must maintain 25 miles of Town streets with $112,000.00 from Powell Bill funds, did not raise property taxes, will be working on some streets for water & sewer, 60% paving in Newtown, please have patience, 6-8 months good things are about to happen. Item #7.1: Open Forum Mrs. Cynthia Benovitz, property owner at 706 Queen Court, noted that she moved here in 2004 and the Town is doing good things that outsiders want to see. On her street it is not safe for kids riding bikes and the elderly in wheelchairs on the gravel streets. Mrs. Benovitz also noted that the water pipes on Queen Court dumps out and there is erosion, her land is moving and she had to put in a sump pump. She wants to know what the Town can do. Mr. Robert Brooks, property owner at 312 Martin Luther King Street, noted that the tanks have been removed and paperwork submitted to the Town. He wants to develop office space. Mr. Brooks asked about Golden Leaf grants. Ms. Mary McDowell, property owner at 703 Blanche Street, noted the streets are ok but there are rocks. Ms. McDowell is concerned about the wooded area at Scrimon Street, there are grapevines growing up the light pole, power goes out every time there is a storm and it looks bad. Mr. Mark Summerlin, property owner at 109 N. Newton Street, reported that the traffic coming from Food Lion does not stop at the stop sign and that could be a safety issue. With no further business to conduct, Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, moved to adjourn (Unanimous). Sylvia Campbell, Mayor