City Council

MAYOR P.O. Box 6, High Shoals, N.C. 28077 CLERK PJ Rathbone Tel: (704) 735-1651 - Fax: (704) 735-5595 Brandi Strange Regular Council Meeting City of High Shoals January 11, 2022 The regular meeting of the City of High Shoals Council was held in City Hall at 6:30 p.m. on January 11, 2022. The following members of council were present: Mayor PJ Rathbone, Bo Rhyne, Dennis Cash, Denese Cook, Kathy Rhyne, Bobby Vassey, and Jimmy Laws. Call to Order—High Shoals City Council meeting for January 11, 2022, was called to order by Mayor Rathbone at 6:30 p.m. Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Agenda Mayor Rathbone would like to add departmental reports, ADC resolution and two additional applications for relief. Ms. Kathy Rhyne would like to add appointing the town clerk since there are new council members, Holly Ridge beaver issues, and a city newsletter. Motion to amend agenda was made by Kathy Rhyne with a second by Denese Cook. All members in favor. Approval of minutes Motion to approve was made by Kathy Rhyne, seconded by Denese Cook. All in favor. Citizens’ Comments/Concerns: The High Shoals City Council offers citizens the opportunity for Public Expression issues per NCGS 160A-81.1. (Limited to 3-5 minutes per speaker) 1. Robby Ray requested to speak; however, was not in attendance 2. Mr. Chastain—Requests, as a city worker, that all requests for things to be done, to have one point-of- order. It was told at hiring that Dennis Cash would be the worker’s supervisor and to whom was answered to. Good of the Order: This is a time to set aside for members to offer comments or observations (without formal motion) about the organization and its work. The good of the order is also the time to offer resolution to bring disciplinary charges against a member for the offenses committed outside of a meeting. Discussion of incoming inclement weather and road clearing exhibition. For the safety of the citizens, the roads would be a priority to keep clear for emergency and best to be preventative. A plan will be formulated to be ready, and the vehicles were to be at City Hall by Friday afternoon. Police report John Leatherwood High Shoals Crime Statistics: 3 reported crimes Citizen calls are down 6.3% Officer initiated calls were up 48% which proves more police presence Departmental Reports: Financial Report from Dennis Cash: Checking Account: $630,505.33 Capital Management: $162,566.40 Total: $793,071.73 Cemetery from Denese Cook: No update since Custom is on vacation Water/Sewer from Bo Rhyne: Dallas was to come and help with water leak. Getting quotes to fix hydrant. Vehicles from Jimmy Laws: HS3 and HS4 had tire issues, they have been replaced and repaired. Dump truck is good with two new tires, resolved at Roosevelt tires. Streets and Maintenance from Kathy Rhyne: Everything is well with streets and sanitation. Parks and Recreation from Bobby Vassey: Yard of the month is 108 North Street Mayor Report: Received an email that stated the city may be entitled to additional funds from the state. Patrick McHenry was contacted to help offset costs with water grant and the spike in prices to replace the water lines. The sign for the city is still in production but the conduit has been sent. A ship date will be determined. Old Business: Discussion/Action—River St./4th St. Fire hydrant Bo Rhyne was still working on clarifying information and warranty information. Kathy Rhyne will contact Mr. Reeves and follow-up. Motion to table was made by Dennis Cash, with a second from Bo Rhyne. All in favor. Discussion/Action—bridge/waterline replacement Due to upgrading the water system, and too many variables, the council believed it would be better to allow the water system to progress and all to wait for the meeting of the upgrades. No action for this section and will remove from agenda with no further pursuit. Discussion/Action—Utility Covid Relief 328 Cherry Street (Andrew Salas)—Denese Cook made the motion to use Covid Relief Funding in the amount of $776.58 with a second by Dennis Cash. All members in favor. Church Street (Julie Widenheimer)—Denese Cook stated the city could not use Covid Relief Funds since this case is not regarding Covid. Denese Cook made motion to deny Covid funds for Julie Widenheimer, since her condition is NOT Covid related. Seconded by Kathy Rhyne. All members in favor. New Business: Water ORC-Robert Ashley can no longer provide his services for the city. The town on Ranlo had volunteered their director of Public Works, Mr. Jason Green, to take over as Water ORC. Dennis Cash made motion to make Jason Green our ORC, seconded by Kathy Rhyne. All members in favor. Additional Bank Account (FDIC maximum coverage is $500,000) Denese Cook made the motion to open an interest-bearing savings account, seconded by Dennis Cash. All members in favor. Budget Amendment—Money is in contingency, $1500 put into education from administration department, $500 for travel, $8988 contingency and a capital outlay of $30,000 that can be used to cover for school and travel. No action on budget amendment is needed. Employee Education--$750 monthly was paid for ORC services. Mayor recommended to send Will Chastain to obtain certifications. The first class costs $395 and starts January 27, 2022. Motion was made by Dennis Cash to send Mr. Chastain to class, with a second by Kathy Rhyne. All in favor. Kathy Rhyne made a motion to accept and send Brandi Strange for the IIMC $2700 Clerks Institute with a second by Jimmy Laws. All in favor. Mike Todd, Lien for house (Patricia Todd)—Mr. Todd was a recipient of the funds for housing repair. The lien is still on the house. It is at the recommendation of Steve Austin to relieve the Todd’s of the lien with the city. Dennis Cash made a motion to relieve the lien with a second by Kathy Rhyne. All in favor. Tree trimming—Limbs are hanging on Church Street over the street causing the road to be impassible. The trees are on a citizen’s property, thus being in best interest to contact the homeowner. Denese Cook made a motion to table the item with a second by Dennis Cash. All agreed. Asphalt paving on River Street—Inquire with the same paving company that the city chose for the cemetery. Motion to table the asphalt on River Street was made by Dennis Cash with a second from Bo Rhyne. All in favor. Update utility agreements—Mandate valid mailing addresses Denese Cook made the motion to update our utility agreements that participants of the water system must have a valid mailing address. Those that do not will have a 5-day grace period to give the city a valid mailing address or services will be halted. Dennis Cash seconded, all members in favor. Records Retention Adoption—Dennis Cash motioned to adopt the states’ records retention, seconded by Bo Rhyne. All in favor. ABS resolution—ABC Board of North Carolina requires the city to have a designated official for certifications of permits. Dennis Cash made the motion to have Kathy Rhyne as ABC Control Commission, Jimmy Laws seconded. All in favor. Two additional Covid Relief Applications—100 Thompkins St. Tim Turnmire with a Balance of $195.19. Denese Cook made the motion to use Covid Funds to relieve Mr. Turnmire’s bill with a second by Dennis Cash. All in favor. Doug Haga of 118 State Street with a balance of $513.31. Discussion to remove late fees. Dennis Cash made motion to remove $50.00 of late fees, giving the balance of $463.31, with a second by Denese Cook. Clerk Reappointment—Discussion of reappointment. Denese Cook made the motion to have Mrs. Brandi Strange as Clerk with a second from Kathy Rhyne. All in favor. Maintenance plan for Beavers—Kevin Meyers has been trapping and is still in the process. Mayor recommended tabling this item until next month. Dennis Cash made motion to table beavers with a second by Bobby Vassey. All in favor. City Newsletter—Denese Cook made the motion to reactivate the newsletter by snail mail and upload to website and reevaluate in a few months. Bobby Vassey seconded. All in favor. Mr. Ray was signed up to speak, though came after moving to another item on the agenda. Council allowed Mr. Ray to address the council. All council approved to allow him to speak. Mr. Bobby Ray asked to allow to dump by regulating, metering 2,000 gallons. 100% residential, 100% responsible, licensed and bonded. A proposal to put on the next agenda to allow the council to look at the proposal to allow council to vote on the matter. Motion to adjourn made by Kathy Rhyne, seconded by Jimmy Laws. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.