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 CITY OF HIGH SHOALS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING March 8, 2022 Call to Order In attendance for the regular council meeting: Jimmy Laws, Kathy Rhyne, Bobby Vassey, Bo Rhyne, Denese Cook, Dennis Cash, and Mayor PJ Rathbone. Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Agenda Add resolution to code enforcement and banners to the agenda. Motion made by Mrs. Cook and a second by Mr. Laws. All members in favor. Approval of Minutes-February 8, 2022, meeting motion to approve by Mr. Laws, seconded by Mrs. Cook. All members in favor. Citizen’s comments/Citizen 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) Beth Peedin—Proposal to allow the city to use an Event Restroom (Portable) Good of the Order: This is a time 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. Departmental Reports: Police Report-Gaston County – Captain Leatherwood Citizen calls have decreased by 7 from January 2022. Financial—(Dennis Cash) Beginning budgets—Requesting budget requests Checking: $481,266.65 Savings: $150,000.00 Capital Management: $162569.03 Cemetery—(Denese Cook) Paving completed in cemetery Water/Sewer— (Bo Rhyne) Water leak repaired on Church Street Sewer issue fixed Street Maintenance/Sanitation— (Kathy Rhyne) All call was extremely helpful for the hydraulic leak on sanitation truck. Parks/Recreation—(Bobby Vassey) Waiting for doors. Starting shortly after March 15. 129 Holly Ridge Road—Tim Edison -Yard of the Month Vehicles—(Jimmy Laws) HS1—Radiator has been ordered, replacing “in-house” Trash truck went out this morning, hydraulic line replaced this morning. Administration/Mayor Report—(PJ Rathbone) LED sign has arrived at freight division, installer will pick it up. Kevin Meyers did an inspection this week and reset traps for the beavers this week. We received an additional $10,000 to spend on Park through a state grant. Old Business: Discussion/Action—Gaston County Zoning Motion made by Dennis Cash to open the public hearing and a second by Mr. Vassey. All in favor. Public hearing is now in session. Gaston County is proposing to do a like-zoning through Gaston County and the city will be involved in the zoning cases. The only changes made were taking a few parcels that were in a non-conforming zone and putting them in their proper zone. Motion by Ms. Rhyne to close public hearing, second by Mr. Rhyne. All in favor. Discussion/Action—River Street/4th St. Fire Hydrant Cannot contact the company. Need contact information Motion to table item until the next meeting made by Denese Cook, seconded by Mr. Vassey. All in favor Discussion/Action—Asphalt paving/Road Repair on River Street Push off until next month and get other cost estimates. Motion to table until the next meeting by Ms. Rhyne, seconded by Ms. Cook. All approved. Discussion/Action—GeoModel for graveyard Motion by Mr. Cash and seconded by Mr. Vassey to table until next council meeting. All in favor. Discussion/Action—Pressure Washer It would be an additional cost of $175 for the extended wand to clean in high areas. This would be used across the board, sanitation truck, vehicles, park. It would come from four departments. $523.99+tax Motion to approve by Ms. Rhyne, seconded by Mr. Laws, all in favor. Discussion/Action—Recycling No one will accept mixed-use recyclables. We are dumping the recyclables with regular trash. Ms. Rhyne proposes to collect all recycling cans on April 6th. Motion to discontinue recycling as of April 6th made by Ms. Rhyne, second by Mr. Jimmy Laws. Five members approved, a nay by Dennis Cash. First motion rescinded by Mr. Cash. Motion made by Dennis cash to change the workshop to April 5 with a second by Mr. Rhyne. All in favor. New Business: Discussion/Action—Budget Requests needed Five-year capital plan is required. Budget workshop for March, Tuesday 29th at 6:30pm. Motion made by Denese Cook to perform Budget workshop with a second by Mr. Rhyne. All in favor. Discussion/Action--Employee education Budget 101 conference by Government Finance Officers Association March 27th- March 29th Dennis Cash made the motion to send Brandi Strange to the conference $1462.67. o Government Finance Officers Association Annual Conference—Received Scholarship for conference fees; however, does not cover transportation/hotel. • $2167.61 • $3600.28 Special meeting needed for next Tuesday, table . Motion to table by Ms. Cook, second by Mr. Cash, all in favor. • March 18th, required training by OSHA and EPA for all local government employees that are expected to respond to spills. $150 fee for each employee o This will come from water/sewer/sanitation/parks & rec ▪ Pull $60.00 from each department o Mr. Cash made the motion to send Will and Robby to this class with a second by Mr. Laws. All approved. Discussion/Action—Covid Relief application (Mr. Hester) 212 Cherry St. Relief in the amount of $200.00 Mrs. Dense made the motion to use ARPA funds for $200 with a second by Mr. Rhyne. All in favor. Lincoln St. with an account balance of $355.59 Denese Cook made motion to pay the amount with a second by Dennis Cash. Kathy Rhyne and Jimmy Laws voted against. Bobby Vassey, Bo Rhyne, Denese Cook, and Dennis Cash voted in favor. Motion passed to provide Covid relief for Lincoln St. Discussion/Action—Land swap (Fire Department) Nichole Nichols made a proposal for a land swap for land beside town hall and the fire-station that is currently in operation. Motion made by Denese Cook to consider and explore the land swap option with input from our citizens on this issue to gather information. Seconded by Mr. Bo Rhyne. All in favor. Discussion/Action--Ray’s Septic Proposal 2000 gallons tank truck for $100.00 Will generate a dump ticket each time. Jimmy Laws makes the motion to proceed with a trial basis of 3 months once Ray receives their new truck and a second by Mr. Bobby Vassey. All in favor. Discussion/Action—Zoning Application (Kenneth Henderlick) o Denese Cook made motion to approve with a second by Mr. Bo Rhyne. All in favor. Discussion/Action—Sign Rental/Advertisement Will we like to allow advertisement on the sign? Motion to table by Dennis Cash with a second by Mr. Rhyne. All in favor. Discussion/Action—City Logo/Slogan Motion to table by Bo Rhyne, seconded by Mr. Cash. All in favor. Code Enforcement Resolution—To adopt chapter 7 of code enforcement public nuisances. Denese Cook made motion to adopt Code Enforcement with a second by Dennis Cash. All in favor. Banners—Need approval for $975 at present to rent a lift to remove banners. Kathy Rhyne made motion to rent lift to remove banners with a second by Ms. Cook. All in favor. Adjournment Denese Cook made motion to adjourn with a second by Bo Rhyne. All in favor Meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.