City Council

City of High Shoals Regular Council Meeting September 12, 2023 • Call to Order o PJ Rathbone called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. • Invocation • Pledge of Allegiance • Approval of Agenda—Add to the agenda, overtime for employees for October 14, 2023, was asked by Kathy Rhyne. o Motion to add to the agenda by Kathy Rhyne, seconded by Jimmy Laws. All in favor. o Motino to approve amended agenda by Denese Cook, seconded by Kathy Rhyne. All in favor. • Approval of Minutes o Motion to approve previous minutes by Kathy Rhyne, seconded by Bobby Vassey. All in favor. Citizens’ comments/concerns: The City of High Shoals Council offers citizens the opportunity for Public Expression issues per NCGS 160A-81.1 (limited to 3-5 minutes per speaker). Barbara spoke to the council. She said the playground looks great and said she appreciated the council installing it. Bernice Black spoke to the council. She stated she spoke to the Mayor previously about the city stopping purchasing diesel from her store. The state came out & used a camera in her lines, proving that nothing is in her lines and there are filters on her pumps. Ray’s purchases thousands of dollars weekly and the fire department gets their fuel from her. The Mayor said they were doing it on an interim basis for the trash truck regeneration. The council said in 2019 that they would purchase fuel from Deans’, and we have to revisit the issue. The main thing is that the city needs to incorporate so they’re not paying double taxes. 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 a meeting. Wanted to acknowledge the anniversary committee and the clerk for getting the ball rolling on things. Speedbumps on Midway Alley was requested. Someone living at the Day’s house on River St. ➢ Departmental Reports: ➢ Police Report-Gaston County o Sargent Williamson was sent to go over the Crime Statistics. • Case Highlights o Domestic Assault Felicia Johnson was arrested o Larceny Motor Vehicle o Non-fatal overdose on N. Lincoln St. o Arrest near Post Office Jarquis Jackson from Lincoln County o Order for Arrest 103 Frye St. Lisa Ose on August 10 o Calls for service – 34 non-emergency calls, 82-officer initiated o 8 attempted warrants, 2 license checks o 13 special checks at the Park/Cemetery o 4 special checks at Lincoln Terrace, 7 checks at Town Hall o 103 Frye & 413 Lincoln St. special checks 1  ➢ Financial-Dennis Cash o Checking = $406,326.00 o Savings 1= $160,356.30 o Savings 2= $11,103.36 o Capital Mgmt= $45,639.79 o Total= $623,491.14 ➢ Cemetery-Denese Cook o Nothing today ➢ Water/Sewer-Bo Rhyne o Water lines are having an issue with the flows coming from hydrants. River & Frye is down to a trickle and should have pressure on it. Two-Brothers has come out to figure out why. No issues with the houses. Something is definitely something wrong with the hydrant or the line that supplies it. • There’s a metal line that isn’t hooked to the system ➢ Streets/Maintenance/Sanitation-Kathy Rhyne o Will be changing out banners for the 3rd week of September, military banners will go up and the anniversary banners will be transitioned to the Park. o Trash truck did not finish collections today. It will be resumed tomorrow. ➢ Parks/Recreation-Bobby Vassey o Yard of the Month: 514 N Lincoln St. ▪ Louie/Judy Taylor o Update on 50-year celebration • Kathy spoke and asked council if they’re planning to work during the event if they’d sign up. Requested everyone to put out yard signs in their yard and outside of the city. ➢ Vehicles-Jimmy Laws o HS1 has a transmission issue. If anyone knows of a reputable DNL on Hgwy 150, $2000 + tax o HS3 has flat tire on it. o Tractor needs to go to James River for service. o Trash Truck- the guys said the truck was skipping and missing badly, was driven down to Hardin Road and the truck never missed. Jimmy will be with Robby in the morning to finish the trash route. Stated transmission temperature was high in the 230-240 range. ➢ Administration/Mayor Report-PJ Rathbone o Extremely busy time. We lost one employee voluntarily. We have some resumes to go through. o Resolutions coming for revitalization. Open Public Hearing: Revitalization funds. Motion to open Public Hearing by Denese Cook, seconded by Bo Rhyne, all in favor. This is the second public hearing to apply for $950,000 to cover everyone that has signed up along with the current grant. The state said the funds will be released next week. Houses will be visited tomorrow. This particular application will be funded in December. We’ve had other applications; however, they weren’t eligible. We have to have a clear Deed. A few that applied were landlords. Motion to close the public hearing by Dennis Cash, seconded by Bo Rhyne. All in favor. 2 Close Public Hearing: ➢ Old Business: • Discussion/Action: Resolution to adopt the new Asset Management Plan ▪ This is for the water/sewer asset management plan that is important for applying more funds, and lists every meter, pipe, valve, inventory. A lot of it is based on age and gives a full asset inventory and its condition and includes the Capital Improvement Plan and we submit it to the state with the water applications. • Motion to adopt the Resolution by Kathy Rhyne, seconded by Bobby Vassey. All in favor. Discussion/Action: Resolution authorizing application for Neighborhood Revitalization CDBG Project Motion to adopt the resolution by Dennis Cash, seconded by Bo Rhyne. All in favor. ➢ New Business: • Discussion/Action: Closed Session General Statute 143-318.11 (6) Employees o Motion to enter closed Session by Denese Cook, seconded by Kathy all in favor. o Dennis Cash made motion as three write-ups in one year is a 90 day probationary period. If within 90 days, another write-up is dismissal, seconded by Jimmy Laws. Allin favor. o Motion made to suspend HS1 for travel as of September 25th for employees, seconded by Bo Rhyne, all in favor. • Discussion/Action: Diesel Fuel Trash Truck/Fuel for equipment • Bo said he always gets his fuel from Dean’s. Kathy stated that the mechanic stated to try another fuel source. Dennis stated that Shell has a contract. BP, Marathon, and Exxon which are all branded. Once a tank gets to 2 feet, QT is the first to purchase. The tanks don’t turn which causes it to rise due to circulation. Jimmy stated he had a reliable source that the fuel was a contributing factor to replacing a turbo. The machine also has a filter in it that has not been touched. We’ve spoken about using non-ethanol gas in equipment due to the ethanol in the small engines. The additive is only if it sits stagnant. • Kathy Rhyne made a motion to rescind the previous council motion, seconded by Jimmy Laws. Kathy Rhyne in favor. Bo Rhyne, Denese Cook, Dennis Cash were in disagreements. Mayor Rathbone broke the tie with a nay. The original motion of the council stands to keep ALL fuel at Deans. • Discussion/Action: Budget Amendments (F/Y 2022-2023) • Acct. No. Debit Credit • 30-8200-8110 Telephone/Postage $325.00 • 30-8200-8450 Contracted Services $190.00 • 30-8200-8500 Sewer Purchase $425.00 • 30-8200-8990 Sewer Fund Contingency $940 This will result in a net decrease of $940 in the appropriations for the Sewer Fund Contingency. To provide the additional revenue for the above, the following will be decreased. • Dennis Cash made motion to approve the budget amendments, seconded by Denese Cook. All in favor. 3 • Discussion/Action: Walk-behind mower • We purchased a push-mower two years ago, was a home-owner grade mower. PJ suggested obtaining quotes on walk-behind mowers. Jimmy received multiple quotes. Dennis made motion to allocate $500 to purchase a push mower, seconded by Bo Rhyne, all in favor. • Discussion/Action: HS-1 repairs • Jimmy found DNL off of 150 in Cherryville that would cost $2000 plus tax. Dennis made a motion to have the repair the truck, seconded by Bo Rhyne. All in favor. Dennis rescinds the first motion to repairs and creates a new motion to include tow fee and have them make it available to tow. Seconded by Denese Cook. All in favor. • Discussion/Action: 50th Anniversary employee overtime— Motion to have mandatory work on October 14, minimum five hours, (Employee choice to be paid out or comp time), made by Kathy Rhyne, seconded by Kathy Rhyne. All in favor. • Motion to Adjourn o Motion to adjourn made by Kathy Rhyne, seconded by Bobby Vassey, all in favor. 4