City Council

Page i of 15 City of High Shoals Regular Council Meeting February 13, 2024 • Call to Order: Mayor PJ Rathbone called to order the February 13, 2024, meeting at 6:30 p.m. In attendance are the following council members: Tim Eidson, Bobby Vassey, Bo Rhyne, Denese Cook, Dennis Cash and Mayor PJ Rathbone. Kathy Rhyne was not in attendance. • Invocation • Pledge of Allegiance • Approval of Agenda o Motion made to approve the agenda by Denese Cook, seconded by Bobby Vassey. All in favor. • Approval of Minutes o Motion made to approve the minutes from the January 9th meeting made by Mr. Cash, seconded by Mrs. Cook. 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). 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. o Judy Taylor is still having issues with drainage and washing away. ➢ Departmental Reports: ➢ Police Report-Gaston County o Drug violations on School St. and Frye St. o Three overdoses in January o One missing person o Donald Schism-Arrest ➢ Financial-Dennis Cash • CHECKING: $462,987.76 • SAVINGS 1 $160,477.65 • SAVINGS 2 $ 11,103.36 • CAP MGMT $ 46,928.36 • TOTAL: $681,497.13 ➢ Cemetery-Denese Cook o The cemetery has been extremely busy. ➢ Water/Sewer-Bo Rhyne o Water leaks are fixed except the bridge is still dripping. o Crushed recycled concrete to put on the roads or stations, such as Hardin Road lift station. o Water loss has gone from 33% down to 11%. Enormous improvement. ➢ Streets/Maintenance/Sanitation-Kathy Rhyne ▪ Kathy didn’t have anything to pass on. Ms. Rhyne is under the weather. ▪ There are a few spots where we cut the pavement, and the guys scraped the gravel back in. ➢ Parks/Recreation-Bobby Vassey o Yard of the Month: 310 Old Hardin Road ~ Chase Heafner ➢ Vehicles- Tim Eidson o A few phone calls were made to obtain vehicles. Dominion won’t sell any trucks. Page 1 of 15 Page ii of 15 ➢ Administration/Mayor Report-PJ Rathbone o PJ stated that in April we will begin budget workshops. There is a procurement workshop in Raleigh. If you have anything in your mind that you want to do in your department, please attribute it during the budget workshops. More than likely, it may be better to purchase. o The bench, receptacle, trash can, leash holder and bike holder. o If you purchased a Boston butt, he has met his goal for the financial piece for the flagpole. He will also have enough money to purchase a memorial bench and will be for the Eagle Scouts. o Mill Property—The information is from the Mill Property from 2017 and 2018. They want to take additional sediment in the tributary. We are scheduling an appointment for further information with the DEQ. The transformer area is an arsenic hotspot. PCV oils are extremely bad and must be shipped to Alabama. Denese asked what PAH contamination. Benzopyrene is a chemical product of combustion. o Our new employee started yesterday. o There is a Gaston County Rehabilitation Grant that can help out our residents as well. This is another resource that our residents can utilize. o True Home had surveyors out today. Should be breaking ground next week. ➢ Old Business: • Discussion/Action: Calendar o Easter March 30th 12 p.m.- 2 p.m. ▪ The Church will be working with Bobby. • Discussion/Action: Take-home vehicle policy. o Motion to adopt the take-home vehicle policy made by Denese Cook, seconded by Mr. Rhyne. Mr. Vassey, Mr. Rhyne, Mrs. Cook, Mr. Cash voted ayes. Mr. Eidson voted against. ➢ New Business: • Discussion/Action: GS 143-318.11 Closed Session The personnel exception – (a)(6) *Must propose motion to go into closed session by citing (A)(6). o Does not apply to general policy issues. Discussion must be about one or more individual employees. o Does not apply to independent contractors, except possibly the unit’s contracted attorney. o Does not apply to discussions about members of the public body itself, including applicants for appointment to the public body. o Does not apply to discussions about members of any other public bodies, including applicants for appointment to those public bodies. o Final action to appoint or discharge an employee must be made in open session. o If the discussion involves confidential information or records (which it often does), attendance is limited to those who have legal access the confidential information. Otherwise, there is no legal limitation on who may attend. Motion to table made by Mr. Cash, seconded by Mr. Vassey. All in favor. • Discussion/Action: Contractor’s Agreement o PJ explained that this is for any contractor who is on the council or anyone to provide services in the city. This will allow us to utilize Tim’s Trenching within the laws of North Carolina. Page 2 of 15 Page iii of 15 o Tim Eidson recused himself from voting. o Denese Cook made a motion to accept the agreement for Tim’s Trenching & Boring, seconded by Bo Rhyne. All in favor. Page 3 of 15 Page iv of 15 Page 4 of 15 Page v of 15 Page 5 of 15 Page vi of 15 Page 6 of 15 Page vii of 15 • Discussion/Action: Financial Policies: Purchasing Policy, Vehicle Replacement Policy (CIP), Debt Management Policy, Fund Balance Policy, and Vehicle Usage Policy o Mr. Cash made a motion to accept all polices, seconded by Mrs. Cook. All in favor. ▪ Motion passed. Page 7 of 15 Page viii of 15 Page 8 of 15 Page ix of 15 Page 9 of 15 Page x of 15 Page 10 of 15 Page xi of 15 Page 11 of 15 Page xii of 15 Page 12 of 15 Page xiii of 15 Page 13 of 15 Page xiv of 15 Page 14 of 15 Page xv of 15 • Discussion/Action: Carolina Lift Station – Pump o In December we had a pump failure at the Hardin Road lift station. We had a new pump put in. In January we had to pull a pump and put our spare in. At the moment, the only spare we had needed refurbishing. PJ spoke with the office lady and the service technician. They recorded the serial number of each pump. It was indeed two different serial numbers. However, the one that has come out of the station needs refurbishment. Due to the continuous issues with the pumps, there are no funds available. If we do this, there will be an amendment to the budget, or we can roll the dice and see if they will last until July 1. o Motion made to approve having the spare repaired made by Mr. Cash, seconded by Bo Rhyne. All approved. • Motion to Adjourn o Motion to adjourn made by Denese Cook, seconded by Bo Rhyne. All in favor. Page 15 of 15