City Council

TOWN OF PINE LEVEL MINUTES OF REGULAR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MAY 11, 2020 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Jeff Holt called a regular meeting of the Pine Level Board of Commissioners to order on Monday, May 11, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL √ Mayor Jeff Holt √ Commissioner Greg Baker √ Commissioner Jimmy Garner √ Commissioner Phil Pittman √ Commissioner Bill Radford STAFF PRESENT Consultant Dan Simmons, Public Works Superintendent Ray Stuckey, and Deputy Clerk Connie Capps Others present: Kevin Kornegay INVOCATION AND PLEDGE Mayor Holt gave the invocation and Commissioner Garner led the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ADDITIONS: Under New Business #10: 10A Triangle Council of Government (JH) 10B Call for a public hearing for Planning & Zoning Request (JH) MOTION TO ADOPT: Phil Pittman SECOND: Jimmy Garner VOTE: unanimous MINUTES: APRIL 13, 2020 MOTION TO APPROVE: Greg Baker SECOND: Jimmy Garner VOTE: unanimous PUBLIC COMMENT None. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES SENIORS GROUP: Commissioner Pittman stated Senior meetings are on hold due to COVID-19 virus. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENTS POLICE: Commissioner Garner gave the board members a copy of the police calls for the month and stated that everything was going well. Mayor Holt stated that an officer resigned about 30 days ago and the town has advertised for a police officer. He said the Police Chief has some possibilities and may be coming to the board soon with some recommendations. PARKS & RECREATION: Commissioner Radford reported that the ditch tile behind the dug outs at the park need repair. He asked that Ray Stuckey and Scottie Hayes check on this and recommend what needs to be done. Commissioner Radford ask the board what were their feelings concerning July 4 th activities and fireworks. He said not knowing what the situation will be at that time. After some discussion the board agreed to wait until June to make a decision. WATER/SEWER: Dan Simmons reported that a Resolution for the Water and Sewer System Project has been prepared by the bond counsel, Charles L. Steel, authorizing the Mayor to act on the town’s behalf in signing and submitting the application to the Local Government Commission. Mayor Holt read the resolution. (The Resolution is hereby incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Dan Simmons stated that the interim financing was $2,020,000.00 and the project cost was $2,265,900.00 and of that $639,000.00 is grant money. He said once the $2,020,000.00 is spent the grant money will kick in to pay the rest. The grant money will be used last. He said the town needed to spend all the money in order to receive the grant money. MOTION TO ADOPT: Phil Pittman SECOND: Greg Baker VOTE: unanimous Dan Simmons gave the board members copies of the bid opening for the water and sewer project that was held, and stated for information purposes that eight qualified vendors submitted bids for the water and sewer improvement project. The bid was awarded to Stuckey’s Backhoe Service/ DBA RD Braswell. He stated that the low bid was higher than the approved loan amount so they had to make some minor changes. The contingency was $209,200.00 and now will be $188,904.00. He stated that all is well in accomplishing the goals of this project. STREETS: Commissioner Baker commented on the Food Trucks at the park, Cattail Q and Taco Wagon. He said there was a great turnout and the food was great! He stated that Scottie Hayes did a great job in helping with this. He said the group would like to set up again in a week or so on Saturday and Sunday with a Waffle Truck. It was suggested that the food trucks use the back side of the park due to all the traffic along Highway 70-A and easier to get the cars in and out. The board agreed that this was good as long as it does not interfere with Parkside Café hours. Public Works Supt. Ray Stuckey reported there was a lot of trash being picked up. He said residents are home and cleaning out their garages and barns. Commissioner Radford said he would like to compliment the men in the street department. He said they deserve a lot of credit and are doing a great job and he appreciated their hard work during this time. The board agreed. Ray Stuckey also informed the board of the installation of antennas and wires being installed on the water tank. Commissioner Baker also asked what was the status on the street lights submitted in November. Deputy Clerk Connie Capps said she had an update from NCDOT and they would be installed by Pike Engineering as soon as possible. STAFF: Mayor Holt reported that all employees are doing a great job, and all are healthy. He stated that he receives updates from Dr. Pearson from Johnston County on the number of cases of COVID-19 by the zip code listing. He said as of May 4th there has not been any reported cases in Pine Level. The Mayor reported that he saw where some town hall offices are beginning to open their doors to the public. He suggested since there is no direct contact with the citizens due to the glass at the counter that the town hall could open the front doors next Monday. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS TRIANGLE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT Mayor Holt stated that the Town of Pine Level was once a member of the Triangle J Council of Government. He said it was a great organization that benefits the town. The cost to join is $650 per year. He said they provide many services to towns, and staff are available to assist with questions concerning planning/zoning, writing policies, and training. Newsletters are sent out with good information as well. The organization meets monthly. He said if the board wishes to rejoin this organization, the board would need to adopt the enclosed resolution. The board agreed this would be beneficial to the town. MOTION TO ADOPT: Greg Baker SECOND: Bill Radford VOTE: unanimous PLANNING/ZONING REQUEST Mayor Holt stated that Mrs. Jean Peedin Thompson and Sherill Thompson have submitted a map for a 14-acre parcel located on Janie Road in the Pine Level ETJ. Part of the parcel is in Pine Level’s ETJ and the other part is in Johnston County’s jurisdiction. They are requesting voluntary contiguous annexation due to the property backs up to Pine South Subdivision. He said they have petitioned the Planning Board with this request as a major subdivision due to the acreage of the tract. He said the board would need to call for and schedule a public hearing at their next meeting which will be June 8 th. MOTION TO SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING: Phil Pittman SECOND: Jimmy Garner VOTE: unanimous BUDGET Mayor Holt informed the board that there are many things to consider this year in the budget. He stated that $204,000 was budgeted for sales tax revenues. He said due to COVID-19 the town may only receive 60-70% of that money. He said as bad as March and April were, we will not know how much the town will receive until June or July. He said that the next board meeting will be held on June 8 th and can be a scheduled work session as we should have a rough draft of the budget to view by that time. The board discussed water and sewer rates which will need to increase due to the water and sewer improvement project. He said we may not have to increase rates this year, but we would definitely have to increase in the following year’s budget. He also said he had not received a definite amount requested from the fire department, and said he would contact Fire Chief Brannan Barbee on the amount. He noted that Johnston County ‘s bulk water purchases were increasing from $2.65 to $2.85 per thousand gallons. He said other items to consider are increases in salaries and retirement, and sewer transmission fees. He also stated that the garbage truck would need to be financed between now and July 1 st, and that the payment on the new service truck was not due until July 1 st. MEETING ADJOURNED There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. MOTION: Greg Baker SECOND: Bill Radford VOTE: unanimous Connie N. Capps ____________________________ Deputy Clerk Jeff Holt, Mayor