Town Council

June 17, 2025 Page 1 of 5 TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025 TOWN OF SAWMILLS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING 6:00PM COUNCIL PRESENT STAFF PRESENT Mayor Keith Warren Julie A Good Clay Wilson Terry Taylor Joe Wesson Melissa Curtis Bobby Mosteller COUNCIL ABSENT Rebecca Johnson CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Keith Warren called the meeting to order at approximately 5:57pm. INVOCATION: Skylar Triplett gave the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Skylar Triplett led the Pledge of Allegiance. ADOPT AGENDA: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to adopt the June 17, 2025, Agenda. Melissa Curtis made a motion, and Joe Wesson seconded, to adopt the June 17, 2025, Agenda. All were in favor. APPROVE MAY 20, 2025, REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to approve the May 20, 2025, regular meeting minutes. Bobby Mosteller made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to approve the May 20, 2025, regular meeting minutes. All were in favor. PUBLIC COMMENT: Cole Clark, an intern with Attorney Terry Taylor, wanted to thank council for letting him sit in on the meeting.  June 17, 2025 Page 2 of 5 Tony Potter wanted to update Council on his code enforcement case. David Powell wanted to speak to Council regarding town taxes. RECOGNITIONS: JUNE RECYCLE REWARDS WINNER: Mayor Keith Warren announced James Lail as the June Recycle Rewards Winner. A credit of forty dollars ($40.00) will be added to the current sanitation bill. No Council action was required. PUBLIC HEARING: FY 2025/2026 BUDGET: OPEN PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to open the public hearing. Joe Wesson made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to open the public hearing. All were in favor. STAFF COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the budget is balanced as required by the NC Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. The Town’s overall budget for FY 2025-2026 totals six million four hundred eighty-nine thousand seven hundred one dollars ($6,489,701.00). A few highlights of the proposed budget include no property tax increase; two-point five percent (2.5%) increase in water and sewer rates per five (5) year NCRWA Rate Study; no increase in sanitation fees; Town wide street and traffic sign assessment/replacement; Paving/repair to Oxford Drive, Gatewood Drive and Withers Drive; Additional resources for nuisance abatement and cleanup; new Christmas tree at the Farmers Market lot; aggressively addressing aging water infrastructure along US Highway 321-A; maintain current levels of services to citizens. PUBLIC COMMENT: No one wished to speak. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to close the public hearing. Melissa Curtis made a motion, and Bobby Mosteller seconded, to close the public hearing. All were in favor. COUNCIL ACTION: Clay Wilson made a motion, and Bobby Mosteller seconded, to adopt the FY 2025/2026 Budget, the FY 2025/2026 Budget Ordinance and the FY 2025/2026 Fee  June 17, 2025 Page 3 of 5 Schedule. All were in favor. DISCUSSION: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR VETERANS PARK: Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that on May 22, 2025, he spoke with Mayor Keith Warren regarding the Project Management Services for Veterans Park Storm Damage Recovery. Mayor Keith Warren spoke with Council on May 22, 2025, regarding proceeding with McGill Associates, PA, as the Project Manager for the Veterans Park Storm Damage Recovery project and a vote was taken by straw vote on May 22, 2025 as follows: Clay Wilson, at 4:04pm, voted in the affirmative; Rebecca Johnson, at 4:06pm, voted in the affirmative; Bobby Mosteller, at 4:11pm, voted in the affirmative; Melissa Curtis, at 4:13pm, voted in the affirmative; and Joe Wesson, at 4:17pm, voted in the affirmative. Melissa Curtis made a motion, and Clay Wilson seconded, to proceed with the contract with McGill and Associates, for Project Management Services for the cleanup of Veterans Park for damages caused by Hurricane Helene. All were in favor. RAILROAD COMMITTEE: Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that during the regularly scheduled February 8, 2022, Town of Sawmills Council meeting, Clay Wilson was appointed to the Railroad committee. That appointment has expired, and Council will need to appoint a new member for the Railroad committee. Joe Wesson made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to reappoint Councilman Clay Wilson to the Railroad committee. All were in favor. PUBLIC COMMENT: Mayor Keith Warren asked if anyone had any questions or comments at this time. No one wished to speak. UPDATES: JUNE CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT: Town Code Enforcement Officer Curt Willis stated that there is one (1) code enforcement case that is open. No Council action was required.  June 17, 2025 Page 4 of 5 TOWN MANAGER UPDATES: Town Manager Chase Winebarger had the following updates: • Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the eleventh (11th) flock camera will be installed this week on Baird Drive. • Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the Timberkings are doing amazing for their first year in the Town of Sawmills. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that he has gotten numerous compliments regarding the facilities. • Town Manager Chase Winebarger Chase Winebarger stated that the Mill Drive waterline project has started. Town Manager Chase Winebarger Chase Winebarger stated that the contractors will be doing the extension to Withers Drive, as well as the Virigina Acres culvert project. • Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that Ripple Fiber has now started running fiber cable through the Town of Sawmills. COUNCIL COMMENT: Melissa Curtis wanted to thank everyone for coming to the meeting. Bobby Mosteller wanted to thank everyone for coming to the meeting. Joe Wesson wanted to thank everyone for coming to the meeting and congratulate the Lady Spartans for winning the North Carolina State Softball Championship. Clay Wilson wanted everyone to pray for David Powell. Mayor Keith Warren wanted to thank Tony Potter for coming in. Mayor Keith Warren wanted to thank Kelly Price for coming. Mayor Keith Warren praised Skylar Triplett for the great job he did on the invocation. CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO N.C.G.S. §143.318-11(A)(3): Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to go into closed session. Clay Wilson made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to go into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 143.318-11(a)(3) at approximately 6:17pm. All were in favor. Clay Wilson made a motion, and Rebecca Curtis seconded, to come out of closed session at approximately 7:24pm. All were in favor. TOWN MANAGER CONTRACT: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a vote to renew the Town Manager Contract.  June 17, 2025 Page 5 of 5 Clay Wilson made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to approve the Town Manager contract as written with the exception of the insurance section, and table the insurance section until the July 15, 2025, Council meeting. All were in favor. COUNCIL ADJOURN: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to adjourn. Melissa Curtis made a motion, and Clay Wilson seconded, to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:25pm. ____________________________ ________________________ Keith Warren, Mayor Julie A. Good, Town Clerk