Town Council

August 19, 2025 Page 1 of 5 TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025 TOWN OF SAWMILLS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING 6:00PM COUNCIL PRESENT STAFF PRESENT Mayor Keith Warren Chase Winebarger Clay Wilson Terry Taylor Melissa Curtis Kelly Melton Bobby Mosteller Dustin Millsaps COUNCIL ABSENT Joe Wesson Rebecca Johnson CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Keith Warren called the meeting to order at approximately 6:02pm. INVOCATION: Landon Hines gave the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Landon Hines led the Pledge of Allegiance. ADOPT AGENDA: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to adopt the August 19, 2025, Agenda. Clay Wilson made a motion, and Bobby Mosteller seconded, to adopt the August 19, 2025, Agenda. All were in favor. APPROVE JULY 15, 2025, REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to approve the July 15, 2025, regular meeting minutes. Clay Wilson made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to approve the July 15, 2025, regular meeting minutes. All were in favor. APPROVE JULY 15, 2025, CLOSED SESSION MEETING MINUTES: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to approve the July 15, 2025, closed session meeting minutes. Bobby Mosteller made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to approve the July 15, 2025, closed session meeting minutes. All were in favor.  August 19, 2025 Page 2 of 5 VOTE TO OPEN AND RELEASE CLOSED SESSION MINUTES OF MAY 8, 2002: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a motion to open and release the closed session minutes of May 8, 2002. Melissa Curtis made a motion, and Clay Wilson seconded, to open and release the closed session minutes of May 8, 2002. All were in favor. CALL FOR SPECIAL MEETING FOR CLOSED SESSION § 143.318.11(a)(3) FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2025, AT 6:00PM: Mayor Keith Warren asked for a Special Meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, beginning at 6:00pm, for closed session pursuant to NCGS § 143.318.11(a)(3). Clay Wilson made a motion, and Bobby Mosteller seconded, to hold a Special Meeting for Closed Session pursuant to NCGS 143.318.11(a)(3) to be held Tuesday, August 26, 2025, beginning at 6:00pm. All were in favor. PUBLIC COMMENT: No one wished to speak. RECOGNITIONS: AUGUST RECYCLE REWARDS WINNER: Mayor Keith Warren announced Ben Abernethy, Jr., as the August Recycle Rewards Winner. A credit of forty dollars ($40.00) will be added to the current sanitation bill. No Council action was required. FINANCE: REQUEST FOR DONATION TO CALDWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS: Mayor Keith Warren stated that the Caldwell County Schools requested a donation in the amount of fourteen thousand dollars ($14,000.00). Clay Wilson made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to give a donation in the amount of fourteen thousand dollars ($14,000.00) to Caldwell County Schools. All were in favor. PUBLIC COMMENT: No one wished to speak.  August 19, 2025 Page 3 of 5 UPDATES: JULY CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT: Town Code Enforcement Officer Curt Willis stated that there are twenty-three (23) code enforcement cases that is open. No Council action was required. TOWN MANAGER UPDATES: Town Manager Chase Winebarger had the following updates: • Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the landfill has went up on the tipping fees for brush. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the tipping fees went from twelve dollars ($12.00) per load to two hundred dollars ($200.00) per load. • Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that all the plungers have been switched now, and that there have only been three (3) issues with the new plungers, so it looks like the issue with the meters have been resolved. • Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that fall ball registration has been completed and there are approximately two hundred ninety-one (291) participants for the fall ball season. • Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that a selection has been made for the new Parks and Recreation job opening. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that Cory Church will start the first to the middle of September. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that Mr. Church currently works for the Hickory Crawdads and will finish their season before coming to work for the Town of Sawmills. • Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the waterline has been completed and tied in on Mill Drive and, weather permitting, work on the street will start next week. COUNCIL COMMENT: Melissa Curtis wanted to thank everyone for coming to the meeting. Bobby Mosteller wanted to thank Landon Hines for the invocation. Clay Wilson wanted to congratulate Landon Hines for getting his driver’s license. Mayor Keith Warren wanted to thank Landon Hines for giving the invocation and let Jason Hines know that he apricates him coming to the meeting. 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.  August 19, 2025 Page 4 of 5 Bobby Mosteller made a motion, and Clay Wilson seconded, to go into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 143.318-11(a)(3) at approximately 6:09pm. All were in favor. Clay Wilson made a motion, and Melissa Curtis seconded, to come out of closed session at approximately 7:13pm. All were in favor. DENTAL INSURANCE: Finance Director Kelly Melton stated that the dental insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield has an in-network list of dentists which the former dental provider, Delta, had an open-network, which would pay one hundred percent (100%) of preventive dental work, x-rays once a year and cleanings twice a year. Finance Director Kelly Melton stated that ninety percent (90%) of Town of Sawmills employees are out of network, and Blue Cross Blue Shield will only pay fifty percent (50%) of preventive dental work for out of network dentist. Finance Director Kelly Melton stated that there are only six (6) in network dentist and one (1) of those is a pediatric dentist only. Finance Director Kelly Melton stated that if an employee will bring in a bill from an out of network dentist for their preventive dental work, that the employee will get a one hundred twenty-five dollar ($125.00) incentive to help cut that cost for the first year since the Town was not aware of the additional cost to the employee. FEMA UPDATE: Finance Director Kelly Melton stated that the dental insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield has an in-network list of dentist which the former dental provider, Delta, had a open-network, which would pay one hundred percent (100%) of preventive dental work, x-rays once a year and cleanings twice a year. Finance Director Kelly Melton stated that ninety percent (90%) of Town of Sawmills employees are out of network, and Blue Cross Blue Shield will only pay fifty percent (50%) of preventive dental work for out of network dentist. Finance Director Kelly Melton stated that there are only six (6) in network dentist and one (1) of those is a pediatric dentist only. Finance Director Kelly Melton stated that if an employee will bring in a bill from an out of network dentist for their preventive dental work, that the employee will get a one hundred twenty-five dollar ($125.00) incentive to help cut that cost for the first year since the Town was not aware of the additional cost to the employee. TOWN HALL UPDATE: Town Manager Chase Winebarger gave an update on the progress of the architect for the new Town Hall construction. 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 7:29pm. ____________________________ ________________________ Keith Warren, Mayor Julie A. Good, Town Clerk