Town Council Work Session

Page 1 of 3 TOWN OF ST. JAMES WORK SESSION MINUTES April 18, 2024 The St. James Town Council held a Work Session on April 18, 2024 in the Earl Dye Council Chamber. Mayor Toner opened the Work Session at 10:00am. Council Members Present: Mayor Jean Toner, Mayor Pro Tem David DeLong, Councilors Jim Board, Lynn Dutney, and David Morgan. Staff Present: Town Manager Jeff Repp, Finance Director Pauline Haran, and Town Clerk Laura Williams Others Present: Brunswick County Board of Elections Staff Members Sara LaVere, Edward Lewis, and Ryan Childress, State Port Pilot Reporter Eliot Duke, and 6 residents. Administration Update a. Fire Fees and Pending/Future Development in SJ Fire District Town Manager Repp discussed the fire fees in the St. James Fire District. He reviewed his PowerPoint presentation with Council. The fire fees the Town currently assesses is about 50% of what the Town could collect. The fire fees are levied by commercial, residential, and vacant properties. The SJFD Board of Directors can approach the County and request an increase in fire fees if the Board decides to do so. The fire district does exceed the Town’s jurisdictional boundaries. Mr. Repp stated that at the February Work Session, the Fire Department and Council discussed purchasing capital equipment in the future, and the need to fund the equipment in addition to the current funding being requested. The increase in fire fees would assist with funding this equipment. Mr. Repp then discussed significant developments that are either approved or considered significant developments according to the Brunswick County Planning Department website. Mr. Repp reviewed a few of the developments surrounding the St. James area. The County has approved St. James Center, St. James Village, Mirasol (will need to be approved again since originally approved in 2015), Evolve Southport Apartments, and Liberty Healthcare. b. March 2024 Zoning Report Town Manager Jeff Repp presented the March zoning report. There were 10 total zoning permits issued, 7 new construction and 3 additions/modifications. The cumulative total of permits issued in the last 12 months were 90 new construction and 77 other permits. c. March 2024 Community Center Monthly Report and Survey Town Manager Repp reviewed the Community Center reports for the month of March. From January to March, there were a total of 715 reservations and the revenue billed for the same time period totaled $29,368. The Community Center activity and revenues continue to increase year-over-year. Mayor Toner inquired about the Community Center parking lot lights being replacement and Mr. Repp responded that he has and will continue to contact Clayton with BEMC to obtain an update. He did state Melton Electric should be on site in the next couple of  Page 2 of 3 TOWN OF ST. JAMES WORK SESSION MINUTES April 18, 2024 weeks to replace the ground wall lights that illuminate the buildings. d. Wellhead Protection Zoning Overlay District - Councilor Board Councilor Board presented an update on the Wellhead Protection Zoning Overlay District. He discussed the monitoring of the depth being dug at the Mirasol property. He then discussed the inclusion of performance standards to the County’s wellhead protection zoning overlay district document. Councilor Board’s presentation can be found on the Town of St. James Website. e. Early Voting - Community Center Town Manager Repp introduced Brunswick County Board of Elections Director, Sara LaVere. Ms. LaVere discussed that the Board of Elections will not be able to use the Southport Senior Center as an early voting location for the general election. The Board of Elections (BOE) relies on publicly funded, tax supported buildings to hold early voting. The BOE has no control over the timeline of the 17 days of early voting. It is set by state statute. About a year ago, the Board of Elections requested to use the Community Center for an early voting location and the Town offered the Council Chambers, but that space is insufficient. Ms. LaVere discussed the issues with other early voting locations in the area and stated that the St. James Community Center was the best option. Mayor Toner inquired about the hours of early voting. Ms. LaVere stated that the hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00am-7:30pm, Saturday will likely be 10:00am-3:00 or 4:00pm, and Sunday hours are not yet set. Mayor Toner expressed concern regarding interrupting or cancelling scheduled activities and special events in the Community Center during the 17-day span. She also discussed concerns regarding safety, security, and staffing. Councilors Board and Dutney, and Mayor Pro Tem DeLong also agreed it could pose issues with safety and security. Mayor Toner did inquire if Early Voting could be available at both the Southport Senior Center and St. James Community Center. Ms. LaVere stated that the BOE does not have enough staff to staff two locations. Mr. Edward Lewis, Board of Elections Chair, spoke to Council about the BOE coordinating with the Brunswick County Sherriff’s Department to direct traffic to assist with safety concerns. Mr. Repp asked, hypothetically, if the town said no what would be the next steps. Ms. LaVere said that if the county Board of Elections decided that there were no other alternatives and that the community center was the only viable location, then the county board would vote on that decision. That decision would then be forwarded to the State Board of Election for final action/approval. Ms. LaVere and Mr. Lewis thanked Council for their time. The Board of Elections staff left the meeting at 11:10am. Finance Update Mrs. Haran discussed the to date revenues as of April 15th, which totaled $4,740,738. The Town’s expenditures totaled $2,734,328, which is 53% of the budget. That number does not include the check that will be written for the St. James Fire Department’s fire truck. The sales and Ad Valorem taxes collected for sales in February totaled $242,261.  Page 3 of 3 TOWN OF ST. JAMES WORK SESSION MINUTES April 18, 2024 Mrs. Haran stated the St. James Fire Department is keeping one of the two Viper radios. The other radio will be kept in Mr. Repp’s office. The Town did not have to pay for either radio. Mrs. Haran stated that the generator fuel tank and been replaced and installed, that was approximately $13,000. The hot water heater at Town Hall needs to be replaced, that will cost approximately $3,000. The outdoor ground lights are scheduled to arrive April 19th and will be installed within two weeks, the cost is about $38,000. Mrs. Haran stated the Town renewed the annual AV contract with Clark-Powell, which is about $12,000. Mrs. Haran then presented her Balanced Budget Presentation for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. In summary, the property tax rate will remain at $0.06, there is an overall 3% increase in revenues, and there will be increases in Administrative and Community Center salary and benefits. There are also increases in operating expenditures such as liability insurance, landscaping, animal control, janitorial, yard debris, and the St. James Fire Department operations. There are a few news projects included in the budget such as access road paving, Veteran’s Day breakfast, McGill & Associates consult to do a feasibility study of Community Center expansion, and tables and a projector for the Community Center. Mayor Pro Tem DeLong stated that the NC 211 project is now 45% complete, this only pertains to the funding and not the actual construction. Adjournment Mayor Toner adjourned the Work Session at 11:57am. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Laura Williams, Town Clerk Jean R. Toner, Mayor