Town Council Meeting

TYRONE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES June 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM Eric Dial, Mayor Gloria Furr, Mayor Pro Tem, Post 4 Jessica Whelan, Post 1 Brandon Perkins, Town Manager Dia Hunter, Post 2 Dee Baker, Town Clerk Billy Campbell, Post 3 Dennis Davenport, Town Attorney Also present: Krista McClenny, Recreation Assistant Scott Langford, Engineer / Public Works Director Randy Mundy, Police Chief Philip Nelson, Police Lieutenant I. CALL TO ORDER II. INVOCATION III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Comments are limited to three (3) minutes. Please state your name & address. Comments that require a response may not be answered during this time. The Council or staff may respond at a later date. Ms. Patricia Leong who lives on Yeats Court asked Council to resend the alcohol ordinance allowing alcohol in Shamrock Park. How did this come about? It would open a host of problems. We can have family-friendly fun without alcohol. She thanked Council. Council Member Campbell shared that he would meet with her after the meeting for clarification. V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made to approve the agenda with the change moving item #4 under Consent to New Business for discussion. Motion made by Council Member Whelan, Seconded by Council Member Campbell. Voting Yea: Council Member Campbell, Council Member Whelan, Council Member Hunter. A motion was made to approve the agenda with the change. Motion made by Council Member Campbell, Seconded by Council Member Whelan. Voting Yea: Council Member Campbell, Council Member Whelan, Council Member Hunter. Town Council Meeting Page 1 of 5 June 19, 2025 VI. CONSENT AGENDA: All matters listed under this item are considered to be routine by the Town Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered separately. 1. Approval of the June 5, 2025 minutes. 2. Approval of multiple event dates requested by Christ Church to be held in Shamrock Park beginning at 6:00 p.m., June 19, July 17, August 7, Nov 16, and Dec 21. No cost to the Town. All events are open to the public. 3. Consideration to renew the contract for Transportation Engineering Services with POND from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. A motion was made to approve the consent agenda as amended. Motion made by Council Member Hunter, Seconded by Council Member Campbell. Voting Yea: Council Member Campbell, Council Member Whelan, Council Member Hunter. VII. PRESENTATIONS VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 5. Public Hearing for the consideration of an Alcohol License application from Alejandro Arellano for Arellano Brothers, Inc., located at 1496 Hwy 74 N for retail consumption of beer, wine, and distilled spirits. Dee Baker, Town Clerk Ms. Baker shared that the public hearing was to consider the alcohol application from Alejandro Arellano for Arellano Brothers, Inc., located at 1496 Hwy 74, the former Mindbender VR Bar and Partners Pizza. Legal Counsel reviewed the application, and legal ads were placed along with signage. If approved, Mr. Arellano would apply for his State alcohol license. Once that is approved, they will be able to purchase and serve alcohol. They have also applied for their d/b/a for Grand Mayan Fresh-Mex Cantina. Mayor Dial opened the public hearing for anyone who wished to speak in favor of the item. No one spoke. Mayor Dial opened the public hearing for anyone who wished to speak in opposition to the item. No one spoke. A motion was made to approve the alcohol application from Alejandro Arellano for a retail consumption license at 1496 Hwy 74, Arellano Brothers, Inc. Motion made by Council Member Campbell, Seconded by Council Member Hunter. Voting Yea: Council Member Campbell, Council Member Whelan, Council Member Hunter. Page 2 of 5  6. Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Proposed Budget of $13,041,267 for the General Fund and $8,511,085 for all other miscellaneous Funds. Brandon Perkins, Town Manager, and Sandy Beach, Finance Manager. Mr. Perkins shared the fiscal year 2026 proposed budget with the General Fund totaling $13,041,266.74, reflecting an 8.7% increase. To balance the budget, staff proposed using $3,900,395.64 from the Surplus (46% of Unassigned Fund Balance). He listed some highlights, a 3% increase for employees, a new Code Enforcement Officer, and $1.8 million for the Pendleton Dam project (grant funding). He shared that the Tax Revenue was projected to increase by 4.9%. Property Tax Revenue was expected at $2, 006,523.61 (10% over last year). He added that the amount was also considered House Bill 581. Property taxes would comprise 15.4% of the total budget, which was below the national 30% average. He mentioned other funds such as SPLOST, Sewer, and Founders Day which all totaled over $8 million. Mayor Dial opened the public hearing for anyone who wished to speak in favor of the item. No one spoke Mayor Dial opened the public hearing for anyone who wished to speak in opposition to the item. No one spoke. Mayor Dial announced that the budget adoption would be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. IX. OLD BUSINESS X. NEW BUSINESS 7. Approval of Melanin Mediums LLC, Bouncin Bubbles event at Shamrock Park, July 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., open to the public. Council Member Whelan shared that the business was currently not an active business. They advertised the event and solicited food truck and vendor spaces for a cost. She asked Mr. Davenport for his advice regarding subleasing spaces. He stated that although the inactive license was a red flag, it could be easily corrected. He added that to his knowledge subleasing had never happened in the past. Ms. McClenny shared that it had not happened in her tenure. The event planner had already advertised publicly. Chief Mundy added that the event was slated for six hours and that they would need to hire an off-duty officer based on availability and pay for the use of the patrol car. Council Member Whelan made a motion to decline the event and to direct staff to draft a clear policy and to include the use of the pavilion. The motion died from lack of a second. A motion was made to decline the Bouncin Bubbles event in Shamrock Park. Motion made by Council Member Whelan, Seconded by Council Member Campbell. Voting Yea: Council Member Campbell, Council Member Whelan, Council Member Hunter. Page 3 of 5  The discussion continued regarding the formation of a clear policy blocking individuals from subleasing space. Council Member Campbell inquired about the agenda process. Council Member Hunter mentioned that sports organizations charge for the uses at Handley field. We should not restrict this event at Shamrock Park. He agreed with Council Member Whelan regarding a strict policy. Council Member Campbell shared that regarding sports organizations, the charge was part of their field use agreement. Mr. Perkins explained that the department head solidifies the item for the agenda and uploads the information into our meeting system. The agenda is then reviewed and approved before it is published. When folks want the fees waived for the use of the park it requires a vote from Council. Mr. Perkins shared that his take on the policy would be similar to the Pickleball court policy, making it clear. It would then go through a legal review. Mayor Dial stated that if the event planner for Bouncin Bubbles were to pay their business tax and not charge vendors they would be welcome to come back. Ms. McClenny stated that most events do not come to Council because there are contracts and rental fees paid. Council Member Whelan stated that the event was scheduled for six hours and that public safety was a factor. XI. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The second public comment period is for any issue. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes. Please state your name & address. Comments that require a response may not be answered during this time. The Council or staff may respond at a later date. XII. STAFF COMMENTS Chief Mundy updated Council on the department staffing. One of two conditional officers would begin July 7th, the other chose to work elsewhere. Two Sergeants were leaving, one on June 26th, the other on July 1st. He reminded Council that an Officer was currently in rehab. He explained the two layers of protection. The first was Patrol Officers and Detectives. The next level included the Certification Manager, the Major, and himself when staffing was low. Steps were being taken to hire new officers. One has been interviewed. The officer was put through the academy by Riverdale; the remainder of his contract may need to be purchased by the Town. He would brief Council if that amount would be less than paying a new hire salary for six months. Staff were also reaching out to other academies in the area for candidates. Mr. Perkins stated that staff did not have much for the July 3rd meeting and suggested canceling the meeting. A motion was made to cancel the July 3, 2025, meeting. Motion made by Council Member Campbell, Seconded by Council Member Whelan. Voting Yea: Council Member Campbell, Council Member Whelan, Council Member Hunter. Page 4 of 5  Mr. Perkins announced that the Budget adoption would be held on June 26, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. He stated that there would be a runoff for the Public Service Commissioner position on July 15th at the Library. XIII. COUNCIL COMMENTS Council Member Campbell inquired about informational signage for the new pavilion at Shamrock Park. Mr. Trocquet shared that it was created and would be placed at the park soon. Council Member Campbell announced that the Elks Club of Tyrone was opening their new location next to Zestos. They would be hosting Bingo on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Council Member Hunter thanked Mr. Langford for his efforts on the Dogwood Trail paving project. Mayor Dial shared that he had received compliments on Officer Penny Mentch and asked Chief Mundy to share for her to keep up the good work. XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION XV. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made to adjourn. Motion made by Council Member Hunter. Voting Yea: Council Member Campbell, Council Member Whelan, Council Member Hunter. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. By: Attest: Eric Dial, Mayor Dee Baker, Town Clerk Page 5 of 5