TOWN OF AURORA, NC BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MINUTES June 1, 2020 Meeting  A regular meeting of the Aurora Town Board of Commissioners was held at 7:00 P.M. on Monday,June 1, 2020, at the Town Hall. Mayor Clif Williams called the meeting to order with the following present:  Officials Present: Commissioners Present:  [X] Clif Williams, Mayor [X] Coley Jordan [I Brad Lee [l Jeff Peed [X] Tina Taylor  Attendance:  [X] Judith Lannon - Town Clerk/Finance Officer [X] Chuck Bonner - Public Works Director [X] Curt Hendrix - Recreation Coordinator [X] Various members of the public were in attendance  Mayor Pro-Tem Brad Lee was out of town and Commissioner Peed was unable to attend. Mayor Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance and Recreation Coordinator Curt Hendrix led in prayer. Amotion to approve the proposed Agenda was made by Commissioner Jordan and seconded by The proposed minutes for the April 6, 2020, meeting were approved on a motion made by  Commissioner Taylor witha 3toOvote.  Commissioner Jordan and seconded by Commissioner Taylor, with a 3to 0 vote.  Under Old Business, Public Works Director Chuck Bonner gave an update on the Water Treatment Plant Upgrade. Mike Tolson, the engineer with Mack Gay & Associates, had advised that the project would be ready to "break ground" as soon as the pandemic eases and the Governor lifts the lockdown. The only undecided issue was regarding the rate the Town would be paying Beaufort County for water during the installation. Mr. Bonner then advised the Board that once again, the drinking water had exceeded the allowable standard for Total Trihalomethane and public notices would be sent to customers. The Public Works Director then explained to the Board the testing process and the fact that it is a highly specialized test that cannot be performed in a regular water treatment lab. After some discussion, the Director agreed he would confer with  NC DEQ and other municipalities regarding "pre-testing" options for TTHM.  Under New Business, Town Clerk. Judi Lannon presented the 2020-2021 budget for the general fund as well as the water sewer utility fund. She advised that the Board would need to conduct a public hearing in order to receive public comment on the proposed budget. She asked that the Board consider recessing tonight's meeting and schedule a recessed for this purpose. This would also give the Board time to review the budgets in  full and have further discussion.  1    Under Staff Reports the Public Works Director Chuck Bonner provided a written report which included the  following:  The Super ZI mower is finally repaired and back in use  The wood chipper on the chipper truck has also been repaired and running fine  The new high service pumps for the Water Treatment Plant upgrade have been delivered and are being James Ham and Chuck Bonner will be attending NC Water training in Hookerton on June 4th NC Wildlife Marine Patrol is storing one oft their boats in the Public Works yard for easier access The Recreation Coordinator Curt Hendrix provided a written report which lists the many recreational activities that have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the activities that are still being performed, which  stored until the installation  isattached.  The Town Clerk gave an oral report which included the following recent activities:  Annual disbursement of the Nonprofit Governmental Entity Claim of Refund for the 2018-2019 Sales Tax for the Richland Township Fire and Rescue Tax. Refund amount was $6,528.37 Reimburse Richland Township Fire and Rescue Tax FEMA monies of $2,242.92 for the use of Reimburse the water &sewer fund from the general fund FEMA monies of $13,698.13 received Invoiced Beaufort County for the annual lease of the Dump/Container site totaling $ 8,241.00 Also invoiced the county for mowing services performed by Public Works totaling $750.00 Annual disbursement to the Richland Township Seniors of the Beaufort County Outside Agency Annual Town Allocation to Richland Township Fire and Rescue Tax of $5,000.00  equipment in clearing county roads after Hurricane Dorian due to the 7th Street lift station damage caused by Hurricane Dorian  fund ini the amount of $500.00  Under Board Comments the Mayor gave an update on the Aurora Industrial Park project and advised that the engineer on the project had come upon an issue regarding the large drainage ditch on the property. She would have to get the Corps of Engineers to come inspect the site and designate the ditch as not being "navigable" water. The Public Works Director reported that he had spoken with Mr. Tolson of Mack Gay & Associates and let him know that the Town was interested in future grant funding to replace all of the Town's  water valves as the majority of them were quite ancient.  After a short discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Jordan, seconded by Commissioner Taylor and approved with a 31 to 0 vote to recess the meeting until Monday, June 15th at 7:P.M.in order to conducta  public hearing to receive public comment on the proposed 2020-2021 fiscal year budget.  ClifWilliams, Mayor  Judith S. Lannon, Town Clerk  2    Board Report June 1, 2020  Curt Hendrix, Parks and Recreation  Activity Cancelations Due to Covid-19  EVENT Fossil Festival  Discussion  A call was made early in March to Cancel and put efforts into National Fossil Day in the Fall. There was discussion of moving the Festival to the Fall but the Board did not want to move the festival away from Memorial Organized Event at Snowden Last year. Cancelled this year. Annual Event. Cancelled Coordinated with NC Wildlife to hold fishing classes at the ramp. Series of Classes were to be held in May and. June. BSA Comes to Aurora several times throughout the yearto utilize the Fossil Museum for Merit Badges. Badges Include: Geology, Mining, Soil & Water and Fishing Plans in the works fora Recreational league consisting bf Team players from Snowden and aspiring players from the community. Plans to have a Rec League utilizing the school Gym. Did not come to fruition due to Will Try to launch a program in  Day.  Health Fair Easter Egg Hunt Fishing Classes  BSA Merit Badges  Spring Basket Ball  Spring Volley ball Spring T-Ball  timing. the fall.    Spring Softball  Has been delayed. However First Practice is 6/1/2020 using social distancing and state guidelines to keep playersand coaches safe. The Library started having classes with a Master Gardner The first class held was Weeding and Seeding. We will try to pick up where we left off as the State Snowden Elementary Principal Mrs. Windley allowed me to assign every class a garden bed to be used by the class for science and nature learning. In Partnership with the Fossil Museum a group was meeting Sundays from 2-4 to put together a history of Aurora. Courts are being used occasionally. There was little interest in the sport from students. In the fall efforts will be made to utilize the courts more from different age groups. The Museum started to sell Gallon Ziploc bags of reject to homeschoolers. This wasso successful that they sold out within minutes every time they posted on the website. Soi far there have been at least 4 batches of 200 sold for $40 per The Museum created a virtual tour to educate the kids at  Gardening Classes  opens.  Gardening at Snowden  Town History Sundays  Tennis  Programs Evolving Due to Covid-19  Survival Kits  kit.  Virtual Museum Tours  home.  2    Spring Softball  Has been delayed. However First Practice is 6/1/2020 using social distancing and state guidelines to keep playersand coaches safe. The Library started having classes with a Master Gardner, The first class held was Weeding and Seeding. We will try to pick up where we left off as the State Snowden Elementary Principal Mrs. Windley allowed me to assign every class a garden bed to be used by the class for science and nature learning. Inl Partnership with the Fossil Museum a group was meeting Sundays from 2-4 to put together a history of Aurora. Courts are being used occasionally. There was little interest in the sport from students. In the fall efforts will be made to utilize the courts more from different age groups. The Museum started to sell Gallon Ziploc bags of reject to homeschoolers. This wasso successful that they sold out within minutes every time they posted on the website. Soi far there have been at least 4 batches of 200 sold for $40 per The Museum created a virtual tour to educate the kids at  Gardening Classes  opens.  Gardening at Snowden  Town History Sundays  Tennis  Programs Evolving Due to Covid-19  Survival Kits  kit.  Virtual Museum Tours  home.  2    BSA Virtual Badges  The Scouts and Museum have collaborated to share information virtually. Washington Daily News gave the Garden front Page Coverage on Sunday April 5th. Gardening isa great social distancing activity. Icreated a 3 hole 3 par course out on land past the ball field. It has seen some activity so Iwill be perusing organized activities to lift up the course in the fall, 10:30 to 12:30 have been running lunches for Snowden Elementary Students. Although the Lunch is Free to all students, many have been left home alone or are without transportation during the pandemic. Since the Fossil Festival had been Cancelled we will have a more organized event on National Fossil Day to be held October This has been a good opportunity to Maintain and Shape the fields and Recreational Areas to a more manicured state. Weeding, Planting, Fire Ant and Pest Irradiation as well as General Maintenance.  Community Gardening  Golf  School Lunch Run  National Fossil Day  24th.  Maintenance  C