TOWN OF COATS Board of Commissioners Thursday, April 13,2023 Official Minutes  The' Town of Coats Board ofCommissioners met in regular session on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 7:00  p.m. in the Board of Commissioners' Meeting Room at Coats Town Hall.  Members Present: Mayor Chris Coats Mayor Pro-Tem. Jerry Beasley Commissioner Marc Powell Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert Members Absent: Commissioner Shirley Allen Commissioner Allen Mosby I.CALL1 TOORDER  Others Present: Nick Holcomb, Town Manager All Bain, Town Attorney Connie Lassiter, Finance Director/Town Clerk Ken Storicks, ChiefofPolice Rodney Pleasant, Public Works Director Mike Collins, Parks and Recreation Director  A quorum being present, Mayor Chris Coats called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Coats delivered the invocation and led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.  RESOLVED, to approve Agenda.  MOTION. BY: Commissioner Marc Powell, SECOND BY: Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert  APPROVED: 3-0, unanimously approved  II. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes  1. March 9, 2023 Regular Meeting 2. March 23, 2023 Budget Workshop 3. March 25, 2023 Budget Workshop  B. Approval of Attorney Bill - Services Rendered March 1-31, 2023 C. Approval of Sale for Cemetery Lots C191-192 and C623-627  RESOLVED, to approve Consent Agenda. APPROVED: 3-0, unanimously approved  MOTION. BY: Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert, SECOND BY: Commissioner Marc Powell  III. PRESENTATION  1    Dr. Linda Robinson was presented with proclamations recognizing her eight years ofs service as Mayor Pro Tem and Commissioner fort the' Town ofCoats in addition to practicing medicine for over forty years in Harnett County by Mayor Chris Coats on behalf oft the Town of Coats, County Commissioner Brooks Matthews on behalf of Harnett County, and State Representative Howard Penny on behalf of the State of North Carolina. Senator Jim Burgin presented Dr. Robinson with the prestigious honor ofThe Order of thel Long LeafPine for her significant contributions tol her community and state for medical services.  IV.PUBLIC FORUM  Mayor Chris Coats opened thel Public Forum.  Michelle Godwin announced that al barbeque fundraiser fort thel Bethel Primitive Baptist Church cemetery and church renovations would be held Saturday at the Senior Center from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  Mayor Coats closed the Public Forum after hearing no one else.  V.NEW: BUSINESS  A. Request for Easement - CloudWyze  Nick Holcomb, Town Manager, informed thel Board that CloudWyze had been working to install fiberi internet in rural areas which included Harnett County and noted that work in Erwin had been completed and they were currently working in Dunn with intentions of Coats being the next stop. Kylel Lefelhoc, Vice President ofC CloudWyze, explained that the cabinet held electronics that were the brains of the operation. He expressed that his company desired to provide internet service to the underserved rural communities such as Coats. Mr. Lefelhoc mentioned that hel had worked with Town Manager Nick Holcomb to: find potential locations for the cabinet and had identified 128 W Lemon St as a good location that would be hidden from public view. RESOLVED, to approve the request on contingency that the Town attorney reviews lease and finds no MOTION. BY: Mayor. Pro Tem Jerry Beasley, SECOND BY: Commissioner Marc Powell  CloudWyze is requesting a: 3'x5' easement for a cabinet.  problems.  APPROVED: 3-0, unanimously approved  B. Request to Purchase Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)  Nick Holcomb, Town Manager, stated that the purchase ofa Ground Penetrating Radar had been at topic of discussion at budget workshops, and it had been determined that it would be useful for mapping the water system and protecting lines from outside contract work. Town Manager Holcomb noted that money was available toj purchase the GPR now ift the Board was inclined to approve the purchase. He explained that $64,000 had been budgeted for the Capital Improvement Plan this year which included $50,000 for CIP analysis and $14,000 for emergency repairs and noted that only $12,000. had been spent for the CIP analysis, sO the purchase of the $16,000GPR  would still allow $36,000 to be returned to fund balance.  2    RESOLVED, to approve the purchase oft the Ground: Penetrating Radar.  MOTION BY: Commissioner Marc Powell, SECOND BY: Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert  APPROVED: 3-0, unanimously approved  C. Open Grant Project Ordinance - Multipurpose Hardcourt  Nick Holcomb, Town Manager, reminded thel Board that there had been agreement at previous meetings to direct the $50,000 grant that was passed through Harnett County toward park improvements with the majority of the Board interested in turning the dilapidated tennis courts into a multipurpose hardcourt that could be used for things like tennis, basketball and pickleball. The staffrecommendation was to convert the area to a grass multipurpose field that could serve as a dedicated field for the youth soccer program. A grant project ordinance needed to be RESOLVED, to approve the grant project ordinance for a multipurpose hardcourt.  established in order to proceed with the project.  MOTION: BY: Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert, SECOND BY: Mayor Pro' Tem Jerry Beasley  APPROVED: 3-0, unanimously approved  D. Investment of Funds  Town Manager Nick Holcomb informed the Board that no action was need on investment of funds, but staff was seeking options for higher interest rates and wanted to provide the Board an opportunity for any feedback. Mr. Holcomb noted that First Bank was actively recruiting for local government: funds and offered 4.25% for a $500,000 money market account. The current rate for thel NCCMT (Trust) was 4.83% with expectation to be up to 5% by May. Mr. Holcomb Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Beasley expressed that $500,000 would be okay to move from the depository. Finance Director Connie Lassiter explained that at the moment the Trust had the highest rate with expectations ofi rising higher and that money could be moved immediatelya at any time with a simple phone call should rates start to drop. Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert indicated that he would steer in the direction oft the highest rate. Commissioner. Marc Powell  asked the Board for anyi input steering investments one way or the other.  noted the relationship with the Trust was good. E. Celebrating Spiritual Unity Day  Commissioner Marc Powell relayed a request from Buster Stone asking for street closures on May 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Spiritual Unity Day to allow for pedestrians to walk without traffic posing a problem. Town Manager Nick Holcomb explained that the street closure would be at the east end ofLemon St. just up fromi the driveway entrance into the' Town Hall  parking lot as well as the east end ofI Dooley St. RESOLVED, to approve the street closures as mentioned. APPROVED: 3-0, unanimously approved  MOTION BY: Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert, SECOND BY: Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Beasley  3    VI. MANAGER & DEPARTMENT UPDATES A. Review of Financial Statement There were no questions or comments.  B. Budget Status  Nick Holcomb, Town Manager, updated the Board that thei focus had been on salaries for the budget and mentioned it was difficult to balance; there would definitely be some cuts. Mr. Holcomb confirmed that the proposed budget would be presented at the May meeting, but there may bet the need for the additional budget workshop that had been tentatively scheduled.  .N Minimum Housing Update  Town Manager Nick Holcomb notified the Board that he planned on having the contractor demolition bids and the ordinance to condemn and demolish ready to present at the May meeting for thet two properties that were given 90 days to come in compliançe as thei time would have Nick Holcomb, Town Manager, relayed that there had already been some changes, just in the first month oft the water line project. The Railroad Stj project as it was would create a pinch point where there would be one block ofaj pinched 3" line squeezed between the new 8" line and an existing 6" line, sO the Town Manager Holcomb requested on behalfo oft the auditors ift the Board would allow a remote presentation oft the audit. Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert inquired about ai reduction in cost due to the remote audit. Thel Board was in agreeance to the remote audit presentation as long as they were given a Police Chief] Ken Storicks commented that hel had interviewed a candidate to fill the vacant officer Public Works Director Rodney Pleasant thanked the Board for the approval toj purchase the GPR.  expired at that point.  engineers were proposing a change with the State right now.  copy oft the audit with graphs.  position and was optimistic about the hiring of the officer.  VII. ADJOURN  Mayor Chris Coats called for a motion to adjourn.  RESOLVED, to adjourn.  MOTION BY: Mayor Pro' Tem Jerry Beasley, SECOND BY: Commissioner Marc Powell  APPROVED: 3-0, unanimously approved Meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.  4    The attached documents ofreference are incorporated: herewith and arel hereby made aj part oft these  minutes.  Gbk ConnieL  he  Lassiter, Town Clerk  Chris Coats, Mayor  5