Town of Cramerton Board of Commissioners Meeting January1 16,2024-6 6:00p.m. G.M. Michael Commission Chamber -1 Town! Hall, Cramerton,NC  Mayor Nelson' Wills called the meetingt to order ate 6:00p.m. on. January 16, 2024, int the G. M. Michael Commission Chamber, Town Hall, Cramerton, North Carolina and determined' there was ac quorum. Mayor Wills presented the Invocation and led the audience int the Pledge of Allegiance.  PRESENT: Mayor Nelson' Wills  Commissioners:  Richard Atkinson Scott Kincaid Kathy Ramsey Dixie Abernathy Jennifer Ramsey  Town Manager Zach Ollis Assistant Town Manager. Josh Watkins Town Attorney Karen Wolter  ITEM3:A ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  Zach Ollis requests tor removei item 6cf from the consent agenda anda addt to8 8ct to discuss changes tot the An motion was madet to approve the agenda as amended by Commissioner Kincaid. The motion was  minutes.  seconded by Commissioner K. Ramsey. The vote was 5to Oinj favor.  ITEM4 4: PUBLICCOMMENT  Towno of Cramerton citizen Ali Bahr - She asked the boarda as youa are approaching! budget discussion, taxes, bringing a thought toy your attention. In Planning and Zoning wel hada a really nice discussion: about mass exodus from al lot ofs states and ther massive ingrowtht tot thes south, particularly' this immediate region, this area. Irealize that taxes go up, they! had to gou up. Personally, mine went up 50%. They'res still Fora allt the people that are coming from other areas tot themt the taxes are: stilla al killer deal. Asf forl locals that have lived here forever who dos get a severe impact by a huget tax! hike. Great compromise, what youd dof for us asr residents, wherey you thoughtfully put the money; Recreation department, Confluence, Riverkeepers, the Thread Trail. All these areas that willl benefitt the citizens being ablet to dof free,  less than) Kv what my taxesi inr my home state a decade ago.  inexpensive things.  ITEM 5: Proclamations and Presentation  Sa: Carolina Thread Trail  Ashton Lamba and Bret Baronak presented: a presentation on! how the Carolina Thread Trail cana assist Thee existingt trailr mileage in Cramerton is 4.5 miles; 2.6p paved,. .7 natural surface, 8 sidewalks, and. .4 miles ons street. Planned trail mileage 4.2 miles; 2.7 paved, 1 naturals surface, and. .5s sidewalks witha grand total of8.7r miles. Cramertoni is %V wayt there withy what has been built out ofv what has been planned. Al loto oft thep planned/future trails willl bei implemented by developers asap part oft their Currently two oft thet trails; Rocky 8ranch and River Link Greenwayl both have traild counter that provide data as tot trail usage. This information is captured by ani infrared beam when crossed.  Cramerton withf future trail projects and the servicest they offer.  residential developments.    Wayst that they can help. Grant writing assistance. Planning assistance. Education (Regional Round Tables &1 Trail Forum). Landowner outreach. Partner & community outreach. and CTT Implementation Since 2009 the CTT Implementation Grant Program has assisted the Town of Cramerton with at totalof  Grant Program.  $315,750.7 7 different projects received fundsf from the grant program.  5b: Gaston Business Association 5c: Sea and Shore  Steve D'Avria, Senior' Vice President presentedap presentation. about the Gaston Business Association Brian Henry, Chief Operating Officer presenteda a presentation: about Sea & Shoreline Aquatic With ther resent flooding there was much discussion. aboutt thes services Sea & Shoreline cand offer the Town moving forward.. Also, talks aboutt tryingt tof form some type ofr regional group or committee working with others surrounding counties and those upl Northt tot find ways to! helpp prevent futurei issues. Doug Glenn, President presenteda a presentation. about the Cramerton! Historical! Society  Restoration.  5d. Cramerton Historical Society  ITEM 6: Consent Agenda  6a: Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes from November: 14, 2023 6b: Boardo of Commissioners Meeting Minutesf from December 12,2024 6c: Boardo of commissioners Meeting Minutes from January2,2024 6d: Conflict ofl Interest Policy for State Appropriation Grants  Theser minutes were moved tos 8ct to discuss the changes tot the original minutes presented. 6e: Appointment of Cramerton! Economic Development Advisory Committee Board Members (CEDAC) Amotion was made by Mayor Pro Tempore to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded  by Commissioner Kincaid. The vote was 5to Oinj favor.  ITEM7: Agenda Items Requiring a Public Hearing ITEM 8: Agenda Items NOT Requiringal Public Hearing  None  8a. Hotwash for 01/09 Storm  Chase Sturgis, Stormwater. Administrator talked about the impacts oft the January g" storma andi flooding in Cramerton. Ap presentation was presented with photos and mapst tos showt the areas andi the extentof thef flooding. The water cresteda at1 15.141 feet, this being abovet the moderate floodi levela anda almost toa majorf flood level. Thesel levels have not beent this highs since 2020 and before 2013. Afewb bullet points- - 15.141 feeti ist thel highest crest oft the South Fork River since 2020. Cramer Mountain Road and Riverside Drive were: shut downo due tot the risingf flood waters. 81 Town parks andr river access areas were closed until further notice due to thet flooding. Staff willl begint to assess flood damage when Town! Manager Zach Ollis gave anu update ont the current pricef for1 the discussed lighting; Quotet that was givinge earlier has not changed. For thet four poles the cost would be $13,010.00. Abudget amendment will need tol ber madet tor move forward. Allr members agreed toh have Mr. Ollis begin thep process.  ther river begins tof fallt toi its normal level of3feet.  8b. Lighting at Timberlake    8c.E Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes from January 2,2024  The following minutes were either added orr revised from the original presented. Mayor Wills commented about the Senior programingi in the morning. There'saf facility right downt the streett that would bei ideal for this. It's dark until 4pm 3 out of40 days a week. Brandon! Free - We'rel lookingf forward toad couple ofp partnerships: asv well. Goingt tor meet with Gaston County Art Council, seeinga aboutt the use of programing out oft the Confluence location. We definitely Mayor Wills asked Josh Watkins tos show the page ont the: spreadsheet that lists allt the Municipalities in Gaston County'st tax rate and property values. Outo of12 we have the gth lowestt tax rate. We are the 4th largest municipality regarding property values, 4t largest gth lowest. Between usa at 4151,121,424820.00); and 5(Dallas $532,476,793.00)1 is almosta a! Kab billion-dollar, gap, close toi it. *Refert toa agenda packet for morei information andi figures Reference top page 48i int the agenda packet- My goalist to finisha allt the downtown projects this calendar year. The motion was madel by Commissioner, Abernathy to approve the January 2, 2024, minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner, Kincaid. The vote was 5to Oin! favor.  Reference top page 45i int the agenda packet-  want to tryt to offera a variety oft things with thats space. Referencet top page 46 int the agenda packet-  ITEM9: Manager's Report  Town Manager Zach Ollis thanked Michelle Emory and Billf for all the hard work that went into preparing the Town's Audit. Audity was performed today, andi it took them one day. Thisi is veryi impressive! Mr. Ollis thanked the police department for all they do, things they'veb beeno dealing with over the past  few weeks.  ITEM 10: General Staff Reports  Josh Watkins, Planning Department Gave an update onl Land Development Code updates. Lookingt to have aj joint meeting with the Boardo of Commissioners. and the Planning Boardi int the near future to give additional updates and where we'rei int the process. Theg goalist tol have allt the updates completed and Chase Sturgis, Stormwater. Administrator Stormwater Ordinance has been finalized, willl be coming  readyf fora adoption by May. soonf fora approval.  ITEM 11: Commissioners Comments  Commissioner Kincaid- - Commentedi that! hel listened inc ont the! last Planning andz Zoning Boardr meeting. There was some fantastic discussion: att that meeting amongst the members oft thel board. Greatj jobt to Was encouraging tol hear Briany with Sea & Shoreline Aquatic Restorationi that there ares some solutions out there, nots something wel have to accepta as a Town, asab board. Nexti is makingt thisa ap priority, figuring Commissioner K. Ramsey-1 Thanked everyone for allt theyl have done over the past couple of weeks  everyone that wasi involved. out what our next steps are.  dealing with the flood: anda all that has gone alongv with that.    Parks and Recreation Committee met this past week, currently we aret three people down and until thoses seats get filled there's notr much we can do. The meeting was very productive, readyt tor move Mayor Prol Tempore Atkinson - Going back toE Brianv with Sea & Shoreline, wer really need tog geta committee: and get that rolling. Whatever thet first step might bet to get this started. The concepts that Brian! has are great. Hel lives herei in Cramerton: and sees what's going on. Hel has a wealth ofk knowledge The CEDAC has been talking about how they can helpt the Town meet some goals. Something that was brought upy was underbrush to create av vista oft the river. The committee could work on getting volunteers, have af few work day tol help clean upi the area. Need tos get forms together tol bes signedt to Commissioner Abernathy- She thankeds staff for all the challenges during the flooding and ongoing She askeda about the speed! humps on 11" Street. Have beeni installed or did the flooding delayt the installation. Mr. Ollis advised hev wouldf follow up with Rodneyf for an update. Also, shet talked about duringt the campaign: she heardf from the citizens at Courtyards of Cramerton: as wella as Timberlake regarding the very steep! hill int thata area. Sher requested that wel have ab brief update from: staff during a meetingt tos share what our understanding is about everything pertainingt tot that hill. Commissioner, J. Ramsey - She thanked stafff for allt their efforts during the cleanup. Floodingi issues are She wentt tot the Cramerton Community Committee meeting this past week. Was a wonderful meeting, they! hadt their Bi-Laws set." Took time tol look att the firsts sixr month andi into they year adding recreation events adding tot the calendar. More information willl be coming, the meeting was mostly planning. Mayor Wills The water level is a huge deal that's onlys goingt tog get worse. Any stept that wet take nowis int the right direction. Forming this group, getting somethingi into motion is critical int the next step. Need Hel has talked withs some ofc downtown! landlords about the illumination. Theyl love what we've done with Town Hall. Ididl let them! know we're looking: at doingi it broader thant that.  forward gettingt things done once we get those seats filled.  and can! help usi immensely.  gett the volunteers: started working. challenges.  What! has been done and what the futurel looks like. something we'reg goingt tor need toa address.  top putt togetheray plan.  Het thanked Chief Adams for allt they do.  ITEM 12: Closed Session Pursuant to NC65143-318.113) - To consult with Attorney to preserve Attorney/Client privilege. Ar motion was made by Commissioner. Abernathy tor move into closeds session pursuant to NCGS 143- 318.11(3). Commissioner, K. Ramseys seconded the motion. Alli inj favor. Ar motion was made by Mayor Pro Tempore. Atkinson toc come out ofo closed session pursuant to NCGS 143-318-11(3). Commissioner, K. Ramsey seconded the motion. Alli inj favor. vote was 5to Oinf favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:09pm.  ITEM13: Adjournment  Amotion was made by Commissioner, Abernathy to adjourn, and Commissioner. K. Ramseys seconded. The  SN CHAi  Nelson Wills, Mayor  SEAL MERTON, N.  Missy Melton, Town Clerk KR