November 9, 2020 (REGULAR MEETING)  Minutes of the regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Commissioners of the Present: Mayor Sam Bishop, Commissioners Cicely McCulloch, Jeff Eidson, Will Gwyn (via ZOOM) and Tommy Wheeler. (Absent: Commissioner Robert Bally Also present: Town Manager Brent Cornelison, Assistant Town Manager Adam McComb, Town Attorney Raymond Parker (via ZOOM), Finance Director Dina Mayor Bishop welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order. He asked Police Chief Monroe Wagoner to lead our Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Bishop explained that Commissioner Robert Ball was absent tonight, and asked the Board to consider excusing him. Commissioner Eidson made a motion to excuse Commissioner Ball from tonight's meeting. Upon a second by Commissioner McCulloch, the motion was unanimously approved. The following items were presented for the consent agenda:  Town of Elkin, November 9, 2020, 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall.  Reavis and Town Clerk Cathie Tilley.  CONSENT AGENDA  Minutes of October 12, 2020 (Regular Meeting) Releases and Discoveries (included as Exhibit A) BA 2021-13 (included as Exhibit B)  There were no questions regarding the consent agenda. Ar motion by Commissioner Wheeler to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Commissioner McCulloch and was unanimously approved. SPECIAL RECOGNITION (Mayor Bishop)  Proclamation for National American Indian Heritage Month  Mayor Bishop read the proclamation and presented it to Ms.  Becky Dursee.  PUBLIC COMMENTS  Mayor Bishop opened the public comments period. The following spoke:  Martha Smith, Branch Library Manager  Expressed appreciation to the town, especially Public Works and Fire Department, for cleaning up following the  flood.  There being no further public comments, Mayor Bishop closed the  Public Comments period. Commissioner Wheeler: flood.  MAYOR AND BOARD COMMENTS FOR STAFF  Commended all town departments for what they did during the  Everyone pulled together and did a good job.    Commissioner McCulloch: Commissioner Eidson: Mayor Bishop:  Agreed with Commissioner Wheeler's comments. Echoed Commissioner Wheeler's comments. Surprised at how quick we were back to normal.  Echoed the Board's remarks.  REGULAR MEETING  1. Receive a month to date Financial Summary (Dina Reavis)  Briefly went through the Financial Summary Report for month ending October 2020 and explained some of the items included in the report. Town Manager Cornelison told Board Members that this report was included in our agenda because this is the first of these reports they We do not plan to have this on the agenda each month. You will receive these reports on a monthly basis. We might include a report in the agenda each quarter.  This is a snapshot of what is going on.  have received from Ms. Reavis.  2. Receive a presentation about the recently completed Housing Study (Leslie  Schlender)  Housing Study was completed by Bowen National Research and provides data sets related to demographics, economics and housing relative to Elkin and the surrounding area along with housing gap estimates for market-rate housing at various income levels. The following talking points were reported to the Board:  There is a lack of available product serving moderate to high-  income households. employees.  Limits the town's ability to retain and attract residents and The Elkin market has very few available homes priced over Elkin is at risk of losing households as their incomes Homes priced at $200,000 or higher have a low average  $150,000.  increase.  number of days on market of2 21.  Between 2020 and 2025 all oft the growth in renter households by income within Elkin is expected to occur among households earning Well-balanced forsalelowneroccuped markets have a normal vacancy Current available units in Elkin represent a low vacancy rate of 1.8%-an indication of a likely shortage of available for-sale Itappears that the greatest housing gap is for housing that is for sale that serves households with incomes of more than $70,000 and can  between $30,000 and $99,999 annually. rate ofaround 2% to 3%.  housing.  afford homes of $200,000 or higher. Street and North Bridge Street (Leslie Schlender)  3. Consider approving a loading zone/shuttle stop on the comer of East Main  Page 2 of6    Main Street Advisory Board requests consideration by the Board of Commissioners to make the parking space in front oft the Wisdom Table This could be used by all downtown businesses for deliveries and pick- Sometimes confusion occurs due to the angle of this parking space. Occasionally, a parked vehicle appears to be part of the traffic  a loading zone/shuttle stop.  ups as well as the Vine Line shuttle service.  flow.  Times have been discussed.  Currently proposing 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Can be adjusted as needed.  Commissioner Edison suggested two parking spaces might need to be used because of larger vehicles needing more space getting in and out Following discussion, Commissioner Eidson made a motion to approve the parking space on the corner of East Main Street and North Bridge Street (in front of the Wisdom Table) as a loading zone/shuttle stop with the understanding that we might need to revisit this matter if we see that there is a need for two parking spaces rather than one and if the time needs to be adjusted. There were no questions. Upon a second by Commissioner Wheeler, the motion was unanimously approved. 4. Consider accepting a grant from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund in the amount of Twenty-three thousand, six hundred, sixty-eight dollars ($23,668) for additional retractable awnings at the Farmers Market and approve BA2021-14 (Leslie This is a grant from NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (Grant Number 2020-12-005) effective November 1, 2020, and terminates June Project is titled, "Elkin Farmers Market Expansion Project" to purchase and install retractable awnings for the Farmers Market. Budget Amendment 2021-14 will also need to be approved in Commissioner McCulloch made a motion to enter into Grant Number 2020-12-005, Grant Agreement Between the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the Town of Elkin and Elkin Main Street Advisory Board and to approve Budget Amendment 2021-14 as presented. There were no questions. Upon a second by Commissioner Eidson, the motion was unanimously approved. (Copy of Grant Number 2020-12-005 included as Exhibit C, and Budget Amendment 2021-14  of this area.  Schlender)  30, 2021.  conjunction with this project.  included as Exhibit D.)  (Ms. Schlender requested the following item be added to the Agenda) 5. Consider signage for the Yadkin Valley Heritage, Trails and Visitors Center  (Leslie Schlender)  Presented renderings of proposed signs. made some revisions. This blends with the current LED sign we have.  Board previously approved monument-style sign, but we have  Page 3 of6    Following discussion, Commissioner Eidson made a motion to approve Option One and to allow the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce choose the color for their line on the sign. There were no questions. Upon a second by Commissioner Wheeler, the motion was unanimously  approved.  COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS  Main Street Advisory Board Appointment (Leslie Schlender) There is a vacant seat left by Debbie Carson.  Advisory Board recommends approval of Franklin Ard to fill Commissioner McCulloch made a motion to appoint Franklin Ard to fill the vacancy on this advisory board. There were no questions. Upon a second by Commissioner Eidson, the motion  this vacancy.  was unanimously approved.  Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Re-appointments (Adam  McComb)  Terms are up for Larry Kallam, Dee Neil and Michael Keller. Advisory Board recommends reappointment of all. Commissioner Wheeler made a motion to reappoint Larry Kallam, Dee Neil and Michael Keller to this advisory Board. There were no questions. Upon a second by Commissioner McCulloch, the motion was unanimously approved to appoint all for another  three-year term each.  OTHER BUSINESS  Wreaths Across America (Adam McComb)  This event (National Wreaths Across America Day) is coming to Hollywood Cemetery this year on December 19th at noon. One hundred, fifty-three (153) graves have been identified in Goal is to place a wreath on each grave. Provided information on how to donate a wreath: $15 donation/wreath to the DAR.  Hollywood Cemetery.  DARmembers will place wreaths on these graves. Mission of Wreaths Across America is to Remember, Honor, and Teach about the service and sacrifice of our veterans and their  families.  MANAGER UPDATES  Delay in delivery of water bills: received them late.  o Several residents have not received their water bills or have We have been in contact with the post office. We are working with residents on this matter.  Leaf Pick-up: leaves.  Staffing changes due to COVID-19 have delayed picking up  Page 4 of6    Our scheduled times for pick-up have been extended in order to Unified Development Ordinance Updates and Comprehensive Land Use Community Workshops have been scheduled as follows: Place: Yadkin Valley Heritage, Trails and Visitors Center Dates: December 1stand December gth Times: 10a am-1 pm and 4-7 pm (drop in) Purpose is to obtain information to draft a general vision for the Had planned to also hold workshops at the Elkin Center, but itis  get all leaves picked up.  Plan Project:  project.  closed due to COVID-19.  Flood:  Thanked staff for cleaning up after the flood. All departments worked together to do this. Free testing will be held in our parking lot at the Farmers Market beginning Thursday through Monday. Will be able to do one hundred (100) tests per day. We are following state guidelines, and have held some clinics Swearing-in ceremony for newly elected board members: Judge Charles Neaves will not be available for this. Town attorney or town clerk can administer the oaths. Let Town Manager know if you have other suggestions. Pictures of the Board will be taken that night.  Mass Covid-19 Testing:  Recreation Center Clinics:  (soccer, baseball, etc.).  Lisa Salmon:  Condition is improving.  CLOSED SESSION Mayor Bishop:  The Board will be going into closed session as allowed by NCGS 143- 318.11(a)(5) to establish, or to instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in negotiating (1) the price and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange or lease and NCGS 143-318.11(a)6) to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of  an individual public officer or employee. Action may be taken following the meeting.  Commissioner Wheeler made a motion to go into closed session in accordance with NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5) and (6). Upon a second by Commissioner McCulloch, the motion was unanimously approved and the Board went into closed The Board returned to the regular meeting at 7:15 p.m. Mayor Bishop reconvened the meeting. Commissioner Wheeler made a motion to make salary adjustments  session at 6:45 p.m.  Page 50 of6    that had been budgeted but not completed for three employees (Missy Calhoun, Kelly Hembree and Catherine Tilley), such adjustments being fifteen percent (15%) of each employee's wages for eighteen (18) months beginning January 1, 2017 and going through June 30, 2018. There were no questions. Upon a second by Commissioner McCulloch, the motion was unanimously approved. There being no further business, Commissioner Wheeler made a motion to adjourn. Upon a second by Commissioner McCulloch, the motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.  Sam Bishop/Mayor ADz  Attest:  Catherine C.  Town Tilley, Clerk  Gapims  Page 6of6