TOWN OF FOUR OAKS TOWN COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 13TH, 2021 AGENDA  1) Call to Order  2) Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance 3) Approval of Minutes  a) Town Council Meeting - November g, 2021 4) Presentation for Mayor. Linwood Parker  5) Public Comments  6) Acceptance of Election Results for the Municipal Election Held on November 2, 2021 7) Oath ofOffices - Administered by the Honorable 11th District Court Judge Frank Wood  a) Vic Medlin - Mayor b) John Hatch - Commissioner c) Mike Hines - Commissioner ) Proclamation for Linwood Parker 9) Public Hearings - None 10) New Business  a) Adopt 2022 Town Council Regular Meeting Schedule - Clerk Garris  b) Employee Compensation - Commissioner Hardy c) Sewer Rate Increase - Commissioner Hardy  11) Mayor's Comments 12) Department Reports a) Police- -I Hatch b) Parks & Rec & Outreach- - Hines c) Water and Sewer- - Medlin d) Sanitation & Streets - Surles e) Finance - Hardy  Adjournment    TOWN OF FOUR OAKS TOWN COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 13th, 2021  MINUTES  Call to Order  Mayor Linwood Parker called the December 13th, 2021 regular scheduled Town Council meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Those present included Commissioners Andy Hardy, John Hatch, Mike Hines, Vic Medlin, and Carles Surles. Also, present were Public Works Director Barry Stanley; Police Chief Stephen Anderson; Town Clerk Martha Garris recording minutes; I-95/I-40 Crossroads of America Economic Development Alliance President Reid Williams; and Mike  Dart from FO Benson New in Review. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance  Commissioner Hatch gave the opening Invocation with Conner Johnson leading the Pledge of  Allegiance.  Approval of Minutes  Town Council Meeting - November gth, 2021  Commissioner Medlin made a motion to approve the Town Council regular meeting minutes as  presented, seconded by Commissioner Hatch, voting unanimous. Presentation for Mayor Linwood Parker  Commissioner Medlin began the recognition of Mayor Parker by commenting that he had served the Town for 34 years and the one thing he had requested was the American flag that had hung in the Town Hall Chamber for many years. Mayor Parker began by saying thank you to Mrs. Pat and everyone for the afternoon events and commented there comes a time for change and the time had come. He commented on how blessed hel has been and that he has served 34 years with many folks of current and that have gone on before him. The flag was a fine example of what Four Oaks is and explained the significance about the flag. Many years ago, aj police officer was cleaning his gun, the gun fired and the bullet pierced the flag which is a reminder ofhow Four Oaks is like Mayberry. Four Oaks is and will always be a small town as long as we: remember the importance of community, family, church, education, and a marketplace. American Legion Post 346 Post Commander Tom Britt and Adjutant Reggie Parker performed a flag folding ceremony. Commissioner Medlin presented Mayor Parker with the flag and a trophy case with an engraved plaque to store the flag in: from the Town. Mayor Parker closed his comments about the Dash, life has a beginning and an end and what matters is what you do in life with the dash in between. Patricia Chisolm-Jones, brought greeting from childhood friends and neighbors on Smith Street and Allen Street where Mayor Parker was raised. Mrs. Chisolm-Jones compared her and Mayor Parker's stories with the Protocol son and daughter. She left Four Oaks, returned, and she was welcomed back with open arms as the little Chisolm girl. Mayor Parker left for school and when he returned everyone was awaiting his return with open arms. Mrs. Jones compared Mayor  Public Comments    Parker to the meaning oft the ABC's from his friends and neighbors: A - apple of our eyes; B - bold; C- christian, courageous, & celebrates life; D - determined & dedicated; E - energetic & an entrepreneur; F - family man, friend in need, & a friend in deed; G - gentleman, goal setter, giver from thel heart; H = happy, humorous, & a heartfelt person; I-i innovator; J-j joyful; K- kindl hearted; L - lover of all people, all color & race; M - manager; N - nature lover; O - others first & outstanding in all areas; P - people person; Q- quiet sometimes when Pat is talking; R- respectful; S - storyteller; T-talkative; V-vivacious; W - worker, witty, & a winner; X- extraordinary; Y-5 youthful regardless of age; & Z-z zealous. On behalfoft the ancestors, childhood family, friends and neighbors on Smith Street and Allen Street, Mrs. Chisolm-Jones Chris Haley, resident and former commissioner for 6 years, spoke ofMayor Parker when his father Hunter Parker would go into the local stores, talk with the guys, and shared how much that meant. He commented that Mayor Parker is a dear friend that will stick by you to the end through thick and thin, and hel hated to see him go because ofhow much he has helped the town. Mayor Parker thanked everyone for the kind comments share then and over the past few: months. Levi Cooper, resident, thanked God for Four Oaks. He commented Mayor Parker stood by him and helped work though trials and tribulations. Mr. Cooper thanked God for where wel have Mayor Parker commented its all about where we live, who we are, and it was time to move on Acceptance of Election Results for the Municipal Election Held on November Motion to accept the election results held on November 2. 2021 was made by Commissioner Oath of Offices - Honorable 11th District Court Judge Frank Wood Vic Medlin - Mayor; John Hatch - Town Commissioner; Mike Hines - Town Honorable Judge Frank Wood read each Oath individually swearing in the Mayor and each  wished Mayor Parker love and wished him well.  He thanked the Mayor, the Board, and) Four Oaks.  come from and where we are going.  and turn things over to Mayor elect, Vic Medlin.  2, 2021  Hardy, seconded by Commissioner Surles, voting unanimous.  Commissioner  Commissioner. The Oaths were signed accordingly. Proclamation Honoring Linwood Parker  Mayor Medlin read and presented Linwood Parker with the proclamation. He also presented a photo of Mayor Linwood Parker to be hung in the Town Hall Chamber with all previous mayors. Linwood Parker thanked everyone and spoke about each commissioner individually. He commented that Four Oaks has a great board and encouraged everyone to get behind and support  them.  Mayor Medlin called for a 5-minute recess.    Mayor Medlin called the meeting back to order at 7:54 pm.  Public Hearings - None New Business  Adopt 2022 Town Council Regular Meeting Schedule  Clerk Garris presented the 2022 Town Council regular meeting schedule to the Board. Motion to approve the 2022 meeting schedule was: made by Commissioner Hines, seconded by  Commissioner Surles, voting unanimous. Employee Compensation  Commissioner Hardy commented that inflation had increased 6.8% over the past year and the south increased 7.2%. He asked the Board to consider orl have a discussion on employee compensation to give a mid-year salary increase for town employees to help offset inflation. He commented a 3% increase would be an approximate $15,000 all in 6-month cost effect increase and then it could be reevaluated for the 2022-2023 budget. Commissioner Hines clarified this was the increase amount for. January - July 2022. Motion to approve an employee compensation increase of 3% fori inflation purposes was made by Commissioner Surles, seconded by  Commissioner Hines, voting unanimous.  Sewer Rate Increase  Commissioner Hardy clarified that the sewer rate proposal was totally unrelated to the employment compensation increase. Johnston County notified the Town about July 2021 about ai faulty sewer meter issue, they had been undercharging the town for approximately 15 years. They informed the Town that sewer charges would bei increasing approximately 100,000 gallons per day. This increase is significant and needs to be passed thru to: residents for cover the Towns cost to the County. The County will not be back charging the Town for the fault meter. In the Spring of2021, the NC. Rural Water Association (NCRWA") did a water & sewer rate study of our rate revenue verse our operation expenses to break even and based our rates on what we knew then providing the Town with a 5-year plan. After receiving the: notification from the County, the NCRWA: recalculated our sewer rates. The immediate increase would consist of $2.45 for inside customers and $4.90 for outside customers. NCRWA will perform our annual reevaluation for water and sewer rates in the Spring of2022 which will be used for our next budget year. Motion to increase sewer rates based on the NCRWA rate study was: made by Commissioner Hardy, seconded by Commissioner Hines, voting unanimous. Patricia Chisolm-Jones asked the Board to share this information with citizens when doing aj rate  change.  Mayor's Comments  Mayor Medlin thanked the Town and residents for allowing him to be Mayor. He also thanked Joan Pritchett for a great job on heading up all the Christmas events. Joan thanked the Town and Fire Department for helping make the Tree Lighting and Movie Night ai magical, Hallmark moment event. He also thanked Reid Williams for his work for the Town.    Public Comments Continued  Joan Pritchett, Chamber ofCommerce, commented December 13th was the last Board meeting for her as the Chamber Director. She will be stepping down as director as ofDecember 31. She commented it had been an honor being the Chamber Director. Mayor Medlin thanked Joan on  how active the Chamber has become because of her.  Department Reports Police-E Hatch  Chief Anderson read the monthly police report (attached).  Parks & Rec and Outreach - Hines  Commissioner Hines reported 1) Barbour's Grove Park will be getting rewired soon; 2) basketball registrations went well and the number oft teams consisted of11 boys' teams and 3 girls' teams; & 3); plans are in process to get quotes to paint the Main Street Kiddie Park  equipment.  Water and Sewer - Medlin  Mayor Medlin read the water and sewer report (attached). Water had revenue of $26,438 and the sewer. had revenue of$29,368. The 12-month daily average per gallon was a 12% loss for water and 2%1 loss for sewer. He commented that Commissioner Hines will be taking over water and  sewer: for the Town. Sanitation & Streets customers. Finance-Hardy  Commissioner Surles reported: streets & sanitation were good with a slight increase in garbage  Commissioner Hardy read the financial report (attached) with total funds of $2,310,580 and made ai motion to approve the November payables listed in the attached report, seconded by Patricia Chisolm-Jones congratulated the new mayor and commissioners and commented on how much it means for their support to the community. She commented that she asked about giving a donation for the police escort for Mayor Parker around town but was told noi it wasn'tnecessary. With no further business brought before the Town Council, motion to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. was made by Commissioner Hardy, seconded by Commissioner Hines, voting unanimous.  Commissioner Surles, voting unanimous.  Adjournment  ATTEST: Martha  Vic  Mayor  HHb Garris, Town Clerk  daa