Town of Hot Springs Board of Alderman Meeting June 5, 2023 Present:  Mayor Abigail Norton Alderman Vaughn Barnett Alderman Jeanne Gentry Alderman Jimmy Moore Town Attorney Ron Moore  EMS - Dan Myers Fire Chief = Josh Norton Maintenance Department = Jeremy Tranthum Tax Department - Laura Holloway  Mayor Norton called the Town meeting to order at 6:00pm approve; Alderman Moore seconded the motion; all were in favor.  Mayor Norton asked for a motion to approve the May 2023 minutes. Alderman Gentry made a motion to  Mayor Norton read the Public Charge.  PUBLIC COMMENT Ike Lassiter  Mr. Lassiter read that the Hot Springs fireworks will be on Saturday, July 1. He also read that only guests of the spa would be allowed on the spa grounds. He asked if anyone else had read about the spa. Alderman Gentry responded that the only people allowed on spa grounds the prior year was also spa guests. Dan Myers said EMS got a call last year and there were more Mr. Lassiter expressed disappointment over having a public firework display, but nowhere to go and watch the fireworks. Mayor Norton told Mr. Lassiter that the spa was private property, and the Town can't do anything about it. Fire Chief Norton let everyone know that if they had any ideas of where to hold future firework displays, to please let him know. Currently, fireworks are  people on the grounds other than spa guests.  shot from town property.  AGENDA  Sydney Harrison  An anonymous benefactor has offered to have a non-controversial plaque put up at the monument. They came up with an honor to the Cherokee Indians, who were first on the land. And an honor to William Neilson, Sr., who was the first major landowner in Hot Springs. Mr. Harrison provided handouts giving information about some of Mr. Neilson's accomplshments. Mr. Harrison had proposed new plaque wording for all to review. The anonymous benefactor will pay for the proposed plaque but asks that the Town pay for the installation of the Plaque. Alderman Gentery said she thinks the new plaque is a good idea. Alderman Moore said he'd like tos see a replica of the original plaque put back up. Alderman Moore said Mark Snelson is getting information for him [Alderman Moore] regarding the company who is making a replica plaque for  Page 1of6 June 5, 2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    the courthouse in Marshall. Alderman Moore said there have been several people offering financial help to get a replica plaque made and put up on the monument. Alderman Gentry said she feels that. Alderman Moore was saying that the town's people who grew up here are wanting a replica oft the original plaque to be put up. Alderman Moore has visited with someone at the Sisters of the Confederacy and has someone sending him names and information about other companies who can replicate plaques. He wants to compare prices  between the different companies.  DEPARTMENTS  Laura Holloway - Taxes  Property at 491 Lance Avenue was purchased with a mobile home on it. The mobile home is still in the prior owners name. The current owner has been paying the taxes for the mobile home. In order to get the 2022 taxes to apply correctly, Ms. Holloway has requested to release $56.52 from the previous owner's account. The computer applies payments in the order of: real property, personal property, then real property interest. Ms. Holloway needs the payment to be applied to personal interest as the third option. Aldermen advised Ms. Holloway to work with Company, Media Context, is no longer in business. Owners are behind bars. May the 2021 balance of $1.66 be released. Alderman Moore expressed concern with releasing a tax. Ms. Holloway contacted the DMV regarding the Barbara Wallin singe-w.oe-moble-nome discussed in May's meeting. She told the board that the DMV did not have a Barbara Wallin located in Hot Springs. Ms. Holloway said the Town doesn't have a serial number for the mobile home and the county doesn't capture the serial numbers. Alderman Gentry asked if the county has Barbara Wallin in their tax base. Ms. Holloway told the Board that the county does have a Barbara Wallin in their tax scrolls, but their Barbara Wallin is not located in Hot Springs. Fire Chief Norton asked if it could be Sadie Wallin. Chief Norton suggested the mobile home we are looking for could be Sadie Wallin on Springhill. Alderman Moore asked if the mobile home could be Doug Evans' [a relative of Sadie Wallin]. Mayor Norton said Doug Evans attends the church across the river. She will ask him about Barbara/Sadie Wallin when she sees him. Ms. Holloway told the Board that the Town is at 98.92% in collected real taxes.  Southern Software to get the taxes to apply correctly.  Fire Chief Josh Norton  The Town needs to decide whether or not to continue with the 4th of July fireworks. They may be able to use a place on River Road, where the red barns are. Owners would have to agree. The school is not an option due to distance regulations. Chief Norton is willing to talk to the landowners. Chief Norton said the insurance company would cover the proposed property as it Mayor Norton asked where people could park if we had the fireworks on the River Road property. Chief Norton started to explain; Alderman Moore advised that the property Chief Norton was speaking of has been split up and owned by two people. Chief Norton will contact Eddie [Ricker] and find out who the new owners are. Chief Norton feels there would be enough property for people to park and there be enough safety space to shoot the fireworks. People reported, last year, that the firework display could not be seen due to the trees.  covered the spa. It is a million-dollar policy should anything occur.  Page 2 of6 June 5, 2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    Alderman Moore expressed concern regarding parking once the field was at capacity. He would like to see the firework display remain on the town side of the river. Mayor Norton asked about shooting the fireworks off on the factory property. Chief Norton said we could ask the factory and see if they would allow the Town to set off fireworks on their property. He would also get with the insurance company to determine if they approved the area for coverage, since solar panels are on the property. And, since the solar panels are owned by Duke, Chief Norton would Fireworks will be shot at the water tank this year. The Board will discuss future firework displays. Alderman, Moore and Mayor Norton would like to see the fireworks displays continue. Chief Norton said there are three hydrants that need to be replaced. One on Silvermine, unless Maintenance is waiting to see what the state is going to do [regarding the new bridge), oneon Madison Medics will be holding a hands only CPR instructional class = no certificate will be given. Chief Norton asks the Town to please put the notification of the class on the webpage. The first class is on June 17th and the Town's class is tentatively scheduled for the 24th. There is  also have to check with Duke.  the corner of Hill Street and South Spring.  no charge and will be a 3-hour class. Jeremy Trantham - Maintenance Clerk to gather the paperwork.  The Maintenance Team has a new truck and trailer. What does the Town wish to do with the old truck and trailer. He will look up the values in the Blue Book. He will also check with the Town Alderman Barnett said he'd like for the newi truck to be out of the weather. Alderman Moore asked if there was a place to put a carport. Mr. Trantham said a good spot for a car port is where the two camo generators are sitting. There was discussion about getting rid oft the one generator that does not work. Alderman Gentry told the Board that there are some people interested in the old dump truck. Once we have a Blue Book value we can advertise with a minimum bid. Alderman Moore asked if the old truck and trailer would be sold as a package or Mr. Trantham said the old buggy has been sitting since they purchased the new one, a year ago. He said several people have expressed interest in purchasing the old buggy. Alderman Barnett said to put the buggy up for bid. Alderman Gentry told Mr. Trantham to get some figures There are several items that are in the maintenance building that are just in the way. Alderman Moore told Mr. Trantham to list the items out and get some figures together, to include an Maintenance has got prices to update the well house generator. Palmer Electric appears to have the best price, but some oft the parts needed for the update are on a 90-day wait/delay. This includes the part that will make the generator automatic. Palmer's price to fix and update our current generator is $17,938.00. All companies that came out to look at the generator [to provide estimates] said that with only 148 hours on it their suggestion would be to fix the generator, not replace it. A new generator, just the generator, is $23,000-25,000. A new  separately. Alderman Barnett said the items may sell better separately.  together for a minimum bid for the buggy.  old pump that the Fire Department gave to Maintenance.  Page 3of6 June 5, 2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    propane generator would cost around $35,000. Mayor Norton asked how old the generator was. Sydney Harrison said it was approximately 20-years old. It's been in a building with no temperature control and the switches have deteriorated. The generator currently has manual switches, and someone has to physically go turn the generator on. To make the generator automatic the cost is $9,000.00. Maintenance on the generator is close to $9,000. Alderman Gentry said Water & Sewer budget allows for the maintenance and a small repair at the Post Office pump, but the automation to the big generator would come out of next year's budget. Alderman Gentry asked Mr. Trantham what Keith Webb [with McGill] suggested. Mr. Trantham said Mr. Webb didn't recommend we fix the old generator or purchase a new one. Alderman Moore said his concern, putting $20,000.00 in a 20-year-old machine. Alderman Gentry suggested Mr. Trantham get with Mr. Webb and see what he recommends: repair old generator or purchase a new one. Alderman Gentry said she has concerns about losing electricity, as we did recently, the solar panels may provide some electricity, but should something happen at the well, we don't have power or water. Mr. Trantham told the Board that during the recent power outage, Maintenance kept Reservoir Road tank full, and the town worked off of the 25/70 take. With that, had the Town had a fire, we would have had 200,000 gallons. Had the power been off much longer, the Town would have had to begin using the Reservoir Road water. Mr. Trantham said that the intermittent electric service is what kept us from having to use water from the Reservoir Road tank. Alderman Gentry said the Town needs a generator whether new or update the current one. Perhaps Mr. Webb would be able to work the generator into the grant money. Mayor Norton asked that the Spring Creek sewer line not be taken off the table. Mr. Trantham said if we do go with a new generator, and if the current generator only needs a circuit breaker, Alderman Gentry asked if the Town could borrow the Fire Department's generator ifit was needed, as an emergency. Chief Norton responded but could not be understood. Alderman Moore made a motion to fix/service "that one" "over here". Alderman Gentry seconds the motion. Mayor Norton said we will need to advertise for bids to fix/service the generator. We will need to advertise in the newspaper. Mr. Trantham said he would work on everything in the week and try to have the information by the next meeting. Ron Moore, Town's attorney, told Mr. Trantham to be specific regarding what needs to be done to the generator - not just indicate the generator needs repair. Mr. Trantham said he'd use the information he received in the quotes he Mayor Norton said she received an e-mail from Joel [Kohn, with DEQJ. He wants to follow-up on our ORC designation. Mr. Trantham advised this would be James & James since it is regarding Alderman Moore asked about pavement estimates. Alderman Gentry advised the Town didn't have any funds for paving at this time. Mr. Trantham said the pavers came out and provided estimates. Alderman Moore asked about the Powell money. Alderman Gentry said not all streets are on the Powell bill. She has a list of the streets that are on the Powell bill. Alderman Barnett said to be on the Powell bill, streets must be a specific width, 16-feet wide. Mr. Trantham said we could possibly do some patching as that is charged by the ton. Alderman Moore asked about the speed bumps on Silvermine. Alderman Gentry said the Town could get Alderman Gentry said she wanted to ask Sydney Harrison about Park Avenue; how was he able to get Park Avenue on the Powell bill? She is wondering if we could possibly get some of our  then we could have a good generator to use as back-up.  has to detail the needed repatr/maintenance work.  water. Mayor Norton will call Mr. Kohn back 06/06/2023.  the speed bumps placed in July.  Page 4of6 June 5,2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    other streets on the Powell bill, too. Mayor Norton said Nancy Thomas has Powell contact Mr. Trantham asked if the Maintenance building repairs would be next month. Alderman Gentry told the Board that Maintenance got three proposals, not counting electric. The proposals were Keith Waldroup, Willie Shannon, and Larry Ward. Mr. Ward's proposal was less than the other two. However, currently, we are unable to have the work started. Alderman Moore asked if the request for proposals had been advertised in the newspaper. He said we will need to run an  information.  advertisement, Mayor Norton agrees.  BOARD  Mayor Norton  Has a resolution to accept the North Carolina Collaboratory Innovative Highly Treated Wastewater Pilot Program (IHTWWPP) grant offer of $4,000,000.00 for upgrading the sewer plant. Alderman Gentry made a motion to approve the resolution; Alderman Barnett seconded Mayor Norton has a grant project ordinance for IHTWWPP grant. She asked the Board if they had had an opportunity to review. Mayor Norton asked if there was a motion to approve the project ordinance. Alderman Gentery made a motion to approve the project ordinance;  the motion; all were in favor.  Alderman Moore seconded the motion; all were in favor. Ron Moore to review before she signs and returns.  Mayor Norton has a permit for Spring Creek's sewer line replacement. She is wanting Attorney Mayor Norton has asked Representative Pless [Mark Pless, NC House of Representatives, 118th District] if he knew of an appropriation for Fairview Community water system. Rep. Pless responded the request is being worked out by the House/Senate are working out details.  Alderman Gentry  Is presenting the 2023-2024 budget to the Board. There has been a change to the debt service (firetruck and forest service property) has been split off the budget, in a separate category. The Alderman Gentry asked the Board if they had any questions on the proposed budget. No The 2023-2024 proposed budget will be available for public viewing, for two weeks. An add will be placed in the paper. Alderman Gentry asks the Board to choose a date, setting a meeting, to Alderman Gentry referred the Board to their copy of Amendment #4 to the Budget Ordinance. The accountant amended the Streets budget. The purchase of the new truck put the budget over in the Street category. The General Fund was not over budget. The state requires the budget be prepared in a specific manner. The accountant added $15,000.00 to water/sewer to pay for generator or what other matters that may come up. Alderman Gentry told the Board that both budgets were in good shape. Alderman Gentry made a motion to approve the budget  budget is the same, except for the addition of a Town Administrator position.  questions were asked.  approve the budget. Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 4:00pm.  amendment; Alderman Barnett seconded the motion; all were in favor.  Page 5of6 June 5, 2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    Alderman Moore carport will be placed. Mayor Norton  Alderman Moore requests that Mr. Trantham obtain prices for a carport and determine where the  7:25 Requested a motion to move into Executive Session. Alderman Gentery made a motion; 7:36 Mayor Norton requested a motion to return from Executive Session. Alderman Gentry made a motion to return; Alderman Barnett seconded the motion; all were in favor. Mayor Norton asked for a motion to approve adding the full-time Police Chief to the group medical coverage. Alderman Moore made a motion to approve; Alderman Barnett seconded the motion; all were The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the Town Administrator position description. Alderman Gentry made a motion to approved; Alderman Moore seconded the motion; all were in favor.  Alderman Moore seconded to motion; all were in favor.  in favor.  Since there is no other business to discuss, Alderman Moore made a motion to adjourn, Alderman Barnett  seconded the motion; all were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:38pm.  July'smeeting will be held on Monday, July 3, 2023.  7-3-2033  Approved Mayor Abigail Norton  Date Other  Zhigailleslen  Page 6 of6 June 5, 2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    Town of Hot Springs June 27, 2023 Present:  2023 - 2024 Fiscal Year Budget Meeting  Mayor Abigail Norton Alderman Vaughn Barnett Alderman Jeanne Gentry Alderman Jimmy Moore  Mayor Norton called the Town meeting to order at 4:01pm  Mayor Norton requested a motion to accept the presented budget: Alderman Moore made a motion to accept the budget; Aldermen Barnett and Gentry seconded the motion; all were in  favor.  Mayor Norton requested a motion to adjourn the budget meeting: Alderman Moore made a motion to accept the budget; Aldermen Barnett and Gentry seconded the motion; all were in  favor.  2023-2024 Fiscal Year Budget Meeting was adjourned at 4:01pm.  7-3-3023  Approved Mayor Abigail Norton  Date  Augalyeta