Town of Hot Springs Board of Alderman Meeting May 1, 2023 Present:  Mayor Abigail Norton Alderman Jeanne Gentry Alderman Vaughn Barnett Police Chief David Shelton  Maintenance Department - Jeremy Tranthum Tax Department - Laura Holloway Zoning Committee = Ben Houser  Mayor Norton called the Town meeting to order at 6:00pm  Mayor Norton read the Public Charge  Mayor Norton  Provided the Board with an Amendment to the EMS Lease, Madison Medics. Mayor said she spoke with Craig Sullivan (owner of Madison Medics). He agrees with the amendment, but his lease with the county ends in 2025. Mr. Sullivan asks for a clause to be placed in our lease indicating if the lease with the county isn't continued past 2025, then the lease with Hot Springs would not continue. Mayor Norton said she would add a clause to the current lease. She asked the board for a motion to approve once the clause is added. Alderman Barnett made a motion to approve; Alderman Gentry seconded Mayor Norton asked the Board for a motion to approve the April 2023 minutes. Alderman Barnett made a motion to approve; Alderman Moore seconded the motion; all were in favor. Mayor Norton let everyone know that she will have a resolution to accept the $4-million grant, next month. There is a budget that McGill included on the application for the grant.  the motion; all were in favor.  Public Comment Ken Kashuba  Would like to address the number of cars parked on the drive down to the Maintenance shop. They have parked down the driveway, now it's all the way to the road. Alderman Barnett said the drive that is being parked on is Town property. Mr. Jeremy Tranthum advised that the no parking had been going well. They had some letters they would leave for the people who parked in the drive. Perhaps they could do that again. Alderman Barnett asked if there wasn't a sign stating no parking in the area. Maintenance responded that there were 3 or 4 no parking signs along the drive. They indicated that it is primarily the two restaurants (IHo and Vinyl). Alderman Gentry asked if the drive was a tow-away zone. Alderman Moore said the Town has tow-away zone signs and told Maintenance to put the signs up. Alderman Barnett added that the towing will be at the owner's expense. Alderman Moore told Maintenance that if they pull into the drive and a car is parked in  the tow area, call Gary Wills [for towingl and to let Chief Shelton know.  Page 1of5 May 1,2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    Alderman Gentry said that the business owners need to be given a letter letting them know that the drive will become at tow-away zone before the towing signs are put up. Alderman Moore wants the letters hand delivered to the restaurant owners. Mayor Norton asked who was to make the call for the tow truck. Alderman Moore said whichever employee pulls up to the drive and finds a vehicle parked in the towing area should call for the tow and send Chief Shelton a text letting him know what is going on. Alderman Moore said the no parking/towing area will be strictly enforced.  Departments Jeremy Trantham  The last meeting the Board approved to begin getting estimates and information regarding the well house. At this time he only has one proposal, sO next meeting [June 5, 2023), he expects to have more information from other sources. Two companies have looked at the generator: Palmer Electric and Jackson Electric. Both companies suggest we should keep the generator we have, repair, and keep it serviced and running. They also suggest we put automatic switches put on the system and keep what we already have. Both companies think this is the best and most economical route for us to go with regards to the generator. Alderman Barnett stated to buy a new generator, like the one we already have, would probably cost around $50,000. Mr. Tranthum said he had looked at replacement cost and the generator alone was around $28,000. The pavers have come out to look at the streets to patch the areas where Maintenance has had to cut into streets. The pavers will give estimates on patching these areas as well as ai few other areas. Patching is priced by the ton. Alderman Moore asked that Mr. Tranthum also check the price for a couple of speed bumps on Silvermine. Alderman Gentry mentioned the two other streets for Mr. Tranthum to check speed bump prices. Mr. Tranthum said that last time the speed bumps They have been looking for a loader/dump truck. Alderman Barnett suggested Mr. Tranthum look for a ton-dump truck. Mr. Tranthum said they would like to have something that is low enough too load with what maintenance currently has instead of having to buy something to load the truck with. Alderman Gentry said she has asked Maintenance to try and find what they are needing before Mr. Tranthum told the Board that the shop is bad and in need of repair. The electrical and the roof are in bad need of repair. Alderman Gentry said she had spoke with the accountant and the accountant said there was enough money for general repairs. Mr. Tranthum will begin getting  were a set price.  June 30 as there is currently money in the budget for the truck.  estimates for the repairs.  Dan Myers  The Fire Department is wanting to put up cameras in their area as they have a lot of equipment there. Mr. Myers is wanting to find out who put up the Town's cameras and what brand they were. Chief Shelton told Mr. Myers that Edwards Equipment put up the Town's cameras. Mayor Norton asked Mr. Myers if the Public Safety Board has met. Mr. Myers said the Board has not yet met. Mr. Myers wants to make certain that the Board has his phone number in case they have something they would like him to bring up. Mayor Norton explained that the County has developed a Public Safety Board and Mr. Myers will be the representative for Hot Springs. Mr. Meyers said the Board's first meeting will be to review what the Board will be doing and how to set  Page 2of5 May1 1,2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    everything up. The second meeting will be to review what is currently in place that pertains to public safety. The third meeting will probably be when the Board starts implementing new Alderman Gentry asked Mr. Myers to relay a message to the Fire Chief Josh Norton. Alderman Gentry spoke with the accountant and the capitol outlay line and Fire Chief Norton can use this  procedures/deas. Meetings will be held once a quarter.  money for what he was requesting.  Laura Holloway  The Magnolia House has submitted an application for amplified music the Saturday of the 6th. The application fee has not yet been received. The fee is expected to arrive by Tuesday. Ms. Holloway notified the Board that she is beginning to work on the delinquent personal properties. The Town has a particular account that has not paid taxes since the account was set up, in 2009. Ms. Holloway has contacted the county to find out exactly where the personal property (mobile home) is located within the Town of Hot Springs. The county seemed to be surprised that Ms. Holloway had contacted them about the mobile home as the county does not have the mobile home labeled as being in Hot Springs. County advised that unless the town has an address, they can not help us in this matter. Alderman Moore asked if the county didn't send information toi the Town? Ms. Holloway advised the county did send information tot the Town, however, during the 2022 tax processing year, the county had some personnel changes. Ms. Holloway had to go into the county's system and look up the personal properties already listed in the system. Alderman Gentry asked if the information was on the tax scroll. Ms. Holloway said she hasn't seen the information on a tax scroll. Alderman Barnett asked the address of where the mobile home was located. Ms. Holloway advised she didn't know the address. Of where the mobile home was/is to be located. Alderman Gentry said she thought this was part of an estate. She provided the person's name who shows as owner oft the mobile home: Barbara Wallin. Alderman Gentry asked the board and meeting attendees if anyone knew a Barbara Wallin. No one knew of Barbara Wallin. Alderman Gentry asked that more discovery be done as the amount is too much to write off without more research. She suggests Ms. Holloway go back 5 years in the tax scrolls to see if anything else could be found. Alderman Moore suggests to research Register of Deeds and DMV records. At this time, the Town has collected 97.40% oft the 2022 Real Taxes. Ms. Holloway told the Board that she will be sending out a 3rd letter letting the delinquent tax owners know that their file has been referred to legal and that the LegalAdministrative fee of $125.00 has been added toi their account. The $25.00 advertisement fee has also been added to each oft the listed accounts. The listing will go to the newspaper the week of May 8th and will appear in the newspaper on May 17th. Ms. Holloway provided the Board with a copy of the actual policy for returned checks as well as a notice, to post, to let people know we will now charge $35.00 for a returned check. The Board had previously approved the public message, we were just waiting for policy procedures to be in place.  David Shelton  He was able to get a new shield... (couldn't understand as others were talking as Chief Shelton was talking). Chief Shelton is wanting to get another computer. Ms. Holloway will contact our computer vendor to get things going on getting Chief Shelton a new computer.  Page 3of5 May 1,2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    Town Business Mayor Norton  Mayor Norton said she received a phone call from a business owner during the weekend of Trail Fest. There was a food truck. The Town has a policy of no food trucks except on private property. There are not to be food trucks on the Town's property. Alderman Moore said he recalls the policy to state no food trucks unless they were an extension of one of the restaurants. Ben Houser said the only policy he has seen speaks of private property. Alderman Moore asked how the food was regulated. Mr. Houser said the Health Department is to come check the food trucks as they do the restaurants. Alderman Moore said that the Health Department is not going to come to town for one day to check a food truck for one day. Mr. Houser said the Health Department has been in town during festivals. Several people began to speak at the same time - unable to follow any one Alderman Moore is opposed to food trucks as the restaurants pay their taxes all year round, then a food truck comes in, makes their money, then leaves. The Town doesn't see any of the food truck's tax money. Alderman Gentry said she agrees. Mayor Norton asked if there needed to be something in the Zoning/Planning policy. Mr. Houser said it would be tough as the zoning policy points out "Regardless of Ownership". Zoning/Planning can not tell someone they can't do something that is legal in the state. Zoning/Planning can only tell someone where they can do it. Alderman Gentry asked if the Town went to a permit" situation regarding the food trucks, similar tov weddings. Who would go and police the situation by going around on a Saturday asking to see the food truck's permit. Alderman Moore asked for clarification; the Town can't have an ordinance which states: no food trucks, except the restaurants. Mr. Houser confirmed the Town would not be able to have such an ordinance. Mr. Houser suggested the question be presented to Town's Legal  conversation.  Council. Alderman Gentry requested the topic be tabled for further discussion.  Alderman Gentry  Alderman Gentry asked Ben Houser, with Zoning/Planning where the group was regarding permits on short term rentals. Mr. Houser responded that the materials they had was proposed legislation. The committee decided to wait and see what is going to happen in the legislation.  Alderman Moore  Alderman Moore asked Chief Shelton if he would check with Edwards to see if a camera would capture video, down toward Town Hall, from the monument, or what would be needed to put a camera at the moment. Several people want to donate toward having the plaque replaced. Chief Shelton suggested that any camera be placed high upon the light pole. Alderman Barnett suggests the pole/camera be placed close enough to capture images of anyone who might want to damage the new plaque. Chief Shelton also suggested better lighting. Currently there is a purple bulb, everyone was in favor of having the light changed from purple to a white (daylight LED) light. Chief Shelton was asked to check and see if a monument camera could shoot down to the camera at Chief Shelton suggested a fence around the monument with signage notifying people the plaque is under surveillance. He also said that good lighting is key to getting good pictures. Alderman Moore asked why the Town didn't accept credit/debit cards for water and tax payments. Alderman Gentry told him the card fees are about 3%. Alderman Moore suggested the card fee be added into the transaction. Mayor Norton said First Horizon did some pricing for the Town to be  Gentry's Hardware, and from there, shoot down to the police station.  Page 4 of5 May 1, 2023  Board of Alderman Meeting    able to accept credit/debit card payments. Alderman Gentry said we need to post that we will be collecting the fee for using credit/debit cards. Alderman Gentry and Alderman Moore suggested using Square. Mayor Norton felt that the bank charged less than the Square would. Mayor Noton  will continue to check into the Bank's fees.  Since there is no other business to discuss, Alderman Moore made a motion to adjourn. Mayor Barnett and Alderman Gentry seconded the motion; all were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 6:45pm.  6-5-30.23 Date Other  "Zlanil Torm Mayor Abigail Norton  Page 5of5 May 1,2023  Board of Alderman Meeting