Minutes March 4,2 2024  Spring Hope Board of Commissioners Meeting  Are regular meeting oft the Town of Spring Hope Board of Commissioners Was held at71 p.m. att the Members present: Mayor William Pritchard, Commissioners Brenda Lucas, Eric Gainey, Brent Also, present was Town Manager. Andrew Delonno, Town Clerk Michele Collins, Town Attorney Mark Edwards, Code Enforcement Officer Shawn Lucas and Chief Nathan Gant. Mayor Pritchard called the meeting to ordera and led the pledge of allegiance. Commissioner Cone: made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 5th meeting; Commissioner Griffin seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mayor Pritchard asked Town Manager Andrew Delonnoi to introduce the architects fort the Depot Project. Mr. Delonno introduced Andy. Lopina, thel lead architect who was on a video chat from his office in Winston Salem. Mr. Lopina said that David Gall the historical architect was also present, Mr. Lopina asked the board tol look at the preliminary sketch. for the inside oft the depor building. He pointed out the different spots in the plan including the caterer's kitchen, the reconstructed. ADA ramp, the new bathrooms and the network room which would be housed. in the existing small office. Mr. Lopina said there were indications that the original office mayl have Mr. Lopina told the board that they had arranged the inside tol house thel largest occupancy count they could that would: include all the necessary things the town would: need. Mr. Delonno asked Mr. Lopina to talk al little more about the: numbers tol be expected. Mr. Gall said that including the space on the front deck that there should be room for approximately 400 people. He said that they figured. that number was done with the requirements from the state. Mr. Lopina also said that there weie enough exists and that some oft the existing walls were kept but that number should be accuratc, Mr. Lopina also said that they were trying to seei ifat train car Mayor Pritchard asked. if there was anything in the existing looring that would assist the portable stage or was it just a suggestion. Mr. Gall said it was portable to be able toj move: it around and that it would just need tol be able to be wired. He also asked: ifi it was necessary to keep the network room: as it wass sO that the vaulted ceilings could be visible. Mr. Gall said that that the original ceiling would be exposed as much as possible tol be able toi insulate the ceiling. He said that the historical office oft the state may not allow the office tol be removed. Commissioner Griffin asked ift the network room would be a walled room without a ceiling, Mr. Gall said yes. Commissioner Griffin asked what kind of flooring would bei in the building, Mr. Gall said that he Was going tol have the ply board removed and have the original flooring milled and sent back to the depott to be stained. Mr. Gall also said that there would be a skirting wall around the building afteri iti isi insulated and the piers are reconstructed. Mr. Gall explainedt that  Spring Hope Town Hall in the Commissioners Room. Cone, Tommy Toney and Drew Griffin.  been used by the conductor.  would be possible to acquire and use for storage.  many of the older piers would need tol be completely rebuilt.    Commissioner Griffin made al motion to accept the preliminary floor plan; Ms. Lucas seconded Mr. Delonno said that he asked the owner of the Icehouse if she would be willing to either donate or sell the property to the Town of Spring Hope. He said that the town hadi maintained the areai for many years sO therefore it would not addt tot the work oft the town. He said that Mrs. Williams decided to donate thel building and property. He also said that the plan was to restore Commissioner Griffin made a motion to accept Resolution 2024-05 accepting the donate property and an extended a thank you to Mrs. Williams; Commissioner Cone seconded and the Commissioner Griffin made a1 motion to accept the CPA firm of Ryan Marler to assist int the upcoming year's bookkeeping as. long as there were no concerns by the town attorney; Commissioner Gainey seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Delonno said that he felt as though it was important to do some reorganization oft the town offices. He: said that Spring Hope was unique in the fact that the town was collecting taxes. He also said that he thought that it was smart to. have the county begin to collect for the town. He said that there would be: a small fee and that the resolution would need tol be approved. Commissioner Griffin made ai motion to approve the resolution allowing the county to collect the taxes; Commissioner Cone seconded and motion passed unanimously. Mr. Delonno said that the DDB: recommended allowing store owners to display items on the sidewalks within. four feet oft the front with aj permit. Hes said that they also decided that the merchant would have to file aj plan and that the permit could be revoked. Mr. Delonno said that as small number oft towns allow merchandise on the sidewalks. He said that any new language Leaanne Hahnel the chairperson of the DDB said chat they talked to some of the merchants as well as measuring the areas: in front of the stores. Shei mentioned that some sidewalks had: more Commissioner Gainey made ai motion to. leave the ordinance asi it was because the current ordinance had notl be adhered to even after violations and thel burden it would put on code Commissioner Cone said that he was thankful for the research that the manager did as well as the work thel DDB did to complete the work. He said that he disagreed with leaving the motion The motion Was defeated 3-2 with Commissioner Gainey and Lucas voting to. keep the ordinance the same and Commissioners Griffin, Cone and Toney voting against keeping it the Commissioner Cone asked what the developed standards were currently. Mr. Delonno said that thel DDB suggested the standards and that the Town of Spring Hope did not have any. He said that most towns would only allow merchandise during events. Commissioner Griffin asked ifit  and the motion passed unanimously,  the building and uset thej property for as small park.  motion passed unanimously,  would have to added to the ordinance andl brought back nexti month,  room than others.  enforcement; Commissioner Lucas seconded.  asi iti is currently written.  same.    was possible to. have the DDB come up with some events fort the permits tol bei issued. Commissioner Lucas said that the main thing was thati it was a hazard. Mr. Delonno said that neither hei nor the staff would be in charge of what would bej put out. He also showed aj picture ofa a store that never became compliant with the current ordinance that states no: merchandise. He also said that there is no way for] people to self-policing. He saidi it was clear with the pictures that despite the current ordinance merchants don'tcomply. Commissionerlucas said Commissioner Gainey made a motion tol keep the ordinance the same; Commissioner) Lucas seconded and the motion passed 3-2 with Commissioner Cone andToney voting nay. Ms. Hahnel from the Spring Hope Chamber asked tol have the event permit for the Car Show approved. She said that this yearall the vendors would be from Nash County. She also said that Commissioner Cone made a motion to accept the Car Show event permit; Commissioner Griffin  she thought all they work wast to try to make the town. look better.  they hadi many events coming in the year. seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Shawn Lucas gave the Code Enforcement: report.  Chief Gant told the board that the past month was busy. He said that there were. 154 calls for service, 301 traffic stops and three accidents. He mentioned that the person who had been chased Mr. Delonno mentioned that the NC Department of Commerce had another grant round for downtown projects. He said that there were EWo] potential projects, he said that eitherthel board could pick to] pay for additional items for the depot project or renovate the Chamber building. He said that the Chamber would have to: relinquish its part ownership oft the building to the town to be eligible for funds. He said that there were structural issues with the building. Commissioner Lucas asked how much the town would have to pay; Mr. Delonno said that there would be a 5%1 match and that he would gol for the max of $850,000.00. Mr. Delonno said that this grant would only be ablet tol be used for structures. The board decided that finishing the Commissioner Griffin made a motion to give the manager the go ahead on the grant for the depot; Commissioner Gainey seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Delonno told the board that Nash County wanted the board to agree to do ani interconnect asi it pertained tO water: service. He said that the county wanted to apply for a grant and that they need tol be connected to the town. He explained that this kind of arrangement would not help the town grow as. far as expanding the water system in the future. Mayor Pritchard said that he had gotten aj phone calll from the chair of Nash County board, He said that he agreed with the manager thati it would stop the growth. for the town. The board agreed. Brett Bowers a representative for Tom White's company, said that the buildings on Ash Street were being worked on. Hes said that the permits had been submitted and that the roof and masonry work was completed, on one of the buildings. Commissioner Cone asked when the completion date would be, Mr. Bowers said that it looked like it would be ready around June.  into Spring Hope limits by another agency had been arrested.  depot project was a better fit for the upcoming grant.    Commissioner Griffin said that he thought coming to the next meeting would be a good idea, Commissioner Griffin made ai motion to adjourn; Commissioner Gainey seconded and the  Mr. Bowers said that he would come back to the next meeting.  motion passed unanimously.  Submitted Whukk  Attest  726  &  NDDTLA CAAHVA