Page 1 of6 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 TOWN OF SAWMILLS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING 6:00 PM COUNCIL PRESENT Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren Clay Wilson Melissa Curtis Rebecca Johnson Joe Wesson COUNCIL ABSENT Mayor Johnnie Greene STAFF PRESENT Chase Winebarger Julie A Good Terry Taylor CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren called the meeting to order at approximately 6:02pm. INVOCATION: Landon Hines gave the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren led the Pledge of Allegiance. ADOPT AGENDA: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren asked for ai motion to adopt the October Melissa Curtis made a motion, and Joe Wesson seconded, to adopt the October 19, 2021 19, 2021 Agenda. Agenda. All were in favor. APPROVE SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren asked for a motion to approve the September 21,2021 regular meeting minutes. Joe Wesson made a motion, and Rebecca Johnson seconded, to approve the September 21, 2021 regular meeting minutes. All were in favor. APRROVE SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 CLOSED SESSION MINUTES: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren asked for aj motion to approve the September 21,2021 Closed Session Minutes. Clay Wilson made a motion, and Joe Wesson seconded, to approve the September 21, 2021 closed session minutes. All were in favor. PUBLIC COMMENT: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren asked if anyone had any questions or October 19, 2021 Page 2 of6 comments at this time. Sue Hall, a property owner in the Town of Sawmills, wanted to address Council about properties around the Town that she believes to be nuisances. PUBLIC HEARING: TEXT AMENDMENT OPEN PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren asked for a motion to open the Rebecca Johnson made a motion, and Clay Wilson seconded, to open the public hearing. All public hearing. were in favor. STAFF COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he recommends for the Town of Sawmills Zoning Ordinance Use Chart and Definitions be updated for more: fluidity and more comprehensive interpretation for the Town Planner to make decisions and to ensure a more accurate and fair interpretation on the zoning uses for years to come. PUBLIC COMMENT: No one wished to speak. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren asked for a motion to close Rebecca Johnson made a motion, and Joe Wesson seconded, to close the public hearing. All the public hearing. were in favor. COUNCIL ACTION: Clay Wilson made a motion, and Joe Wesson seconded, for the Town of Sawmills Zoning Ordinance be updated (definitions and use-chart) for more fluidity and more comprehensive interpretation for the planner to make decisions and this will ensure a more accurate and fair interpretations on the zoning uses for years to come. All were in favor. RECOGNITIONS: RECYCLE. REWARDS WINNER: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren announced Charity Gray, as the October Recycle Rewards winner. A credit ofthirty-two dollars ($32.00) will be added to the current sanitation bill. No Council action was: required. PUBLIC COMMENT: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren asked if anyone had any questions or October 19, 2021 Page 30 of6 comments at this time. No one wished to speak. UPDATES: OCTOBER CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT: Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that there are five (5) code enforcement cases open: Jose A Montes and Ana C Robles, 4321 Cherokee Ct. Rubbish. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he received a complaint and a NOV letter was sent out on October 5, 2021 for overgrown grass as well as rubbish all around the yard. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he went by the property on October 12, 2021 and the Ronald B and Cynthia H Herman, 4126 Shoun Dr. Rubbish. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he received a complaint and a NOV letter was sent out on September 28, 2021 for many different rubbish items in the yard (lawn mowers, appliances, etc.). Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he went by the property on October 12, 2021 and the problem has started to be addressed, however, not Thomas Charles Mann, 2228 Horseshoe Acres Dr. Rubbish. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he received a complaint and a NOV letter was sent out on Teresa Annas Compton, 4486 Sawmills School Road. Abandoned Mobile Home/Garbage and Rubbish. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated he received a complaint on January 13, 2020. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that a NOV letter was sent out on January 23, 2020 with a deadline of February 10, 2020. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that the trailer is not finished and located on the same property as the Compton house that the Town abated in 2018. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that staff will investigate and work with attorney for possible courses of abatement. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that one (1) of Ms. Compton's sons is scheduled to meet with staff in late February to work towards getting the property in his name and get the property cleaned up. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that staff has is waiting for Ms. Compton's son to schedule a time to come in and speak with staffregarding this property. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he went by the property on September 10, 2020 and the property is still in same condition with extremely high grass and would recommend demolition. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he has been in contact with Town Attorney Terry Taylor and former Town Planner to get all the evidence for this property. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that on February 19, 2021, the title search process had been started with Town Attorney Terry Taylor. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that on March 11,2021, there were three (3) heirs found from the title search process and letters had been sent out to all three (3) heirs. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that as of May 11, 2021, fines have started to occur on this property. Town Planner problem still exists; completely; October 19, 2021 Page 4 of6 Dustin Millsaps stated that as ofJune 10, 2021, all information on this case has been handed over to Town Attorney Terry Taylor to explore all options that are left to close this case. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that as of October 12, 2021 Town Attorney Terry Taylor is still engaged in the legal process oftrying to find heirs to the Douglas W and JoAnn Laxton, 4163 Horseshoe Bend Rd. Rubbish. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that he received a complaint and a NOV letter was sent out on September 9, 2021 for a mattress that was in the yard. Town Planner Dustin Millsaps stated that the mattress was cleaned up immediately after contact with property property; owners. No Council action was required. TOWN MANAGER UPDATES: Town Manager Chase Winebarger had the following updates: Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that he talked with the Architect and the site plani for the property on Baird Drisre ready tol bringt to West Consultants. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that there should be a draft plan on November 11th and he will bring it to Council on November 16th, as long as no major issues arise. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that Republic Services is continuing to switch cans out, but cannot give a definite date for completion. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that after countless designs and revisions, there has been a new logo for the Town settled on and that Council should start seeing Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that Public Works is currently pricing and getting ready to do some patchwork on a couple streets in Town, which includes two Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that there was a breaking and entering that occurred at the Public Works building and the cameras that were installed were very helpful in the capture ofthe suspect. The suspect was in custody with in the day. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that there was also a breaking and entering Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that this is the final week of Fall sports and the end ofthe first season that the Town has been responsible for the concession stand. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the concession stand has went well and that it appears that the Town has been able to more than break even each night. Town Manager Chase Winebarger Chase Winebarger stated that the code red calls that came out from the City ofLenoir for the potential was issue the experienced after the enormous amount of rain that was received is the same code red system that the Town of Sawmills uses and that is why the Town did not do a similar message. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the Town has put posts on the Facebook page itout in the near future. (2)cul-de-sacs. in one of our press boxes and that person is in custody also. October 19, 2021 Page 5 of6 and is currently waiting on marketing materials to get the word out to citizens to sign Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the Town has made it through the initial selection process for an EM grant that will provide a match funding to repair and elevate the South Caldwell Lift Station. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that he would like to use the second half of the COVID money to pay the Town's part of Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that he has been informed that the NCDOT is experiencing dome financial issues. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that those issues are substantially worse than initially anticipated and the NCDOT is currently thirteen billion $13,000,000,000.00) and approximately sixteen (16) years Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that Evident Church from Lenoir has rented Baird Park to hold an event, Autumn in the Park, on Saturday, October 23, 2021. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the Town's Halloween Trunk or Treat is being held Sunday, October 31, 2021 beginning at 5:30pm. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that he will see Council there at 4:30pm and for Council to dress Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that instead of a Christmas Party this year for staff, he would like to doalunch, a small gift, and give staff Wednesday, December Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that because of supply chain issues, Christmas decorations are extremely higher than was anticipated while finalizing the budget and there is not enough money in the budget to purchase the Christmas decorations that were picked out. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that there would be more lights on the tree this year and there is a metal tree that the Town purchased that will be set up for pictures in the Farmers Market lot. Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that the Town will purchase new holiday Town Manager Chase Winebarger stated that he would be on vacation from Thursday, up for the code red system SO everyone will get the notifications. the cost. short on their 2040 plan. forl Halloween. 22, 2021 off. Council had no objections. banners to be put up in Town. October 21, 2021 until Monday, October 25th, 2021. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Keith Warren introduced the Sawmills Elementary School Resource Officer, Chris Anders. Keith Warren wanted to1 thank Landon Hines for giving the invocation and his mother, Tamara Hines for bringing him. Rebecca Johnson wanted to thank everyone for coming to the meeting. November 13, 2021, beginning at 10:30am at Veteran's Park. Joe Wesson wanted to remind everyone of the Veteran's Memorial Service on Saturday, October 19, 2021 Page 6of6 Joe Wesson also wanted to thank everyone for coming out. CLOSED SESSION. PURSUANTTO N.C.G.S. $143.318-11(A)03): Mayor Pro Tem Keith Clay Wilson made a motion, and Rebecca Johnson seconded, to go into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. S 143.318-11(a)(3) at approximately 6:44pm. All were in favor. Clay Wilson made a motion, and Rebecca Johnson seconded, to come out of closed session Warren asked for a motion to go into closed session. at approximately 7:32pm. All were in favor. COUNCIL ADJOURN: Mayor Pro Tem Keith Warren asked for a motion to adjourn. Clay Wilson made a motion, and Rebecca Johnson seconded, to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:32pm. AIL SEAL COUR Piath C ulie A. Good, Town 4 JYL $S