Page lof7  TUESDAYJANUARY 19,2016  TOWN OF SAWMILLS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING  6:00 PM  COUNCIL PRESENT Joe Wesson Gerelene Blevins Jeff Wilson Joel Norman Keith Warren Reed Lingerfelt  STAFF PRESENT Christopher Todd Julie Good Terry Taylor  CALLTO ORDER: Mayor Joe Wesson called the meeting to order. INVOCATION: Associate Pastor Randy McCall gave the invocation.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Joe Wesson led the Pledge of Allegiance.  ADOPT AGENDA: Mayor Joe Wesson asked for a motion to adopt the January 19, 2016 Jeff Wilson made a motion, and Keith Warren seconded, to adopt the January 19, 2016  Agenda.  agenda. All were in favor.  APPROVE DECEMBER 15, 2015 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Mayor Joe Wesson asked for a motion to approve the December 15, 2015 regular meeting minutes. Reed Lingerfelt made a motion, and Gerelene Blevins seconded, to approve the December  15,2015 regular meeting minutes. All were in favor.  PUBLIC COMMENT: Mayor Joe Wesson asked if anyone had any questions or  comments at this time. No one wished to speak. RECOGNITIONS:  RECYCLE REWARDS WINNER: Mayor Joe Wesson announced Mr. Bill Absher, as the January Recycle Rewards winner. A credit oftwenty-eight dollars ($28.00) will be added to his sanitation bill. Mayor Joe Wesson stated that his certificate would be available at the    January 19,2016 Page 2of6  Town Hall for pick up. No Council action was required.  SAWMILLS VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT AWARDS: Mayor Joe Wesson, on behalfofthe Town Council, presented plaques of appreciation to the following:  Firefighter of the Year: Firstl Reponderofthekear: Officers of the Year:  Grant Newton Grant Newton Bruce Austin Keith Gibbons  No Council action was required. FINANCIAL MATTERS:  CALDWELL COUNTY GOVERNMENT CHANNEL CONTRIBUTION: Mayor Joe Wesson stated that the Town received a request from the Caldwell County Government Channel for a contribution to support the cost of upgrading and repairing the recording and broadcasting equipment. Caldwell County estimates the project cost of approximately one hundred seventy-one thousand dollars ($171,000) for the upgrades and repairs. Currently, Sawmills appears in approximately two percent (2%) of the total programming on the Louanne Kincaid with the Caldwell County Government Channel was present to speak about the upgrade and answer any questions. Mrs. Kincaid stated that the Caldwell County Government Channel first started broadcasting in 2002 and all the equipment is the original equipment. All of the station's equipment needs to be updated. Most of the equipment does Mrs. Kincaid stated that the Caldwell County Commissioners have set aside one hundred sixty thousand dollars ($160,000) for this expense in this budget year. Mrs. Kincaid also stated that there is approximately eleven thousand dollars ($11,000) from the cable finance fund from when the station was started that will be used for this expense. Ms. Kincaid stated that the Town of Hudson and the Town of Granite Falls have agreed to contribute toward the expense of upgrading the equipment. The City of Lenoir has stated they will Joe Norman made a motion, and Jeff Wilson seconded, to contribute four thousand dollars ($4,000), after a budget amendment has been made and approved, to the Caldwell County Government Channel to help with the cost of upgrading and repairing the recording and  government channel, as estimated by the County.  not work with any new equipment.  also contribute.  broadcasting equipment. All were in favor.    January 19,2016 Page3of6  DEPUTY FINANCE OFFICER APPOINTMENT: Mayor Joe Wesson stated that in the event that the Finance Officer, Karen Clontz, is not available the Town will need a Deputy Jeff Wilson made a motion, and Reed Lingerfelt seconded, to appoint Town Administrator,  Finance Officer to fulfill her duties pursuant tol NCGS $ 159-25 (b). Christopher Todd, as Deputy Finance Officer. All were in favor.  BANKING AND AP CHECK SIGNATURES: Mayor Joe Wesson stated that due to recent changès on the Council, new signature cards will need to be on file at First Citizens Bank and CommunityOne Bank. The banks require a new signature card to be on file whenever there are changes in the staff and/or Council. The Town requires two (2) The following Council and staff have authorization to sign on behalf of the Town with  signatures for accounts payable checks and the safety deposit box.  regards to banking transactions: Joe Wesson-Mayor Christopher Todd-Town Administrator Karen Clontz-Finance Officer  Mayor Joe Wesson stated that typically there is an additional Council member authorized to Reed Lingerfelt made a motion, and Jeff Wilson seconded, to add Councilman Joe Norman to the signature cards at First Citizens Bank and CommunityOne Bank authorizing Councilman Joe Norman to sign on behalf of the Town with regards to banking transactions.  sign on behalf of the Town with regards to banking transactions.  All were in favor. DISCUSSION:  STANDING COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS: Mayor Joe Wesson With the appointment of Councilman Jeff Wilson and Councilman Reed Lingerfelt to the Intergovermental Committee, Councilman Jeff Wilson is the delegate and Councilman Reed Lingerfelt made a motion, and Gerelene Blevins seconded, to approve the attached Standing Council Committees including the appointments to the WPCOG Policy Board. All  announced the attached new Standing Council Committees.  Reed Lingerfelt is the alternate to the WPCOG Policy Board.  were in favor.  TOWN OF SAWMILLS PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY: Mayor Joe Wesson stated that the Town of Sawmills wishes to encourage public participation and promote opportunities for public engagement. As such, the Town Attorney prepared a Public  Comment Policy, which is attached for Council review and approval.    January 19,2016 Page 4of6  Joe Norman made a motion, and Gerelene Blevins seconded, to approve the attached Town  of Sawmills Public Comment Policy. All were in favor.  BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS VACANCY: Mayor Joe Wesson stated that with the appointment of Reed Lingerfelt to Council, there is now a vacancy for an alternate on the Keith Warren made a motion, and Gerelene Blevins seconded, to appoint Johnnie Greene as  Board of Adjustments.  an alternate to the Board of Adjustments. All were in favor.  UPDATES:  SBEA DECEMBER PROGRESS REPORT: Town Administrator Christopher Todd stated that Sherry Long, from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, has enclosed  aprogress report for the SBEA project 12-C-2443.  No Council action was required.  JANUARY CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT: Town Planner Elinor Hiltz stated that  there are two (2) code enforcement cases open:  Steven Killian at 4801 Helton Road has removed two (2) of the three (3) vehicles that he was required to remove from his property. Mr. Killian currently was issued a civil citation at $50.00 (fifty dollars) a day back dated to December 14, 2015, until the last vehicle is removed. Town Planner Elinor Hiltz has forwarded the file to the Wendy Hadchin is the owner ofa dilapidated house located at 4476 Sawmills School Road. A petition with the required five (5) signatures has been returned to the Town. Town Planner Elinor Hiltz stated that she sent a letter to the owner advising her that the Town received a petition to reopen the case to condemn the house.  Town Attorney for the final citation letter to be sent.  No Council action was required.  COMPERHENSIVE STEERING COMMITTEE REPORT: Town Planner Elinor Hiltz stated that she has enclosed a status report from the January 5, 2016 Steering Committee  meeting.  No Council action was required.  DUFF DRIVE SEWER PROJECT REPORT: Town Administrator Christopher Todd stated that Lisa Helton, from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, has enclosed a  progress report for the Duff Drive Sewer project.    January 19,2016 Page e5of6  No Council action was required.  PUBLIC COMMENT: Sue Hall stated that she has not seen any improvement to the property at 4803 Helton Road. Ms. Hall stated that it did not look like anything had been moved off the property and, if anything, it looked like the residents had moved more items on the back porch. Ms. Hall informed Council that the occupant of 4803 Helton Road had stated to her renters that he did not have to clean up his property nor did he have to listen to the Code Enforcement Officer. Ms. Hall also. stated that two (2) of the neighbors of 4803 Helton Road stated that the property had a smell as ifsomething had died.  COUNCIL COMMENT: Mayor Joe Wesson asked if anyone on the Council had any Joe Norman thanked everyone for coming to the meeting and stated that the Town is Keith Warren wanted to thank everyone for coming out and hoped everyone has a safe trip Gerelene Blevins stated that it was good to see everyone at the meeting and stated that it  questions or comments at this time.  looking postive.  home. Keith Warren also was pleased that it was a very good meeting.  was a very. good meeting.  Jeff Wilson stated he hoped everyone had a good holiday.  Reed Lingerfelt wanted to thank everyone for coming and for everyone to be careful going home. Reed Lingerfelt also stated that he was on Sawmills Volunteer Fire and Rescue for twenty-five (25) years and this is the best group of guys. The Volunteers will go above and Mayor Joe Wesson wanted to think everyone for coming and we had a good meeting. Mayor Joe Wesson stated that there will be a Festival Committee meeting on January 21, 2016 at 4:00 pm. There will also be the "Coffee with the Council" meeting on January 21, 2016 beginning at 6:00 pm. Mayor Joe Wesson stated that the Council is looking forward to citizen input at the "Coffee with the Council" and that the meeting will not have any issues to resolve, but rather for citizens to bring ideas for the new budget. Mayor Joe  beyond to help ini the community.  Wesson stated that the best ideas come from the citizens.  CLOSED SESSION: ATTORNEY/CLIENT PRIVILEGE: Mayor Joe Wesson asked Reed Lingerfelt made a motion, and Joe Norman seconded, to go into Closed Session at Gerelene Blevins made a motion, and Reed Lingerfelt seconded, to come out of Closed  for a motion to go into closed session. 7:06 pm. All were in favor.  Session at 8:23 pm. All were in favor.    January 19, 2016 Page 6of6  OPEN MEETING ACTION ITEMS: After returning to open session, Mayor Joe Wesson asked for ai motion for a Special Meeting, "Coffee with the Council", on January 21,2016 at 6:00pm at Sawmills Town Hall with a Closed Session for attorney/client privilege matters. Reed Lingerfelt made a motion, and Joe Norman seconded, to approve the Special Meeting Agenda for the meeting on January 21, 2016 at 6:00pm. All were in favor. COUNCIL ADJOURN: MayorJoe Wesson asked for ai motion to adjourn.  Joe Norman made ai motion, and Jeff Wilson seconded, to adjourn the meeting. All were in  favor.  SEAL JV3150 L CODA PAPAPAD  hee Wlwsoon BWesson, Mayor  Clerk  Gudid