1  CITY OF WHIGHAM COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 11, 2024  The Whigham City Council meti in regular session on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the Whigham City Hall with Mayor Trey Gainous presiding. Sellers called the meeting to order at 6:00P.M. and Robert Porter Those present were: MayorT Trey Gainous, Mayor Pro Tem. Jim Sellers, Jimmie Laing, Joel Singletary, Andrew' Walden, Robert Porter, Police Chief Tony Black, Utilities Director. Josh Ausburn, and City Clerk Rachel Jenson. Members oft the public present: Emily Maxwell, Wallace Chason, Jane Trulock, Judy Sullivan, Amber Crawford, Margie Eubanks, Carol Padgett and. John Padgett. Perry Henry from Perry Henry LLC arrived to present the prior FY audit report to the Mayor and Council.  opened the meeting with a prayer and led the Pledge to the Flag.  Agenda. Adoption  Mayor Trulock told the Council that due to miscommunication, Emily Maxwell thought she was on the agenda and had not been put on for the meeting that had been sent. Mr. Perry Henry also needed to be added to the agenda as a last-minute add-on. Mayor Gainous requested for the: agenda to be amended with these additions. A motion was made by Robert Porter to adopt the agenda as amended. Andrew Walden seconded the motion. All members present voted ini favor of the motion.  Motion carried. Minutes. Adoption  A motion was made by Jimmie Laing. to adopt the minutes from the May 14th meeting. Andrew Walden seconded the motion. All members present voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried. Perry Henry, CPA, presented the Mayor and Council with the audit report results for the FY ending August 31, 2023. Henry stated there was consistency through the years and he was pleased with it staying that way. Henry pointed outt the debt the City has is low which is good. Inflation has been al big concern throughout all audited municipalities. Henry stated we would need to look out for negative trends buti it wasn'ta concern at this time for Whigham. Overall, the City wasi in good standing and there would only need to be al budget amendment for the Police Department budget, due to the fact that an unbudgeted amount to purchase a new truck motor had caused a slight overage. Mr. Henry thanked the Mrs. Emily Maxwell addressed the Mayor and Council about at tree in a neighboring lot causing damage int the Woodlawn Cemetery to her parents' gravestones. Mrs. Maxwell provided photos for the Council. She reached out to the Council in March 2023 originally and per the City Attorney, Mrs. Maxwell was informed the owners of the lots would be held responsible, not the City. Mrs. Maxwell pointed out that the tree roots were affecting several lots and there was no local family of the lot owners that the trees are originating in. Mrs. Maxwell asked for the City to remove the trees and also wanted to clarify that the Lawrence lots invoived are NOT her family. Mayor Gainous and the Council stated they were all under the impression the Lawrence lots were her family sO this changed decisions on the matter. Mayor  Reports  Council for their time and left the meeting.  Public Participation  City of Whigham Council Meetings June 11, 2024    2  Gainous stated they would research to verify there were no local family members and see how to  approach the removal. Unfinished Business  Bernard Estates Rezoning: Mayor Gainous stated the rezoning of the property for Zoie Bernard (Map/Parcel Information: 00220030003) for the 11 acres deeded to Ms. Bernard had been tabled at the last Council meeting for decision on rezoning. The property Carol Padgett spoke out that they were okay with the zoning change if there were no mobile homes allowed. Mayor Gainous wanted to remind everyone present that mobile homes would not! be allowed, and this would all be completed at no cost tot the city. Padgett spoke out again and asked if the Council would ask Ms. Bernard to start at the back of the property initially. Gainous responded that they could ask, but we could not guarantee that would happen because we can'tt tell someone where to begin on the project.. Jim Sellers made a motion that the zoning for the property in question be zoned from R1 to RPUD for only the 11 acres in the plan, given the 30-foot buffer that needs to be implemented around the property line. Joel Singletary seconded the motion. All members present voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried. DDA Update: Mr. Jim Sellers gave an update on the DDA. Sellers stated all cities are eligible to authorize and activate. DDAS are more eligible for grants, are able to work with investors, etc. that the City can not do. The two options for DDA formation are: statute authority, which has parameters and board guidelines already set and would also have public meetings and minutes or a constitutional authority which is drawn up by the city attorney and the Council can determine how many people will be on1 the board. Mr. Porteri inquired if the amount of members can change once established, to which Sellers replied no; once the number of board members is set and voted on, it can not be changed. Either authority type is chosen by the Council by an official vote and a resolution being adopted. Once the DDA ise established, they will determine what is to be considered "downtown" in a meeting. Sexton House: Mayor Gainous informed the council City Attorney Charlie Ferenchick is drawing upa petition, per the charter, that will outline the complaint of the City and Chief Black will sign. Ferenchick will then file with the court fori the property owners to appear in the Whigham Recorder's Court. PD: Chief Blackre reported that they were moved all moved in to the new building and all was going well. Utilities: Ausburn stated theyf fiber was almost done being installed all over the city. He also stated the new bucket truck wasi in and was parked behind City Hall so anyone interested could look overi it. They  were working on beautification in downtown. Council Matters of Interest  Porter stated the garbage truck was messing up the pavement and asked Ausburn if there was anything that could be done. Ausburn stated they could do: some more paving and the plan was to pave S. McGriff. Carol Padgett spoke out that Walker and Martin were also bad. Ausburn stated they would try to patch the worst parts but they didn't want to pave with the Bernard property work: since work trucks Sellers stated the garbage company was getting several complaints with the driver being foul mouthed  would damage the paving.  and making a mess city-wide. Mayor Gainous stated he would talk to Chris Taylor.  City of Whigham Council Meetings June 11, 2024    3  With no other matters to tend to, a motion to adjourn was made by Robert Porter. Jim Sellers seconded the motion. All members present voted in favor. Motion carried. MeetingAdjourned at 7:04  PM.  Submitted  u  Approved    City of Whigham Council Meetings June 11, 2024