THROUGH SALUDA,N.C. o BEGNN  City of Saluda Board of Commissioners  Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes  Date Time Location 1-C Call to Order  10/14/2024 07:00PM  Saluda Library Chambers Room  Mayor Morgan called the meeting to order on October 14th, 2024 at 7:00 pm.  2-Invocation  Amomento ofs silence was observed. 3-F Pledge of Allegiance The pledge of allegiance was recited.  4-Roll Call  Attendance was taken, andt those present were! Mayor Tangie Morgan, Commissioner Walker, Commissioner Marion, Commissioner Oxtoby, Commissioner Talbot, City Manager Steven Orr, Assistant City Manager & Finance Officer  Julie Osteen, City Attorney Janal Berg, City Clerk Pam Waters.  5-Agenda Additions and Deletions  None  6-A Approval of Agenda allwere in favor.  Commissioner Marion made a motion to approve the Agenda as Presented Commissioner Walker seconded  7-Approval or Correction of Minutes  Commissioner Marion made a motion to approve the Both sets of minutes for the September gth and the September 2024 Strategic planning meeting minutes as Presented Commissioner Walker seconded all were  infavor.  Board of Commissioners Meeting 10/14/2024    8-Consent. Agenda None  9-Public Comment  Herbie West 4091 Irving Sts spoke on the Chicken Ordinance and the Air BNB. Mr. West talked about how the community banded together tol help come through this recovery. Thes sad parti is after we gett through this we go back tot things we don'ta agree upon or workt together. We can solve so many problems ifv we work together on small things where they don't really require legal regulations or rules. just wantt tos speak on the chicken Ordinance have already spoken at the Planning andz zoning meeting. Ihave written al lettert to the Boardlt think Steve was kinde enough tos send itt to each ofy you. Ithink in that letterl llaid out ag good logical commonsense approach as how tol handle this. Ithinki it is at far reach for our governing board tot take some of our rights away such a simple thing as owning chickens controlled by the size ofy your lot requiring permits putting heavily weighted fines ont things that really seem out oft the commonsensical way of dealing witht things. Six foot fences, six foots shrubbery, building things only int the back yard 201 foot away. We have dogs that run all over the place andt their dog houses are kind of of atrocious andt theyj just waste all over the yard and people don't clean itu up butv we all seem tol love our dogs no matter what the do, or how they look. Isawy we were going to have another meeting on November 14h! Iwill be out oft town and won't able tol be there. Part oft the reason I'm here is notf for me it's for the community lown property outside the city! limits Ican have all the Chickens lwant and property tol build an Air! BnB whichy your trying to push Air BnB's out. So this is not forr me on ap personal level because Ican do all oft theset things without the city inhibiting mei from doing SO. I'm here speaking outf for thep people that aren't aware of whati is going on and having their rights taken away because therei is al lotof people that don't keep up with things and communications may not be out there. lfyour need myi letter sent back outl will be glad tos sendi itb back out. Ithinki it covers al lot of details about both those subjects with a commonsense way of handling it. Ijust want to urge the Board nott to approve the chicken ordinance the wayi ity was presented at the Planning and Zoning Meeting and urgey you to make that more publici int the terms of verbiage thati is goingt to be in this so alli the community can see whati is coming aboutl urge the ones pushing fort this ordinance tor really tot think about! how easy itist toj just talk to your neighbor about the chickens. lunderstand: about the roosters they are noisy I'm fine with no roosters. Ify youl have al hundred chickens they can: smell. Ithink ify youh have neighbors that have chickens and they arel bothering youj just talk tot them and work together as neighbors and a community and not build Sam Craig 1191 Friendly Circle wanted tot talk aboutt the curbside storm pickup and ifl leaves were being picked up because the contractor that was working his areai told him they weren't picking up leaves and wants a clarification on thel leaves. and when ity was going to bey picked up? And communication we were all having difficulty individually and as a townl Iknow Mayor Morgan saidy you were working on somethings lwould ask that communications be one of those because I went by city hall af few times and there was nothing there att the same time my wife runs communications for a website and she was having trouble getting things up on the website. When wes started getting some stuff ity was a link that we couldn't get tol because ofr no internet or power. Ihope that willl be included in your process of rethinking of how things are going. Iwas a city attomey for the city of Shelby representing Cleveland County and a number ofr municipalities and counties inr numerous capacities along the way sol understand youl have City Manager Orr answered his question That group is not picking up leaves butt there will be leaves being picked up. James Hrynyshyn spoke on the Spectrum lines laying all over the ground and! hanging low. Would like city to reach  morei legal ordinances.  at tough jobt to do and appreciate whaty you do.  outt tot them before someone catches one and pulls ap power pole down.  10- - Budget and Financial Report October 14, 2024  Board of Commissioners Meeting - 10/14/2024  2    Report for September 30, 2024 General Fund: Property Taxes received of $648,303 Garbage Collection $33,535 Coon Dog Day $12,425 Total Revenues are $742,188 Expenditures: Administration: unusual for the month. Police: $9,709 spent on repairs: 2011 Tahoe $1,101 2018 Dodge $4,054 2019 Dodge $2,366 2010 Explorer $473 2019 F150$136 2023 Silverado $132 year. Transportation: Repairs of $43,484: Mowing/Maintenance $12,975 Sidewalk $19,207 Streets Parking Lots $12,323 Henderson $3,790 ROW cleanup $5,292 Other supplies/repairs $83 Sanitation Cultural and Recreation: Pace Park bathroom items: $1,407 McCreery Park $14,159 Clean up (trees removed) $10,434 Bike Repair station $1,278 Board of Commissioners Meeting 10/14/2024  Powell Bill 1st disbursement $18,077 whichi is $1.883 higher than last years distribution  27% of budgeted expenses. Budget amendment willl be presented for Tropical Storm Helene costs anticipated. Slightly over budget due tot the pre-payment of workers comp and liability insurance premiums in July. No other  3 distributions have! been paid to the Saluda Fire Department for this year's Taxl Levy.  29% of budgeted expenditures due to pre-payment of workers comp andl liability insurance premiums in Julyf fort the  42% of budget because we have already spent almost 50% of our budget on maintenance.  3n months payment to GFL for Garbage collection has been incurred.  Library repains/maintenance $6,912 of whichi is $4,831 in annual inspection fees for the elevator  3    Bradley Landscaping $600 Debt Service:  3p payments has been made to First Citizens Bank on City Hall.  Surplus at September 30 $199,564 Total revenues received are $119,603. Water purchases thru September total $70,974 Anticipated surplus $23,484 Sewer Fund: Total revenues $57,106 Repairs: Pumping $5,345 Liftstations $9,784 WWWTP $5,231 Chemicals $7,000 Surplus at September 30 is $5,142 Budget Amendments attached.  Water Fund:  Revenue/Expenses tol be aliocated between water ands sewerf for October  Commissioner Oxtoby made a motion to approve the budget amendment listed below for McCreery Park budget for additional clean-up expenses as presented. Commissioner Talbot seconded all were ini favor. BUDGET AMENDMENT- - CULTURAL. ANDI RECREATIONG McCreery Park 12,000, 5,00017,000  CITY OF SALUDA, NORTH CAROLINA Contingency,7,700, (5,000), 2,700  Increase McCreery Parkb budget for additional clean-up expenses  Commissioner Oxtoby made a motion to approve the budget amendment listed below for Tropical Storm  Helene as presented. Commissioner Walker seconded all were in favor.  CITY OF SALUDA, NORTH CAROLINA BUDGET AMENDMENT - ADMINISTRATION  Amended Budget (5,800) $(5,800) 60,000 60,000 (54,200) (252,790)  Account  Budget Amendment  Tropical Storm: Helene Relieft Efforts Tropical Storm: Helene Relieft Efforts Fund Balance Appropriated donations received  $ (198,590)  To budget Tropical Storm Helene Expenses and  $-  Board of Commissioners Meeting 10/14/2024  4    Board of Commissioners will need to determine when and how best to use the monies for short- andl longer- terms needs oft the locai government and the community for the $5,800 received to date for the efforts Commissioner Oxtoby_made ar motion to approve the Resolution for Tropical Storm: Helene Donation Acceptance, Authorization For The City Manager To Use Donations For Helene Relief Efforts  Commissioner Marion Seconded all were in favor.  11-Public Safety Report Participated: Clay Price  Chief Price went over the September report Total Miles 6460 Total Events 1774  State citations: 16 City Citations: 1, Warning Tickets: 28, Written Warning 7, Verbal: 21,Expired Registration 5,No Operators License Drug paraphernalia, Possession of Narcotic/ Alcoholic Beverage, Registration' Violation 4, Careless and Reckless Driving:, Speeding Faulty Equipment1 Failure tor maintain lane, Driving' While Impaired 0, Driving whilel license revoked: 2, Inspection Violation 4, Concealed' Weapon 0, Stop sign violation 0, No Insurance 2, Open Container 0, Arrest, Warrants Served 1, Order for arrest served, Business Checks: 923, Church Checks: 61, House Checks: 80, Total Monthly Checks: 1064, Written Reports/ Calls answered, Vehicle Accident2, Larceny:1, Breaking and Entering, Welfare Check 9, Alarm calls 4,Open Door, Suspicious Person/Vehicle calls 3, Assaulto, Vandalism 3, Fraud 0, Communicating Threats 0, Hit & Run 0, Calls Thru Police Department Phone: 86, Information only 1, Walkl In Calls at the Saluda Police Department 7, Total Monthly' Written Reports: 2, Total Patrol Calls 114  10-82 Stranded Motorist Accident Animal Complaint Assist County Henderson Assist Highway Patrol Autumn Care Check Business Check Cemetery Check Church Security Check Community Contact Domestic/ disturbance Call Follow Up Investigation Health & Well Being Check Investigation Office Duties Paperwork Residence Check Stationary Area Watch Suspicious Vehicle Talk to Officer Traffic or Criminal Court Training/ School Unlock Car  15 911 Hang up4 2 Animal Call 2 3 Arrest 1 4 Assist County Polk 14 10 Assist Tryon PD1 79 BOLO for Wanted Suspect1 923Call by Phone 86 35 CheckpointLicense Check 3 61 City Property Check- Laurel Dr 42 10 Courtesy Escort for Intoxicated Person Fire Dept. Assist 5 7 Foot Patrol 6 8 Incident Report Juvenile Contact Other 1 Radar Operation 69 80 School Check 10 75 Suicide 1 3 Suspicious Persons 1 2 Traffic Control 1 Training/ Field 4 Trespassing1 1  City Property Check- Waste Treatment24 City Property McCreary Park/ /E Bathrooms 15  Vandlsm/Destruction of Property 3  Board of Commissioners Meeting-1 10/14/2024  5    Vehicle Maintenance Vehicle Stop-Citation/Arrest Vehicle Stop-Written' Warning Walk in at PD Welfare/R Uc ok Check Total Number Of Events: 1,272  Vehicle Patrol 26 26 Vehicle Stop-Verbal Warning 28 7 Verbal Dispute 1 7 Warrant 1 9  12-Outside Resources and Funds  Foothills Regional Commission- FEMA Discussion on TSI Helene Relief Information  City Manager Orr spoke on the recovery and how it mayt take up tot two years tor recover the funds andi infrastructure required to put us back whole. Itv will require Patients, Diligent and attention to detail whichy willb bei frustrating to al lot of We have beeni in contact with Steve and Julie since the storm started we aren't FEMA experts but my prior role before coming tot the Commission is doing disaster preparedness that was bothi in New York and herei in North Carolina. She went over ways to help with filing for assistance as a town and as ani individual. NC emergency management willl be the grantee from FEMA then they will send out program delivery managers. That hasn't occurred ata all. We are trying to get the original request for public assistance in tol FEMA. FEMA is overwhelmed right now asi it is NC,SG,FL,TN,GA and VA1 thatt they are having to assist. They usually give 30 days to gety your request in but that hasn't even been determined yet. Theni iti is usually a6 60 day turnaround time to get all the damage assessments and documentation: to geti into the thep program delivery Manager. They will sent out and work withy y'all. This hasn't occurred yet. It's going tol be okay every three days something better thath has occurred that is aj positive thing. Power coming back oni ina ai two week time frame Iti is doing so much! better between the Army Core ofE Engineers, National Guard, and all the assistance from thep power companies across the Country and Canada. It's been very impressive. Ifwe can hang on atf firste everyone was panicking we were getting calls from all the entities in the! Foothills in our council of government fori four counties. It's going to be okay. Puty your application in and keep all the documentation and document all youd can what's public utilities doing, what are youd doing. We have FEMA forms we also have incident command forms soi ifa an one has done anything with emergency management there is al lot of Planning, logistic, operation andi finance. It's going toi take a whilet to gety your reimbursement Ift they see you have all the documentation how much overtime they are going tos say these folks have it together they wille expedite your request. I hope Thave explained that on a basic level. There ist tips sheets int the binder whichy youl have been doing fori the last two weeks. Get yours stuff intoy youri insurance FEMA isn't going to reimburse double. Insurance won't pay for overtime, police and supplies so gett that into FEMA fort the 1s'two weeks as long as it's for emergency as long asi it documented for hazardous prevention, safety, public health all oft that. Therei is more int the binder there is a small business association, USDA farm and algaculture information in there as well. The! bottom linei is keep documenting while we wait for them to give us ap program delivery manager. I urge you to go on line and puti in fory youri individual assistance and the towni for public assistance. Iwill bet talking to Steve aboutt thata a little! bit down ther road ont to help yous gets some funding fort future preparedness. For anyone else On October 23d from 4t to 6itv will be at ICCin Commissioner Marion have two questions how are. Air BnB and short term rentals how is that look at would ith be a second home ora al business whati ifit was in al LLC. And wouldi ith be beneficial to go tot ther meeting at ICC? Ifitab business ity will be different. As far as Air BnB Iwill look into that don't wanti to give yout the wrong information. I would sayi ity would be a secondl home ita ask ont the applications ifthisi is your primary home or secondary home.  people. Iwillt turn it over to Penny and charlotte.  Spindale will be a representative there out of! DCt thati is our Western region area.  There is so many pieces. It's worthy putting in for. Yes go to the meeting.  Commissioner Marion I heard today thatt the 750.00is al loan andy youy will have to pay it back  Idon't think sO.  Board of Commissioners Meeting-10/142024  6    13-Zoning and Planning Department Report  Nothing to report  14-Administration Department Report City Manager Orr went over -State of City Services after TS Helene  -Claims Filed for Storm Damage to City Property and Facilities to NCLM  -Good oft the City tot the Police Department, City! Maintenance Personnel, Volunteers, City Staff, BOC We are dealing with ani issue with our pump system down on Hwy 176 both pumps are down, They were damaged in thes storm one pump is in Greenville being repaired. We are working off the pressure off the Hendersonville line which is keeping the tank full with pressure. Judds peak is getting water because the have power and the small pump is working. Our waste water treatment plant is operational we. had al littlei issue witht trees falling on the bar screen we have had some control Pannel issues we have an electrician coming tomorrow beçause oft the power surges andl loss ofp power so we will repairs ati the waste water treatment plant. Wel knowt there are issues on roads and streets that willl have to be deait with. We are trying to get basics services straightened out before we address some of ther road situation. Wel have had on Chisolm streeta a wet weather spring that hasn't been active for years which created a soft spott that we had to dig out and puti in al French drain system. We are dealing with some otheri issues like drainage the storm water management we will continue to get debris. They are picking up and grinding. the leafy debris we will come back around with Chris Bradley's vacuum andp pick up the leaves. GFL starts tomorrow coming around picking up storm damage that can be white goods, construction debris, carpets, any oft those things that was damaged by flooding ora a tree hitting the home. Ithast tol be within 101 feet oft the curb side. We sent out the FEMA documentation as what we can accept. Wel hope that willl heip people out. The county is going to help pick up leafy debris on most state roads. Tonight Jana is going to be working with us on a inter local agreement that polk county is going to be arriving with thatl don't know thet time frame Ihope. Jana can help us with that. Iwil answer any questions thatlcan Ag gentleman int the audience asked ift the water tanki issue could mean a water distribution issue for the town. Assistant City Manager & Finance Officer Julie Osteen accordingt to GFLt they will make two passes around one for City Manager Om we also have good oft the city the police department, our city Maintenace personal for thei incredible amount of over time. Wel had a loto of volunteers, our city staff and our board of commissioners. I want to mention Tim Anderson and Shane Varnadore deserve a lot of your kudos when yous see them. Those two guys are twol local contractors we rely ont they helped getting things opened upf fairly quickly let them know they did a phenomenal) job  answer we normally don't dot this butl will answeri ifl can. Al lady askedt they willl be taking construction material?  City manager orr No because iti is elevated and receives pressure and stays % full. City Manager Orr, Yest they have a grapple hook ont thet truck and willp pick itu up.  debris and one for White goods.  they did some dangerous work to gett things opened up.  15- Update On The Status Of Sale Of. .23 Acres By Upset Bid Process.  City Attorney Berg gave an update on the. .23 Property they Williams wanted toy purchase. I'm happy to advise you that we haver received' the initial bid on the. 23 acres submitted by Mr. & Mrs. Williams has been accepted we didn't receive any further bids. Ihave advised the attomey for williams that their bid has been accepted. We are goingt to  close ont the. .10 and the. 23 acer not sure of the closing date yet.  16-SDF Report Nothing  Board of Commissioners Meeting- 10/14/2024  7    17-Coon Dog Day Festival is July 12h 2025. Wer need volunteers.  The Committee has decided that July 12th willl be Coon Dog Day this yearl the Board approves that. Coon Dog Day 18-Local Emergency Ordinance. IF Proclamation ofa a City of Saluda State of Emergency Jana went over the draft local emergency Ordinance ofv what happens when therei is as state of emergency ite explains what happens when there is ane emergency who declares the state ofe emergency, purchases are made and' thing of that nature. The chain of command is with respect of declaration of state ofe emergency is the Mayor, int the eventt the Mayor is not here then the mayor pro temi ifneither oft those two are available then it goes tot thet full board of commissioners too dot the declaration of state ofe emergency. There are limited powers some of those are to prohibit the sale of alcohol, top puti in a curfew and when people can be out andi things of that nature, Those are the powers thatt the Mayor has, the Mayor Pro Tem and the Board of Commissioners. This is pretty much whate everyone else does. The powers are written int thes statues andt they do list all the powers thaty youd do have. Commissioner Walker read a part that said a in the absent of the Mayor and the Mayor pro Tem a quorum oft the board of commissioners must! be present sol how many wouldt that be we only have three left. Attorney Berg ar majority so all three Commissioners would have to bel Present.  Commissioner oxtoby made ar motion to approve the Local Emergency Ordinance as written Commissioner 19. -S Schedule al Public Hearing for a' Text Amendment to the Animal Control Ordinance for  Talbot seconded all were ini favor.  November 12th, 2024, 7:00 pm Saluda Public Library City Manager Orrr read the ordinance to schedule a public hearing.  Commissioner Marion made a motion to Schedule al Public Hearing for aText Amendment to the Animal Control Ordinançe for November 12th, 2024. 7:00 pm Saluda Public Library Commissioner Talbot seconded  allwere in favor.  20-S Saluda Historic Committee  Martin Anderson Spoke in Reference to the Pace Park Art Mural Description of all the wonderful people it will be 64x16 we went over howt to describe these six people thath helped to define Saludal History Dr. D. Lesesne Smith, Lola Ward, Charlie Ward, Phoebia Sullivan, Robert Pace and William "Billy" Morris. We were asking the cityt to cover they cost $212.96 but Bruce, James and his wife Sara have offered top pay fors saids sign which is very gracious and wonderful. We still ask the city to give permission to havet the sign posted. Whenever itis convenient tot the city to do Commissioner Marionn made a motion to approve the permission of putting up the sign 64x 16 Commissioner Talbot seconded all were in favor. 21-1 Inter-local Agreement with Polk County, NC for Vegetative Storm Debris Removal Attorney Berg went over thel Inter-Local Agreement for Vegetative storm debris removal the county through thes states Emergency Management division is piggy backing onto a state contract for debris removal andr monitoring of debris removal. The: state issued ai invitation for bids backi in 20191 two contractors we successful bidders for our region whichi is region 121 then it goes westward from here the county has issued a notice top proceeded! tot thoset two contractors sol presume they are doing whatt they needt to doi to get prepared tos start hauling out debris. lassume  sO. Itv would require the small pace park signt tol ber moved.  Board of Commissioners Meeting- - 10/14/2024  8    that the county willl let the townships know the dates to havei the debris ready forp pick up. This has been a fast evolving process this evening right before Icame here Iwas advised that you havei iny your packet from the FEMA people iti in respect tot the US Army Core of Engineers doing some debris pickup soI rather thanj paying for debris removal then applying for reimbursement the US Army Core of Engineers doing itt theirs selves. There's no need to pass through. Idon't knowi ift thisi is going to supplant the contracts thata arei in effect ori ina addition to or how that works justy yet how ever Iprepared where the city of Saluda is giving the County permission1 to operate int the city limits that would bet thet two contractors p puti in a copy oft the two contracts fory you to review they arel lengthy, they are state contraçts and you can't do anything to modify them. Inl light of thef fact thatt the Army Core of Engineers may undertake some oft the effortl Ihave proposed some modification to it. This came tor me after five todayl Idol have some proposed language ify youy willl look att the letter dated October gths signed by Steve Orr what propose to change about that letter is for the seconded paragraph substitute this in addition we further understand Polk County is presently working with the US/ Army Core of Engineers to enable Polk County to become one oft the beneficiaries ofa contract issued by US Army Core of Engineers for additional debris removal services. New paragraph please accept thisl letter as conformation as the City authorizing Polk Counties contractor and should Polk County become a beneficiary oft the US Army Core of Engineers contract for additional debris removal service, fort the US Army Core of Engineers contractor to operate within the Cities corporate limits. Theni itg goes one to sayt that] will bet the point of contact for the city regarding these contracts. Please advise of any additional coordination or assistance thatr may be the City. Solmodified' that a little bit to include the USA Army Core of Engineers where ift that comes to tuition you have expressively granted them permissioni to preform debris removal services int the city without a need for a pass Assistant City Manager & Finance Officer. Julie Osteen said thats she has also reached out! Henderson county toi for Commissioner Marion made a motion to approve the Inter-Local Agreement as presented with the changes  required of through less paperwork. their Henderson County residents.  that were made during the meeting Commissioner Walker seconded ally were inf favor.  22-Closed session favor  Commissioner Oxtoby made a motion to enter closed session Commissioner Talbot seconded ally were in  In closed session personnel discussions and williams property closing  Time entered closed session 8:11 were in favor  Commissioner Oxtoby made a motion to enter back into regular session Commissioner Walker seconded all  Time back into regular session 8:21  23-A Adjourn  Backi in regular session at 8:21 after closed session  Commissioner Walker made amotion to put together a Subcommittee for disaster analysis containing Police, Fire. Staff. Commissioners. citizen in the community. Commissioner Marions seçonded all were in favor. Commissioner' Walker made a motion tor make an exception to the Personnell Policy due to staffing issues Merit for public works for the total of 2526.58 Commissioner Marion seconded all were in favor. Commissioner Oxtoby made a motion of avote of confidence in the City Manager Commissioner Walker  seconded all were in favor. With no further business to discuss, Board of Commissioners Meeting 10/14/2024  9    Commissioner Oxtoby made ar motion to adiourn the meeting Commissioner Walker seconded and ally were in  favor,  The meeting adjourned at 8:37 Octoper 14th, 2024.  Respectfully submitted by Pamela Waters, City Clerk. Adopted this Click ort tapl here to enter text. day of Clicko or  tap! here to enter text., 20Click ort tap here to enter text..  - Click ort   hter  L  A  famek PAmela Waters, City Clerk  Board of Commissioners Meeting 10/14/2024  10