ms my blished MEETING MINUTES OFTHE LAKE LURETOWN COUNCILWORK SESSION AND ACTION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024, 8:30. A.M. LAKE LURE MUNICIPAL CENTER PRESENT: Mayor Carol C. Pritchett Mayor Pro' Tem David DiOrio Commissioner Patrick Bryant Commissioner Scott Doster Commissioner Jim Proctor William Morgan, Jr., Town. Attorney Olivia Stewman, Town Manager Stephen Ford, Finance Director Dean Lindsey, Public Services Director Krejci, Communications Director Michael Williams, Community Development Director Laura ABSENT: N/A I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Carol C. Pritchett called the meeting to order at 8:35 am. II. AGENDA ADOPTION Commissioner Jim Proctor made a change on the agenda to add an item number seven which it will be the discussion of the Christmas lights, Commissioner Scott Doster seconded and the motion carried 4-0. III. PUBLIC COMMENT Dennis Shellenburger 143 Bee' Tree Place, mentioned that he and Mr. Don! Meants 132 Rumbling Bald Road, are both residents of the Rumbling bald Community, and they are both also on the Fairfield Fire Department Board - he explained that after the discussion with the Lake Lure Fire Department Chief, and after viewing the Agenda Items he noticed that there will be a vote on merging and dissolving the! Fairfield Fire Department and they asked that this item be postponed and not be voted on at this time, and not to stop the funding, he thinks thati it is too soon: for that. Commissioner that are not on the agenda and since this item is, wel have to wait until the item comes up IV. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DISCUSSION WITH FOOTHILLS REGIONAL Alan' Toney mexplained that as the Town approaches the end of the 2007-2027 Comprehensive Plan, it is prudent to beginning planning for a new Comprehensive Plan. Moving forward, the' Town will be working with Foothills Regional Commission (FRC) to create a new. Plan. FCR is the council of governments for the Isothermal Region which includes Cleveland, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford Counties. The membership of the Commission consists of the local governments within the Isothermal Region.' The Commission serves its members and their citizens by fostering regional collaboration Ins short, the goal for the new Comprehensive Plan is to reflect the current goals oft the' Town in a more concise and readable format. There will be an interdisciplinary steering committee composed of key stakeholders who will conduct meetings, create a SWOT analysis, provide their input, etc. The committee's input will be considered when transitioning to the public engagement process which will include a survey, focus groups, and public meetings. Mr. Alan Toney with FRC will provide a more detailed overview of how the Town and FRC will proceed with the creation of a new Comprehensive Plan. Alan showed a survey they made in Durham County and it is both in English and Spanish depending on the town: needs of the language. Addressed the Parks and Rec Chairs and explained that they will be involved about making updates and the way you want the new comp plan will look like, have the folks on this board to lay out the vision of the new plan, what the long term goals will look like. The rough overview of the costs and time frame it's to starti in 12 to 18 months. The commissioners explained that there were really grateful for this comp plan and Jim Proctor noted that public comments are meant for to discuss items which Item numberVIIL. COMMISSION and providing professional and technical expertise. how much it will help the town. V. REVIEW PROPOSED DIRTY DANCING PROCLAMATION Mr: Brian Proctor requested aj proclamation be made acknowledging and commemorating the finale lift from the 1987 film, Dirty Dancing. Communications Director reviewed the request with the Lake Lure Events' Team including the' Town Manager, Community Development Director, Fire Chief, and Police Chief.' There were no objections to the request.. Additionally, the Communications Director consulted Town Attorney William Morgan regarding the request and he did not express any concerns about honoring the: request as written below. Dear Director. Krejci, experience. Iam writing toj you as a community. member with a deep appreciation. for our town's unique history, which has been universally beneficial to our local economy and the. American On arecent episode of Bachelor. in Paradise, an audience of 2 million viewers (primarily composed of the. most. impactful demographic: Women ages 25. - 50) observed two attempts at the Lake Lure Land. Lift, which. required no introduction as the moment simply History tells us that this often-imitated, nationally signifiçant moment occurred in one famous take on the shores ofLake Lure, North Carolina. Unfortunately, the exact date has remained a Over the past year,Ihave performed extensive. research in the hopes of(1) identifying and (2) documenting our moment of national significance.At this time,Iam confident that Id can pinpoint the exact date and provide. supporting, peer-reviewed documentation, for your review.. Ibelieve a thoughtfully timed. Mayoral proclamation is the best way to memorialize Historical. recognition has proven to be a powerful driver for tourism and economic growth, courting those seeking to immerse themselves in the stories and experiences that have shaped the national consciousness. Increased tourism brings economic opportunities. for local businesses, revitalizes historical: sites, and generates revenue that can If the Mayor. is agreeable to issuing aproclamation./vould. be. happy to further assist. Ifj you or your. staff have any questions concerning the request, please call. me at (857) 234-1885 and Iwill. follow up with your office regarding this request promptly. Thank you! foryour consideration regarding this special request. Sincerely, belongs to the. American experience. mystery for some forty. years. and celebrate this important. local history. be. reinvested into community development projects. Brian Proctor Mr. Proctor created the following video with his research on thel lift and his) proposal for the proclamation. tps/drve.google.com/le/dAts ta- ISJy5f gIGPPOmCOTABBABefasp-aharing The draft proclamation and video were forwarded to' Town Attorney William Morgan for review. He did not foresee any concerns with issuing the proclamation. This proclamation - will be read by the Mayor on the town council meeting communication in October. VI. QUARTERLY FINANCE Steve Ford (Finance Director) Addressed the board and made the presentation and explained what the expenditures of the town looks like - he has provided copies of the ledgers in the packet. Ford noted that department heads are doing well with the management oft their budgets. Revenue wise the town looks great, the state revenue sources look good, as part of our review process we want to look at every expense and see if we can: reduce the costs, we will look at what expenses are necessary.The revenue do not include any draws from the budget amendment related to the general fund which the council passed in the last fiscal year. If we relocated our money we don't need to draw money from the general fund.To do internal transfer instead of usingthe general fund balance. VII. DISCUSS THE CHIRSTMAS LIGHT PLAN Laura Krejci presented a proposed plan that includes the cost of the Christmas lights, thej printout includes pictures and a written plan of what the town will look like during the upcoming holidays. The plan also gives different options. All of the lights that have been purchased are. LED lights which will not impact the utility cost.' The target date to turn them on is December 4th.' The items will be a one-time cost. VIII. RESOLUTION NO. 24-09-25 TERMINATING AGREEMENT WITH FAIRFIELD VOLUNTEER FIRE: DEPARTMENT Chief Dustin Waycaster made the presentation - The' Town ofI Lake Lure and Fairfield Mountains Volunteer Fire Department (FMVFD) have maintained an Agreement since 2008. However, with a growing demand for higher levels of care in Lake Lure and the nationwide shortage of volunteers,it: is being recommended that the Town consolidate resources and operate the Fairfield Station.' Thus, the' Town would terminate the agreement with Fairfield Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, as well as cease payments to the Department. The attached memo provides additional information. EMS services have increased, but we don't have any EMS employees if youl have a medical emergency you will get a fire fighter, the town of Rutherfordton is also down on EMS employees.. Al lot of the Fairfield members are: not: residents ofI Lake Lure and a few are part time, Chief recommended that Lake Lure puts paid staff in that station and he is welcome to leave the volunteers there ift they meet the standards, but he recommends that he has a paid staff there as soon as possible, the goal of the lake lure fire department is to lease the building because what the LLFD wants is to improve the services in that station to be able to provide the residents of Rumbling Baldthe best service possible, Chief said he needs five employees this will include volunteers and paid staff. The chief said that his employees train and have certifications required to provide. Olivia Stewman mentioned that she had talked to Steve Ford already looked at the funding and that the town has enough to pay: for two immediate paid employees and after that the town can apply for the safer grant that will pay their salary for five years and the There will be a meeting with the rumbling bald board with Olivia and Dustin will meet with them. Olivia will call Mr. Glassier today to set it up as soon as possible. Mr. Shellenberger and Mr. Meant want the voting tol be postponed and and for the town ofI LL to talk tot the volunteers and let them know that is not the end of Commissioner Patrick Bryant made a motion to postpone the recommendation of adoption for a future date to be determined, Commissioner Scott Doster seconded, and amount of paid staff will be up to the town discretion. their services. they all voted in favor. KX. TOWN MANAGER/PROECT MANAGER UPDATES Town Manager Olivia Stewman will provide Council with project and any other updates that are not included on the meeting agenda. Council will also have the opportunity to ask any questions. On October 5th there will be a car show and a concert on October 12 the concert will be on the beach and iti is aj paid entry. There ai recommendation: made that the lake needs to be lowered 2 feet below instead of one inj preparation for the storm that will need council approval.. Audio and video in the Council. chambers will be upgraded we will go with a different firm and it will take them 3 Commissioner Scott Doster made a motion to lower the lake another additional foot, Commissioner David DiOrio seconded and they and the motion carried 4-0. Ina accordance with G.S. 143-318-11 (a) (5) for the purpose of discussing property days to do all oft the work once we schedule the date. X. CLOSED SESSION acquisition. Commissioner Patrick Bryant made a motion to enter into closed session in accordance with G.S. 143-318.11(a) (5) for the purpose of discussing property acquisition. Commissioner Scott Doster seconded and all voted in favor. XI.. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Commissioner David DiOrio made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:20 p.m. Commissioner Scott Doster seconded and the motion carried 4-0. ATTEST: Elba Willette, Town Clerk lucko Mayor Carol C. Pritchett