121/25,3:12PM Regular Meeting oft the City Council HITEV 1833 MINUTES Regular Meeting of the City Council 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472 The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Whiteville was called to order on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., at 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472. 1) ROLL CALL PRESENT: ABSENT: Terry! Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, and Helen BI Holden Vickie Pait OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Darren Currie, City Manager; Heather Dowless, City Clerk; Carlton Williamson, City Attorney; Colburn Brown, Finance Director; Douglas Ipock, Police Chief; Robert Lewis, Planning Director; Hal Lowder, Emergency Services Director; Madison Ward, Economic Development Director; David Yergeau, Fire Chief; Joseph Williams, The News Reporter 2) 3) 4) 5) CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION Call to Order by Mayor Mann at 6:30 p.m. Invocation provided by Council Member Clarida. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Mann. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Helen BI Holden SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Tim Collier MOVED to approve the Adoption of the Agenda. Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen BI Holden) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Vickie Pait) APPROVAL OF MINUTES 6) 6.1) Consideration for Approval Minutes for City Council Meeting: -City Council Meeting (December 10, 2024) from Recessed Meeting on December 10, 2024 Jimmy Clarida SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) -City Council Meeting (December 18, 2024)- Reconvened Meeting Helen B Holden MOVED to approve the Minutes for the City Council Meetings held on December 10, 2024 and December 18, 2024 (Reconvened Meeting from Recessed Meeting on December 10, 2024). Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Vickie Pait) 7) PUBLIC COMMENT John Wood, 105 Jones Place, spoke during Public Comments. He stated he gave the recent Whiteville Christmas Parade a' "thumbs up," but he expressed https/whiteville.a aranicus. id=286&doc -dits8ad8D-fiela98200505289546 1/4 1/21/25,3:12PM Regular Meeting ofthe City Council concerns regarding safety during the event. He stated he had a concern regarding the throwing of candy at the event. He noted there were regulations that did not permit the throwing of candy. He stated there was a danger of children running into the road and getting hurt. He also referenced health 8.1) Consideration fort the Submittal of the FY 2024/ AFG SAFER (Staffing concerns regarding candy. BUSINESS 8) for Adequate Fire and Emergency) David Yergeau, Fire Chief, stated Staff was requesting City Council to authorize the submittal of the FY 2024 FEMA AFG SAFER Grant Application. The FEMA AFG SAFER Grant provides financial assistance related to assisting fire departments with staffing capabilities tor respond to emergencies, assuring communities have adequate fire protection. Additionally, if awarded this grant, it will assist Whiteville Fire Department in getting closer to meeting proper staffing levels. This grant has a performance period of three years. There is no cost sharing with the FY2024 SAFER Grant. The total cost for the grant is estimated at $1,098,510 for the three-year performance period. The only cost the City would be responsible for is the outfitting of the firefighters with Jimmy Clarida MOVED to approve the submittal of the FY 2024 AFG uniforms, firefighting gear, and training. SAFER Grant application. Tim Collier SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Vickie Pait) 8.2) Consideration for the Submittal of the FY 2024/ AFG FP/S (Fire Prevention and Safety) Grant Application Chief Yergeau stated Staff was requesting City Council to authorize the submittal of the FY: 2024A AFG FP/S Grant Application. The FEMAAFG FP/S Grant provides financial assistance related to assisting fire departments with Community Risk Reduction activities. With this grant, the Whiteville Fire Department will be requesting a Digital Fire Extinguisher Training System. The department currently does live fire training, which poses safety issues. This is a 95/5% grant. If awarded this grant, the City will be responsible for 5% of the total cost of the grant. The total estimated grant is $32,500.00. Of this total, 5% of the Jimmy Clarida MOVED to approve the City Manager and Fire Chief to cost would be $1,625.00. submit the FY2024 AFG FP/S Grant application. Tim Collier SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Vickie Pait) 8.3) Discussion on Bid Award for the Airport Water/Sewer Line Installation Darren Currie, City Manager, presented Council with information regarding the Bid Award for the Airport Water/Sewer Line Installation. He noted Columbus County would be paying the City back for this project. He stated Staff was recommending that City Council reject all bids and rebid the project. Council was provided with a letter from Engineering Services recommending the City reject all bids for this project and then re-bid the project. Due to the low bidder being unable to provide a bond, it is recommended that City Council reject all bids. There is a large difference between the lowest and the second lowest bid. Mr. Currie stated there is a possibility that the bids may stay within this range of pricing. It was noted that all contractors could re-bid the Joshua Harris MOVED to approve to reject all the bids for the Airport project ift they choose. Water/Sewer Installation and re-bid the project. Jimmy Clarida SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) htps/whitevlle.arancus.comMinutesVlewer.pho7clio id=286&doc -dimea9d830-iefa982005056a89546 2/4 1/21/25, 3:12PM Regular Meetingo oft the City Council Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Vickie Pait) 8.4) FYE2025 Budget Amendment #2 Downtown Special Events Adjustment Colburn Brown, Finance Director, presented Council with FYE2025 Budget Amendment #2 Downtown Special Events Adjustment. He noted this would allow the City to adjust the Downtown Economic Development budget to recognize the activities from City-sponsored downtown special events. He noted this was a' "housekeeping" matter. Revenues would increase by $7,000 and Expenditures would increase by $7,000. This would be a net zero. Mr. Brown noted that proceeds from the City's events were now starting to cover the cost of these events. Council Member Collier stated he was excited about the events downtown. Mayor Mann noted Madison Ward, Economic Development Jimmy Clarida MOVED to approve FYE2025 Budget Amendment #2 - Director, had done a good job. Downtown Special Events Adjustment. Tim Collier SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Vickie Pait) 9) COUNCIL COMMENTS Council Member Collier asked that Mr. Currie share a message with the Parks and Recreation staff, letting them know the appearance of the West Whiteville Park was great. Council Member Collier also noted he was looking forward to the Mollies Branch project. A question was raised as to the project's effect on parking near Optimist Park, especially. during baseball season. Mr. Currie stated this project would only affect parking along Mollies Branch where it joins the property. Construction on this project will not be done this year, and efforts are in place not to work on the project during baseball season. Mr. Currie did note there would be some parking improvements associated with the project. Mayor Pro Tem Williamson referenced the wildfires in California, and asked what plans the City had for a natural disaster. Hal Lowder, Emergency Services Director, stated there was a dynamic differences between California and North Carolina, including the weather. The North Carolina Forest Service also does prescribed burns in forest areas, which are not allowed in California. There is no open burning allowed in the city limits in Whiteville. Chief Yergeau stated no one would be prepared to handle something like the current wildfires in California. Mayor Pro-Tem Williamson stated some residents struggled to get out of areas. Mr. Lowder noted that some of these individuals did not listen to earlier evacuation orders, which is similar to what this area sees during hurricanes. Mr. Currie noted Whiteville had no "hilly" terrain, and there are many areas here with multiple ways to get in and out if necessary. Mr. Lowder also noted the humidity is different here and this area also does not have Santa Council Member Clarida asked Mr. Currie to have staff check the area on McGill Street again. This area has had repetitive issues with individuals dumping trash, etc. Council Member Harris suggested the City could put up game cameras. Mr. Currie that the City previously did put up these cameras, only to find them stolen later. Mr. Currie noted this area was part of the buyout area. Ift the City obtains this area, it can possibly close some access to these streets. Ifthisi is possible, the City will bring a plan before Council. This access cannot be restricted now, as individuals still need access to their property. Mayor Mann reminded Council of the upcoming Intergovernmental Meeting scheduled for Monday, January 27, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Vineland Station Ana winds like California. Depot. 10) REPORTS 10.1) Manager's Update for January 14, 2025 Mr. Currie presented Council with the Manager's Update for January 14, 2025. https:/whiteville.s ganuscomMin.tevemswephvldp.szBsac. erdinssd9.d830ileaefa9e2005056a89546 3/4 121/25,3:12PM Regular Meeting ofthe City Council Mr. Currie updated Council on the Provalus Project. Mr. Currie stated there was a meeting regarding this project tomorrow. This meeting will include the contractor and will serve as a pre-construction meeting. The Mr. Currie updated Council on the Airport Water/Sewer Line project Mr. Currie updated Council on the Franklin and Lee Street project. He stated the City received no RFQs in response to the first advertisement. City offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025 in observance The City is holding interviews this week (today and tomorrow) for Police City is also looking for additional funds for this project. earlier ini the meeting. This Request for RFQs was re-advertised. of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Chief. 11) ADJOURNMENT Jimmy Clarida MOVED to approve the adjournment of tonight's meeting. Helen BI Holden SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen BI Holden) Nays:0 Absent: 1 (Vickie Pait) N.C. Aiy PMbm Pallaalne Heather Dowless, CITY CLERK Terry L. Maryn, MAYOR https:lwhiteville. oranicus.comMinulesVlewerphoPeip id=286&doc d-dip58a9da30-le'ave209056a89546 4/4