2/18/25, 11:44AM Regular Meeting oft the City Council C 1833 MINUTES Regular Meeting of the City Council 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 11, 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, February 11, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., at 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472. 1) ROLL CALL PRESENT: Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, and Vickie Pait ABSENT: None. 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; David Yergeau, Fire Chief; Joseph Williams, The News Reporter 2) CALL TO ORDER Call to Order by Mayor Mann at 6:30 p.m. 3) INVOCATION Invocation provided by Council Member Clarida. 4) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Mann. 5) ADOPTION OF AGENDA Tim Collier MOVED to approve the Adoption of the. Agenda. Vickie Pait SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 7-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 7 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, Vickie Pait) Nays: 0 Absent: 0 6) APPROVAL OF MINUTES 6.1) Consideration for Approval - Minutes for City Council Meeting (January 28, 2025) Tim Collier MOVED to approve the Minutes for City Council Meeting (January 28, 2025). Jimmy Clarida SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 7-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 7 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, Vickie Pait) Nays: 0 Absent: 0 7) PUBLIC COMMENT None 8) BUSINESS httne" lhwhiteville nr ranicus com/MinuteelVinwer nhn?r clin id=?90Rdoc d=f5 5n r DA De A- 11ef- a9e2-005056: a A89546 1/4 2/18/25, 11:44AM Regular Meeting oft the City Council 8.1) Bid Award for Water/Sewer Lines Extensions to the Columbus County Airport Darren Currie, City Manager, stated this was the re-bid of the Airport Water and Sewer Lines Extension project. There was an issue with the original bids, as there was a large difference in the low bid and the next lowest bid. Engineering Services has provided the City with a recommendation letter for this contract. Staff is recommending Council approval. Mr. Currie reminded Council that Columbus County will be reimbursing the City for this project. Council Member Harris asked how this reimbursement would occur. Mr. Currie responded that as invoices are received, the City will pay these invoices. The City will then invoice Columbus County each time. Mayor Pro Tem Williamson referred to "cut backs" within Columbus County, and asked if this would affect the reimbursement of this project. Mr. Currie stated Columbus County was aware of this project and this agreement. Mr. Currie noted he would verify this reimbursement. Tim Collier MOVED to approve the Bid Award for the Water and Sewer Lines Extension to the Columbus County Airport. Jimmy Clarida SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 7-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 7 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, Vickie Pait) Nays: 0 Absent: 0 8.2) Bid Award for Engineering of Lee and Franklin Street Project Mr. Currie stated this was the RFQ Award for the engineering portion of the Lee and Franklin Street project. Due to the funding for this project, it is required that the City follow the Mini-Brooks Act of North Carolina. The City has a procedure to follow to hire professional services, which engineering is considered. The City advertised twice in the news media, online, and on the website. Only one respondent submitted a response to the Request for Qualifications. Unlike a construction bid, the City does not have to have three bids to open. As a result of only having one submittal, staff is recommending that Council award the engineering, design, and contract administration to Engineering Services, P.A. The City is very familiar with this company and staff is confident the firm will perform to expectations regarding this project. Vickie Pait MOVED to approve the RFQ Award to Engineering Services for engineering on the Lee and Franklin Street project. Helen B Holden SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 7-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 7 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, Vickie Pait) Nays: 0 Absent: 0 9) COUNCIL COMMENTS Council Member Pait stated she had to use the Whiteville Police Department over the last couple of months. She stated Chief Ipock and the officers, especially Detective Michael Strickland, were great. Mayor Pro Tem Williamson stated the concrete in the dug-outs at the Recreation Center looked good. He inquired about the signage at the courthouse. It was noted there was some signage in the area, with additional signage ordered. This additional signage was ordered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and is backordered at this time. Council Member Collier inquired about the lights at the roundabout in North Whiteville, and asked if these poles would be the same as the other metal poles in the area. It was noted the first pole in this area would be placed at Campground Road. Mr. Currie stated the City would be paying for these lights and he noted he would confirm the information regarding these lights. Mayor Mann stated Rachel Rivenbark, Human Resources Director, had provided Council Members with the City Manager's Evaluation forms. Mayor Mann asked that if anyone scored an item low, they provide an explanation and/or suggestion on improvement. He noted this would be more effective httns: lwhiteville nranicus com/MinitesViewer. nhn?clin id=290&doc id-f5cn ala-11efa9a2-0sn 56 3a89546 214 2/18/25, 11:44AM Regular Meeting of the City Council when meeting to discuss this evaluation. He stated that completed evaluations could be given to Mrs. Rivenbark or could be brought to the next Council Meeting. 10) REPORTS 10.1) Manager's Update for February 11, 2025 Mr. Currie stated the City was notified last Thursday that it was awarded an additional $500,000 from Golden Leaf for the Provalus project. He also noted a generator was located that would be on site from day one. The Franklin and Lee Street project was referenced, with Council being reminded that the City was awarded $6.8 Million for the sewer portion. The City is expecting to hear from the water portion application. The City is beginning its budget preparation for FY 2025-2026. The budget templates will be released to the Department Heads soon. Mayor Pro Tem Williamson asked if Council could be given more information prior to the Budget meetings, to which Council Member Harris agreed. It was noted there was a spending freeze at this time. The City has some areas that are "hot spots." Colburn Brown, Finance Director, stated the City's revenues are good SO far. The City is slightly behind on property taxes. Mr. Brown stated the spending freeze was done as a precautionary measure. Mr. Currie noted this spending freeze did not affect safety, fleet, or operational items. 11) CLOSED SESSION 11.1) Pursuant to NCGS 143.318.11 (a)(3) - To consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege Vickie Pait MOVED to approve to Convene Open Session and Move into Closed Session. Jimmy Clarida SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 7-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 7 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, Vickie Pait) Nays: 0 Absent: 0 Council went into Closed Session. Council returned from Closed Session. Vickie Pait MOVED to approve the return to Open Session. Helen B Holden SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 7-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 7 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, Vickie Pait) Nays: 0 Absent: 0 Mayor Mann stated no action was taken by Council in regards to Closed Session. 12) ADJOURNMENT Vickie Pait MOVED to approve the adjournment of tonight's meeting. Helen B Holden SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 7-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 7 (Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, Vickie Pait) Nays: 0 Absent: 0 eun WMa Terry L. Mann, MAYOR Vocther Sbubnn Heâther Dowless, CITY CLERK https:/whiteville. aranicus. com/MinutesVlewer: pho?clio id=290&doc id-f5ccc793-ee0ee0e-11ea9e2-005056289546 3/4