City of] Reidsville COPY City Council Meeting Monday July 12, 2021 Draft Copy- Not approved by Council until August 9. 2021 The regularly scheduled meeting ofthe Reidsville City Council was held on Monday July 12, 2021, at 5:00 pm. Members of Council present: Carolyn Crume- Blackshear Bruce Conner Lindsay Bennett Verdie Williams Doug Williams City Attorney DuAnn Cowart-Davis was present. Nivea Jackson, City Clerk was present also. The audience was welcomed by the Mayor-ProTem, Mrs. Carolyn Blackshear. Mrs. Blackshear presided over the meeting in the absence of Mayor Curtis Colwell. Next, the attendees were led by Councilman Bruce Conner in a word of prayer, followed by the pledge of allegiance which was done in unison by all. Mrs. Blackshear announced that she would entertain a motion to adopt the minutes from the last meeting. Doug Williams made the motion to adopt the minutes from the last meeting. Motion by: Doug Williams 2nd by: Verdie Williams Vote: Motion carried unanimous The Department Supervisors were next on the agenda. Chief Jimmy Brown gave the Fire Department's report (attached). No discrepancies noted. Police Chief, Stacey Wilds gave the Police Department's report (attached), no discrepancies noted. Rodney Deloach, is out on medical leave. Councilman, Bruce Conner, gave the report for Water/Sewer and Street/Lanes. The floor was given to Ronnie Willis who is giving an update on the Church St. property. There is a vacant building on the southeast corner of Church St and W. Folsom that is many years old and the brick has fallen off the building into the road. The City has blocked off the intersection for public safety. The City Inspector has spoken with the business owner requesting that he get that side of the building removed to a safe condition for pedestrians to come by the building without risking injury. The recent onset of rains and winds has caused additional stress on the dilapidated brick mortar. The intersection has been blocked for a month and is causing an inconvenience for traffic in this area that also affects other businesses. At the time of the Council meeting, Ronnie Willis, City Inspector has not heard anything from the building owner in reference to what the plan for the building is. Councilwoman Verdie Williams offers a motion for Duann Davis, City Attorney, to issue a notice to clear the property to a suitable condition SO that the street can be reopened. Motion by: Verdie Williams 2nd by: Doug Williams Vote: carried unanimous The Burns property was brought up during the conversation of the Church St property. Like the Church Street property, the building is in total disrepair and is currently falling in just inches away from a busy and pedestrian travelled road. Davis is advising the Council that if the property is condemned, the City would be responsible for offering fair market price for the value of the property. It was also mentioned that the hotel adjacent to the dilapidated building was a health concern. The hotel is not being used as its intended purpose and could possibly be a health hazard ifit was. Currently, the property is being used for the owners' storage. Lindsay Bennett voiced that this has been on the agenda and discussed for months and tabling the issue is not getting results. She mentioned that we cannot expect one business owner to correct aj problem that is going on a block away and for much longer. Bennett offered a motion to cite Mr. Burns for the falling building and the hotel. The City's hope is that this will begin cleanup of both properties. Motion: Lindsay Bennett 2nd by: Bruce Conner Vote: Motion carried unanimous Administration report was given by Mrs. Blackshear. It was noted that the City of Reidsville's website has a link to pay your bills. Any City fees can be paid on this website. Citizens can go to thnectyotreidsylle.com and go to the bottom ofthe page. There is a link that says, "pay your bill" you must have your account number to pay your water bill. Business licenses, building permits, deposits and other City charges can be paid here as well. The city hopes that this creates a convenience for citizens with pandemic concerns on the rise. Next on the agenda was the Commission reports. Mike Caldwell and Mrs. Vickie Nail gave a report for the Downtown Development Authority. The DDA has several parcels ofland deeded to them. They are proposing to sell the property and use the funds to encourage incentives for businesses to come and open. They have found an interested investor/business owner who is scouting land and potential businesses to open a Huddle House. The business owner is considering reopening the old Huddle House but has concerns about the current footprint being too small. They also want to host a Farmer' S Market to help promote citizens getting out and selling and purchasing local. Tentatively, the Farmer' s Market would be held on the 3rd Thursday ofthe month, just behind the old Alexander Hotel. That is a great place because there would be plenty ofp parking and vendors would have electrical access there. The DDA wants to start their own website. They would inform the public about what's going on in Downtown and to highlight current and future businesses in addition to what the newspaper does. "Today's generation is very interactive online" says Mrs. Nail. Bruce Conner offers a motion to support and approve the Downtown Development's website and Farmer's Market Motion: Bruce Conner 2nd. Verdie Williams Vote: Motion carried unanimous Under old business, derelict properties was the first item to be discussed. After the aforementioned motion, Davis advises that she will get with the Fire Chief, Health Inspector, and the City Inspector moving forward on the Burns' property and she would also reach out for a statement from the Church Street property owners and would issue citations ifr needed. Speed Ordinances were next on the agenda. The document was returned by DOT and just needed Council's signature to legalize the new speed ordinances. Delinquent water bills were next on the agenda. Leading up to the meeting, an article containing a sample water bill was placed in the paper. On the bills monthly it is stated that bills are due on the 10th of each month, late after the 15th, and disconnections would be on the 16th. The City, in an effort to recover. lost revenue has issued door hangars to all residences that have aj past due balance. The 16th oft the month cut off will be strictly enforced. Citizens who have a delinquent bill, will be terminated and must pay in full to get their service restored. It was encouraged for all citizens who have an issue with their bill, to contact City Hall to make arrangements. The city did not cut citizens water off during the height of the pandemic and long after the moratorium had been lifted. The city must collect the delinquent bills in order to maintain financially. Under new business, liquor licenses, was the next topic of discussion. Mr. Graham has an active application seeking to get a liquor license. The State requires that the City Council must be the last vote after the applicants have been legally vetted. Mrs. Blackshear asked the city attorney on guidance since the prior year's election had vouched for liquor sales. Davis advised that she would double check the Council's responsibility in the license. Blackshear has moved to table the discussion and would do a called meeting if necessary to discuss the matter further after attorney advised council. Last on the agenda, was missing house numbers. The City's Street Department and Water/Sewer Department has been having problems identifying homes. Some homes do not have numbers on them to properly identify them and providing services has been difficult. Mrs. Blackshear requested that everyone please verify your address with 911 and affix the numbers on your homes not. just for the City's benefit but also for safety emergency responders to identify homes. With no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made: Motion By: Verdie L. Williams 2nd By: Doug Williams Vote: Motion carried unanimously Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Colwell, Mayor Ct LizCurtis lma mN / Lindsay Bennett, Council Member Bambu tm Bubher Carolyn Blackshear, Council Member Absent Sick-CovID) Bruce Conner, Council Member Doug Williams, Council Member Abent (Siek) Verdie Williams, Council Member udu &illiains File Copy lgal Ampaud! Jy ly 03 Mths S14a1