Minutes ofthe Spring Hope Board of Commissioners Meeting January 6, 2025 Ai regular meeting ofthe Town of Spring Hope Board ofCommissioners was held at 7 pm at the Spring Hope Town Hall in the Commissioners Room. Members present were Mayor Pritchard, Commissioner Griffin, Commissioner Lucas, Commissioner Gainey, and Commissioner Toney, Commissioner Cone was absent. Also present: Town Manager Andrew Delonno, Finance Officer/Town Clerk Michele Collins, ChiefNathan Gant, Attorney Edwards and Public Works Director Bobby Ball. Code Enforcement Officer Lucas came in late. Mayor Pritchard called the meeting to order and led the pledge ofallegiance. Commissioner Griffin made a motion to accept the minutes as written, Commissioner Toney seconded, the motion carried unanimously. Continued business from last month' 's meeting: Consideration /Approval oft the project development agreement with Axiom Development) LLC. No one from Axiom was in attendance. Manager Delonno explained that he had spoken with Tom White and the paperwork is with the attorney and is possibly being held up by the holidays. Commissioner Gainey made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Griffin to table the motion until next month, the motion passed unanimously. New Items: Public Hearing to adopt the Open Space and Recreation Ordinance: Manager Delonno explained that the Ordinance is to charge a development fee to fund an account that would be used to acquire and improve open space and recreation facilities. Funds can be used to acquire land, construct, expand or maintain facilities. The fee recommended is $750 per residential unit created in lieu of the developer providing the recreation facility themselves. The developer still has the option to develop the open space or recreation facilities if they choose to do SO. Commissioner Gainey made a motion to go into public hearing, seconded by Commissioner Griffin, the motion passed unanimously. After discussion from the audience, Commissioner Griffin made a motion to go back into regular session, seconded by Commissioner Gainey, the motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Griffin made a motion to adopt the Open Space and Recreation Ordinance, seconded by Commissioner Gainey, the motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Griffin made a motion to amend the 2025 fee schedule to include the newly adopted Open Space and Recreation Fee, seconded by Commissioner Gainey, the motion passed unanimously. Manager Delonno asked the Board to vote on establishing the Capital Fund Project Ordinance. This will set things up SO we can initiate the project and set up the reimbursement project from NCDEQ. Commissioner Griffin made a motion to establish the Capital Fund Project Ordinance, seconded by Commissioner Gainey, the motion passed unanimously. Request to lease the Boy Scout Hut to the local American Legion Post: Manager Delonno explained that he was approached by Commander Dickey Bass of Post 91 Spring Hope. Mr. Bass explained that his post was interested in remodeling the building, not leasing it. He explained that the American Legion did not have aj permanent place to hold their meetings and would like to share it with the Boy Scouts. The American Legion will do all the demo, construction and clean up. They will take care ofall the bills for that. There are two crews that will work on the building. One crew will remove all the wood from the building. That crew will take offall the debris they possibly can. Mr. Bass asked for help with disposable from PWD Bobby Ball. Mr. Bass said that there was access to power and water at the location and that they would take care of the power ifthe Town took care ofthe water. Conversation ensued about liability insurance, Manager Delonno explained that the liability insurance covers town activities, not events for others using the building. He also explained that the Town in the past received a Local Water Conservation Grant that stated the property was to be used for public use. Manager DeIonno said there was a question about alcohol being used on the property. Mr, Bass also inquired if the Town would be cutting the grass, which is already on Public Works list of places to mow. Mr. Delonno said the Town would have to confer with the Natural and Cultural Resources Dept to make sure the uses in question would be considered as public use. Everyone agreed that more research needed to be done before any decisions were made. Chamber of Commerce Report: No one present Code Enforcement: Report: Code Enforcement Officer Lucas was absent but did send his report for the commissioners to look over and ask any questions they may have. Manager Delonno explained where all the properties were located and what had been done to date, noting that some progress had been made but there was still a way to go. When Mr. Lucas arrived, the board members asked for clarification on the different steps/processes each location was at specifically. He was able to answer all their questions. Police Chief] Report: ChiefGant let the board know that the PD has received a grant for $5000 to be used for the community. Chiefs stated that if all the detail worked out and the American Legion was allowed to use the Boy Scout Hut, the PD would be happy to take care ofthe water bill for them. The money is also used for Kona Ice to come visit the neighborhoods during the summer and the Backpacks for Schools programs. This month there were 2 reported incidents, 399 total calls, 115 traffic stops, 193 security checks, 6 traffic accidents, 2 domestics (non-arrestable), 9 disturbances or civil unrest calls, total investigation were 8 with 7 cleared. Manager's Report: Manager DeIonno made mention that the tree at N Pine and Franklin did not happen because of inclement weather, and he doesn'thave the make-up date yet but will let everyone know when he knows. The Downtown Development Board will be holding their next marketing workshop on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. He encouraged all the merchants to attend. The depot project plans are basically done and only a few things are left outstanding. There needs to be some borings at the depot area to see what the footprint of the footings will be. The Town will have to contract with a Geo-Technical Engineer for this. Manager Delonno has already reached out to Terracon for a price. PWD Bobby Ball has said that his crew will do the water/sewer services. The water distribution project is still in permitting and the state requires a pressure and flow test for the newly proposed hydrants and once Wooten has that completed, the project should be out of permitting. Withne further questions/comments, Commissioner Gainey made a motion to adjourn the mepling, secondedby Compssioner Griffin, the motion passed unanimously. E. 6 . be2 1 Wcka n C 1