March 10, 2025 = REGULAR MEETING Minutes of the regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Commissioners of the Town of Elkin, March 10th, 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Will Gwyn, Commissioners Alvin Hayes, Graham Ray, and Jeff Eidson. Also present: Town Manager Brent Cornelison and Town Clerk Darla Parker. Absent: Commissioners Cicely McCulloch and Robert Ball. Mayor Gwyn welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order. He asked Police Chief Joey Vanhoy to lead our Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Gwyn asked for a motion to excuse absent Commissioners Cicely McCulloch and Robert Ball. Motion was made by Commissioner Eidson, seconded by Commissioner Hayes and passed unanimously. Consent Agenda Approve minutes of the February 10, 2025 Board of Commissioners meeting. Approve tax releases and discoveries. Approve BA#2025-24 to appropriate USDOJ bullet proof vest grant proceeds. Approve BA#2025-25 to appropriate 6-30-24 MSD Fund balance to miscellaneous MSD project expenditures. Approve BA#2025-26 to appropriate reimbursement from property owners for sink hole repairs in W. Depot alley. A motion was made by Commissioner Eidson to approve the consent agenda in its entirety, seconded by Commissioner Ray and passed unanimously. Special Recognitions 1. Recognizing March 2025 as Women's History Month, a proclamation was read by Mayor Gwyn and presented to all women in attendance. Public Comments: None Mayor and Board Comments The Mayor and Commissioners thanked the staff for their hard work in preparing the items for the budget retreat and how it makes the budget process go smoothly. Public Hearing - Proposed Indoor Shooting Range text amendment Mayor Gwyn opened the Public Hearing at 6:07 pm. Planner, Sarah Harris stated that on February 24, 2025, the Planning Board met regarding a proposed text amendment of the Unified Development Ordinance. The Planning Board discussed a proposed text amendment to add indoor shooting range as an allowed accessory use. The proposed ordinance would allow for any business in Highway Business to operate an indoor shooting range as an accessory use to their gun sale shop. We have a business on Brookfall Dairy Rd interested in this as soon as the ordinance is adopted. After discussion, the Planning Board motion to recommend the text amendment to the Board of Commissioners for approval. Mr. Chris Baker, owner of Elk Outdoors & Sporting Goods spoke and gave a brief description of his vision to build the shooting range as an addition to his current location that sells guns and ammunition. Having no additional speakers, Mayor Gwyn closed the public hearing at 6:13 pm. Planner, Sarah Harris, informed the Board that three motions must be passed in order to approve the text amendment. Commissioner Eidson stating the application is consistent, seconded by Commissioner Ray and passed unanimously. 2. The second motion, is the application both reasonable and in the public interest. Commissioner Edison made a motion that it is reasonable, seconded by Commissioner Ray and passed unanimously. 3. Adopt and Ordinance adding Indoor Shooting Ranges in Chapter 2 Zoning Districts and Supplemental Standards. Motion to adopt was made by Commissioner Eidson, seconded by Commissioner Hayes and passed unanimously. Regular Agenda 1. The Recreation & Parks Department requests the consideration of the proposed change in the schedule of fees for 2025. A motion was made by Commissioner Edison, seconded by Commissioner Ray and passed unanimously. 2. The NC Department of Environmental Quality provided American Rescue Pian grant funding in the amount of $245,000 to perform asset inventory and assessment work and the work has now been completed. A resolution to adopt the closeout of the Water AIA project and request the remaining grant funds was presented to the BOC. A motion was made by Commissioner Ray, seconded by Commissioner Eidson and passed unanimously. 3. Manager Cornelison gave and update on a few budget items. Surry County gave us a new preliminary tax scroll which shows property tax valuations to be 2% lower than the first tax scroll given for budget purposes. This amount could change again due to this being a reevaluation year. Surry County is also implementing a new budget item that we will need to take into consideration. The building inspections department will now bill the Town for all inspections taking place within the town limits. The rate will be at $26.24 per inspection. The billing will be based on the previous years total number of inspections. Surry County is still working out the exact process as to how this will be done. Proposed employee raises for the 2025-2026 FY. Several of our new hire positions and current employees are still below average of the suggested NCLM figures. We have about 8- 10 employees that need to be raised by 10%. This includes new hire positions in the Police Department, Public Works and Recreation and Parks. This should fix some of the hiring ranges. A figure of a 5% COLA raises with up to a 2.5% merit raise for the remaining employees will be factored into the new budget. Instead of paying if full for the new Fire Department vehicle we will finance, giving us an additional $48,000 to use on other capital items. We will have new budget updates at the April 2025 BOC meeting. Boards and Commissions Planner, Sarah Harris stated that there is now an open ETJ position on the Planning Board and Board of Adjustments. Member, Jimmy Chappell would like to take a permanent seat on the boards. Commissioner Eidson made a motion to approve Jimmy Chappel as a permanent Board Member, seconded by Commissioner Ray and passed unanimously. Jimmy Chappell will finish out the term for Member Bill Golden which ends December 2025. Manager Updates: 1. The W. Main Street water line replacement project is going well. The first phase is W. Main up to Cedar Street. This project will be done in sections, completing one section and paving before going on to the next. 2. A NCDOT project has begun at the intersection of North Bridge Street and Hwy 268 which will widen and extend the right turn lane onto Hwy 268. Traffic will be slow due to the lane closures for the next 6 weeks. Page 2 of 3 There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Commissioner Eidson, seconded by Commissioner Hayes a gassed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:44 pm. - Will Gwyn, Mayor Attest: - Darla S. Parker, Town Clerk Page 3 of 3