6/5/25, 11:28AM City Council Special Meeting 1833 MINUTES City Council Special Meeting 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2025 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472 The City Council Special Meeting of the City of Whiteville was called to order on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 5:00 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: Heather Dowless, City Clerk; Colburn Brown, Finance Director; Paul Rockenbach, Police Chief; David Yergeau, Fire Chief; Joseph Williams (The News Reporter) 2) CALL TO ORDER Call to Order by Mayor Mann at 5:00 p.m. 3) BUDGET WORKSHOP 3.1) Final Budget Review Colburn Brown, Finance Officer, presented Council with the Final Budget Review for the FY 2025-2026 Proposed Operating Budget. Mr. Brown stated Council was being presented with a balanced budget. He stated there were multiple factors that affected the City's budget, including operational requirements, personnel costs, and inflationary costs. He stated the Consumer Price Index - CPI has a cumulative total of 22.7% for 2021-2025. It was noted there were no tax rate increases proposed in the budget. Several budget highlights were presented to Council. Mr. Brown stated a Cost of Living Adjustment - COLA was proposed, with the possibility of implementing this near the end of the calendar year. There were two additional positions proposed, one Patrolman or Detective and one Full- Time Fire Inspector. There is a predicted 3% revenue increase in the General Fund. Operating Costs are the 2025 Forecast. There were notations regarding General Fund Balance Appropriation and Sewer Fund Balance Appropriation. A sale of surplus items was also noted. Utility Rate increases are commensurate with inflation. The General Fund Capital Expenditures budget was presented. For Police, this would include 3 Vehicles, Laptops, Verkada Expansion, and RMS Barcode System. The total for Capital Expenditures for Police would be $223,000. For Fire, Capital Expenditures would include PPE- Firefighter Gear, 400 Feet of 1.75 Hose, Gas Meters, and Starz Hydrant Adapters. The total for Capital Expenditures for Fire would be $34,200. For Garage, Capital Expenditures would include a Mower Lift. The total for Capital Expenditures for Garage would be $12,000. For Parks, Capital Expenditures would include Fencing at the Recreation Center, Parking Lot Reseal, and Water Fountains at Parks. The total for Capital Expenditures for Parks would be $71,000. For Safety, Capital Expenditures would include an iPlan Table. The total for Capital Expenditures for Safety would be $15,000. https:/whiteville. granicus. comManutsvemerphoreir id=311&doc d-a2345el5421-110675.05056A89546 1/3 6/5/25, 11:28 AM City Council Special Meeting The General Fund Capital Expenditures budget for Public Works was presented. This includes a Combination Truck, F-150 Truck-Meter, Trailer-Street, 4-in-1 Bucket, and a 2-ton Truck. These items for Public Works total $825,000. The General Fund Capital Expenditures budget for the Wastewater Treatment Plant was presented. This includes Chamber Gates and Install, Well Maintenance-Camera and Cleaning, Upgrade Lift Station #4 Check Valves, Upgrade Scum Pit for Clarifiers, and a New Truck. This truck would be a replacement. These items for Wastewater Treatment total $215,000. Mr. Brown noted there was a request for a new ladder truck for the Fire Department, with a total price of $2,700,000. This was not included in the proposed budget. Mr. Brown stated the recommendation was to form an Advisory Committee to discuss alternatives, etc. for funding for this fire truck. This advisory committee could meet and then come back to Council with recommendations. Council was presented with information regarding the City's Debt Schedule, including the balance on City Hall and the ABC Store building. As of June 30, 2026, the total outstanding balance for the City's Debt Schedule will be $6,846,649. It was noted there was a Sewer Jet Truck budgeted for the FY 2025- 2026 Fiscal Year. By purchasing this item instead of financing it, the City would save between $50,000-$60,000. Mr. Brown presented Council with information regarding General Fund revenues and expenditures for the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget. Administration is recommending $7,306,152 for revenue totals. Administration is recommending $7,306,151 for expenditure totals. This includes no contribution to Fund Balance. Mr. Brown presented Council with information regarding Sewer revenues and expenditures for the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget. Administration is recommending $3,580,674 for revenue totals. Administration is recommending $3,497,950 for expenditure totals. This includes a $82,724 contribution to Fund Balance. Mr. Brown presented Council with information regarding Sanitation revenues and expenditures for the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget. Administration is recommending $1,931,033 for revenue totals. Administration is recommending $1,926,331 for expenditure totals. This includes a $4,702 contribution to Fund Balance. Mr. Brown presented Council with information regarding Water revenues and expenditures for the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget. Administration is recommending $1,963,413 for revenue totals. Administration is recommending $1,963,413 for expenditure totals. This includes no contribution to Fund Balance. Mr. Brown presented Council with information regarding Storm Water revenues and expenditures for the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget. Administration is recommending $330,000 for revenue totals. Administration is recommending $326,124 for expenditure totals. This includes a $3,876 contribution to Fund Balance. Mr. Brown presented Council with information regarding Powell Bill revenues and expenditures for the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget. Administration is recommending $194,000 for revenue totals. Administration is recommending $175,000 for expenditure totals. This includes a $19,000 contribution to Fund Balance. Mr. Brown presented Council with information regarding WDDC revenues and expenditures for the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget. Administration is recommending $211,100 for revenue totals. Administration is recommending $208,776 for expenditure totals. This includes a $2,324 contribution to Fund Balance. Mr. Brown presented Council with information regarding Vineland p-MN-daamacom.nuwveweoenar id=311&doc d-e23454h54214110.67150050554893546 2/3 6/5/25, 11:28AM City Council Special Meeting revenues and expenditures for the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget. Administration is recommending $80,000 for revenue totals. Administration is recommending $80,000 for expenditure totals. This includes no contribution to Fund Balance. Mayor Mann stated the City could only do SO much with what it has. He noted a tax increase would not have brought in that much money. He stated he would like to be able to do the COLA increase for the whole year and wait until January for some major purchases. Council Member Harris asked what the difference would be if the COLA increase was done in July versus October. Mr. Brown responded this would be around $25,000. Mayor Pro Tem Williamson inquired about increases in trash collection costs. Mr. Brown noted the City's contract with this company states that annual increases cannot be higher than 3%. Mayor Pro Tem Williamson also inquired about the Sewer Jet Truck. It was responded that this new truck would replace the old one, as the old one is two years beyond its useful life. This new truck is necessary for larger sewer lines. Council Member Clarida and Council Member Collier expressed their agreement of the purchase of this new Sewer Jet Truck, noting it was vital to the City's operations. It was clarified that of the $600,000 total for this Sewer Jet Truck, $400,000 would come of out Fund Balance and $200,000 would come out of Operations. Council Member Harris inquired about the forming of the Ladder Truck Committee. Mr. Brown stated any future purchase of a new ladder truck would involve financing. Council Member Collier inquired about the full-time Fire Inspector. Mr. Brown stated there is currently a part-time Fire Inspector. The intent is to do fire inspections at all businesses in Whiteville every year. There are fees associated with these inspections. The requirements for fire inspections come directly from the State. Council Member Holden noted these fire inspections are beneficial to businesses, with one of these benefits being a possible reduction in the cost of property insurance. 4) ADJOURNMENT Mayor Mann adjourned the Budget Workshop. - 5 Terryl L. Mann, MAYOR Vopthor Opucbnn Heather Dowless, CITY CLERK https:!whiteville. granicus. comAinuteveweronorap id=311&doc d-e2345e5421-1106715.005055489546 3/3