News in brief

from Northwest Observer l Feb. 18 - March 3, 2021 issue

Classifi eds

Zoning Board member spars with Mayor Barnes, O’Day

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – After publicly criticizing plans for Summerfield’s new town hall, alternate Zoning Board member Ryan Moats drew a rebuke from Mayor BJ Barnes and Councilman John O’Day.

Moats fired back, sticking by his assertion that Summerfield doesn’t need a new $3.5 million town hall to conduct its business professionally.

“Just because you’ve got a dollar in your pocket doesn’t mean you need to spend it,” Moats said during the Zoning Board’s meeting Jan. 25. It conducted a public hearing to gather feedback about the town’s request to rezone 13.4 acres along U.S. 220 for the new town hall.

The board voted 3-2 against recommending that the council rezone the property. Voting with the majority, Moats questioned whether the town had tried hard enough amid COVID-19 restrictions to inform the public about the rezoning request, even though town staff followed notification procedures.

During the Feb. 9 meeting of the Town Council, Barnes and O’Day said an expression of personal opinions by the Zoning Board member was inappropriate. If the applicant for the rezoning were a private developer – instead of the town – the developer could sue the town if the rezoning request were denied, according to O’Day.

“This can’t happen during a public

Barnes added that “personal bias has no place in these meetings. We’re going to get in a situation where we are going to get sued.”

In an interview earlier this week, Moats was unapologetic. He said he understands that committee members aren’t supposed to express personal opinions related to private development.

“I didn’t make these comments to a private developer,” Moats said. “I was speaking to the town.”

The Zoning Board meets in the current Town Hall and the Summerfield Community Center, where Moats said the board has conducted itself professionally despite the outdated surroundings.

“Yes, I know the community center isn’t very lavish,” Moats said, “but in my opinion professionalism is a state of mind, not a fancy building.”

Oak Ridge council earmarks $855,000 for Whitaker property

by CHRIS BURRITT

forward in pretty much the same way OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Town Council plans to spend $855,000 next fiscal year whether we get the PARTF grant or not,” Mayor Ann Schneider told the on improvements to begin turning the council during the CIP work session. Whitaker property into an extension of Council member Martha Pittman Town Park. recommended the town commit to the The council voted unanimously three projects to lay the groundwork for during a special called meeting last future projects. Barbour & Williams Law Barbour & Williams Law Wednesday, Feb. 10, to spend on three projects during the fiscal year starting The CIP calls for the construction of two lighted multi-purpose fields and 8004 Linville Road, Suite E-3, Oak Ridge (336) 643-4623 barbourwilliams.com 8004 Linville Road, Suite E-3, Oak Ridge (336) 643-4623 barbourwilliams.com July 1, as part of the town’s five-year capital improvement plan (CIP). It plans to grade and install utilities on the 58-acre Whitaker property that abuts Town Hall on Linville Road while contrails during the fiscal year starting July 1, 2022, at an estimated cost of $800,000. The plan also envisions a 1.2-mile trail circling the Whitaker property, with structing restrooms and a parking lot. a playground, picnic shelters, tennis • Probate & Estate • Trust Administration The council delayed those projects courts, a basketball court and a veter-

Administration • Corporate Work from the current fiscal year after it ans memorial to be built over the next • Estate Planning (Wills & Trusts) • Real Estate Matters learned last September the town was not awarded a $450,000 matching grant from the North Carolina Parks four years. Oak Ridge faces a May 3 deadline to apply for the PARTF grant. The town and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF). is pursuing the same projects in the new The council decided last fall to apply application, which also contains letters for the grant again this year, while mov- of support from local civic groups, Town ing ahead with site planning and design Manager Bill Bruce said. for the Whitaker property improve- Even though Oak Ridge’s earlier ments. The preparation will enable application noted the support of several Tracy Williams, attorney Tracy Williams, attorney town staff to seek bids for the work this fall, regardless of whether the town receives the grant. organizations, town staff wasn’t able to obtain letters because the groups’ boards didn’t meet due to COVID-19 “My gut feeling is that we move public gathering restrictions.

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – The days are numbered for the avocado refrigerator and two stoves (only one works) in Summerfield Community Center after the Town Council decided to spend $30,000 to upgrade the circa-1970s kitchen, bathrooms and doors.

As the new owner of the center on Centerfield Road, the council plans to replace the roof on the building and decided during its annual strategic planning retreat last Saturday, Feb. 13, to proceed with additional improvements over the next few weeks.

The council concurred with Mayor BJ Barnes’ suggestion to replace the doors, upgrade the bathrooms so that they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and remodel the kitchen.

Barnes said he’d like for the work to be finished by April 1 so the center can be rented for graduation parties and other events. Dee Hall, the town’s finance officer, cautioned that replacing appliances and completing the work may take longer than the town would like because of high demand for remodeling during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO Summerfi eld Town Council recently voted to allocate funds to upgrade the circa-1970s kitchen in Summerfi eld Community Center, as well as upgrade the bathrooms and doors. Last December, Summerfi eld Community Center Inc. transferred ownership of the community center building to the town, along with 16.8 acres on Centerfi eld Road containing the core of the town’s park, a lake and parking lots.

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