9 minute read
Stokesdale Town Council meeting
March 10 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
as reported by PATTI STOKES
Advertisement
Mayor Mike Crawford called the monthly meeting to order and Pastor Randy Winn of Stokesdale Christian Church offered an opening prayer.
Councilman Tim Jones motioned that he and Mayor Crawford abstain from voting on whether to approve June 10, 2021, meeting minutes since they didn’t serve on the council then.
“Two years from now, if three new guys are voted in and have the same philosophy, we’ll never get minutes approved,” Councilman Derek Foy responded. The council then voted against allowing Jones and Crawford to abstain. 50 to approve the June 10, 2021 minutes (Jones and Crawford abstained, but their votes counted as being in favor of the motion). 50 to approve minutes from the Feb. 24, 2022 special call meeting.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Stokesdale Fire Department. Chief Todd Gauldin reported the department responded to 72 calls in February; 34 were fire-related and 38 were medical-related and “other.”
As a safety tip, Gauldin suggested citizens buy a weather radio to stay on top of severe weather conditions and receive emergency notifications. Gauldin also urged citizens to plan ahead where they will go if their house is damaged by severe weather.
The fire department will have its annual drive-through BBQ on Saturday, March 26, beginning 11 a.m. until it is sold out (see ad on p. 3 for details).
FINANCE
Finance Officer Kim Thacker presented the monthly financial activity in the general fund and water enterprise accounts.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Oak Ridge Town Councilman George McClellan introduced himself as a Republican candidate for Guilford County commissioner, District 3. McClellan said he would work to lower taxes; he would support reasonable budgetary requests for education, “but money must follow the child;” and he does not favor mask mandates for businesses because they “typically miss their target.” Avery Crump, Guilford County’s district attorney since being elected in 2018, said she is seeking reelection.
“I think I’ve done a great job,” Crump said. “We’ve had the only administration to deal with the pandemic and court closures, and the only one to deal with three floodings in the High Point courthouse. My team rose above that. We are tough on violent crime; I do believe in second chances for non-violent offenders. I’m good at my job, I love my job and I’m asking for your support.”
Crump said she is a Democrat, but represents everyone. Phil Byrd, a Republican candidate for Guilford County sheriff, said he retired from the sheriff’s department in 2014 after 30 years, and worked under three county sheriffs. Some of his career was spent in northwest Guilford County, and Byrd said he is “very familiar with the townships.”
“I know what the (sheriff’s) job entails,” he noted.
McClellan, Crump and Byrd will be among the candidates on the May 17 primary ballot. Early voting starts April 28. Stokesdale resident Bobbi Dalton said she recently received a notification from
HOT. RAIN. COLD.
Tested for every weather extreme
7101 US 158, Stokesdale
NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION • SERVICE • REPAIR
Ask about special fi nancing
ADMINISTRATIVE
Subject to credit approval, see store for details
Town Clerk Dale Martin reported three water meters were installed in February and 59 meters were put on hold; 670 water customers were billed.
Martin and the two deputy clerks partially finished organizing the files in Town Hall on a recent workday.
Following up on a previous discussion about the town hosting a document shredding event, Martin said Shamrock Shredding, which handles most of the shredding events in the area, is booked one year out. Guilford County’s tax department that her property had been revalued.
“It was (valued at) $75,200 a year ago; this year it has gone up to $122,900,” Dalton said. “I believe we should do something about this. If we have to form a caravan of people and go to a county commissioners’ meeting and tell them, ‘this is not right…’”
Councilman Jim Rigsbee asked Dalton if she was aware of what procedures to follow to contest the revaluation, and she said yes. Eileen Thiery said she used to work in a tax assessor’s office.
“It wasn’t you that was singled out,” Thiery said to Dalton. “Research would have been done before the revaluations. They (county tax department) decided the real estate market has gone up 20%. The best way to handle that (disagreeing with the revaluation) is call the assessment department. You have to have some comparable houses to yours that sold,” she said. “Storming the assessment department is not going to help – the worst thing to do is call up and yell at them.”
Thiery then requested the town council make the meeting room in Town Hall more accessible to nonprofits, and asked for financial assistance in freshening up the planting area at the base of the town clock in front of the fire department. PUBLIC HEARING
Rezoning, AG to Conditional UseLight Industrial. Town Planner Oliver Bass presented a request from property owners Maria Damian and Omar Cruz to rezone 10.05 acres at 9264 U.S. 158. The applicants placed conditions on the light industrial rezoning that the property will only be used for a general contractor’s business and storage of equipment for a contractor’s business.
Bass said staff recommended denying the rezoning, based on the town’s land use plan. The Planning Board voted 3-2 to recommend approval based on limited impact the proposed conditions would have on surrounding property.
No one spoke in opposition to the rezoning request.
During discussion, council members confirmed with the applicants that the equipment stored on the property would be “typical equipment used in a general
contractor’s business” versus heavy industrial equipment. 41 (Jones opposed) to approve the rezoning request and amend the town’s land use plan accordingly. A landscaping buffer will be required between this property and adjacent properties. 50 to approve several revisions to the town’s standard water line specifications, as presented. 50 to appoint Michael Threatt as a full voting member of the Planning Board and move Ronald Southard to an alternate position.
After discussing the replacement of a desktop computer for the mayor and council members’ use, the council agreed to continue the discussion to the April 14 meeting. Storage cabinet. Town Clerk Dale Martin said the Town of Kernersville is renovating its town hall and is offering to donate to Stokesdale a large, fireproof cabinet/vault for storing documents. 50 to accept the town of Kernersville’s donation.
CLOSED SESSION
Council recessed the regular meeting at 8:43 p.m. to go into a closed session for the purpose of discussing “personnel matters and privileged information.” After reconvening at 9:45 p.m., no action was taken.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Foy thanked Councilman Jimmy Landreth’s wife, Karen, and Bobbi Dalton for staying to the end of the meeting.
Regarding the property revaluations, Foy said he agreed with Dalton, and “It’s significant what’s happened in Stokesdale. … As a percent, I would not be surprised if our zip code saw the greatest percentage increase in the county – or at least in the top 5.” The councilman questioned what citizens will get from the county in exchange for paying more in property taxes. “Oh Lord, I can get into this property tax thing big time,” Landreth said. “All I can say is, if you vote for people who like to spend money…” Jones said he felt “the folks downtown take our money too lightly.” Referencing the county not distributing a share of sales tax it collects from Stokesdale citizens with the town because it doesn’t have a property tax, Jones said it is unfair.
“This town kind of runs on fumes when everybody else is taxing their citizens at will,” he said.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:53 p.m.
gems in downtown Stokesdale
Accounting & Tax
Accounting Bookkeeping Payroll Tax Preparation Notary Public Copy Center
Anne M. Garner, EA
8304-C Hwy 158, Stokesdale (336) 441-8325 • annegarner605@gmail.com
At A New Dawn Realty, our team is passionate about serving the needs of our local about serving the needs of our local community. We strive to offer top-notch community. We strive to offer top-notch service and have always been willing to go the service and have always been willing to go the extra mile to achieve our clients’ best interests. extra mile to achieve our clients’ best interests. Our team combines exceptional energy and Our team combines exceptional energy and experience, and you’ll feel confident you experience, and you’ll feel confident you made the right decision if you allow us to made the right decision if you allow us to assist you! Visit our website or Facebook assist you! Visit our website or Facebook page to view our clients’ testimonials. page to view our clients’ testimonials.
A New Dawn Realty Team !
(336) 643-4248
8500 Ellisboro Road, Suite B, Stokesdale www.ANewDawnRealty.com
All eyes could be on you...
In the Northwest Observer, that is.
Advertise with us and get noticed
direct-mailed to 12,400+ homes
1,500 copies free pickup online
24/7
14,250+
followers
Contact Laura to start your targeted ad campaign
