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Stokesdale Town Council, Nov. 10 meeting
Nov. 10 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
as reported by PATTI STOKES
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Mayor Mike Crawford called the monthly council meeting to order at 7 p.m. and Rev. Ed McKinney, pastor of Stokesdale United Methodist Church, gave the invocation.
Mayor Crawford asked for a moment of silence for Aliyah Thornhill, 14, who was killed on Halloween evening while trick-or-treating along Haw River Road.
The meeting agenda was approved after adding a closed session requested by Mayor Pro Tem Derek Foy, and two other discussion items requested by council member Tim Jones.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
PUBLIC SAFETY
Fire Department. Stokesdale Fire Chief Todd Gauldin reported the department www.beamertire.comresponded to 96 calls in October; of
those, 46 were medical-related, 14 were fire-related and 36 were miscellaneous.
On a safety note, Gauldin reminded citizens to be especially cautious with outdoor burning during this season of cooler, dryer weather, to clear the area around piles of burning leaves, and preferably to keep a garden hose close by in case the fire gets out of hand.
Deputy Clerk Robbie Wagoner gave a report on the number of applications for new water service, water meters installed, water meters put on reserve by builders and 8-1-1 calls; he noted the town billed 721 water customers in October.
Town staff attended a virtual public records workshop last month and submitted the N.C. League of Municipalities’ annual salary survey; has been researching a new cleaning service for Town Hall and Town Park; completed the renewal to operate a public water system; and communicated with Yates Construction Company about repairing an emergency water leak. Also, Stokesdale Heating and Air Conditioning installed two new HVAC systems in Town Hall, and the Christmas banners have been put up downtown. Events Committee. Foy reminded everyone the annual Christmas parade will take place downtown on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m., with vendors and food trucks set up at Stokesdale United Methodist Church from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. He added that “Our State” magazine will feature the Stokesdale parade in its holiday edition.
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FINANCIAL REPORT
Finance Officer Kim Thacker gave the financial report for October, noting balances in the town’s general fund and water enterprise accounts, including investments in CDARS and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding. Thacker also highlighted the number of past-due water customer balances.
Foy noted that interest rates on investments have risen to between 2.25% and 2.75%, which has a significant impact on the town’s revenue. When interest rates peaked years ago, the town’s interest earnings were 11.1% of its total revenue.
“We should get back to that 10% of our revenue – that’s a big component of our revenue stream,” Foy said. Audit. Thacker said work has begun on the town’s annual audit and the auditor plans to present it at the council’s Dec. 8 meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
5 0 to approve Hall Plumbing’s estimate of $455 to have a backflow enclosure installed for the irrigation system in the town park.
Council also discussed options for having a plumber fix the water fountains and dog spigot in the park. Replace trash can. Crawford presented a quote of $1,002.38, including shipping and taxes, for a 32-gallon portable trash can to replace the trash can in Town Park that was damaged by a lawnmower.
“That’s a lot of money for a trash can,” council member Jimmy Landreth said, adding he favored buying a new 55-gallon drum with a top on it.
“I’m not going to vote for $1,000 for a trash can,” Jones said.
“I don’t want a 55-gallon drum,” Foy responded, then motioned to approve the purchase of a new trash can for the park at a cost of $1,002.38
Jones said the problem could be solved with a 20-gallon barrel, buying a quart of paint and pouring some concrete to stabilize it, drilling a couple of holes in it so it won’t hold water, then putting a drum liner in it… for less than $100.
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“We could put in about eight of those for the cost of this one,” he said. 2 3 to approve Foy’s motion (Foy and Rigsbee in favor).
Crawford then asked Landreth if he would arrange to purchase a barrel, and Rigsbee asked to see what the barrel looks like before it’s placed in the park.
“Can you all let me know before we decide to put barrels out there (in the park) for trash?” Foy asked.
After more discussion, Landreth offered to get some pictures of the type of barrel he envisioned for holding trash and present them to the council at the Dec. 8 meeting. Speed limit reduction. Foy, a resident of Angel’s Glen off Angel Pardue Road, proposed reducing the speed limit on Angel Pardue Road from 35 mph to 25 mph. He noted that in the last 17 years two developments have been built off this road, in addition to the Town THE INTENSIVE 2023 THE INTENSIVE 2023 Is God real? Does God love, even me? What is God’s plan for me? THE INTENSIVE 2023 Hall and Town Park, and as a result traffic on the road has significantly increased. Is God real? Does God love, even me? What is God’s plan for me? Come Join Our Co-ed Event!
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road,” Foy said, noting the number of people walking on the road to the park, the 20-foot road width, and the increase in traffic going in and out of the two neighborhoods on Angel Pardue Road.
“This is from feedback from my neighbors, my friends and me just sitting on my back porch,” Foy said.
“It’s a valiant effort on our part to try to keep the neighborhood safe, but a very futile effort,” said Crawford, who serves as Angel’s Glen’s HOA president.
Jones said he struggled to see how Angel Pardue Road is different from other neighborhood streets where citizens might want their speed limits reduced.
Rigsbee, a retired state patrolman, said Angel Pardue Road has a lot of children walking on it to get to the adjacent Stokesdale Elementary School. Going from 35 mph to 25 mph on such a short road would only add a few seconds to a commute, he noted.
“However, the reaction time for someone to stop when going from 35 mph to 25 mph is a significant difference,” he said. Lowering the speed limit would also open up enforcement options, he added.
Jones questioned why the speed limit would be reduced on this road and not on other roads, like Athens Road, which feeds into the U.S. 158 and Angel Pardue Road intersection. Rigsbee said the main concerns with faster traffic would be further down on Angel Pardue Road, where there are more pedestrians. 5 0 to request DOT to reduce the speed limit on Angel Pardue Road, down to Adano Road, from 35 mph to 25 mph. 5 0 to schedule a public hearing at the Dec. 8 council meeting to consider closing a portion of Angel Pardue Road. ARPA policies, procedures. Foy said the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has a new rule which allows towns to use ARPA funds to replace lost revenue related to COVID. Thacker said the person who led the ARPA workshop she recently attended highly recommended towns use this revenue replacement option; municipalities do not have to verify they experienced revenue loss during the designated time period, but documentation on how funds are spent is critical.
“We were shocked at some of the numbers some of the towns received,” Thacker said, noting Stokesdale received one of the lowest amounts of ARPA funding compared to other towns, but the funding each municipality received was based on its annual budget.
Jones asked if the town’s ARPA funds, which total $723,965, could be placed in a separate bank account and Thacker confirmed that has been done, and any ARPA funds used will go through that account. Water system improvements. Since receiving a $3.1 million grant earlier this year, council has had workshops every other week to discuss options for improving and expanding the water system. Jones explained how the age of water in the pipes impacts the
amount of chlorine in the water, which can result in elevated TTHM (total trihalomethanes) levels.
With regard to expanding the water system as the town’s customer base grows, Foy said it appears WinstonSalem/Forsyth County Utilities has the capacity to increase the town’s allocation of 300,000 gallons a day. 5 0 to put out an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) to seek a qualified engineering firm to perform engineering work, surveying, design, right of way studies, utility locations and managing the construction bid process to run about 3.3 miles of water line from Coldwater Road to connect to the water main on Oak Level Church Road. Presentation. Tee Stephenson, chairman of the Town Park Improvement Committee, gave a presentation on committee discussions in weekly meetings over the last few months relating to improvements to the town park. He said that based on results from a park survey the town had conducted in 2020, the committee prioritized four projects: • Nature trails. These trails would allow for hiking, walking and exercising on non-paved surfaces and provide a natural, scenic view • Playground equipment – to complement what is currently available for younger children. New equipment would be geared to children ages 5 through 12. • Basketball courts. A materials supplier has recommended going with a modular court made of a rubber-like material placed on top of concrete or asphalt. The committee is considering placing six basketball courts in the park. • Amphitheater. The committee has received a 3D rendering of a proposed amphitheater, with an estimated cost of $57,000, plus installation, concrete, electrical, etc.
Foy noted that spending ARPA funds on park improvements would be permitted, and Landreth said any money spent on park improvements could benefit everyone in the community.
Foy then presented a proposal to seek sealed bids for $95,000 of playground equipment, including two slides and one handicap-accessible swing that would be added to the existing swing set; the equipment would be geared to children ages 5 to 12, including those with some physical disabilities. The space allocated for this equipment would be 27 feet by 100 feet. 5 0 to seek vendor proposals for $95,000 of playground equipment, as described above, to be installed by May 26, 2023. Website updates. Jones suggested the town add pages to its website that would include: tax history, dating back to when the town received a portion of sales and use tax collected on Guilford County citizens; parks and recreation; fire department; frequently asked questions; and differences between town manager and town administrator. Rigsbee suggested adding a community resource page.
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Foy and other council members agreed the town’s website “needs a lot of help.”
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Dewayne Dalton said Anthony Road and Happy Hill Road have existed for several decades, but water lines have never been extended to them.
“If we’re going to spend money (on expanding a water system), I think they should be included,” he said.
Also, part of Anthony Road is still not paved; the deputy clerk was asked to contact NCDOT about this.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Rigsbee acknowledged expanding the water system is a big and expensive project, and said the town is trying to prioritize what can be done with money in the bank. Foy thanked Tee Stephenson for his work on the Town Park Improvement Committee, and Powell Shelton Jr. and his fellow Veterans Monument Committee members for the Veterans Day ceremony planned the next day (Nov. 11). Landreth thanked the veterans who have served our country and afforded citizens their freedom. Jones said council is aware of the two children killed along Haw River Road on Halloween in the last three years.
“I can’t imagine outliving a child,” he said.
Regarding the water system, he said, “there is no cheap way to get water,” and those wanting to connect to the water system have upfront costs. He encouraged any group of neighbors interested in connecting to the system to contact the town and confirm their financial commitment.
Crawford read announcements before the council recessed its open meeting at 9:58 p.m. to go into a closed session to consult with an attorney and to discuss acquisition of real property. After returning to open session almost an hour later, no action was taken and the meeting was adjourned.
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