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Stokesdale Dec. 8 Town Council meeting
Dec. 8 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
as reported by PATTI STOKES
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Mayor Mike Crawford called the monthly meeting to order at 7 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the mayor offered the opening prayer.
The agenda was approved after council members agreed to continue a discussion on closing a portion of Angel Pardue, Adano and Athens roads until the January meeting.
Chuck Winfree, an attorney with the Law Offices of Adams & Winfree based in Greensboro, was introduced as the new town attorney. Council member Tim Jones, who had made the motion last month to hire Winfree, said Winfree has deep family ties to Summerfield, served four years as a Guilford County commissioner, and has broad legal experience. 5 0 to continue discussion on approval of minutes from the Oct. 13, 2022 closed session meeting to the Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 meeting. 5 0 to approve minutes of the Feb. 10, 2022 meeting after making one change. PUBLIC SAFETY
Stokesdale Fire Department. Dep. Chief Randy Southard said the department continued its trend of responding to a monthly average of 80+ calls in November, when it responded to 85 calls; of those, 42 were medical-related, 14 were fire-related and 29 were miscellaneous. Public safety tip: Southard encouraged residents to avoid placing Christmas decorations near heat sources, and to keep live Christmas trees watered. ADMINISTRATIVE
Dep. Clerk Robbie Wagoner gave the staff administrative report, beginning with an overview of activities related to the water system. In November the town sold nine water meters, processed 14 applications for water service, placed 34 meters on hold and responded to 15 work orders. Staff also processed nineteen 811 calls (the national “call before you dig” phone number for requesting underground utility lines be marked with paint or flagged), and 721 water customers were billed.
Wagoner also said staff researched cleaning services, since the contract with the former cleaning company has ended, researched employee health insurance options and is working with Hazen & Sawyer on final approval of Phase I of the Blacksmith subdivision.
Yates Construction also performed another emergency repair of a water line, Wagoner noted.
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Last month Wagoner attended the New Clerks Institute in Durham and he is registered for the Clerks Certification Institute in 2023. Events Committee. Council member Derek Foy thanked the record number of sponsors and parade entrants, the fire department, volunteers and staff members for their support of the parade scheduled for Dec. 10, noting Purple Wagon Events would have a craft fair the day of the parade and Highland North Music would be performing live music from noon to 2 p.m. Property Committee. Council member Jimmy Landreth said a discussion about the cleaning service for the town hall and park would take place later in the meeting. Town Park Improvement Committee. Chair Tee Stephenson said committee members discussed the playground extension project with a representative from Cunningham Recreation, who recommended changing the initial location of the expanded playground area. Once finalized, the RFP (Request for Proposals) for playground equipment will be sent out with a request for firm quotes for this project. FINANCIALS
Finance Officer Kim Thacker presented the balance sheets for the Operations and Water Enterprise accounts and noted assets in the town’s Operations account total $3,601,607.23.
Thacker noted that in the Water Enterprise account, there are no active water customer accounts with a pastdue balance of 90+ days; inactive accounts with balances that are 90+ days past due total $6,050.80.
Thanks to the record number of parade sponsors (15) and entrants, Thacker said income generated from the parade as of Dec. 8 was over $5,000, which more than covers parade expenses.
“I’m just amazed at that,” Thacker said.
AUDIT
town’s annual audit report.
Rouse began by noting the town’s fund balance decreased last fiscal year by $129,884, bringing it to $2,982,618 as of June 30; he noted this decrease was mainly due to the town’s purchase of property adjacent to the park.
The town’s unassigned fund balance totals almost 5 ½ years of current annual operating expenses, which is far above the Local Government Commission’s recommendation of a minimum of 8% of operating expenses in reserves. Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Reece Walker, Summerfield Town Council member, spoke as area representative for the Metropolitan Planning Organization. In his role, Walker represents the towns of Summerfield, Oak Ridge, Stokesdale, Sedalia and Pleasant Garden.
Walker presented a PowerPoint explaining what the MPO is, who it represents, and the transportationrelated plans it is responsible for, noting the plans aren’t always “practical.” They are updated at least every five years, he said, and more often if/when needed.
When asked how he came to be the representative for the northwest Guilford towns, Walker said years ago the other towns had agreed to let someone from Summerfield represent them and the baton had since been passed from former Summerfield mayor/council member Dena Barnes to Summerfield council member John O’Day, and then to him.
Council member Tim Jones said he didn’t recall receiving any feedback or input from the area representative during his time on the council, and Walker said he had been in communication with the mayor and another council member, but could copy all council members on written correspondence in the future.
“The town of Stokesdale has to contend with a number of highways coming through our town. Where is our place on the MPO? We need to be sure we have a line of communication,” Jones said.
In response, Walker said he would advocate for creating another seat on
the MPO for Stokesdale, but wasn’t encouraged that this would be approved by the majority of MPO members. Short of that, he said the town’s best bet for direct input would be to seek participation on the organization’s Technical Coordinating Committee, which advises the Technical Advisory Committee, the MPO’s policy board.
Councilman Foy said he could think of several small highway/road projects that could benefit the town and asked Walker how Stokesdale could advocate for those. Walker said developing a relationship with the Department of Transportation had benefited Summerfield, and gave examples of projects that the MPO would not have been involved in that the DOT was able to help with.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Adam Delveaux, a resident of Angel’s Glen, encouraged the town council to be more proactive in its planning regarding road-related issues, especially as the town continues to grow.
For example, “Left and right out of here (Stokesdale Town Hall, off Angel Pardue Road), there is no lighting and no sidewalk to walk to the park,” he said. “As we expand in this area, I would encourage us to find a way to have our voices heard.”
PUBLIC HEARING
Council reviewed an ordinance closing a portion of Angel Pardue Road. Foy said he had heard concerns this ordinance would close off Adano Road, which was not the case.
Referencing the council’s vote earlier this fall to adopt a resolution to close the road, which has since taken place, Foy said, “If the (town) planner were here, I would ask why we’re doing this three months after the road has been closed.” He then explained adopting this ordinance was “simply to correct the maps.” 5 0 to approve the amended ordinance, as presented to the council. 5 0 to approve the 2023 council and board meeting calendar.
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