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OAK RIDGE town council Feb. 2 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
as reported by CHRIS
BURRITT
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OAK RIDGE – Mayor Ann Schneider called the monthly meeting to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Martha Pittman and Spencer Sullivan present.
Claudia Whitaker, a member of the town’s Special Events Committee, offered the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Condolences
On behalf of the town, Schneider offered condolences to the family of Oak Ridge resident Evelyn Peoples, who died Jan. 29 at the age of 84. Peoples taught school for more than 30 years and during her lifetime had been very active in Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, according to her obituary. Peoples’ late husband, Mack, who died in 2000, served as an interim member of the Oak Ridge Town Council and longtime chairman of the Oak Ridge Horse Show.
Public Safety
Sheriff’s Office. Deputy T. Howes
WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:
reported the sheriff’s District 1 office responded to 172 calls for service in Oak Ridge in January. Among them were eight burglaries and assistance to the state Highway Patrol on eight vehicle accidents.
Deputies have increased patrolling on Peeples Road and N.C. 150 in response to concerns about speeding motorists, Howes said.
Thefts from vehicles in Town Park remain a problem, he noted.
Separately, he reported that officers arrested two of the suspects in thefts from 14 unlocked vehicles parked at various residences in the vicinity of N.C. 150 the night of Jan. 26 and the morning of Jan. 27. Search warrants for the suspects were obtained, leading to the recovery of most of the stolen items, Howes said.
He urged people to lock their car doors and either remove their valuables, or place them out of sight. Thieves are stopping along the road and walking down driveways to check for unlocked vehicle doors, he noted.
Mayor Ann Schneider, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Martha Pittman and Spencer Sullivan voted on the following issues during the Feb. 2 meeting:
5 0: Appoint Gigi Williams to the town’s Tree Board
5 0: Increase the town’s funding of the Historic Heritage Grants program to $8,000
5 0: Install a digital radar speed sign on Haw River Road, a safety measure recommended by North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
5 0: Approve three resolutions advancing the development of Heritage Farm Park
5 0: Approve two contracts with Guilford County making official the town’s receipt of nearly $3.6 million in federal pandemic relief funds
5 0: Approve an agreement with NCDOT for Oak Ridge to pay its estimated $326,700 share of N.C. 68/150 road improvements.
5 0: Approve the January financial report
Later in the meeting, Schneider said she and town staff met with representatives of Guilford County Sheriff’s Office to discuss putting “more boots on the ground” and installing surveillance cameras to combat smash-andgrab incidents in the park. Oak Ridge Fire Department. Firefighter Kyle Solomon reported the department responded to 69 calls for service last month, including 30 medical-related incidents, three vehicle accidents and one cooking fire.
Solomon urged homeowners to operate indoor heaters with caution.
MANAGER’S REPORT Board appointment
5 0 to appoint Gigi Williams to the town’s Tree Board.
Voluntary annexation applications. The town is accepting voluntary annexation applications from property owners through April 15, Town Manager Bill Bruce said; he noted that applications held over from last year will be considered during this application cycle. Annexations will take effect July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. Frequently asked questions and other information about the process are posted on the town’s website.
Historic Heritage Grants funding
5 0 to increase the town’s funding of the Historic Heritage Grants program by $3,500, to $8,000. The maximum annual grant goes from $2,000 to $4,000 for nonprofit property owners and $3,000 to other property owners.
Separately, the council voted to expand the flexibility for submitting grant applications, which can now be submitted at other times of the year besides just prior to the annual deadline.
Historic preservation and conservation is “in our DNA,” said Pittman, joining other council members in applauding the success of the grants program.
Schneider said the program serves as a model for other towns exploring historic preservation grants.
The town’s investment in historic preservation shows state legislators that Oak Ridge “has skin in the game,” which also helps gain state funding, McClellan added.
Making more funds available for the grants program helps offset rising renovation costs and may encourage more property owners to apply for grants, said Sandra Smith, assistant town manager and clerk.
From its start in 2016 through June 2022, the program disbursed $22,800 in grants to support $125,435 in structural and exterior improvements for 15 projects at historic properties in Oak Ridge, according to a Jan. 27 report by the Historic Preservation Commission.
Grant recipients are required to contribute at least an equal amount in matching funds to their restoration projects. Often, property owners spend more than the program requires, according to the report.
New staff member. Smith introduced Genevieve Geib as the town’s new office assistant. An Oak Ridge resident, Geib began working in Town Hall in mid-January.
Haw River Road speed sign
5 0 to install a digital radar speed sign on Haw River Road, a safety measure recommended by North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) after a Halloween night traffic fatality. (See related article on p. 2.)
New Business
Heritage Farm Park resolutions
5 0 to approve three resolutions advancing plans for Heritage Farm Park after the town received a bid from Greensboro-based Bar
Construction Co. last month to develop the project.
The resolutions relate to adopting an ordinance authorizing the capital project, awarding the bid to Bar and approving terms for borrowing money for the project from Truist Financial. In a related move, the council approved a contract with Musco Sports Lighting for installing athletic field lights in the park. (See related article on front cover.)
Pandemic relief funds
5 0 to approve two contracts with Guilford County that authorize the town to receive federal American Rescue Fund Plan (ARPA) money for two projects.
First, $3.27 million would help pay for a 250,000-gallon water storage tank and a 12-inch water main from Forsyth County, if the council decides to proceed with constructing infrastructure for the town’s municipal water system. (See related article on front cover.)
Another $305,000 in ARPA funds is earmarked for renovation and expansion of the Farmhouse Community Center (formerly called the Redmon House) in Town Park. Plans call for restoring the historic house as a community gathering place and small event venue.
N.C. 68/150 improvements
5 0 to approve an agreement with NCDOT for Oak Ridge to pay its estimated $326,700 share of N.C. 68/150 road improvements.
Starting next September, NCDOT plans to build two roundabouts and upgrade the N.C. 68/150 intersection in an effort aimed at slowing traffic and improving pedestrian and cyclist safety in the commercial business district.
The town plans to help pay for fencing, a retaining wall and sidewalks, as well as stamped concrete in a
...continued on p. 10
The Historic Preservation Commission is looking for small-scale, high-impact grant projects to help preserve the historic properties that are at the heart of our community.
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Grants up to $3,000, or $4,000 for nonprofits, will be awarded to maintain and preserve the exteriors of historic properties in Oak Ridge. Applicants must cover at least 50% of project costs.
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• Call Town Hall at (336) 644-7009
• Attend an information session Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall (8315 Linville Road)
Application deadline: April 14 cobblestone pattern to improve the appearance of the roundabouts.
Working with NCDOT promotes Oak Ridge’s goal of creating a village feel in the town core, Pittman said.
The project is expected to take two years to complete, and the council acknowledged it will disrupt traffic through the heart of Oak Ridge during the process.
Oak Ridge’s representative on the Triad Municipal ABC Board, said the town’s ABC store sold 18,201 bottles of whiskey in December.
“For a town our size, I think that’s really great,” Barbery said.
Community Updates
Tree Board. Chair Nancy Stoudemire said the new board had its first meeting during which Town Manager Bruce explained its responsibilities. At the recommendation of the Arbor Day Foundation, the council created the board in December to maintain the town’s standing as a Tree City USA.
Financial Update
Finance Director Sam Anders reported Oak Ridge collected $250,628 in revenue last month; property tax receipts totaled $107,349, followed by fourth-quarter ABC operating profit of $103,592. A year earlier, the town’s ABC receipts totaled $86,343, Anders noted.
5 0 to approve the town’s financial report for January.
Later in the meeting, Jimm Barbery,
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Co-chair John Garrett reported the board approved the Special Events Committee’s use of Town Park for five events this year. Two nonprofits, the Piedmont Advantage Credit Union’s foundation and Hannah’s Haven, have planned fundraisers in the park.
Water Advisory Committee. Chair Jim Harton said the committee met late last month with engineering consultant
Wooten Co. to continue discussions about the possible construction of an elevated water storage tank and extension of a water main from WinstonSalem/Forsyth County Utilities.
Historic Preservation Commission. Chair Debbie Shoenfeld reported the commission’s Historic Heritage Grant Committee and some commission members prepared the report assessing the performance of the Historic Heritage Grants program; she thanked the council for approving requested program changes.
Planning and Zoning Board. Chair
Jason Streck said the board unanimously approved plans for a subdivision consisting of four lots on 23.6 acres on Peeples Road; the property is owned by Oak Ridge United Methodist Church.
Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Co-chair Anne Steele reported volunteers continue work on building a new trail adjacent to the Pemberly Estates subdivision, east of N.C. 150.
Conservation Easement Committee. Chair Stephanie Farrell reported two historic properties – the Old Mill of Guilford and the Sanders-Blaylock house – are under consideration for conservation easements.
Special Events Committee. Chair
Patti Dmuchowski reported Oak Ridge resident Mickey Tingen, owner of Domino’s Pizza in Oak Ridge, recently donated $5,000 to the Veterans Honor Green and Oak Ridge Lions Club donated $500.
Fundraising for the veterans site planned for Heritage Farm
Park totaled $6,255 in January, Dmuchowski said. With $182,000 raised, the committee is very close to its $200,000 goal.
Oak Ridge Elementary School. Interim Principal Jim Smith reported the school’s student government, with support from the community, collected more than 400 pounds of supplies for Greensboro Urban Ministry.
Council Comments
Sullivan said he was pleased the new sound system may be installed in the council’s chambers before the March 2 meeting.
Pittman praised town staff for guiding council members through the details of the contracts for Heritage Farm Park. She described the process as “a labyrinth of requirements and information.”
Kinneman said construction of sidewalks and trails are enabling more residents to walk to Town Park. The completion of the N.C. 68/150 improvements will improve access from the eastern side of Oak Ridge to the western side of N.C. 68.
McClellan praised efforts by town staff, volunteers and council members to advance capital projects, and said the town “can be extremely proud.”
Schneider said the town’s strategic plan has guided town leaders in achieving their “ambitious agenda” of capital projects and other improvements.
With no further comments, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
