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OAK RIDGE town council
March 30 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
as reported by CHRIS BURRITT
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The council, which typically meets the first Thursday of the month, met a week earlier than normal to avoid possible conflicts during Holy Week, which runs from April 2-8.
OAK RIDGE – Mayor Ann Schneider called the monthly meeting to order at 7 p.m., with Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Martha Pittman and Spencer Sullivan present. Town Manager Bill Bruce was absent.
John Garrett, vice chair of the town’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, offered the invocation. It was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The council voted unanimously to remove an item from the town manager’s report, which was consideration and possible approval of the destruction of 24 boxes of town documents, including bank statements and accounts payable and receivables paperwork, predating 2019. The item will be considered during a later meeting.
Resolution
Local zoning authority
5 0 to adopt a resolution urging the North Carolina legislature to work with leaders in towns and cities statewide and the North Carolina League of Municipalities on local zoning matters.
The resolution cites possible legislation de-annexing Summerfield
WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:
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 March 30 meeting.
5 0: Adopt a resolution urging the North Carolina legislature to work with leaders in towns and cities statewide and the North Carolina League of Municipalities on local zoning matters
5 0: Reappoint Courtney Harton to the town’s Historic Preservation Commission
5 0: Approve a resolution concurring with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s plan to add four streets in the Bellagio subdivision to the state’s road maintenance system
5 0: Amend the town’s contract with McGill Associates, the engineering firm helping with development of Heritage Farm Park, to provide oversight of the construction project which is expected to take about 42 weeks to complete
3 2: Approve a resolution accepting Bar Construction Co.’s bid of $630,000 to renovate and expand the historic Redmon house into the Farmhouse Community Center
5 0: Approve the scope of work for a $75,000 state grant for the renovation and new construction of the Farmhouse Community Center
5 0: Approve a site plan and a digital rendering of the proposed elevated water tank behind Town Hall on Linville Road landowner David Couch’s 973 acres in the town as an example of a threat that can arise when “developers try to convince legislators to strip local zoning requirements to meet their needs….” e resolution goes on to “strenuously object to state bills seeking to homogenize, signi cantly weaken, or otherwise interfere in local zoning authority, on the basis that such interference threatens a town’s ability to determine its unique identity and future within the limitations and requirements established by state statute.”
Public Safety
Sheriff’s Office. Cpl. O. Myles reported the sheriff’s District 1 office responded to more than 80 calls in Oak Ridge in March, 19 of which resulted in formal reports.
“Mostly what we are getting is just a lot of (breaking and entering) of motor vehicles,” he said. “With the warmer weather, that tends to happen. Just remember to lock your vehicles and keep anything of value out of plain view.”
Oak Ridge Fire Department. The department didn’t provide a report for March.
MANAGER’S REPORT
5 0 to reappoint Courtney Harton to the town’s Historic Preservation Commission.
State road maintenance
5 0 to approve a resolution concurring with North Carolina Department of Transportation’s plan to add four streets – Catania Place, Sicily Street, Palermo Trail and San Marino Court – in the Bellagio subdivision to the state’s road maintenance system.
Heritage Farm Park agreement
5 0 to amend the town’s contract with McGill Associates, the engineering firm helping with development of Heritage Farm Park. An addendum to the agreement for construction phase services provides for a part-time construction field representative to observe the progress and quality of the work two days a week over the 42-week period of construction.
The position will be responsible for other duties as well, at a cost to the town of $147,600, according to a March 28 memo by Bruce.
“It is an important safeguard to have this kind of construction administration while the work is going on to ensure its successful completion,” said Schneider, adding the council had budgeted for the expense.
New Business
Farmhouse Community Center bid
3 2 to approve a resolution accepting Bar Construction Co.’s bid of $630,000 to renovate and expand the historic Redmon house into the Farmhouse Community Center. Town leaders plan to seek cost reductions from Greensboro-based Bar.
The vote followed remarks by Schneider, McClellan and Pittman, who voted to accept the bid, and Kinneman and Sullivan, who recommended delaying consideration of the bid and voted against the resolution. During public comments later in the meeting, several residents expressed their views on the merits of restoring the farmhouse in Town Park. (See related article on FC.)
State grant
5 0 to approve the scope of work for a $75,000 state grant for the renovation and new construction of the Farmhouse Community Center. Earlier, the local legislative delegation had secured the N.C. State Community Infrastructure Fund Grant through the state’s annual budget appropriations, the town manager wrote in a March memo.
Even though he voted against accepting the $630,000 bid for refurbishing the Redmon house, Kinneman said he supports accepting the state grant because it will help pay for the project.
“Once this project has been approved, I’m not going to be an obstructionist,”
Kinneman said, adding that when he feels it’s necessary, he will, however, continue asking questions and raising objections during the house renovation/construction project.
Schneider, Pittman and McClellan told Kinneman they appreciate his attitude.
“I do trust that we all as a council will work together and as a community as well,” the mayor said.
Elevated water tank site plan and graphic
5 0 to approve a site plan and a digital rendering of the proposed elevated water tank behind Town Hall
...continued on p. 8
78th Annual Easter Horse Show & Rodeo
Schedule of Events
Hardin Farm & Stable ● Stokesdale
Friday, April 7
Gates Open for Oak Ridge Easter Horse Show
Prayer and Presentation of Colors, Ring 1A
Ranch, Ring 1B
Open Classes, Ring 2
Over Fences Division, Ring 3
Calf Scramble, Ring 1A
Mutton Bustin’, Ring 1A
National Anthem, Ring 1A
Banjo Earth with Andy Eversole & Sarah Strable
Rodeo, Ring 1A
SRA sanctioned rodeo, presented by Double Creek Pro Rodeo
Saturday,
April
8
Gates Open for Oak Ridge Easter Horse Show
Prayer and Presentation of Colors, Ring 1A
Mini Draft Horse Pull, Ring 1A
Ranch, Ring 1B
Open Classes, Ring 2
Over Fences Division, Ring 3
Calf Scramble, Ring 1A
Mutton Bustin’, Ring 1A
Draft Horse Pull, Ring 1A
National Anthem, Ring 1A
Banjo Earth with Andy Eversole & Sarah Strable
Rodeo, Ring 1A
SRA sanctioned rodeo, presented by Double Creek Pro Rodeo
