Virtual Care from Your Home

from Couch’s representatives, which was in response to the town’s letter to Couch on April 27. The mayor didn’t elaborate on the content of either letter and said the council would discuss Couch’s response letter in closed session later in the meeting.

At the urging of state Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, representatives of Summerfield and Couch are attempting to find common ground on the town’s opposition to the developer’s plans, which include apartments, for the 973 acres he owns.

Board appointment

 5  0 to appoint Jonathan Hamilton to the Finance Committee.

Closed Session

The council recessed the open meeting and went into closed session to discuss the letter from Couch. After reconvening about 35 minutes later into open session, the council took no action.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:51 p.m.

OAK RIDGE town council

May 4 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

as reported by CHRIS BURRITT

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.

Rev. Mike Carr, pastor of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, offered the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Proclamations

National Day of Prayer. Schneider read a proclamation declaring May 4 as a Day of Prayer in Oak Ridge, as part of recognizing the first Thursday of May each year as National Day of Prayer.

Professional Municipal Clerks Week. Pittman read a proclamation honoring Sandra Smith, assistant town manager and clerk, deputy town clerk Ashley Royal and office assistant Genevieve Geib as part of Professional Municipal Clerks Week.

Public Safety

Oak Ridge Fire Department. Assistant Chief Sam Anders reported the department is handling more calls, partly because it’s taking over some lowergrade medical calls from volunteer fire departments.

Public Hearing

 5  0 to approve a request to rezone nearly 19.6 acres south of N.C. 150 and east of the Forsyth County line, from agricultural (AG) to conditional zoning residential (CZ-RS-40) at the request of Debra and Van Duggins, trustees of the Duggins Family Trust.

An estimated 14 to 16 houses are planned for the property, which is located at 1338 Forsyth Road in Oak Ridge’s ETJ (extraterritorial jurisdiction), according to the landowner’s representative, Chris Rohrer of Land Solutions.

During a public hearing, nearby property owner Frank Carroll asked whether the development would get water from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities or from private wells. He expressed concern that drilling more wells would possibly draw down water from existing wells nearby.

Rohrer said the developer would evaluate both options for water.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Veterans Honor

Green donations

 5  0 to approve the town matching $7,845 in donations raised by the Special Events Committee for the Veterans Honor Green in the first quarter of 2023.

Matching funds from Oak Ridge brings to $184,932.24 the total raised for the veterans’ site at Heritage Farm Park through March 31, Smith said.

The council plans to draw the matching funds from the town’s $50,000 Small Town Development Grant, leaving $29,783.38 of the grant unspent.

Later in the meeting, Patti Dmuchowski, chair of the Special Events Committee, said donations and giving pledges through March have pushed donations over $200,000, the previous fundraising goal; due to rising costs, however, she said the goal has increased to at least $240,000.

Records destruction

 5  0 to authorize town staff to hire a contractor to remove and destroy about 25 boxes of documents that Oak Ridge is no longer required to retain.

Parks fee schedule

 5  0 to remove a portable propane gas grill from items rented by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Meeting time change

 5  0 to allow the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to switch its meeting time on the third Thursday of the month from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

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 items during the May 4 meeting:

 5  0: Approve the town match of $7,845 in donations recently raised for the Veterans Honor Green

 5  0: Authorize town staff to hire a contractor to destroy about 25 boxes of documents

 5  0: Approve the removal of a portable propane gas grill from items rented by the Parks and Recreation Department

 5  0: Allow the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to switch its meeting time from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

 5  0: Amend the town’s budget to appropriate $10,000 to cover startup costs for this year’s expanded Music in the Park concert series

 5  0: Increase the monthly base rate for the town’s new water system

Music in the Park budget amendment

 5  0 to amend the town’s budget to increase expenses for special events by $10,000 to cover marketing materials, band and other costs for the expanded Music in the Park concert series.

Anticipated revenue for parks special events was also increased by $10,000, at the town manager’s recommendation.

Schneider recognized deputy clerk Royal for her efforts to organize the concert series, which started last month and runs through October. Four of the six concerts are being expanded with sponsors, bigger-name bands, alcohol sales and additional food trucks.

New Business

Draft budget presentation. Bruce presented the draft budget for the fiscal year starting July 1; the property tax remains unchanged, at 8 cents per $100 of valuation.