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from Northwest Observer / May 18 - 31, 2023

GRINS and GRIPES

About seven minutes into the meeting, Councilman Tim Jones called for a point of order because a citizen, Mark Nadel, had brought his bloodhound into the meeting room.

“I think the dog constitutes a disturbance,” Jones said.

Mayor Crawford said he didn’t object to having a dog in the meeting room and Mayor Pro Tem Derek Foy said he had no objections to this particular dog, but in general, a dog being in council chambers wasn’t appropriate.

With no policy about having a dog in council chambers, council members discussed what immediate action was appropriate.

“If we don’t have a policy, then someone could bring a horse into the meeting – or maybe a number of things,” Jones said. “I don’t object to the character of this dog, or to the dog’s breed … but it’s a dog. … is is a path the town doesn’t need to go down – unless this is an ADA service dog.”

After further discussion, the mayor motioned to allow dogs in council chambers with his approval. Councilman Jimmy Landreth said he didn’t feel the decision should be up to the mayor, and Councilman Jim Rigsbee offered an amended motion that the dog currently in the meeting room be allowed to stay, provided it didn’t cause a disturbance.

“Sometimes I think Stokesdale is Mayberry, and this proves it right here,” Jones said.

When asked, Nadel said he had checked with the deputy clerk before the meeting and confirmed there was no policy against bringing a dog.  3  2 to approve Rigsbee’s amended motion (Jones and Foy opposed).

“The dog gets to stay,” Crawford said.

About 10 minutes later, the dog became restless and began barking, and Nadel and the dog left the meeting.

Administrative. Town Clerk Dale Martin reported on the number of water meters on hold for builders and in stock, applications for transfer of water service and 8-1-1 calls; 752 water customers were billed in April.

Martin then offered a lengthy list of staff activities and accomplishments in April, including meetings they had attended, contracts executed, information provided for grants, the website designer and more.

Justin Snyder, a senior planner with Guilford County, said the county is asking citizens to take a survey regarding updates to the countywide comprehensive plan; the plan and survey can be accessed online by typing “Guilford County comprehensive plan” into a search bar. Direct questions to CompPlan@guilfordcountync.gov.

Committee Reports

Events. Foy said the Christmas parade is scheduled for Dec. 9.

Town Property. Landreth said the sewer control in Town Park had been fixed and Foy said an Eagle project planned in the town park now includes a walkway with pavers instead of a firepit.

Deputy Clerk Robbie Wagoner said a new mirror in a park bathroom is ready to be installed, but it will require two people.

Town Park Improvement. Tee Stephenson, committee chair, said the town has entered into contract with Backyard Paradise to install playground equipment. Also, on April 20 the town entered into contract with Fleming Engineering to survey the nearly 10-acre tract adjacent to the town park that the town purchased in late 2021.

Stephenson said he and Foy looked at an outdoor basketball court with the same sport court material the town is considering for its basketball courts and found the 13-year-old court to still be in good shape. They also looked at the pickleball courts at Bur-Mil Park in Greensboro, which are concrete and painted; they are only a year old, but already have cracks in them. Sport Court, which manufactures the sport court surface material that Stokesdale is interested in, is the official supplier/partner with USA Pickleball.

Financial Report

Finance Officer Kim Thacker presented the monthly financial report for the town’s general fund and water enterprise accounts. She noted that due to rising interest rates, Stokesdale has earned $23,822 in interest on its certificates of deposit this fiscal year, which is far more than the $5,000 budgeted.

Citizen Comments

 Summerfield resident Maria Adams said District 3 residents have been “disenfranchised by the Guilford County Board of Education, which refused to appoint Guilford County Republican Party’s nominee, Michael Logan, to a seat vacated by Pat Tillman after Tillman was elected to the county’s Board of Commissioners last fall.

A lifetime Republican, Logan has held several leadership roles within the GOP, Adams said.

“According to law, the seat vacated by Tillman was to be filled by the Executive Committee of the Republican Party; by proxy, Mr. Logan was elected by the voters and it was the duty of the BOE to swear him in and seat him … however, the board was derelict in their duty,” she continued.

Logan attended the BOE’s April 4 meeting expecting to be sworn into office, but instead, the

Democrat-led BOE appointed Bill Goebel, Adams noted.

“Mr. Goebel is not the legal nominee of the Republican Party. He has been censured and is banned from attending any events sponsored by the Republican Party,” she said.

In response to a question from Landreth, Adams said Republican Party members and leaders have asked Goebel to resign but he refused.

Foy said he watched the BOE meeting and it appeared “the majority of that board (Democrats) seemed very well-informed as to what was going to happen … but two of the members (Republicans) had

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Neurostrive Med Spa owner Jeffrey Bong said that after practicing medicine for 13 years, he decided he wanted to provide medical-grade aesthetic services that help patients/clients with their self-confidence and self-esteem.

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Bong is a member of AOCR (American Osteopathic College of Radiology) and is board certified in diagnostic radiology and in neuroradiology.

On a personal note: Bong was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned a bachelor’s of science in bioengineering, then went to medical school in Erie, Pennsylvania. He completed his residency at Michigan State – Macomb, Michigan, and his fellowship at University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas.

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During his downtime, Bong said he enjoys “chasing my son around the Triad.” He also likes to cycle, play volleyball, hike and listen to live music.

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Kocher is a board member of Triad Retirement Living Association (TRLA)

The crowd was big and the level of enthusiasm high at Town of Oak Ridge’s ﬁrst sponsored Music in the Park event held in Oak Ridge Town Park on Saturday, May 14, featuring the band Gipsy Danger. This is the ﬁrst year the town’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board acquired sponsors for four of its six scheduled Music in the Park events, with the goal of bringing in more widely known bands that attract larger audiences. On a trial basis for this season, beer and wine is being offered for sale at the four sponsored music events. The next sponsored Music in the Park will be on Saturday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m., featuring Radio Revolver.

Did you know Guilford Backpack Ministry provides 280 boxes of cereal a month to students? Help us reach our goal of $200 to buy more cereal during the Town of Summerfield Founders’ Day celebration. Sponsor one box of cereal for $5 (or more)!