The five hundred and fifty-nineth session of the board of Alderman Village of Alamance

January 27^th , 2025

7:00 p.m.

Present: Mayor Tichy, Mayor Pro Tem Isley, Alderman Andrews, Alderman Crouse, Alderman Cheap, Alderman Hunt, and Alderman Tichy

Absent:

Invocation and call to order given by Mr. Reich

Alderman Cheap asked to add a plaid day report and budget amendment request to the agenda.

Alderman Cheap motioned to approve the agenda with additions, seconded by Alderman Tichy. Motion carries 6-0

Alderman Cheap would like additional information about the guy wire, storage building and water analysis report added to the December minutes in the engineer report.

Alderman Tichy motioned to approve the December 16th, 2024, regular meeting minutes with these additions, seconded by Alderman Cheap. Motion carries 6-0.

Public Comment 

ONGOING BUSINESS

Engineer Report  

Street Repair for FY 24-25. Application for payment was submitted to the Village on December 16, 2024, and payment has been made. Cardinal Lane Drainage Issue Waiting for warmer and drier weather to begin project, Mr. Reich will provide an update upon receipt from contractor. Heritage Glen Phase 5C.2 The Contractor has installed water, sewer and storm drainage systems. Testing for sewer has been completed, testing for water is ongoing. The surveyor is staking for curb and gutter.  The contractor is beginning preparations for grading of the roadway when conditions permit. Utility Building update.  The contractor met with Duke Power and has finalized the building location. Water Quality Issues. Hazen and Sawyer has completed and prepared a report summarizing their findings. Hydraulic Gradient Testing indicated No unusual conditions in water system. Available Fire Flow at EM Holt Elementary School is 1,400 gpm.  Fire Flow Calculations are based on Max Day Demand of 18.86 mgd and water tanks at half full.  System can maintain 20 psi under max day conditions and provide adequate fire flow volume.  All hydrants provide more than 500 gpm; 3 FH of 59 provide between 500 gpm -999 gpm; 35 FH provide 1,000 gpm to 1,500 gpm and 21 FH provide > 1,500 gpm.  Closing the valve on NC 62 at Cabin Rd. significantly reduces fire flow at all FH.  Installing a 6” water line from Yorkshire Dr. to Alamance Baptist Church Rd significantly improves available fire flow.  Installing a 6” main from Liberty to Yorkshire has minimal impact on fire flow.  Maximum water age in system is 91 hours, excessive water age is considered greater than 168 hours. Water complaints do not correlate to water age.  Installing 6” main from Yorkshire to Alamance Baptist Rd reduces water age from 91 hours to 15. Unidirectional flushing is recommended to scour pipes to improve water quality. UDF is designed to clean pipes by scouring them with high velocities. Typically conducted annually.  H&S has devised a 3-zone plan to flush the system. It takes 1-day of flushing to turnover system and 93,200 gals. They recommend flushing the system for 3 consecutive days.  Village is billed for water at $3.50/1,000 gals. Burlington has recently revised their policy, and the Village would need to consult with Burlington regarding payment exemption for sewer.  No recommendations were made relative to installing automatic blow-off valves. There was some discussion about water pressure through the system, but Mr. Reich told the board the issue was more about how long the water takes to get through the system. The longer the water takes to get through the system the more possibility for discoloration. The board agreed to get pricing for the unidirectional flushing recommended by Hazen & Sawyer. Auto-Dialers Reimbursement NCDEQ has requested several documents from Nick, and they want an Engineer to review the package and complete additional forms. Mr. Reich is in the process of obtaining and reviewing the needed documents.

ORC Report   

Mr. Allred reported things were running well at the pump stations. Mr. Allred showed the board pictures of 2 air release valves that were badly corroded and advised them to replace soon. He informed them that the price to replace both valves with new stainless steel valves plus labor would be $3600.00 Alderman Crouse motioned to replace the valves, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Isley. Motion carries 6-0

Mr. Allred noted that most of the valve work had been completed in Heritage Glen except the two across the street from the entrance. These need to be completely redone. They are currently unable to be turned off and cannot be exercised. The cost of this will be higher than usual due to where they are located and the need for traffic control on NC 62. Alderman Crouse asked if something could be placed around them after they are fixed. Mr. Allred said he would recommend that, to keep this from happening again. He will have a cost estimate for the next meeting.

Public Recreation Committee Report   

Mr. Farmerie told the board the public recreation was unable to meet in January due to not having a quorum. There has been a strong response rate from the survey with 153 responses to date. This data still needs to be analyzed and put into a final report.

New Business

Civil Penalties for 4163 S NC 62

Mr. Farmerie reviewed the documentation that the board had. The notice of complaint, letter of hearing, the notification of civil penalties, the finding of facts to support the penalty imposing and lastly the daily log of accruing penalties. The end date for penalties was on November 26^th, 2024. The total cost was $6300.00

Mr. Davis, of Stonewall Construction, spoke for the owners and explained that he was asked to remedy the situation as quickly as possible. He began the task of getting the necessary permits to demolish the building, as well as removing asbestos from the premise. This process took some time, and he asked that the board would take this into consideration as they decide if they will forgive any portion of the fine incurred. Mr. Davis informed the board that the owner’s intent is to rebuild a new gas station, a project that will be close to two million dollars. The owners are putting money back into the community.

The board members reviewed the information presented and agreed to reduce the fine in half. Alderman Hunt motioned to reduce the fine to $3150.00, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Isley. Motion carries 6-0

Plaid Day Report/Budget Amendment 

Mr. Farmerie explained that there was an increase in expenses for plaid day this year. The current budgeted amount is $10,000 and the proposed expenditure amounts is $10,651.59 Mr. Farmerie suggest taking $1500.00 from the general fund contingency line item and move it to the Plaid Day line item. Some of the cost increase this year are due to holding it at a different location which required a professional stage set up. The labor is much more expensive this time because the stage and port o potties will need to be removed over the weekend instead of Monday. The Board discussed the cost of Plaid Day and what the future of the event might look like. The hope is that holding it on the E.M. Holt Ballfield will garner more attention this year. The budget amendment was tabled for now.

Alamance County Nature Trail and Paddle Access Resolution

Mr. Farmerie showed a picture of the piece of property that Alamance County had purchased, right behind the pump station on S NC 62. Their intent is to have a small parking lot, possibly a picnic table or two near the creek, along with a walking path to the steps to the water. They would like to create a paddle access and fishing access if they could utilize a small portion of our property. There is sewer line on the portion of property they would like to use. They are willing to put up signage warning about driving over the line. The resolution is just a formal support of their vision for the area. Alderman Cheap motioned to accept the resolution, seconded by Alderman Tichy. Motion carries 6-0

Mr. Farmerie explained that each ARPA policy was just extra documentation for the Federal Government for the project that was completed on Cardinal Ln.

ARPR Policy for Property Management

Alderman Tichy motioned to approve the ARPA policy for property Management, seconded by Alderman Crouse. Motion carries 6-0

ARPA Internal Control

Alderman Cheap motioned to approve the internal control policy, seconded by Alderman Tichy. Motion carries 6-0

AROA Procurement Policy for Expenditures

Alderman Cheap motioned to accept the policy for expenditures, seconded by Alderman Tichy. Motion carries 6-0

OTHER BUSINESS

Alderman Andrews made a motion to move into closed session, seconded by Alderman Hunt. Motion carries 6-0.

Mr. Farmerie officially gave his resignation. The board discussed how best to proceed. It was decided that a job description would be created as soon as possible to be advertised starting in February. The salary range would be advertised at $60,000 to $75,000 per year depending on experience. There was some discussion on the days and hours the Village would be open, perhaps going back to a five-day week with each employee having one day off. For example, one would work Monday – Thursday, the other work Tuesday- Friday. Mr. Farmerie will advertise with the League of Municipalities and send the job opening to all his contacts at Appalachian State.

Alderman Tichy motioned to go back into open session, seconded by Alderman Hunt. Motion Carries 6-0

Alderman Andrews motioned to advertise the Town Administrator position at $60,000 to $75,000, seconded by Alderman Hunt. Motion carries 6-0

Alderman Crouse motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Hunt. Motion carries 6-0

Mayor Tichy____________________________________

Misty Folwell, Clerk_______________________________