THE FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIXTH SESSION OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN

VILLAGE OF ALAMANCE

 

March 28, 2022 – 7:00 PM

 

Present: Mayor Tichy, Mayor Pro Isley, Alderman Crouse, Alderman Andrews, Alderman Cheap, Alderman Hunt and Clerk York.

 

Absent: Alderman Tichy

 

Invocation and Call to Order given by Mr. Reich

 

A motion was made to approve the February 28, 2022 meeting minutes by Alderman Cheap, seconded by Alderman Hunt. Motion carries 5-0

 

Public Comment

 

Sherry Ford asked if the public could be informed about the names of people who applied for the planning board. Clerk York stated the names, Felix Abu, Jeremy Vestal, Lorraine Ryan, and Frank Andrews.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

 

Engineer Report

 

Mr. Reich stated the Heritage Glen plat was recorded and all paperwork and bonds are complete. There is another plat almost ready for recording, the former Emerson property. It will be divided into 3 10-acre plots.  The paving contract for Heritage Glen is complete and under budget, the clean up was excellent. The contract is open for extension if the board is interested. Mr. Reich stated it may be possible to get another road paved with the $40,000 that was leftover.

There is a new house being built on Liberty Dr and a portion of the driveway is on the easement for the Village. Mr. Reich and Mr. Allred looked at the driveway and believe they can access necessary areas without getting on the driveway. The homeowners were informed that if anything needs to be accessed under the driveway it would be at their expense. Alderman Crouse asked how much of the driveway is on the right of way. Mr. Reich stated it was more than 15 feet. Mayor Pro Tem Isley asked if paperwork should be drawn up to be signed regarding this information, so it won’t be an issue in the future. Attorney Koonts stated the homeowners have knowledge they are in the easement, and it was established long before the property was built. Clerk York stated that the easement was shown on the plat they submitted for the building permit, so they know it is there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORC Report

 

Mr. Allred stated that Birch station had a problem with the pump in February and it was replaced with a spare, which failed a couple of days later. Clinton Electric is repairing the pump and when they finish the first one the other will be repaired as well. Pond and NC 62 stations are working well. The distribution system will be switching from chlorine to chloramine on or about April 11^th. It will take several days for the system to return to normal.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

RFQ Engineering ARP Projects

 

Clerk York stated there were four projects submitted last year for funding. The two that were approved are installing water on Dogwood Rd. and bringing them into the Village and moving the outfall along Cardinal Lane. The total amount appropriated was $315,000 which covers both of those projects. According to Treasurers rule an RFQ had to be put out for these projects. The advertisement was up for 3 weeks, and Alley, Williams, Carmen, and King were the only firm to respond. Clerk York is asking the Board to approve them as engineers for these projects.

 

Motion made by Alderman Andrews to approve Alley, Williams, Carmen, and King for the engineering projects, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Isley. Motion carries 5-0

 

 

Radar Speed Limit Signs

 

Clerk York stated after receiving a couple of quotes for flashing speed limit signs he recommends going with Radar Speed Signs. They offer a discount on two units and have a software program to collect many types of data and it can be retrieved by a phone and emailed out to the board. The software also gives the ability to manage the flashing speed limit digits and wording, such as slow down. The cost for the signs is $7500.00 before taxes for the complete set up.

 

A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Isley for the purchase of two Radar speed signs, seconded by Alderman Hunt. Motion carries 5-0

 

Planning Board Vacancy

 

A motion was made to nominate Lorraine Ryan to the planning board by Alderman Cheap, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Isley. Motion carries 5-0

 

 

Zoning Ordinance Committee

 

A meeting has been scheduled for next Tuesday to review the final adjustments to the zoning ordinances. it should be completed by July 1^st.

 

 

 

Land Use Plan

 

A minimal update on land use will done to stay in compliance with the State and will continue to be reviewed after the update to ensure that further revisions are done, if needed.

 

 

Finance Report/Budget Amendment

 

Clerk York stated he reduced the capital expenditures line item from the general fund and added to the engineering, postage, and administration departments. The total General Fund Budget Amendment is $8,200.  In the water and sewer fund he has added $5,900.00 to fund balance to pay for amendments to the legal and contracted water services.

 

A motion was made by Alderman Crouse to approve the budget amendment as presented, seconded by Alderman Cheap. Motion carries 5-0

 

Clerk York stated that he was going to put a notice in the newsletter to be mindful of the amount of yard waste being put out for pickup. There is money in the budget for yard waste expense, but several residents have exceeded the limits and he doesn’t want to overspend the budgeted amount.

 

Clerk York stated the Village had received about $335,000 in American rescue plan funds. The first half has been received and the remainder should be in by this June. One option for use is to declare it lost revenue, or revenue replacement. This option gives you more uses for the money.

 

The league of municipalities has a board meeting coming up and Clerk York suggested Alderman Tichy as a delegate.

 

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

Alderman Cheap stated he had spoken with Pastor Philabaum from the Lutheran Church about having a group of men who would be willing to assist residence with emergency type situations, like a tree down. Pastor Philabaum said he had a group that would be willing to do that. Alderman Cheap expressed this was not for monetary help, only emergency situations and the Village would not be liable for anything as it is just volunteer.

Alderman Cheap also asked if the Village would be willing to work with the church to help with a festival of some sort. Mayor Tichy stated there could be money in the budget for that and it would just need to be presented at the budget meeting in May.

 

Mayor Pro Tem Isley asked if any of the ARP money could be used for finishing the sidewalks. Mr. Reich said he thought that was possible. Mr. Reich said that the last time they put it to bid was a cost of $60,000.  Mayor Tichy asked MR. Reich to put the project out to bid again and see what we get.

 

Alderman Tichy joined the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

A motion was made by Alderman Tichy to go into closed session, seconded by Alderman Cheap. Motion carries 6-0

 

-Closed Session

 

A motion was made by Alderman Cheap to go out of closed session, seconded by Alderman Tichy. Motion carries 6-0

 

 

 

 

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

                                                                      Don Tichy, Mayor

 

 

___________________________________Ben York, Village Clerk