MINUTES

 

Town of Blowing Rock

Board of Commissioners

 

May 20, 2008

 

The Town of Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners continued their FY 2008-2009 budget work session on Monday, May 20, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. The work session was held at Town Hall located at 1036 Main Street, Blowing Rock.  Attending were Mayor J.B. Lawrence, Commissioners Bobby Ball, Keith Tester, Albert Yount, Phil Pickett and Tommy Klutz.  Others in attendance were Town Manager Scott Hildebran, Finance Director Nicole Norman, and Town Clerk Sharon Greene.

 

The purpose of the work session was to review the Recommended Budget for FY 2008-2009. Mayor Lawrence called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Hildebran verified the 4.1% for the CPI for 2007.  He also responded to previous questions from Commissioner Pickett regarding street lights along Ransom Street near his property.  Mr. Hildebran stated the CUP approved did not require additional street lights due to lights located in the vicinity. Mr. Hildebran advised the $30,000 allocated to Parks & Recreation toward paving of the Broyhill parking lot was from TDA funds.

 

Commissioner Pickett spoke regarding the need for natural gas and if it would be feasible for this area.  Commissioner Klutz was also in favor of natural gas.  Council discussed the potential for running a natural gas line simultaneously with the water line from Boone.  Staff will continue to investigate the feasibility.

 

Council briefly discussed the proposed parking structure on South Main Street with BRAHM. Commissioner Ball stressed the need for additional parking in town.  Mayor Lawrence stated visitors would stop coming to the area if the parking problem continued.  Commissioner Tester expressed the need for a traffic flow study to be done for the proposed structure on South Main Street. He felt this should be included in the CUP process.

 

Mr. Hildebran stated that he and Town Attorney Moseley had met with BRAHM officials as a follow-up to the May 13th Council meeting and BRAHM will move forward with the CUP process. Council can make a determination regarding the parking structure once a firm price is available.  Mr. Hildebran advised that he will continue to investigate a funding plan.

 

 

 

Water/Sewer Revenue & Expenditures

Mr. Hildebran advised that once the widening of the 321 By-pass begins along the Blowing Rock corridor, utility lines would also be replaced.

 

The need to keep water from entering the town sewer system (I &I) was also briefly discussed. 

 

The $5.00 per month or $10.00 bi-monthly increase in utilities for the water interconnection was discussed. Mr. Hildebran advised this fee would aid in meeting projected debt service for the water interconnection with Boone which is estimated at $4,000,000.  Also, he discussed the proposed water/sewer rate increase for consumption over the minimum 5,000 gallons of usage from $4.50 to $4.75.  Mr. Hildebran stated this increase would affect those with higher usage and hopefully better promote conservation efforts.

 

Commissioner Yount inquired if there was a noticeable difference in water/sewer revenue with the present water conservation.  Mr. Hildebran responded there was less revenue generated during the most recent water billing process. 

 

Mr. Hildebran said that he would follow up on water conservation equipment for town facilities. He also stated a Ferguson plumbing representative would contact Johnny Lentz and Albert Yount to discuss conservation plumbing fixtures further.

 

Mr. Hildebran advised the streetscape plan should be ready for review later in the summer.

 

Debt Service

Mr. Hildebran reviewed the debt service schedule highlighting the Water/Sewer Master Plan Implementation for $199,700. 

 

Mr. Hildebran also stated that Council’s 2008 Retreat Priorities and Action Plan Results had been implemented into the FY 2008-2009 Recommended Budget.

 

Mayor Lawrence commended Mr. Hildebran on the great job he had done on the proposed FY 2008-2009 budget.

 

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to discuss, the meeting recessed at 5:05 p.m.

 

 

MAYOR ____________________________

               J.B. Lawrence

 

 

Attest: ___________________________

                 Sharon Greene, Town Clerk