MINUTES
Town of Blowing Rock
Board of Commissioners
Special Meeting– December 6, 2007
The
Town of Blowing Rock Board of Commissioner held a special meeting on Thursday,
December 6, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room at Town Hall. Present were
Mayor J.B. Lawrence, Commissioners Bobby Ball, Terry Lentz, Rita Wiseman, Keith
Tester and Tommy Klutz. Commissioner elect Albert Yount was also in attendance.
Others present were Town Manager Scott Hildebran, Finance Director Nicole
Norman, and Town Clerk Sharon Greene.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. FY 2006-07 Audit
Town Auditors Billy Combs and Jason Carpenter
presented Council with the FY 2006-07 Audit.
Mr. Combs advised the audit was completed in accordance with the
Government Accounting Standards Board with no adverse findings. He proceeded to
give a “clean opinion” of the audit and commended the Town staff on their
work. Mr. Combs briefly discussed Fund
Balance stating it had increased over the past several years and was where it
should be.
With
no further discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Lentz, seconded by
Commissioner Ball to accept the FY 2006-07 Audit as presented. Unanimously approved. FY 2006-07 Audit Exhibit A
Town
Manager Scott Hildebran advised that a new easement between the Town of
Mayor
Lawrence asked to be excused from this item due to his membership on the Blue
Ridge Electric Board of Directors.
Commissioner
Wiseman made a motion to move forward with the new easement as requested by
BREMCO, seconded by Commissioner Ball. Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice Letter Exhibit B
At
this time the meeting was moved into the Town Hall Board Room. Commissioner elect Phil Pickett joined the
meeting.
3. NCDOT Update on Hwy 321 Widening Project
Ms.
Missy Dickins, Mr. Greg Brew, and Mr. Trent Beaver representing NCDOT were
present to give an update to Council and citizens on the Hwy. 321 Widening
Project. Ms. Dickins stated the project
was at the 25% right of way design stage and they were present to answer any
questions Council or citizens of Blowing Rock have. She stated the plans had changed very little
since the initial plans were completed.
She advised that a vibration sensitivity test would be done possibly in
the spring in areas where blasting was proposed and Council would be given the
information found from the test. She
stated that NCDOT was in the process of hiring a consultant for this portion of
the project.
Design
Project Engineer Mr. Brew stated at this point in the project they were
beginning to look at retaining walls, not necessarily the aesthetics of the
walls, but their height and location. After the completion of the plans they would
be sent to the geotechnical division. He
noted that the current 25% plan had omitted a portion of sidewalk. Mr. Brew advised
that sidewalks could be added up to 3 to 6 months from the completion of the
plans and the omitted portion would be added to the plan. He also advised that NCDOT was working on the
hydraulic designs at the present time and were approximately 2 months from
being finished and the designs would have significant effect on the easements
that would be needed for sidewalks.
Mr.
Brew stated during the 50% completion phase of the plan; piping, drainage
design, excavation, drainage ditches, etc. would be done, then easements and
right of ways would be added. He also advised the Town would receive a copy of
each phase of the design plans.
Ms.
Dickins advised that several plans would be forthcoming such as a sign plan,
landscape plan etc. but would be later in the project phase.
Several
citizens had questions regarding the project.
Ms. Sue Glenn expressed her concern regarding the
Mr.
O. Wayne Green asked if digital copies of the plans could be obtained and
recommended that NCDOT put the plans in projection form. Mr. Brew stated that digital copies could be
provided.
Mr.
John Pirtle stated during the hearing process a Letter of Final Decision was
supposed to be sent and inquired why it had not been done. Ms. Dickins responded the letter would be
issued in the next week and a copy would be provided. Mr. Pirtle also inquired
after the hydraulic study was completed, would any change near the Historic
District specifically the retaining wall near Hole No.4 of the Blowing Rock
Golf Course anticipated and if so the design of the golf course would have to
be changed which would be a major process.
NCDOT stated they did not see any changes to that area at the present
time.
Commissioner
elect Albert Yount asked what options the town had in regard to materials used
for the proposed retaining walls. Ms.
Dickins advised that formed concrete was used with liners that provided texture
to look like brick, stone etc. then a surface treatment of color would be added
and this was the most commonly used. Mr.
Yount also asked if photographs would be provided showing the different options. Commissioner Ball conveyed this had been
discussed in the preliminary planning process and that walls similar to those
on U.S. Hwy 421 at the Parkway were not acceptable. Ms. Dickins stated that according to the
M.O.U., Council would have input on the final decision selection. She mentioned several projects in the
Mr.
Pirtle had other questions regarding right of way acquisition and funds to
complete the project. Mr. Brew stated that right of way acquisition would
commence by June 2008 and further explained the process following the
acquisitions. He also stated that funds
were in the NCDOT budget for this project.
Several
other concerns were discussed such as access to the Blowing Rock Country Club
and why a turn lane was not proposed for that area or a stop light. Ms. Dickins responded that studies had been
done and the traffic number in that particular area did not warrant a turn lane
or stop light.
Another
concern was the use of Green Hill Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway as a cut-thru
during the project process and if NCDOT could restrict these areas from being
used. Ms. Dickins stated that NCDOT
would not be restricting roads from being used as a cut thru.
With
no further discussion Mayor Lawrence thanked the representatives from NCDOT for
their presentation.
Council
then proceeded to the conference room for the remainder of their meeting. After a brief discussion on the job
performance of the Town Manager, a motion was made by Commissioner Wiseman seconded
by Commissioner Ball to give Town Manager Hidebran a $5,000 bonus above and
beyond his longevity pay. Unanimously
approved.
At
10:50 a.m. Commissioner Tester made a motion to enter into executive session to
discuss a personnel matter by authority of North Carolina General Statutes
143-318.11(6) seconded by Commissioner Ball.
ADJOURNMENT
At
11:50 a.m. the regular meeting reconvened and with no further business to
discuss the meeting was adjourned.
MAYOR ___________________________
J.B. Lawrence
Attest:
_________________________
Sharon Green, Town Clerk
Attachments
FY 2006-07 Audit Exhibit A
BREMCO Easement Agreement Exhibit B