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Blowing Rock Town Council To Hold Public Hearing on Budget and Ordinance Amendments at Tuesday Meeting

By Jesse Wood

June 9, 2014. The Blowing Rock Town Council will hold a public hearing on the fiscal year 2014-15 budget on Tuesday, June 10, before voting on the budget.

The council held three workshops after Town Manager Scott Fogleman, in early May, released the proposed budget that included a tax increase of 1.8 cents per $100 valuation. If approved that would result in a new property tax rate of 30.5 cents per $100 valuation. That proposed budget also included increases to sewer and water fees.

While talk of the tax increase “took the oxygen out” of Councilman Al Yount’s room, Blowing Rock Mayor J.B. Lawrence called the increase to the tax rate and fees a “necessary evil.”

For more on the Blowing Rock budget, click here.

On Tuesday, the council will also from Kipp Turner of Maymead Construction about updates to the U.S. 321 widening project through Blowing Rock. His updates are now apart of every council meeting.

The council will also hold public hearings on ordinance amendments regarding decorative and holiday lighting, sandwich boards and allowing limited metal roofing on buildings.

See entire agenda below.


The meeting is held at 1036 Main Street in Blowing Rock on Tuesday, June 10. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor J.B. Lawrence

SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS AND REPORTS

Swearing in of Police Chief Tony Jones

Speaker:  Sharon Green, Town Clerk

We are proud to welcome Chief Tony Jones to our community.  This ceremonial swearing in follows the

“Meet the Chief” reception which is planned to start at 4:30 p.m. (just before the June 10 Council meeting).

Highway 321 Valley Boulevard Construction Update

Speaker:  Kipp Turner, Maymead Construction

This brief presentation is planned during each regular Council meeting to provide the public with an update regarding the project activities accomplished in the prior month, those planned for the coming month, and an update regarding current expectations of the overall project timing and completion.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

May 8, 2014 Special Meeting of Council and Blowing Rock Appearance Advisory Commission

May 13, 2014 Regular Council Meeting

May 202122, 2014 Council Budget Worksession Meetings

CONSENT AGENDA

Speaker:  Scott Fogleman, Town Manager

This section of the agenda is for those items deemed non-controversial and necessary in conducting regular municipal operations.  A single vote may be taken for the approval of all consent agenda items. Any items pulled from the consent agenda will be moved to the beginning of the discussion section of the agenda.

  1.     Blue Ridge Relay “Exchange Zone” Friday September 5, 2014

Speaker: Jennifer Brown, Parks and Recreation Director

The Blue Ridge Relay group has requested use of the Robbins Pool parking lot from 4:30 p.m. until

9:00 p.m. with the highest concentration likely from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  This date is after the pool

closes on September 1.  Staff believes this use can be accommodated by temporarily reserving the section

of the parking lot nearest the pool and allowing access to the pool restroom facilities.

  1.     Pool Heater Replacement

Speaker: Jennifer Brown, Parks and Recreation Director

Staff has experienced difficulties the past two years, and again this year, keeping the pool heater operating.  The existing pool heater unit has been discontinued and the company that made the heater will not service it.  In order to prevent there being an extended period of time without being able to heat the water, staff recommends appropriating $16,000 of previously unrecognized fiscal year 2014 sales tax proceeds so that a new heater can be ordered and installed prior to the complete failure of the existing heater.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

  1.     Ordinance Amendment to the Land Use Code – Sign Ordinance – Decorative Lighting

Speaker: Kevin Rothrock, Planning Director

A draft ordinance has been recommended by the Planning Board to modify the regulations for holiday and decorative lighting to allow string lighting in landscaping, trees, bushes, and along fences year-round.

  1.     Ordinance Amendment to the Land Use Code – Sign Ordinance – Sandwich Boards

Speaker: Kevin Rothrock, Planning Director

A draft ordinance has been recommended by the Planning Board to allow sandwich boards in the downtown area with limitations on size, style, and placement.

  1.     Ordinance Amendment to the Land Use Code – Commercial Design – Metal Roofing

Speaker: Kevin Rothrock, Planning Director

A draft ordinance has been recommended by the Planning Board to allow limited metal roofing.

  1.     Public Hearing on the Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2015

Speaker: Scott Fogleman, Town Manager

The Recommended Fiscal Year 2015 budget was officially presented at the Council meeting on May 13, 2014.  It was posted online and a copy has been available for review at Town Hall.  Three separate work sessions with Council were held on May 20, 21, and 22 to discuss the details associated with the budget. Following Council discussion, a list of changes to the Recommended Budget has been developed.  The

list of changes, to be incorporated into the Recommended Budget, will be presented for Council

consideration and the public hearing.

DISCUSSION AGENDA

  1.     Budget for Fiscal Year 2015

Speaker: Scott Fogleman, Town Manager

The Recommended Fiscal Year 2015 budget was officially presented at the Council meeting on May 13, 2014.  It was posted online and a copy has been available for review at Town Hall.  Three separate work sessions with Council were held on May 20, 21, and 22 to discuss the details associated with the budget. Following Council discussion, a list of changes to the Recommended Budget has been developed.  The

list of changes, to be incorporated into the Recommended Budget, is presented for Council consideration

and the public hearing.

  1.     Designated Parking For Model T Club Friday July 18th from 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Speaker: Kevin Rothrock, Planning Director

A Model T automotive club would like to visit the Town of Blowing Rock during mid-day on Friday July 18th following a full week of activities in Boone. Because they expect to have approximately 200 cars in Town arriving at roughly the same time, they have requested that parking be designated for their club. Staff recommends reserving the top portion of the American Legion Parking Deck and selected spaces along Park Avenue for this purpose from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

  1.     Blowing Rock Historical Society Donation of $25,000 for the American Legion Renovation Project

Speaker: Scott Fogleman, Town Manager

The Blowing Rock Historical Society has voted to donate $25,000 to the Town of Blowing Rock to help with the American Legion Building renovation project.  To assist with the fund raising effort, the Historical Society is also recommending offering naming opportunities for the facility that would be correlated with the size of the respective donation.

SPEAKERS FROM THE FLOOR

Prior to the meeting, anyone wishing to speak shall complete an index card supplied by the Town Clerk, on which they will provide their name, address, telephone number and the topic they wish to address. In deference to all who wish to speak, each speaker will be asked to limit his or her comments to no more than three (3) minutes.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Executive session will be called if necessary.

ADJOURNMENT