Taylorsville receives $5 million grant

Public meeting on food truck parking, Sign Ordinance set April 15

By MICAH HENRY

The Town Council agreed to accept a grant of $5 million in State Revolving Grant Funds for the construction of sewer projects to create a more resilient sewer collection system within the Town of Taylorsville. This would address vulnerabilities exposed by Hurricane Helene. This will include pump station elimination and reconfiguration of the Armory Pump Station and Gravel Hill Pump Station to a new pump station and new force main along NC 16. It would also floodproof and improve the Fairway Oaks Pump Station and replace its generator, remove the Northwood Park Pump Station, and update the Unifour County Hazard Mitigation Plan.

In other Town news:

Some residents of the Town of Taylorsville voiced concerns over brush and trash pickup, police, and other matters during the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, April 7.

First to speak in the Public Comment portion was Jason Lackey of Northwood Circle. He expressed frustration with the $20 environmental fee Town residents are being charged, noting that items are being denied trash pickup, such as two leaky toilets he had replaced to address a high Town Water bill. He also felt there was a clear lack of police presence in the Northwood Park neighborhood. Lackey pointed to an example where shots were fired and officers responded. He said a firearm was found but said no arrest or charges were made.

The second and final speaker was Nancy Gunter of Apple Avenue. She also expressed displeasure with debris pickup when she trimmed yellow bell bushes from her yard. Gunter said she had to ask higher officials with the Town to get tree debris removed which occurred 4.5 weeks later after it was laid at the curb.

At the start of the Public Comment period, Mayor George Holleman said comments would be taken under advisement. No response was made to Lackey or Gunter during the meeting.

The Council set a public hearing on May 5 at 5:30 p.m. to amend the town’s Solid Waste Ordinance, specifically the brush and limb pickup rules and requirements.

• Town Manager Nathan Hester noted a public input meeting on Town sign ordinances, downtown parking, land usage, and food truck parking will be held Wednesday, April 15, at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Downtown business owners and other interested persons are invited to attend.

• The Council voted to continue a formal public hearing on the Town Sign Ordinance, orignally set for April 7, to the May 5 Council meeting.

• Council members approved a plan to incentivize industrial development for job retention and recruitment. This would be in four proposed levels of capital investment: Level 1 (existing business), $500,000 to $1,999,999; Level 1 (new business) $2,000,000 to $4,999,999; Level 2, $5,000,000 to $14,999,999; Level 3, $15,000,000 to $29,999,999; and Level 4, $30,000,000 and up. Incentives will be in the form of property tax reimbursements. Hester said this would be in conjunction with Alexander County’s industrial incentive program.

• The Council approved a public hearing (no date announced) for a voluntary, non-contiguous annexation request for a vacant one acre parcel on the corner of NC 90 and Polk Street.

• Council members directed Town Clerk Nicole Mayes to investigate the sufficiency of an annexation request for 56.9 acre tract for Habitat for Humanity on Leroy Road, bordering US 64 near Paul Payne Store Road.

• The Town Council approved securing the services of GWI Tax & Accounting, of Raleigh, for financial consulting and accounting services and for annual audit preparation.

• Council members approved a Revenue Recognition policy. This outlines how the Town recognizes finance expenditures and revenues received less than 60 days after the fiscal year’s end (except for ad valorem property taxes). Auditors and the Local Government Commission require such a policy, said Hester.

• The Council approved hiring law firm Sanford Holshouser PLLC of Carrboro, NC, to help the Town and the Taylorsville Development Alliance create a Downtown Business Incentive Program. Emily Jessup of the law firm was present and expressed enthusiasm in working with the Town on the incentives.

• The Council approved four Master Service Agreements with the following firms for on-call engineering services: McGill Associates, West Consultants, Withers Ravenel, and J.M. Teague. Public Works Director Aaron Wike noted ten firms had submitted proposals but the Town has previous good experience with these four.

• Council members also approved a resolution to participate in a Regional Water Source Feasibility Study, dependent upon a grant application, to inventory water sources.

• Also approved was a Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and EnergyUnited Water Corporation to apply for the grant to make the water study above.

• A resolution to apply for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Asset Inventory and Assessment state loan and/or grant was approved.

• A Building Reuse Grant was approved for VitalNow Urgent Care, which will move into the space formerly occupied by Urgent Care of Mountain View at 60 2nd Avenue SW. The town is expected to close on the sale soon and receive $375,000 for the property.

• Change Order #2 was approved for sidewalk construction to fix the stormwater issue from 1st Ave. from NC 16 to 2nd Street, near the dentist office and Watts property, raising the sidewalk and putting curb and gutter up and adding parking spots to the property. This would extend the contract with Country Boy Landscaping to June 3 for substantial completion and ready for final payment by June 18.

• A Budget Amendment for two Town Hall heat pumps, water heater, and plumbing was approved for $25,136.21.

• During staff reports, Police Chief Mike Millsaps noted his department had 965 calls for service in March, which is high, with 49 incident reports and 104 vehicle stops. He noted the department listens to all complaints and tries to serve the area the best it can. Millsaps said one officer recently completed Hazmat training and is now a certified instructor. Two others received field officer training, one was trained in intoxification certification, and one received radar certification for clocking the speed of motorists.

• Public Works Director Aaron Wike noted that paving in the street project is nearly done, except for a few touch-ups that remain. He noted multiple water and sewer taps were completed recently.

• Councilwoman Kim Brown noted that the Rotary Club and Countryside Greenhouse planting scheduled for the downtown flower pots has been moved to April 29.

• Council members and Hester praised the police and Town staff for their hard work.

• The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall.