Minutes

Regular Meeting of the Town Council
April 15, 2008
7:00 pm
Minutes & General Account

Regular meeting of the Town Council, April 15, 2008, Council Chambers, Town Hall.

Council Members Present: Mayor Volz, Council Members Thomas, Nixon-Roney, Gray & Lain

Staff Present – Kathryn Billings, Matthew Johnson, Judy Gallman, Chuck Smith, Martha Wolfe, Beth Knooce, Town Attorney

Visitors Present: Tom Owings, Boy Scout Troop 17, Jeff Mason, Zach Owings, Luke Vandeplancke, Zach Geoff, Sathen Mason, Travis McKinney, Andrew Mason, Pam Hjelmquist, Jacob Hjelmquist, Laura Gulledge, Joyce Volz, B. J. Barnes, Rev. Dr. James Harris, Jr. and Alan Duncan

1. Call to Order – Mayor Volz called the meeting to order.

2. Invocation – Rev. Dr. James Harris of the Dothan Praise & Worship Ministries gave the invocation. Mayor Volz recognized Tom Owings leader of Boy Scouts Troop 17 and thanked him for bringing his Boy Scouts to the meeting.

3. Public Comment Period – No one registered to speak.

4. Approval of minutes from March 18, 2008 meeting – Council Member Gray made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Council Member Thomas made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

5. Guilford County Board of Education – Alan Duncan, Chair of the School Board thanked the Mayor and Council for the invitation to come speak. Duncan spoke regarding the school bonds. There are 2 bonds on the ballot. The first is a discretionary bond to rebuild Eastern High School which burnt last year. The second is a primary bond in the amount of $412 million dollars. These funds are needed to keep up with the rising student population of 1300 students a year. District 5 which includes Jamestown and the southern part of the County to Eastern High School has experienced significant growth. Duncan recapped the situation that occurred in Jamestown from the previous bonds. Jamestown Middle School and Ragsdale High School were both on the 2003 bond. A new school was slated for Jamestown Middle School and extensive renovations to Ragsdale High School. However, in 2003 there was a spike in construction costs in North Carolina in the amount of up to 53%. The Board had to select projects to delay until the next bond. Jamestown Middle School was one of those projects. However, the Board did find and acquire the land for the new Middle School. Also, a design firm was hired to do the plans for the building. As soon as the bond is approved, the Board only needs to get local permits and approval and the project can begin rather quickly.

Per Duncan, the construction climate is more favorable at this time. Concrete and steel prices are up, but bidders are hungry for work. Duncan said that Ragsdale High School is fully included in the 2008 bond. As soon as Jamestown Middle School is complete, work will begin on Ragsdale High School. Plans are to work on the design for Ragsdale High School and be ready to renovate as soon as the Middle School is complete.

Duncan went on further to state that Jamestown Elementary is in need of some maintenance upgrades as well as Southwest High. Southwest High School serves citizens of Jamestown. A new airport high school is being planned to take the pressure off of Northeast and Southwest and Western High Schools. The School Board does not like to see High Schools with over 1600 students.

Council Member Thomas asked – What is the backup plan if the bond does not pass? Duncan replied that there is not one. They are not a funding board. The School Board does not have the money to do the projects. The whole County needs the bond to pass.

Mayor Volz asked if there were some funds available to do maintenance issues at Jamestown Elementary School and Ragsdale High School. Both facilities are in need of a general sprucing up to improve curb appeal. Citizens have complained about the appearance of these schools. Their curb appeal has hurt the real estate values in Jamestown. The run down appearance also effects student pride.

Duncan said the Board does get capital funding each year to take care of major maintenance issues. The County Commissioners cut the amount of the funding 2 years ago from 10 million to 7 million. They did not increase this amount this year. So, these funds go to the facilities that are 80 to 100 years. They are used for the worst of the worst. Duncan agreed that curb appeal is important and that people do perceive that appearance as an indicator of what is happening inside the school. Duncan said that the project for Ragsdale High School is extensive. 25 million dollars is budgeted for the facility. It will be a campus that Jamestown can be proud of in their town.

Mayor Volz explained that Jamestown is sliced up as to where the kids go to school. He asked if the Board would ever reconsider keeping Jamestown kids in the same school. It would improve community spirit to keep Jamestown neighborhoods together. Duncan did say that community based schools are a consideration in the redistricting philosophy. However, schools are not set up by town limits.

People are asking for neighborhood school. They would like to go to schools closest to where they live. The problem is that some areas are less populated than others which make it hard to utilize it. Mayor Volz commented that Jamestown is only 3 square miles. It seems that Jamestown kids could be the nucleus. Then the neighboring communities designated to complete the population of the district. Duncan said when the new school is built; the Board will look at the population movements and demographics.

Council Member Nixon-Roney said that that Jamestown is no different from any other community. We are very proud of our community. She graduated from Ragsdale High School; a gubernatorial candidate is a Ragsdale graduate. At present, the school is not a great source of pride as it once was. The Town Council would like to help the School Board. The Town would like to partner with Guilford County to help make the Jamestown schools better. Duncan said that only good will come out of this type partnership.

Council Member Gray asked if the bond passes, what is the time line for the Middle School. Duncan said 18 – 24 months. They will work on the Ragsdale High School design while the construction work is progressing on the Middle School. He said kids should be moving in within 2 years.

Council Member Lain has a concern over the bond. If the major bond passes and the Eastern High School bond doesn’t, what happens to Eastern? Duncan said that a document has been agreed to between the School Board and the County Commissioners that the Board will forward monies from other bonds that will be repaid by the County. The County has made the commitment that it will fund Eastern. A process that utilizes Certificate of Participation would be used. These rates are ½ point higher than the bond process. It is not an ideal financing situation. However, Duncan has faith that the Eastern Bond will pass.

6. Resolution in Support of the 2008 School Bonds – Mayor Volz said in an effort to truly build a relationship with the School Board, the Town has drafted a School Bond Resolution. Mayor Volz read the Resolution. Council Member Nixon-Roney made a motion to approve the Resolution of Support for the School Bond. Council Member Thomas made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
(Insert Resolution)

7. Guilford County Sheriff’s Department –B. J. Barnes announced that the Guilford County jails are in bad shape. We need a new jail. Barnes said that in 1989 there was a study done that said we need a new jail. In 1994 a study done stated, we need a new jail. In 1998 a study done, we need a new jail. In 2005 the County Commissioners spent $287,000 with a world renowned group that studies jails; they said we need a new jail. Barnes said he checked just before he came tonight there were 856 in the jail. They have room for 671, so 200 had to sleep on the floor. Barnes gave an example that recently they had a person arrested for robbery with a deadly weapon. He was released. Two months later he was arrested for selling 10 pounds of marijuana. He was released. He is now in jail for murder.

Barnes explained now we are experiencing a process called “suppression”. Since we do not have enough jail space we are only putting the worst offenders in jail. We are releasing the others. There are some people that are let out of jail that really need to be in jail. Right now, the following are out due to pre-trial release by the courts:
7 for murder
19 robberies with dangerous weapon
5 - 1st degree rapes
Sexual predators
Drug dealers
36 on break-ins

Barnes said that the State mandates no overcrowded jails. Guilford County is the only County that hasn’t been taken over by the State. The following counties have been taken over by the State; Mecklenburg, Forsyth, New Hanover, Wake and Durham. Barnes said last month the State came in and said that we have to hire 28 jailers. He said it is the Sheriff’s Office responsibility to run the jail. If we don’t have a jail, the prisoners must be place in a jail elsewhere at the counties expense. There is a legal and moral responsibility to provide a jail that is clean, meets the medical and space requirements. If the State comes in and takes over, they will require us to build a new jail. Barnes said he talked to Mecklenburg County. They were taken over by the State. The State did require them to build a new jail. The cost was 1 ½ times more than if the County built it themselves. The County would have to increase taxes to pay for it. The State has warned Guilford County on numerous occasions in the last few years that they would take action if the County did not do something to address the overcrowded situation in our jails. At a County Commission meeting, the state inspector told the Commissioners they could and would shut down the jail if the county did not address our problems.

The jail bond will be on the May ballot. It is in the amount of $115,000,000.00. This is broken down as $112,000,000.00 for a new facility and $3,000,000.00 for renovation of the old facility. The new jail would be built directly behind the old jail. Barnes invited anyone that was interested; they would gladly give them a tour of the jail.

Mayor Volz thanked Sheriff Barnes for his persistence. Mayor Volz further said he would like for the Council to pass a Resolution in Support of the Jail bond. Council Member Thomas made a motion to approve a Resolution in Support of the Jail bond. Council Member Nixon-Roney made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Volz asked the Town Clerk to draw up a Resolution of Support.
(Resolution)

8. Resolution in Celebration of the City of Greensboro’s 200th Birthday – Mayor Volz presented the Resolution. Council Member Lain made a correction. Council Member Gray made a motion to approve the Resolution with the correction. Council Member Nixon-Roney made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

9. Consideration of the Randleman Dam Pump Station Interlocal Agreement – Kathryn Billings stated we have been working with the City of High Point and Greensboro on working with ownership, construction and operation of the pump station providing water to Greensboro, High Point & Jamestown. Per Billings, the Council already approved an agreement for water distribution from High Point & Greensboro. The agreement presented allows for the pump station in the percentage amount paid for water. This agreement would ensure if one of the cities did not build their lines, they would honor the rate for the treatment plant for Jamestown. This agreement is a good situation for Jamestown. There is some concern about ownership of the pump station. Billings presented 2 agreements. She asked the Council to approve both contracts. The Town Attorney has reviewed both contracts. Per the Town Attorney, none of the changes really have anything to do with Jamestown. Jamestown gets water at the Randleman Dam costs. Council Member Thomas made a motion to approve both contracts and grant the Mayor the authority to sign each. Council Member Gray made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

10. Consideration of petition to Guilford County requesting expansion of the Town of Jamestown’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction – Matthew Johnson stated that the Town recently completed the 2020 Land Development Comprehensive Plan. He said the Town will be experiencing growth on the fringe of the Town over the next couple of years. This will be in the area of the new school and the By-pass. The Town planned for that growth in our comprehensive plan. But we lack the jurisdiction to do anything about area outside the corporate limits. The State allows us to expand our ETJ area. We control the subdivision, development permit, zoning and sign regulation, etc.

We would like to request from the County Commissioners to extend our ETJ. We can go up to 1 mile outside our town limits. Matt Johnson displayed a map. The area to the North is Wellington Subdivision, the Foxhollow Subdivision and the southern portion where the new school and the Bypass are scheduled to be built. He stated the Town would like the opportunity to have jurisdiction over those areas. The Planning & Zoning approved this resolution last night. If the Council approves, we will then go to the Guilford County Commissioners. Then we send mailings to owners for ETJ extension. We must also set up the initial zoning. Mayor Volz read the resolution. Council Member Gray made a motion to adopt the Resolution to Extend ETJ. Council Member Lain made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

(insert resolution)

Johnson stated this is not an annexation, no taxes will be paid. We will have to add 3 ETJ members to the Planning & Zoning Board and the Board of Adjustment.

11. Public Services Report – Chuck Smith gave an update on some public services items. He stated he had 4 topics to discuss.

i. Water conservation measures – In October 2007, the Council passed a Resolution to conserve water. Smith said with the recent rains, that the City of High Point has changed their guidelines. Smith said in May we may ask the Town Council to rescind the Resolution to Promote Water Conservation.

ii. Loose leaf pickup – Smith said the Town used a routing system to collect leaves. One route consists of a complete run around the Town. We used 2 trucks which started on October 22, 2007 and ran through March 14, 2008. We collected 396 tons of leaves. No tipping fees were paid as the leaves were used as mulch by the Town and citizens, etc. The Town completed 10 routes for the season.

iii. Sign posts – The Town has completed new specifications for standard of the new sign posts. We plan to erect posts on the Main Street corridor first. Smith had a sign post to show the Council. Banners can be placed on these posts to mark the Town of Jamestown and to advertise Town celebrations.

iv. New Seal – Smith said they are replacing the seal on the wooden entrance posts and on Town vehicles. He is still investigating the granite signs. Mayor Volz asked about the historic signs. Smith said he would check into that as well.

Council Member Thomas asked what the current status of the water restrictions is. Smith said that the irrigation meter usage is charged at double rates. Watering is allowed by address, being odd number on Tuesdays and even number on Friday. Water with a hand held hose can be done on any day. Pressure washing is restricted at this time. However, in May we may reconsider this restriction. Council Member Lain reported that people are doing their watering at 5:00 – 6:00 am.

12. Budget Amendment – Judy Gallman presented 2 budget amendments. Amendment #9 has several items. First, the amount of $4,500.00 to add to the current year budget for the Main Street study. Second, to move funds from the contingency line for street sign posts and banners in the amount of $20,000.00. Third, move budgeted funds in the amount of $56,000.00. from water improvements to equipment in order to purchase lateral camera with box trailer. The camera will be used to look into sewer lines and storm drains. Fourth, to move budgeted funds from water improvements to equipment in order to purchase a flat bed truck. The amount of $42,000.00.

Amendment #10 is requested to add to the current year budget the first phase of the contract with Greenplan Inc. for the development ordinance re-write in the amount of $37,000.00. This project will be budgeted over 3 budget years. This budget amendment will cover the work taking place in this budget year.

Council Member Thomas made a motion to approve budget amendments 9 & 10. Council Member Gray made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

13. Financial Statement – Judy Gallman said she has prepared a different report this month. The first page is a financial summary report. The report showed the total revenues & expenditures by funds. The second report was a financial summary report of cash balances as of March 31, 2008. The third report was a financial summary report of debt balances as of March 31, 2008. Gallman also presented the financial statement for the month ending March 31, 2008. The Mayor and the Council said they liked the new reports.

14. Award bid on 6” water line Ragsdale Road project – Chuck Smith said bids were taken on April 10, 2008 to replace the 6” water line on Ragsdale Road. Two bids were received as follows:

Russ, Inc. $45,010.00
Breece Enterprises, Inc. $56,850.00

Staff recommends approval of the bid from Russ, Inc. in the amount of $45,010.00. Council Member Lain asked about the existing line from Mendenhall to Woodland Drive. Smith said this water line replacement will include that 2” water line on Mendenhall to Woodland Drive. Council Member Nixon-Roney made a motion to accept the bid from Russ Inc. in the amount of $45,010.00. Council Member Gray made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

15. Other Business – Mayor Volz asked the High School Representative, Michael Curtis to give an update on his project. Curtis said the Youth Health Advocacy Day will be Wednesday at 5:30 pm here at the Town Hall. The 4 topics for discussion are Sex, Violence, Nurses in schools and Alcohol and tobacco abuse. The session is a drop in forum from 5:30 – 7:45 pm.

Matthew Johnson said the Town has received a rezoning request for the property located at 101 Potter Drive. The current zoning is R12 and the request is to rezone the property to B2. The Planning & Zoning Board met last night. Johnson request the Council set a public hearing date for May 20th, 2008. Council Member Gray made a motion to set a public hearing date for May 20th to consider the rezoning request on 101 Potter Drive. Council Member Lain made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Mayor Volz asked if there was any more business. Martha Wolfe gave a reminder to the Council that Litter Sweep will be held on Saturday, April 19th, 2008 at 9:00 am. Also, Jamestown Day is scheduled for May 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 am.

16. Public comment period – No one registered to speak.

There being no further business, Council Member Thomas made a motion to adjourn. Council Member Gray made a second to the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.