TOWN OF MAGGIE VALLEY

REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEETING

MAY 2, 2006

MINUTES

 

Members Present:         Mayor Jo Pinter            Aldermen:         Saralyn Price

                                                                                                Roger McElroy

                                                                                                Mark DeMeola

Members Absent:         Alderman Phil Aldridge

Staff Present:                Manager Tim Barth, Chief Scott Sutton, Captain Jason Moody,                                                Attorney Chuck Dickson, Planning Director Nathan Clark, Public                                              Works Director Mike Mehaffey, and Town Clerk Vickie Best

Others Present: Nine people including the press

 

Meeting Called to Order

Mayor Pinter called the meeting to order at 3:37 p.m. in the Town Hall Boardroom.

 

Consent Agenda: Approval or Correction of Minutes: April 18, 2006

ALDERMAN MCELROY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 18, 2006 AS PRESENTED.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Mayor Pinter announced there would be an agenda adjustment. There will not be a Closed Session or a Brainstorming Session.

 

Discussion Regarding to What the Next Step Should be in Regard to the Proposed Police Department Building

Sheriff Tom Alexander was present to describe the process Haywood County went through to build the new Sheriff’s Department/ Jail. 

 

Haywood County did a five-year study of all County Offices. Square footage was formulated by the space needed for each employee, storage of evidence, criminal processing, and the jail.  The first design called for 70,000 square feet. Modifications are then done, reducing some space while increasing other areas. The final footprint is now 57,000 square feet. The vision statement was to have 50% of the project workable, 20% esthetically pleasing, and 30% easily maintainable and functional.  The most important element is to have uncomplicated expansion built into the design. The greatest issue of the entire project was the time delay.  Cost of materials literally increases daily, especially steel prices. “Delay in building will put the project over budget.”

 

When questioned about a needs assessment, Sheriff Alexander responded that it is easy to do enough studies to “put you out of business”.  Sheriff Alexander acknowledged that the Maggie Valley Police Department falls short of State requirements concerning storage of evidence, privacy, detention, storage of ammunition and the securing of the DCI police program.   Sheriff Alexander assured Council that he would help Chief Sutton any way possible.

Council discussed the need to make a decision and move forward due to increasing cost of materials.

 

While serving as Chief, Alderman Price explained that she had a representative from the Criminal Justice Center come to the Police Department for a needs assessment and was informed, at that time, that the current location could not be brought into compliance. 

 

The Town is at least three months out from sending out bids.  The Town must than get Local Government approval from Raleigh.

 

The next logical step is to get accurate figures, which requires construction drawings.  

 

Presentation from NCDOT Representative Daniel Holt: Local Involvement in the Development of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan

The plan includes Haywood, Buncombe, and Henderson County.  NCDOT is now  beginning to link land use and transportation.  There will be more public hearings and information sessions throughout the summer.

 

See Attachments 1, 2, and 3.

 

Council was very interested in the long-range plan and the benefits that could help Maggie Valley.  Planning Director Nathan Clark has maps and information available for public inspection.  Alderman Price also serves on the committee.

 

Manager’s Report

! Alderman Price accepted the award from WCU given for Maggie Valley’s support of the students providing presentations on the construction of the Police Department.

Alderman Price will bring the award to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The students were very innovative with five “companies” proposing different ideas. Surprisingly, the proposed cost, from each group, was very close. 

 

! Council agreed to purchase chairs for the boardroom.

 

! The Town has begun mowing the recreation area at Jonathan Valley Elementary.  A formal agreement will be drawn up between the Town and the school stating that the recreation area is for public use.  Jonathan Valley Elementary is trying to raise money to upgrade the playground. 

 

Council felt this was a great opportunity for the Town’s people to have access to more recreation. 

 

ALDERMAN MCELROY MADE A MOTION TO DONATION $300 FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

! The Haywood County and Buncombe Chambers of Commerce is going to Raleigh to meet with the Secretary of the Department of Commerce.  While in Raleigh, the Chamber Representatives would like to host a dinner for the elected official. They are requesting a donation of $500 from Maggie Valley to support their efforts.

 

No action was taken.

 

! Town Hall Day will be held in Raleigh June 7, 2006.  Council members Price, DeMeola, and McElroy confirmed their attendance. Manager Barth and the Town Clerk will also be attending.

 

! The regularly scheduled June 6 Aldermen Meeting was rescheduled to June 13 at 3:30 p.m.

 

 

Meeting Adjourned

ALDERMAN MCELROY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 6:10 P.M.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

 

 

 

____________________________________

                Mayor Jo Pinter

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________

 Vickie Best, CMC, Town Clerk