Town Council Meeting
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
The Little Mountain Town Council met in regular session on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at the Derrick Community Center. Present for the meeting were Mayor Jana Jayroe, Council Members David Bowers, Steve White, Marty Frick, and Laura McLeod. Also present at the meeting was Karen Quinn and Charles Shealy. The call to order was given at 6:30 pm, Mayor Jayroe welcomed everyone to the meeting and Council Member Bowers gave the invocation.
Mayor Jayroe and Council welcomed Karen Quinn to the meeting and recognized her to address the Council. Quinn stated that she and her husband had recently purchased property near their current business. Quinn wanted to share her vision for the future of the property to include a small village style retail area. Council thanked Quinn for her support of the town and for continuing to promote the small-town ambience of the town.
Council reviewed the meeting minutes of the March 8 and March 22, 2022, meetings. A typographical error was corrected. A motion was made by White and seconded by McLeod to accept the minutes with the correction. The motion carried 5-0.
Council reviewed the financial report for March 2022. After a brief discussion, a motion to accept the report as information was made by Frick and seconded by White. The motion carried 5-0.
In old business:
- The original pedestrian sign placed at the school is missing. Council discussed options for making the signs more permanent. The new signs are in but have not been placed. Bowers, White and Frick will work on a mounting for the signs and place one of the new ones at the corner of Main and Pomaria Streets.
- Several projects on the maintenance list have been completed including locks on breaker boxes, bookshelves at the library have been put together, the town center gazebo has been pressure washed, the gazebo in Brady Park has been repaired and the large shelter and tables at the large Reunion Park shelter have been pressure washed. The town clerk will follow up with Moore on completing the electrical upgrade at the beer wagon pole and food vendor area in the park, painting the stage, completing the gazebo at Brady Park following the termite treatment, hanging string lights at the gazebo, taking down the clock at the town center gazebo, sealing the Reunion Park picnic tables and repairing the columns at the library.
- The banners and brackets have been ordered.
- There has been no response to the request for work on the sewer connection. Mayor Jayroe will follow up with Brent Richardson at the NCWSA.
- The Easter Egg Hunt was a great success. Council thanked Laura and Nanette for their work on the project. Shealy commented that he got positive feedback on the event and a request for more candy in the eggs. He also stated that his daughter would like to help with the event next year. McLeod said that additional activities and more eggs will be a part of the hunt in the future.
In new business:
Prior to the beginning of new business, Council Member Bowers removed himself from the meeting.
- Charles Shealy presented the results of the lawn maintenance committee interviews. Shealy reviewed the responses on each of the interviews and presented the committees suggestion to award the lawn maintenance contract to Bowers Lawn Services, LLC. This decision was based on knowledge of the vendors work and the quote for services. Shealy thanked all the vendors that provided bids and those that took time to participate in the interview process. Council Member White also thanked the committee. Following the discussion, a motion was made by Frick and seconded by McLeod to award the contract to Bowers Lawn Service, LLC. The motion carried 4-0. It was noted that Tyler Bowers will act as the primary contact. The Town Clerk will notify vendors of the decision.
- The Town Clerk updated Council on the status of the potential change to the election ordinance. Currently the Newberry County Director and Deputy Director of Voter Registration and Elections positions are vacant. After discussion, Council agreed to table any changes in the election process at this time.
- The Town Clerk updated Council on the status of the Reunion Park Ballfield. The Newberry County Recreation Department will not be using the field this year. The field is being used by local travel ball teams for practice. The Town Clerk will continue to schedule the field.
- Sales for the Reunion BBQ Fundraiser have been slow. The Town Clerk will contact the cooker to see what options are available.
- Council reviewed a Request for Reimbursement from Council Member McLeod for expenses from the Easter Egg Hunt. The total of the reimbursement was $164.16. After a review of the documentation, a motion to approve the reimbursement was made by Frick and seconded by White. The motion carried 4-0.
- The 2019-2020 audit has been completed but no invoice received. The Town Clerk will reach out to the auditor for an invoice. After some discussion, the Town Clerk will contact Tim Cornelison about completing the 2020-21 audit.
- Council discussed having a Movie in the Park event. The Town Clerk will contact the vendor to see if a movie can be scheduled for June 4, 2022.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by:
Cindy Farr
Town Clerk
