Meeting Minutes – May 21, 2024
The Little Mountain Town Council met in special session on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Derrick Center. Present for the meeting were Mayor Jana Jayroe, Council Members, Marty Frick, and Patrick Bowers. Mayor Jayroe called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm and the invocation was given by Council Member Bowers.
Town Clerk, Cindy Farr, administered the Oath of Office to Council Member Mary Buntin. Members of Council congratulated and welcomed Buntin.
Mayor Jayroe and Council Members recognized former Council Member Steve White for his service to the town. White served on Council for six (6) years.
The council reviewed the meeting minutes of April 9, 2024. A motion was made by Frick and seconded by Bowers to accept the minutes as presented. The motion carried 4-0. The minutes of the special meeting held on April 24, 2024, were reviewed. Frick motioned to accept the minutes as presented and Bowers seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0.
The council reviewed the financial report ending April 2024. A motion to accept the report as information was received by Frick, Bowers second, the motion carried 4-0.
Mayor Jayroe introduced the draft of the Election Ordinance. She gave a brief overview of the ordinance for those in attendance and offered copies. A motion was made by Frick to hold the first reading of the ordinance. The motion was seconded by Bowers and the motion carried.
Frick motioned to open a public hearing for the first reading of the 2024-25 General Operating Budget. The motion was seconded by Bowers and the public hearing was opened at 6:43 pm. Again, Mayor Jayroe offered copies to those in attendance and briefly overviewed the budget ordinance, revenues, and expenditures. The public hearing was closed at 6:49 pm. A motion was made by Frick and seconded by Bowers to approve the first hearing of the 24-25 General Operating Budget.
Mayor Jayroe and Council welcomed representatives from Bowers Lawn Services to the meeting. The council unanimously approved the extension of the lawn maintenance contract from 24-25. The council discussed the upcoming renovations to Reunion Park. Mayor Jayroe stated that currently the renovations would cause no changes to the contract. Mayor Jayroe added that once work has started, the council may need to revisit the contract. Council asked that the garden at the Section House be cleaned up and that the town be strawed prior to the Reunion. Tyler Bowers commented that trimming and spraying would also be completed.
Mayor Jayroe initiated the discussion on the upcoming ordinance for the 24-25 operating budget. She briefly went through the budget process and explained how the millage rate is set. The council reviewed the twelve-month worksheet of actual expenses. After review, it was determined that a millage increase would be necessary to meet the financial needs of the town. A motion was made by White to increase the millage by the approved state rate when released. Frick seconded the motion and the motion carried 4-0. Mayor Jayroe commented that she expects this to be 4.12%.
Council reviewed the Election Ordinance and discussed the transfer of power to the Newberry County Voter Registration and Election Office. As a part of the ordinance, the town will also begin complying with the municipal election day held on the first Tuesday in November of odd years. By doing so, the current terms of Mayor, Seat 1 and Seat 2 will be extended to November 2025. It was noted that due to the upcoming resignation of Council Member White, Seat 4 will be vacant. The election for Seat 4 will be held in November 2024. To complete the transfer to the odd year elections, Seat 4 (after filling) and Seat 3 terms will be extended to 2027. Council Member Frick motioned to approve transfer of authority to the county through the ordinance to include the election process transfer from the general election date to the municipal election date. The motion was seconded by White and carried 4-0. The first reading of the election ordinance will be held in May.
Bids were received for the removal of the limb and debris at Rocky Branch. Council Members Bowers and Frick were able to use their equipment to complete the job. The town clerk will notify the vendors. Mayor Jayroe would like for a safety check of tree limbs to be completed in June or July at Reunion Park as a safety precaution for the Reunion.
Council Member Frick presented a bid for the painting of columns at the Derrick Center and painting stages at the Reunion Park stage. The bid included pressure washing prior to painting. The pressure washing included sidewalks around the center. Frick will contact the vendor to amend the bid without pressure washing the sidewalks.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Cindy Farr, Town Clerk