Town of Little Mountain
Meeting Minutes – November 17, 2020
The Little Mountain Town Council met in regular session on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at the Derrick Community Center. The meeting had been moved to the 3rd Tuesday due to a scheduling conflict. Present for the meeting were Mayor Jana Jayroe, Council Members Marty Frick, Charles Shealy, and Steve White. Also present were newly elected Council Members Laura McCleod and David Bowers who will take office in January 2021.
Mayor Jayroe welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Shealy gave the invocation.
Council reviewed the meeting minutes of the October 2020. A motion was made by Frick to accept the meeting minutes as presented. White made a second to the motion and the motion carried 4—0.
Council reviewed the financial report of October 2020. White motioned to accept the report as information. The motion was seconded by Frick and carried 4—0.
In other business:
- Council discussed the status of the town facilities during the pandemic. The library and community center are running smoothly. Leah is doing a story time with a small group of children. The quilters are continuing to use the town hall. Council continued from previous meetings, the discussion about the feral cat colony in Reunion Park. The cats have been getting sick on the pavement. The food left for the cats is attracting skunks to the park. The restrooms and trash cans at the gazebo where the cats are fed are inundated with roaches. Mayor Jayroe will call Ms. Brown to check on the cats being relocated. Maintenance calls have been needed for the Section House rental for an issue with the bathroom and the heating system. Council Member Frick was able to fix the restroom issue and Wilson’s Heat and Air was called for the ac/heat unit. Wilson’s determined that the gas was not on to the unit. The renter was notified.
- The town received an email requesting information about the rocks in Little Mountain. An out of state professor from the College of William and Mary is interested in visiting and had numerous questions about the mountain and the area. Mayor Jayroe and Council Member Frick will reply to the email with information to assist. Council discussed placing a message center at Rocky Branch for information to be posted that would assist visitors.
- Council discussed the annual community Christmas drop in sponsored by the town. Weather permitting, Mayor Jayroe suggested having the drop in at the Reunion Park Shelter for social distancing purposes. Council agreed to host the event from 2-4 pm.
- Council Members Shealy, Frick and White will work together to begin decorating the town for Christmas on November 21. Banners will be placed, and the gazebo will be decorated. The lights on the mountain will also be turned on.
- Council Member Shealy reported that $152K has been designated for sidewalk repair in Little Mountain and Prosperity. The timetable for the repairs was not known but Shealy said he felt it would be soon.
- The advertising board was reviewed by council. After some discussion, Council Member White motioned for businesses within the town to pay a one time $60 fee for the placard. Out of town businesses would pay $60 for the placard and a $60 annual fee for their placard to be placed on the board. (first year fee $120) The town clerk will draft a letter to businesses.
- Council Member White has been working to get the permit approved for the speed monitors and working on solutions to the speed issues in town. The permit has been approved. Council had previously discussed the creation of a bike lane to help slow traffic. Per SCDOT there can be no bike lane however, parking in the historic district can be added. The town would be responsible for the stripping of the lines. The town can place Stop At Crosswalk Signs as needed.
- The speed monitors have been put together. The app for monitoring the monitors will need to be placed on the town phone. Only two chargers were received with the monitors. The town clerk will follow up on the chargers.
- The fire extinguishers have been inspected in the community center. There has been no news on the replacement of the mother board. The town clerk will follow up.
- Mayor Jayroe reported that the Sheriff’s Department is following up with owners and parents regarding the loud vehicles in town.
- Mayor Jayroe also reported that there is an abandoned vehicle near the Corner Store parking. The vehicle has been parked for about one month and has no tag. Council agreed that the vehicle needs to be towed.
Mayor Jayroe and Council congratulated Laura McCleod and David Bowers on their elected to Town Council. McCleod and Bowers will take office in January 2021. The town clerk will put together materials for the new council members.
In planning for 2021, Council discussed working on the new business license format, continuing updates codes and ordinances and seeing through the advertising board. Council agreed to look at the COVID-19 virus and determine the status town activities for 2021.
There is a streetlight out on Church Street. David Bowers will get the pole number and turn it into the town clerk.
Council reviewed a letter to Council Member Frick from US Representative Ralph Norman regarding filing income taxes during the pandemic.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Cindy Farr, Town Clerk