Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Derrick Community Center – 16 Depot Street
6:30 p.m.
1. Call to Order & Welcome
The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:30 p.m. at The Derrick Community Center. The Mayor welcomed those in attendance. Present for the meeting were Mayor Jana Jayroe, Council Members Marty Frick, Hannah Huffstetler, Lane Attaway and Jillian Long
2. Invocation
Invocation was delivered by Council Member Hannah Huffstetler.
3. Public Comments on Agenda Items
No public comments were offered on agenda items at this time.
4. Introduction of Heather Adams, Town Clerk
The Council formally introduced Heather Adams as the newly appointed Town Clerk. Council Members expressed their appreciation and welcomed her to the Town of Little Mountain.
5. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Jillian Long to approve the minutes with one spelling correction noted
- Motion: Made (Long) and seconded (Attaway)
- Vote: Unanimous approval
The minutes were approved as amended.
6. Financial Report – Ending March 2026
The Council reviewed the financial reports for the period ending March 2026. Discussion included:
- Confirmation that questioned checks had cleared
- Clarification of capital project reimbursements related to playground equipment
- Concerns regarding utility meter labeling at the park and BBQ shed
- Ongoing elevated electrical usage possibly tied to meter mislabeling and equipment use
A motion was made to accept the financial report as information.
- Motion: Made (Frick) and seconded (Long)
- Vote: Unanimous approval
7. Old Business and Updates
a. Reunion Park
Council discussed the status of Reunion Park. The fence remains in place while grass establishes. County representatives indicated completion by the end of April; however, Council noted several outstanding punch‑list items and agreed a final walkthrough with county staff is necessary prior to opening.
b. Rocky Branch
Updates included:
- Receipt of funding through Thrivent to purchase lumber and materials for bridge repairs
- Partial grant approval received through Duke Energy – applied for through the SC Wildlife Federation. These funds previously collected may now be used for signage and trail enhancements
- A volunteer workday is scheduled for May 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., weather permitting
- Volunteers will assist with bridge, deck repairs and trail work
- Restroom water access coordination and lock usage were discussed
c. Review Estimates for Section House A/C and Heat
Council revisited HVAC replacement options due to the failure of air conditioning and low refrigerant levels.
- Discussion included concerns about ducted systems, pest damage, and maintenance
- Council favored ductless units as a practical and cost‑effective solution
Motion: To proceed with installation of ductless HVAC units
- Motion: Made (Long) and seconded (Huffstetler)
- Vote: Unanimous approval
d. Budget Planning
Council reviewed prior‑year budget performance and millage rate limitations for FY 2024–2025.
- CPI increase noted at 2.63% with allowable millage increase up to 3.24%
- Actual revenues exceeded projections in the previous year
- Discussion covered future maintenance costs, staffing, utilities, cleaning, and supplies
Consensus was reached to hold the first reading of the budget ordinance at the next meeting (May)
e. Town Facilities Rental – Fee Schedule and Guidelines
Council reviewed rental fees and guidelines and determined current rates are consistent with comparable facilities.
- Alcohol policy discussion emphasized renter responsibility and liability
- Noise ordinance and event end times were clarified
- Council discussed adding language addressing inflatables/bounce houses, requiring renter or vendor liability insurance
Council agreed to update the policy language and forward the revised document to the Town Attorney for review.
f. CSX Contact Regarding Cross Ties
Town Clerk confirmed that CSX has been contacted regarding unused cross ties. CSX indicated removal is unlikely in the near future.
8. New Business
a. Strategic Plan and Goal‑Setting Priorities
Council discussed implementing committees tied to strategic planning goals. Proposed committees included:
- Events – Excluding Little Mountain Reunion (Jillian Long)
- Public/Resident Relations (Lane Attaway)
- Property & Maintenance (Marty Frick)
- History & Traditions
Each Council Member will chair a committee, with assignments and scope to be finalized at a future meeting. Committee assignments will be revisited every two years. Each committee is encouraged to recruit members to their respective committees
b. Business District Mural
Council discussed a proposal from Called Creative Studio to install a mural on the side of its building.
- The mural would reflect the history and identity of Little Mountain
- Potential involvement of local artists and elementary art students was discussed
- Council expressed interest but requested cost estimates and grant options
Council agreed to invite the Called Creative Studio to a future meeting for further discussion.
c. June 9, 2026 – Primary Election Day
Because the Community Center will be used for voting, the June Council Meeting was rescheduled to: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
9. Additional Matters
Council agreed to host a retirement reception for Cindy Farr on Sunday, May 31, 2026, as a drop‑in event at Old Town Hall.
A member of the public (Tyler Johnson) addressed the Council, expressing appreciation for the transparency and openness of the meeting and shared concerns regarding county growth, fiscal responsibility, and infrastructure planning.
10. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted by:
Heather Adams
Heather Adams, TOLM, Town Clerk