by Blake Proctor
With a rap of his knuckles, Mayor Darryl Dowless called the July 1st Commission meeting to order at 6 pm. He then provided the invocation prior to getting down to the evening’s business, starting with a pair of public hearings.
First up was a public hearing on the proposed revised Zoning Ordinance; there were no comments, and the public hearing was quickly closed.
The second hearing was to close out the $640,500 Community Development Block Grant awarded in 2017. Those funds replaced approximately 4,100 linear feet of water main, as well as the provision of service lines. The total cost of the project was $557,647, $82,853 under budget.
Again, there were no comments from the public, and that public hearing was duly closed.
Mayor Dowless then requested motions to individually accept the minutes of the June 3rd regular meeting, the June 10th budget public hearing, and the immediately following called the meeting to adopt the budget. Each of the three was unanimously approved.
Ms. Jan Hester Maynor from the Lumber River Council of Governments was in attendance to review the progress of the state-mandated zoning ordinance update with the Board. A lengthy discussion of various elements of the ordinance was undertaken; of particular interest was the need for zoning map changes.
The discussion turned to the need for a series of workshops to review the document in increments; Ms. Maynor said she would provide a suggested agenda. It was also decided to bring the Planning Board into the process. It was agreed the first workshop would be held on Thursday, July 29th, from 5:30 to 7 pm.
With no citizens in attendance to provide input and no old business to discuss, the meeting then turned to the meat of the meeting, New Business.
To remain within the State’s timeline parameters, Ms. Maynor presented Ordinance 2021-101 for consideration; this ordinance adopts certain amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, “on or before July 1st,” to keep the Town in good standing with State planners. The ordinance was adopted unanimously.
Referring to the CDBG Public Hearing held earlier, Town Clerk Ashley Matthews read the minutes of the June 29th closeout meeting the Town had with a representative from the NC Department of Environmental Quality. This was a requirement to complete the grant’s closeout.
Ms. Matthews then presented the first budget amendment of the fiscal year, a budget carryover of $5,107 that increased the Fire Department’s new budget. Equivalent expenses were provided to balance the budget. This item was unanimously approved.
The Mayor presented a request from a citizen for a sewer adjustment for filling their swimming pool. Ms. Matthews had computed that 6,423 gallons had filled the pool; the resulting credit would be $35.71. The Board quickly dispensed with this item.
Another citizen had approached the Mayor with drainage issues on his property. Though unable to attend, Public Works Director Jonathan Ward had advised that temporary repairs could be made with Powell Bill sums of money; it was hoped that a county drainage study could help provide funding for permanent repairs.
A quick discussion of the crape myrtle “problem” on town streets ensued, with Mayor Dowless exclaiming facetiously that “I hate them!” Although planted by the State on state rights of way, NCDOT has, not surprisingly, determined they were the Town’s problem. Further action was deferred.
Ms. Matthews informed the Commission that Dublin should soon be receiving $100,390 in American Relief (ARP) Funds from the Federal government. Comments were made referring to the need for broadband services in Dublin.
Town Attorney Whitley Ward, sitting quietly the entire meeting, announced that she had nothing that required the Board’s attention this evening.
In the recreation report, Commissioner Jeff Smith advised the Commission that he has noted that the playground equipment at the park is in fair-to-poor condition, and it may be time to consider upgrades or replacements.
Fire Chief Pete Batten informed the Board that the Department has retained five new members, three of whom are experienced, volunteer firefighters.
There being no further business t come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 7:12 pm.
About Author
