Staff report
In an effort to set the course for the fiscal year ahead, the Town of Elizabethtown, North Carolina, has announced its annual budget retreat, scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2024. The event, poised to take place amidst the serene backdrop of the Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery, aims to foster a collaborative environment where town officials can discuss, deliberate, and determine the financial and operational roadmap for the upcoming year.
The day-long retreat is set to kick off at 8:30 AM with a welcoming coffee, breakfast, and reception, providing an informal setting for attendees to mingle before delving into the day’s agenda. The official proceedings will begin at 9:00 AM with opening remarks, an invocation, and the approval of the agenda led by Mayor Sylvia Campbell and Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd.
At the heart of the retreat is a series of presentations and briefings, starting with the first tab on the agenda: Updates and an overview of town projects. This session will see discussions on pivotal topics such as the proposed Truck Ordinance, spearheaded by Town Manager Dane Rideout and Town Planner Rusty Worley, indicating a proactive approach to managing local infrastructure and logistics challenges.
Following this, a detailed budget presentation and discussion will take place, led by Dane Rideout and Finance Director Sharon Penny. This segment is critical as it lays out the financial blueprint for the town’s priorities, including essential services and project investments for the year ahead.
Mid-morning, attendees will be briefed on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade by David Brandes from CTL Engineering, highlighting the town’s commitment to environmental stewardship and infrastructure resilience. This briefing underscores the strategic importance of sustainable utility management in Elizabethtown’s growth and development plans.
A working lunch at noon will shift the focus to Stormwater Fee Information with a decision brief by Shannon Moore from WithersRavenel. This session promises to address the critical aspects of stormwater management, reflecting the town’s proactive measures against environmental challenges and its dedication to maintaining a high quality of life for its residents.
The afternoon agenda is dedicated to departmental updates, showcasing the broad spectrum of town operations from public safety with updates from the Fire and Police Departments to urban planning and development, evidenced by briefs from the Director of Marketing and Communications, the Department of Public Works/Engineering, and an intriguing ‘Live Work Play’ brief by Robbie Ferris from SFL&A.
The retreat is not just a financial exercise but a demonstration of Elizabethtown’s commitment to transparency, community engagement, and strategic planning. By convening this annual budget retreat, the town’s leadership underscores its dedication to not only maintaining but enhancing the vibrancy, safety, and sustainability of Elizabethtown for all its residents. As the retreat adjourns at 2:00 PM, it is expected that the discussions and decisions made will pave the way for a year of meaningful progress and prosperity for the town.
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