By Joy Warren
The 2020-21 proposed FY Budget was presented tonight at the Town of White Lake’s Board of Commissioners virtual meeting. Mayor Womble opened the Public Hearing. New for the coming year is a Lake Water Management Fee of $2 per residential meter and a .50 cent per commercial unit per month. This fee will be charged for the purpose of providing ongoing monitoring/sampling of the lake water management plan. Taxes levied will continue at $0.28 per $100.00 assessed valuation. The Board was requested to adopt the FY 2020-21 Budget Ordinance. Since this public hearing was conducted virtually, the public will have until Thursday the 11th to register any comments and voting will take place during an adjourned Virtual Meeting on Thursday, June 11th at 6:00 p.m.
Reports were received from Diane Lauritsen, LIMNOSCIENCES as well as Steve Bunn, Lake Water Stewardship Officer. Twelve inches of rain in May raised the lake level to 65.10 feet above sea level. In comparison, lake levels a year ago on May 31, 2019 was 63.9 ft. In her report, Dr. Lauritsen stated “White Lake has become a more sensitive ecosystem, but it is still functioning, better than we realize. However, we need to understand that it is not an isolated basin, but is connected to and influenced by the air, the landscape, and the actions of humans. Because there are some things we cannot control, like extreme rainfall events and record-setting heat waves, we need to come together and double down on the things that we can influence including: low-impact development and protection of groundwater recharge zones; stormwater management to reduce nutrient inputs; eliminating the use of fertilizers and other chemicals; discouraging geese from establishing residence; and changing harmful boating practices.” You can learn more about the lake and what can be done by visiting the White Lake Watch website at www.whitelakewatch.com.
Other items to be voted on during the June 11th virtual meeting will be an Ordinance to change the order in which payments are applied to a customer’s account to include the Lake Management Fee. Staff is asking the Board to approve the Service Advantage Work Order Agreement in order to provide IT services for the Town. A contract with the NC Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Corrections for prison inmate labor; a professional services contract with Diane Lauritsen with LIMNOSCIENCES for lake water quality management; and a professional services contract with Linda Ehrlich Spirogyra Diversified Environmental Services for lake monitoring services will be considered as well.
In other administrative items, Council approved the contract to audit accounts for FY 2019-20; approved Utility Releases ($97.66); release of delinquent utility accounts ($9,004.97); rescind taxes for Beverley Reaves ($2.43); release of 2009 uncollected ad valorem taxes ($1,108.69); accepted Tax Collector’s settlement upon vacancy; authorized destruction of records; approved the position and class title for a Town Administrator; and adopted several budget resolutions and ordinances.
The municipal complex will be closed Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day. A public works employee will be on call to respond to any water/sewer emergencies.
Tonight’s meeting was adjourned to a virtual meeting on Thursday, June 11th at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of adopting the Fy 2020-21 Budget as well as other voting matters that were left open for a vote. Public comments for the budget will be accepted until 6:00 p.m. on June 11th.
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