03082000505
DUNN CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF DUNN, NORTH CAROLINA
MINUTES
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUNN HELD A BUDGET WORKSESSION ON
MARCH 8, 2000 AT 9:00 A.M. AT THE DUNN COMMUNITY BUILDING. PRESENT WAS
MAYOR ABRAHAM OUDEH, MAYOR PRO -TEM M EE WOMBLE AND COUNCILMEMBERS
CAROLYN MCDOUGAL, TOBY SUMNER, PAUL BASS, GEORGE ROBINSON AND MIKE
WOMBLE. ALSO PRESENT WAS CITY MANAGER CARL DEAN, CITY CLERK JOYCE
VALLEY, BUILDING INSPECTOR RICKY PARSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE'
DAUGHTRY, POLICE CHIEF PAT GODWIN, CAPTAIN MORRY DENNING, CAPTAIN r1
RONNIE RADCLIFFE, LIBRARIAN DEBORAH MELVIN, RECREATION DIRECTOR PERRY
HUDSON, FIRE CHIEF AUSTIN TEW, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TIM HOLLOMAN,
ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR JOE CAMPBELL, ENGINEER ED POWELL, CITY
ATTORNEY BILLY GODWIN, FACILITATOR JERRY HARTGROVE AND DAILY RECORD
REPORTER LISA FARMER.
INVOCATION
MAYOR OUDEH OPENED THE MEETING AT 9:00 A.M. HE ASKED COUNCILMEMBER
TART TO GIVE THE INVOCATION.
MAYOR OUDEH YIELDED TO CITY MANAGER DEAN FOR COMMENTS.
CITY MANAGER DEAN STATED THAT HE ASKED DEPARTMENT HEADS TO
IDENTIFY MAJOR PROJECTS FOR FY 2000 -2001 AND ALL HAD DONE A GOOD JOB IN
GATHERING INFORMATION CONCERNING PROJECTS WHICH HAD BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED IN FY 1999 -2000.
CITY MANAGER DEAN YIELDED TO FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY TO
PRESENT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT.
MID -YEAR FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR FY 1999 -2000 BUDGET
FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY STATED THAT OVERALL, THE CITY
SHOULD BE IN GOOD FINANCIAL CONDITION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL
YEAR. SHE GAVE COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON TAX VALUATIONS, REVENUES,
EXPENDITURES, GENERAL FUND, WATER FUND AND INVESTMENTS.
(ATTACHMENT #1)
CITY MANAGER DEAN ADVISED COUNCIL THAT THE SALES TAX FORMULA IS
DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY ANTI THE CITY IS PENALIZED IN ITS RECEIPT OF
SALES TAX REVENUES BY HAVING A LOWER TAX RATE.
BUILDING INSPECTIONS
BUILDING INSPECTOR RICKY PARSON DISTRIBUTED AN UPDATE OF BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION, PERMITS ISSUED AND DEMOLITIONS TO COUNCIL. HE STATED
THAT THERE WERE FIF'T'Y -SEVEN DEMOLITIONS OF HOMES IN 1999; HOWEVER,
MOST WERE RUN DOWN TRAILERS AT CEDAR CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK. HE
FURTHER STATED THAT JUNK CARS AND WEEDY LOTS WERE A PROBLEM
THROUGHOUT TOWN BUT THE ORDINANCE WAS SOMEWHAT EASIER TO ENFORCE
SINCE THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT OFFICER BEGAN HIS DUTIES LAST YEAR.
BUILDING INSPECTOR PARSON TOLD COUNCIL THAT LAST YEAR WAS A SLOWER
YEAR IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF WEEDY LOTS DUE TO STAFFING PROBLEMS;
HOWEVER, THE INSPECTION DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO WORK ON A ONE -
TO -ONE BASIS WITH ALL THE COU-VCILMEMBERS TO TACKLE PROBLEM AREAS IN
THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.
506
BUILDING INSPECTOR PARSON STATED THAT THE INSPECTION DEPART'MENT'S
PROPOSALS FOR FY 2000 -2001 WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• CONTINUE EFFORTS IN LOCATING AND CUTTING VACANT LOTS.
• INCREASE MINIMUM HOUSING INSPECTIONS AND DEMOLITIONS.
• WORK WITH NUISANCE ABATEMENT OFFICER TO CONTINUE EFFORT TO
ELIMINATE JUNK CARS AND WEEDY LOTS
• CONTINUE TRAINING FOR INSPECTIONS STAFF
AFTER DISCUSSION, MAYOR OUDEH SUGGESTED THAT CITY MANAGER DEAN AND
BUILDING INSPECTOR PARSON REVIEW THE CODE RELATING TO JUNK CARS AND
WEEDY LOTS AND A POLICY BE WRITTEN TO IMPOSE A FINE TO THOSE CITIZENS
- WHO REPEATEDLY VIOLATE THE CODE CONCERNING JUNK CARS AND WEEDY
LOTS.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE CHIEF AUSTIN TEW INFORMED COUNCIL THAT THE CITY'S 1999 FIRE LOSS
TOTALED $790,552.00, COMPARED TO $405,365.00 IN 1998. HE STATED THAT THE
VALUE OF THE PROPERTY RESPONDED TO IN 1999 WAS $4,956,574.00 AS COMPARED
TO THE 1998 FIGURE OF $941,118.00.
FIRE CHIEF TEW STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NOW HAS 73% OF ITS
MEMBERS CERTIFIED AS STATE LEVEL II FIREFIGHTERS, WITH A GOAL OF HAVING
ALL FIREFIGHTERS STATE CERTIFIED. HE ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT
LOGGED A TOTAL OF 3,430.5 MANHOURS IN TRAINING WHICH IS DOWN DUE TO
THE FACT THAT THE DEPARTMENT LOST TWO OF ITS CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS.
FIRE CHIEF TEW STATED THAT THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES WERE SET LAST
YEAR AND MET DURING 1999:
• FIRE SAFETY PROGRAM REACHED 2,956 PEOPLE
• APPRENTICE FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM CONTINUED -TWO HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM
• REORDERED THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE 1971 MACK PUMPER WHICH SHOULD
BE IN BY THE END OF MAY
• SEALED THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR NORTH WALL OF STATION 1 AND
PAINTED SAME
FIRE CHIEF TEW STATED THAT OTIH;R GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FY 1997 -98
WERE AS FOLLOWS:
• ADD ADDITIONAL FULL TIME PERSONNEL TO STAFF ONE ENGINE 24 HOURS A
DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND PROVIDE QUARTERS FOR SAME.
• INSTALL EXHAUST REMOVAL SYSTEM AT STATION 1 ON POWELL AVENUE.
• REPLACE 1581 WHICH IS THE SERVICE TRUCK
• PURCHASE A CAB AND CHASSIS FOR THE BRUSH TRUCK
• INCREASE VOLUNTEER COMPENSATION
• PURCHASE A WASHER/EXTRACTOR FOR STATION 1 ON POWELL AVENUE
CITY MANAGER DEAN STATED THA'_' OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, HE HAS
DISCUSSED WITH CHIEF TEW THE NEED TO HAVE A STUDY CONDUCTED TO
REVIEW AND ANALYZE THE CURRENT FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATION AND TO
ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC PLAN OVER
THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. HE ADDED THAT THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE
HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST DECADE, AND THE CITY'S
ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND MAINTAIN VOLUNTEERS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT.
CITY MANAGER DEAN STATED THAT THE CITY EMPLOYS FOUR FULL -TIME
FIREFIGHTERS AND SEVERAL CIT`I EMPLOYEES SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS TO
COVER WEEKDAY FIRE CALLS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE IS CONCERNED
THAT IF THE CITY DOES NOT STRENGTHEN VOLUNTEER FORCE AND PLAN FOR
THE FUTURE, COST WILL ESCALATE DRAMATICALLY. HE RECOMMENDED THAT
AN OUTSIDE FIRM BE ENGAGED TO REVIEW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT AN
ESTIMATED COST OF BETWEEN $8,OCO.00 TO $12,000.00.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT THE CITY'S FIRE DEPARTMENT IS
FIGHTING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER DEPARTMENTS. HE ASKED FIRE CHIEF
TEW IF THE COUNCIL ALLOCATED $12,000.00 TO HIS BUDGET, WOULD HE PREFER
TO SPEND THE $12,000.00 ON EQUIPMENT OR THE PROPOSED STUDY.
507
FIRE CHIEF TEW RESPONDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS MOST ALL OF THE
EQUIPMENT IT NEEDS AND $12,000.00 WILL NOT GO VERY FAR IN THE PURCHASE
OF EQUIPMENT. HE ADDED THAT HE WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THE STUDY
CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE AN UNBIASED OPINION ON THE DEPARTMENT.
HE ADDED THAT THE COST OF HIRING TWELVE FULL -TIME FIREFIGHERS WOULD
BE APPROXIMATELY $457,526.00 WHICH IS STRICTLY SALARY AND BENEFITS AND
THE COST TO ADD QUARTERS TO THE FIRE STATION WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY
$75,000.00.
I7xeJOWV I CIM
RECREATION DIRECTOR PERRY HUDSON STATED THAT THE DUNN RECREATION
DEPARTMENT CONTINUED ITS GROWTH IN PARTICIPATION AND ACTIVITIES
DURING 1999. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT
CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN TYLER PARK, TART PARK, COMMUNITY CENTER, CIVIC
CENTER AND SHARED MAINTENANCE OF THE DUNN ENRICHMENT CENTER.
HE STATED THAT LAST YEAR, TART PARK WAS THE MAIN FOCUS AND FACILITIES
WERE IMPROVED BY INSTALLING SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ON SEVEN OF THE ELEVEN
MAINTAINED ATHLETIC FIELDS. HE ADDED THAT PERMANENT FENCING WAS
INSTALLED IN THE OUTFIELD AREAS OF TART PARK AS WELL PAVING OF THE
MAIN PARKING LOT AREA.
RECREATION DIRECTOR HUDSON STATED THAT GOALS FOR 2000 -2001 WERE AS
FOLLOWS:
u ADDITION OF TWO MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES DUE TO THE ADDITION OF THE
DUNN COMMUNITY CENTER AND ADDITIONAL SOCCER/FOOTBALL FIELDS AT
A COST OF $31,936 (BASE SALARY)
PURCHASE OF TRACTOR/MOWER
• BEGIN AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM WITH POSSIBLE GRANT MONEY
• RESURFACE TENNIS COURTS
O REPLACE BACKBOARDS AT TYLER PARK
RECREATION DIRECTOR HUDSON YIELDED TO RECREATION CHAIRMAN, BO
JONES, FOR COMMENTS.
MR. JONES STATED THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD CONCURS WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY RECREATION DIRECTOR HUDSON. HE ADDED
THAT THE BOARD IS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK DONE BY THE CITY AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN
DUNN.
LIBRARY
LIBRARIAN DEBORAH MELVIN TOLD COUNCIL THAT ON JUNE 12, 1999, THE DUNN
PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS DAMAGED HEAVILY DUE TO A FIRE AND SINCE THAT TIME,
THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN PLACED IN A TEMPORARY LOCATION AT THE OLD
HARNETT PRIMARY SCHOOL. SHE STATED THAT THE LIBRARY WAS COVERED BY
INSURANCE; THEREFORE, EVERYTHING LOST WILL BE REPLACED OR UPDATED.
LIBRARIAN MELVIN STATED THAT ALL COMPUTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE
KIWANIS CLUB DONATED A NEW COMPUTER TO GO INTO THE CHILDREN'S ROOM,
A NEW COPIER AND FACSIMILE MACHINE WAS PURCHASED AND PUT INTO
OPERATION, SOME REPLACEMENT BOOKS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AND LIBRARY
PATRONS HAVE BEEN VERY GENEROUS BY DONATING BOOKS.
SHE INFORMED COUNCIL THAT UPON OCCUPYING THE ORIGINAL BUILDING, THE
LOCATION OF EACH BOOK WILL HAVE TO BE CHANGED AGAIN DUE TO THE CARD
CATALOGUE SHOWING THE LOCATION PRIOR TO THE FIRE.
CITY MANAGER DEAN STATED THAT THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE READY FOR
OCCUPANCY WITHIN SIXTY TO NINETY DAYS.
THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION CONCERNING PURCHASE OF THE OLD POST OFFICE
AND COUNCIL ASKED CITY MANAGER DEAN TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBLITY OF
PURCHASING THE OLD POST OFFICE TO HOUSE THE LIBRARY.
bw
POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICE CHIEF PAT GODWIN REVIEWED THE RESULTS OF AN INDEPENDENT STUDY
OF THE DUNN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY THE JUSTICE
ACADEMY. HE ALSO REVIEWED GRAPHS AND CHARTS AS PRESENTED IN THE
AGENDA PACKETS CONCERNING DRUG, TRAFFIC, AND OTHER ARRESTS. HE
INFORMED COUNCIL THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME WAS
3.66 MINUTES IN 1999. HE INFORMED COUNCIL THAT THE POLICE ATHLETIC
LEAGUE HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IN REACHING THE CITY'S
YOUTH.
CAPTAIN MORRY DENNING SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING GOALS FOR FY 2000 -01
PURCHASE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - APPROXIMATE COST IS
$68,900.00
• IMPLEMENTATION OF CAD SYSTEM
ADDITION OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER THROUGH SRO GRANT
PURCHASE EIGHT MOBILE DATA COMPUTERS TO CONTINUE EFFORT IN
PLACING ONE IN EVERY PATROL VEHICLE
• PURCHASE EIGHT ADDITIONAL IN -CAR VIDEO CAMERAS AT A COST OF
$4,500.00 PER UNIT.
• PURCHASE EIGHT SURPLUS POLICE CARS, WHICH ARE ONE -DRIVE CARS WITH
APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES ON THEM. THIS WOULD ALLOW EACH OFFICER
TO BE ASSIGNED THEIR ON VEIHCLE. THE COST OF SURPLUS VEHICLES
EQUIPPED AND STRIPED WOULD BE AS FOLLOWS:
1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA $14,205.00 EACH
1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA $11,855.00 EACH
1996 CHEVROLET CAPRICE $12,855.00 EACH
MR
• PURCHASE FOUR FORD CROWN VICTORIAS TO REPLACE PATROL UNITS
WITH EXCESS OF 100,000 MILES AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $24,055.00
WITH EQUIPMENT.
• ADDITION OF LIEUTENANT POSITION FOR COMMUNITY POLICING UNIT
PUBLIC WORKS
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TIM HO:,LOMAN PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW OF THE
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. HE INFORMED COUNCIL THAT THE WATER
DISTRIBUTION CREW NORMALLY CONSISTS OF FIVE PEOPLE; HOWEVER, THE
CREW IS SHORT BY ONE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR. HE ADVISED COUNCIL THAT
HE IS REQUESTING A LABOR POSITION IN THE COMING BUDGET YEAR FOR
THIS CREW. HE ALSO REQUESTED SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR LONG -TERM
EMPLOYEES. ADDITIONALLY, HE REQUESTED THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2000 -2001:
• HYDRO -STOP MACHINE
• STUDY OF WATER RATE SCHEDULES
• REDIRECTION OF ENTERPRISE FUND FOR WATER AND SEWER TO
GRANVILLE STREET PROJECT
• ADDITIONAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE
• CONTINUED EFFORTS FOR INFLOW/INFILTRATION
• THREE -MAN DITCH CREW
• CONTINUED UPGRADE OF GIS
• 650 DIESEL DUMP TRUCK
• VAN FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE
• TRUCK FOR SHOP
• ROOF ON PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING
• ROOF ON SHED AT PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING
• ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR SHOP
• ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR FACILITY MAINTENANCE
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HOLLOMAN SUGGESTED THAT A NEW POLICY BE
DEVELOPED FOR WATER CUT -OFF DAY.
509
FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY REVIEWED SOME OF THE
DIFFICULTIES WITH THE CURRENT POLICY AND THERE WAS A CONSENSUS OF
COUNCIL THAT THE POLICY BE REVIEWED BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT,
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER AND NOTIFICATION
BE MADE TO THE PUBLIC.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HOLLOMAN STATED THAT THE CURRENT SOLID
WASTE CONTRACT WAS EXTENDED THROUGH JULY, 2000 AND THE CITY MAY
NEED TO SOLICIT REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS, WHICH WILL MEAN RE-
EVALUATING THE CURRENT NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS AND THE LEVEL OF
SERVICE THEY RECEIVE.
r
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HOLLOMAN ADDED THAT SOME COMMERCIAL
CUSTOMERS ARE STILL SERVED BY THE CITY AND A DECISION WILL NEED TO
BE MADE TO CONTINUE CARRYING THEM ON THE CONTRACT OR TOTALLY
RELEASING THE CUSTOMERS TO PURSUE THEIR OWN PROVIDERS.
ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR JOE CAMPBELL UPDATED COUNCIL ON
WATER AND WASTEWATER OPERATIONS. HE INFORMED COUNCIL THAT
THROUGH PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, THE CITY HAS A WATER PLANT
WITH THE CAPACITY TO TREAT 8 MILLION GALLONS OF POTABLE WATER
EACH DAY AND A WASTEWATER PLANT WITH THE TREATMENT CAPACITY OF
3.75 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAMPBELL STATED THAT THERE ARE
AREAS OF CONCERN AT THE WATER PLANT; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE
TREMENDOUS COST INVOLVED, THE CITY CANNOT MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS
AT ONCE. HE ADDED THAT PRIORITIES MUST BE ESTABLISHED AND A PLAN
FOR ABATEMENT FORMULATED. HE STATED THAT THE 1,000,000- GALLON
TANK WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE LATE 20'S AND ALTHOUGH SOME REPAIRS
WERE MADE TO THE TANK FOR LEAKAGE, IT HAS CONTINUED TO
DETERIORATE AND IT IS NO LONGER ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE TO BE USED
FOR STORAGE. HE ADDED THAT A GRANT HAD BEEN APPLIED FOR TO
REPLACE THE STORAGE TANK.
ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAMPBELL ALSO STATED THAT THE " 1
CITY HAS THREE ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS, ALL OF WHICH NEED INTERIOR
RECONDITIONING. HE FURTHER STATED THAT RULES CONCERNING ALUM
SLUDGE HAVE BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW, THE WATER PLANT
MUST HAVE AN NPDES DISCHARGE PERMIT AND THE ALUM SLUDGE CANNOT
BE RETURNED TO THE RIVER. HE ADDED THAT THE CITY HAS RECENTLY
AMENDED THE LAND APPLICATION PERMIT AND WILL BE APPLYING THE
ALUM SLUDGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BIOLSOLIDS FROM THE
WASTEWATER PLANT, WHICH NEEDS SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROCESS
TO THICKEN THE SLUDGE TO MAKE THE LAND APPLICATION PROGRAM
ECONOMICAL.
HE STATED THAT THERE ARE NO EMERGENCY GENERATORS AT THE WATER
PLANT AND THE PLANT ELECTRICAL SERVICE IS 4160 VOLTS AC WHICH LIMITS
THE AVAILABILITY OF LOANER GENERATORS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE
ROAD LEADING TO THE RAW WATER PUMP STATION CROSSES OVER STEWART
CREEK AND THE CITY SPENT $30,000.00 TO REBUILD THE BRIDGE IN 1972. HE
ADDED THAT SINCE THEN, SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS HAVE BEEN
EXPENDED ON REPAIR DUE TO EXPECTED USAGE AND SUGGESTED THAT A
PERMANTENT SOLUTION WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE BRIDGE WITH A BOX
CULVERT.
ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAMPBELL TOLD COUNCIL THAT ONLY
ONE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN THE LAST BUDGET YEAR THAT WILL HAVE
AN IMPACT ON THE OPERATING BUDGET WHICH IS THE CONSUMER
CONFIDENCE REPORT, EXPECTED TO COST APPROXIMATELY $2,000.00. HE
STATED THAT INFLOW AND INFL,TRATION CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN AND
THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CANNOT HANDLE THE FLOW OF
WATER TO THE PLANT FROM HEAVY RAINS OR PERIODS OF EXTENDED
RAINFALL. HE STATED THAT THE PLANT EXCEEDED FLOW APPROXIMATELY
37 DAYS LAST YEAR AND WITF THE NEW RULE CHANGES AND REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS, FINES CAN BE ASSESSED FOR VIOLATIONS. HE ADDED THAT
ANOTHER BACKUP INFLUENT PUMP NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED AND THE
ORIGINAL PUMPS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED AS NEEDED.
510
HE ALSO INFORMED COUNCIL THAT FOUR OF THE LIFT STATIONS HAVE NO
STAND BY POWER. .HE STATED THAT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PROCESS REQUIRES AIR FOR THE TREATMENT PROCESS AND THE BLOWERS
ARE 1979 VINTAGE AND NEED SOME UPGRADES. HE EXPRESSED CONCERN
THAT SALARIES OF LONG TERM EMPLOYEES NEED ADJUSTMENTS TO ALLOW
FOR SEPARATION BETWEEN LONG -TERM AND NEW HIRES.
CITY MANAGER DEAN STATED THAT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CITY
HAS BUDGETED APPROXIMATELY $500,000.00 TO UPGRADE SALARIES AND THE
PAST TWO PHASES WERE TO GET THE SALARIES UP TO RECRUITING LEVELS.
HE ADDED THAT THE NEXT PHASE SHOULD DEVELOP A SEPARATION
BETWEEN NEW HIRES AND LONG -TERM EMPLOYEES. HE ADDED THAT 401(K)
AND LONGEVITY PAY WERE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS TO
CREATE A SEPARATION BETWEEN NEW HIRES AND LONG -TERM EMPLOYEES.
ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAMPBELL INVITED COUNCIL TO TOUR
THE WATER PLANT. CITY ENGINEER ED POWELL UPDATED COUNCIL ON THE
GRANT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER PLANTS.
ADMINISTRATION
CITY MANAGER CARL DEAN STATED THAT COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED
INTEREST IN ANNEXATION DURING PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS AND
APPOINTED A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE AREAS UNDER CONSIDERATION.
HE ADDED THAT BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ANNEXATION
COMMITTEE, THE TWO (2) PRIMARY AREAS OF CONSIDERATION WILL BE
ALONG US 301 SOUTH AND US 421 EAST.
CITY MANAGER DEAN ADDED THAT WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES ARE
PRESENTLY CONSTRUCTED ALONG US 301 SOUTH; THEREFORE, COST FOR
SERVICES WOULD BE MINIMAL. HE ALSO STATED THAT UTILITY COST
ALONG US 421 EAST WOULD ENTAIL DETERMINATION OF THE BEST
METHOD TO EXTEND SEWER INTO THIS AREA, SINCE WATER LINES ARE
ALREADY IN THE AREA. HE DISTRIBUTED UPDATED MAPS TO COUNCIL.
HE INFORMED COUNCIL THAT A FULL- FLEDGED ANNEXATION STUDY
WOULD NEED TO BE CONDUCTED AND SURVEY DONE OF THE AREAS
UNDER CONSIDERATION.
HE STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAS DISCUSSED ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN DUNN AND'_ - HE SURROUNDING AREA. HE ADDED THAT
IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF
CONDUCTING A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS TO DETERMINE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS FOR THE FUTURE WHICH SHOULD
INCLUDE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT,
TRAVEL AND TOURISM, AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. HE
ADDED THAT THE CITY SHOULD LOOK AT THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE, AND
DEVELOP UNIFORM POLICIES FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
JERRY HARTGROVE, HARNETT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR, STRESS THE RAPIDITY WITH WHICH INDUSTRY EXPRESSES
INTEREST AND STATED THA: WHEN HIS OFFICE IS CONTACTED, THE
PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRIES WANT TO KNOW THE GUIDELINES AND
INCENTIVES FOR GOING TO A PARTICULAR AREA. HE STATED THAT
INDUSTRIES EXPECT CITY'S TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO COME. HE
ADDED THAT INCENTIVE GRANTS CAN BE USED FOR AN EXISTING
INDUSTRY TO EXPAND.
CITY MANAGER DEAN STATED THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR, DISCUSSIONS
HAVE BEEN HELD CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RAIL TRAIL
ALONG THE OLD ABERDEEN AND ROCKFISH RAILROAD LINE THAT RAN
BETWEEN DUNN AND ERWIN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE RAIL TRAIL
PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A PAVED WALKING AND BIKING TRAIL ALONG
THE EXISTING RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY. HE ADDED THAT THIS LAND
HAS ALREADY BEEN "LAND BANKED ", OR RESERVED FOR THIS PROJECT
AND BOTH ERWIN AND HARNETT COUNTY HAVE APPROVED RESOLUTIONS
FOR THIS PROJECT. HE TOLD COUNCIL THAT IT HAS BEEN REQUESTED
THAT COUNCIL ALSO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THIS
PROJECT WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COST APPROXIMATELY $1,000,000.000,
BUT GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THIS COST.
511
TOURISM MARKETING DIRECTOR DANA COCHRAN INFORMED COUNCIL
THAT A BOARD WILL BE FORMED, COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF THE
TOURISM BOARD, COUNCIL, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CHAMBER
OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND MOTEL OPERATORS TO CONSIDER
THE POSSIBLITY OF BUILDING A LARGER CONVENTION CENTER IN DUNN.
MAYOR OUDEH STATED THAT THE PRESENT COMMUNITY CENTER WAS
NOT SITUATED IN THE PROPER PLACE TO SERVE ALCOHOL AND
VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD TO INVESTIGATE THE BUILDING
OF A NEW CONVENTION CE=NTER.
CITY CLERK/HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER JOYCE VALLEY STATED THAT
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, COUNCIL HAD APPROPRIATED
APPROXIMATELY $500,000.00 TO SALARIES, AS WELL AS BEGINNING A
401(K) PLAN FOR GENERAL EMPLOYEES AND LONGEVITY PLAN;
HOWEVER, WHEN THE SALARY STUDY WAS COMPLETED TWO YEARS AGO,
IT SHOWED THERE WAS A COMPRESSION PROBLEM IN THAT THERE WERE
NO MAJOR DISTINCTIONS IN SALARIES OF NEW HIRES AND LONG -TERM
EMPLOYEES. SHE ADDED THAT THE GOAL IN THE NEXT PHASE OF
IMPLEMENTING THE SALARY STUDY WAS TO MAKE A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN NEW HIRES AND EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED FIVE YEARS
OR MORE YEARS.
AFTER DISCUSSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 5:10 P.M.
3Y
O E H. VALLEY, CM
I CLERK a „ ° Gi b ✓`
�< • S E Al
nJp " � v6 °T B ?OO O�l�m1~,'i
' � i iiiiltt lL6ati
z