MINUTES

Village of St. Helena Town Board Meeting

May 17, 2018

Present were Mayor Robert Barnhill, Mayor Pro Tem Judy Katalinic, Margaret Brinzey, William Hunter, Kaye Knowles, Nancy Jones, Louis Hesse, Nathaniel Coleman, and Kim Rivenbark.

Mayor Barnhill called the meeting to order and prayed.

On motion by William Hunter, and seconded by Margaret Brinzey, the minutes of April 19, 2018 were approved unanimously.

On motion by Nancy Jones, and seconded by William Hunter, the financial report was approved unanimously.

Kim Rivenbark explained NCGA 2015-160 HB 201 which deals with the process of which city councils receive citizen input in zoning ordinance amendments.

Kim then talked about prohibited and permitted uses.

There was no objection for Kim to continue working.

William Hunter checked on the Everett property and found a serious drainage problem. The ditch should not be filled in.

Mayor Barnhill suggested that the Board of Adjustment (Board of Appeal) meet once a year.

Kim was asked to teach the board on proper procedure.

Kim brought up the “Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance” which needs a public hearing.

Judy asked Louis the status of the Solar Farm. He said that no permit had been issued. Judy asked about this because Michael Wyatt has complained about noise at the cement plant. She suggested a noise ordinance.

Louis needed input on his request for a sub. Nathan suggested getting permission from sub’s employer.

The 2018-19 proposed budget was discussed. The mayor referred to revaluation and the budget for 2019. Comments were made about our free to residents trash pick up and residents do not have to pay the fire tax.

The mayor and clerk had met with the architect and separately with the Local Government Commission representatives about the new town hall. The mayor will be working on the application.

On motion by William Hunter, and seconded by Judy Katalinic, a resolution was adopted unanimously declaring an exemption from GS 143-64.31 requiring initial selection of architectural firms without regard to fee since the estimated fee is less than $50,000.

The mayor will check with banks on a loan for the new town hall. He showed pictures and a drawing of the blueprint.

Nancy Jones brought up the solar farm. She regretted voting for it. She felt Louis had pushed for it. She said that residents affected by the solar farm were not notified. The mayor noted that the Village of St. Helena will lose money on the solar farm. Judy asked Nathan about repealing the council’s decision.

On motion by Nancy Jones, and seconded by Judy Katalinic, to repeal the council’s decision for having solar farms and to add solar farms to the prohibited list was put to a vote. The vote was four for (Nancy Jones, Kaye Knowles, Margaret Brinzey, Judy Katalinic) and one against {William Hunter}.

On motion by Nancy Jones, and seconded by Margaret Brinzey, public hearings were scheduled for Thursday, June 21, 2018, at 6:30 P. M. unanimously for:

Consideration of an application for a text change amendments to section 4-10 (Protest

Vote requirement), 10-1 (use requirement by district), 20-4 and 20-5 (Information on

Preliminary or final Plats) of the Unified Development Ordinance

Consideration of a text change amendment updating The Flood Damage Prevention

Ordinance for the Village of St. Helena

Consideration of an application for a text change amendment to Article 10 to remove

Solar farms as a permitted use in the Unified Development Ordinance

Consideration of the proposed 2018-19 Village of St. Helena budget

On motion by Judy Katalinic, and seconded by Margaret Brinzey, the meeting was adjourned unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary D. Bakan, Village Clerk