Village Minutes

Village of St. Helena Town Board Meeting

October 20, 2022

Attending were Mayor Robert Barnhill, Mayor Pro-Tem William Hunter, Councilman Neil Benton, Councilwoman Judy Katalinic, Councilwoman Kaye Knowles, Councilwoman Nancy Jones, Village Clerk Robbie Holly, Village Attorney Nathaniel Coleman, and Building inspector Louis Hesse.

In the audience were Alice Southerland and Carey Childress.

Robert opens the meeting.

The Allegiance to the U.S. Flag and a salute to the North Carolina Flag were said by all.

Robert Barnhill led the prayer.

Last month’s minutes were discussed. Nancy wanted it added that the council unanimously voted on the motion that William be added to Bank of Ozark CD accounts. On motion by Nancy, and seconded by Judy, the minutes of September 15 with changes were approved unanimously.

On motion by Kaye and seconded by Neil, the financial report was approved unanimously.

Old Business:

· The first item is that Land Use Plan. Louis said that Land use plan that we had was expired. It should have been redone earlier and he also pointed out that the town had been warned. Judy said she thought that small towns were allowed more time but Louis said the extension time had passed also. Louis said we need to get it done as soon as possible but he had not heard of anyone challenging a small time for not having it completed.

· Louis had taken the UDO changes to the planning board where the town would add foot notes. He said he would get with Nate about the wording to make sure we are in compliance.

· Nate suggested we shouldn’t change anything that if we put the footnotes back in, it might be an opening for someone to ask for another solar farm. They have to follow current/old UDO and not to add anything directly stating something about solar farms. Nate said that there are two U. D.O.s and the solar farms in St. Helena has to follow one or the other. If they follow the old one, the grass will get cut but if they followed the new one, they will have to remove their equipment from the property since St. Helena doesn’t allow solar farms in St. Helena. Louis talked about grandfathering in. Nate said that you asked for my opinion and my opinion is to leave it like it is. Louis said he disagreed with Nate but since Nate is the lawyer, Louis will defer to him but Louis wanted Nate to write the letter to the Mcleans to get in compliance and Louis will send it. It was agreed.

· Louis also brought up Westgate and they were moving forward rapidly. They did get the cement poured right and they got the D.O.T. permits to do the driveway. He said the signs next to the highway that they wanted were too high and the square footage is too big and will violate our rules so they either have to get smaller signs and request a text change. Louis said he approved the signs on the buildings however.

New Business:

· Nancy thought that William should be put on ALL the village’s bank accounts. Nancy asked about OZK CD’s and if we called Live Oak bank and Robert said no but called and got OZK CDs rolled over at 2.70%. Robert had not added William to accounts because we have to go to bank together to get that done. Judy asked William if he have a problem with being on the accounts. William said, “No, I think the Mayor Pro-Tem should be on the accounts and if a new mayor pro-tem comes along, I think they should replace me on the accounts”. On motion by Nancy, and seconded by Neil, it was unanimous that the mayor pro-tem should be added as a signee on all accounts. Nancy asked when that can be done. Robert asked William when he was available. William said he will be out of town for the next week and that he is leaving for Colorado the next day. William will call Robert when he gets back.

· Judy asked when to expect Land Use Plan survey will be mailed out and Robbie said she had just gotten all taxpayers addresses that week and hoped to get them out the following week.

· Robert mentioned that next year, the town will be hosting the municipal dinner and does anybody have any suggestions on date and details to start planning. Kaye asked when was it last year? Nancy said March or April. William said it was April he believed. No one had any suggestions.

· Robert told the council that the ABC board is having a meeting on November 3^rd and that he thinks we will find out if we going to get any money in the future.

· Robert brought up the fact that he thinks the ditch next to the town hall should be cleaned and Tommy Ivey said he will do it for $300. William got up and looked out the window and said that $300 is way too much and he suggests we counter with $200. William made the motion; Kaye seconded it that the town counter with $200 dollars and see what happens. Robert said he would call Tommy Ivey and said we need to keep sprayed after to keep up and not grow up again.

· Robert asked if they were anything else. Judy asked to speak. Judy pointed out that the projector that we have at the town hall is old and it belongs to Louis and Judy suggested that we get another one that the town will own. She pointed out that a new one would run about $250 and will do a lot of things that this one couldn’t do. Judy said that Louis can explain it better. Louis explains that the graphics are better and he can use his phone instead of a computer. In fact, he can interact the projector, computer, and his phone. William said that he thinks we should price it at a higher amount since it may be more. Robert said it can come out of the building inspector account that the town has. On motion by William, and seconded by Judy, it was unanimously approved for Louis to purchase a new projector but not to go over $400.

On motion by William, and seconded by Kaye, the motion to adjourn was unanimously approved.