Village Minutes

Village Minutes

Village of St. Helena Town Board Meeting

November 17, 2022

Attending the meeting are Mayor Robert Barnhill, Mayor Pro-Tem William Hunter, Council member Kaye Knowles, Council member Judy Katalinic. Council member Neil Benton, St. Helena Building inspector Louis T. Hesse, Village Attorney Nathaniel Coleman and Town Clerk Robbie Holly.

Absent were Planner Kim Rivenbark and Council member Nancy Jones.

In the audience was Alice Southerland and Cary Childress.

Mayor Barnhill opened the meeting and Mayor Pro-Tem led the prayer.

Allegiance to the U.S. Flag and a salute to the N.C. Flag were said by all.

On motion by William and seconded by Kaye, the minutes of October 20, 2022 were approved unanimously.

October 2022 financial report was approved on motion by Neil, and seconded by William then the financial report was approved unanimously by all.

Old Business: No old business was discussed.

New Business:

· Robbie gave an update on how the “Comprehensive Land Use Plan Survey” is doing. She explained how she sent the survey out last week and has been informed that several people have reported that they have not receive their survey in their mail as of yet. Judy pointed out that she hasn’t got hers. Robbie showed Judy the master tax list where her name was listed. Cary said he just got his two days ago. Kaye said she hasn’t got hers yet either. Robbie explained that she did not get all the addresses. Judy suggested GIS and will show how to do it on Monday. Robert said that we should give them a little more time for the survey to show up in their mailbox. Alice asked about the due date. Judy asked Alice if there was a due date on the form. Alice said no there wasn’t. Alice said that may cause taxpayers to delay sending in the survey since they see no rush in it. Kaye mentioned using the voter registration to get names and addresses. Robbie also mentioned that she has got 24 replies after sending out about 275 letters. There was a discussion of how many surveys are needed to be returned. Someone said that it should be at least 50%. Louis suggested that all surveys be sent to Sam Shore.

· Louis started off talking about his phone is been ringing off the hook with people wanted to buy the land near High smith and Northwest Ave. He said it is getting on average 6 calls a day. Since it is R-12, Judy asks how much of that land can per and Cary said he didn’t think than much of it will perk since it is so wet when it rains. Robert said that the edges may perk but you also have to deal with road frontage. Louis said that most real estate people who called wants to make it like Fairfield where Robert lives. Judy said that is why she is against public sewer. There will be subdivisions everywhere. Robert suggested that we might change the zoning from R-12 to R-40. Louis had an issue with that because of the things that are permitted in R-40. He gave a list that included several things that shouldn’t be in a residential area and then suggested that council might want to change permit qualifications or the uses for the land. Judy suggested that we send it to the planning board to redo the permitted uses for R-40 and then we will change the land from R-12 to R-40. Nathan said it is more of the fact that R-12, R-20, and R-40 should have the same elements. Basically, it needs to be uniformed. Neil suggested the council review them first then send to the planning board and William said to review all of them R12, R20, R40. Cary agreed and the council should be more specific on what they send to planning board. Louis said it should be done through Kim to bring to the planning board. Robbie will run off copies of the permitted use sheets and each councilmember will mark what they want or don’t want in those residential areas. Louis pointed out that any zoning changes require the town to notify the land owners.

· Louis brought up the solar farm that was once green-go had mowed the grass but there is an issue with the trees. William mentions a tree that had died and were still there.

· Louis brought up the Fowler property and how there is issues. An engineer is being brought in.

· Finally, the Keech property was mentioned concerning a small house built near there.

· Nate passed out survey map of Mr. and Mrs. David Moore’s property. Nate explained that it has been changed. Robert asked about having separate ones for each lot. Louis said yes lots are R20 and qualify and complies with ordinances. Judy had a problem with one lot having two septic fields. Louis explains that is not usually to have two septic fields on one lot. He said that lot 5 will have a septic tank and a force feed system and the sewer lines will travel through another lot and end up in the same lot as the other septic tank. According to Louis and Nate, it is perfectly legal and we can’t stop it. The health department will have to approve the septic systems however. Lot 4 easement will have 90ft of road frontage with septic area and still have enough room for driveway because it’s like 20ft wide. On motion by William, and seconded by Neil, the vote to approve Mr. and Mrs. Moore’s property was approved unanimously.

· Cary mentioned moving the planning board meeting to another day. Louis explained that Atkinson has hired him to be their building inspector. He said there is a conflict with St. Helena Planning Board Meeting. Both the planning board meeting and Atkinson’s town board meeting are held on the first Thursday. No decision has been made to when or if they will move planning board meetings.

· Robert said that he went to the ABC store meeting and that the municipalities will still get money but not as much as we were getting. He pointed out that the municipalities will get more money when the building was paid off.

· Robert asked if everyone wants to have a Christmas Social like they always have at December’s meeting. Everyone agreed that would be nice. A Christmas tree was mentioned and Robert said he will pick up one. Alice agreed that a live tree will be nice.

· The topic of the municipal dinner came up. Several places were mentioned-the depot, community building, St. Helena Town Hall, Heritage House, etc. Robert suggested we picked a day. He said he would like it to be in April (like Burgaw last year) but before Easter. Judy checked her phone and Easter is on April 9 so that will make it April 7 for the dinner. It was pointed out that it is Good Friday and we should do it earlier. Judy suggested March 31^st. Kaye said that was her birthday. All agreed that the municipal dinner will be on March 31^st but where and who will cater is still in the works.

· The council went into executive session.

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