By acclamation, members of the Foxfire Village Council added John Eltschlager to their number on Tuesday, August 10, during their regular meeting. Eltschlager will serve the remaining three-year term of office left vacant by Page Coker’s resignation.
An engineer with twenty-five years professional experience in the private and public sectors, Eltschlager is employed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Pope Air Force Base.
Mayor George Erickson introduced and recommended Eltschlager, noting that his background will be helpful as the Stonehill Pines project moves forward over the next few years. The new councilman was tasked with overseeing Streets and Parks for the Village; Councilman Vic Koos will now handle Public Safety.
Eltschlager and his family settled in Foxfire in 2009 but have been regular visitors to the area for nearly fifteen years. He and his wife have two teenaged children.
Wilson Property ETJ Extension
The final hurdle to complete a voluntary annexation of the 750-acre Wilson property into the Foxfire Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction was cleared following a Public Hearing and unanimous council vote.
Zoned agricultural-residential, the rural tract is located at the corner of NC Highway 211 and Hoffman Road. The rezoning request was initiated by the Wilsons following the voluntary annexation of the Stonehill Pines Planned Unit Development [PUD] and the involuntary annexation of Pinewild by the Village of Pinehurst. Both major developments abut the Wilson’s farm. In addition to final approval from Foxfire, the request also had unanimous support from the Moore County Planning Board and Board of Commissioners.
Woodland Circle Project
Permanent erosion control, storm drainage, and asphalt have not yet been accepted for the Woodland Circle Extension project, reported Tom Collins.
“Until these items are brought within specifications we won’t do a final inspection,” he said. “We have had numerous conversations with the general contractor and subcontractor and have also called in a third party to review the final phase of paving.”
The outfall drain structures have been repaired three times and appear to now be holding up. Per plans, water from the road is forced down the cul-de-sac and into wetlands. Stabilization work on rip rap in that area will be done once Collins is convinced the stone spillway will stay in place. Regarding asphalt, he said a core test would be conducted this week and, based on those results and another inspection, he will notify the Council on how to proceed.
“We are a long way apart between the contractor and engineer. I want a letter that states the road meets plans and specs. Until they are prepared to give me that, we have a problem out there,” said Collins.
Currently, the contractor is incurring a daily penalty of $1,250. Collins said an audit would be completed at the end of the project and the total cost of the extension would be adjusted accordingly.
“We are running under the value set at $2.6 million," he added. "On cost, the project is in excellent shape.”
Finance
Village property tax bills will be mailed in the next two weeks and field work for the annual audit are complete. Currently, unpaid taxes total $56,272, with $11,415 owed from Fiscal Year 2008 and $44,857 owed from 2009, reported Finance Director Leslie Frusco.
The General Fund stands at $1,239,027, which includes $477,347 in Woodland Circle loan proceeds and $20,000 in the Stonehill Pines consulting fee account. The Water Fund stands at $296,666, which includes $26,545 of unexpended loan proceeds for Woodland Circle and $135,363 held in escrow, restricted for a new well.
In July, loan payments of $27,740 for the Village Green Park and $41,144 from the Water Fund were paid. Loan payments on the Woodland Circle project are due in April 2011, anticipated at $269,864 from the General Fund and $19,069 from the Water Fund.
Streets
Repaving at Wildwood Court will commence once Powell Bill funds are received in September, reported Councilman Koos. In addition, Koos met with Collins to discuss a proposed new process to be used on the project.
“The contractor is a resident and is interested in working with us, but the work must jibe with what we want and be within our budget,” said Koos.
Frusco reminded the Council that Powell Bill funds are also used to satisfy mowing contract expenses.
Village Green Flag Pole project
Helen Munro presented a Foxfire Garden Club proposal to install a thirty-foot lighted flag pole, a stone retaining wall, and a small bed of roses at the Village Green Park. All expenses for the project are being met through donations and a plaque honoring gifts will be placed on the wall.
She estimated that the flagpole would cost $600 and the attached lighting, $100. However, initial bids for the stone wall came in much higher than anticipated. The club is working with the contractor to determine exact measurements and a second bid is being sought.
With $2,000 collected, including leftover monies from the Kate Erickson Memorial Fund, Munro said the club continues to fundraise and that checks may be sent to the Foxfire Garden Club.
Foxfire Village Council retreat
Mayor Erickson distributed a draft agenda for a Council Retreat, scheduled for Wednesday, August 25, at Belle Meade. Sessions will include goals; developing a code of ethics; how the Triangle J Council of Governments can assist Foxfire; and discussion with staff from public safety, water, and administration.
Moore County Transportation Plan
The North Carolina Department of Transportation [NCDOT] requires that local governments periodically update their Land Use Plans unless the existing continues to reflect current goals of the municipality. On a request from Erickson, Zoning Chair Craig Ramey reviewed the Foxfire Land Use Plan, approved in June 1980, and recommended that no update was necessary.
“They did a good job thirty years ago in developing the plan, and it still reflects our goals at this time,” said Erickson.
Other Business
In other business on Tuesday, August 10, the Foxfire Village Council:
• Heard from Mayor Erickson that an accessory building on the East Side and a barn in Grande Pines were approved by Zoning. In addition, plans for a 7,000 square foot home in Grande Pines will be submitted this Fall.
• Heard from Erickson that Progress Energy disturbed an eight-inch water line, which caused it to crack and leak, leaving a dozen homes without water for several hours. The Foxfire Water Department responded swiftly, and the damage was quickly repaired. A second leak at the Village pool was also repaired last month.
• Heard from Erickson that the Foxfire grant application to the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund [PARTF] was not approved for funding. This is the third consecutive year the plan has been submitted. Foxfire was ranked twenty-second out of eighty-nine projects.
Councilman Ed Lauer was unable to attend Tuesday's meeting.
