Making short work of a lengthy agenda, the Foxfire Village Council tackled a variety of topics at a sparsely attended meeting on Tuesday, May 10.
Echoing comments that were also raised in two recent citizens’ participation budget workshops, Craig Ramey expressed concern that the overall appearance of the Village was on the decline.
“I know we don’t have a Zoning Administrator and that enforcement has been lax,” said Ramey. “And with Woodland Circle and the [Foxfire Golf] Club’s bankruptcy, I realize appearance is low on the list of priorities. But, some areas haven’t been mowed in years. Several lots have trees down. It’s not a major concern, but just something you get sick of looking at all the time.”
He also reported that a debris pile behind the golf maintenance yard is growing and the entire area is a mess, including two buildings he said should be condemned.
Ramey volunteered to chair a community standards-type committee of five members, as was originally developed by the late Carl Munro, which could address the problem.
“It wasn’t just one person, but a group of people looking at items and agreeing whether something needed to be done,” said Ramey.
Picking up on his suggestion later in the meeting, Long Range Planning Chair Mick McCue recommended that, rather than form another committee, the work could be tasked as part of the responsibilities of the existing Appearance Committee.
Signage concerns
Drastic action may be needed to save the large community sign at the entrance to Foxfire Village at Tie Road.
Councilman Vic Koos reported that both police and NC Department of Transportation [NC-DOT] have recommended the sign be removed because it obscures vision at the intersection.
“It is a beautiful sign with a brick stone base,” said Koos. “It would require dismantling the bricks and rebuilding it at another location, but we have to make a decision pretty quick.”
Koos said he welcomed input from any residents with interest or expertise, particularly in masonry work.
Other recent signage work included an upgraded “Town Crier” board at the Village Green Park. The structure has been repaired and a corrected walking path map has been hung. Koos thanked Foxfire Police Patrolman Scott Patterson for his assistance with the project.
Foxfire Fire Department
The Council voted unanimously to renew a fire and rescue services contract with West End Fire & Rescue. The contract automatically renews for an additional year and the fee is based on the standard West End fire tax rate.
During public comment, Ramey said he frequently saw the fire truck riding around town and argued the ten ton truck could be damaging roads that are already degrading.
“Before the station was manned all the time, you’d see the fire truck taken out once a month. So why now do I see it three times a day?” he asked. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense. Maybe there is a reason, but I’m not aware of it.”
Koos responded that he has met with WEFR Chief Wayne Kennedy to discuss the issue and is satisfied the fire truck is only taken out for a definite purpose.
“People see the fire truck, and it looks like they are out for a joy ride. It is never a joy ride,” he stated.
Koos said the fire truck is used for every call, including many that turn out to be frivolous, such as smelling gas in a home only to discover the stove has been left on.
“I guarantee that it is not a joy ride you are seeing, and it never has been,” said Koos.
He recommended a few steps to improve public relations with WEFR, including inviting Chief Kennedy to an upcoming meeting and also asking the Fire Department to spend a few minutes talking with residents before the annual Fourth of July fireworks event.
Finance
The Council unanimously approved waiving the accelerated payments required on the Woodland Circle extension project assessments for several property owners. As written, the policy states that any late payment will automatically render the entire assessment amount due; however, for payments that were made within days of the deadline, Finance Director Leslie Frusco recommended leniency.
“The vast majority of these owners paid their installment payment on April 6 instead of April 3,” she explained. “This does not absolve them of making payments, it just says the next installment is due April 3, 2012.”
Frusco reported the General Fund balance, as of April 30, at $751,943, including $20,983 in the Stonehill Pines account, $50,038 in capital reserves, and $8,370 in prepaid Woodland Circle assessments that will be held in reserve until the next loan payment is due. The Water Fund stands at $261,527 and includes a restricted portion of $591 that will also be held as part of the Woodland Circle loan. In addition, $135,000 is held in a restricted escrow account for a new well.
The Council approved a budget amendment of $150,000 for Stonehill Pines that eliminated both projected revenue and expenses in the current fiscal year related to the massive development project — which has stalled indefinitely while the economy improves.
A Public Hearing on the 2012 Budget will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, June 14 at Foxfire Town Hall, immediately preceding the monthly meeting.
Reduced pool fees for active military
At $500 for a family of four, the cost of a non-resident family pool pass was increased significantly last year in an effort to raise revenue and perhaps limit overuse of the pool by swimmers from outside of town.
Village Clerk Lisa Kivett reported an active duty family residing in Pinewild had requested a reduced rate. She explained that renters in Pinewild may not use community amenities unless full annual dues are paid. Kivett said that, in addition to the requesting family, there are at least four or five additional active duty military families in that community with the same concern.
She recommended a ten percent discount, but Ramey quickly volunteered a bigger reduction was warranted.
“This is our military. These are our families,” said Ramey.
Going around the table, the Council agreed and approved a 20% active duty military discount that can be applied to fees for both resident and non-resident pool passes.
Water
Councilman Ed Lauer said that he has heard discussion of radium concerns coming up in Long Range Planning roundtable meetings and said it was important for residents to understand that there is no radium in the well system.
Remediation work corrected the problem reported several years ago, and Lauer said the water quality is checked frequently through regular testing.
“Our wells are in good condition, and everything is in good operating condition,” he said.
Streets
The intersection of Hoffman and Richmond Roads in the center of town has been an ongoing safety concern, because of both speeding vehicles and the lack of a bypass for heavy trucks. Eltschlager said that, while the State would not recommend a traffic light, a new, larger stop sign was installed — increased in size from 30 to 36 inches. In addition, a more reflective warning sign was installed and the NC Department of Transportation [NCDOT] is considering adding painted stripes on the asphalt that would alert drivers to the upcoming intersection.
Earlier in the meeting Ramey had introduced an interesting argument against any potential traffic light, suggesting that, while it would slow traffic, the addition of the light would also increase road noise in the Village, with large trucks grinding through gears to accelerate and decelerate.
In other discussion, Eltschlager said he submitted a request to NCDOT to replace a sign he believes was damaged by the agency during a recent project.
Deputy Village Clerk Sharon Sanchez is completing a grant application that will be submitted to the State to reimburse the Village for some of the costs incurred by mowing easements along Hoffman and Richmond Roads.
Long Range Planning
Final touches are being applied to the Long Range Planning Committee’s detailed survey, which will be distributed to all residents, reported Chair Mick McCue. The survey will be sent electronically to all email addresses on file and will be available by regular mail and for pick up at the Village office.
Frusco expressed concern about how the surveys would be tracked to prevent skewed results if multiple surveys are completed by a single person; however, McCue said if any resident had that level of interest, then he welcomed their input on the issue.
Appointments
The Council unanimously reappointed Robert Thorne to serve on the Planning & Zoning Committee for another term, effective July 2011 to Jan 2015.
Mayor George Erickson and Councilman Vic Koos were reappointed to represent Foxfire Village on the Moore County Transportation Committee.
Legislative update
Mayor George Erickson offered a brief update on key legislation that could affect Foxfire Village.
Of note, the budget currently under consideration by the NC Senate, which was already approved by the NC House, would eliminate PARTF funding for 2012-2013. A full copy of the proposed state budget is available for review at the Village office.
