December has been a busy month for the Foxfire Village Clerk’s Office; residents have only three weeks left to pay property taxes before the New Year.
During the Village Council's regular Tuesday, December 12 meeting, Councilwoman Leslie Frusco said, “Nice reminder letters were sent out to residents who had not paid their taxes. As of January 5th, they will become past due and start collecting interest.”
Frusco credited Deputy Finance Officer and Tax collector Sharon Sanchez for their help in neatly wrapping up another “clean” Village Audit Report.
The completed Audit Report has been distributed to the Village Council for review. “Thanks to Sharon for spearheading and dealing with the day to day aspects of the audit,” said Frusco.
Fund Established for Woodland Circle Loan Repayment
The annual payment for the Woodland Circle Loan is due in April. The Council will be tapping two different funds, taking $173,526 from the general fund and $14,905 from the water fund.
To make sure the Village has the resources to make future payments on the $1,747,345 loan; the Council unanimously passed two budget amendments that will create an assigned fund for future debt repayment.
“After many discussions with the council members, it has been decided that we would like to assign certain funds to certain projects,” said Frusco. For example, the recent sale of two village lots on an unused well site was welcome income that can be devoted to future loan payments.
The first amendment allows the transfer of $35,928 from a recent land sale from the Water Fund to the General Fund. A second amendment was passed to transfer the $35,928 from the General Fund to the new Assigned for Future Debt fund.
Stonehill Pines Extension
Councilman Steve Durham reported that Stonehill Pines has requested an extension of the date that they are required to begin construction of the planned community.
Durham explained that the date would be extended to December 31, 2013.
Both Frusco and Mayor George Erickson sought assurances that the only thing that would change were the dates, and that all other aspects would stay the same. Durham assured them that the date was relative to commencing construction only.
Erickson said he has remained in contact with Stonehill Pines Representative Rick Robison: “Every few weeks we talk. They have deeded over to the county well sites off of Linden Road. They have not gone away, and things are still moving. It is the matter of the money to start construction.”
Repaving Schedule Depends on the Weather
Frusco brought to the council’s attention that The Seven Lakes Times had incorrectly reported that Woodland Circle was to be repaved. In fact, it is Wildwood Drive that is scheduled for repaving.
The council will soon receive road repair estimates. Councilman Vic Koos will ride along with the paving contractor, “We will drive around and look at everything, and he will give me an estimate of cost.”
A separate paving company will be providing estimates on crack-sealing, Koos said.
“I just want the public to know the time frame that we are really looking at," he added. "The earliest we could start is January. Work is limited by the weather. The company told me, if they get a good day in January, they will do it.”
Improper Disposal of Yard Debris
Koos said that there have been a number of recent reports of hired landscapers and handymen blowing leaves and refuse onto other lots, particularly unoccupied lots.
“I think the council should look in to this,” Koos said, while encouraging residents: “If you hire someone to clean up your yard, please inform them that they have to bag refuse and carry it away -- not blow it onto someone else’s lot.”
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Erickson attended the Triangle J Council of Government monthly meeting. He said, that he was surprised when he was asked to chair the next meeting. “Hopefully, it is a one time chair," he said. "We shall see. One thing I like about these meetings is that we have had some excellent speakers.”
The Council unanimously reappointed Erickson as delegate and Councilman Mick McCue as alternate to the Triangle J COG appointments for 2013.
Pineland Preserve Update
More information is needed before the Village agrees to accept the streets in Pineland Preserve, according to Erickson, who talked with Developer Pete Mace.
Mace informed Erickson that he had contacted his attorney, Neil Smith, about two streets in Pineland Preserve that have drainage issues, and they are working together to obtain easements in two specifics areas.
Downsizing Planning & Zoning Proposed
Currently, Foxfire ordinances require nine members on the Village’s Planning and Zoning Board requires, and it has been difficult to find nine individuals willing to serve. McCue brought to the board’s attention that it would be possible to reduce the size of the board.
“We have talked about this on numerous occasions," he said. "Our code requires nine on our zoning and planning board, but currently we have five. The state requires a minimum of three. After speaking to attorney Michael Brough, he suggested reducing the size of the board to five. If there was a vacant seat, the quorum would be three and if two were absent the quorum would be 2.”
The council decided to table voting on the motion in order to allow public comment on the proposal prior to the January Council meeting.
Brown Golf Management
Brown Golf Management -- the new owner of Foxfire Resort & Golf -- recently gave a presentation in Whispering Pines with more than 200 people in attendance from surrounding communities.
Councilmen Erickson and McCue attended the meeting.
Currently, Brown controls eleven courses: owning seven and managing four others in Pennsylvania, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. According to Erickson, the company's goal is, over the next few years, to end up with thirty courses under their control.
“Because of the economy, they can get these courses with pennies on the dollars,” said Erickson. “Everything is debt free; everything has been paid for.”
The council discussed meeting with Brown. “We should try to schedule a special meeting or invite someone to the next work session,” advised Erickson.
Councilmen Durham and McCue agreed that the council members themselves should meet prior to meeting with Brown and prepare an agenda of what they would like to discuss.
Erickson said, at one time, the owner of the golf club had provided a regular report to the council. And the council would meet with club owners. “Maybe it is something that we might want to revive in some fashion,” said Erickson.
Unexpected Gift
Wayne and Marilyn Chalker presented the Foxfire Police Department with an impressive collection of law enforcement badges from all over the world.
The Chalkers moved to Foxfire from Maine five years ago. Wayne, who had worked in law enforcement, explained that like most fireman and policemen it was necessary to work a second job and he became a licensed electrician in Maine.
After retiring to North Carolina, Chalker passed the North Carolina requirements and opened Ridge Electric.
Chalker received the US Congressional Award for the apprehension of heavily armed bank robbers, while working for the Nassau County Long Island Law Enforcement. He has worked all over the world, including more than ten years with an international team guarding the border from Bosnia and Romania. He also worked with an Austrian Customs and a German Commando Unit.
Chalker presented the Village Police Department with a large wall cabinet displaying mounted law enforcement badges from all over the world. “Over the years, I had collected some patches and decided to make a little display," he explained. "The top ones are federal US law enforcement, state, county, and a couple of universities. Over the years, I worked with a lot of these officers with different agencies. If you look close, these each represent a province in Germany, and each province has a unique feature to designate it.”
“This probably is worth a little money here,” said Chalker pointing out one badge. “But, I figured I would let the guys have it. When we went down to Georgia for the Olympics, they made custom patches for all federal officers working the Olympics.”
