Call
to Order/Invocation
The Town Council of the Town of Belhaven met in public hearing
and regular session on Monday, February 19, 2001 at 7:30
P.M. Mayor Boyette called the meeting to order with the
following Council members present: Walt Allen, Albert Baker,
George R. Ebron, Jr., Mayor Pro-Tem; Cynthia M. Heath and
James B. Hodges. Town Manager Tim M. Johnson and Town Clerk
Marie J. Adams were also present. Mayor Boyette gave the
invocation.
Approval of Minutes
- February 5, 2001
Mayor Boyette announced that the minutes of the February
5, 2001 meeting were open for review and adoption. There
being no corrections to the minutes, Councilman Baker
made the motion to approve. Councilman Hodges seconded
the motion which carried unanimously.
Community Development
Block Grant - Community Revitalization Public Hearing
Mayor Boyette called the public hearing to order at 7:32
P.M. Mayor Boyette explained that Holland Consulting Planners,
Inc. (HCP) was submitting a grant application for community
revitalization in the amount of $700,000 to assist low
to moderate income families bring their homes up to minimum
standards of which $105,000 would be for needed public
infrastructure. Mayor Boyette recognized Mr. Reed Whitesell
of HCP who detailed the grant application. Mr. Whitesell
explained that the application would also include a $40,000
match of town funds which makes the application very competitive.
Mr. Whitesell explained that the $40,000 match could be
budgeted over a two year period. Mr. Whitesell stated
that the grant could be for two target areas or could
be targeted for one general area. He also explained that
lead based paint will be an issue in this grant. Mr. Whitesell
stated that this was the first of two required public
hearings and that the application deadline was May 4,
2001. Mayor Boyette asked for any comments from the public.
Mayor Boyette then recognized Ms. Annie Ruth Ward of 339
Duke Street, who stated that she had received a mobile
home through a CDBG and spoke favorably of the grant application.
There being no further
comments, Mayor Boyette declared the public hearing closed
at 7:45 P.M.
Local Water Supply Plan-
Resolution
Mayor Boyette stated that the town was mandated by the
state to have a Water Supply Plan for the water system
every ten years. Mayor Boyette read the following resolution
supporting the Water Supply Plan.
RESOLUTION
FOR APPROVING LOCAL WATER SUPPLY PLANS |
| |
| WHEREAS,
North Carolina General Statute 143-355 (1) requires
that each unit of local government that provides
water services or plans to provide such services
shall, either individually or together with other
such units of local government, prepare and submit
a local water supply plan; and
WHEREAS,
as required by the statute and in the interests
of sound local planning, a water supply plan for
Town of Belhaven, has been developed and submitted
to the Belhaven Town Council for approval; and
WHEREAS,
the Belhaven Town Council finds that the
water supply plan is in accordance with the provisions
of North Carolina General Statute 143-355 (1) and
that it will provide appropriate guidance for the
future development of water supplies for Town of
Belhaven, as well as useful information to the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources for the development
of a state supply plan as required by statute;
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Belhaven
Town Council of Town of Belhaven that the water
supply plan entitled, Local Water Supply Plan for
Belhaven dated
February 19, 2001, is hereby approved and shall
be submitted to the North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water
Resources; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Belhaven Town
Council intends that this plan shall be revised
to reflect changes in relevant data and projections
at least once every five years or as otherwise requested
by the Department, in accordance with the statute
and sound planning practice.
This the 19th day of February, 2001. |
Mayor
Boyette asked for a motion approving the resolution. Councilman
Hodges made the motion to adopt the resolution as submitted.
Councilwoman Heath seconded the motion. Mayor Boyette
recognized Mr. Vann Latham who asked for some detail on
the plan. Town Manager Johnson stated the plan was for
the treatment of water from present to the next twenty
years. The motion then carried unanimously.
Local
Government Solid Waste Management Plan Update Resolution
Mayor Boyette stated that per state mandate a solid waste
management plan be updated every three years in each county
and a new plan be developed every tenth year. The plan
submitted is the first of the three year update. Mayor
Boyette stated that because the town utilizes the county
landfill then the town is part of the County=s update
process, therefore required to adopt the resolution supporting
the plan by motion.
Mayor
Boyette read the resolution. Councilman Baker made the
motion to adopt the resolution as submitted. Councilman
Ebron seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
TOWN
OF BELHAVEN
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE |
| |
| WHEREAS,
better planning for solid waste will help
protect public health and the environment, provide
for an improved solid waste management system, better
utilize our natural resources, control the cost of
solid waste management; and,
WHEREAS,
N.C. General Statute 13OA-309.09A(b) requires
each unit of local government, either individually
or in cooperation with other units of local government,
to develop 3-year comprehensive solid waste management
plan and a 3-year mandatory update; and,
WHEREAS,
Beaufort County adequately represented
each unit of local government in the update and
has been actively involved in the update planning
process;
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town
Council of Belhaven hereby approves the Beaufort
County Solid Waste Management Plan Update.
Adopted
by the Town Council during the regular session on
this 19th day of February, 2001. |
Chamber
of Commerce Request on Downtown Flooding
Mayor Boyette recognized Mr. Mike Morgan, President of
the Belhaven Community Chamber of Commerce and Mrs. Amy
Bonney, Executive Director of the Chamber.
Mr. Morgan approached the Council concerning the flooding
of Main Street at Wynn's Gut on the corner of Allen Street.
Mr. Morgan stated that he and Mrs. Bonney had met with
Town Manager Johnson concerning the flooding to ascertain
ways the Chambers could assist. Mr. Morgan stated that
the flooding was unsightly, damaging to the road ways
and affected at least four businesses.
Town Manager Johnson updated the public by stating that
a detailed grant had been applied for through the Clean
Water Management Trust Fund which included a manmade wetland
on the north side of Main Street and a dike on the south
side of Main Street along with pumps. Mr. Johnson also
stated that a portion of Wynn's Gut was determined by
the state to be navigable waters from the bridge on Water
Street to Allen Street and therefore could not be blocked
with flood gates. Mr. Johnson stated that this project
was not funded and totaled $2.3 million. Town Manager
Johnson stated that portions of that in-depth plan could
be performed as two separate projects and that a portion
of the funds could possibly be initiated with CDBG funds
(as discussed earlier) if funded, but would then make
the grant application not as competitive.
Councilman Baker asked what the Chamber could do to help.
Town Manager Johnson suggested that Congressman Walter
Jones and Congresswoman Eva Clayton be contacted.
Town
Manager's Report
Town Manager Johnson reported the following upcoming events:
Library Ground Breaking at the library site at 333 East
Main Street on Tuesday, February 20 at 3:30 P.M.,
Waste Water Treatment Facility Dedication on Thursday,
February 22 at 12 noon at the Waste Treatment Plant on
Plant Road,
Health Care in Belhaven - Public Forum on Thursday, February
22 at 7:00 P.M. at the Multi-Purpose Building at 158 West
Pantego Street; and Monday, February 26,
Sewer Capacity/Long Term Growth Workshop at 7:30 P.M.
in the Council Chambers at Town Hall - Town Manager Johnson
extended an open invitation to the public.
Cancellation
of Closed Session Legal
Town Manager Johnson stated that there was no need to
hold a closed session for legal matters as stated on the
agenda. The Council agreed with the deletion of this item
on the agenda.
Mayor's
Comments
Mayor Boyette reported that Deregulation of Electricity
was now being postponed and that the ElectriCities officials
were keeping the towns informed. Mayor Boyette stated
that deregulation would have a large impact on towns with
electric systems such as Belhaven.
Citizens
Comments
Mayor Boyette asked for any comments from the public.
There were none.
Elevation
Program Public Information Meeting - Slide Show/Video
Presentation - Mr. Reed Whitesell, Holland Consulting
Planners, Inc.
Mayor Boyette introduced Mr. Dale Holland of Holland Consulting
Planners, Inc. (HCP) and recognized Mr. Reed Whitesell
who would be presenting the slides and video showing the
elevation project. Mr. Whitesell first showed a segment
of Dream Builders, a program on the Home and Garden Cable
Channel) which did a segment on the elevation project
in Belhaven. This was following by a television review
from Channel 11 out of Raleigh who also over viewed the
elevation project. Mr. Whitesell started the slides by
showing times lines of the Hazard Mitigation Grant since
the Town's hit from Hurricane Fran in September of 1996.
Mr. Whitesell pointed out the long process of being funded
for this Hurricane as follows:
Fran
September 1996
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program:
(HMGP)Application Submitted for funding - May 1997; Grant
Agreement Received - October 1997 - $9,310,359.00
SARF (State Acquisition and Relocation Funds) Grant Agreement
Received - December 1997 - $1,133,100
Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery
Initiative - March 1998 - $597,348
Housing Crisis Assistance (HCA) Funded May 2000 - $1,188,000
Mr.
Whitesell over-viewed the project by stating that the
Hazard Mitigation monies covered the elevation of the
home only, not any repair to sills or beams so therefore
other funds were used when applicable. The project was
started with the first bid package of six units and a
second bid package with 22 units which had each foundation
drawn by an engineer. After pleading with the state they
agreed that engineered foundations were not necessary
and that the state building code would be used with larger
foundations when necessary. Mr. Whitesell stated that
this saved a lot of time and money. The bid packages were
bid in lots of 50 for the next three bids which has also
helped with the completion on the last bid package in
December. The final units will be bid through number 250.
Mr. Whitesell stated that the town has contacted the state
officials asking for additional funding to complete the
original list of 389 units. Mr. Whitesell stated that
no monies have been received from Floyd as all of these
funds have gone to the areas of riverine flooding such
as Tarboro, Rocky Mount, Greenville, etc.
Mr. Whitesell fielded questions as follows:
Mrs. Mark VanStaalduinen, resident of 759 East Main Street,
who bought a home which had been flooded in Fran. Mrs.
VanStaalduinen questioned the elevation of rental homes
before owner/occupied homes are elevated.
Mr. Whitesell explained that the object of the program
was to mitigate damage or future claims with no discrimination
as to whether a home was rental or owner/occupied. Mr.
Whitesell informed Mrs. VanStaalduinen that there was
a program through the state that offered up to 75% of
reimbursement on elevations and to contact your representatives
for additional funding.
Mr. Whitesell then recognized Mr. Amos Wilson, resident
of 546 West Main Street, who stated that he had applied
for the elevation but his name was not on the list so
he then applied on the alternate list. Mr. Wilson was
directed to contact the HCP office during working hours.
Mr. Whitesell recognized Mr. Ben Cox, resident of 1066
West Bay Street. Mr. Cox stated that he felt as though
he was getting the run around of having his mobile home
replaced through the Crisis Housing Program. Mr. Johnson
asked Mr. Cox to stop by his office.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Boyette declared
the meeting adjourned. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 P.M.
|