NORWOOD TOWN COUNCIL
--SPECIAL MEETING--
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 – 12:00 Noon
Attendance: Mayor Harry Beeker, Mayor Pro Tem James Lilly, Commissioners Henry Thompson, Sr., Beverly Johnson, Administrator Dwight Smith, Clerk Pam Lisenby, SNAP Representative Dexter Hinson
Absent: Commissioner Harold Thompson (on business trip)
The Norwood Town Council met for a special meeting on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 12:00 Noon at the Norwood Town Hall. The meeting had been duly advertised in THE STANLY NEWS & PRESS, as well as in the Norwood Town Hall.
Mayor Beeker presided and called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. He welcomed guests Bill Johnson and Burt Slater.
Mayor Beeker announced that Board members were invited to a chicken stew at the Center Rural Fire Department at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening, January 14, to celebrate a successful Christmas parade.
Mayor Beeker then turned the meeting over to Administrator Smith and asked him to discuss the PARTF grant to make improvements at Norwood Memorial Park.
AGENDA ITEM #1 – PARTF GRANT - NORWOOD MEMORIAL PARK
Administrator Smith said Tommy McVicker of Koonce, Noble & Associates (who had been successful at park grants for Norwood in the past) had been scheduled to be at the meeting to discuss the park, but was sick. Smith stated Board members needed to look at the preliminary park sketch and make any desired changes so that he could get the changes to McVicker. Smith said the first drawing did not have to be engineered to scale and that items could be removed from the drawings after being submitted, but it was very hard to add new items.
Smith said the proposed park additions were: three (3) lighted softball fields, concession stand, volleyball courts, tot lot, playground, horseshoe pits, picnic shelter, parking, and a connecting road from College Street to West Turner Street. Smith said the cost of lighting the three softball fields would be $140,000.
Smith said the available PARTF grant money was “way down” because the money came from land transfers. Smith said, “It does not look good for funding.”
Commissioner Johnson asked why the improvements included horseshoe pits, adding there were already horseshoe pits at Darrell Almond Community Park. Johnson said she thought the horseshoes would present a safety hazard at the youth-geared Norwood Memorial Park.
Commissioner Johnson stated she recently spoke to a parent who said 140+ children had signed up to play basketball.
Administrator Smith said the youth basketball league played at Aquadale School gym.
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Commissioner Johnson said, “Should we be sending them to Aquadale? Do they not practice outside?”
Administrator Smith said we would have to build a gymnasium if they played in Norwood.
Commissioner Johnson said, “If the softball fields will be used for soccer, will they be practicing on dirt?”
Administrator Smith said they normally used the outfield which was grassy.
Commissioner Johnson asked if enough room was being left for tennis courts in the future.
Administrator Smith said he felt enough room was being left for tennis.
Commissioner Johnson asked if enough room was being left for football.
Administrator Smith said he felt there was enough room being left for football.
Commissioner Johnson said she had concerns that the plans did not leave enough room for groups other than softball.
Commissioner Johnson stated that skateboarding had been mentioned. She said that, in the future, camps could be held for the different sports, including skateboarding.
Commissioner Johnson said, “Are we placing too much emphasis on softball?”
Mayor Pro Tem Lilly said a multi-purpose court could be used for tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc.
Administrator Smith suggested removing the horseshoe pits and building a multi-purpose court there.
Commissioner Johnson said, “We need to cover anything people are interested in at a reasonable cost”, adding Norwood should “come up with a plan”.
Smith said the proposed walking trail was 3,400 feet long.
Commissioner Johnson said she was “OK” with the proposed plan, but plans should be made for youth.
Smith said, in future grant rounds, tennis courts could be added.
Mayor Beeker asked what Stanly County was doing regarding recreation, adding they needed to get involved in recreation. Mayor Beeker said people other than Norwood citizens would come to use the park improvements.
Commissioner Henry Thompson stated that Stanly County was basically allowing the municipalities to take care of their own recreational needs.
Commissioner Johnson asked how much land would be left in the park area after the improvements.
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Administrator Smith said the area included 14 acres and he felt the proposed improvements took up about seven acres.
Administrator Smith stated the bulk of the park would be illuminated by flood lights.
Bill Johnson of 474 Tranquil Bay Circle stated he was at the meeting because Dillon Frick (grandson) was extremely interested and could not come. Johnson stated that whatever was added to the park, some interest had to be generated by holding workshops and demonstrations of the different recreational opportunities. He stated he had heard his grandson and friends say there was nothing to do in Norwood.
Administrator Smith said the first step was to get the design to the PARTF grant office by February 1. Smith added there were community surveys and letters to get, and he would need some help with that.
Commissioner Johnson asked the purpose of having three softball fields, adding she felt one could be left off and that money used to make a soccer/football grassy area. Johnson asked if all three fields would ever be used simultaneously.
Administrator Smith said a church softball league wanted to start back up and they would use all three fields at one time.
Mayor Beeker said Tony Morris told him there was a great interest in beginning the church softball league again.
Commissioner Johnson asked if the multi-purpose court would have basketball goals, to which Administrator Smith answered “yes.” He gave the different scenarios of how the multi-purpose court could be arranged.
Mayor Beeker requested that the trees behind the Community Building not all be removed.
It was stated that Norwood would need an athletic director in the future.
Administrator Smith said the proposed park plan was “short on parking”, but the connecting street was desperately needed.
Mayor Beeker asked if a space could be set aside for a future skateboarding facility.
It was the consensus of the Board that Administrator Smith should proceed with the PARTF grant.
AGENDA ITEM #2 – NORWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBER
Administrator Smith presented the application of Stephen Mabry for membership in the Norwood Fire Department, adding he had been voted in by the fire department. Commissioner Johnson made a motion to accept Stephen Mabry as a member of the Norwood Fire Department. Commissioner Henry Thompson seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
AGENDA ITEM #3 – ARBOR DAY BUDGET
Administrator Smith presented a preliminary budget for Arbor Day 2010 showing expenditures over revenues by $2,900.
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AGENDA ITEM #4 – WATER SHORTAGE RESPONSE PLAN
Administrator Smith reminded Board members they had already received copies of the proposed Plan prepared by David McKew of United Water. Smith said this plan was required by the State.
Commissioner Johnson said the only thing she might add was the availability of Norwood’s phone calling service.
Commissioner Johnson made a motion to adopt the Water Shortage Response Plan. Mayor Pro Tem Lilly seconded the motion and it passed 3-0. A copy of the Water Shortage Response Plan is attached and made a part of these Minutes.
AGENDA ITEM #5 – RENOVATIONS TO DOWNTOWN BUILDING
Administrator Smith stated that the Planning Board had accepted a dark green color for the outside of the old “Something Unique” building on Main Street. Smith said it would be painted from the sidewalk up and the operator would live there. He added there would be five uses in the building which all fit into General Business.
Smith added that the February agenda would include some ideas about tax breaks and refunds for investments on building renovations.
ADMINISTRATOR’S UPDATE
1) Smith stated that Betty Harrison needed to be re-appointed by the Norwood Town Council to the Norwood Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustments. He added that a recommendation also needed to be made to Stanly County to re-appoint Bill Stone to the same. Commissioner Johnson asked if both persons were willing to serve. Administrator Smith said, “Yes”.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilly made a motion to re-appoint Betty Harrison to the Norwood Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustments and recommend to Stanly County that they re-appoint Bill Stone to the same. Commissioner Henry Thompson seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
2) Smith stated that Virgil Hinson needed to be named as alternate to the RPO TCC Board. Commissioner Henry Thompson so moved, seconded by Commissioner Johnson. The motion passed 3-0.
3) New Finish has requested they be charged half price for sewer services at their new building on Highway 52 on the south side of town because more than half the water was evaporated and did not go back into the system. It was suggested that their water and sewer be monitored to see if this was the case.
Mayor Beeker called for a motion to close the meeting at 12:55 p.m. Commissioner Henry Thompson so moved, seconded by Commissioner Johnson. The motion passed 3-0.
HARRY BEEKER, Mayor
PAM LISENBY, Clerk