LAKE VIEW TOWN
COUNCIL MEETING
October 16, 2014
Presiding: Mayor Boston Page, Jr.
Present: Council Members: Layton Townsend, Matthew Elvington and Bruce McNeil
Also Present: Clerk/ Treasurer Allison Page, Roland and Eleanor Frechette
Mayor Page opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. He noted for the record that the following Town Council members were present, making a quorum:
1) Layton Townsend
2) Matthew Elvington
3) Bruce McNeil
Mayor Page called the meeting to order and asked Council member Layton Townsend to begin with prayer. The minutes from September 18, 2014 were read. Council member Matthew Elvington made the motion to accept the minutes from September 18, 2014 as presented. Council member Layton Townsend seconded the motion and all those present voted in favor.
The next item on the agenda was Roland Frechette. Mr. Frechette began by asking about the flooding problems associated with the creek behind their home at 202 S. Main St. Mrs. Frechette stated that the creek has limbs and branches in it which cause back-up, and then cause the water level to flood on their property rising almost inside their home flooding their A/C unit as well as their vehicles. Mr. Frechette stated there were several properties around them that have the same flooding issues and asked if there was any way the Town could clean the ditch out to help with this problem. Mayor Page stated he would ask the county if they could assist the Town with cleaning out the ditch. Mayor Page also stated he would ask our employees with the Street Dept. to see what they could do with the Town’s backhoe. Mr. and Mrs. Frechette thanked the Mayor and Council for their time and Mayor Page thanked them for coming.
Item #4 on the agenda was a street light requested by Mr. Phil Huggins. Mr. Huggins requested that a street light be installed along his property on Heritage Dr. because it is very dark through that area at night and he hopes the light will deter some of the activities that transpire during the late night hours in that vicinity. Council member Layton Townsend stated he had spoken with Mr. Huggins, and he informed him that a pole was already there and it was only a light that needed to be added. Mayor Page stated he had spoken with Council member Billy Sanderson, and asked Council if they knew if the street light near the property that was formerly Mr. Zimp Ivey’s was inside or outside the town limits. Mayor Page stated that Mr. Ivey used to pay out of town water and sewer fees when the Town owned the water and sewer system, but he was not certain if the property was inside or outside the town limits of Lake View. Mayor Page stated he would contact George Hatcher with Duke Energy Progress to see if the street light in question is being charged monthly to the Town. Council member Matthew Elvington stated that adding a street light without a pole would cost approximately $10.00 – $15.00 per month depending on the type of light and lumens. After a period of discussion Mayor and Council were all in favor of adding a street light near Mr. Phil Huggins’ property on Heritage Dr.
The next item on the agenda was yearbook ads for Lake View High School. Mayor Page stated that a full page ad would cost $225.00 and half a page would cost $160.00. Council member Bruce McNeil stated the Town should at least purchase a section. After a period of discussion, Council member Layton Townsend made a motion to purchase a half page ad for $160.00. Council member Bruce McNeil seconded the motion and all those present voted in favor.
Item #6 on the agenda was deposits for the Community Center. Since Mr. Sanderson was absent, Mayor Page stated he thought Mr. Sanderson wanted to increase the amount of the deposit in an effort to deter renters from not cleaning up the facility after the rental. Council member Matthew Elvington suggested raising the deposit substantially since this was becoming more of an issue, especially since the deposit was set at a lower rate in an effort to benefit people in the community and it appears this leniency is being abused. After a period of discussion Mayor and Council agreed to keep the $50.00 non-refundable cancellation fee to hold the date, and increase the deposit for a one-day rental to $150.00 with the total paid being $450.00. Mayor and Council also agreed to increase the deposit for a two-day wedding rental to $150.00 with the total paid being $650.00. Council member Layton Townsend stated when he went inside the Community Center the other day he noticed the ice machine had been repaired and there was ice in the machine. Mr. Townsend suggested selling the ice machine because it has to run in order to keep the ice frozen, when the renter could just purchase a few bags of ice and keep it in the freezer. Council member Matthew Elvington stated if the machine were to stop working he would not be in favor of repairing it again. Mayor Page stated he had the ice machine repaired because it was worth too much money to just dispose of it, and he would rather repair the ice machine for a minimal cost and possibly sell it. Council member Bruce McNeil stated that since there was not a sound system in the building, to keep the ice machine in order to give incentive for rentals. After a period of discussion Mayor and Council agreed to table the issue until Council member Billy Sanderson could be present.
The next item on the agenda is direct deposits and bank cards through First Citizens. Council member Matthew Elvington stated he had spoken with Mr. Jason Carter with First Citizens about using the machine the Town used to process water bill payments paid with credit cards and instead using it to process credit card payments into the General Fund. Mr. Elvington stated the fee would be a $50.00 flat rate per month charge to use this machine to process card payments, as well as to process direct deposits for payroll through BOB Advantage with First Citizens. There is also an additional cost of a percentage fee (processing fee) every time a card is used, which does not affect what goes to the state or victims rights. After a period of discussion, it was determined that it would actually be an extra expense for the Town to use the BOB Advantage service through First Citizens, so therefore Mayor and Council decided against using this service. Council member Matthew Elvington made a motion to return the bank card machine to First Citizens, and not move forward with setting up direct deposit for payroll. Council member Bruce McNeil seconded the motion and all those present voted in favor.
Item #8 on the agenda was the Town of Lake View Cemetery Rules and Regulations. Mayor Page stated Council member Billy Sanderson wanted to discuss this issue and he was absent from the meeting, so they would table the discussion until the next meeting.
Item #9 on the agenda was the Lake View Fire Department and no one was present. Council member Matthew Elvington asked if Ms. Page could forward him the information on the 1% money issued to the fire dept. by the state, as well as the information on the Election Committee.
The next item on the agenda was Council concerns. Council member Matthew Elvington asked if the Town could possibly get some quotes from different companies on health insurance since there was no time during the last fiscal year to compare quotes and look for alternatives. Mayor Page asked when the renewal for health insurance was, and Ms. Page stated she believed the health insurance renewal was at the beginning of the fiscal year in July, whereas the renewal for property insurance is the beginning of the calendar year in January.
Council member Matthew Elvington gave Ms. Allison Page a check from RALI Dillon County and suggested the funds be used to purchase benches for the Walking Track. After a period of discussion, Mayor and Council were all in favor.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
