The Clover Town Council met in a productive regular session on Monday, February 10, 2025, to address several fiscal and infrastructure priorities. Key actions included the unanimous approval of the first reading of Ordinance 25-01, which amends the current fiscal year budget to account for missing salaries and state grant carryovers, and the authorization of over $60,000 for the Cloverdale Sewer Lift Station rehabilitation. Following an extensive executive session regarding property and contractual legal advice, the Council also approved a $125,000 transfer for critical change orders at the new Fire Substation involving soil replacement and pavement additions.
Approval of Minutes
The Council began by unanimously approving the minutes from the January 13 regular meeting and the strategic workshops held on January 24 and 25.
New Business
A. First Reading: Ordinance 25-01 (FY2024-2025 Budget Amendments)
Town Administrator Zack Lester detailed several necessary adjustments to the General Fund. These included:
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Fire Department: A $53,310 carryover from a state grant originally for turnout gear, now redirected to the Fire Substation.
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Personnel: $25,050 to cover a Streets and Sanitation worker salary omitted from the original budget and $3,200 for Clerk of Court health insurance.
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Water/Sewer Revenue: An estimated $200,000 increase in revenue due to interest earned on the $5 million sewer slip line project fund. The ordinance passed the first reading unanimously.
B. Cloverdale Sewer Lift Station Rehabilitation
Council authorized the rehabilitation of the Cloverdale Lift Station at a total cost of $60,520.90. The project was awarded to two vendors:
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Clearwater, Inc.: $40,520.90 for pumps and equipment.
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Mechanical Sources LLC: $20,000 for labor. The Administrator noted that these funds were already allocated in the existing budget.
C. FYE2026 Budget Calendar
The Council unanimously approved the proposed schedule for the upcoming fiscal year 2026 budget process, ensuring the town stays on track for summer implementation.
Staff Reports
Administrator Lester provided updates on several town initiatives:
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Hurricane Helene Recovery: An RFP for debris pile removal will be advertised soon. Councilman Easler and Jake Farr were recognized for distributing donations to local residents in need.
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Infrastructure: The AMI Water Meter Replacement Project is ongoing, and the original Stellie J. Jackson mobile building is scheduled for demolition this week.
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Planning: The Planning Commission will meet February 20 to discuss ZLDO (Zoning and Land Development Ordinance) amendments.
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Downtown: Centennial Park plans are under review, and Main Street revitalization meetings are ongoing.
Executive Session and Fire Substation Action
Council spent nearly two hours in executive session discussing legal advice regarding the Fire Substation, a PEBA service claim, and the potential purchase of property for a new recreation facility.
Upon returning to open session, Council unanimously approved a $125,000 transfer from the General Fund to the Capital Improvements Fund. This funding addresses Change Orders #2 and #14 for the Fire Substation, specifically for unsuitable soil removal and replacement, as well as the construction of a concrete pavement truck turnaround.
Council Comments
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Community Support: Councilman Easler highlighted the success of the “Scouting for Food” program, which collected 5,000 lbs of food for town residents.
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Veterans: Councilman Manos and Mayor Legg invited the public to the first Veteran’s Committee meeting on February 11, emphasizing it is open to all veterans in the region.
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Business Growth: Mayor Legg congratulated KB Cakes Bakery on its recent soft opening on Main Street and praised the ongoing work at Gallery 120.
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