JUNE 12, 2001

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on June 12, 2001, with the following present:

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, William E. James, John J. Miller, Jr., Michael F. Moorman and Robert F. Pecht, III; Assistant Town Attorney, Joseph Whitby, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Chief of Police, Douglas Pond; Representatives of Kinder Morgan Inc., Carmine Iadarola, John Daniel, Peter Boisseau and Ross Richardson; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.

 

Absent:  Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.

 

Mr. Hardy opened the meeting with prayer.

 

Roll was called. 

 

A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, suspend the reading and file.  This motion carried by all ayes.

 

                                    KINDER MORGAN INC. – POWER PLANT

Mayor Clarke introduced Carmine Iadarola of Kinder Morgan Inc.  Mr. Iadarola thanked Council for allowing him to come and introduced the team that was with him.  Mr. John Daniel, Mr. Peter Boisseau and Mr. Ross Richardson.  Mr. Iadarola stated that the proposed power plant is called the Brunswick Generating Station and will be owned and operated by Kinder Morgan Inc.  The power plant will be natural gas fueled turbines and will be water-cooled.  Kinder Morgan has an option on 50 acres in the southern part of the County and they hope to be up and running by January 1, 2004.  The plant will have an average daily water need of 3.2 MGD.  Brunswick County will find and develop this source of water.  Kinder Morgan hopes to make a $140 million dollar investment by August 30, 2001.  Mr. Iadarola stated that they would be meeting with the Planning Commission on July 10 and the Board of Supervisors on July 18.  The Board would like to know how the localities feel about the power plant.  Mr. Iadarola asked Council for a Resolution of Support.  After a discussion it was decided that Council would study the proposal and hold a call meeting on July 9th at 6:00 p.m. to either adopt a resolution of support or deny support in order to allow Kinder Morgan to have Council’s stand before the July 10th meeting with the Planning Commission.  Council members were invited to join the County and IDA in a trip to Colorado on June 29, 2001, to tour a plant like the one proposed for Brunswick County.

 

                                                CITIZEN CONCERNS

Mr. Hiran Jackson of 603 Windsor Ave. thanked Council for the agenda package but stated that he felt it would be beneficial to put the agenda in the paper the week before Council so the public would know what was to take place.

 

Phillip Goode stated that he had a concern about a sewer bill he had received.  His mother had signed an agreement five or six years ago allowing an easement for a sewer line on her property and was given a one time free hook up to sewer.  He did not believe he should have to pay for sewer service.  Mr. Pecht stated that this matter had been discussed at the Water/Wastewater Committee meeting and was turned over to Mr. Outten.  Mayor Clarke stated that an extension of 30 days would be given Mr. Goode on his bill and the matter would be discussed at the July 10 Council meeting.

 

                        PETITIONS TO CLOSE UNDEVELOPED STREETS

Mr. Whitby reported that two petitions for closing a portion of two undeveloped streets in the Town had been received.  One was from Michael Redman to close a portion of Maple Street between Second and Third Ave.  The other was from Dennis Watson for a portion of Walnut Street.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Moorman to advertise for a Public Hearing at the July 10th Council meeting.  This carried by all ayes.

 

 

 

                                FORMAL ADOPTION OF FY01/02 BUDGET

Mr. Pecht made a motion to formally adopt the budget for fiscal year 2001/2002.  This received a second by Mr. James.  Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James, Miller, Moorman and Pecht.

 

                                                JAKE OUT OF SERVICE

Mr. Hardy reported that our canine Jake had been hit by a car and was out of service for awhile.

 

Mr. Moorman stated that it would cost approximately $2300 to purchase decorations for the rest of our poles.  He will get with his committee and report back at the July meeting.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that he had toured the new social services’ building and it was looking good and felt the improvements would be good for the town. 

 

Mayor Clarke reported that he had received numerous comments from citizens concerning the flags.  Everyone has been pleased and glad to see them up.

 

Mayor Clarke asked Mr. Moorman if his committee would look at the incentives the town has for new businesses and check into adding more incentives to help attract business.

 

                                    WATER/SEWER RATE INCREASE

Mr. Pecht made a motion to increase the water/sewer rates 5% effective July 1, 2001.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Moorman.  Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James, Miller, Moorman and Pecht.

 

                              PROPOSED WATER/SEWER ORDINANCE

Mr. Pecht stated that the town needed to adopt a water and sewer ordinance.  After a discussion, Mr. Brockwell made a motion to advertise for a Public Hearing to be held on July 10 to receive public comment on the proposed ordinances.  This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James, Miller, Moorman and Pecht.

 

                        INCREASE IN WATER DEPOSITS FOR RENTERS

Mr. Pecht also stated that the finance and water/wastewater committees had discussed changing the amount for water deposits.  Mr. Pecht made a motion to change the water deposits to $125.00 in town and $150.00 out of town.  Mr. Moorman seconded this motion and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James, Miller, Moorman and Pecht.

 

                                    RELIEVE 1992 PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX

Council members received a list of uncollected personal property taxes for the year 1992 in the amount of $206.97 and a list of erroneously charged taxes in the amount of $2,156.24.  Mr. Miller made a motion to relieve the Treasurer of the uncollected personal property taxes for the 1992 and the erroneously charged taxes.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy.  Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James, Miller, Moorman and Pecht.

 

Council was encouraged to attend the Relay for Life on June 22 and June 23.

           

                                    PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Moorman to pay the bills as presented and charge to the proper accounts.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James, Miller, Moorman and Pecht.

 

             APPOINTMENT OF TOWN MANAGER, CLERK AND SERGEANT

Mayor Clarke stated that this was the time to reappoint the Town Manager, Town Clerk and Town Sergeant.  Mr. Brockwell made a motion to reappoint the following: C. J. Dean as Town Manager for the period 7-1-01 to 6-30-02; Alice B. Talbert as Town Clerk for the period 7-1-01 to 6-30-03; Douglas R. Pond as Town Sergeant for the period 7-1-01 to 6-30-03.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James, Miller, Moorman and Pecht.

 

 

                                                ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to adjourn.  This carried by all ayes.

 

 

_________________________MAYOR

 

 

 

ATTEST:­­­­­­­­­­­­__________________