BY DEBBIE PAGE
Troutman Police Chief Josh Watson and Parks and Recreation Director Emily Watson were recognized on Thursday evening for saving the life of a runner whose heart stopped during Sunday’s Sprint into Spring race.
The runner crossed the finish line and collapsed with no pulse or respiration. The Watsons, with the help of an ER nurse and another bystander, administered CPR until the town’s AED was deployed twice by Chief Watson, restoring the heartbeat by the time the ambulance arrived.
Town Manager Ron Wyatt thanked the pair for their efforts in saving the man, who is now recovering. Wyatt also recognized Emily Watson’s efforts in pushing staff training in CPR and first aid and acquiring the AED for the town.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Associate Planner Andrew Ventresca was recognized as February’s Employee of the Month by his supervisor, Town Planner Lynne Hair, who said Ventresca deserved the honor every month. “He consistently goes above and beyond when it comes to serving the town,” she said.
Ventresca, she explained, “provides excellent customer service to our residents and development community. Comments I often hear about Andrew are about how prompt and professional he is and that he provides excellent, helpful information with kindness and a touch of humor.”
Hair also praised Ventresca’s transportation expertise, exemplified by his service as vice chair of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization technical coordinating committee.
“He helped the town secure a grant that allowed us to draft an up-to-date Mobility Plan, which we in turn used to secure funding ($2 million) for the improvement of the intersection of Old Mountain Road, Murdock, and Highway 21.”
C.R. ONSRUD RECOGNITION
CR Onsrud was recognized for receiving the NC Chamber of Commerce award in the Medium to Large Business Category for “The Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina.” Mayor Teross Young was thrilled to see a Troutman business get this recognition when he attended the N.C. Chamber of Commerce awards in Raleigh on March 5.
The company produces CNC machines for various industries that perform wood, metal, composite, and plastic cutting. Each machine is custom made to meet the specific customer needs of the largest brands in the world.
CEO Tom Onsrud said his company “makes cool stuff that makes cool stuff. There’s a decent chance your kitchen cabinets were made on our machines, a lot of the furniture in your house.”
“If you fly in an airplane, a big chance that a lot of those parts were made on our equipment — everything from hypersonic missile nose cones and a lot of aerospace advancements — and it’s all right here in Troutman, American made.”
Director of Sales and Business Development Jeff Onsrud noted that the company received the award “because of all the great people that work at our facility, many of whom live right here in Troutman or in the surrounding cities. We appreciate everybody that helps us make the great products that are known all over the world.”
The company started with 30 people making parts and then expanded to building the CNC and other machines that make the parts for worldwide industries. Onsrud now employs 230, but when its new 67,000-square-foot building is complete, the company will hire another 100 employees.
Wyatt praised the five-generation family-owned company for its vision to create these custom machines and for the jobs that help the Troutman community grow.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council approved:
♦ Salih Boysa’s annexation and rezoning request for 4 acres off Semi Drive from suburban residential to town residential to match his adjoining properties, on which he plans to build 18 single-family homes.
♦ An amendment to its remote participation policy for Town Council members that removes a rule forbidding participation of members during public hearings or voting on zoning issues and a provision that stated a remote vote of a member is not allowed if the deciding vote and that the motion must be continued to the next meeting when the deciding vote member is present.
♦ A request from the Troutman Exchange Club to hold its second annual Walk of Heroes community flag display event from Armed Services Day through Memorial Day along the Richardson Greenway.
♦ A high-density watershed permit for “The Doryian,” a senior apartment project to be located on the southwest corner of Talley and Lytton streets.
♦ A fee In lieu of sidewalk requested by Urban Design Partners on behalf of Shinn Farms for a portion of sidewalk along Weathers Creek Road.
♦ A town policy requiring Planning Board training for new members.
♦ A Southern Corrosion Company water tank maintenance contract for $44,091 for the first year of service, with subsequent years rising to the total of the prior year’s cost plus the percentage of change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
♦ An agreement for a temporary employment position to purge outdated records.
♦ A text amendment to the parking provisions of Troutman’s UDO that creates a new section requiring commercial parking lot maintenance.
♦ Approved George Harris for a three-year term on the Design Review Board.
“Good job” and “thank you” to the Watsons for helping the heart attack victim at the Spring Race. Could some recognition also be given to the ER nurse and the bystander who administered CPR?
On another note, it seems that much time at town council meetings is designated for town employees patting each other on the back, such as “employee of the month” etc. That needs to be done in staff meetings and keep the council meetings focused on critical agenda items. Perhaps some training is in order?
Looks like Ron Wyatt’s buddy George Harris always has a place while he’s town manager!