BY DEBBIE PAGE

The Troutman Town Council approved four Unified Code of Ordinance text amendments and changes to the town’s water and sewer policy and fees at its meeting on Thursday night. The council also approved the purchase of three new police vehicles and an economic development agreement and heard recognitions and quarterly reports from the library and Troutman Fire and Rescue.

EVCs

Council approved language allowing the construction of Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) stations as an accessory use after a request from Tesla to install a dozen Level 3 “Supercharger” EVC stations at the Exxon station at Exit 42.

Installer Dewberry Engineers approached the town for direction since the town’s ordinances do not address this type of facility. Tesla Superchargers are part of a proprietary charging network, installed by Tesla, that can only be used to charge Tesla vehicles.

Town Planner Lynne Hair said the proposed text amendment will allow only level 1 and 2 EV charging stations in residential areas, while level 3 chargers, which can fully charge a Tesla’s battery in 30 to 40 minutes, will be allowed only in commercial and industrial zoning areas.

Level 1 charging is a slow 120-volt (household outlet) process, only adding 3 to 5 miles per hour. Level 2 charging reaches 208 to 240 volts, allowing for a 12 to 80 mile per hour charge. In contrast, the Level 3 EV stations (400 to 900 volts) charge from 3 to 20 miles per minute.

Town standards specify that EVC station parking spaces be included to determine minimum parking in new development and cannot reduce the required number of parking spaces if added to existing development.

EVC stations in residential developments should be available only to residents and their guests, not the general public.

EVC stations also cannot impede vehicle or pedestrian traffic, fire lanes, or site access, can be a maximum of nine feet tall, and must be screened by a fence, berm, evergreen shrubbery or a combination thereof.

Finally, all town, electrical, and building permits must be obtained to construct an EVC station.

The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended the amendment on February 27, and the council also passed it 5-0.

SIDEWALKS

The council unanimously passed amendments to add requirements for sidewalks along both sides of the street in mixed residential, office institutional, commercial business, highway business, and neighborhood center zoning areas and on one side of the street in suburban and town residential zoning districts.

Hair recommended this change because the current UDO has no mechanism to require sidewalks along the front of residential developments built along NCDOT maintained two-lane roads outside of town limits, such as along Westmoreland or Autumn Leaf roads.

FRONT SETBACK SHELTERS

The council also passed an amendment to allow certain structures in the front yard setbacks, such as shelters over mailbox or package locker kiosks that all new development is required to have. These kiosks are typically located at the front property line of a designated open space.

This change would also allow construction of bus stop shelters, EVC stations, and other public structures. However, these structures cannot interfere with sight lines at intersections or driveways.

FEATHER FLAGS

The council also recommended language regulating feather flags in the town’s signage ordinance. The ordinance would be amended to allow one feather flag of up to 14 feet tall as a temporary use for a total of no more than 12 weeks per year, consecutively or divided up as the business desires.

MOBILE FOOD TRUCKS

Council tabled an amendment changing some aspects of mobile food truck regulations after some council members questioned permit exemptions for food trucks at fairgrounds events and suggested permits of varying lengths of time with lower pricing for food trucks for stints shorter than the current three-month permit.

The council will further discuss these issues at the April agenda briefing and possibly vote on it at the next meeting if issues can be ironed out.

FILLING SWIMMING POOLS

Council members approved changes to the town Water and Sewer Policy regarding filling swimming pools. Property owners with permanent swimming pools served by the Town of Troutman water system will be eligible for an annual fill-up price adjustment when the pool is filled with water that is metered.

Adjustments will not be made for continuous refilling after the initial fill-up. Adjustments will be made based on three- to six-month averages.

Residents are required to call prior to filling swimming pools, or no adjustments will be made. The billing clerk will adjust the sewer charge for the water used to fill the pool. Water will be charged at the regular water rate.

No swimming pools may be filled from hydrants without prior approval by the Public Works director or the town manager. Any other additions for unusual circumstances must be approved by the town manager.

WATER AND SEWER FEE CHANGES

Water and sewer fees for certain services were also adjusted to reflect higher costs and to be in line with charges in other municipalities, according to Public Works Director Adam Lippard.

Changes include water and sewer deposit fees rising from $50 to $100 for town residents and $100 to $200 for outside customers. Town Manager Ron Wyatt explained that $50 is lower than the average bill, so the change will protect the utility system from loss if a customer moves before paying their last bill.

Renters’ deposits will increase from $100 to $200 inside town and $200 to $300 outside town limits.

Deposits are applied to final bill or returned once disconnection is requested.

For new connections (including water meter) to the town’s water and sewer system, the cost for a one-inch line residential connection will rise from $1,500 to $2,750. For a commercial two-inch connection, the cost is now $8,000, up from the previous $2,500.

Water availability fees will rise from $2,550 to $3,500 for one-inch lines and $2,500 to $12,000 for two-inch lines. Sewer, based on water service sizing, will rise from $3,250 to $6,500 for a one-inch line and $3,500 to $20,000 for a two-inch line.

Bulk Water Annual Tank Inspection fees are rising from $50 to $75.

OFFICERS ADD DODGE CHARGERS TO FLEET

Police Chief Josh Watson planned to ask for three Dodge Chargers to replace three patrol cars with in excess of 150,000 miles in the 2023-2024 budget, but he was notified in February that the cars, expected in early June, were already delivered to the dealership.

Watson requested a $172,540 budget amendment to the 2022-2023 budget to purchase the vehicles to avoid them going to another agency. The cost includes all emergency equipment, radar, laptops, cameras, and graphics.

Two of the current vehicles will be sold to help offset costs, with the third kept as a spare to use during vehicle maintenance down times.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT APPROVED

An economic development agreement between CI 77 (formerly Houston Road Distribution Center by Collette Group) and the town was also approved.

The proposed distribution center will feature 698,220 square feet of warehousing/distribution space over three buildings, with two on the north side of Houston Road (340,200 and 217,620 square feet) and one on the south side (140,400 square feet).

The Class A, four-story industrial facilities planned for the site are speculative units with no tenant currently in place. Potential tenants could be involved in distribution, assembly, warehousing, or light manufacturing.

In the agreement, the company must make a minimum $50 million investment in the project and public infrastructure, including road improvements, sidewalks, water and sewer lines and storm drainage improvements.

The company must also increase the ad valorem tax base by at least $10 million.

The company will increase the town’s tax base and available local jobs.

If conditions are met, the town will pay an economic incentive over three years not exceeding $624,000.

ANNEXATION AGREEMENTS

The council approved the concept map for a proposed annexation boundary agreement with Statesville. The boundary goes north to Moose Club Road, west to Wallace Springs Road, and east to Duck Creek Road and I-77.

After a formal legal agreement is complete, the council will hold a public hearing prior to a vote.

A planned vote on an amendment to the Mooresville annexation agreement was delayed until next month to allow public notice and a public hearing at the April council meeting.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Kim Seager was named February Employee of the Month for her proactive, can-do attitude. Finance Director Justin Mundy said Seager was loved in the office for her constant smile, selflessness, and desire to pitch in and help wherever needed.

Mundy also praised her excellent problem-solving skills and her ability to master new programs. She is now training other employees on them, saving the town outside training expenses.

“We are lucky to have Kimberly as a billing specialist,” said Mundy.

J. HOYT HAYES MEMORIAL TROUTMAN LIBRARY REPORT

Library Director Tamra Hicks reported 30,000 visitors (not counting early voters) in the past six months at the library, with 20,000 material checkouts. She said the staff was also issuing library cards “like there’s no tomorrow.”

The library offers programs for families, adults, teens, children and toddlers, detailed on the website at https://www.iredell.lib.nc.us/194/Troutman-Branch-Library. Two new programs are on the horizon, including NC Reads Book Club, with free books given out in April for the next May read (“Under A Gilded Moon”) and the summer reading program “All Together Now” starting in June.

April will be “Love Your Library Month.” Special activities are planned for National Library Week (April 23-29), and a supply request tree will be up for patrons to select a tag and purchase needed items for programs, including the popular “Take and Make” kits and in-person events.

TROUTMAN FIRE AND RESCUE

Chief Wesley Morris reported that the department fielded 2,986 calls in 2022, up 500 from the previous year. They ran 350 calls in December, the most ever for the department.

The personnel also completed 5,742 training hours last year to maintain or earn certifications.

The Pineville Road Station 3 expansion and upgrades are progressing slowly because of weather delays. The footing has been poured and the concrete pad is complete for the new fire bays. The pad for the new living quarters is planned for next week. Materials are arriving, and building is expected to begin soon.

Morris is currently hiring for three open positions, noting that finding qualified applicants is increasingly difficult for his department as it is for others across the country.

2024 VOTING LOCATION CHANGE

Troutman area residents should have received notification of a change in their polling station from the Troutman library to the Career Academy and Technical School on Old Murdock Road.