BY DEBBIE PAGE
Troutman Finance Director Justin Mundy presented town council members with a series of budget amendments to finalize the accounting of the 2023-2024 budget, including unexpected revenues as well as increased costs in some areas because of inflation and higher fees for services.
Mundy said these are “typical year-end budget amendments” for the town, but he wanted to explain them to council members.
“Overall, for every department, costs were higher simply due to inflation, and many of our vendors increased costs during the fiscal year, which we had no way of knowing in budget preparation. As a growing town, it is also hard for department heads and myself to budget just how fast we will grow in the next budget year,” he said.
The town received more revenue than expected, Mundy said, because “I try to budget revenues more on the conservative side.”
In expenditures, Mundy requested an increase in the governing body line item for the new clerk software called Granicus as well as remodeling work at the town’s 149 Wagner Street property. Expenditures for Corvid’s cybersecurity services also came out of this fund.
The administrative fund’s needs increased because the town added a new employee during the fiscal year and paid out vacation time for a departing one. Because the town received more property tax revenue than expected, it also had more tax collection costs from the county. The passport office had more business than expected, so more increased costs were also associated with that line item.
The town’s payments to West Consultants’ also increased since the town now conducts and pays for traffic impact analyses for new development projects as well as other engineering document review requirements, but Mundy reminded council members that the town was reimbursed for all but $5,000 of these costs by developers.
The police department had more personnel-related expenses than expected due to an increase in cases, including a murder requiring a six-week investigation and increased criminal activity.
The street department expenses increased with the hiring of an additional employee to help take care of the greenway, and the contracted services increased because of street paving expenses and the installation of speed humps and tables on Eastway Avenue and West Avenue.
When Republic Services took over garbage and recycling, the company instituted an unexpected increase, which cost the town an additional $210,000. Parks and Recreation added a number of new activities which created additional line item costs, but these were offset by revenue from sponsors and vendors.
The downtown enhancements line item increased because of work at the 153 Wagner Street property, and capital outlay for buildings increased with work at the Parks & Rec facility, including the prep work for the equipment shelter, the shelter itself, and the parking lot beside Town Hall.
Fund 25 increases were simply money transfers budgeted last year toward ongoing ESC Park capital improvement projects.
The Utility Fund had revenue increases in water, sewer, and water meter sales and availability fees.
“This is a direct result of the growth of the town in the budget year. Because of all of the growth, there are simply more expenditures” required to purchase meters and provide services as well, said Mundy.
Mundy also highlighted increases in contracted services by ORC utility right of way services and water and sewer engineering work done by West Consultants. The town is reimbursed for a portion of these through AIA grant funding.
An increase in capital outlay building was for the work and equipment shelters being completed at the Public Works facility.
The council will vote to approve these amendments at Thursday’s meeting.
UPCOMING TRASH CAN SWITCH
Town Manager Ron Wyatt said residents will receive notifications through various means about the upcoming rollout garbage container switch. Republic Services will begin picking up its containers this month as its contract ends, and new containers from Waste Pro will be delivered.
Wyatt warned that residents may have a few days without a container during this changeover and asked for patience.
“Expect some hiccups, but we are trying to make as few as possible in the transition,” he said.
STREET SIGNS
Aging town street signs are in need of replacement over the next year, and Wyatt said Public Works is proposing replacing them on town streets with reflective street signs with a Troutman logo for better visibility and to better identify which are town-owned and which are under DOT control, a source of confusion for many residents.
Council member Nicholas Jaroszynski suggested requiring developers install the logo street signs with a sleeve covering the logo until the street is officially turned over to the town for maintenance.
UPCOMING EVENTS
– Party in the Park is being held from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday at ESC Park. Participants should bring chairs and towels for kids using the splash pad. The event will feature live music by Dani Kerr & The Skeleton Krew. Beer & wine sales will available as well as a free bounce slide, playground, and splash pad for children.
Food trucks include Mullins Madness, BFF Truck, Village Inn Pizza Food Truck, Dogs R Us, Hanna’s Amazing Bakery, Sno Biz of Mocksville, Old Time Concessions & Olde Towne Sweets.
– The Independence Day Parade will be on Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m., starting from the fairgrounds this year because of construction at the CATS facility. Entries (no fee) are being accepted until June 21. Apply online at https://secure.rec1.com/NC/troutman-nc/catalog or pick up a form at Town Hall.
– The Troutman Independence Day Festival and Fireworks will return this summer on Wednesday, July 3, with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. The free family event will be held at the Iredell County Fairgrounds.
After finding the perfect spot for fireworks viewing on the midway, spectators can enjoy live music by Essick-Tuttle Outfit and DJ Sheldon, food trucks, bounce houses, and fun for all while waiting for the fireworks display, beginning at approximately 9:30 p.m.
No dogs, smoking, or alcohol are allowed at the event.
Food trucks on site will include Snack Shack Concessions, Hannah’s Amazing Bakery, Krazy Ice, Old Time Concessions, Southern Treats, Mullins Madness, Skinners Hot & Tasty, The Truk, Village Inn Pizza, and Vivian’s Rocking Concessions.
COUNCIL ACCEPTS RESIGNATION
The council voted on Monday afternoon to accept the resignation of longtime Town Attorney Gary Thomas, who plans to retire from practicing law this summer. Thomas agreed to continue serving the town’s legal needs until a replacement is found.
Wyatt said that the town has received interest from two attorneys and will develop a hiring process with council members as they proceed in selecting new representation.
TOWNHOME DECISION POSTPONEMENT EXPECTED
Consideration of the rezoning request by Atlas Principals for 13.55 acres located at 129 & 131 Shermill Lane from suburban residential to conditional mixed residential zoning is expected to be delayed to the July Town Council meeting after developers requested the delay.
Citing the citizens’ desire for Highway 21 south residential to be medium density in the town’s recent Future Land Use Map revision, the Troutman Planning and Zoning Board opposed the rezoning request for the 49-unit townhome development at the Shermill Lane intersection in May.
Originally, 80 units with two-car garages were planned for the 13-acre site, but developer Shawn Wilfong dropped the density to 49 units, ranging from 1,700 to 2,400 square feet, to achieve a 3.6 density, closer to the two to three single-family homes per acre currently allowed under the suburban residential designation.
This drop in density would leave 55 percent of the property undeveloped, with plans for walking trails to be added in this area as an amenity for residents. Only a 10 percent green space is required under the Unified Development Ordinance.
At the zoning meeting, Assistant Town Planner Andrew Ventresca said the conditional approval would hold developers to a density of 3.62 units per acre. He noted a perimeter buffer is planned around the property.
Several neighbors spoke against the project, citing already heavy traffic and too much development already occurring in the area.
Zoning board members questioned the lack of a turn lane, traffic impacts, and the lack of agreement with the Future Land Use Map, the creation of which had extensive public input.
The Planning and Zoning board voted 4-0 against the rezoning.
UPCOMING THURSDAY NIGHT
Council will consider:
♦ Approval of the proposed 2024-2025 Town of Troutman Budget.
♦ The Water and Sewer System Development Fee Analysis presented by Town Engineer Benji Thomas.
♦ An annexation and rezoning request to highway business for 2.0 acres at 774 South Main Street
♦ An annexation and rezoning request to suburban residential for 466 and 470 E. Monbo Road.
♦ A request from Cedar Stump Pub owner Jeremy Shaw to buy or lease an approximately 500-square-foot portion of land adjacent to his business to continue his outdoor music programs. After the town purchased the property for the passport office, officials discovered Shaw’s business had spilled over to town property.
♦ A UDO text amendment to enlarge multi-tenant monument signs for shopping centers over 50,000 square feet to 12 feet in height.
♦ Recognition of Jason Edwards as the Troutman Employee of the Month for May.