CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mayor John M. "Jay" Donecker

Mayor Pro-Tem John Gentry

Councilman James K. Festerman

Councilman George O. Rucker

Councilman W. Clark Turner

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:

Councilman John Henderson

Councilwoman Joan Zdanski

CITY STAFF PRESENT:

D. Kelly Almond, City Manager

Angela G. Stadler, City Clerk

Michael J. Pearce, Community Development Director

Mayor Donecker called the special meeting to order at approximately 8 a.m. on Monday, February 23, 2004, in the first-floor conference room adjacent to Council Chambers.

CONSIDERATION OF BIDS TO AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER, SEWER AND STREETS ON SOUTH TECHNOLOGY DRIVE IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK.

City Manager Almond stated that this contract would help provide water, sewer and roads on the south side of the park to get the site ready for A.F.G. Wipes. Therefore, staff was recommending that Council accept the low bid of $374,136 for Triangle Grading and Paving of Burlington as stated in the attached resolution.

Mayor Donecker asked if the City expected to hear from the Commerce Center within two weeks? City Manager Almond replied in the affirmative. Community Development Director Michael Pearce said staff would go ahead with preliminary meetings, etc., in anticipation of approval from the State. The Mayor asked if staff could follow-up with the Commerce Center if they hadn't heard from the organization within that two-week period? Pearce said they would.

Councilman Festerman made the motion, seconded by Councilman Turner to award the contract to Triangle Grading and Paving.

The Resolution as approved follows:

RESOLUTION TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR SOUTH SIDE, PHASE I, REIDSVILLE INDUSTRIAL PARK

WHEREAS, the City of Reidsville and Rockingham County have entered into joint agreements to build an industrial park in order to create jobs and improve the economic conditions of the citizens of Reidsville and Rockingham County; and

WHEREAS, as a result of those efforts, AFG Wipes, an Israeli company, has agreed to build a new facility in Reidsville to employ more than 200 people and provide a very important economic stimulus to the local economy; and

WHEREAS, in order to assist with the location of this plant, the City of Reidsville and Rockingham County have made significant financial contributions to aid in this location and have applied to the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Commerce Finance Center and the North Carolina Rural Center for grants to assist in the water and sewer development for this project; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Reidsville to award a contract, based on competitive bids, to Triangle Grading and Paving for construction of these facilities and to seek concurrence of this award from the North Carolina Commerce Center and North Carolina Rural Center;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Reidsville that the contract for construction of water, sewer and roads into the AFG Wipes site is hereby awarded, contingent on approval by the North Carolina Commerce Finance Center and the North Carolina Rural Center to Triangle Grading and Paving in the amount of $374,136.00.

This the 23rd day of February, 2004.

CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE ON SKATEBOARDING.

City Manager Almond said that, in individual discussions with Council members, it appeared Council wanted to approve the skateboarding ordinance as proposed with the elimination of Section 12-103 (d). That section requires skateboarders to go by the Parks and Recreation Department and sign a facility authorization release and hold harmless agreement.

It was agreed by Council members that this was not necessary. The City would not be held liable for injuries if it posted the necessary signage with rules and regulations.

Councilman Turner made the motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Gentry, that the ordinance be approved with the deletion of letter "d" and No. 1 on the list of rules and regulations.

Councilman Festerman said he wanted Parks and Recreation staff to understand that the elimination of this part of the ordinance was not meant in any way to lessen the department's role. Councilman Rucker noted that the section was not needed, but had been added as an additional precaution.

The motion was then unanimously approved in a 5-0 vote. (A COPY OF THE ORDINANCE IS HEREIN INCORPORATED AND MADE A PART OF THESE MINUTES.)

The Rules and Regulations are as follows:

Reidsville Parks and Recreation Department’s Skate Park
Rules and Regulations

1. Safety equipment must be worn at all times. Skateboarders are required to wear a buckled helmet, elbow pads and knee pads.
2. Skateboard must be in good working condition.
3. Only one person per skateboard.
4. Skateboards are allowed in designated areas only.
5. Skate area is closed during designated hours. Usage when CLOSED IS TREASPASSING.
6. Skate area is closed during rain or snow.
7. No bicycles are permitted in the skateboard area.
8. No food or beverages are allowed in the skateboard area.
9. Reckless or dangerous skaters will be requested to leave the skating area and the premises immediately.
10. Profanity and vulgar dress or behavior will not be tolerated and will result in suspension of privileges and temporary closure of facility.
11. Exact hours of operation will be posted by the Parks and Recreation Department. Skate Park may be closed at anytime for any reason such as weather, scheduling conflicts, holidays, or failure to comply with rules and regulations.
    

OTHER BUSINESS.

Shell Building for Industrial Park.

Mayor Donecker said he feels like the Rockingham County Partnership for Economic & Tourism Development should build a shell building in Reidsville since the City stepped aside, at the Committee of 100's request, to allow the organization to build one in Eden.

The Mayor said he would like for a letter to be sent to the Partnership to "start the ball rolling." The Mayor noted that the Partnership has said it doesn't want to build any more shell buildings, but that was said after Reidsville had stepped aside to let Eden go ahead in the rotation.

City Manager Almond noted that the shell building in Reidsville had been the most successful one, especially in terms of getting someone into it quickly.

Following a question from Councilman Festerman, City Manager Almond explained how financing is done for such buildings.

The Mayor talked of the Partnership needing to coordinate such an effort. Councilman Festerman asked if the Council needed to talk about things such as the size of the building or is that left up to the Partnership? It appeared to be the consensus of Council to leave such details up to the Partnership. City Manager Almond noted that there were several smaller lots at the industrial park that the Partnership could build on. Councilman Turner stated that having a shell building on site would help with visibility of the industrial park.

It was agreed that staff would draft a letter for Councilman Festerman's signature (as liaison to the Partnership board) to start the ball rolling.

Before ending this discussion, City Manager Almond updated Council members briefly on a few economic development possibilities.

Councilman Turner then made the motion, seconded by Councilman Rucker and unanimously approved by Council in a 5-0 vote, to adjourn at approximately 8:13 a.m.

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