July 2023

 

Village of Forest Hills Council Meeting
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 – 7:00 pm
Forest Hills Assembly Hall, Cullowhee NC
 

The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Jim Wallace

Councilmember Ron Yount

Councilmember Marcia Almond

Councilmember Nilofer Couture

The following members of the Council were absent:

Councilmember Daniel Shields

The following non-Council members were Present:

Stephanie Gibson, Clerk

  1. Call to order: at 7:00pm Mayor Wallace called the meeting to order. 

     2.  Announcements:

Reminder – Please silence cell phones for meeting. 

     3.  Approval of Agenda: Councilmember Almond made a motion to approve the agenda, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

     4.  Approval of Meeting Minutes for July 11, 2023, Regular Council Meeting:(All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Yount made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for July 11, 2023, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

     5.  Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of July 2023: (All financial reports are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Yount made a motion to accept the financial report, Councilmember Almond seconded the motion, unanimously approved

     6.  Public Comments:  None

     7.  Reports: 

Mayor’s Report: Jim Wallace – When Mayor Wallace spoke with DOT about a sign on the traffic light and they said that a sign could not be placed on the light but that since he provided a copy of the incorporation paperwork, they could install a larger sign.  Mayor Wallace said the DOT has posted two larger road signs for Forest Hills, one as you are coming towards Forest Hill’s from Cullowhee and one coming towards Forest Hills from the opposite direction.

Mayor Wallace mentioned a sign for the opposite side of the road at the entrance to Forest Hills and said he could ask B.H. Graning for a quote.  Councilmember Almond said that she would like to table that discussion until she gets some examples of DOT signs.

Roads: Ron Yount – Councilmember Yount said the roads were in good condition.  He noted that there were a couple of areas where pavement was still broken and that CWS needs to complete repairs to those areas, he said that he would follow up with them.  He said that he called DOT to check on getting the roadside mowing done on the state-maintained roads.

RPO/TAC: Marcia Almond – Councilmember Almond said there has not been a meeting since the last Council meeting.  She noted they will be having the Southwestern Commission 2023 Annual Dinner on July 24th at Betty’s Creek, all Council is invited to attend.

Planning Board: Planning Board Chair Tim Eckard was absent.

Mayor Wallace said that Tim emailed the report from the Planning Board on STRs.  They will have the next Planning Board meeting on July 31st.

Village Safety: Nilofer Couture said she had not received a patrol report but noted there were 33 - 911 calls, a couple on SCC drive and several from the hotel area and prospect, there were thirteen calls from Pincushion Lane and eight from 9 Pincushion Lane. 

  1. New Business: 

Village Social:  Councilmembers discussed the Village Social held on July 2nd and agreed that it went well and there was a good turnout.  Councilmember Couture gave Stephanie the attendance list and she will compile the current email list and the additional residents on the list from the social to try an update as many resident emails as possible. 

Councilmembers noted that the Village needs additional seating for social gatherings.  Councilmember Almond made a motion to purchase three dozen additional chairs, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved.  Stephanie will order the chairs and Councilmember Yount said that he would pick them up in his truck when they arrived. 

  1. Unfinished Business: 
  • Pavement Sealing: Mayor Wallace asked about getting a quote to seal the pavement on the non-state-maintained portion of Village roads.  He noted that when previously discussed, the cost was around $50,000.  Councilmember Almond made a motion for Mayor Wallace to get a quote for sealing the non-state-maintained portion of Village roads, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 
  • Councilmembers and Mayor’s terms ending in 2023 – Council discussed the fact that Mayor Wallace’s term would be ending this year and that Councilmember’s Couture and Almond’s terms would also be ending.

     Councilmember Almond said that she will run for Mayor but if elected, that would leave a vacancy for her council seat.  Councilmember Couture said that she         would file to keep her council seat.  At least one person needs to run for council if anyone knows someone who would be interested. 

  • Short Term Rentals:  Mayor Wallace said that Tim Eckard has been speaking to Attorney Anthony Fox about the Planning Board’s recommendations for short term rentals. 
  • Planning Board members needed – Two residents volunteered to be on the Planning Board at the Village Social, Patricia Wink and Amy Bollinger. An additional member is needed from the ETJ area.  

Councilmember Almond made a motion to nominate Patricia Wink and Amy Bollinger as members of the Village Planning Board, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.  Councilmember Almond said that she would contact Patricia and Amy and asked that they go to be sworn in. 

  • Update on Prospect Commercial Space:  Mayor Wallace said there was nothing new to report.  
  • Update on Grants:  Mayor Wallace and Councilmembers agreed that they would like Patricia to be researching grants that might be applicable to the Village. 

   

10.  Adjourn: At 8:30pm, Councilmember Almond made a motion to adjourn, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved.