The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Marcia Almond

Councilmember Daniel Shields

Councilmember Nilofer Couture

Councilmember Larry Ingersoll

Councilmember Robert Kehrberg

The following non-Council members were Present: 

Stephanie Gibson, Clerk

Dana Bolden, WithersRavenel Engineering

Tyson Griswold, WithersRavenel Engineering 

Residents: Ron and Rochelle Mau, Ron Yount, and Jim Hartley. 

1. Call to order: At 7:00 pm, Mayor Almond called the meeting to order. 

     2. Announcements:

Reminder – Please silence cell phones for the meeting. 

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

     4.  Approval of Meeting Minutes for August 05, 2025, Regular Council Meeting: (All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Ingersoll made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for August 05, 2025, Councilmember Couture seconded, unanimously approved.

     5.  Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of August 2025: (All financial reports are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Couture made a motion to approve the financial reports, Councilmember Ingersoll seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

     6.  Guest Speakers: Dana Bolden and Tyson Griswold with WithersRavenel Engineering: Dana Bolden reviewed the Sanitary Sewer Feasibility Study that they completed for the Village.  He emailed a copy of the study before the meeting, and a copy was uploaded to the Village website.  He noted that the first phase of the project would be approximately 10,750,000.  The total operation and maintenance for all phases would be $55,000/yr.  Mayor Almond said that she would discuss grant writing availability with the Southwestern Commission.

Councilman Ingersoll specified that Daniel Manring from TWSA told us at a previous meeting that they were willing to take over operating the system, thus saving us the operational headaches and costs.

     7.  Public Comment: None

     8.  Reports: 

Mayor’s Report & RPO/TAC: Marcia Almond – Mayor Almond shared that there was no Southwestern Commission or TAC meeting in August.  She mentioned that there were educational opportunities being offered on the NCLM calendar if members of the Council were interested.

Mayor Almond shared that BH Graning will be having an appreciation event for clients on September 19^th from 4-8 pm for anyone who would like to attend.

Roads:  Councilman Ingersoll said that Aaron Jones should begin work on both Meig’s Way and Cave Springs Road in October. He noted that the water repair would be completed soon by CWS.

Councilman Ingersoll said that he spoke with Garrett Higdon with Jackson County DOT and he said that their paving machine will be back in town sometime in October and they will repair SCC Drive.  He also asked that they restripe the entrance to Forest Hills.

Councilman Ingersoll said that Josh Francis with Jackson Co. Public Schools will direct the DOT to install proper school bus signs that warn of children being dropped off.  The signs will be placed a few hundred feet on both sides of Oak Forest and SCC Drive.  He said that he has not heard back from Robby Hess as to when he will install the Cave Springs Road sign.  Councilman Ingersoll ordered two “No Littering” signs to be installed on upper SCC Drive and on lower NCC Drive.

Ordinance Updates: Councilmember Ingersoll received complaints about tall grass and weeds and a boat on SCC Dr.; he contacted the residents about section 7.1, etc., about keeping the front of their property trimmed from the edge of their lot to the curb-line or edge of the roadway.  The owners said that they would take care of it right away.

A complaint was received about a van on Stadium Dr. near the entrance of Forest Hills with a flat tire and expired tag.  Councilman Ingersoll called the police and they had it towed.  A complaint was also received about The Skye at Cullowhee; there was an old mattress by the dumpster and two abandoned cars.  He met with the new manager, and she said that she would get the mattress moved and investigate the vehicles, they both had tags that expired in 2024.  She said that she would also address the truck parked near the same area that had flat tires and small bushes growing out of the bed. 

Numerous complaints were received about stolen mail on SCC Dr. Councilman Ingersoll spoke with officer Porter, and he came out and found some packages with the contents missing.  He said that he would interview neighbors.

Village Safety: Councilmember Couture said that Officer Ashe did not submit a patrol report for August. She said that there were twenty-two 911 calls, 15 calls were from NCC, Prospect, Summit, and the motel.  Seven calls were from SCC and Virginia Lane.  The calls were for breaking and entering, domestic violence, vandalism, and a repossession.

TWSA: None

•          Planning Board: Jim Hartley said that they did not have a meeting in August but met in July and would wait for updates to coordinate with Brown Haven Homes development plans. 

9.     New Business: 

•          Meeting time change: Mayor Almond mentioned that someone asked about changing the meeting time to 6:00.  Council discussed and decided that 7:00 pm was easier for most. 

•          Attorney: Mayor Almond and Council discussed hiring a local attorney to be able to contact when needed.  The Municipal Attorney’s fees for travel are excessive.  The Council will discuss it further at the October meeting.

     10.  Unfinished Business: 

•          Usage of the Assembly Hall: Council decided not to change the usage policy at this time. 

•          Contract for JCPD Officers patrolling the Village: Sheriff Farmer rescheduled his visit until the October meeting since the officer for Forest Hills, Jamie Ashe, was sick.  They will both attend the October meeting. 

    11.  Additional Comments:

    12.  Adjournment: At 8:30 pm, Councilmember Ingersoll made a motion to adjourn the      meeting.