November 2021

Village of Forest Hills Council Meeting
Tuesday, November 02, 2021 – 7:00 pm
Forest Hills Assembly Hall, Cullowhee NC

 

The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Jim Wallace

Councilmember Nilofer Couture

Councilmember Ron Yount

Councilmember Marcia Almond

 

The following Non-Council members were Present:

Stephanie Gibson, Clerk

Daniel Shields, Village Homeowner

 

  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 Yount made a motion to approve the agenda, Councilmember Almond seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

     4.    Approval of Meeting Minutes for October 5,2021Regular Council Meeting:(All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Almond made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for October 5, 2021, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

     5.  Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of October 2021: (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. 

Council discussed current interest rates for village accounts.  Stephanie will check on local banks for the best rates to review at the next meeting.

    6. Public Comments: None 

    7. Reports: 

Mayor’s Report: Jim Wallace – Mayor Wallace suggested having a representative from CWS and TWSA to discuss the wastewater project possibilities.

Mayor Wallace asked for a member of the council to be a representative for the Village on the Jackson County Solid Waste Committee.  Councilmember Almond made a motion for Councilmember Yount to be the village representative, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved. Mayor Wallace said that the Solid Waste Committee meets 4 times per year on the second Monday of each quarter at 5:00pm.

Mayor Wallace said that he spoke with Mike Poston about a wastewater project and potential park space.  Mike suggested speaking with Rusty Ellis who is over Jackson Co. Parks and Recreation.  He also recommended checking with the State Parks and Trail System and the Dogwood and Nantahala Trust Funds.  He will follow up when he speaks with them.

Mayor Wallace said that he had spoken to the DOT about the traffic light at the Village entrance to see if the hold time could be adjusted.  He said that they would check it and on the widening of the right lane coming out of Forest Hills.

Council had asked that Victor Lofquist be invited to attend a Council meeting in November or December to discuss the Engineering aspect required before a Wastewater project could be started.  Stephanie spoke with him and he said he would like to run some numbers and get a rough idea of what would be involved and present to the Mayor prior to attending a meeting. 

Roads: Ron Yount - Councilmember Yount said that he had not noticed or been informed on any road issues in the village. 

RPO/TAC: Marcia Almond – Councilmember Almond said the next meeting will be held on 11-22. 

Planning Board: No meeting information 

Village Safety: Nilofer Couture – Councilmember Couture said that two officers patrolled a combined 40 hours for the month. She said that there were thirty-six 911 calls on the report and noted that three of them came from the University Inn, 7 from The Summit, 17 from Prospect and several domestic calls. 

     8.  Unfinished Business: 

  • Discussion of plaque with Mayor’s names/terms:  Stephanie said the Board of Elections provided a list of names of all mayors since the incorporation of the Village and she has ordered the plaque from All American Awards.
  • Village Social:  Councilmember Almond made a motion to hold a Village social twice a year, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.
  • Cleaning of the Village Entrance – Mayor Wallace and Council discussed cleaning of the Village entrance wall, Councilmember Almond made a motion to ask BH Graning about cleaning the wall, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.  Council also discussed a cleaning schedule for the Assembly Hall every 3 months and will follow up at the next meeting.

     9. New Business: 

  • Discussion of Grant Projects:  Council discussed having the Planning Board assist with potential Grant options and noted that Diane Martinez might be able to assist.  Mayor Wallace said that he would contact her to discuss and follow up.
  • Mandatory Education for Councilmembers and Mayor:  Council discussed Ethics Training that is required for all new Councilmembers and Mayors and advised that new members need to complete the training when sworn in.
  • Road Signs:  Mayor Wallace said that he and Stephanie both spoke with BH Graning and they have installed the signs they have, another sign is needed for SCC Dr.  Stephanie will order the signage and hardware needed.

 

    10.  Adjourn: At 8:35pm, Councilmember Almond made a motion to adjourn, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.