The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Marcia Almond

Councilmember Robert Kehrberg

Councilmember Larry Ingersoll

Councilmember Nilofer Couture

Councilmember Daniel Shields

The following non-Council members were Present:

Stephanie Gibson, Clerk

Ron Yount, Resident

Jim Hartley, Resident

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

     2.  Announcements:

Reminder – Please silence cell phones for meeting. 

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

     4.  Approval of Meeting Minutes for February 06, 2024, Regular Council Meeting:(All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Couture made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for February 06, 2024, Councilmember Shields seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

Councilmember Couture made a motion to reclass funds in the amount of $3,000 from Street Maintenance non-powell to Travel, workshops to cover expenditures. Councilmember Shields seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

     5.  Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of February 2024: (All financial reports are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Shields made a motion to accept the financial report, Councilmember Ingersoll seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

     6.  Public Comment:  None 

     7.  Reports: 

Mayor’s Report: Marcia Almond – Mayor Almond said that she attended a class on FEMA through Southwestern Commission. She said that the Grant Administrator sent out an

email on applying for grants for future disasters. Mayor Almond said that FEMA funding goes to the state and the state issues reimbursements, the reimbursement is funded 75% by FEMA and 25% by the state. The Village follows the county disaster response plan.

Mayor Almond said that they advised homeowners to take photos of their homes yearly inside and out so they will have updated photos of any changes. She said that they also recommended taking photos of road maintenance suggested as well.

Mayor Almond said that they encouraged residents to identify citizens at risk in their neighborhoods.

Mayor Almond noted that the School of Government offers a lot of online courses for free.

Mayor Almond said that there was not an RPO meeting in the last month, the next meeting is scheduled for the end of March.

Roads: Larry Ingersoll – Councilmember Ingersoll said that he had called Correction Enterprises to order signs to replace those missing throughout the Village and they are working on them, they will send an invoice to Stephanie when completed. He will check into ordering mirrors needed; he is planning to meet with DOT to get feedback on where mirrors and slow signs need to be placed next week. Councilmember Ingersoll said that he had contacted Robbie Hess about installing the signs and he said that he could install them. Councilmember Ingersoll made a motion to approve having Robbie Hess install the street signs, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

Councilmember Ingersoll said that some asphalt is needed near the end of NCC Drive near Teapot Ridge. He said that Ron had patched the area previously, but it is sinking in now. Mr. Budahl called regarding the area that needs asphalt and would like to see about paying to have his own driveway repaired at the same time as an asphalt company comes to pave the area.

Councilmember Ingersoll said that as the Ordinance Administrator, he sent several letters out to residents in response to complaints about barking dogs, a dumpster that has been on a property for an extended period, furniture and rubbish outside a property, and railroad ties that have been lying on a property for a long period.

Planning Board: Planning Board Chair Tim Eckard was absent.

Village Safety: Nilofer Couture – Councilmember Couture said that the village was patrolled a total of 78 hours last month. The patrolmen currently working are Ty Foxx and Steve Sutton. She said that there were 24 911 calls for the month, and all came from North Country Club Dr., Prospect, and The Summit.

8. New Business: 

• Municipal Finance Course:  Mayor Almond said she is planning to attend a Municipal Finance Course in May that is being held in Morganton, she said if anyone else is interested in going to let her know. 

• Spring Litter Sweep – April 13-17:  Mayor Almond said that she had spoken to Ron Yount and that he is willing to head up the Litter sweep, anyone interested in participating should contact Ron for more details. Ron said that he would run a notice when a Saturday was chosen that would work best for everyone. 

• University Inn:  Mayor Almond said that she was contacted by a realtor that has a potential buyer for the University Inn. She is planning to meet with the Realtor and potential buyer on March 11 and asked any councilmembers that were interested, to join her. 

• Variance:  The property owner of 212 S. Country Club Dr., asked about the possibility of having rentals of less than 30 days, they are in an area that parking would not be an issue and they do not have a neighbor close on either side of the property. The owner has not and may or may not rent less than 30 days, they are considering rentals to traveling professionals that may stay 2-3 months. Councilmember Shields made a motion to grant a variance for the property, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, Councilmember Kehrberg voted in favor and Councilmember Ingersoll abstained from voting due to being the Ordinance Administrator. 

9. Unfinished Business:
   

• Update on Arborist:  Councilman Shields hired an Arborist to check the trees throughout the Village and said that four trees were identified as a danger. He said that two of the trees need immediate attention due to road safety and that the other two need to come down but are not an immediate threat. He said that Polson Tree was recommended since they have the equipment needed. Mayor Almond said that she would contact Jeff Polson about removing the trees and will check to see if it would be less expensive to have all four trees removed at the same time. Councilmember Shields said the Arborist said it would probably be $5,000- $6,000 to remove the two trees. 

• Seminars for new members – required course “Essentials of Municipal Government”:  Mayor Almond shared that all new Councilmembers are required to take the course after they are sworn in. Councilmembers Couture, Kehrberg, and Ingersoll attended the Ethics Training and gave Stephanie their receipts for reimbursement. 

• Update on Prospect Commercial Space:  No recent updates. Mayor Almond said that she had been to Catamount Jaxes and while there, she had gotten the name of the C.O.O. of Prospect Western and she would contact that person for potential updates. 

    10.  Adjourn: At 8:50pm, Councilmember Shields made a motion to adjourn, Councilmember Ingersoll seconded the motion, unanimously approved.