City Council Meeting: 02/20/2023

Watch replay of 02/20/2023 Council Meeting:

5pm Council Work Session

Council held a special work session at 5pm to discuss the sidewalks, curb & gutter, and the fee in lieu policy. Council agreed with the staff recommendations and asked staff to move forward with a text amendment with the changes to be presented at a future council meeting.  Changes include: (1) sidewalks, curb & gutter would be required on both sides of all public streets (existing and new) except for existing residential lots and minor subdivisions three (3) lots or less; (2) amend city engineer responsibilities to approve exceptions from build to fee in lieu; (3) remove alternate industrial street standard; and (4) revise street cross sections.

Recognitions & Presentations

Mayor Kutteh announced that February 20-26 is National Engineers Week and recognized engineers employed with the City of Statesville: Scott Harrell, Assistant City Manager; Mark Taylor, Public Works Director; Devon Shelton, Electric Utilities Director; Bill Vaughan, Public Utilities Director; and Cory Sloan, Civil Engineer.

Councilwoman Doris Allison presented the Ward Three Community Award to Councilwoman Kimberly Wasson for her work in the community.  She stated that Wasson made history as the first female and first black female to serve City Council in the at-large seat.

Councilwoman Kimberly Wasson presented a community award to Third Creek Middle School students and teachers for providing excellence in diversity education through their Black History Month program. Sanna Torrence, an 8^th grader at Third Creek Middle, shared information about Black History Month.  She also shared a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

*Pictured from left: Ms. Dana Speller, Sanna Torrence, JaNavya Francis, Malcolm Wilson, and Ms. Stephanie Williams

Consent & Regular Agenda

• Approved increased security measures for the City Hall building.

• Statesville Fire Department granted approval to apply for the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

• Approved the first reading of a rezoning request for 3511 Cambridge Place.

• Approval of a “No Parking Zone” for the east side of S. Oak Street Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.

• Approval of an economic incentive for Project DuraSouth in the amount of up to $202,119 over a five-year period for a $17,400,000 industrial investment.  The project will bring between 115-237 jobs to the area.

• Approved fee changes for the Recreation & Parks Department summer programming.

• Approved total construction cost for the new Fire Station 1 and authorized staff to solicit financing proposals.

• Chief Onley presented the 2022 Crime Statistics.  View the presentation here.

• Council postponed the vote to add Juneteenth as a paid city holiday and asked staff to include this in the upcoming budget discussions.

• City Manager Updates:

• Leaf collection season is ending.  Leaves must be bagged beginning March 1.  Staff will be working on the collection process for next year in the off season.  Current  updates can be found here.

• Lucille Street closed for a stormwater project. More information here.

• I-77/Jane Sowers Interchange Feasibility Study public meeting on March 14 at Fairview Baptist Church. Study and meeting info can be found here.