Board of Commissioners — Cornelius, NC
Date: 2025-02-23

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
 February 3, 2025
 MINUTES


PRE-MEETING - 5:00PM
Mayor Washam called the Pre-meeting to order at 5:06PM and introduced James Estes the Regional
Director for U.S. Congressman Tim Moore’s office. Mr. Estes stated that he looked forward to
representing Congressman Moore in the office space being provided at Town Hall.

 Agenda Review
 Manager Grant gave an overview of the 6PM agenda.

 Communications Plan Update
 Public Information Officer Emma Mondo presented the Communications Plan goals, the increase
 in public reach, the strategic messaging and expanding that messaging, growing connections to
 share information, controlling the content, and additional goals for 2025.

 The Board discussed different options for educating residents that are not aware of the processes
 for development, what approved projects are vested but not yet built and then how to effectively
 communicate the information to the public.

 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) Update
 Deputy Manager Herron explained that the MTP is updated at CRTPO every 5 years using the
 MTP roadway ranking methodology. He presented the three-step project development process for
 CTP, MTP and TIP. The projects that are safe and automatically included in the MTP were
 identified, as well as current projects that will be rescored/reconsidered and new projects for
 consideration.

Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to adjourn the Pre-meeting at 6:04PM. Commissioner
Osborne seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

REGULAR MEETING - 6:00PM

1. CALL TO ORDER
 Mayor Washam called the meeting to order at 6:14PM.

2. DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
 All commissioners were present at the meeting.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner
 Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.


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4. MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
 Mayor Washam led the pledge after a moment of silence was observed.

5. CITIZEN CONCERNS/COMMENTS
 Mayor Washam invited the public to speak, and the following were heard:

 Bill Fountain – 20524 Deep Cove Court, expressed his concerns with CMS scholastics.

 James Estes the Regional Director for U.S. Congressman Tim Moore introduced himself and
 stated that he looked forward to representing Congressman Moore in office space located in Town
 Hall.

6. REPORTS
 Commissioner Osborne reported on the following:
 • The Lake Norman Chamber will be hosting an AI Summit on March 5th at the Cain Center
 for the Arts (9AM-6PM).

 Manager Grant reported on the following:
 • The Board and town staff will hold a FY26 Budget Planning Session on February 6th at the
 Cain Center for the Arts (9AM-5PM).
 • The State of the Town Address will be held on February 11th at the Cain Center for the
 Arts (6:30PM).

7. MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS
 A. Black History Month
 Mayor Washam took the opportunity to recognize a recent article in the February edition of
 Our State on Potts Barber Shop and the history behind it. He then presented the 2025 Black
 History Month Proclamation to members of the Smithville Community Coalition.

8. PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION
 A. FY26 Budget Public Comment Session
 Manager Grant explained that the FY26 budget preparation process has begun and as part of
 the process, citizens are given a formal opportunity to give their feedback at the beginning of
 the process prior to the development of the draft budget.

 Mayor Washam invited the public to speak. There were no comments.

9. OUTGOING ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER RECOGNITION
 A. Recognition of Outgoing Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Chris Kolkhorst
 Parks Director Fitzsimmons recognized Mr. Kolkhorst for his service on the Parks
 Commission since 2016, including serving as its Chair since 2022. He explained that through
 his tenure, he also served on the PRC's Programs, Fees & Facilities, Regional Partnerships,
 and Strategic Planning & Long-Range Finance committees.

 The Board thanked Mr. Kolkhorst for his dedicated service on the Parks Commission.

10. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL
 A. Parks and Recreation Commission Appointments
 Parks Director Fitzsimmons gave an overview of the appointments to the Parks Commission
 for full terms to run February 2025 - January 2028. On January 9, 2025, the Parks
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 Commission unanimously recommended the appointments of Jeff Jones to fill Seat 3 and
 Steve True to fill Seat 5.

 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to appoint Jeff Jones and Steve True to the Parks
 Commission as presented. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed
 unanimously, 5-0.

 B. Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Appointment
 Parks Director Fitzsimmon stated that the Parks Commission unanimously approved the
 chair appointment of Trey Fouche to run through January 2026, which is the end of his term
 limit. Mr. Fouche has served as a commissioner on the Parks Commission since September
 2017 and through his tenure, he has also served on the PRC's Programs, Fees & Facilities,
 Regional Partnerships, and Strategic Planning & Long-Range Finance (SPLRF) committees,
 as well as chaired the SPLRF committee since 2022.

 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to appoint Trey Fouche as the chairperson of the
 Parks Commission as presented. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed
 unanimously, 5-0.

 C. Planning Board, Transportation Advisory Board, and Architectural Review Board
 Appointments
 Planning Director Burhans presented the following 3-year term reappointments for
 consideration:
 • Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, and Watershed Review Board
 o Phil Bechtold, Seat 6 and Chairperson for a 1-year term
 o Mamie Lee, Seat 9
 • Transportation Advisory Board
 o Lou Raymond as Chairperson for a 1-year term
 o Donna Galinsky, Seat 1
 o Scott Reynolds, Seat 3
 o Richard Rohr, Seat 8
 • Architectural Review Board
 o Rick Kamakaris as Chairperson for a 1-year term
 o Mary Issacs, Seat 2
 o Teresa Hawkins, Seat 6

 Commissioner Osborne made a motion to reappoint Planning Board members Phil Bechtold
 (member/chairperson) and Mamie Lee. Reappoint TAB members Lou Raymond
 (member/chairperson), Donna Galinsky, Scott Reynolds, and Richard Rohr. Reappoint ARB
 members Rick Kamakaris (member/chairperson), Mary Issacs, Teresa Hawkins. Commissioner
 Sansbury seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

11. CONSENT AGENDA
 A. Approve Closed Session Minutes – Jan. 21st (Approved 5-0)
 B. Approve Regular Meeting Minutes – Jan. 21st (Approved 5-0)

 Commissioner Johnson made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
 Commissioner Carney seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.


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12. COMMISSIONER CONCERNS
 No concerns were expressed.

13. ADJOURNMENT
 There being no further business to discuss, Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to adjourn the
 meeting at 6:52PM. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-
 0.

 Approved this 17th day of February 2025.



 ATTEST: Woody Washam, Jr., Mayor



 Lori A Harrell, Town Clerk




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