Town council to consider capital projects in special call meeting

Public survey data prompts workshop on potential improvements

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
April 18, 2023

The Black Mountain Town Council will hold a special call meeting, April 19, to consider potential capital projects with $1.1 million of surplus funding. Photo by Fred McCormick

A special call meeting of the Black Mountain Town Council, at 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 19, will consider capital projects ahead of the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The workshop, which will focus on the potential allotment of $1.1 million in surplus funding originating from the American Rescue Plan Act, follows the results of a recent online survey of preferred uses.

The board reviewed the data earlier this month, in its regular monthly meeting, April 10.

The town received $2.6 million through ARPA in 2021 and 2022, allocating it to payroll, an authorized use of the funding. That move resulted in a budgetary surplus, allowing the town to allocate approximately $1.5 million to six projects: water line replacement along U.S. 70; dam repairs at Lake Tomahawk, renovations for the Grey Eagle Arena; the construction of pickleball courts and extending the Charlotte Street sidewalk to East State Street.

Elected officials considered potential uses for the remaining money, including allocating $578,000 of it to purchasing 96-gallon recycling and trash carts for all residents of the town, which the town council identified as a priority in a March retreat.

Council member discussed additional capital projects in a March 22 special call meeting, ranging from improvements to Lake Tomahawk, upgrades of Cragmont Park and improvements to the audio and visual improvements in the board room. Setting aside some of the money to support the future purchase of a fire engine was also suggested before the board directed town staff to survey the public.

Nearly 500 people, 91% of whom resided within town limits, responded to the online questionnaire in the two weeks it posted.

“Historically, in surveys we’ve done, we’ve received about half of that (response),” Town Clerk Savannah Parrish told the town council, April 10.

Respondents were asked to suggest two areas in which the town should invest in capital projects, with 65% choosing parks and recreation and 41% recommending investment in existing infrastructure. Sewer, water and stormwater systems ranked third and fourth, while sanitation received 51 votes. Energy efficiency, including electric vehicles for town departments, charging stations and solar panel projects, registered 6% of the votes.

Improvements to local parks was identified as the most important project in the survey, followed by pedestrian improvements, with public safety equipment rounding out the top three. Trash and recycling bins, provided by the town, were in the fourth position.

Nearly half of the voters ranked park renovations as their first choice, while 24% identified it as a second option. Pedestrian improvements received nearly 200 votes as a first or second priority.

“I drove around last weekend and visited all of our existing parks,” Councilmember Archie Pertiller, Jr. said, following the presentation of the data. “They need some help. And, right now we have the money to do that.”

The results affirmed that parks and existing infrastructure are currently a priority for residents, according to Councilmember Doug Hay.

“Of course the trash cans were something we discussed at length, and they were lower on the list, but not on the bottom,” he said. “That would be a big budgetary item.”

Mayor Mike Sobol suggested the town council convene for a workshop to discuss the funding.

“By that time, all of us will have been able to look at different items and come up with own lists,” he said. “Come up with a few things each of you would like to see, and we can consolidate those and come up with some answers.”

Hay asked town staff to review estimates on potential capital projects.

“Some of these ideas are great, but I have no idea how much they cost,” he said. “So, it’s kind of hard to see how the pieces could come together until we have a rough idea of how much they will cost.”