Annual Town Council Winter Retreat

Winter Retreat 2023 was very informative and showcased exactly how hard each department in Blowing Rock is working and how much the Town is advancing. Below are each day's highlights, as well as links to each day's recordings (click the video images)!

Highlights

• 2022 Retreat Review
• 2022 Projects Update
• 2022-23 FY Mid-Year Finance Update
• Debt & Bond Update
• Fund Balance Update
• 2023 Comprehensive Plan & Downtown Development Update
• Main Street Project Planning Discussion: Water & Sewer Line Replacement, Sidewalks, Underground Utilities & Paving
• AMI Water Meter Technology Upgrade Bids & Discussion
• Cemetery Discussion - possible expansion

Highlights

• Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority Update
• Paid Parking Program Discussion: Overview, Timeline & Next Steps
• Park Avenue One-Way Traffic Discussion
• Police Items: Overnight Shift Differential, K-9 Unit Addition (with demonstration), Electric Vehicles
• 24/7 Ambulance Need Update & Discussion
• Communication Equipment Building Replacement
• IT Needs & Planning

Highlights

• Memorial Park PartF Grant Project Update
• Stormwater Fund Discussion
• Water Topics: USDA Update, Water Storage Tank, Sewer Expansions, Water Line Needs
• 2023 Board Applicants Discussion
• Town Hall Renovations Update: Employee Restrooms, Office Space & Walkway
• Employee Child Development Center Discussion
• Shuttle Continuation Discussion
• Retreat Recap & Timeline

The Laurel Drive sewer line replacement project has been completed! This was an approved project from the December 13, 2022, Town Council meeting to replace approximately 500 feet of pressurized sewer line that extends from Pine Street to Mayview, utilizing existing authorized but unspent monies that occurred due to a favorable budget outcome for funding. The line was in a state of disrepair with over 8 occurrences of failures in the past several years. After the most recent failure, it was determined that line replacement was an immediate need.

The Town contracted with Iron Mountain Construction to complete the project.

Congratualtions to Pete Gherini, Blowing Rock Town Council member, who was recently voted as Chair of the Watauga Economic Development Committee (EDC).

“The new revised EDC will reach out to communities around the county to hear first-hand what’s going on,” said Gherini. “We have a group of dedicated citizens on our board that want to make the county a better place to live.”

Future meetings will be rotated through the municipalities represented on the EDC. The next meeting will be held Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 1:00-2:30pm in Blowing Rock. All meetings are open to the public. An exact location for the meeting will be communicated in the coming days.

Town Council received information regarding vendor bids received to upgrade all water meters throughout Town with new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) equipped water meters.

The Public Works Department released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) this past month to review prospective vendor qualifications and has narrowed their search to two potential vendors. Final price quotes will now be collected, and financing is currently being sought with all final bids to be received prior to Town Council’s special meeting to take place on February 28^th, where a vendor and financial institution will be presented for Town Council approval.

This project will then require NC Local Government Commission (LGC) approval to move forward with plans to begin the project (should approval be received) in April/May. The meters will be installed systematically in partnership with the vendor selected over a years’ time following contract approval.

Look for more information to come as the project progresses!

Town Council will consider the issuance of final authorized GO Bond funds at their regular meeting next week on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. The bonds are planned to be financed via a private bank placed loan, to be closed in March should the bank offer be approved.

The financing will need to go before the NC Local Government Commission (LGC) for final approval following Town Council acceptance.

Final amounts remaining for the issue of the funds originally authorized in 2014, by majority citizen vote total $1,695,000 ($650,000 Transportation & Sidewalks, $420,000 Parks, $590,000 Water & $35,000 Sewer). In 2014, a bond referendum was passed by majority Citizen vote to issue the Bonds totaling $13 Million

($9 Million Transportation & Sidewalks, $1 Million Parks, $2 Million

Water & $1 Million Sewer).

Over the past several years, the Town has accomplished many important projects utilizing the funds. Plans for the final issuance were discussed in detail at the 2023 Town Council Winter Retreat and included North Main St. sidewalk, Memorial Park Improvements (PartF Grant Match), Maple St & Green St. Water work & Other Lines and Repairs (previously obligated).

The Town looks forward to completing the projects that were a part of the bond issue and further enhancing and preserving our beautiful Town!