Recognitions and Presentations
After completing their preliminary activities the Council meeting started with introduction of the Leadership Vance Class of 2012. The members of the class stood and introduced themselves. The Council followed the pattern set by the school board and mimicked by the county commissioners. No quid pro quo introduction of themselves just a polite nice to have you here tonight, next item on the agenda.
Mr. Mike Ciriello’s assistant presented a high level summary of the COG’s or NC DOT’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan for our area. This same presentation took almost a half hour to cover at the County Commissioners April 2, 2012, meeting. Not one council person had any comments or questions regarding the Plan to re-work Dabney Drive or the loop road. The public will have two opportunities to review this Plan at one or both public meetings on May 15 and 16, 2012.
Bed & Breakfast Inns Or Homes
The Council next tackled the zoning code defining the differences between bed & breakfast inn and bed & breakfast home. The crux of this problem was resolved by using the State’s guidelines defining each. Mr. Deake asked what was considered minimal family ownership of ye ole family home converted into a business for strangers to spend the night. Mr. Zollicoffer, said that the minimum was 10% family ownership. Mr. Deake thought that was low and pushed for higher amount such as 25% or 50%. Mr. Deake and the city attorney discussed the ownership question with little more than few harrumphs from any other council members. The ordinance passed allowing bed & breakfasts to open across the city that are 90% owned and controlled by someone other than the original family members who inherited ye ole family home.
New business
The second item under new business section of the agenda is titled “Consideration of Approval of Tax Releases and Refunds from Vance County for the Months of March 2011, April 2011, May 2011 and June 2011.” Translation, Vance County released or refunded property taxes a year ago and Mr. Griffin failed to inform the Council so the funds could be returned to the property owners. Not one council member raised their hand to ask why these tax refunds were held for a year. Nor did the city manager offer a valid explanation for not submitting the tax releases and refunds for Council for approval last year. The Council just approved this new business agenda item without comment or discussion.
Mr. Brian Short and Mr. Jordon McMillen presented a summary of the County’s hazard mitigation plan to the Council. What has taken more than an hour to present and discuss at the multiple County Commissioners meetings has been reduced to an executive summary for the City Council. Without any discussion the Council approved the Vance County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Public comment period on non-agenda items
Mr. Mohamed Muraiz (not certain of his last name) asked the Council to help him obtain a taxi permit he had been seeking for past six months. Mr. Muraiz did not understand the delay and was not getting any help from the city’s managers or Mr. Zollicoff’s office. Mr. Zollicoffer said he did not expect this issue to come before the Council. Mr. Zollicoffer, then explained that the 1972 ordinance governing taxi service had lapsed. Apparently, anyone currently offering taxi service is doing so without a permit. Mr. Muraiz, not a person with deep roots in this area, is trying to do the right thing get the permit before offering his service. The Council took pity on Mr. Muraiz plight repealed the 1972 ordinance, without a replacement ordinance, and advised Mr. Muraiz he could get his permit in the morning. A nice ending.