Blowing Rock public meetings in 2023

Town Council

The Town Council approved an ordinance allowing staff to calculate certain residential front street setback reductions to avoid surveyor delays. The Council also accepted the FY 2022-23 audit and tabled a decision on Memorial Park Phase II funding.

• Approved Ordinance #2023-22 allowing administrator or Licensed NC Surveyor to calculate topography setback reductions (max 5 feet) for residential properties
• Accepted FY 2022-23 Audit, noting a general fund balance increase of roughly $900,000
• Tabled Memorial Park Phase II bid award; lowest base bid was $1,691,774
• Approved Budget Amendment #2023-22, Tax Releases #2023-05, #2023-06, #2023-07, and Tax Refund #2023-01
• Appointed Council Member Pickett to the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC)

Town Council

The Town Council approved a voluntary satellite annexation and conditional rezoning for the Blowing Rock Lodge to allow connection to town water and sewer utilities. The council also updated the dumpster ordinance and reorganized the BRAAC board.

• Approved satellite annexation and conditional rezoning for Blowing Rock Lodge
• Approved ordinance changing BRAAC to the Public Land, Appearance, and Recreation Board
• Approved dumpster ordinance update requiring non-compliant enclosures to comply within one year
• Appointed Tasha Brown as Finance Director
• Approved replacement of two maple trees in Memorial Park

Town Council

The Town Council met to approve the September meeting minutes, a budget amendment, and the Blowing Rock Lodge annexation. Officials also discussed town debt, budget increases since 2019, and upcoming infrastructure projects.

• Budget Amendment #2023-15 approved
• Blowing Rock Lodge Annexation approved
• Tax Release #2023-01 approved
• Town debt reported at $15 million for 2022-2023
• 2023 budget reported at $16.6 million

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council held its regular monthly meeting, approving the consent agenda and discussing a proposed ordinance to reorganize the Beautification and Recreation Advisory Committee (BRAAC) to include recreation and public land oversight. The council also received a traffic enforcement update from Captain Nathan Kirk. The meeting included a proclamation for Constitution Week and recognition of Finance Officer Nicole Norman's 16 years of service.

• Budget Amendment #2023-14 approved
• Special event permit for Speckled Trout Cornhole Tournament approved
• Fireworks request for Chetola Wedding approved
• Capital equipment purchase approved
• Proclamation for Constitution Week (Sept 17-23) read

Board of Adjustment

The Blowing Rock Board of Adjustment will meet to handle routine business, including approving minutes, installing new board members, and electing officers. The main item is a variance request for 643 Bass Lake Drive, followed by discussion of a court case.

• Variance request #2023-01 by Joseph Sleiman for 643 Bass Lake Drive
• Installation of new board members
• Election of chairman and vice chairman
• Discussion of Frazier Court of Appeals Case

The Board adopted a resolution requiring written decisions from quasi-judicial hearings to be approved by the board before filing. The board also elected its Chairman and Vice Chairman and discussed a court ruling regarding short-term rental ordinances. A variance request for a closet addition at 143 Bass Lake Drive was heard, but no final decision was recorded in the provided text.

• Elected E.B. Springs as Chairman (unanimous)
• Elected Stephen Schiller as Vice Chairman (unanimous)
• Adopted resolution requiring board approval of written decisions for quasi-judicial hearings (unanimous)
• Approved motion to send information regarding the Frazier short-term rental court case to the Planning Board chairman (unanimous)
• Approved motion to allow Chetola, LLC to intervene as a party with standing for Variance #2023-01 (unanimous)
• Approved October 27, 2022, minutes with one correction (unanimous)

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council held a public hearing on proposed parking ordinance changes that would enable future paid parking, increase fines, and allow vehicle immobilization for repeat violators. The council approved the ordinance with an amendment exempting emergency vehicles, but made no decision on implementing paid parking. They also approved a $10,000 budget amendment for increased parking enforcement through fall 2023 and spring 2024.

• Approved parking ordinance amendments: new Section 6-29 for paid parking, amended Section 6-35 for increased fines and vehicle immobilization
• Approved $10,000 budget amendment for additional parking enforcement staff hours
• Public hearing included comments for and against paid parking from residents and business owners
• Council discussed using parking proceeds for enforcement and maintenance, not new facilities
• Approved consent agenda including budget amendment #2023-12, Porsche event street closure, and overdose proclamation

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council awarded a $901,000 construction contract for the Memorial Park restroom project, excluding a $40,000 solar roof option, after discussion about funding and solar's return on investment. The council also approved the consent agenda, including a budget amendment and fireworks permit, and heard public comments on property maintenance and parking. Food truck operations at the Fourth of July festival were discussed as a positive pilot.

• Awarded $901,000 contract to VPC Builders for Memorial Park restroom construction and renovation
• Deferred $40,000 solar roof installation option
• Approved Budget Amendment 2023-11
• Approved Chetola fireworks permit
• Discussed food truck program at Fourth of July festival

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council met for a mid-year retreat to discuss various topics, including wayfinding signage, storm water fund, Memorial Park bathrooms, Main Street project timeline, town cemetery expansion, food trucks, paid parking, and the BRAAC advisory board. The council reached consensus on several items, such as bringing the Memorial Park bathrooms to the July agenda and discussing food truck feedback at the July meeting. No formal votes were taken; the meeting was primarily informational and planning-oriented.

• Memorial Park bathrooms bid summary; consensus to place on July agenda
• Main Street project timeline update by McGill
• Food trucks trial run report requested for July meeting
• Paid parking discussion
• Town cemetery expansion update on section 8

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council held a budget work session to review the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Key items discussed include a property tax rate increase, employee pay raises, and the addition of new full-time positions. The council also discussed the role of the BRAAC board and asked for updated procedures to be brought back in July.

• 5% cost of living adjustment for employees and new merit pay system up to 4%
• Tax rate increase from .31 to .39 cents per $100 valuation
• Addition of 3 new full-time Firefighter/EMT positions
• Blowing Rock Academy: hiring of 2 new full-time positions
• Continued funding of dispatch personnel

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council is considering whether to proceed with an underground utilities project on Main Street, a topic that has divided residents. The meeting includes public comments for and against the project, with concerns about cost, disruption, and prioritization of other infrastructure needs. No vote on the project is recorded in this agenda.

• Public comments on underground utilities project, with cost estimates of $4 million for phase one and $2.4 million for phase two
• Discussion of capital improvement needs totaling $48,167,500 over 10 years
• Consent agenda approved: Budget Amendment #2023-09, Tax Releases #2022-09 and #2022-04, Mayview Madness Race Approval
• Mayor Charlie Sellers addressed rumors about tax increases and town finances
• Residents raised concerns about employee parking and restaurant viability downtown

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council approved a 2023 budget amendment and a resolution for an installment purchase agreement for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The meeting included public comment on a civic association survey regarding underground utilities and a request to declare Resilient and Thriving Communities Week. The agenda also featured a public hearing for a Special Use Permit to renovate a vacant building at 8263 Valley Boulevard.

• Approved budget amendment 2023-08
• Authorized installment purchase agreement for AMI
• Public hearing for Special Use Permit 2023-01 at 8263 Valley Boulevard
• Planning Board recommended removing nursery school/daycare use from the Valley Boulevard project
• Accepted proclamation for Resilient and Thriving Communities Week (April 29–May 6)

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council met for its regular monthly meeting on March 14, 2023. They tabled a short-term overlay district request for further research, moved an Eagle Scout project to the top of the agenda, and approved the consent agenda. The main discussion was a special use permit request to create a daycare center for town employees at the Community Club Building, with a presentation on childcare needs and costs.

• Tabled short-term overlay district request until further notice
• Special use permit for daycare center at 108 Lakeside Drive (Community Club Building)
• Daycare proposed for town employees' children, not public, up to 10-20 children
• Consent agenda approved: tax releases, refund, advertisement request, budget amendment 2023-07
• Public comment suggested revisiting food truck ordinance for busy season

Town Council

The Town Council held a special meeting and public hearing to consider bids for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) water meter equipment and financing. They unanimously approved Fortline as the vendor and Key Government Finance as the financing provider at a rate of 3.8330%, and also approved the related LGC application.

• Approved Fortline as vendor for AMI water meters
• Approved Key Government Finance for financing at 3.8330%
• Approved LGC application for water meter financing
• Public hearings held with no public comment

Town Council

The Blowing Rock Town Council is advancing a paid parking program recommended by a TDA-commissioned study. The plan includes hourly rates for on- and off-street parking, a free lot at Davant Field, and a $25 fine for non-payment. Council approved instructing the parking committee to continue work, with a public hearing expected in April after a 30-day notice.

• Approved consent agenda including tax releases, refunds, budget amendment, and legal services fee increase
• Swore in new police officers William Byrd and William Bradley
• Received Middle Fork Greenway update
• Discussed paid parking rates: $2/hr on-street, $1.50/hr off-street, free at Davant Field
• Selected Passport Parking for app and enforcement software, Flowbird for pay stations