City Council Discusses 2024-2025 Budget; Other Topics Discussed
By: Grace Smith – Wise News Network
CHERRYVILLE, NC (WNN) – The Cherryville City Council convened at the fire department on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, to discuss the city’s 2024-2025 budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The council hosted a work session before delving into the budgetary discussions.
Police Surplus Equipment
At Tuesday’s work session, Police Chief Brandon Hunsucker requested surplus consideration for an officer’s gun and badge. Major Brian Doolittle is due to retire on May 1, 2024.
It is tradition for a retiring officer to receive their badge and gun after completing their service. Chief Hunsucker asked the council to approve the sale of Major Doolittle’s handgun. He requested the sale of the gun so the chief could purchase it and give it to Major Doolittle as a gift.
The purchase will be completed through The Great Outdoors, a licensed Federal Firearms Dealer. The Great Outdoors will utilize federal firearm transfer documents for this purchase.
The City Council unanimously agreed to surplus Major Doolittle’s Glock model 19 handgun, three magazines and gold-plated police badge.
New Gymnasium Update
City Manager Brian Dalton said he met with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) regarding the incoming gymnasium. NCDEQ gave its approval and the contractors can begin grading within the next two weeks.
The contractors originally estimated that the construction process would take 200 days. First, they must grade the area and build the pad.
City Manager Dalton expects contractors to complete the building structure within three weeks of finishing the pad. The pad refers to the physical foundation for the project.
Requa Road Discussion
City Council Member Jill Puett mentioned residents’ concerns regarding speeding on Requa Road. Chief Hunsucker said most of the speeding comes from a section where Tot Dellinger Road turns onto Requa.
He recently had an officer stationed on Requa for two weeks. In that time span the officer wrote 13 tickets.
Council Member Puett inquired about placing a stop light in the area to slow traffic down. The chief said a four-way stop sign might be a better and more affordable option.
Chief Hunsucker would like to avoid the use of speed bumps because it makes transportation difficult for emergency services and public works vehicles.
Chief Hunsucker stressed that the speeding, happening day and night, is unlikely caused by high schoolers due to the timing, suggesting it’s mainly residents of the area.
With the Calico Creek cluster development coming to that area, residents are concerned that the speeding issue will continue.
Council Member Puett clarified that the residents she talked to expressed concerns about speeding rather than an increase in traffic volume due to the development.
Styers Street Repaving/Ted Mace Substation Update
Styers Street will be closed Thursday, May 2, and potentially Friday, May 3, for planned maintenance. According to Chris King, the director of public works, James Parker Construction (JPC) will start milling the area on May 2. The process might carry over to May 3.
JPC should begin repaving the street on May 6. King said the city intends to pave other roads in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
“We are currently assessing the streets to determine the condition of roads, as well as traffic volume,” said King in an email.
Styers Street will be closed from the railroad track to West Church Street.
Additionally, Duke Energy has been working on the Ted Mace Substation, located on Styers Street. The Ted Mace Substation operates two transformers, with one primarily used as a backup.
Duke Energy set up a temporary backup transformer at the substation until the replacement is delivered.
King communicated with Cherryville’s Electric Superintendent Ben Stroupe about the maintenance of the station. Stroupe said no installation date is set for the replacement generator; however, its installation will cause a power outage.
The process should only take a few minutes, according to King.
Budget Draft
City Manager Dalton and Dixie Wall, Cherryville’s financial director, have spent weeks preparing a draft budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. It was presented to the council during a budget work session on April 30, 2024.
The new fiscal year begins on July 1, 2024, following the conclusion of the 2023-2024 year on June 30, 2024. City Manager Dalton said the city council will vote on the budget proposal during the June 10 council meeting.
Representatives from most of Cherryville’s departments attended the budgeting session. Hosted at the Cherryville Fire Department, the session allowed department directors a chance to discuss funding with the city council.
How is the money being used?
Cherryville has three main allocations for money: the general fund, electric fund and water/sewer funds. The budgeting session guides the council in allocating funds to each category and determining annual spending limits.
For example, the general fund covers broader expenses, such as municipal projects.
Additionally, the salaries of the mayor, city council and various department heads will come entirely from the general fund. Salaries for positions like City Clerk and City Manager will be split up across all three funds.
The proposed expenditures for the general fund include: administration, economic development, law enforcement and fire department, public works, street maintenance, sanitation, allocation for the Powell Bill, recreation and cemetery upkeep. The Powell Bill designates state funds for road enhancements.
The only expenditure listed for the electric fund is electric operating. Similarly, the water/sewer fund will cover the water and sewer administrative pay, the water plant and the wastewater treatment plant.
Before approving the budget, the city council, City Manager Dalton, and Financial Director Wall will gather feedback from department directors and residents.
Residents with concerns about the budget can attend a city council meeting and speak during the “citizens to be heard” segment, or they can email City Manager Dalton or City Clerk Paige Green.
View the 2024-25 Budget Draft here: https://wisenewsnetwork.com/public-information under Public Information Downloads
Updates for these stories can be expected from the May 13 city council meeting. As the 2023-2024 fiscal year concludes, the city council will finalize remaining tasks and complete ongoing projects. More exciting projects are sure to come in the 2024-2025 year.
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