Village Notes 2025-12-08
Executive Session
The Board entered executive session at 5:00 p.m. to discuss:
Collective bargaining negotiations
No formal action was taken afterward.
Mt. Pisgah
Pisgah Manager John Dixon walked the Board through the condition of the ski area’s aging snowmaking system.
Key concerns:
The pump house foundation is no longer level, and the current pump is maxed out.
Breakdowns are becoming more frequent.
A new system would:
Use less power
Reduce overtime
Because motor lead times are long and prices increase after January 15, the Board will need to make funding decisions early in 2026.
Trustee White asked about grant options, and Dixon noted several programs that support municipal recreation infrastructure.
Trustee Brunette pressed on the bottom line: can improved snowmaking capacity pay for itself through increased ticket and pass sales?
Water Meters & Leak Detection
Jason Matt from TI-Sales (Neptune meters) presented an upgrade proposal for the Village’s water-metering and leak-detection system.
Key features:
New cellular endpoints send usage data every 15 minutes to a secure, cloud-based dashboard.
The system can:
Flag leaks or abnormal use
Monitor pressure and temperature to catch main breaks or freeze risks
Store two years of usage history for each account
Matt emphasized that the Village already uses smart-read technology. The upgrade is not about collecting more data, but about using data more effectively to protect residents and the system.
Board Actions
Bill 175-2025 – Quarterly & Budget Transfers (No Action Taken)
The Board reviewed fund transfers and year-end adjustments. Trustee White requested more detail about which lines funds were being moved from and why. Staff will provide additional context.
Bill 176-2025 – Police Interface Committee Appointment (Passed 5–0)
Brittany Sternberg was appointed to the committee. Trustee White noted that the committee helps maintain communication between residents and the Police Department.
Bill 177-2025 – Policy for Use of Village Sign Frames (Tabled 5–0)
The proposed policy aimed to ensure consistent, fair, and legally sound management of the two wooden Village sign frames in Riverfront Park. The Board tabled the resolution to review how all temporary signage is managed within the Village.
Bill 178-2025 – Cannabis Sales Taxation Grant Program (Passed 5–0)
The Board established a grant program to reinvest cannabis tax revenue into youth, seniors, and recreation.
Key points:
75% of the annual cannabis tax revenue will go into grants; this amount will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted.
The program will begin with 2025 revenue, allowing earlier funds to support other budget needs.
Bill 179-2025 – Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines (Passed 5–0)
The Board adopted the new guidelines — a collaboration between the Village, the Downtown Advisory Board, FCEDC, and Planning4Places.
The guidelines will:
Establish a cohesive downtown identity
Standardize benches, lighting, landscaping, wayfinding, and other streetscape elements
Improve accessibility and safety
Bill 180-2025 – Updated Downtown Advisory Board (DAB) By-Laws (Passed 5–0)
The bylaws were updated to allow individuals with relevant expertise to serve on DAB.
Bill 181-2025 – Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Adoption (Passed 5–0)
The Village adopted its first-ever comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan, a long-range, data-driven roadmap to guide management of more than $40 million in Village assets.
CIP Task Force members included:
Charlotte Lomino, Jeremy Evans, Jerry Michael, Rick Weber, Tammara Van Ryn, Bachana Tskilauri, Matt Scollin, and Kelly Brunette.
Bill 182-2025 – SCR Grant Contract: Storage Pod Mural (Passed 5–0)
The Board approved a contract for a Statewide Community Regrants award to fund a public-art mural.
Bill 173-2025 – Franklin County Experiential Tourism Grant (Passed 5–0)
Previously tabled, this grant for Boothe River Park was approved after staff confirmed the matching funds will come from existing DRI funding, not new tax dollars.
Old Business
Geothermal Project
No new information.
BST Audit
No new information. Trustee White reiterated that an outside audit is essential for fiscal accuracy and public trust.
Community Development
No new updates were provided.
Housing
Trustee Scollin reported on the Housing Task Force:
The group is reviewing Schedule II (setbacks and easements) to identify opportunities for adding density where appropriate.
The Development Board is also reviewing Schedule II.
Public Safety Building / Emergency Services Complex
The Board discussed the proposed combined facility at 33 Petrova.
Trustee White asked for clarity on:
The cost impacts of design choices (such as pitched vs. flat roofs)
Whether consultant Wendell’s 8% design fee is tied to whatever ultimately gets built — or if the Village risks paying for designs it can’t afford, and then paying again to scale down.
Trustees discussed:
Completing the design phase so the Village is “shovel-ready” if major grants become available
Exploring scaled-down options and other potential uses for the site
Trustee Brunette asked whether the Armory building could serve a longer-term role for the Police Department, while acknowledging constitutional and state-land hurdles. She urged the Board to start a real conversation about removing the Police Department from the Petrova plan to reduce cost and pursue a more affordable Fire/Rescue facility.
New Business
The Mayor introduced an unscheduled discussion about a satire video, describing the piece as “a political ad” and stating that he found it upsetting.
An open conversation followed, with board members and community members expressing both appreciation for volunteers and concerns about the project’s cost, communication shortcomings, and how decisions have evolved. Board meetings should not become venues for partisan videos, personal accusations, or political ambushes.
The exchange underscored the tension surrounding the Emergency Services Complex: volunteers seeking respect and updated facilities, and residents advocating for an open process and more affordable solutions.
Public Comment
Residents living near the Alpine Cannabis business by Dollar General described overwhelming odors and serious health concerns affecting their home and the adjacent Garwood POW Park. They expressed frustration with the lack of communication and action from the Village.
They raised concerns that:
The facility may not be meeting odor-control requirements
The site sits close to a children’s park, Civic Center, and nearby homes
Prior complaints have not resulted in meaningful improvements
The Mayor explained that the Village has engaged KAS to conduct air-quality testing in the park and at the residence while the facility is operating. Trustees agreed that a coordinated response among Code Enforcement, Community Development, Police, and legal counsel will be necessary once data is available.
A resident spoke in support of the Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines, the updated DAB bylaws, and the new Capital Improvement Plan, emphasizing that these tools give the Village well-thought-out plans and a basis for future spending.
A resident urged the Village to conduct a full environmental assessment of the former Pius X school, highlighting the recent Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, which notes that the presence of asbestos-containing materials, lead-based paint, and PCBs should be assumed, and that visible mold growth was observed.
