Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
The final meeting for Bryson City Town Board of Aldermen for 2021 held Monday evening, Dec. 6, was brief, and could be considered a good cap to the end of the year with the success of marking off solid waste ordinance by its approval, adopting a premium pay for employees impacted by Covid-19 and by the swearing in of the newly elected aldermen.
The newly elected aldermen, Steven Augustine, and re-elected Ben King, both took their oaths just before the meeting with Mayor Tom Sutton. Both will serve four-year terms. When the meeting opened, King was also re-appointed to serve as Mayor Pro-tem.
On Monday night, the Bryson City board followed suit with other local governments in approving funding from the American Rescue Plan to go toward premium pay for its employees. According to the plan, 32 town employees were essential workers during the pandemic with a one-time payment scheduled for Dec. 17 in the amount of $1,500 per employee. In total, the payment will account for $41,475 from the town’s ARP funds.
With surprisingly no discussion, the board also moved forward with adopting its revised solid waste ordinance. The adoption follows months of working out the details for the ordinance to help improve collection, particularly among commercial customers. Some of the changes include language that says commercial customers cannot set garbage out on sidewalks any earlier than the night before pickup and must collect the cans no later than noon the day of collection.
In other business, the board approved two property tax refunds and a water tap service on Jordan Road. The board gave the Bryson City Fire Department the go ahead to apply for a grant with the North Carolina Forest Service and also approved a bid from Ken Wilson Ford for police vehicles that were paid for from a USDA grant. Also Monday, the board approve its Town Ordinance for Title I general provisions and Title III administration.
During reports, Town Attorney Fred Moody Jr., shared that he successfully brought and tried a delinquent customer for sewer only tap in court and got a judgement against them.
Town Manager Regina Mathis noted the delivery for a new fire engine was moved to February from December due to supply chain issues.
The town has received and is now using its new recycling truck.
Police Chief Charlie Robinson said calls were up by about 100 in November 2021 compared to 2020. Officers had two taser deployments this past month, both during incidents when they were attacked and taken to the ground, according to Robinson.
Sutton commended the officers for helping with Saturday’s Christmas parade.
Before the close of the meeting, Alderwoman Heidi Ramsey-Woodard thanked the town employees. “Thanks to everyone who works at the town. We appreciate everything you do,” she said, noting it’s been a difficult past two years given the pandemic.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Next meeting date Jan. 10 and Jan. 24 for a workshop.