Cleveland, NC Town Board Meeting 6-14-2021 - Some Fees Go Up and Other Detail Items for New Fiscal Year

Town Board in Cleveland, NC June 14, 2021 involved confirming no tax increase this year as well as some increases in town fees. Other items of business mostly involved changes coming during or expected for the upcoming fiscal year which starts next month. 

Water and sewer rates go up by 5% each as outlined in the earlier special town board budget meeting. Also, cemetery prices will go up. The town is now hiring mowing at the cemetery, so the costs are higher to keep the cemetery up. Also, Mayor Pat Phifer said, "We're still half price of anybody else." He joked that someone could "buy four plots and put up a house." All voted to increase fees. 

Increased fees for the park include for non-residents:

half day shelter rental goes from $30 to $50 for nonresidents

full day shelter rental goes from $50 to $75 nonresidents

And park related fees:

security deposit from $30 to $40

line the ball field from $30 to $40

Cleveland to Welcome Two New Police Officers

After a closed session to discuss town employment, it was announced that two new officers will be joining the force in Cleveland, NC. One officer is taking a spot opened up by an officer who got a new job in a larger town, and the other officer is filling the new position approved during budget sessions and then approved by vote. Each officer will be paid $38,000 per year by the town.

Officers include:

Kasey Holte

Philip Hodge

The new officers will assume duties on July 1 which is the start of the new government year. 

Per Police Chief Jon Jessop, this is the break down for the police department for May 2021.

23 traffic stops

18 warnings

5 citations

3 warrants

4 arrests

The number of traffic tickets was lower due to a new computer reporting set up required. It was taking a long time to put through a ticket, so some fast drivers in Cleveland just got lucky last month. 

Money Matters for June 2021

Miller Davis sent a bill to the town of Cleveland with charges beyond the contract which was negotiated a few months back. Phifer indicated that the extra charges included things like FaceBook promotions for the recent street dance. He said that the town was not making a payment without a line item for charges beyond the contract. 

The cost of the town dance for June will be higher than budgeted - $2000 versus $1000 for the music. That means that money will run out for a September dance or gathering. Phifer said that a local band, Divided by 4, was the planned band for September and that the town would need to move money to pay for that.

 Cleveland Town Park

Board members approved up to $20,000 to Kepley Grading for purchase of asphalt millings. This is being used for the park walking trail. 

Commissioner Richard Taylor said that he is continuing to research options for the town park. Playground equipment is high on the list, but some smaller projects should be considered now. Taylor said that power washing, painting, and replacing doors at the shelters would greatly improve the appearance but would not cost thousands like equipment.  

Taylor said that the amphitheater really needed to be torn down. It is not in good shape and is really too small for a band to play. With the amphitheater gone, the dip in the walking path could also come off the project list along with the costs for that.

Little Green Library - Smallest Library in the State of NC

Phifer said that since we now have a library, the little green library (smallest library in the state) beside the town hall is not needed. He suggested that it be given to the west branch Rowan Public Library on School Street or to Third Creek Presbyterian Church where Dr. Fleming attended. The little green building was the doctor's office back before the mid 1960s. 

"It [little green library] can get on a trailer and ride off into the sunset," said Phifer. 

Barn Quilt Trail in Cleveland

Phifer said that the owner of the new ice cream parlor, Elsie Bennett, had given him information about a barn quilt walking tour for Cleveland. It would include murals like the one at Leo's barbershop and then barn quilts including the one at the end of the post office building and the upcoming barn quilt at the fire department. The barn quilt at the fire department is to be the biggest one in the nation, but Phifer said he did not know who determined the size and compared.

Related was a request from Phifer to take some picnic tables from the town park shelters and move them to the parking area down from the post office so that people had places to sit and eat ice cream from the new ice cream shop, Elsie's Ice Cream. There have been a good number of people stopping by and also behind the shop on Sundays for blue grass jam sessions from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The walking tour would include some signs which would help visitors find the various barn quilts. Phifer said the town needed to "invest in or help coordinate" the "cubes" to mark the locations. He said he hoped that local churches would help with the project. 

Speed Bumps/Humps

Cleveland does now have speed bumps for the road coming away from the town park. Local residents asked for help with this over a year ago due to cars speeding with kids going to and from the park. At this time, someone has stolen pieces/parts of the speed bumps. 

Future Business in Cleveland

A guest speaker (not on the agenda), Scott Shelton, spoke to town board members during the meeting. He indicated that this area is of interest to companies (although not as much as property on I85). Shelton discussed Celanese and "Christine's properties."