AUTRYVILLE — With a Christmas meal waiting, the Autryville town board met briefly Tuesday evening to address two issues — members approved a budget amendment and adopted a resolution on a pending N.C. Senate Bill.
The budget amendment gave the go-ahead to the spending of $2,525 that was donated for beautification of the town to pay for expenses incurred by the newly appointed Beautification Committee to improve the town’s appearance.
Town clerk Diane Autry explained that the auditor would not allow a line item in the budget for these expenses since the money that is spent is all donated and not considered taxpayer funds that had been allocated for beautification projects.
“We will have to do a budget amendment each time we receive donated funds for beautification following the committee’s approval,” stated Autry.
The committee has already begun work and some trees have been planted to improve the appearance of Autryville.
Former Autryville commissioner Betty Jean Cooper requested to be a member of the volunteer Beautification Committee. Committee members present stated that they would notify her of the next meeting.
The other matter of business considered by the town commissioners dealt with a resolution to seek the amendment of North Carolina Session Law 2004-75 Senate Bill 1161, enacted July 8, 2004.
This bill requires counties and cities near military bases to give notice of land-use planning changes to the military bases. Because of the town’s proximity to Fort Bragg, Seymour Johnson and Camp Lejeune, it is required to make such notifications. The current bill, as explained by the clerk, puts a hardship on the towns due to the specifications in such notices to the military bases.
“The new bill would eliminate some of the hardship imposed on towns, such as removing the certified mail notification. It also would include the additional requirement to notify the base commander or their designates, of proposed subdivision, telecommunication towers and windmills or any other activity requiring a conditional or special use permit within the five-mile area,” explained Autry.
Following much discussion from the board expressing that they did not see where the requirements really impacted Autryville, members agreed to adopt the resolution to request the North Carolina General Assembly adopt the amendment in its next session.
Following the adjournment of the meeting, mayor Patricia Williams treated all in attendance to a delicious meal with all the trimmings in celebration of Christmas.
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