Council amends agenda, delays zoning hearing and schedules special meeting for audit; adds discussion of community station rental

Louisburg ' The Louisburg Town Council on its October meeting voted to amend and then approve a revised agenda that removed a planned public hearing on zoning at the developer's request, postponed an unsafe'building notification and an amusement and entertainment permit matter, and added two items: a proposed special called meeting to consider delayed audit drafts and a discussion of the community station rental policy.

The mayor opened the meeting by noting the town clerk was absent due to illness and that staff would perform roll call. Mayor O'Neil then moved to amend the agenda to remove item 9 (zoning public hearing), move item 11 (unsafe building notification) to November, and remove or table item 12 (amusement and entertainment application) until November. Mayor O'Neil also proposed adding a special called meeting once the auditor provides the draft audit and adding item 19a for discussion of the community station across from the post office. The council approved the amendment and later approved the amended agenda.

Why it matters: The action delays a formal public hearing on zoning (the item residents later addressed in public comment) and signals the council will convene a special meeting to review auditor materials as soon as they are available. The audit drafts for 2022 and 2023 were not presented tonight because the auditor had car trouble and asked for the item to be moved.

Votes at a glance: The council moved and seconded the amendment to the agenda, including the call for a special meeting when the auditor provides information. The motion carried with all members present voting in favor. The council then approved the amended agenda and later approved minutes for the council's Sept. 9, Sept. 15 (departmental heads), and Sept. 16 (public hearing) meetings.

Community station rental discussion added: During public comment Rachel Dixon, 208 North Main Street, asked about the rental fee for the community station across from the post office. Dixon said she was "kind of shocked at the price" and that staff told her the town set a $700 minimum for an eight'hour rental to cover staff time for cleaning. She suggested the council might consider allowing shorter rentals with a security deposit instead of a fixed eight'hour minimum.

Next steps: The council instructed staff to schedule a special called meeting to distribute auditor materials to the public once the auditor is available, and added the community station rental policy to a future discussion on the November agenda. The removed zoning public hearing will be rescheduled only when the applicant and necessary materials are available.

Ending: The procedural changes were unanimously approved by the council members present; no final decisions on zoning, the unsafe'building notice, or the amusement permit were made tonight.