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Canton approves $120,000 budget amendment to finish playground
Summary
At a July 16 special meeting, Canton’s mayor and board approved a $120,000 amendment to the recreation budget — $20,000 additional appropriation plus a $100,000 transfer from the general fund’s fund balance — to complete a stalled playground; board members voiced concern over delays and public trust.
Canton’s mayor and board on July 16 approved a $120,000 amendment to the town’s recreation budget to complete a playground project that has been delayed.
Mayor Zeb Smathers opened a special called meeting at 9:00 a.m. and, after Finance Officer Walker presented the proposal, the board voted to add $20,000 to the Recreation budget and transfer $100,000 from the General Fund using the town’s fund balance to cover remaining costs. Alderwoman Mull moved to approve the amendment and Alderman Hamlett seconded; the motion passed with all in favor.
The amendment was presented by Interim Manager Stinnett and Finance Officer Walker as a two-part adjustment: a $20,000 appropriation to Recreation plus a $100,000 transfer from the General Fund funded from fund balance. Finance Officer Walker told the board the $120,000 figure was the closest estimate she could provide based on current information and flagged that items listed as "in kind" in the Carolina Parks and Play estimate were not actually in-kind, which affected the project budget.
Resiliency Recovery Manager Scheuer assured the board the amount would cover completion. Mayor Smathers pressed for a firm completion window, saying the town "has an obligation to be finished by August" after earlier expectations for a July opening. "Kids are more important than anything else," he said, urging the board to limit spending to only the necessary items to open the playground.
Alderman Hamlett expressed concern about public trust and transparency, saying the situation "grieves me" and stressing the board's responsibility to maintain legitimacy with residents. Alderwoman Proctor and Alderwoman Mull echoed those concerns and reiterated the need to continue fundraising and oversight as the project is completed.
Interim Manager Stinnett reported that Asheville Fence Company estimated fencing installation at approximately 4–6 weeks; Scheuer said curbing would follow the fencing and that the donor wall was likewise expected in a 4–6-week timeframe. The board did not set a new official opening date during the meeting.
After approving the budget amendment, the board voted to enter closed session at 9:16 a.m. under N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6) for personnel matters; Interim Manager Stinnett, Finance Officer Walker and Deputy Town Clerk Lurvey left the open meeting at 9:17 a.m. The next regular called meeting is scheduled for July 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall, 85 Summer Street, Canton.
