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Council hears park repair timeline, greenway grants and planning director transition
Summary
Council reviewed park storm‑damage repairs and grant opportunities, including a confirmed $100,000 award with a proposed $100,000 town match and a second ~$260,000 application that could raise total town match needs toward $360,000; planning director Eric announced plans to retire in October and proposed overlap hiring.
Council received updates on post‑storm park repairs, greenway grant activity and an upcoming transition in the planning department.
Parks director Josh Queen said the park suffered significant damage from Hurricane Helene; bids for repairs were being collected and some repairs were slated to begin Feb. 1. Public works and the town's engineering consultant submitted two FEMA projects into the portal, and staff are coordinating field assessments and bid specifications. Manager and staff said McGill Associates completed bid specifications for fencing repairs (ball fields and dog park) and planned separate bids for multi‑use court repairs.
Planning director Eric briefed council on two greenway grant items. He said the town has received confirmation on a smaller grant that involves a $100,000 request with a $100,000 town match. He also described a second application in the roughly $260,000 range that would require an approximately 50% match, and said that combined match obligations could be about $360,000 depending on final awards and scope. Eric noted the town may be able to combine grants with FEMA reimbursements for trail repairs, and that the final town commitment depends on FEMA results and grant award notifications expected this summer.
Eric also announced he plans to retire in October and proposed hiring his successor two to three months early to allow overlap for orientation and transition; he said he will request two to three months of additional salary and benefits in the upcoming budget to enable that overlap. Council discussed stormwater (MS4) compliance obligations and the possible need to fund continued support from McGill or Land of Sky depending on the knowledge a successor brings to stormwater management.
Manager confirmed staff will return to the March budget workshop with more details about project costs, bid outcomes and any recommended match funding.
Quotes from the meeting included Eric's summary of grant timing and scope and Josh's note that bids for fence repair were underway, and staff repeatedly urged patience while FEMA and grant determinations are finalized.
The discussion sets expectations that match commitments for grants could appear in the coming fiscal year depending on award timing.
