Lowell council approves YMCA athletics MOU, personnel reclassification and budget amendments

The Lowell City Council approved several administrative items July 9, including a memorandum of understanding with the Gaston County Family YMCA to administer youth athletics, the reclassification of a Public Works position, and three budget amendments.

Staff described the MOU as allowing the YMCA to manage athletics fees and programming (baseball, softball and some basketball court use) with no expense to the city; the YMCA would collect fees and provide financial assistance when needed. Council approved the MOU by unanimous voice vote.

The council reclassified the Public Works supervisor position to "assistant Public Works and utilities director," moving the salary grade from 15 to 18. Staff estimated the fiscal impact at roughly $10,000 or less and said the manager and human resources would provide detailed salary-impact figures if a budget amendment is required.

Budget Amendment #25 (minor amount) and Budget Amendment #26 (receipt of a $150,000 State Regional Economic Development Reserve Grant, with $75,000 intended for downtown parking and $75,000 for community center interior repairs) were approved. The council also approved a stormwater fund transfer to cover an East First Street repair estimated at about $28,347.

Justin Pearson, the new Public Works director, described the East First Street scope as replacing a failing 30-inch single-wall drain line with a 30-inch double-wall line, removing up to 160 linear feet of sidewalk and completing related concrete work. The funding was approved from stormwater fund reserves.

Council voted unanimously on these consent and new-business items during the meeting.