Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Interim manager highlights 2024 wins, EV chargers and roof repairs; flags budget and legal costs
Summary
Interim Town Manager Linda Cheatham reviewed 2024 cultural and infrastructure accomplishments, said pandemic-era funds will cover about $83,000 in roof repairs and reported a $1.3 million balanced budget while warning legal expenses have already exceeded the amount budgeted.
Interim Town Manager Linda Cheatham used the Jan. 6 council meeting to review 2024 highlights and to preview capital work for 2025.
Cheatham listed cultural and community events — including a Black Pearl reading and performances, the Gullah Geechee and African Diaspora Conference visit, the Silvern Art Museum opening and accessibility work (wheelchair access at 3rd Avenue) — and noted the town's successful National Register nomination process. She said the town has installed one EV charging station and expects to add three fast chargers near the art museum.
On facilities, Cheatham said pandemic-era funds have been used to obligate roof repairs, stating, "That's how we're getting the roof fixed. To be able to do that, that's $83,000." She said the adopted operating budget is $1.3 million and that the town expects roughly $200,000 more in obligated funds for the year.
Cheatham warned that legal expenses are a budgetary pressure: the town had budgeted $87,000 for legal services and "we've already spent" beyond the budgeted amount, she said; the transcript contains an ambiguous figure that was not repeated at the meeting, so the council's public comment and staff follow-up should be consulted for precise accounting. She said staff will continue reviewing outstanding charges and cases.
Cheatham closed by inviting questions and thanking residents for support of town events. The council and residents applauded several accomplishments during the presentation.
What happens next: staff will proceed with roof repairs using obligated funds, continue planning EV charger installations and provide budget updates to the council as legal and other expenses are reconciled.
