Coats board approves street closures for Chamber events, scraps most old school seats in 3-1 vote

The Town of Coats Board of Commissioners on Feb. 13 approved street closures for multiple Chamber of Commerce events and waived a park rental fee for an April Easter Egg Hunt, voted to scrap most of the disassembled seats from the former Coats School while saving 10 for town use, tabled appointments to the Mid‑Carolina Regional Council and scheduled a police-focused work session.

Mayor Chris Coats presided over the meeting at Coats Town Hall. Chamber Executive Director Vikki Ingersoll and Chamber President Angela Rezqaliah asked the board to approve street closures for Main St. Market (April 26), Farmers Day (Oct. 10–11), Treat Street (Oct. 31) and Christmas on Main (Dec. 2) and to waive the park rental fee for an Easter Egg Hunt on April 12. The board voted unanimously to approve the closures and the fee waiver. Police Chief Ken Storicks told commissioners that some officers were already committed to a Special Olympics plane-pull fundraiser on April 12 but that he would try to arrange coverage; the Chamber said the bounce-house vendor and the Chamber carry insurance, and the board did not specify any town funding amount for bounce-house costs.

The Chamber also asked whether a deposit from last year’s rained‑out Easter event could be reused; Finance Director Connie Lassiter said she would contact the vendor to check availability and any additional costs. The board did not set a dollar amount to assist with bounce-house expenses.

On the disposition of items found in the old Public Works building, Lassiter said crews had hauled scrap metal earlier in February and had received $704.63. Staff reported roughly 30 outdated Christmas pole decorations and about 50 disassembled seats from the old Coats School; the seats’ condition made exact counting difficult. Commissioners discussed whether any chairs had sentimental or historical value and whether the town could offer surplus items to residents at no cost. The board resolved to retain 10 chairs for spare use and to scrap the remaining chairs and decorations. The motion passed 3‑1: Mayor Pro Tem Marc Powell, Commissioner Shirley Allen and Commissioner Monique Warren‑Clegg voted in favor; Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert voted no.

Justin Hembree, executive director of the Mid‑Carolina Regional Council, briefed the board on a proposal to re‑establish a Board of Delegates and asked that two commissioners volunteer as a primary and alternate delegate. Hembree said there was no rush to decide; Commissioner Shirley Allen moved to table the appointments, Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert seconded, and the board tabled the item unanimously.

The board also set a work session solely focused on the Police Department for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert made the motion and Commissioner Shirley Allen seconded; the vote was unanimous.

Votes at a glance

- Approve meeting agenda — Motion by Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert; second by Commissioner Shirley Allen; outcome: unanimously approved. - Approve consent agenda (minutes from Jan. 9; attorney bills Jan. 1–31) — Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Marc Powell; second by Commissioner Monique Warren‑Clegg; outcome: unanimously approved. - Table MCRC Board of Delegates appointments — Motion by Commissioner Shirley Allen; second by Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert; outcome: unanimously approved (tabled). - Approve Chamber street closures and waive park rental fee for Easter Egg Hunt — Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Marc Powell; second by Commissioner Shirley Allen; outcome: unanimously approved. - Dispose of old Coats School seats and decorations (retain 10, scrap remainder) — Motion by Commissioner Shirley Allen; second by Mayor Pro Tem Marc Powell; outcome: approved 3–1 (Powell, Allen, Warren‑Clegg yes; Gilbert no). - Schedule Police Department work session for Feb. 27, 7:00 p.m. — Motion by Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert; second by Commissioner Shirley Allen; outcome: unanimously approved.

The board did not set specific town funding for bounce-house rentals and left vendor availability and use of a prior deposit to staff follow-up. The next procedural step is the Feb. 27 work session focused on police department matters.