Winston-Salem Finance Committee Meeting - October 15, 2024
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Winston-Salem Finance Committee Meeting - October 15, 2024
The Finance Committee of the City of Winston-Salem met on October 15, 2024, at 4:00 PM and adjourned at 4:19 PM. The committee reviewed a consent agenda and two general agenda items. All items were approved unanimously and referred to the City Council for further action.
Consent Calendar
- C-1: Resolution authorizing an increase in the primary lender’s deed of trust on a loan to Front Street Capital for construction of a speculative industrial building at Union Cross Industrial Center. Approved by consent vote. Referred to City Council on 11/04/2024.
- C-2: Resolution authorizing an increase in the federal procurement policy micro-purchase threshold. Approved by consent vote. Referred to City Council on 11/04/2024.
- C-4: Resolution awarding a purchase order for four fire trucks to Atlantic Emergency Solutions, Inc. for $5,257,020. Approved by consent vote. Referred to City Council on 10/21/2024.
- C-6: Resolution authorizing additional cash flow payments for ARPA-enabled transformational grant recipients. Approved by consent vote. Referred to City Council on 11/04/2024.
- C-7: Resolution and ordinance related to the Main and Liberty Streets two-way conversion, awarding a construction contract to Sharpe Brothers, a division of Vecellio & Grogan, Inc., for $5,417,448.12 and amending the project budget. Approved by consent vote. Referred to City Council on 11/04/2024.
- C-8: Resolution and ordinance accepting a 2023 Historic Preservation Fund Semiquincentennial grant of $505,360 for rehabilitation of the Potter's House at Historic Bethabara Park and amending the project budget. Approved by consent vote. Referred to City Council on 11/04/2024.
- C-9: Ordinance amending the annual appropriation and tax levy and project budget for FY 2024-2025. Approved by consent vote. Referred to City Council on 11/04/2024.
Discussion Items
- C-3: Resolution awarding a purchase order for two side-loading refuse trucks to Carolina Environmental Systems, Inc. for $813,770. Council Member Clark pulled this item from the consent agenda to comment on the significant price increase—noting that similar trucks cost approximately $250,000 eight to ten years ago, a near doubling. He stated this was an example of why taxes have increased. The committee approved the item unanimously, and it was referred to City Council on 10/21/2024.
- G-1: Resolution authorizing the purchase of 6.14 acres of property at Long Creek Park along Bethania-Tobaccoville Road (North Ward) for $16,550 from the Conservation Fund. William Royston, Director of Recreation and Parks, presented. The property was purchased by the Conservation Fund in December 2023 for $33,100 and sold to the city at half price. It will be used for passive recreation and to eventually connect to Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Council members expressed support, noting the addition brings the park to approximately 164 acres and is a good investment for the growing area. The motion carried unanimously; referred to City Council on 11/04/2024.
- G-2: Resolution authorizing an agreement with NASCAR to pass through state Motorsports Assistance Grant funds (balance of ~$56,000) for improvements to Bowman Gray Stadium. Ben Rowe, Assistant City Manager, explained that the city originally received $530,000 in state ARPA funds for motorsports assistance. After initial improvements, the balance will be passed to NASCAR (which acquired Winston-Salem Speedway Inc.) to upgrade stadium lighting to LED for high-definition broadcasting, benefiting weekly racing, the upcoming NASCAR Clash (February 2025), and Winston-Salem State University football. Council members expressed strong support, noting the economic and tourism benefits. Discussion included coordination with neighbors on traffic and parking. The motion carried unanimously; referred to City Council on 10/21/2024.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items (C-1, C-2, C-4, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9) were approved and referred to City Council on the dates noted.
- Item C-3 (refuse trucks) was approved unanimously and referred to City Council on 10/21/2024.
- Item G-1 (Long Creek Park land purchase) was approved unanimously and referred to City Council on 11/04/2024.
- Item G-2 (NASCAR grant pass-through) was approved unanimously and referred to City Council on 10/21/2024.
Meeting Transcript
October Finance Committee welcome everybody here. We seem to have a very a very full meeting, even fuller now. We are not giving away money. So if you're here for that, hit the door to hit the door. Anyway. Starting with the consent agenda. Are there any items anyone wants to pull? I'm gonna pull C three just to ask a rhetorical question on that. Can I get a motion? I'll move for approval of the balance of the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion second for the balance. All in favor, say aye. C three if the city clerk will please read that one. Item C three resolution awarding purchase order for two side loading refuse trucks, Carolina Environmental Systems Inc. They running. Why are y'all running? They like let me out. We got out of here. Free pass. 50% of all you I know. See, Chief, this is not good for my reputation. My memory, these are side-loading garbage trucks. I'm remembering eight to ten years ago, we would have paid 250 for these. Probably. But now we're paying for I just use it as an example. In in eight years, we've gone from 250,000 for a garbage truck to 400,000. That's not two percent inflation. Anyway, if anybody questions why taxes went up, there's a good example. That truck's almost twice as expensive in eight years. Anyway, with that, I'll move the vote. Okay. Yeah. Second. Oh we can do that verbally. It's coming. It's coming up. Um we'll vote verbally. Everybody please vote. Sure. Assuming that's approved. Yeah, there we go. Thank you very much. We will now go to the general agenda. Item G1 resolution authorizing the purchase of property at Long Creek Park along Bethanya Tobacoville Road, located in the North Ward. Mr. Royce, will you just give us a one-minute introduction, please? Yes, good afternoon, Chair. Mayor Mayor Protaman's members of the committee. Yeah, good afternoon.
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