During Monday’s regular board meeting, town officials unanimously approved a budget amendment totaling $187,325.
A significant portion of the amendment covers the cost of installing an antenna atop a cell tower behind Town Hall. At the board’s last meeting, commissioners voted to sell the cell tower to Symphony Wireless for over $480,000. The board had discussed installing the antenna for the town’s fire department to enhance public safety communications.
Initially, Town Finance Director Drew Holland informed the board at a special meeting held earlier that day that adding the antenna would cost $10,000. However, he later discovered after receiving the final estimate that the total cost would amount to $52,378.
On Monday night, Holland explained that an additional $38,975 was required for the installation, necessitating another amendment.
“So, it’s an amendment to my amendment,” Holland remarked.
The budget amendment passed Monday also allocated funds for additional projects, including upgrades to police and fire radios, improvements to the chapel and Lake Park parking lots, a required sewer line for the new splash pad, and enhancements to the basketball court and ballfield complex.
Other town business
In other matters, the board unanimously passed a social media policy for elected and appointed officials. Town Attorney Dan Hartzog Jr. described the policy as a general guideline for social media use, covering professional and personal conduct standards, best practices and engagement guidelines for officials.
According to the policy, elected officials may maintain both personal and official social media accounts and post town-related content on either. However, they must assume that town-related communications are public records, subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law.
“The spirit of the policy is about considering the impact before you post,” Hartzog advised the board.
