Mr. Townson’s appointment as interim city manager was a key decision of the council. The council voiced concerns about the qualifications required for the interim role, the viability of internal promotion, and the potential for the interim manager to be considered for the permanent position. The salary for the interim position was decided at $125,000, and concerns were raised about Mr. Townson’s willingness to relocate to the city and the security of his position should a new city manager be hired later.

On the infrastructure front, the council received a $1.1 million Federal appropriation for airport enhancements. The discourse turned to seeking additional funds for airport improvements and the effluent line, with plans to submit requests to Congressman Neil Dunn’s office. The council also discussed the need to update the Capital Improvement Plan with accurate cost estimates for projects and consider a threshold for including items on the CIP. A suggestion was made to move projects under $50,000 to a separate budget-managed list, along with the introduction of a ranking system to prioritize projects.

The debate further delved into the necessity of obtaining legitimate cost estimates from engineers or quotes before a project’s inclusion in the CIP, with some council members pointing out the issue of vague item descriptions. This discussion faced a two-fold challenge: the need for precise project estimations and the requirement to prioritize projects for funding, especially larger infrastructure ventures potentially eligible for grant support.

The member detailed the difficulties residents face connecting their properties to the city’s sewage system and cited instances of sand accumulation causing drainage issues. The council acknowledged these concerns and showed a willingness to work towards resolving them, requesting more information to assist effectively.

Water drainage problems were also brought to the council’s attention, with a speaker drawing attention to a hole behind the sewage plant, believed to be the origin of R Creek, and attributing the issue to poor engineering. The council debated the removal of certain projects from the CIP or the need to update cost estimates. A city staff member contributed insights regarding daily operational challenges and the priority of such issues.

The council discussed the current sewer system’s capacity to manage the increasing flow from new developments and projects, emphasizing the need for a report on the system’s status, expected by mid-April. The funding request for Florence Park improvements was debated, including the need for playground equipment and a solar-powered pavilion. A resident’s offer to fund making the park fully accessible was mentioned.

Finally, the council concluded with plans to continue the discussion on the CIP in the next meeting and touched upon the qualifications for the interim city manager role. The dialogue included varied opinions on whether the position should have the same qualifications as a full-time city manager or be open to a broader pool of candidates. The discussion also involved the timeline for filling the interim position and the attributes necessary for the role.