Sawmills public meetings in 2025
10 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Town Council
The Sawmills Town Council approved an amended Grant Project Ordinance for Helene disaster response, including a $330,000 fund balance appropriation for potential tree removal costs not covered by FEMA. The council also authorized the town manager to hire a Fire Chief to support the ongoing merger with the Sawmills Fire Department, and approved an MOU with the fire department contingent on their signatures. Other actions included adding Ben Willis as an authorized representative for the BRIC grant, adopting the NCDCNR records schedule, and approving the 2026 holiday/disconnect schedule and meeting calendar.
- Approved amended Grant Project Ordinance for Helene response with $330,000 appropriation (unanimous)
- Authorized Town Manager to hire a Fire Chief for fire department merger (unanimous)
- Approved MOU with Sawmills Fire Department, contingent on their signatures (unanimous)
- Approved adding Ben Willis as authorized representative for BRIC grant (unanimous)
- Adopted NCDCNR General and Program Records Schedule (unanimous)
- Approved 2026 Holiday and Disconnect Schedule (unanimous)
- Adopted 2026 Meeting Calendar (unanimous)
Town Council
The Sawmills Town Council approved the reappointment of David Powell, Kelly Price, and Reed Lingerfelt, and the appointment of David McKee to the Planning Board. The council also gave consensus to donate surplus computers to staff who use them, with no maintenance provided by the town. No other substantive decisions were made; the meeting included routine approvals of the agenda and prior minutes.
- Approved Planning Board reappointments for David Powell, Kelly Price, Reed Lingerfelt (unanimous)
- Approved Planning Board appointment of David McKee (unanimous)
- Consented to donate surplus computers to staff, no maintenance provided (consensus)
Town Council
The Sawmills Town Council met on September 16, 2025, and took several actions. They approved the agenda, minutes from previous meetings, and appointed Kathy Johnson as clerk for the meeting. The council directed staff to begin a title search on a property at 1956 Jody Dr. and to address code violations at a gas station and a metal building on Spartan Drive. They also supported a $200 donation to a Pfeiffer University softball player's family and tabled the Recycle Rewards recognition item.
- Appointed Kathy Johnson as clerk for the meeting (unanimous)
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved minutes from Aug 19 and Aug 26 meetings (unanimous)
- Tabled Recycle Rewards recognition item
- Directed attorney to start title search on 1956 Jody Dr. property
- Directed staff to address code violation at 4108 US Hwy 321A gas station
- Directed staff to address metal building on Spartan Drive/Eli Lane
- Supported $200 donation to Pfeiffer University softball player's family
Town Council
The Sawmills Town Council approved a $14,000 donation to Caldwell County Schools and voted to release closed session minutes from May 8, 2002. They also scheduled a special closed session meeting for August 26, 2025. No other substantive decisions were made; the rest of the meeting consisted of routine approvals, reports, and updates.
- Approved $14,000 donation to Caldwell County Schools (unanimous)
- Approved agenda for August 19, 2025 (unanimous)
- Approved July 15, 2025 regular meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved July 15, 2025 closed session minutes (unanimous)
- Voted to open and release closed session minutes of May 8, 2002 (unanimous)
- Called special meeting for closed session on August 26, 2025 at 6:00pm (unanimous)
Town Council
The Town Council approved the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY 2025-2035, with General Fund expenditures of $3,283,686 and Utility Fund expenditures of $1,932,894. They also approved an ordinance to vacate and close 2451 Annas Drive as an imminent danger, and approved the town manager's health insurance benefit section with a $2,000 monthly cap (3-1). The meeting included a financial report and public comments on the budget and tax revaluation.
- Approved 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (FY 2025-2035) (unanimous)
- Approved ordinance to vacate and close 2451 Annas Drive as imminent danger (unanimous)
- Approved Town Manager Contract Section 4: Health, Disability and Life Insurance Benefits with $2,000/month cap (3-1)
- Adopted July 15, 2025 agenda (unanimous)
- Approved June 17, 2025 regular meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved June 17, 2025 closed session minutes (unanimous)
- Directed staff to order colored lights for Town Christmas Tree (unanimous)
Town Council
The Town Council unanimously adopted the FY 2025/2026 budget, budget ordinance, and fee schedule, totaling $6,489,701, with no property tax increase and a 2.5% water/sewer rate increase. The council also approved a contract with McGill Associates for project management of Veterans Park storm damage recovery, reappointed Clay Wilson to the Railroad Committee, and renewed the Town Manager contract while tabling the insurance section until July 15, 2025.
- Adopted FY 2025/2026 budget, ordinance, and fee schedule (unanimous)
- Approved contract with McGill Associates for Veterans Park storm damage recovery (unanimous)
- Reappointed Clay Wilson to Railroad Committee (unanimous)
- Approved Town Manager contract, tabling insurance section until July 15, 2025 (unanimous)
- Approved June 17, 2025 agenda (unanimous)
- Approved May 20, 2025 meeting minutes (unanimous)
Town Council
The Sawmills Town Council approved a zoning text amendment allowing food trucks and trailers, including courts with multiple units. They also renewed the Sales Tax Reinvestment Contract with Caldwell County for up to $194,000 annually through 2029, and scheduled a public hearing for the FY 2025-2026 budget. The Ellen Street petition to convert a private street to town maintenance was tabled until July 15, 2025.
- Approved Food Trucks and Trailers text amendment (unanimous)
- Renewed Sales Tax Reinvestment Contract with Caldwell County (unanimous)
- Scheduled public hearing for FY 2025-2026 budget on June 17, 2025 (unanimous)
- Tabled Ellen Street petition until July 15, 2025 (unanimous)
- Approved amended agenda (unanimous)
- Approved April 15, 2025 regular meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved April 15, 2025 closed session minutes (unanimous)
- Approved May 6, 2025 budget workshop minutes (unanimous)
Town Council
The Sawmills Town Council approved a $46,800 transfer of increased Parks and Recreation revenue to cover program costs, approved a $2,300 write-off of uncollectible utility and sanitation accounts, and donated $200 to American Legion Hudson Post 392. The council also scheduled a public hearing for May 20, 2025, on a proposed zoning text amendment to allow food trucks and trailers. No other substantive decisions were made; the meeting included reports and updates only.
- Approved $46,800 transfer from General Fund to Parks and Recreation (unanimous)
- Approved $2,300 write-off of 2021 bad debts (unanimous)
- Approved $200 donation to American Legion Hudson Post 392 (unanimous)
- Scheduled public hearing for May 20, 2025, on food truck/trailer text amendment (unanimous)
Town Council
The Sawmills Town Council approved a $3.125 million FEMA grant project ordinance for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery, covering debris removal, emergency protective measures, water control, parks, and management costs. The council also approved $62,400 for an accessible parks grant, a $200 donation to the South Caldwell High School archery team, and an ordinance to vacate and close 4463 Rual Drive as an imminent danger. Several appointments to the Planning Board were made, and a public hearing was scheduled for a text amendment to Chapter 151.
- Approved $3,125,000 Helene Disaster Response and Recovery Grant Project Ordinance (unanimous)
- Approved $62,400 Accessible Parks Grant funding (unanimous)
- Approved $200 donation to South Caldwell High School Archery Team (unanimous)
- Approved ordinance to vacate and close 4463 Rual Drive as imminent danger (unanimous)
- Reappointed Adam Wilson to Planning Board for 3-year term (unanimous)
- Appointed J. Lynn Crump and Jimmy Baldwin as Planning Board regular members (unanimous)
- Appointed Jeffery Plummer as ETJ alternate Planning Board member (unanimous)
- Called public hearing for Chapter 151 text amendment for March 18, 2025 (unanimous)
Town Council
The council approved a $9,500 grant from North Carolina Amateur Sports and a $86,800 fund balance appropriation to equip the indoor facility. It also approved an ordinance to vacate and close 7011 Spartan Drive as an imminent danger, and renewed the auditor contract for FY 2024-2025. The FY 2023/2024 audit was received with an unqualified opinion, and the audit submission date was amended to December 31, 2024.
- Approved $86,800 fund balance appropriation for indoor facility equipment (unanimous)
- Accepted $9,500 NC Amateur Sports grant for indoor facility equipment (unanimous)
- Approved ordinance to vacate and close 7011 Spartan Drive as imminent danger (unanimous)
- Approved FY 2024-2025 auditor contract with Lowdermilk, Church & Co. for $13,850 (unanimous)
- Amended FY 2023/2024 audit contract submission date to December 31, 2024 (unanimous)
- Received FY 2023/2024 audit with unqualified opinion (unanimous)
- Appointed five members to Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for 3-year terms (unanimous)