LINCOLNTON––The City of Lincolnton wrapped up the 2023-24 fiscal year with a quiet, low-key meeting Thursday.

Councilman Roby Jetton and Councilwoman Christine Poinsette were absent. But Mayor Ed Hatley noted that a quorum was present (the mayor himself and Councilman Kevin Demeny and Councilwoman Jill Tipton). Thus the meeting proceeded.

Tipton made a motion to approve the regular agenda, and it passed unanimously. This agenda was comprised of a short presentation by finance director Pamela McBryde, recapitulating details of two water-related capital project budget ordinances (a $100,000 grant from the State of North Carolina for water-management and distribution lines and a $300,000 grant, with a $60,000 City match, for wastewater). Both items passed unanimously, following respective motions by Demeny and Tipton.

Also part of said agenda was a year-end budget amendment (fiscal year 2024-25 begins July 1) of some $1.4 million in capital assets, as McBryde explained. And McBryde added that there was good news.

“We have done very well this year,” she observed, praising the team effort of all City staffers and adding, “It takes a team to run a city.”

The City’s general fund is running at a surplus, she continued, citing a sum of a bit less than $1.3 million. She added that some $2 million may be added to this year’s general fund.

“So overall,” said McBryde, “the City is going to have a very, very good fund balance addition this year.”

Demeny made the motion to approve this budget amendment, and it passed unanimously.

Also on this agenda was the consideration and approval of the contract and fee (a bit more than $100,000) for the pre-construction scope of services from Edifice Construction, re a new public-service center. The council heard from business services director David Ramsey on this topic.

“This will take us all the way up to the construction phase,” said Ramsey, adding that the effort would also represent a significant cost-savings benefit for the City.

Tipton made a motion to approve, and it passed unanimously.

Demeny made a motion to approve the consent agenda, which also passed unanimously. This was a pro forma matter of approving minutes from the June 6 meeting and the approval of a request for releases, May 16-June 15.

During the public comments section, citizen Trent Mason mentioned the recent demise of longtime Lincoln Herald journalist Wayne Howard (see related coverage, only here in The Herald).

“We really lost somebody that cared deeply for this community,” Mason observed.

Hatley concurred.

“Wayne has been an institution in Lincoln County long before I got here,” he said. “And he will be sorely missed, not only as a journalist but also as a friend.”

And Mason also praised the City of Lincolnton for its recent observance of the Juneteenth federal holiday and for the ongoing “Alive After Five” concert series.