BY DEBBIE PAGE

After the Troutman Town Council concluded its December business on Thursday, Felina Harris, George Harris and Tonya Bartlett were sworn in and officially began their four year terms on the Troutman Town Council. George Harris, the top vote-getter in November election, was selected by the council as mayor pro tem with Nick Jarosyznski casting the only dissenting vote.

Harris thanked her father, husband, family members, and friends for coming to support her as she took the oath of office for the second time.

She also thanked for supporters for trusting her to a second term in which she hopes to do even more to make Troutman a better community as she continues to serve the town.

Harris encouraged community to engage with the council members when needs arise because they will do what they can to help citizens.

“We want all to have a good experience living in Troutman.”

Harris thanked his supporters, family, and friends who spent their time helping him in his election efforts. He is happy to be returning to the council for the second time and was especially proud that his grandchildren, Avery and Austin, were on hand, along with the rest of his family, to see him sworn in.

Harris is honored to be on the council again and feels blessed for the opportunity to be able to serve the community.

He pledged to fulfill his campaign promise to prioritize work on the expansion of the J. Hoyt Hayes Memorial Troutman Library because the increasing population has outgrown the current library space.

Harris also pledged to look into the issues that neighborhoods are facing in getting developers to fulfill their obligations, promising to listen to their issues and to help get them the assistance needed to get their issues resolved.

After being sworn in, Bartlett expressed excitement about taking on this new role. She asked for grace from citizens as she gets up to speed on the town’s business and issues. She also asked people to reach out to town officials for information rather than turning to social media, which often has incomplete or inaccurate information.

In organizational business, Felina Harris was voted as delegate and Bartlett as alternate delegate to the Centralina Council of Governments (CCOG).

George Harris was selected as alternate to the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO). The mayor serves as delegate.

Nick Jaroszynski was chosen as delegate and Bartlett as alternate to the Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission.

NEW STAFF TAKE OATHS

Returning Town Manager Justin Longino took his oath of office on his first day on the job. He thanked the council for the opportunity to again serve the Town of Troutman and said he was excited to re-engage with the staff and this thriving community as he helps guide it forward.

Merrell expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to be the town’s finance director and expressed her enjoyment of her first week on the job. She looks forward to being an asset to the town and community and pledged to make Troutman a better place to live.

Deputy Town Clerk Isabella Hamby takes oath.

Hamby thanked the council for the opportunity to join the staff and looks forward to the future as she serves the town and community.

OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS HONORED

Mayor Young praised outgoing mayor pro tem and council member Jerry Oxsher as a great asset who helped provide astute insights into the town and its business over his four years of service.

“He has shed light on some complex issues over time, and we appreciate his service. He has added a lot to our town, not only as residents but as business owners with his wife (Fiona).”

Mayor Young presented Oxsher with a Troutman paddle as a commemoration of his service.

Oxsher thanked the community for the opportunity to serve and for the new friends he made during his term. “I have learned a lot. This has been the greatest civics lesson that I’ve ever received,” he said.

“Getting to peek behind the curtain can really to teach you a lot,” he added. “I’m proud of the work that we have done over the last four years.”

Mayor Teross Young also thanked outgoing longtime council member Paul Henkel, who missed his last council meeting due to illness. Henkel has served in a number of capacities for several decades and decided to retire.

“I appreciate his service to the town over the years. He has been everything from a council member and mayor pro tem and clearly has been a champion and supporter of the Town of Troutman.”

Young said the staff will present Henkel with a paddle at a later date.

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Water and Sewer Ordinance Amended

Before the new members took their seats, the council conducted its December business, including passage of a text amendment to amend the Water and Sewer ordinance in the Unified Development Ordinance to require most developments to hook up to town water and sewer.

Council members were concerned that with the 30-month moratorium in place, some developers may choose to utilize septic and well systems, which are more hazardous to the environment. Using septic and wells could also could harm the long-term financial stability of the town’s water and sewer system.

The amendment states that “a developer shall connect all lots shown on the Subdivision Plat with the municipal water supply and sanitary sewer systems for any residential or commercial development in the town limit.”

Any single-lot residential property in the ETJ requesting annexation for town water must also connect to town sewer if the lot is within 500 feet of an existing sewer line unless the extension of the sewer line is deemed unfeasible by the Town Engineer.

All residential subdivisions greater than five lots in the ETJ requesting town water shall connect to town sewer if within 1,000 feet of an existing sewer line unless the extension of the sewer line is deemed unfeasible by the Town Engineer.

All non-residential (commercial/industrial) development in the ETJ requesting town water shall connect to an existing sewer line unless the extension of the sewer line is deemed unfeasible by the Town Engineer.

The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously opposed recommending the amendment because of concerns raised regarding unnecessary costs to single-family homeowners and the possibility for greater density development.

Vote on Byers Road Rezoning Request Delayed

Council members tabled consideration of a rezoning request for 19.511 acres located on Byers Road from mixed residential conditional zoning to suburban residential. The developers want to develop five large homes with three-acre to five-acre lots using well and septic systems.

Jaroszynski asked the council to table the request until the Land Use Committee had completed its work, developed an up-to-date Future Land Use Map after public input, and the council had approved it. Town Attorney Jason Ralston agreed with the move.

After a motion by Oxsher, the council voted unanimously to table the rezoning request.

Municipal Parking Lot Ordinance Passed

The council also passed an ordinance to amend The Town Of Troutman Code Of Ordinances for Municipal Parking Lots. The amendment states, “If signed, parking in town-owned lots will be restricted to normal business hours.”

Furthermore, the amendment states: “If signage that reads ‘No parking. Towing Enforced’ is present, vehicles may be towed at owner’s expense.”

The council wanted a towing ordinance in place particularly for the Liat property to avoid unauthorized parking there for adjoining fairgrounds events to reduce the town’s liability.

Open Burning Ordinance

The council also passed an ordinance to amend the Code of Ordinances on open burning. Troutman Police Chief Josh Watson said that under the current ordinance, no open burning is technically permitted in town, including fire pits or grills.

Chief Watson, Troutman Fire and Rescue Chief Wesley Morris, and Town Planner Andrew Ventresca met to draft changes that were less restrictive and in line with state law and other municipalities’ ordinances.

The new ordinance allows open burning for land clearing with a $500 permit for open burning issued by the Planning and Zoning Department and approved by the Troutman Fire and Rescue Department.

The permit specifies the specific area in which the burning is to occur, the type of material to be burned, and the duration of the permit.

The Troutman Fire Department will ensure that the location of the burning is at least 2,000 feet away from any dwelling, commercial or institutional establishment, or other occupied structure not located on the permit holder’s property and also at least 250 feet from any public roadway.

The original proposed amendment was 500 feet from other structures, but council members wanted to further strengthen that requirement to protect nearby properties.

Any issued permit may be revoked by the Town of Troutman if conditions exist that make open burning dangerous or create a nuisance to the public. In the event a permit is revoked, the permit fee will not be refunded.

During periods of hazardous fire conditions or during air pollution episodes defined by state law, all open burning will be prohibited regardless of whether a permit has been issued.

Even with a permit, the permit holder will be responsible for damages or injuries nor does it excuse any person from not complying with all applicable laws, ordinances, regulations and orders of the state environmental management commission.

Under the new ordinance, permits are not required for fires kindled in a pit, exterior fireplace, “chiminea,” cooking devices, or similar out-of-doors eating or cooking devices with a form of containment around the fire.

Campfires and fires used solely for outdoor cooking and other recreational purposes or fires used solely for human warmth and comfort also do not require a permit.

These residential fire uses must be in a commercially purchased unit, a constructed pit area not exceeding nine square feet in diameter and at least two bricks in height, or contained by other means to confine a fire in an area not exceeding nine square feet in diameter.

Several council members pointed out “diameter” and “square feet” were incompatible concepts and that the originally proposed three square feet was quite small, leading to the change to “nine square feet” in diameter.

OTHER BUSINESS

The council also approved:

♦ The 2026 Town of Troutman Calendar of Events.

♦ The Troutman Town Council 2026 meeting schedule.

♦ The facade for the Food Lion outparcel at 1127 Charlotte Highway.

♦ A contract between the Town of Troutman and Kimley-Horn for the creation of a new Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

♦ An engineering services agreement with Kimley-Horn for the Troutman Integrated Water and Wastewater Master Plan-Phase 1.

♦ A preferred engineering firm request for qualification process for the Eastern Wastewater Transmission Project – Phase 1 and 2.

♦ Adoption of a resolution accepting all roads In Phase 2, 3, and 4 of Falls Cove Lake Norman for Town Of Troutman maintenance.

♦ A resolution to accept Dollar Avenue for Town of Troutman maintenance.

♦ Voluntary annexation and rezoning of 407 State Park Road for town water access.

♦ An ordinance establishing the Shinn Creek Regional Sewer Pump Station Capital Project Fund.

♦ A budget amendment appropriating $3,900,000 from the town’s fund balance construction of the Shinn Creek Regional Sewer Pump Station capital project.