BY DEBBIE PAGE
During its agenda briefing on Monday, the Troutman Town Council discussed and approved several items, including adding employee workspace, creating a municipal fire district, and commissioning a mural to honor a hometown celebrity.
MOBILE UNIT
The council voted unanimously to proceed with the installation of a 2,000-square-foot mobile unit on town-owned property near the Planning House on Eastway Drive. Water and sewer connections already exist at the site. Some minimal grading will be completed by town staff prior to installation.
An ADA-compliant ramp will be installed on the north side of the building, which has six offices, two bathrooms, and a central meeting space.
Installation of the new office complex is expected by early June to alleviate overcrowding at Town Hall until a permanent building expansion project is completed in the next few years.
MUNICIPAL FIRE DISTRICT
Town Manager Justin Longino and Town Attorney Jason Ralston recently participated in discussions with Iredell County staff, the county attorney, and representatives of Troutman Fire and Rescue regarding the current structure and funding model associated with fire protection in the town limits.
The county identified concerns related to the current arrangement of service areas and in the collection and distribution of fire tax revenues. While Troutman Fire and Rescue currently provides fire services within the incorporated town limits, according to its agreement with the town, the Town of Troutman does not directly provide funding for that service.
Instead, those funds are transferred to the Troutman Fire Department. As a result, Troutman Fire and Rescue has historically operated like a municipal fire department within town limits while still being under the structure, funding, and administration of other county-funded nonprofit fire departments throughout the county.
Longino presented two options to the council to address the issue moving forward. The first option would solve the immediate funding mechanism problem through the creation of a municipal fire district within the incorporated town limits.
Under the new funding structure, the town would enter into or amend its agreement with Troutman Fire and Rescue for service delivery within the district, and the county will continue collecting the applicable tax revenues from taxpayers.
However, instead of giving funding directly to the fire department, the county would instead disperse the fire tax funds to the town, which would act act as a “pass through” to provide funding to the fire department, according to its agreement with the fire department.
Longino said that this option would result in minimal day-to-day change and would largely maintain the existing model. Fire Chief Wesley Morris is working with Longino to facilitate this change in process with both county and state entities.
The town council also voted to evaluate a long-term transition toward a creating a fully municipal fire department operated by the town.
Longino said this transition would require significant additional analysis relating to governance, personnel, funding, assets, debt, obligations, facilities, and operational responsibilities.
The staff will continue coordinating this change with Iredell County, Troutman Fire and Rescue, legal counsel, and other parties.
Longino will return to the council with additional information and recommendations as the municipal fire department evaluation process occurs.
JIM LAUDERDALE MURAL
In collaboration with N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the N.C. Music Hall of Fame, a mural honoring singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale was approved by the council to expand the ongoing NC Musician Murals Project into Troutman.
Council approved $15,000 to cover the costs of the project, which is expected to increase tourism as Troutman becomes part of the N.C. Musician Murals Trail (NCMM).
The NCMM Project began as a casual arrangement when artist Scott Nurkin created portraits of renowned N.C. musicians to cover a blank wall of Pepper’s Pizza in Chapel Hill in exchange for free pizza for life.
The project took off and expanded, with 29 of Nurkin’s murals celebrating the transcendent, influential, and groundbreaking musicians of North Carolina now appearing on buildings from the mountains to the Piedmont.
The NCMM project began with a John Coltrane mural in Hamlet in 2020. Since then, 28 additional murals have been painted in towns and cities throughout North Carolina.
Each mural installation is unique due to the range of wall sizes and conditions. While most installations require minimal preparation, some larger or deteriorated locations present additional challenges that can impact both timeline and budget.
Generally, mural cost ($10,000 to $15,000) is determined by the size and preparation required.
Each mural typically requires three to 10 days to complete. The murals have a 10-year guaranteed lifespan, provided proper wall preparation and clear-coat sealing occur.
COMMUNITY EXCHANGE BOXES POLICY ADOPTED
The council voted to adopt a policy for Community Exchange Boxes (Little Free Libraries, Blessing Boxes, Trinket Trade Boxes, and similar structures) because of maintenance and monitoring issues reported by the founding groups.
The Blessing Box at Town Hall has fallen to the Parks and Recreation Department for maintenance and repair after the group who sought the installation failed to maintain it. Community contributions are also being collected at the Parks and Recreation office, with staff replenishing the box as needed.
The Pet Blessing Box, a Girl Scout project, had issues with people taking the pet supplies and selling them on Facebook Marketplace. Scouts then broke larger bags into gallon bags to combat this issue, but this process took substantial extra time. The increasing costs of pet food also caused funding issues.
To get better standards and control of these and other community boxes, the council hopes to encourage community-driven amenities such as little free libraries, blessing boxes, and similar exchange structures while ensuring they are safe and accessible, properly maintained, compatible with surrounding areas, and strategically located to avoid over-proliferation.
The policy applies to any Community Exchange Box located on town-owned property, within public rights-of-way, and on private property where visibility or access from the public realm creates an impact on the community.
The policy requires all community boxes to have prior approval from the town, issued administratively by the Town Manager or designee following submission of an application.
Each Community Exchange Box is required to have an identified sponsor and steward who is responsible for installation, ongoing maintenance and upkeep, monitoring contents, and responding to any town concerns. The steward’s contact information must be provided to the town and may be posted discreetly on the box.
The policy requires that Community Exchange Boxes be placed only in locations approved by the town. They cannot obstruct sidewalks, ADA access, or visibility at intersections, interfere with utilities or public infrastructure, and be incompatible with surrounding land uses.
To prevent over-concentration, the town may limit the number of boxes in a given area, require spacing between boxes, and prioritize placement in public spaces such as parks or civic areas.
The policy further requires that all Community Exchange Boxes be constructed of durable, weather-resistant materials, be maintained in good condition, free of peeling paint, structural damage, or visible deterioration, and be of a size and scale appropriate to the surrounding area.
They must not include signage, markings, or features that are offensive or inconsistent with community standards.
The town also reserves the right to require modifications to proposed designs.
The box’s steward has the responsibility to regularly inspect and maintain the box, keep the area clean and free of litter or debris, and remove inappropriate or prohibited items.
Prohibited contents include, but are not limited to, hazardous materials, perishable food (unless specifically approved), or offensive or explicit materials.
Community exchange box approvals are valid for a period of two years and may be renewed upon confirmation of continued compliance. The town may revoke approval and require removal of a Community Exchange Box if it is not properly maintained, creates a safety concern, or violates this policy.
The town shall provide notice to the Community Exchange Box’s steward and a reasonable opportunity to cure deficiencies (typically10 to 15 days). If corrective action is not taken, the town may remove the structure or find another group to operate and maintain the box.
OTHER ACTION
When the council reviewed the revised 2026-2027 town budget to be presented Thursday night, council member Nicholas Jaroszynski requested that the 3 percent increase in the elected officials’ stipend be increased to 5 percent.
The measure failed 2-3, with Jaroszynski and Eddie Nau voting for the increase and Tonya Bartlett, Felina Harris, and George Harris dissenting.
The council also decided to purchase five iPads, with protected software installed for sharing of government documents, for council members and Mayor Teross Young to facilitate using electronic information packets and to eliminate the large amount of paper used to copy the monthly information packets.
Nau declined the iPad, preferring to continue receiving a paper packet.
TOWN BUDGET TO BE PRESENTED THURSDAY NIGHT
On Thursday night, the council will conduct a public hearing on the proposed FY 2027 Budget Ordinance and the proposed FY 2027 Schedule of Fees.
The proposed FY 2027 budget totals $24,097,934 for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2027. This budget includes expenditures from the General Fund ($15.49 million), Water and Sewer Fund ($8.6 million), and Occupancy Tax Fund ($9000).
The proposed budget has a $1.4 million increase over the FY2026 budget. A line-item breakdown for each department within the budget will be available for public inspection online or at Town Hall until final approval, with any modifications after the inspection period, expected at the June council meeting.
The FY 2027 budget proposal maintains the tax rate of 50 cents per $100 valuation.
The proposed budget includes a 2.5 percent increase in water and sewer rates for both in-town and out-of-town usage because of increases in the town’s cost to purchase water. A $3 per month fee for leaf and limb pickup is also included.
Residents will also see a 4.7 percent increase in solid waste fees to cover the full cost of the town’s garbage and recycling contract and service costs for FY27.
The council will also consider:
♦ Adoption of Troutman ESC Park Capital Project Ordinance to confirm the ESC Park capital project fund for capital improvements made to the 30-acre park and surrounding property, including the pickleball and basketball courts, park lighting, construction costs, and debt service.
♦ Approval a contract with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co, P.A to conduct the town’s FY 2026 audit. The total cost of the contract is $31,500, which will be included in the FY 2026-2027 budget. Funding will come from both the General and Water and Sewer funds, with the charges to each reflecting the amount of audit work completed in each area.
♦ Selection of the Town of Troutman Citizen of the Year.
♦ Selection of the Town of Troutman Organization of the Year.