Elon Town Council discussed retirement benefits, new parking available for community establishments and an additional education awareness in Beth Schmidt Park during their meeting on Sept. 29.

Ordinances and Resolutions:

A park employee requested $200 to help create a more educational aspect to the park. Some of the potential additions would include educational art about nature or art talking about becoming physically active. 

New Business: 

Elon Town Council is planning to give employees who have served for over 25 years a $5,000 retirement bonus. Council member Stephanie Bourland said giving this grant is a way for the town to give thanks to those who have dedicated the work to the community. 

“The fact that we have people that have given their whole careers to a town, this is the least that we can do for them, is to show them that we appreciate all the hard work that they've done and that they have made a commitment to this community,” Bourland said.

The Town of Elon owns the Travis Creek Pump Station, a suction-lift wastewater facility built in 1981. It has operated with minimal upgrades and is now nearing capacity. Gibsonville also uses the station, and growth in both towns requires expanding capacity. Earlier this year, Elon and Gibsonville worked with Alley, Williams, Carmen and King, an engineering firm, to raise its permitted flow from 800,000 to 950,000 gallons per day, but further expansion is still needed. Since the station serves both towns, Elon plans to invest $2 million in improvements, while Gibsonville will cover the next $2 million of follow-up upgrades.

Town council member Monti Allison talked about the continued concern about speeding in the town of Elon. There were new speed checks on Williamson Avenue and he would like to see more of that implemented near parks as well as by the train tracks in downtown Elon. 

Town council is planning on laying out new parking for staff of local establishments in Elon. It would be permanent and reserved only to staff members of local businesses and would exclude Elon University students.  

Appointments:

Elon Town Council is in the process of hiring an interim Financial Director, as current Finance Director Joseph Trollinger is set to step down on Oct. 7. 

Other Items:

Elon Town Council will host the blood drive outside Town Hall on Oct. 6.  $40 per blood donation  Council member Michael Wood praised the Dog Day Mixer, which occurred on Sept. 14 at the Elon Community Church, highlighting how it brought the community together.

“We had a great time,” Wood said. "It was very chill.” 

Next Meeting:

The next town council meeting will be held Oct. 14.