Forest City revises ordinance, advances projects

Forest City commissioners approved urban archery Monday night, but not before town officials revised portions of the proposed ordinance that had raised questions about firearms, self-defense and how broadly the town’s weapons code could be enforced.

The original ordinance included in the town’s agenda packet struck an existing exception for a person “exercising the legal right to defend persons or property.”

That changed before the Sept. 14 vote.

Town attorney Beth Miller told commissioners that North Carolina law allows municipalities to regulate the discharge of firearms but preserves exceptions for defense of a person or property and for actions taken under lawful directions from law enforcement.

Miller said state law would control even if Forest City’s ordinance did not expressly include the firearm self-defense exception.

The town went further and restored similar language in both its firearm and non-firearm provisions.

Miller told commissioners there did not appear to be a comparable state statute expressly requiring the self-defense exception for the town’s non-firearm section, meaning the municipality had more discretion over that language. The final proposal nevertheless restored the protection.

That non-firearm section has also prompted questions because it regulates devices capable of propelling solid, liquid or particulate material.

So, does that make a bottle of Windex illegal?

The ordinance does not specifically prohibit Windex or ordinary household spray bottles, but the question arises from the breadth of the ordinance’s wording. Whether an everyday object could fall within the provision would depend on the language of the ordinance and how it was being used. The final version also expressly restores an exception for lawful defense of a person or property.

The larger change is significant because town staff said the ordinance not only permits urban archery but also makes Chapter 13 offenses punishable as misdemeanors.

Commissioners approved the measure 3-1, with one member absent. One commissioner opposed urban archery, citing questions about whether it would meaningfully reduce the deer population as well as potential safety and enforcement concerns.

A resident also spoke against hunting deer inside town limits during public comment. Another resident raised a separate complaint about his water bill, telling commissioners his analog meter had apparently not been physically read before his bill was calculated. He said the account was eventually corrected after repeated calls.

Emergency responders recognized

The town also recognized firefighters, police, EMS workers, utility crews and neighboring agencies that responded to the Aug. 31 downtown fire.

Officials said roughly 75 people were involved in the response, including Forest City personnel and firefighters from surrounding departments. Sewer crews pumped water from a basement to keep it from affecting neighboring buildings, while electric department employees also responded.

The board also adopted a resolution honoring the late Earl Thompson, who served on the town’s Board of Planning and Adjustment for more than 24 years.

Rezoning and food trucks

Commissioners called an Oct. 5 public hearing on a request to rezone several properties on South Broadway and South Powell streets from general business to commercial transition.

The request would allow an existing South Broadway building to be converted for residential units upstairs while retaining commercial space downstairs.

A second Oct. 5 hearing will consider changes to the town’s rules for mobile food and beverage vendors. Town staff said food trucks are currently treated as temporary uses and the existing rules have created issues for vendors wanting to remain at one location longer.

Water and sewer projects move ahead

Commissioners also approved a series of actions involving state revolving-fund financing for water and sewer improvements, including project ordinances and separate engineering agreements.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Arlington Street sewer rehabilitation project.

Town officials said construction uncovered a water line along Magnolia Street that was significantly shallower than expected — in some places only about two inches below the pavement.

After a contractor struck the line Aug. 22, the town decided to replace it at a depth of roughly three feet rather than repeatedly repair sections as construction continued. The overall sewer project was still expected to be completed by the end of September.

Projects come in under budget

The town reported that a retaining wall replacement near Forest City Fire Rescue was completed for $28,400 — $10,600 below the $39,000 budget.

Officials said the replacement also corrected problems with the previous wall, including the absence of gravel support and adequate drainage.

Bidding is underway for paving Franklin Drive, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2026 using Powell Bill funds.

A new Public Works parking lot is also under construction. The approximately 50-space project is expected to cost $84,500, below its $88,000 budget.

The new Farmers Market building is expected to be completed by the end of October, with landscaping and paving following in November.

Nearly $9.8 million for electric project

Town officials also discussed the recently announced funding package for new electric substations.

Forest City received a $7,798,480 federal Economic Development Administration grant, as WCAB News previously reported. The Dogwood Health Trust committed another $1,942,120 for the required local match, bringing the combined funding to $9,740,600.

Town officials said that means Forest City electric customers will not have to pay or borrow that amount for construction of the substations.

The Sept. 14 meeting ultimately covered far more than urban archery. But the ordinance debate resulted in a substantive change before commissioners voted: explicit self-defense protections that had been removed from the earlier draft were restored to the town code.