A budget work session for the Town of Highlands Board of Commissioners took place last week to go over initiatives that are currently in development, among them being some updates on projects that are currently in the works.
The board had a discussion of the town’s proposed mobile app by Tyler Trantham, who showcased a presentation of what its features would be. The app will be designed to showcase what Highlands is doing for the community by sending information out via notifications and alert channels.
“We’re able to build a government app if you want to have a police feature, a fire feature and then your government feature,” Trantham said. “And so again this is a custom app built and can be as elaborate as you’d like it to be because of what you’re doing there.”
The app can also be used to break news and would allow users submit a tip or request while also offering the opportunity for the community to be provided a direct connection. Additional features would also include a staff directory, a control panel for admins to implement changes and look at analytics, alongside a brand-new website for the town.
“It’s your app and you’re going to be able to have access to the control panel. You’re going to be able to push things out when you need to,” Trantham said.
Following the presentation, the board went over the state of the Highlands Playhouse building, and what’s in store for its future. The building was deemed unsafe, being structurally manipulated in a negative way for too long. Being an old building, material testing will also need to be done to check if asbestos is contained within it, which could increase the cost of demolition.
The board then followed with a discussion about the angled parking area in South Fourth Street, which many feel may be hazardous. One of the issues being that the ways cars are parking can obstruct visibility of other vehicles trying to pull out onto the street.
The current parking area has 18 spots, but one proposal is for it to be reduced to 10, opening up room for visitors in the business area.
Capital needs for the police department were presented by Chief Andrea Holland, who broke it down in a five-year period. She said that they were going to be putting more funding towards community mental health due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
In addition to this, she requested to replace computer equipment every five years alongside three tablets for this year. Holland also requested 15 new handguns, replacing 40mm with 9mm. The guns will be needing switched out every five years and would be traded in, therefore not part of capital spending.
“The majority of police law enforcement agencies throughout the country are going back to 9mm,” she said. “Being that we’re smaller and we don’t shoot as frequent in training as others I believe we’re right now at the 12-year mark that we have these that we carry.”
Holland also requested two in-car cameras for a new vehicle alongside funding for additional officers to have a stronger presence in the community.
Holland was followed by Highlands Fire Department Assistant Chief Robbie Forrester, who also went over capital needs, which include replacing the 2005 Polaris Ranger side-by-side vehicle. The vehicle has previously experienced engine trouble.
The fire department is looking to enhance its capabilities with a more versatile vehicle like a brush fire truck that could run medical calls as well. The cost would be $40,000.
“Hopefully, we’re looking at actually doing a more like a brush truck that could run medical calls and then having a smaller skid unit in it to get in these driveways and access brush fires and things like that,” he said.
Work on the Dog Mountain water line will soon be under way, with hope that work will begin in June after previously being scheduled for the beginning of the year.