Construction plans for a new Elon University residence hall were presented to Elon Town Council at the regular meeting on Oct. 11. The council also approved a budgetary amendment and heard a presentation from the town of Elon Fire Chief Landon Massey.
Set to break ground on June 1, the new residence will be located near the East Neighborhood, where a parking lot sits currently. Brad Moore, university architect and Lori Oakley, town of Elon planning director, presented the construction plans to the council and answered questions during the meeting. The council will vote on the plans at its next meeting, Oct. 24.
The town of Elon Fire Department will be considered a class two fire department as of January 1, 2023. The classification is the second highest a fire department can earn and puts the town of Elon in the top 8% of fire departments in the state, as well as in line with neighboring municipalities such as Burlington and Mebane.
The classification is determined by the state of North Carolina Department of Insurance and depends on factors such as staffing, water availability and training. This classification impacts commercial and homeowners' insurance.
“That will in a way help recruit business to the town,” Massey said. “We’re very proud to be joining this group of class two.”
Additionally, the town council voted to adopt a budget amendment for fiscal year 2023 and voted to “table indefinitely” the resolution to support the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons which was discussed last meeting. Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Greene made the motion to table any further discussion on the resolution and others like it until the board has policy in place on how to conduct those discussions. It was not unanimously passed — council member Randy Orwig, who expressed his support for the treaty, voted against tabling it.
The next town council meeting will be held on Oct. 24.