Morganton names new city attorney

The City of Morganton has itself a new attorney.

City Council unanimously approved the hiring of Keith Rigsbee as the new full-time legal counsel at its November meeting Monday.

Rigsbee, who will start in December, replaces Louis Vinay, who retired in September and had been serving in an interim role during the search for a new attorney.

The 34-year veteran attorney comes to the city from the Morganton firm of Starnes and Aycock, where he spent 17 years. He is a graduate of East Burke High School and earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University. Rigsbee is a longtime Morganton resident.

“I’m really excited to be involved with the team that has led the city so successfully,” Rigsbee said following the meeting, as he shook hands and shared smiles with some of his future coworkers. “It’s an honor to be invited to help with that.”

Rigsbee will be responsible for providing legal advice and assistance to the City Council and staff. The in-house position provides perspective to and participates in the decision-making process of the City. It also covers a wide range of legal areas, including economic development, public/private partnerships, working with lobbyists, contracts, real estate, planning and zoning, and employment issues, the City said.

His salary will be $215,000 per year.

“We are thrilled that Keith has decided to join the City of Morganton family,” City Manager Sally Sandy said. “We believe he will be a great fit and will help guide city leaders in all legal matters.”

In addition to approving Rigsbee’s hiring, the council addressed several items related to the damages caused by Hurricane Helene, which brought high winds, rampant floodwaters, and wholesale destruction to western North Carolina in late September.

First up was approval of a budget amendment to establish a project fund for Helene-related expenses. The initial funding of $2.1 million is based on emergency repair expenses incurred during and immediately after the storm.

The breakdown includes $1 million for electrical services; $500,000 for waste; $250,000 each for water and special projects; and $100,000 for CoMPAS Cable.

Sandy said initial estimates for storm damages are $10-15 million. Many of those expenses may be reimbursable from insurance or FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

“Now, we’re moving into recovery, and recovery will be extensive, and it will not be something that happens immediately,” Sandy told the council.

“And this is really just to let us start paying the bills that we are receiving now. I can tell you that we are in full-fledged assessment, and that I have no doubt that when this is over and we are looking toward our restoration and recovery efforts, facilities-wise and all that, we are going to be somewhere north of 15, $20 million in the city of Morganton, and that doesn’t count lost revenues, and that doesn’t count many other things that are on the list that keep me awake at night.”

Council also approved the negotiation of a contract with disaster recovery firm DCMC Partners of Alexandria, Va., as a consultant for recovery efforts. Sandy said Burke County plans to engage the same firm. She added some of the expenses involved may be recoverable through grants.

In another hurricane-related action, Council voted to accept a $500 donation from a private donor for an appreciation luncheon for city staff who worked long hours during the initial recovery efforts following the storm.

The council also approved a consent agenda that included, among other things: the purchase of a new Powerscreen compost and conveyor for the wastewater treatment plant for $419,604 and the award of a contract for $206,930 with Whalen Tennis for upgrades to tennis courts and conversion of pickleball courts to futsal at Bethel Park.

Public Works Director Michael Chapman advised the board the City planned to resume leaf pickup midweek. The service had been suspended because of the large amount of debris left behind by the hurricane.

Chapman asked Morganton residents to pile leaves separately from other debris and remove all sticks from leaf piles to avoid damaging the sweeper trucks.