After several years of keeping a tight rein on hiring, the city of Archdale may add three new positions.

City Council decided at their annual retreat, held Feb. 25-26 at Colonial Country Club, that next year’s budget will probably include a communications or marketing person, information technology support and a park ranger.

Marketing the city to new residents, businesses, highway traffic and special events was the main topic of Thursday night’s portion of the retreat.

Does Archdale want new people and businesses? Larry Warlick answered that if the current population could afford infrastructure and amenities by themselves, Council would be happy with the status quo. Businesses pay the bills, he said.

Councilmen Tim Williams and Roger Blackwell said that if they don’t start doing something to promote Archdale, it’s going to be a city of fast-food joints and sweepstakes centres.

We need more business areas like Bonnie Place, said Councilman Eddie Causey.

City leaders came up with marketing ideas, from branding (including a logo and a slogan) to social networking.

“That’s the way people are connecting, nowadays,” said Jeff Wells, planning director.

City Manager Jerry Yarborough would like to see better communication with residents. With social networking, they could get the word out quickly in cases like the recent water outage on Trindale Road.

Causey commented on how much time marketing takes. Council members agreed that the city may need a full-time marketing employee.

“I would look at that as an investment in the future,” said Councilman Lewis Dorsett.

During Friday’s staff reports, Financial Director Lori Nurse emphasized the need for IT support to maintain the city’s technology. “You can have the best people in the world, but if they don’t have their computer, they’re not going to get much done,” she said.

Currently, Archdale relies on part-time IT service for emergencies.

Archdale has a firewall, but Nurse said the city needs a disaster recovery plan and increased data security. Utility customers can pay online, and the city has credit card, check and personal information. “We’ve got data that needs to be kept really secure,” said Nurse.

The police department needs computer support for their growing technology. One of their telecommunicators tries to troubleshoot equipment, but it takes about 75 percent of her time from her duties, and they still need to call someone in for complex problems, said Chief of Police Darrell Gibbs.

Nurse explained that the IT position would be budgeted under administration at City Hall, but would support the police and other departments.

Mike Shuler of Public Works also wants IT support for the SCADA system on the pump stations and the water tower system. SCADA provides monitoring and control, with a built-in alarm, that reduces the number of times workers have to check the pumps in person. “You can look at each station, it tells you exactly what’s going on at that station at any time,” said Shuler.

Mayor Bert Lance-Stone endorsed the need. “I’ve been hollering for an IT person for years,” she said.

Parks and Recreation Director Elaine Albertson requested a park ranger to provide year-round security. Vandalism has gone up at the park, mostly during the winter months.

Creekside has gone through several security arrangements, from unarmed security companies to armed county officers.

Last year, Archdale-Trinity Middle School’s school resource officer worked at the park in the summer.

“Jeff Allred did a fabulous job,” said Albertson. “He knew the kids. He was very personable.” She wants to see that kind of consistency year-round.

When people see that Archdale uniform, it means a lot, said Yarborough.

The ATMS resource officer is no longer funded through the city.

Albertson has asked Randolph Community College to consider helping with funds, since their Archdale center would benefit from added security.

The park ranger would be a member of the Archdale Police Department. Gibbs would like to advertise the position now, because the selection process and training could take three to four months. Other Archdale officers would patrol the park during the ranger’s off-duty hours.

Archdale has only added one staff member since 2007 — a maintenance person for Creekside Park this year.

In 2007, the city hired a human resources manager.

Gibbs and other department heads asked Council to consider hiring a mechanic in the future, but Council did not discuss one for this year.