1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:10,160 February 16, 2026, Carter County Board of Commissioner meeting. 2 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:13,920 » Commissioner Quinn, will you lead us in the pledge of allegiance? 3 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:20,240 » Yes, sir. >> I aliance to the flag of the United 4 00:00:17,199 --> 00:00:26,880 States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, 5 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:30,119 indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 6 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:42,040 Tonight the invitation will be provided by Pastor Wayne Warren at Huntton 7 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:42,040 Quarters Church in Atlantic. 8 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:57,760 Y'all can join me in praying. Father, I thank you that I have the 9 00:00:55,280 --> 00:01:02,879 privilege to intercede, come to the throne room of grace, not only for this 10 00:01:00,879 --> 00:01:08,560 meeting, but for the people that has been elected to serve this county. 11 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:13,439 Father, I can only imagine what it's like to have the pressure of trying to 12 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:18,799 please everyone, which is an impossible task. God, I pray 13 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:26,080 that these here that serve this county would serve we the people and not me the 14 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:31,119 politician and that it would spread throughout this whole state. God, I pray 15 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:37,439 that they would seek you in every decision that they would seek your 16 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:42,320 wisdom because your wisdom is honest and true. Father, I pray that there would 17 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:48,640 not be any dissension, that there would be unity always in this room, that you 18 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:53,759 would guide and direct those that make the decision for this county, and that 19 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:58,320 the people of this county would realize what the pressure they're under, that 20 00:01:56,159 --> 00:02:03,600 they would pray for them as I'm praying for them tonight. And God, I know not 21 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:08,399 their hearts, but you do. And I thank you that you're omniresent. That not 22 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:13,360 only are you here tonight, but you're everywhere at the same time. And God, I 23 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:18,560 pray for these and their families. That you to keep evil away from them. Keep 24 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:23,280 evil out of this room. Keep evil away from their families. And God, if there 25 00:02:20,879 --> 00:02:28,160 be one here tonight does not know you as their personal Lord and Savior. I pray, 26 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:34,080 dear Lord, that you would speak to their hearts that they would come to know you 27 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:39,200 as I do. I love you, Jesus. Thank you for all you do and all you're going to 28 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:45,040 do. And it's in your name, my Savior, my Lord, my Redeemer. Amen. 29 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:50,280 » Amen. >> Thank you, Pastor Wayne. 30 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,280 » Thank you. 31 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:59,040 » Uh, Commissioner Mansfield had a family obligation tonight, so he's has an 32 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:02,319 excused absence. Uh, I'll read the ethics statement. In 33 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:05,920 accordance with the state government's ethics act, it is the duty of every 34 00:03:04,159 --> 00:03:09,519 board member to avoid both conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflict. 35 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:13,840 Does any board member have any known conflict of interest or the appearance 36 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:17,599 of conflict with respect to any matter coming before the board this evening? If 37 00:03:15,599 --> 00:03:23,920 so, please identify the conflict and refrain from any undue participation in 38 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:28,640 the particular matter involved. Good. Next, is there a motion to adopt 39 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:32,239 the agenda? >> I'll make a motion. Motion by 40 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:36,640 Commissioner Moore. Second. >> Seconded by Commissioner Walder. All in 41 00:03:34,959 --> 00:03:40,959 favor. >> Is there that carries? 42 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,560 » Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? 43 00:03:41,599 --> 00:03:48,000 » So move. >> Motion by Commissioner Shin, seconded by 44 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:51,159 Commissioner Clark. All in favor? Got it. 45 00:03:52,640 --> 00:04:00,000 Next, we have public comment. Would anyone like to sign up on the 46 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:03,760 sheet we have here? You'll have three minutes to speak. If you will come to 47 00:04:01,599 --> 00:04:07,159 the podium, state your name and address for the record. 48 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:15,000 First one is Melissa >> Urgart. Close. 49 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:21,639 » I apologize for that, but that's a not a name I'm used to. 50 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:28,720 » So, my name is Melissa Urkart, and you need my address, 51 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:32,960 » please. at 220 Trailwood Drive, Newport, North Carolina. Um, I serve on the board 52 00:04:31,199 --> 00:04:36,800 of Bogue Banks Football Club, a competitive travel soccer club here in 53 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:40,240 Carter County. But more importantly, I'm the parent of three children. I could 54 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,919 stand up here tonight and I could talk to you about the benefits of sports, the 55 00:04:41,919 --> 00:04:47,919 teamwork, the discipline, and how it helps our kids be healthy. But that's 56 00:04:45,919 --> 00:04:52,639 not what's important. I want to talk about return on investment because we're 57 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:57,120 talking about public dollars. In 2005, the Gillette Athletic Complex opened in 58 00:04:54,639 --> 00:05:02,560 Wilson. Since then, it has generated roughly 44 to 49 million in tourism 59 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:08,560 dollars with an annual economic impact of about $4.5 million. 60 00:05:05,919 --> 00:05:13,280 In 2018, Goldsboro opened the Brian Multisport Complex. In its first full 61 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:18,000 year alone, it produced $4 million in direct visitor spending. It generated 62 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:23,360 hundreds of thousands in tax revenue and brought nearly 5,000 overnight hotel 63 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:28,960 stays to the area. Those are measurable results. Now, let's talk about Carter 64 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:33,120 County. Tourism is our economic engine, but it's seasonal. From Labor Day to 65 00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:37,600 Memorial Day, many businesses are simply trying, excuse me, it's from Labor Day 66 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:41,199 to Memorial Day. In the offseason, businesses are just simply trying to 67 00:05:39,039 --> 00:05:45,039 survive. And because they can't offer steady hours in the offseason, they 68 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:49,120 struggle to keep workers. At the same time, the cost of living here continues 69 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:53,440 to rise. Many hourly workers simply cannot afford to live in Carter County 70 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:58,240 unless they can count on consistent year-round income. So businesses are 71 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:02,000 caught in a cycle. They can't provide steady hours in the winter and workers 72 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:06,400 can't afford to stay. And then in the summer, we're scrambling to hire. A 73 00:06:04,639 --> 00:06:11,440 wellplanned sports complex would help break that cycle. Travel sports happen 74 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:16,720 every weekend in the fall and spring. This is exactly when tourism slows down. 75 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:22,479 Nationally, youth and amateur sports travel generates approximately 52 76 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:28,639 billion dollar. Those families are spending money somewhere every weekend. 77 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:32,880 Right now, our families are part of that spending, but we're exporting it. We 78 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:36,639 travel to other counties. We pay for their hotel rooms. We eat in their 79 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:41,840 restaurants. Why not bring those families here? We have approximately 14 80 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:46,000 travel sports clubs across eight sports in this area and it's growing every 81 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:50,720 year. Instead of sending our families away, let's put heads in beds and 82 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:55,680 bottoms and booth here at home. Let's create dependable offseason revenue so 83 00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:59,840 businesses can offer steady hours. Let's support our workforce so people who 84 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:04,160 serve this community can afford to live in it. And the timing couldn't be 85 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:08,720 better. Carter Community College is launching cross country, baseball, and 86 00:07:06,479 --> 00:07:13,840 women's soccer next year. Momentum is building. They need facilities, and so 87 00:07:11,039 --> 00:07:18,080 do we. This isn't just about fields. It's about stabilizing our workforce, 88 00:07:15,919 --> 00:07:23,039 diversifying revenue, and strengthening our economy year round in Carter County. 89 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:26,800 The demand is already there. The opportunity is clear, and the time is 90 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,680 now. Thank you. >> Thank you. 91 00:07:27,759 --> 00:07:33,759 » Thank you. >> Next, we have Mr. Chuck Linder. 92 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,280 Outstanding. 93 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:53,599 » Chuck Linder, 123 Center Drive, Atlantic Beach. Good evening and thank you for 94 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:57,919 your time. Moria City League is celebrating the 71st year of serving the 95 00:07:55,599 --> 00:08:03,360 youth of our community. Our opening ceremony is scheduled for March 21st. 96 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:09,520 Swinson Park 100 p.m. We invite you all to attend. Last spring we had 28 teams. 97 00:08:06,879 --> 00:08:13,759 Registration is ahead of last year. At this time, and we may have to close 98 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:18,639 registration due to a lack of playing fields. With the town of Morhead City 99 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:23,919 closing its only baseball and softball fields in May, we're going to struggle 100 00:08:21,039 --> 00:08:28,960 to find fields for all of our youth. We do our best to keep act kids active and 101 00:08:26,479 --> 00:08:33,760 promote lifelong lessons that can be learned through our program. Get them 102 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:38,080 outside off of the video games, iPads, and cell phones. Our desire is for our 103 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:42,320 youth to become future productive citizens. Keep them off the street away 104 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:46,480 from the drug scene and criminal activity. 105 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:51,760 I'm very thankful Sheriff Asa Buck, Carter County Sheriff's Office, Chief 106 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:55,600 Brian Dixon, Moria City PD, and every other law enforcement agency in this 107 00:08:53,760 --> 00:09:00,160 county that helps keep our children safe. Moria City has been proactive in 108 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:05,279 raising funds to help fund improvements at Swinson Park. By hosting baseball 109 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:09,760 tournaments, sponsoring fundraisers, and applying for grants, we've been able to 110 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:13,920 contribute over $400,000 to much needed improvements at Swinson 111 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:19,360 Park. To all my fellow youth organizations, I encourage you to do the 112 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:23,920 same. County government and these folks sitting up here, they have a very 113 00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:28,000 difficult task to fund all the needs of Carter County. But if we all work 114 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:32,080 together, we can make a difference for the youth of our community. I had the 115 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:35,760 privilege of being part of the county youth focus group meeting a few weeks 116 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:40,160 ago with multiple youth sports organizations represented. Common 117 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:44,560 concerns were the growth of the county, lack of youth fields for all sports, 118 00:09:42,399 --> 00:09:50,760 athletic fields being closed due to much needed maintenance from overuse, and 119 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:50,760 kids not being able to play. 120 00:09:50,959 --> 00:09:56,880 Recommendations center around building more fields and facilities in a central 121 00:09:54,720 --> 00:10:01,760 location. Revisit the acreage between Highway 24 and Highway 70. Solicit state 122 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:07,200 and federal representatives to help procure that acreage. Allow usage of 123 00:10:04,399 --> 00:10:11,680 fields at school facilities. substitute artificial turf for grass to allow for 124 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:17,519 more playing time and less maintenance concerns. More city has had a plan on 125 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:22,800 the board to install art artificial turf on a small portion of field 2 at Swinson 126 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:26,959 Park. Allow us to go ahead and do that. We're ready to pay for every penny of 127 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:32,240 that project. It would allow for less maintenance, more playing time. It can 128 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:36,959 give the county valuable insight to aid their 15-year parks and recreation 129 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:40,880 master plan that hopefully will address the need for additional fields 130 00:10:38,399 --> 00:10:44,240 throughout the county. In closing, my hope is that all citizens will work 131 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:50,079 together to support the youth of our county. They are our future. They are 132 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:56,320 our future. With today being President's Day, my memory takes me back to November 133 00:10:53,120 --> 00:11:01,040 1963 when I was in second grade. teacher came in announced that President 134 00:10:58,079 --> 00:11:05,920 Kennedy had passed away. Allow me to borrow one of his famous quotes. I'm 135 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:11,600 going to change one letter in that quote. Ask not what you your county can 136 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:16,079 do for you. Ask what you can do for your county. 137 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:20,040 » Thank you, Mr. Chuck. >> Next, we have Mike Bullinger. 138 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:34,720 Hi there. Uh my name is Mike Ballinger. I'm a resident at 401 Meeting Street in 139 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:39,760 Bowfort. I'm the current president of the Bowfort Little League. Um I'm here 140 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:44,800 to support uh the Morhead City Little League and their quest for playing 141 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:49,200 fields. Um Bowford Little League's uh celebrating our 69th anniversary this 142 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:52,720 year. We've been around for a long time. Um 143 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:58,399 oldest little league in the in the state of North Carolina. Um we promote kids 144 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:04,640 activity. Um getting like Chuck said, getting kids off screens um out onto the 145 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:10,000 fields and learning lifelong skills. Um I have to thank the county parks and 146 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:15,360 recck department. Freedom Park is our main uh usage and it's great and we're 147 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:19,600 improving it every every year. Uh there's being turf put out so we can try 148 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:24,079 and play more when inclement weather hits. Um, I just have to say thank you 149 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:28,880 to the county parks and recck department for for all that um and all the support 150 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:33,760 that they've given us, but we can do more, especially when we're losing 151 00:12:30,399 --> 00:12:38,160 fields in Morehead City. Um, Chuck talked about speaking uh working 152 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:42,800 together and collaboration. We're hoping to help supplement and work with them, 153 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:50,240 play some minor league play this year to help provide these um 154 00:12:48,079 --> 00:12:53,279 these activities for the kids, especially the T-ballers in those 155 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:59,519 fields. So, hoping to invite them over to Bowfort um just down the road and 156 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:03,440 play some baseball. Um I also want to support uh adult activity. I'm part of 157 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:08,399 multiple run clubs and the ultimate frisbee group in town. And more playing 158 00:13:05,519 --> 00:13:13,680 fields could support just more than just kids. It can support adults, mental 159 00:13:10,959 --> 00:13:17,760 health, um, and just physical activity and keeping us keeping us in shape, keep 160 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:23,760 us out of hospitals, keep us out of doctor's offices, um, even as adults. 161 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:28,160 So, from kids up to adults, it's building lifelong skills. Uh, something 162 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:34,320 I'm very passionate about. Um, activity is a big part of that. teaching folks 163 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:39,440 how to be active and understand themselves. So with that, I want to say 164 00:13:36,399 --> 00:13:44,399 thank you for all your contributions and the contributions you will vote on in 165 00:13:41,839 --> 00:13:46,720 the future. So thank you all. >> Thank you. 166 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:50,200 » Thank you, Mr. Bolinger. Next we have Tiffany Pageant. 167 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:07,279 Hello, my name is Tiffany Padet. I reside at 609 Mandy Court, Morehead 168 00:14:03,279 --> 00:14:13,279 City. Um, I am the vice president of the Morehead City Little League and I have a 169 00:14:11,199 --> 00:14:16,800 little speech here. Um, investing in our future, the case for Morhead City 170 00:14:14,639 --> 00:14:20,160 Athletic Fields. Good evening, members of the council and fellow residents. My 171 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:23,600 name is Tiffany Padet and I'm here tonight to speak for the hundreds of 172 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:27,680 families in Morehead City and even more throughout Carter County who rely on our 173 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:31,519 local athletic fields. We are a coastal community that prides itself on being 174 00:14:29,279 --> 00:14:36,320 active. Yet, our current inventory of fields is struggling to keep pace with 175 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:41,040 our growth. As of early 2025, our local Morhead City Little League alone 176 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:45,199 supported nearly 30 teams per season with a surging interest in girls 177 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:49,680 softball. In addition to Morehead City Little League, my son and family is also 178 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:54,320 part of the established Makos baseball organization and has also been a part of 179 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:58,480 the Seashore soccer league. and the lack of athletic fields often leaves teams 180 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:02,480 scrambling for space. While the Morhead City Sports Complex, Rotary Park, and 181 00:15:00,399 --> 00:15:06,560 Fort Benjamin are incredible assets, they are operating at or beyond 182 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:09,839 capacity. We've seen field closures due to weather or maintenance that leave our 183 00:15:08,079 --> 00:15:14,800 kids with nowhere to practice. Furthermore, athletic fields aren't just 184 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:18,720 for play. They are economic drivers. Last year's Woodbat tournament proved 185 00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:22,800 that sports tourism brings real revenue to our local hotels and restaurants. By 186 00:15:21,199 --> 00:15:26,480 investing in more fields, we aren't just spending money. We are building a 187 00:15:24,079 --> 00:15:31,199 foundation for economic resilience and providing a positive healthy out outlet 188 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:35,839 for our youth that reduces juvenile delinquency. Last year alone, my family 189 00:15:34,399 --> 00:15:39,680 traveled out of the county for more than a dozen tournaments for both baseball 190 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:42,800 and soccer. I would have loved for our money to have been spent here in Carter 191 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:47,360 County along with countless other visitors income being brought to the 192 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:51,199 county. Sports tourism is a recession proof industry. When we host a regional 193 00:15:49,519 --> 00:15:54,800 baseball tournament at Big Rock Stadium or a soccer invitational at Rotary, we 194 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:59,120 aren't just filling fields. We're filling hotel rooms, local restaurants, 195 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:01,920 and shops during the shoulder seasons. Currently, Morehead City loses 196 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:06,959 tournament bids to Jacksonville or Newburn because we lack a consolidated 197 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:10,639 multiffield complex. By expanding our inventory, we turn Morehead City into a 198 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:14,639 weekendl long destination that supports our small businesses year round. It's 199 00:16:12,639 --> 00:16:19,279 time we treat recreation as a revenue generating department, not just a line 200 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:23,440 item expense. Beyond the dollars, there is a human cost to inaction. Study after 201 00:16:21,759 --> 00:16:27,199 study shows that access to organized sports is one of the most effective 202 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:30,800 tools for juvenile crime prevention. When our kids are on a soccer pitch or 203 00:16:28,959 --> 00:16:35,759 baseball diamond until 8:00 p.m., they are engaged, supervised, and mentored. 204 00:16:33,199 --> 00:16:40,480 With the city's recent $8 million investment in the WS King Rec Center, 205 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:44,480 we've shown we care about indoor safety. We must match that commitment outdoors. 206 00:16:42,639 --> 00:16:48,079 A child with a glove or a soccer ball in their hand is a child staying out of 207 00:16:45,839 --> 00:16:52,079 trouble. Investing in fields today prevents us from spending more on 208 00:16:49,759 --> 00:16:55,759 policing and intervention tomorrow. We are at a pivotal moment with the Carter 209 00:16:54,079 --> 00:16:59,920 County Parks and Recreation Master Plan currently underway for 2026. We have a 210 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:04,959 window to ensure Morhead City remains a leader in recreation. 211 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:08,640 We've seen successful renovations at Big Rock Stadium for the Marlins and the new 212 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:12,480 Carter Community College Kraken baseball team. Now we must extend the same 213 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:16,640 commitment to our recreational and youth leagues, the backbone of our community. 214 00:17:14,799 --> 00:17:20,079 I urge the council to prioritize the expansion of multi-use fields in the 215 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:23,120 upcoming budget. Let's give our children the space they need to grow, compete, 216 00:17:21,679 --> 00:17:25,039 and stay healthy right here in the town they call home. 217 00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:27,280 » Thank you. >> Thank you. 218 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:31,160 » Thank you. >> Next, we have Pat Mclofflin. 219 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:42,640 » All right. Is there anyone else would like to speak? 220 00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:47,039 All right. We'll move along. Next, we're going to acknowledge our county staff 221 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:53,280 and partners that worked very hard during the last winter storm. You know, 222 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:56,880 the last measurable snowfall was uh 1989 when I was a senior in high school. I 223 00:17:55,280 --> 00:18:02,000 cut a mini a donut on the highways during that snowstorm. That was like the 224 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:07,120 most fun time of my life. But uh we had a group here working around the clock. 225 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:12,080 Uh John, you weren't a hog troll back then, were you? No. 226 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:17,039 Maybe you were in the you were in the western end of the county, but uh so it 227 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:20,960 was a big event and I think this snow rivaled it. Uh some places it was 3 228 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:25,600 feet, but we had 10 to 15 inches throughout the county and it takes a lot 229 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:31,039 of people to run an operation like the county. We had 60 county employees whose 230 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:35,280 name are is listed on each screen here tonight. A lot of them couldn't be here. 231 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:38,960 U they went above and beyond. Some of them worked around the clock in our 232 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:43,120 emergency operations center. Many spent long hours in the freezing conditions 233 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:46,960 clearing our county facilities, parking lots, and other things so we could 234 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:51,760 reopen and continue to serve the citizens. We also want to extend a 235 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:56,160 special thank you to the Carter County Salvation Army who opened up the warming 236 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:59,919 shelters. I think that was wellreceived throughout the county and and our county 237 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:03,840 partners at DSS and the health department and the Carter County 238 00:19:01,120 --> 00:19:07,679 Sheriff's Office also helped with that. And uh just on the behalf of the board 239 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:11,679 and the people of Carter County, we want to say thank you to everyone that was a 240 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:18,160 part of that. It it went very very smoothly. Uh so it it's uh just a good 241 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:21,360 good feeling and we were proud of our county employees when everything comes 242 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:24,000 together and we want our county employees to know that we appreciate 243 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:29,120 them. So we're going to have some department heads come up and we're going 244 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:33,120 to take a picture. Uh those department heads going to start with Sharon 245 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:38,000 Griffin, our great county manager, Matt Renau, our assistant county manager, 246 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:43,679 Billy Matus, our emergency services director, DJ Hunt, our deputy emergency 247 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:49,200 services director, Dwayne Yuri, our general service director, Alan Long, our 248 00:19:46,799 --> 00:19:54,240 public buildings maintenance technician, and Nick Wilson, our county public 249 00:19:51,039 --> 00:19:58,640 information officer and our clerk, Mr. John Nyberg, chief deputy at the Carter 250 00:19:56,240 --> 00:20:05,640 County Sheriff's Office, and Susan Stewart of our Child Support Agency. 251 00:20:01,919 --> 00:20:05,640 Y'all come on up. 252 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,000 Thank you all very much. 253 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,080 » Thank you. 254 00:20:54,400 --> 00:21:01,559 Yes. >> Okay. Next we have resolution 2026-R04 255 00:21:01,679 --> 00:21:06,880 supporting the town of Pelleter's request from the North Carolina 256 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:12,000 Department of Transportation safety review at the intersection of West Fire 257 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:16,960 Tower Road and Peliter Loop Road. Commissioner Quinn. 258 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:20,880 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Supporting the town of Pelier's request 259 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:26,400 for NC DOT safety review and improvements at the West Fire Tower Road 260 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:30,240 and Peliter Loop Road intersection. Whereas the intersection of West Fire 261 00:21:27,919 --> 00:21:34,559 Tower Road and Peliter Loop Road is a wellocumented safety concern with 262 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:38,559 Cartery County. And whereas the town of Pelier has formally identified that 263 00:21:36,559 --> 00:21:43,280 drivers at this intersection experience limited sight distance, awkward turning 264 00:21:41,039 --> 00:21:48,000 geometry, and seasonal visibility issues. And whereas recent residential 265 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:52,400 development and increased traffic volumes have increased conflict points 266 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:56,480 at this location, impacting the safety of county residents and visitors. And 267 00:21:54,640 --> 00:22:01,520 whereas the town of Pelleteer Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution on 268 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:05,039 January 5th, 2026 seeking professional intervention from the North Carolina 269 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:08,559 Department of Transportation. And whereas current safety at the 270 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:12,480 intersection relies heavily on vegetation maintenance by private 271 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:17,520 property owners, which has proven to be an unreliable and temporary solution for 272 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:21,200 a public roadway. And whereas the Carter County Board of Commissioners recognizes 273 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:25,600 that when drivers must consistently pull into travel lanes to see oncoming 274 00:22:23,679 --> 00:22:30,960 traffic, a professional engineering evaluation is warranted. Now, therefore, 275 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:35,039 be it resolved that the Carter County Board of Commissioners hereby supports 276 00:22:32,559 --> 00:22:40,400 the town of Pelier and formally requests that the NC DOT conduct a comprehensive 277 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:44,480 engineering based safety review of the West Fire Tower Road and Pelier Loop 278 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:50,159 Road intersection. And be it further resolved that the NC DOT consider both 279 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:55,360 near-term lowcost improvements such as adjusted stop bar placement, enhanced 280 00:22:52,880 --> 00:23:00,159 signage, and improved pavement markings as well as long-term permanent solutions 281 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:03,760 to ensure year-round sight distance. And be it further resolved that the county 282 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:07,840 does not advocate for a specific predetermined solution, but instead 283 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:11,440 requests that NC DOT identify the most effective measures based on current 284 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:16,080 traffic data and professional engineering standards. And be it finally 285 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:19,600 resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the North Carolina 286 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:22,720 Department of Reg Transportation, the town of Pelleteer, and the North 287 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:28,240 Carolina House of Representatives to demonstrate the county's commitment to 288 00:23:24,559 --> 00:23:31,919 addressing this public safety concern. Is there a motion to enter the 289 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:34,080 resolution into the record? >> So moved. 290 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:36,400 » Motion by Commissioner Walder. >> Second. 291 00:23:34,559 --> 00:23:41,919 » Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. All in favor? 292 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:46,000 That's unanimous. Okay. Next, we have a presentation and 293 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:51,440 request for startup funds for respit program at the Leon Man Jr. Enrichment 294 00:23:49,039 --> 00:23:56,280 Center. Miss Shelley Ashley and Dr. Randa Williams. Great. Nine. 295 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:07,280 One of the fun uh part of my jobs commissioners is to say thank you and I 296 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:14,880 very much want to thank you for your interest in this issue of Alzheimer's 297 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:20,960 and our uh senior population. 25% of our county is over age 65 and the median age 298 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:28,720 for the county is 50. Median age in North Carolina is 40. In Enslo it's age 299 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:33,760 27. Um but here it's 50. And so uh on behalf of my fellow uh senior citizens, 300 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:38,720 we greatly appreciate your interest in this. We appreciate Sharon and D support 301 00:24:35,919 --> 00:24:44,320 in looking at this. And this is all kind of the genesis back several months ago 302 00:24:41,120 --> 00:24:48,000 as Susan came to you. Joseph Smith too, she's on the uh watching tonight. I just 303 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:53,120 talked to her. She couldn't be with us tonight, but she's obviously very 304 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:57,279 excited about this. Um, just like with the opioid project, when we were 305 00:24:55,600 --> 00:25:02,240 presented with a problem that y'all wanted us to, uh, solve, uh, we took a 306 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:06,000 history, the first thing we do. So, Shelley and I have spent the last five 307 00:25:03,679 --> 00:25:10,080 months or so looking all around the state. We've traveled to about eight 308 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:13,120 different places. And the program she's getting ready to present to you, I 309 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:17,840 think, is what we think would be best for Carter County as an option should 310 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:22,480 you wish to pursue it. Again, about one out of 10 Americans will get 311 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:27,760 Alzheimer's, and it's getting uh going to be more as as the population ages. 312 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:32,279 So, again, we very much appreciate your interest in this, and I'll turn it over 313 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:32,279 to Shelley. 314 00:25:33,679 --> 00:25:41,120 » Good evening, commissioners. I'm here to present the program for the respit at 315 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:49,279 the Leon Man Center. I'm going to refer to the next slide we have here. Um it's 316 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:53,760 going to be a What we are projecting and anticipating is going to be a respbit 317 00:25:51,360 --> 00:25:58,880 program. It offers activities and socialization for loved ones with um for 318 00:25:56,799 --> 00:26:03,440 caregivers of loved ones who have Alzheimer's. Um but we don't want it to 319 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:08,799 be confused with an adult daycare because it will not offer any type of 320 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:13,360 medical resources or personal care at all with this particular program. It is 321 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:18,559 just a respit program for them to bring their loved ones so they can have a 322 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:22,320 little time during the day. Um Dr. We like Dr. Williams said we have made 323 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:27,120 several visits and several phone calls around the state u comparing several 324 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:34,960 programs and we think this is the best option for Carter County uh to start out 325 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:40,640 on a small basis and move forward. Um, as you can see on the slide that we 326 00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:46,320 have, um, we have projected right now is a 4-hour day, one day a week program and 327 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:52,080 it will be offered at the Leo Man Center. Right now, with it being at the 328 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:56,640 Leo Man Center, we have resources there that can contribute to the program which 329 00:26:54,000 --> 00:27:02,000 would keep keep the cost at a minimum. And then on our next slide, um, this one 330 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:06,559 is regarding the budget. And as you can see, we have a startup budget and then 331 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:12,000 an annual program budget. Um, we have tried to be good stewards of our 332 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:16,559 resources. Um, and minimize our costs. Um, we don't want to make we do want to 333 00:27:14,159 --> 00:27:21,840 make you aware that the current home care and community the home community 334 00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:27,120 care and block grant that can be difficult and be a mouthful. Um, they 335 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:32,480 will not cover the startup costs. Uh, Dr. Williams and I have diligently dug 336 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:39,600 into it and asked many many reasons why. Um but they just do not cover the 337 00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:44,320 startup cost but they will um they will however in the long run help 338 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:49,919 sustain it once we get the program up and running. Um and so we hope that will 339 00:27:47,679 --> 00:27:54,880 be the future of the program is working with the um home care and community the 340 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:59,120 home community care and block grant program. Just want to thank you for your 341 00:27:57,279 --> 00:28:03,799 time and if you have any questions, Dr. Williams and I would be glad to answer 342 00:28:00,799 --> 00:28:03,799 them. 343 00:28:04,799 --> 00:28:10,320 » So, we would start in a new budget year or 344 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:11,760 » Well, >> we're going to start a little before 345 00:28:11,279 --> 00:28:16,399 that. >> That's entirely up to you. Um, we had a 346 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:21,360 sense that uh you wanted us to do this with all deliberate speed. 347 00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:26,640 We we've got an option that if you uh pass this and we would start really the 348 00:28:24,159 --> 00:28:30,080 cost of finding a director part-time director 349 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:34,240 » uh we have to find 40 volunteers. This is oneonone volunteers. That's one of 350 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:37,520 the beauties of it gets the community involved. 351 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:41,600 » And so our timeline our kind of gant chart would be to have somebody hired 352 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:46,159 hopefully by April 1 they would spend three months getting volunteers and then 353 00:28:43,919 --> 00:28:50,720 we would open on July 1. Once we're open, we can get funds from the block 354 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:55,919 grant. If you'd rather delay, we can wait until the next budget cycle, but 355 00:28:53,679 --> 00:29:00,399 push everything out about three months. Probably start in October. 356 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:04,000 » I personally like to get going with it myself. Everybody, 357 00:29:02,559 --> 00:29:08,080 » we need a motion for that. >> I just got a quick question just 358 00:29:06,159 --> 00:29:10,799 clarification. So, have you got a facility already? 359 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:16,000 » Yeah, the Leon >> the Leon Center. 360 00:29:12,159 --> 00:29:20,480 » You got in your startup $7,600 for facility and then nothing going 361 00:29:18,799 --> 00:29:25,559 forward. I mean, I understand it's the Leon Man Center. We're already on that, 362 00:29:22,559 --> 00:29:25,559 but 363 00:29:26,399 --> 00:29:33,200 » we have room at the Leon Man Center right now that we will incorporate. U 364 00:29:31,679 --> 00:29:38,399 being that it's only going to be one day a week, four hours, you know, we can 365 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:42,480 transform this room for one day a week. As the program grows, you know, that 366 00:29:40,559 --> 00:29:48,960 might be a different story, but right now we do have an at the lean center 367 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:53,200 that we can transform for one day a week. 368 00:29:51,039 --> 00:29:58,399 » So what are the costs? What is the facility charge of 7,620 going to pay 369 00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:01,600 for? I think is maybe part of the question. 370 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:07,520 » Okay. One of the things we have to look at is the there's um 371 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:11,919 three exits in that room. So we would have to alarm those. We would have to 372 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:14,399 get comfortable seating for them. We do have tables and chairs that are already 373 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:17,760 there. um you know which they could do their 374 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:21,440 activities at but if they need time to rest we have to do the recliners and 375 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:27,600 things like that. Um we have to acclimate the room to their benefit. We 376 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:31,840 have we have already uh successfully put in the 377 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:35,919 um compliant buttons for you know restrooms and things like that but it's 378 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:39,039 just moving forward and getting everything in that room prepared 379 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:42,720 » upfitting. >> Yeah absolutely and one of the biggest 380 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:47,600 things is the safety. we have to watch the safety of anybody who's going to be 381 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:52,399 there, especially with wandering issues. Um, and that we have to be careful with, 382 00:30:50,399 --> 00:30:57,679 you know, we are not going to be doing any type of medical. So, one of the 383 00:30:54,799 --> 00:31:01,279 things we have to be careful with is rest time. You know, have someplace 384 00:30:59,679 --> 00:31:04,279 comfortable for them to sit if they get overwhelmed. 385 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:12,880 » Would this be based on an appointment being made to bring your loved one in? 386 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:16,960 That's how that would work as far as a >> it would be and there's a fee. There's a 387 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:21,279 $40 fee >> and uh one of the big purposes of the 388 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:26,399 director is to schedule the 40 volunteers which about 10 a day and then 389 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:30,880 to get the appointments for the people who are coming in so people can make 390 00:31:27,919 --> 00:31:35,520 plans because the foundation of the model is that this is good for the 391 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:40,080 families who get arrested. It's good for the patients who just get out of the 392 00:31:37,919 --> 00:31:44,240 home and socialize with other people. And it's good for the volunteers. We 393 00:31:41,919 --> 00:31:48,240 think looking at programs around the country and especially North Carolina 394 00:31:45,919 --> 00:31:52,480 who've done this model, they think that there's three legs to this school of 395 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:55,440 people benefiting, not just the families, but the patients and the 396 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:58,880 volunteers themselves. >> Thank you. 397 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:04,320 » I think it's a good deal. I think all of us uh know someone either in our own 398 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:09,120 families or friends that have loved ones that they have to take care of that have 399 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:12,480 dementia and it's very uh burdensome on it wires them out. So to have a place 400 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:16,240 you could take them and know they're going to be safe while you run your 401 00:32:13,919 --> 00:32:21,360 errands in town I think it's a good deal and I appreciate y'all jumping on this 402 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:24,880 and and getting going. Uh I entertain a motion to to move forward. 403 00:32:23,919 --> 00:32:27,760 How do you want to do it? >> I think what 404 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:31,440 » we need to make a decision tonight. We don't have to, but if you would like to 405 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:37,519 entertain a motion, I would recommend that it be to approve the startup of the 406 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:45,360 respit program and to hire a part-time program manager. 407 00:32:42,799 --> 00:32:50,880 And that that salary amount that you see up there is just to cover through the 408 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:56,799 end of this fiscal year. And then um it would we would present it 409 00:32:53,600 --> 00:33:00,000 at budget time, too. But we do not have to do this tonight if you guys want to 410 00:32:58,559 --> 00:33:02,480 discuss that some more. But that would be the motion I would suggest if you 411 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:05,480 want to do it. >> Okay. 412 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:12,880 » We have we're about to go into budget season and I know that we need to be 413 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:19,200 making budgetary, you know, decisions tonight on stop impact next year and 414 00:33:16,159 --> 00:33:23,360 impact we've already done this year. >> I respect that. But I thought we'd as a 415 00:33:21,679 --> 00:33:28,559 board kind of thought and give them the direction we'd like to move forward with 416 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:32,240 this and uh for very few dollars we can get this program up and going and then 417 00:33:30,159 --> 00:33:36,960 the state is going to provide much of the funding. So it won't be the county 418 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:41,519 dollars. >> So I'll entertain a motion or a motion 419 00:33:39,679 --> 00:33:46,399 to table it, whatever you'all like to do. 420 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:51,760 I I'd just like to understand where the impact is going to be on this 20k coming 421 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:57,679 out of this year's budget. Is it impactful at this stage? Is it you're 422 00:33:55,120 --> 00:34:00,960 looking to us the county for that 20 grand? 423 00:33:58,559 --> 00:34:08,159 » Yes, it can come from to start it. We cannot use the block. 424 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:13,200 » Okay. So is there an issue from a budgetary perspective at this stage in 425 00:34:11,119 --> 00:34:18,720 this fiscal year? >> There is not. We have had some revenues 426 00:34:15,919 --> 00:34:22,720 exceed expenditures and so we would be able to cover this if the board would 427 00:34:20,639 --> 00:34:27,440 like to authorize that and that would come in the form of a budget amendment 428 00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:30,960 at a a future. >> There's one. 429 00:34:28,720 --> 00:34:34,159 » Is there one in the packet? Okay. So yes. 430 00:34:31,359 --> 00:34:37,960 » So we're ready to execute if we choose. Okay. Thank you. 431 00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:45,040 » I, for one, as someone that can can speak from personal experience uh in 432 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:51,440 dealing with a loved one that suffers from dementia, the level of care and the 433 00:34:48,879 --> 00:34:55,440 amount of time that it takes for for someone at home to watch out for someone 434 00:34:53,679 --> 00:34:59,119 that they care so much about suffering some from such a horrible disease that 435 00:34:57,599 --> 00:35:03,280 the quicker that we can act on this, the better. 436 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:07,119 And I'd like to thank both of you for for bringing this to our to us so 437 00:35:05,359 --> 00:35:09,599 quickly and and in such a professional manner. Thank you very much. 438 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:16,400 » Thank you. >> So your proposal on the screen for 439 00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:22,839 startup is 20,000. Budget amendment is $19,000. Only $1,000 440 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:22,839 difference, but 441 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:31,800 » I didn't realize there was a difference, but there's capacity. 442 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:39,599 approve the budget amendment or approve that 443 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:43,800 » the budget >> the 19,000. 444 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,800 » Yes. 445 00:35:50,079 --> 00:35:57,520 » Okay. I'm not against supporting folks with Alzheimer's, you know, because it 446 00:35:54,960 --> 00:36:01,560 does affect so many of us. I'm just I'm just uh 447 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:09,119 I'm just not I'm just not for um you know spur the moment making budget 448 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:13,280 changes. That's 449 00:36:11,839 --> 00:36:18,560 » it's not a spur of moment. We've been we've directed them to go find out the 450 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:22,880 first I've seen it presented. >> Well, we directed them a few months 451 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:25,280 back. Uh Mr. Mansfield was in favor of it. I thought everybody was kind of in 452 00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:30,720 favor of doing it. >> You may have the votes. Yeah, that's 453 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:37,760 that's fine. I'd like I move uh to appropriate the $19,000 454 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:45,359 budget amendment to be 20 grand when we're all said and done and to go forth 455 00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:53,040 and to hire a part-time program director for startup costs for the respit center. 456 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:59,640 » I'll second that. All right. There's a motion and a second to proceed with the 457 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:59,640 respit center. All in favor? 458 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:04,680 All opposed? Motion carries. 459 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:09,839 » Thank you. >> Thank you. 460 00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:17,680 » Thank you all. We appreciate you getting that together for us. 461 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:19,680 » And is it Mary that's online? Mary >> Joseph. 462 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:24,960 » Josephanne. >> Josephanne. This is to you. Thank you 463 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:28,720 for getting us started. >> Oh god. Thank you. 464 00:37:26,560 --> 00:37:35,119 » Next, we have uh Deputy County Manager D. Mishaw and Mr. Robert Bitner for the 465 00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:42,560 presentation of the 2025 audit report by PB Mayors. 466 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:49,280 So, tonight um I'm going to do a a high level financial review of the county's 467 00:37:45,359 --> 00:37:55,119 finances for June 30th, 2025. And Mr. Bner who will go over the um independent 468 00:37:52,000 --> 00:38:02,160 audit report and findings and other items of interest that he has. Um so 469 00:37:59,680 --> 00:38:09,200 tonight we're going to talk primarily about the county's general fund. We have 470 00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:12,720 um it's the primary oper it is the operating fund for the county. 471 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:17,599 Everything's accounted for in the general fund unless there's an 472 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:22,560 accounting standard, a law, something like um school bond debt issue that that 473 00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:27,520 construction has to be accounted for in a separate fund. We're, as um 474 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:31,440 commissioners just mentioned, we're fixing to go into budget and start 475 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:37,040 talking and having discussions on our budgets. And when we do that, we will go 476 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:42,000 into these other restricted funds that we have that have very specific purposes 477 00:38:39,599 --> 00:38:47,359 of what they can be used for. But tonight, we're going to focus on the um 478 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:52,320 county's general fund. So 479 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:58,000 as in prior years the general fund ended in a strong financial position. You will 480 00:38:55,280 --> 00:39:02,640 see revenue sources exceeded the budget as well as expenditures were under 481 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:10,560 budget. So here is the pigraph that we look at 482 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:16,960 and we see every year and it illustrates that property taxes are our largest 483 00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:23,520 but there it is are our largest source of revenue is 48% of the general fund 484 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:29,119 budget. It is followed by other taxes which are sales taxes and then 485 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:34,400 intergovernmental is 14%. Intergovernmental is federal and state 486 00:39:31,359 --> 00:39:40,640 revenue that we receive that supports primarily human services programs, our 487 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:48,880 health programs, DSS, aging and it also supports our transportation caps program 488 00:39:44,079 --> 00:39:54,480 as well. Sales and services is 5% that is mostly solid waste revenue. Civic 489 00:39:51,520 --> 00:40:01,119 center fees fall in that category. permit and fees are 4% 490 00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:05,920 that is registered deeds fees um health department fees as well as our building 491 00:40:03,119 --> 00:40:10,480 inspection fees. Other is just miscellaneous 492 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:17,760 interest and investment income as 4% of the county's budget and transfers in as 493 00:40:13,599 --> 00:40:23,520 5%. That is the occupancy tax revenue that's transferred into the general fund 494 00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:28,280 and that is a restricted funding source. It can only be used for beach 495 00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:28,280 nourishment. 496 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:38,240 So, um if you look, it may be easier to read on your handout than read on the 497 00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:43,599 screen. Um but here is a comparison of major revenue categories. It has our 498 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:48,800 amended final budget and then our actual revenues that we received and then the 499 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:56,240 variance for each category. We budgeted 59.61 61 million and we 500 00:40:53,280 --> 00:41:03,200 received a little bit over 62 million. That's a 2.41 million positive variance. 501 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:07,920 There's several factors in that. One is our tax department had a higher 502 00:41:05,760 --> 00:41:14,640 collection rate than it did the previous year. It was about a host half a percent 503 00:41:10,240 --> 00:41:20,160 more um prior year tax collections. there was an increased effort um in that 504 00:41:17,359 --> 00:41:27,119 area and that resulted in some positive revenue and then the audited assessed 505 00:41:23,599 --> 00:41:30,720 values um for the county were higher than the assessed values that had been 506 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:37,040 provided by the tax department when the budget was developed. You'll see sales 507 00:41:33,440 --> 00:41:43,839 tax we received 23.45 million. It was only about um 9,000 more 508 00:41:41,359 --> 00:41:49,520 than what was budgeted. Permits and fees came in under budget by 509 00:41:47,359 --> 00:41:56,000 about $450,000. We received 4.88 million. Um we had 510 00:41:53,359 --> 00:42:02,240 registered D's fees, some health department fees as well as franchise 511 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:08,800 fees that those did not meet the um the budget projections. 512 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:14,400 the register of deed space um no longer look like they are regressing. They have 513 00:42:11,599 --> 00:42:22,000 leveled out and we are now in this current year seeing growth in registered 514 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:27,440 deed space again. So that's good news. Intergovernmental 515 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:33,359 we received about 18.81 million. That was um 1.17 million less than what was 516 00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:38,720 budgeted. And you'll see this on the expenditure side. As I said earlier, a 517 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:44,480 lot of this is for SECATs human services programs. And a lot of that if you don't 518 00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:50,000 have the revenue, you didn't spend the money for the program. And a lot of 519 00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:56,560 times budget projections for these programs are done a lot earlier than 520 00:42:53,440 --> 00:43:01,200 actual um budget estimates that they get. 521 00:42:58,079 --> 00:43:07,680 Um sales and services exceeded the budget just a little bit by 2 point by 522 00:43:04,720 --> 00:43:14,079 0.21 million. Interest and investment earnings was 4.63 million was about 523 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:20,160 700,000 more than budgeted. other revenue is miscellaneous and then 524 00:43:17,119 --> 00:43:25,280 the transfer in for occupancy tax and that was almost $600,000 525 00:43:22,720 --> 00:43:32,560 under budget and that was with transfers in when the year was completed we had 526 00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:37,119 appropriated a total of $10.07 07 million. 527 00:43:34,240 --> 00:43:43,920 We started out with an adopted budget of over five million and then um we had 528 00:43:41,119 --> 00:43:50,079 rollover and incomplete projects from the prior year that we reappropriated. 529 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:57,760 And so to make the budget balance we had appropriated over 10 million. Total 530 00:43:53,440 --> 00:44:04,000 budget was 138.64 64 million and our actual revenues received were just under 531 00:44:00,720 --> 00:44:09,760 130 million. So if you look at expenditures, 532 00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:15,280 expenditures look like you would expect. Education is the largest part of our 533 00:44:12,480 --> 00:44:22,000 budget. It's 28%. That um does not include debt service 534 00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:26,000 and that does not include um capital that's transferred out to another fund 535 00:44:24,240 --> 00:44:31,920 for school capital. Um, human services and public safety are 536 00:44:28,880 --> 00:44:37,599 our second largest areas of government. It used to be that human services 537 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:43,599 distinctly had the number two spot, but now public safety with the um with all 538 00:44:41,440 --> 00:44:49,920 that we fund and we have to and the requirements we have, they are they're 539 00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:57,280 they're the same funding level. Debt service is about 7% of um expenditures 540 00:44:54,560 --> 00:45:02,880 almost Almost all of debt service is for public school bonds. 541 00:44:59,920 --> 00:45:08,960 Cultural recreation is 4%. General government is 12%. 542 00:45:05,839 --> 00:45:15,280 Economic developments around 3%. Environmental protection which is public 543 00:45:11,520 --> 00:45:21,280 um works and solid waste is 5%. Other is um transfers out to other 544 00:45:18,560 --> 00:45:27,720 funds. And in there would be where school capital sits in that um public 545 00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:27,720 school capital sits in that 5%. 546 00:45:28,000 --> 00:45:37,760 Here's the chart here or the table rather is similar to the revenues. It's 547 00:45:34,319 --> 00:45:41,680 broken out by function of government. Every one of these categories you're 548 00:45:39,599 --> 00:45:49,119 going to see we spent what was appropriated. Um 549 00:45:44,800 --> 00:45:54,319 general government was 14.69 69 million spent with a 2.41 550 00:45:51,920 --> 00:46:01,760 under spent of the million spent of the budgeted amount. Public safety had a 551 00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:05,440 budgeted amount of 24.39 million. It was 22.55 552 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:10,319 was what was spent with a positive variance of 1.84. 553 00:46:08,160 --> 00:46:13,839 If you go, you see transportation. I'm not going to read them all out, but 554 00:46:11,520 --> 00:46:19,280 there's transportation, environmental protection. when you see human services, 555 00:46:16,400 --> 00:46:27,040 I will point that out that we underspent the budget by 3.18 million. So when you 556 00:46:24,319 --> 00:46:31,839 look at that, that illustrates where we didn't receive the federal and state 557 00:46:28,560 --> 00:46:34,839 revenue, we also didn't have the expenditure. 558 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:46,960 Uh public schools for operations was 29.13 million. The community college was 559 00:46:43,359 --> 00:46:52,800 5.31 million spent. 63 million was not spent. Community 560 00:46:50,160 --> 00:46:57,040 college capital can be accounted for in the general fund. That was where they 561 00:46:55,119 --> 00:47:04,000 did not complete their projects and we rolled that money over into the 26 562 00:47:00,079 --> 00:47:10,560 budget where the state requires the public school capital be accounted in a 563 00:47:06,079 --> 00:47:15,280 separate fund. Um you'll see recreation and debt service was a little bit under 564 00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:21,839 budget and then the um non-EP departmental transfers to other funds 565 00:47:18,319 --> 00:47:28,560 was 4 million. There was 6.23 million not spent. That part is contingency and 566 00:47:25,359 --> 00:47:34,720 that was um for occupancy tax. We account for the revenue transferred into 567 00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:41,359 the general fund and and then um we have the beach nourishment department and 568 00:47:37,119 --> 00:47:45,520 then what is not spent is the 6.23 million was projected. 569 00:47:43,680 --> 00:47:52,240 Commissioner Chad Chairman Chad >> question on the cultural and recreation 570 00:47:50,160 --> 00:47:59,040 that our ball fields and >> it's Yeah. Yes sir. But it's more than 571 00:47:54,720 --> 00:48:03,280 that. It is parks and wreck um the civic center and our library system. 572 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:08,000 So it's >> about five million currently on that. 573 00:48:05,760 --> 00:48:12,720 » Yes sir. >> Yeah. It was five point almost five and 574 00:48:10,160 --> 00:48:22,000 a half was budgeted and then right almost five million was expended. 575 00:48:16,880 --> 00:48:27,760 So if you look so the total budget was 138.64 million we underspent them about 576 00:48:26,240 --> 00:48:33,520 17.03 million. If you look at this slide, this 577 00:48:31,359 --> 00:48:39,920 breaks instead of looking at function of government, this breaks out what we 578 00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:45,520 underspent by category. So with salaries and benefits 579 00:48:42,960 --> 00:48:52,079 um we spent 3.54 million and um you remember when we 580 00:48:50,319 --> 00:48:58,240 when y'all adopted when the board adopted the 26 budget that um we had 581 00:48:55,680 --> 00:49:04,240 talked about retention and our turnover rate and um there are things that were 582 00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:10,880 budgeted and approved in the 26 budget for salary increases and for to work on 583 00:49:07,119 --> 00:49:15,280 retaining staff. Um maintenance was 2 million underspent. 584 00:49:12,880 --> 00:49:20,960 Operating was almost 3 million under spent. Capital which is the county the 585 00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:23,960 community college was 1.6 million underspent. 586 00:49:24,640 --> 00:49:34,160 the 66 million for programs are um like special assistance programs 587 00:49:31,200 --> 00:49:39,520 for DSS, a little bit of mental health programs and our health um public health 588 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:45,359 department programs were under spent and then the contingency again that was not 589 00:49:41,760 --> 00:49:48,359 spent was restricted for um beach nourishment. 590 00:49:48,400 --> 00:49:56,559 So when you look at the um revenue in total and the expenditures and other 591 00:49:54,079 --> 00:50:02,559 sources in total revenues and other sources exceeded expenditures by 8.16 592 00:50:00,319 --> 00:50:11,119 million on this slide 593 00:50:04,800 --> 00:50:17,119 it breaks out that 8.16 million and um not all money that we receive we can 594 00:50:14,079 --> 00:50:23,599 spend it on anything we want to. It has restrictions and um we receive from the 595 00:50:21,440 --> 00:50:31,359 federal government and the state receive a tremendous amount of thou shalts 596 00:50:26,960 --> 00:50:38,000 and um so on our restricted fund balance that increased 8.36 million. Just about 597 00:50:35,680 --> 00:50:43,599 all of that was for restricted by state statute and beach nourishment. 598 00:50:41,359 --> 00:50:50,720 Our committed fund balance which was appropriations 599 00:50:45,200 --> 00:50:55,920 for revaluation fund was 0.42 million. Our signed fund balance went down about 600 00:50:53,200 --> 00:51:03,040 three and a half million. Remember when we adopted the FY25 budget we adopted 5 601 00:50:59,920 --> 00:51:09,359 a.5 million. When we adopted our 26 budget we only adopted two million. So 602 00:51:06,480 --> 00:51:16,319 that decreased. And then our spendable fund balance um unassigned fund balance 603 00:51:12,640 --> 00:51:20,559 increased 2.88 million. And 604 00:51:17,920 --> 00:51:26,559 if you look at down skip down to the next section, if you look our audited 605 00:51:23,920 --> 00:51:34,720 unassigned fund balance for June 30th, 2024 was 47.06 606 00:51:30,400 --> 00:51:41,280 million. You add the 2.88 88 million that unassigned increased um this year. 607 00:51:38,800 --> 00:51:46,800 And then our ending audited unassigned fund balance for June 30th, 2025 is 608 00:51:45,040 --> 00:51:54,400 49.94 million. And that equates to 42.46% 609 00:51:51,839 --> 00:51:59,920 of general fund expenditures. When rating agencies look at the 610 00:51:57,520 --> 00:52:04,319 county's fund balance, this is the that's the calculation it looks at as a 611 00:52:02,079 --> 00:52:09,040 percentage of expenditures. This is not the only reason, but this is 612 00:52:06,319 --> 00:52:14,559 one of the reasons were AAA bond rated with Fitch rating agencies. And then we 613 00:52:12,079 --> 00:52:22,240 are one notch lower with Moody's and S&P. Um the unassigned fund balance is 614 00:52:18,880 --> 00:52:28,160 what serves as our rainy day fund. if you know we have a hurricane or any 615 00:52:24,400 --> 00:52:34,000 other major event um it is also our buffer if there's an economic downturn 616 00:52:31,680 --> 00:52:38,640 and it's our funding source if there are opportunities that arise during the year 617 00:52:36,640 --> 00:52:44,720 that the board wants to take advantage of. 618 00:52:40,319 --> 00:52:50,960 So we're very fortunate, very blessed to have such healthy finances and such a 619 00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:59,359 healthy fund balance. Finally, um the the finance department 620 00:52:56,079 --> 00:53:07,359 and especially especially me want to express a lot of appreciation and 621 00:53:01,839 --> 00:53:13,200 gratitude. Um it is a lot of work to get a completed audit and to get a completed 622 00:53:11,040 --> 00:53:17,680 financial statement. Every year the audited financial statements get more 623 00:53:15,200 --> 00:53:23,040 and more complex and we have more and more programs and um you know I want to 624 00:53:21,359 --> 00:53:27,599 thank the board of commissioners for your continued support and your trust 625 00:53:25,200 --> 00:53:32,160 that you place in the county's finance department and I want to thank the 626 00:53:29,599 --> 00:53:37,440 county manager, our department heads and their staff for their dedication and 627 00:53:34,960 --> 00:53:43,040 submitting their work timely and accurately and everything with an audit. 628 00:53:40,640 --> 00:53:49,200 It's just the nature of how it is. It's hurry up and wait. And when they're 629 00:53:46,720 --> 00:53:55,040 they're in the middle of a program or a single audit and the the outside 630 00:53:52,559 --> 00:54:00,160 departments are really good about pulling the information and submitting 631 00:53:56,880 --> 00:54:06,000 it to finance so we can keep moving and try to meet our deadlines. Um it's, you 632 00:54:04,160 --> 00:54:12,480 know, it takes a whole team to get a successful um completed audit. I 633 00:54:09,119 --> 00:54:18,079 especially want to thank PB Mars and James Sergeant and Robbie Bitner. Robbie 634 00:54:15,440 --> 00:54:25,040 Bitner is the partner of the firm. He signs off on our audit. Um it would not 635 00:54:21,760 --> 00:54:30,079 be possible to get a completed audited financial statements and get through the 636 00:54:27,040 --> 00:54:34,880 whole review process without them. their dedication, their timeliness, and their 637 00:54:32,800 --> 00:54:40,559 attention that they provide and assistance to the county is um 638 00:54:37,359 --> 00:54:47,200 immeasurable. They don't just express an opinion. They offer advice. They help 639 00:54:44,160 --> 00:54:52,240 offer clarification on standards. It only improves and strengthens the 640 00:54:49,760 --> 00:54:56,960 financial practices in the reporting of this county. in North Carolina, 641 00:54:54,800 --> 00:55:02,640 nationwide, but in North Carolina, there are not enough governmental auditing 642 00:54:59,359 --> 00:55:08,400 firms. And this county is very fortunate that right here in Morehead City, in 643 00:55:05,280 --> 00:55:15,200 this county, that we have a farm that is capable of doing an audit for a county 644 00:55:12,240 --> 00:55:19,680 that's our complex and our size. And I can't say enough nice things and 645 00:55:17,040 --> 00:55:24,960 appreciation for them. And I know we went through this fast. 646 00:55:22,079 --> 00:55:29,520 I'll be glad to answer any questions. Um, we'll be going as we move in the 647 00:55:27,520 --> 00:55:36,640 budget, like I said, we'll be going into more detail, but please feel free to 648 00:55:32,880 --> 00:55:42,480 reach out to me with any questions. Um, I'm sure Mr. Bitner and his team will 649 00:55:40,240 --> 00:55:51,880 would be happy if there anything they can provide assistance with as well. 650 00:55:46,880 --> 00:55:51,880 » Thank you, M. Michel. Any questions? 651 00:55:52,079 --> 00:55:59,359 M I I get a lot of questions about the occupancy tax and it being earmarked or 652 00:55:57,440 --> 00:56:04,079 restricted for beach reourishment. Could you explain who mandates that? And uh 653 00:56:02,079 --> 00:56:07,680 » it's a North Carolina General Assembly. >> North Carolina General Assembly mandates 654 00:56:05,760 --> 00:56:15,920 that it is restricted for beach reour. >> It does. It it states how much we levy 655 00:56:10,640 --> 00:56:21,520 and 50% of it funds the TDA and then 50% is specific for beach nourishment. 656 00:56:19,119 --> 00:56:24,720 » Thank you for that clarification. Beach Reour and advertising. Correct. 657 00:56:23,839 --> 00:56:28,319 » TDA. TDA. >> The TDA does the advertising and 658 00:56:26,640 --> 00:56:32,720 promotion. >> So with the unrestricted fund balance of 659 00:56:30,400 --> 00:56:36,880 about 50 million. >> Yes, sir. 660 00:56:35,119 --> 00:56:43,119 » We're in a pretty good position to spend the 20,000 on the respit program 661 00:56:40,240 --> 00:56:46,640 » or save money for the taxpayers. >> You could do either one, but we do have 662 00:56:44,880 --> 00:56:53,319 to look out for our elderly and our children. So we got to keep that in 663 00:56:48,720 --> 00:56:53,319 mind. Thank you, D. Thank you. 664 00:56:58,640 --> 00:57:04,160 » Good evening. Come to the uh most riveting part of your meeting this 665 00:57:02,640 --> 00:57:07,359 evening. Everybody loves to talk about audit, right? 666 00:57:05,520 --> 00:57:13,280 » We have the we have the most exciting uh presentation for you. Jam-packed. Um be 667 00:57:10,880 --> 00:57:17,440 about three hours. >> We've got snacks. 668 00:57:15,440 --> 00:57:20,319 » Well, uh to start off with again, my name is Robbie Bitner. I'm the audit 669 00:57:18,720 --> 00:57:23,920 partner with PB mayors for the audit engagement for the county. Uh I do want 670 00:57:22,319 --> 00:57:28,559 to thank the county for allowing us to continue to serve and to uh work with 671 00:57:26,240 --> 00:57:32,640 your staff here. I do want to uh give a special shout out to D and her team. Uh 672 00:57:30,640 --> 00:57:36,319 she mentions it's a it's a team effort. Uh we pick pry and ask a lot of 673 00:57:35,119 --> 00:57:40,799 questions and ask for a lot of documentation. If you saw uh we use a 674 00:57:38,799 --> 00:57:44,559 site called Sherink that loads all the documentation up that they have to 675 00:57:42,960 --> 00:57:50,799 provide to us in order for us to finish the audit. It's um quite robust. 676 00:57:48,240 --> 00:57:58,160 Thousands of documents I would imagine um are in there. So, we do thank you for 677 00:57:53,200 --> 00:58:01,440 that. So, uh as auditors, our job is to uh render an opinion as to whether or 678 00:57:59,839 --> 00:58:05,200 not your financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with generally 679 00:58:03,040 --> 00:58:09,680 accepted accounting principles and or GAP. Uh with that, we can issue four 680 00:58:07,839 --> 00:58:13,040 types of opinions. We can issue the adverse, which is exactly what it sounds 681 00:58:11,440 --> 00:58:16,799 like. it is the bad opinion, the one that your financial statements are not 682 00:58:14,480 --> 00:58:20,079 fairly presented. You can issue a disclaimer, which means that we did not 683 00:58:18,400 --> 00:58:24,319 see enough information to render an opinion one way or another. We can issue 684 00:58:22,400 --> 00:58:28,240 a qualified opinion and this is where we believe everything is fairly stated in 685 00:58:26,160 --> 00:58:32,640 accordance with GAAP except for maybe one or two parts of the financial 686 00:58:31,200 --> 00:58:37,119 statements. And the highest level of assurance that we can provide as 687 00:58:34,880 --> 00:58:42,240 external auditors is the unmodified or clean opinion, which the county did 688 00:58:39,040 --> 00:58:46,559 receive a clean opinion this year. So I want to take a quick step back before we 689 00:58:43,839 --> 00:58:53,760 jump into the gas report or the uh yellow book audit report. Um this year 690 00:58:50,720 --> 00:58:58,880 the with the government shutdown uh last November uh we had a nice had a nice 691 00:58:56,880 --> 00:59:04,559 little delay that came from the federal government. So uh we are not allowed uh 692 00:59:01,920 --> 00:59:08,480 to render an opinion in accordance with the single audit act or uh the single 693 00:59:06,799 --> 00:59:13,839 audit act and the uniform guidance without their compliance supplement 694 00:59:10,079 --> 00:59:17,760 being issued. Well before the the uh the OM did not release the supplement prior 695 00:59:15,920 --> 00:59:25,280 to shutting the government down which meant that it was delayed uh by about 43 696 00:59:21,200 --> 00:59:28,559 days I believe it was. So with that the uh local government commission did 697 00:59:26,640 --> 00:59:34,000 extend the overall audit deadline. So the audit was technically within the 698 00:59:30,160 --> 00:59:40,000 audit audit deadline this year. So um just wanted to clarify that item. Um any 699 00:59:37,280 --> 00:59:44,000 case, all right. So now back to our internal control and compliance report 700 00:59:41,599 --> 00:59:47,839 in in accordance with uh government auditing standards. Uh in addition to 701 00:59:46,079 --> 00:59:53,119 our opinion, we issue this report. This is where we identify any uh material 702 00:59:51,359 --> 00:59:58,079 compliance violations or material violations of laws, grants, contracts um 703 00:59:56,640 --> 01:00:02,960 that we see during the course of our audit. We also identify any significant 704 01:00:00,720 --> 01:00:08,559 deficiencies or material weaknesses in internal control over the preparation of 705 01:00:05,040 --> 01:00:12,559 the financial statements. Uh we did have one material weakness to report this 706 01:00:10,559 --> 01:00:19,440 year as it relates specifically to the opioid fund. And I wanted to make sure 707 01:00:14,720 --> 01:00:26,079 clarify this. This was the uh about 900 $950,000 worth of revenue was not 708 01:00:22,960 --> 01:00:29,760 recognized at the fund level, but it has been corrected. 709 01:00:28,079 --> 01:00:34,559 And let me just mention this, this is a timing issue. So the money was received 710 01:00:32,319 --> 01:00:40,480 in July. So it was it was correct as a receivable, but under uh the Gazsby 711 01:00:37,839 --> 01:00:46,240 standards, anything that's received within 90 days is considered available. 712 01:00:42,720 --> 01:00:50,880 So it is not deferred or listed as a deferral and deferred inflow of out uh 713 01:00:48,559 --> 01:00:55,440 inflows of resources on the financials. So it was just a timing issue that would 714 01:00:52,880 --> 01:00:59,040 come through. So there was no no issue with money actually missing or things 715 01:00:57,119 --> 01:01:03,920 like that. It was just a reporting item. So I just want to make sure it's 716 01:01:00,400 --> 01:01:08,480 clarified. Also clarify that the amount at the full governmentwide level would 717 01:01:06,079 --> 01:01:14,000 not be material and there is no effect at the full governmentwide levels as uh 718 01:01:11,520 --> 01:01:19,359 the revenue is fully recognized as when it becomes receivable at that 719 01:01:15,599 --> 01:01:25,440 governmentwide level and any questions related to that. All right, moving right 720 01:01:22,480 --> 01:01:28,160 along. uh we did not have any identified uh non-compliance this year and we did 721 01:01:27,040 --> 01:01:31,839 not have any other significant deficiencies or material weaknesses as 722 01:01:29,760 --> 01:01:36,559 it relates to the preparation of the financial statements. 723 01:01:33,839 --> 01:01:40,240 Uh as I mentioned uh earlier we also audit in accordance with the uniform 724 01:01:38,640 --> 01:01:43,920 guidance and the single audit act as well as the state single audit 725 01:01:41,839 --> 01:01:48,960 implementation act. This is where we are rendering our opinion on your compliance 726 01:01:46,079 --> 01:01:54,160 with uh federal and state grants. Uh whether those grants show up as uh 727 01:01:52,240 --> 01:01:59,119 significant grants or major grants for major programs uh is dependent upon a 728 01:01:57,359 --> 01:02:06,559 defined formula in the uniform guidance in the state single order act. Uh we did 729 01:02:03,119 --> 01:02:10,960 have one finding as it relates to material non-compliance 730 01:02:08,640 --> 01:02:14,720 uh and a material material weakness in internal control over that compliance as 731 01:02:12,880 --> 01:02:20,720 it relates specifically to the Medicaid program. I know uh for most of you uh 732 01:02:18,400 --> 01:02:24,000 each year there has been a material weakness in internal control as it 733 01:02:22,000 --> 01:02:30,079 relates to the eligibility determination function um for Medicaid. I want to 734 01:02:28,000 --> 01:02:34,000 point out this is also incredibly complex and so many different programs 735 01:02:31,839 --> 01:02:37,520 that are out there, but there were some identified 736 01:02:35,599 --> 01:02:41,599 identified individuals who received benefits that were not eligible. What 737 01:02:39,760 --> 01:02:45,280 does that mean for the county? It just means that there was determination not 738 01:02:43,280 --> 01:02:50,559 done and it was reported to the state. If you recall years ago, the direct 739 01:02:47,760 --> 01:02:53,760 Medicaid benefits are do not flow through the county at all anymore and do 740 01:02:52,160 --> 01:02:57,680 not show up on the financial statements. So there are no question costs or no 741 01:02:55,520 --> 01:03:02,480 items of that of that nature. It is strictly an item uh specifically to 742 01:03:00,559 --> 01:03:08,400 report to the state and then they handle handle it from there. Um 743 01:03:06,160 --> 01:03:12,319 so that's what we had. We ra specifically to Medicaid. Outside of 744 01:03:10,480 --> 01:03:16,079 that, all of the other programs that we tested and all of the requirements of 745 01:03:13,920 --> 01:03:21,920 the Medicaid program, we uh had an unmodified opinion on those as well as 746 01:03:19,520 --> 01:03:26,319 did not have any other issues related to internal controls. 747 01:03:23,760 --> 01:03:30,799 for those compliance programs. So, 748 01:03:27,839 --> 01:03:34,960 moving on from there, now normally you would have a letter from us sitting 749 01:03:32,480 --> 01:03:39,839 in front of you which we call our AUC260 communication letter. U it is required 750 01:03:38,480 --> 01:03:46,480 communication to those charged with governance. Um this year in putting in 751 01:03:44,160 --> 01:03:50,400 uh what we used to create what was called a data input form that the LGC 752 01:03:48,559 --> 01:03:53,760 released in which case it was just an Excel document that they would that you 753 01:03:52,160 --> 01:03:56,960 went pulled down from their site. You put in the information that came from 754 01:03:55,200 --> 01:04:02,079 the audited financial statements. This year they have a new uh website that you 755 01:03:59,520 --> 01:04:07,760 have to upload all that information into and uh somehow it got missed to give us 756 01:04:05,280 --> 01:04:11,920 access to this website for the county. So we are waiting currently to gain 757 01:04:10,319 --> 01:04:16,640 access to be able to provide them the information. Why is that important? 758 01:04:14,480 --> 01:04:20,559 Because that is where we receive what's called the performance indicators. those 759 01:04:18,799 --> 01:04:25,520 performance indicators need to go into that required communication letter. So 760 01:04:22,559 --> 01:04:29,839 that is why you do not have that. So it becomes an appendix to the required 761 01:04:28,000 --> 01:04:35,680 communications. So uh with that in that communication 762 01:04:33,119 --> 01:04:40,400 letter uh this is where we report to you any significant findings that we have 763 01:04:37,760 --> 01:04:43,760 any significant difficulties uh that we would have that we had with management 764 01:04:42,240 --> 01:04:49,680 if there were any which we did not have any. Um any any unusual items that were 765 01:04:47,119 --> 01:04:55,760 there and any modifications or changes to uh the audit opinions or what to 766 01:04:52,400 --> 01:04:59,280 expect. So there were no changes to the audit opinion for the financial 767 01:04:57,280 --> 01:05:03,280 statements this year. I do want to point out that county did implement uh Gatsby 768 01:05:01,760 --> 01:05:07,760 statement number 101 related to compensated absences. It would the 769 01:05:05,760 --> 01:05:12,640 financials were not restated for this. So there was what we would call a 770 01:05:09,599 --> 01:05:17,520 beginning balance past adjustment in the current year expenses at the government 771 01:05:14,720 --> 01:05:22,079 level. What is that? Essentially the statement requires 772 01:05:19,520 --> 01:05:26,079 that if it is material that the financial statements be restated while 773 01:05:23,599 --> 01:05:31,119 the amount was not material. It was not dimminimous. So therefore, we identified 774 01:05:28,880 --> 01:05:35,200 that that that uncorrected misstatement that you see in there is just saying 775 01:05:33,119 --> 01:05:39,599 that the beginning balance of that compensated absences related to the 776 01:05:36,960 --> 01:05:44,240 sickly is being reflected in the current year expense um on the statement of 777 01:05:41,920 --> 01:05:48,319 activities has no effect on your fund balance, has no effect on the general 778 01:05:45,599 --> 01:05:52,640 fund, um the opioid fund or the school bond fund. It is literally just at the 779 01:05:50,400 --> 01:05:57,520 governmentwide level. So when you look at your financial statements, 780 01:05:55,280 --> 01:06:03,359 other things to report uh related to that, there are there will be uh one 781 01:06:01,680 --> 01:06:07,680 performance indicator of concern that requires response from the county and it 782 01:06:05,359 --> 01:06:12,000 is specifically related to the audit findings, the financial statement 783 01:06:09,359 --> 01:06:15,440 material weakness as well as the one on uh related to Medicaid. So, that'll be 784 01:06:14,160 --> 01:06:20,319 something that the county directly responds to the LGC on, which I'm sure 785 01:06:17,839 --> 01:06:25,359 that D probably already has a draft of the communication to go out. Um, as it 786 01:06:23,039 --> 01:06:29,359 relates to that, uh, additionally coming down the pipe, 787 01:06:27,599 --> 01:06:33,359 some few things you need to be aware of. There are several more Gazsby statements 788 01:06:30,960 --> 01:06:38,720 that have been released, uh, 102 through 105. Uh, there will be a significant 789 01:06:36,240 --> 01:06:42,559 change next year um, as it relates to your basic 790 01:06:40,640 --> 01:06:47,520 financial statements. Uh statement number 104 is now requiring your budget 791 01:06:45,520 --> 01:06:51,520 to actual statement that the LGC currently requires to be as part of your 792 01:06:49,599 --> 01:06:54,720 basic financial statements. It's going to be required by Gazsby that that 793 01:06:53,039 --> 01:06:59,039 becomes required supplementary information. Why is that important? The 794 01:06:57,280 --> 01:07:04,240 required supplementary information is a non- audited section of the financial 795 01:07:01,440 --> 01:07:08,799 statements. So the statement that is in the front that is the budget to actual 796 01:07:06,000 --> 01:07:12,799 the for just the general fund that D was going through the different uh pieces of 797 01:07:10,559 --> 01:07:16,960 it earlier will not be an audited statement. Now that doesn't mean that we 798 01:07:14,720 --> 01:07:21,440 won't look at the general fund and the budget as it as it relates to budget in 799 01:07:19,280 --> 01:07:27,039 the audited section of the financials because there's still a more detailed uh 800 01:07:24,160 --> 01:07:31,280 portion of that statement back in the supplementary information where it is 801 01:07:28,720 --> 01:07:35,359 broken down more. So the opinion won't state the budgetary comparison for the 802 01:07:33,520 --> 01:07:39,280 general fund, but it will actually still cover it in the supplementary 803 01:07:36,640 --> 01:07:42,799 information. There are a few other items that will come through uh some 804 01:07:41,200 --> 01:07:46,880 clarification items, some different things that will uh clean up what they 805 01:07:45,119 --> 01:07:50,559 say clean up the uh management's discussion and analysis section of the 806 01:07:48,960 --> 01:07:56,799 financials as it comes from statement number 104. So it could technically 807 01:07:53,520 --> 01:08:00,400 shorten it a little bit maybe. We're not really sure there. They haven't released 808 01:07:58,319 --> 01:08:04,799 a whole lot of guidance specific to it, but we're expecting it to actually 809 01:08:02,559 --> 01:08:09,440 shorten the MDNA a little bit as it comes through. Um, outside of that, make 810 01:08:08,240 --> 01:08:12,680 sure I've got everything that I wrote down here. 811 01:08:13,119 --> 01:08:20,159 That is all I have to report as it relates to the audit. I'm happy to 812 01:08:17,440 --> 01:08:24,480 answer any questions you have uh about what we did this past year, what our 813 01:08:21,679 --> 01:08:29,359 process is, or anything. Um, any questions? If I can't answer it, I I'll 814 01:08:26,960 --> 01:08:33,640 defer and get it back to you. >> Thank you, Robbie. Any questions? 815 01:08:34,159 --> 01:08:38,319 » Appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. 816 01:08:35,920 --> 01:08:43,199 » Thank you. >> Okay, now for the main event, 817 01:08:41,040 --> 01:08:50,799 a public hearing on a proposal to reszone 1.61 acres 818 01:08:47,120 --> 01:08:55,520 totaling 6.02 02 acres from B3 planned business to R20 single family 819 01:08:52,719 --> 01:09:02,400 residential to B1 general business property located at 4301 North Carolina 820 01:08:58,799 --> 01:09:04,799 Highway 24 Newport. Mr. Ben Warren, welcome Ben. 821 01:09:03,199 --> 01:09:08,080 » Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good evening, commissioners. Uh, for your 822 01:09:06,560 --> 01:09:11,960 consideration this evening, we do have reasoning case 2025-000065. 823 01:09:12,880 --> 01:09:18,799 And just to give you a quick overview of the case, planning staff received an 824 01:09:16,319 --> 01:09:22,319 application from Mr. Joshua Edmonson on behalf of the property owner Julian 825 01:09:20,319 --> 01:09:27,199 Weekes and it's to resone property at 4301 Highway 24 in Newport. This 826 01:09:25,600 --> 01:09:32,159 property is formally identified as parcel 6305 0135 827 01:09:30,640 --> 01:09:38,000 2311 0000 and consists of approximately 1.61 828 01:09:35,440 --> 01:09:43,040 acres. The property is currently splitz zoned. It's B3 planned business district 829 01:09:40,640 --> 01:09:47,279 and R20 single family residential and the applicant is requesting that it be 830 01:09:44,480 --> 01:09:52,080 reszoned to B1 general business and this property falls within the future land 831 01:09:48,640 --> 01:09:56,000 use maps limited transition area. Just to take a look at the general area. 832 01:09:54,159 --> 01:09:59,600 The area surrounding the resoning site consists of primarily single family 833 01:09:57,679 --> 01:10:04,400 residential with some mixed commercial and in the commercial area consist of 834 01:10:02,239 --> 01:10:09,280 coastline golf carts, a speedway gas station, Dollar General and Island 835 01:10:06,880 --> 01:10:12,719 Furniture. And looking at the surrounding zoning, 836 01:10:11,040 --> 01:10:20,719 there is some existing B1 directly adjacent to the resoning site and across 837 01:10:14,960 --> 01:10:26,400 Highway 24 with some R20, R15, and B3 in the general area as well. 838 01:10:24,640 --> 01:10:30,159 As we compare those zoning districts, the current zoning district, the B3 is 839 01:10:28,480 --> 01:10:35,120 primarily intended for shopping center development with a 30,000 foot minimum 840 01:10:32,400 --> 01:10:40,640 lot size, the R20 for moderate to low density residential with a 20,000 square 841 01:10:38,320 --> 01:10:44,800 foot minimum lot size, and the proposed B1 zoning districts primarily intended 842 01:10:42,640 --> 01:10:49,040 for general business and professional business services. And it has a varying 843 01:10:47,120 --> 01:10:55,600 minimum lot size between 10,000 and 20,000 square feet depending upon the 844 01:10:50,719 --> 01:10:55,600 availability of water and sewer. 845 01:10:56,000 --> 01:11:01,760 As I mentioned, this area is located within the future land use maps limited 846 01:10:59,440 --> 01:11:06,960 transition area and the proposed resoning is consistent with policies 2.5 847 01:11:04,640 --> 01:11:11,440 number one and 2.5 number two in the future land use plan and basically those 848 01:11:09,280 --> 01:11:16,480 policies direct major development of an urban or commercial nature to be cited 849 01:11:13,600 --> 01:11:21,440 in the limited transition areas. Uh this item was heard at the January 850 01:11:19,280 --> 01:11:24,640 planning commission meeting. The only speaker from the audience at that 851 01:11:22,800 --> 01:11:29,040 meeting was the applicant. We did receive one mail-in comment which was in 852 01:11:26,560 --> 01:11:32,000 favor of the proposed resoning and the planning commission based upon the 853 01:11:30,159 --> 01:11:35,679 merits of the case voted unanimously to recommend approval of the resoning. So 854 01:11:34,080 --> 01:11:38,800 that concludes the staff presentation and I'll be happy to answer any 855 01:11:36,960 --> 01:11:42,719 questions that you might have. >> Any questions of Ben? 856 01:11:41,440 --> 01:11:46,719 All right, we need to go into public hearing. Is there a motion to go into 857 01:11:44,719 --> 01:11:51,920 public hearing? >> Motion by Commissioner Shen, seconded by 858 01:11:49,280 --> 01:11:54,880 Commissioner Wald. All in favor? We are now in public hearing. Is there anyone 859 01:11:53,520 --> 01:11:57,880 here that would like to speak on this matter? 860 01:11:58,880 --> 01:12:06,480 » Mr. Chairman, Josh Edmonson, Tidewater Associates, 1069 Cedar Point Boulevard, 861 01:12:04,880 --> 01:12:10,159 28584. Uh, appreciate staff presentation. Don't 862 01:12:08,640 --> 01:12:15,120 don't have much to add other than we just we do think this is consistent with 863 01:12:12,239 --> 01:12:20,960 the land use plan. Um, and we are very compatible with existing uses adjacent 864 01:12:17,280 --> 01:12:24,480 to our property. Um, and we are happy to answer I'm happy to answer any questions 865 01:12:22,400 --> 01:12:25,760 that you may have. So, thank you very much. 866 01:12:25,280 --> 01:12:28,800 » Thank you. >> Thank you. 867 01:12:26,640 --> 01:12:32,800 » Any questions of Josh? >> Is there anyone else would like to speak 868 01:12:30,239 --> 01:12:36,719 on this matter? >> Is there a motion to close public 869 01:12:34,159 --> 01:12:41,600 hearing? >> Motion by Commissioner Shen, seconded by 870 01:12:38,480 --> 01:12:44,480 Commissioner Wald. All in favor? >> Motion carries. 871 01:12:42,800 --> 01:12:48,080 » Mr. Chairman, I'll sit in for Commissioner Mansfield 872 01:12:46,800 --> 01:12:52,320 and read the >> all the numbers. 873 01:12:50,000 --> 01:13:00,040 » Make a motion to approve the request to reszone 1.61 acre flag lot portion of 874 01:12:56,480 --> 01:13:00,040 parcel 63050135231 875 01:13:01,600 --> 01:13:14,080 1 0 0 located at 4301 Highway 24 Newport, North Carolina 28570 from B3 876 01:13:10,880 --> 01:13:20,159 planned business to R20 single family residential district to B1 general 877 01:13:16,960 --> 01:13:22,719 business district. >> Second. 878 01:13:20,800 --> 01:13:28,560 » Motion by Commissioner Shen, seconded by Commissioner Clark. All in favor? 879 01:13:25,760 --> 01:13:34,000 Unanimous. >> Make a motion to approve the statement 880 01:13:30,400 --> 01:13:38,080 of plan consistency and reasonleness. Reasonableness. 881 01:13:35,520 --> 01:13:42,080 » Would you like to read that? >> Could you read that? Will you read the 882 01:13:40,080 --> 01:13:46,320 plan consistency statement or we good enough 883 01:13:45,440 --> 01:13:50,120 without >> I think it's got to be read. 884 01:13:50,159 --> 01:13:57,760 » So here we also add a consistency statement. Go ahead and go to the 885 01:13:54,000 --> 01:14:02,080 podium. And what I would say is um after careful review this resoning is 886 01:14:00,320 --> 01:14:08,719 completely consistent with the future land use plan. And I'll let you pick up 887 01:14:05,679 --> 01:14:13,040 anything that I've left off there. Okay. Um, so the proposed zoning is consistent 888 01:14:10,960 --> 01:14:17,440 with the policies within the future land use plan and reasonable based upon 889 01:14:15,280 --> 01:14:21,600 consistency with the existing zoning in the surrounding area. 890 01:14:19,520 --> 01:14:26,640 » Okay. Motion to approve the plan. The consistency by Commissioner Shen, 891 01:14:23,679 --> 01:14:32,520 seconded by Commissioner Walder. All in favor? 892 01:14:28,239 --> 01:14:32,520 Unanimous. That's got it. 893 01:14:33,600 --> 01:14:41,679 Okay. Next, we have a public hearing 894 01:14:38,800 --> 01:14:47,840 on a proposal to reszone a partial from R15M moderate density residential to B1 895 01:14:45,600 --> 01:14:53,199 CZ general business conditional use. The parcel is located on the east side of 896 01:14:50,000 --> 01:14:58,080 Pete Road, approximately 1100 ft north of its intersection with North Carolina 897 01:14:54,719 --> 01:15:04,480 Highway 24 and is approximately 3.7 acres in size. Ben, take it away again. 898 01:15:01,199 --> 01:15:08,800 » All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. provide a quick overview of the case. Uh 899 01:15:06,880 --> 01:15:13,199 staff received an application from Mr. Mr. Billy Rouse on behalf of Rouse 900 01:15:10,960 --> 01:15:17,040 Safety Tank Incorporated to reszone on the property. Uh it's located on the 901 01:15:14,880 --> 01:15:20,719 east side of Pete Road about 1100 ft north of its intersection with Highway 902 01:15:18,400 --> 01:15:25,239 24. And this property is formally identified as parcel number 6336275 903 01:15:25,280 --> 01:15:33,520 080500 and consists of approximately 3.78 904 01:15:30,159 --> 01:15:37,040 acres. The current zoning is R15M which is moderate density residential and the 905 01:15:35,440 --> 01:15:40,800 applicant is requesting the B1 conditional zoning and this property 906 01:15:39,120 --> 01:15:47,040 also falls within the future land use maps limited transition area. 907 01:15:44,640 --> 01:15:51,440 As we look at the surrounding area, this property is also surrounded by some 908 01:15:48,960 --> 01:15:56,159 existing single family residential as well as the Ween Oaks manufactured home 909 01:15:54,000 --> 01:16:00,800 park and some commercial development down along Highway 24 consisting of 910 01:15:58,239 --> 01:16:05,920 Erin's Grooming, Rear Coins of Raleigh and Ralph's Safety Tank Service. 911 01:16:04,159 --> 01:16:09,920 The surrounding zoning, we do have that existing B1 that's directly adjacent to 912 01:16:07,760 --> 01:16:17,679 the parcel as well as some more B1 along Highway 24. Uh the area is predominantly 913 01:16:13,040 --> 01:16:22,000 uh zoned R15M. However, in comparing the zoning districts, the 914 01:16:19,840 --> 01:16:26,560 R15M zoning district is primarily established for single family 915 01:16:24,640 --> 01:16:31,840 residential up to three dwelling units per acre with a minimum lot size between 916 01:16:29,679 --> 01:16:36,960 15,000 and 20,000 square feet depending on the availability of water and sewer. 917 01:16:34,719 --> 01:16:40,640 And the proposed B1 conditional zoning district is a general business district 918 01:16:38,719 --> 01:16:46,080 for professional and business services. Excuse me. Uh, with this being a 919 01:16:44,400 --> 01:16:50,400 conditional reser request, the applicant has proposed a series of conditions. The 920 01:16:48,719 --> 01:16:54,800 first limiting the uses to just a contractor's office, accessory 921 01:16:52,000 --> 01:16:58,320 buildings, and contractor storage yard. Uh, both the parking and landscaping 922 01:16:56,640 --> 01:17:03,440 buffering. He's offered his conditions, but neither of those are um inconsistent 923 01:17:02,000 --> 01:17:08,480 with the existing requirements in the ordinance. So he's proposing that one 924 01:17:06,159 --> 01:17:13,280 parking square one parking space per 200 square feet of office and one parking 925 01:17:11,360 --> 01:17:17,760 space per 600 square feet of gross floor area which would result in a total of 10 926 01:17:15,760 --> 01:17:21,920 parking spaces and he's proposing the 10ft vegetated buffer around the 927 01:17:19,360 --> 01:17:25,120 perimeter of the property. And then looking at the general site plan you can 928 01:17:23,360 --> 01:17:30,480 see the hashed area around the perimeter is that 10ft buffer. He's proposing the 929 01:17:27,840 --> 01:17:36,080 the um the excuse me 5,000 square foot building 930 01:17:33,679 --> 01:17:39,239 and 10 parking spaces and the pole barn as well. 931 01:17:39,760 --> 01:17:45,600 As I mentioned, this is located within the future land ma land use maps limited 932 01:17:43,440 --> 01:17:49,360 transition area and the proposed resoning is consistent with policies in 933 01:17:47,520 --> 01:17:54,880 the future land use plan specifically policy 2.5 number one and 2.5 number two 934 01:17:53,199 --> 01:17:59,440 citing urban and commercial development within 935 01:17:56,480 --> 01:18:03,199 the limited transition area. This item was also heard at the January planning 936 01:18:01,600 --> 01:18:07,360 commission meeting. The applicant was the only speaker in the audience at that 937 01:18:04,640 --> 01:18:12,000 meeting as well. We did receive six mailin uh comment forms all in favor of 938 01:18:10,080 --> 01:18:15,040 proposed resoning and based upon the merits of the case the planning 939 01:18:13,040 --> 01:18:18,640 commission voted unanimously in favor of the resering request and I'll be happy 940 01:18:17,199 --> 01:18:23,040 to answer any questions the board may have. 941 01:18:19,600 --> 01:18:28,800 » Thanks Ben. Any questions for Ben? >> Can you pull the map back up so I can 942 01:18:24,640 --> 01:18:33,760 get my barons uh show uh the main Pete road coming in? Is 943 01:18:32,400 --> 01:18:38,560 is this properly on the right? So there's a metal building there. Now 944 01:18:35,679 --> 01:18:41,880 you're reszoning around that. >> That's actually 945 01:18:41,920 --> 01:18:48,679 building my property, 946 01:18:45,679 --> 01:18:48,679 » right? 947 01:18:58,320 --> 01:19:06,000 » But we're not going to reszone the part where the metal building is now. You 948 01:19:02,239 --> 01:19:11,679 want to leave that like it is? >> Okay. I just wanted to see what side of 949 01:19:08,880 --> 01:19:16,239 the road I was uh >> looking at in case I get cornered 950 01:19:13,760 --> 01:19:20,880 anywhere. Is there a motion to go into public hearing? 951 01:19:19,120 --> 01:19:25,760 » Motion by Commissioner Waldrip, seconded by Commissioner Clark. All in favor? We 952 01:19:23,920 --> 01:19:30,560 are now in public hearing. Is there anybody here like to speak 953 01:19:28,159 --> 01:19:33,840 on this? Hear none. Seeing none, motion to go out 954 01:19:32,640 --> 01:19:35,760 of public hearing. >> Motion. 955 01:19:34,320 --> 01:19:38,080 » Motion by Commissioner Moore. >> Second. 956 01:19:36,159 --> 01:19:41,360 » Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. All in favor? 957 01:19:39,520 --> 01:19:45,280 » We are now at a public hearing. Commissioner Shin, you did such a good 958 01:19:43,040 --> 01:19:48,719 job on that other one. Would you like to make a motion? 959 01:19:46,000 --> 01:19:52,400 » Volunteer twice. But >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to 960 01:19:50,080 --> 01:19:55,400 approve or request to reszone parcel 633602750 961 01:19:56,480 --> 01:20:03,520 80500 0 962 01:19:59,679 --> 01:20:07,520 from R15 moderate density residential to B1CZ 963 01:20:05,040 --> 01:20:12,719 general business conditional zoning. The parcel is located on the east side of 964 01:20:09,520 --> 01:20:20,840 Pete Road approximately, 1100 ft north of its intersection with highway 24 is 965 01:20:15,520 --> 01:20:20,840 approximately 3.78 acres in size. 966 01:20:22,159 --> 01:20:30,360 » Second motion. >> Motion by Commissioner Shen, seconded by 967 01:20:25,760 --> 01:20:30,360 Commissioner Clark. All in favor? 968 01:20:30,400 --> 01:20:37,440 » And Ben, would you like to uh reassure us about the plan of consistency? 969 01:20:34,800 --> 01:20:41,280 » Yes, sir. proposed resoning is consistent with policies in the future 970 01:20:39,040 --> 01:20:43,840 land use plan and reasonable in light of existing and surrounding uh land uses. 971 01:20:43,600 --> 01:20:46,400 » Thank you. >> Is there a motion to approve the plan of 972 01:20:45,360 --> 01:20:48,880 consistency? >> So move. 973 01:20:47,199 --> 01:20:51,280 » Motion by Commissioner Shen. >> Second. 974 01:20:49,280 --> 01:20:55,960 » Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. All in favor? 975 01:20:52,960 --> 01:20:55,960 » Unanimous. 976 01:20:56,239 --> 01:20:59,239 Okay. 977 01:21:04,560 --> 01:21:11,880 Next we have another public hearing on proposal to reszone partial 978 01:21:08,880 --> 01:21:11,880 63460255236700 979 01:21:14,159 --> 01:21:23,120 from B1 Marine Business District to B1 general business district. Property is 980 01:21:19,440 --> 01:21:29,520 located at 966 Highway 24 Newport and is approximately 1.26 acres in size. 981 01:21:26,719 --> 01:21:34,159 » All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd provide a a general overview. Mr. Jason 982 01:21:32,159 --> 01:21:38,320 or Jason Arthur Construction on behalf of Meridian Seafood Incorporated 983 01:21:36,560 --> 01:21:43,679 submitted a resoning application for the property at 966 Highway 24 in Newport. 984 01:21:41,920 --> 01:21:47,400 This property is formally identified as parcel number 6346255 985 01:21:47,520 --> 01:21:55,360 236700 and consists of approximately 1.26 986 01:21:52,239 --> 01:21:59,440 acres. The current zoning is B2 which is marine business and the applicant is 987 01:21:57,280 --> 01:22:03,280 requesting it be reszoned to B1 general business. And this property also falls 988 01:22:01,440 --> 01:22:08,400 within the future land use maps limited transition area. 989 01:22:06,239 --> 01:22:12,560 And looking at the surrounding area, uh there are single family homes. There's 990 01:22:10,560 --> 01:22:16,239 also some non-residential uh the Dutch tree manufactured home park 991 01:22:14,560 --> 01:22:20,560 and some commercial including sound storage and a Dollar General. 992 01:22:19,040 --> 01:22:25,600 And looking at the surrounding zoning, the area is primarily encompassed in 993 01:22:22,639 --> 01:22:31,040 existing B1 with some R20 and R15M in the area as well. 994 01:22:28,960 --> 01:22:35,280 We compare the two zoning districts. The existing B2 zoning district is primarily 995 01:22:33,840 --> 01:22:40,320 established for marine related businesses and has a varying minimum lot 996 01:22:38,239 --> 01:22:44,560 size between 10 and 20,000 square feet depending on the availability of public 997 01:22:42,000 --> 01:22:48,800 water and sewer and proposed V1 zoning district. It's generally intended for 998 01:22:47,360 --> 01:22:53,120 retailing of merchandise and professional business services and also 999 01:22:51,120 --> 01:22:58,719 has a varying minimum lot size between 10 and 20,000 square feet depending on 1000 01:22:55,440 --> 01:23:03,840 public water and sewer. As I mentioned, this is located within 1001 01:23:00,159 --> 01:23:07,760 future lane maps limited transition area and this proposed resoning is also 1002 01:23:05,520 --> 01:23:12,800 consistent with policies 2.5 number one and 2.5 number two directing urban and 1003 01:23:11,280 --> 01:23:17,920 commercial development to be situated within the limited transition areas. Uh 1004 01:23:16,080 --> 01:23:21,520 this proposal was heard at the January planning commission meeting as well. 1005 01:23:19,920 --> 01:23:25,199 There were no speakers in the audience at that meeting, but we did receive one 1006 01:23:23,199 --> 01:23:29,760 mail-in comment form which was in favor of the proposed reasoning request and 1007 01:23:27,840 --> 01:23:33,440 the Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval and I'll be happy to 1008 01:23:31,360 --> 01:23:38,880 answer any questions the board may have. >> Any questions? Ben. 1009 01:23:36,560 --> 01:23:42,040 All right. Is there a motion to go into public hearing? 1010 01:23:42,400 --> 01:23:48,719 » Motion by Commissioner Shen, seconded by Commissioner Moore. All in favor? We are 1011 01:23:46,960 --> 01:23:55,040 now in public hearing. Did anyone like to speak on this matter? 1012 01:23:52,719 --> 01:23:59,040 A motion to go out of public hearing? >> So move. Motion by Commissioner Waldrip, 1013 01:23:57,280 --> 01:24:03,280 seconded by Commissioner Moore. All in favor? 1014 01:24:00,960 --> 01:24:10,440 » All right. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to approve the request to reszone 1015 01:24:06,880 --> 01:24:10,440 partial 634625 1016 01:24:10,960 --> 01:24:20,320 523 6700 from B2 Marine Business to B1 General 1017 01:24:17,840 --> 01:24:25,600 Business District. parcel is located at 966 North Carolina Highway 24 Newport, 1018 01:24:23,280 --> 01:24:30,639 North Carolina 28570 and consists of approximately 1.26 acres 1019 01:24:28,560 --> 01:24:33,600 in size. >> Second. 1020 01:24:31,679 --> 01:24:38,320 » Motion by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Waldrip. All in favor? 1021 01:24:36,800 --> 01:24:42,800 Unanimous. Is there a motion to approve the plan of 1022 01:24:40,560 --> 01:24:46,320 consistency? >> Okay. And the proposed resoning is 1023 01:24:44,800 --> 01:24:50,320 consistent with policies in the future land use plan and reasonable in light of 1024 01:24:48,320 --> 01:24:55,280 existing and surrounding zoning. >> Okay. Motion by Commissioner Clark, 1025 01:24:53,280 --> 01:25:00,760 seconded by Commissioner Wal. All in favor? 1026 01:24:57,760 --> 01:25:00,760 Approved. 1027 01:25:01,360 --> 01:25:05,719 Next, we have the manager's report. 1028 01:25:06,560 --> 01:25:14,080 » Thank you, chairman and commissioners. And I do have a couple of announcements 1029 01:25:11,760 --> 01:25:19,600 for everybody, but first of all um and she's still um out of the room, but I 1030 01:25:16,960 --> 01:25:25,040 just want to recognize D and her team for the extraordinary work they've done 1031 01:25:21,679 --> 01:25:32,080 during the audit. We are so fortunate. Um to have somebody of her caliber 1032 01:25:29,040 --> 01:25:35,440 working for us is tremendous. She's been here for 28 years 1033 01:25:34,159 --> 01:25:39,520 » and >> um Are we freezing to death? 1034 01:25:37,600 --> 01:25:43,040 » I'm kind of cool. I'll talk faster. >> He's hot over here. 1035 01:25:40,960 --> 01:25:47,600 » I also wanted I wanted to recognize another um favorite coworker here at the 1036 01:25:46,239 --> 01:25:51,120 desk, >> Nick. 1037 01:25:48,800 --> 01:25:56,400 » The amazing Nick Wilson. >> And he is amazing. He um just just this 1038 01:25:54,480 --> 01:26:01,040 weekend we found out he's already earned his North Carolina certifi certified 1039 01:25:59,360 --> 01:26:06,239 county clerk designation. >> All right, 1040 01:26:04,080 --> 01:26:10,239 that was fast. That's how it work. So, 1041 01:26:08,400 --> 01:26:14,560 » are we holding back some money on on you till you got the certificate or what? 1042 01:26:12,400 --> 01:26:18,280 » No, not really. >> You do a great job. 1043 01:26:19,120 --> 01:26:27,199 » Okay, a couple more um announcements and I've gotten rid of a few others in in 1044 01:26:24,320 --> 01:26:30,880 the uh interest of time, but early voting very important. It this is 1045 01:26:29,360 --> 01:26:34,719 ongoing. We have three sites open for those of 1046 01:26:32,719 --> 01:26:39,199 you who have not voted yet. Board of Elections Office in Bowfort, Fort 1047 01:26:36,480 --> 01:26:46,960 Benjamin Park in Newport, and Western Park in Seedar Point. The hours are 1048 01:26:42,880 --> 01:26:53,280 weekdays right now from 8 to 7:30 p.m. Our final day of early voting is 1049 01:26:49,520 --> 01:26:58,880 Saturday, February 28th from 8 to 300 p.m. So, it closes earlier on Saturday. 1050 01:26:56,239 --> 01:27:02,800 We have a very strong turnout so far. Don't be the only person who doesn't 1051 01:27:00,719 --> 01:27:06,639 vote. Get out there and vote. We want you to do that. And of course, you can 1052 01:27:04,639 --> 01:27:12,000 always show up on election day, especially if you like waiting in line, 1053 01:27:08,239 --> 01:27:17,120 and that's Tuesday, March 3rd. But we we encourage you if you can go for early 1054 01:27:13,840 --> 01:27:23,440 voting, get this done. Also, um a tax office reminder, our 2026 1055 01:27:21,040 --> 01:27:29,199 individual personal property and business personal property listings. Get 1056 01:27:26,560 --> 01:27:34,400 those done. Um I believe the individual are due February 27th, 2026. And this 1057 01:27:32,320 --> 01:27:39,360 has the same But I think we approved that was going to be later 1058 01:27:37,040 --> 01:27:44,400 » April 15th. That's correct. For for business personal property, these 1059 01:27:41,840 --> 01:27:50,400 listing forms, individual personal property are things like your boat and 1060 01:27:47,040 --> 01:27:53,760 your boat trailer and your jet ski and stuff like that. So that's what you've 1061 01:27:52,080 --> 01:27:58,080 got to put on those listing forms. That is required every year. And we didn't 1062 01:27:56,639 --> 01:28:03,120 make that rule. The state made that rule, but we do abide by it. Um, contact 1063 01:28:01,360 --> 01:28:08,320 information is available on the county website if you have questions. Finally, 1064 01:28:05,520 --> 01:28:13,120 the Coastal Home and Garden Show is coming up and after the snowstorm, 1065 01:28:10,639 --> 01:28:17,840 spring cannot come too quickly, so let's hurry it along. The Coastal Home and 1066 01:28:15,040 --> 01:28:23,040 Garden Show is March 7th and 8th at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morhead 1067 01:28:19,920 --> 01:28:27,600 City. And 60 vendors, or over 60 vendors, I should say, are already 1068 01:28:25,280 --> 01:28:30,800 scheduled to showcase home improvement landscaping. And that's all I have for 1069 01:28:29,120 --> 01:28:35,199 tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you. 1070 01:28:32,960 --> 01:28:40,000 » Next, we have appointments. Board of Equalization and Review. Looks 1071 01:28:38,080 --> 01:28:45,920 like they're all reappointment to a one-year term. Allison Burnau, Robert 1072 01:28:43,120 --> 01:28:52,639 Buckley, Lesie Daniels, Amy Lockach, Jeffrey Nelson, and Matt Shortway. All 1073 01:28:49,440 --> 01:28:58,320 in favor of those individuals. Okay. Next is the Juvenile Crime 1074 01:28:54,960 --> 01:29:04,800 Prevention Council. Miss Ruthie Maggie is an appointment to fill a unexpired 1075 01:29:01,120 --> 01:29:10,880 term for a member under 21 years of age. All in favor of Miss Maggie. 1076 01:29:08,560 --> 01:29:15,120 Next is the zoning board of adjustments. Clark Whitlo Jr. appointment to fill a 1077 01:29:13,120 --> 01:29:19,080 three-year term as an alternate seat. All in favor of Mr. Whitlo. 1078 01:29:19,360 --> 01:29:28,000 And I believe that's >> that's it. 1079 01:29:24,560 --> 01:29:32,400 » That's it. Board of Ed Board of Equalization and Review. 1080 01:29:30,080 --> 01:29:37,239 » It's a redundant to the other. >> All right, that's uh all of that. 1081 01:29:37,520 --> 01:29:44,800 So, next we have Commissioner comment. Start with Commissioner Clark. 1082 01:29:41,840 --> 01:29:51,360 » Thank you, Chairman. Um, it's very somber, but a little over two 1083 01:29:47,600 --> 01:29:58,080 weeks ago, our our county experienced an environmental disaster, snow. 1084 01:29:55,120 --> 01:30:02,159 Um, I can't imagine that there exists but a few people on this planet that 1085 01:29:59,840 --> 01:30:08,960 hate snow more than I do. So, it was very traumatic for me. But I would um 1086 01:30:05,600 --> 01:30:14,800 that being said, I want to commend the vast majority of Carter County citizens 1087 01:30:11,840 --> 01:30:19,280 who recognized that this is the south and that this this is the Atlantic coast 1088 01:30:17,679 --> 01:30:25,440 and that there is very little infrastructure for snow removal because 1089 01:30:21,920 --> 01:30:30,639 it's not supposed to snow here. and also for being self-aware that there is no 1090 01:30:27,520 --> 01:30:36,000 shame in not being skilled in driving in snow and ice and had the good sense to 1091 01:30:33,360 --> 01:30:41,520 stay home and out of the way and out of harm's way. And 1092 01:30:38,639 --> 01:30:46,719 I was actually surprised that there weren't more idiots on the road. You 1093 01:30:44,880 --> 01:30:51,760 know, high school kids doing donuts in the snow and that sort of thing. Oh, but 1094 01:30:51,280 --> 01:30:55,040 » he's >> But you know, I take that that 1095 01:30:53,440 --> 01:31:01,440 light-heartedness, but remember I got last is very commendable that the 1096 01:30:57,360 --> 01:31:05,840 majority of u of our citizens recognized to just stay home, you know, and uh 1097 01:31:04,159 --> 01:31:09,520 recognize that we're not we're not geared for this and um and you don't 1098 01:31:08,159 --> 01:31:15,520 have the skills. You're not from the north, most of you, and it's okay to not 1099 01:31:12,239 --> 01:31:20,639 be able to drive in the snow. And um and my wife, she's from a a very snow 1100 01:31:18,080 --> 01:31:24,800 riddled place where it snows like nine months out of the year. And she called 1101 01:31:22,960 --> 01:31:28,400 me a coward and I said, "That's okay, babe. I drove in it when I was a kid 1102 01:31:26,560 --> 01:31:32,800 where I grew up, but I don't drive in it anymore." So, uh I just just on a little 1103 01:31:30,800 --> 01:31:36,080 light-hearted note, appreciate everyone staying home. And comm Chairman, that's 1104 01:31:35,280 --> 01:31:38,560 all I have. >> Thank you, Commissioner Clark. 1105 01:31:37,360 --> 01:31:42,880 Commissioner Shen. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be quick 1106 01:31:39,840 --> 01:31:49,040 as well. just to uh reiterate the comments uh Commissioner 1107 01:31:46,320 --> 01:31:57,040 Clark had. Uh I appreciate the staff's all their efforts and and uh an amazing 1108 01:31:52,880 --> 01:32:01,840 undertaking in such an event. Um this hopefully it's another 20 years before 1109 01:31:58,880 --> 01:32:06,639 we have an event like that. But serious enough, it was amazing that there 1110 01:32:03,280 --> 01:32:13,520 weren't more calls for uh emergency service um accidents on the road um and 1111 01:32:11,120 --> 01:32:18,000 just what have you. So appreciate all the staff uh and appreciate the the the 1112 01:32:16,480 --> 01:32:22,719 citizens of Carter County as well, just like he stated, you know, for staying 1113 01:32:19,760 --> 01:32:30,000 home and and using good common sense uh and not creating uh serious issues for 1114 01:32:26,000 --> 01:32:35,440 our our uh emergency responders like our new EM emergency management director, 1115 01:32:34,480 --> 01:32:38,239 Mr. Matias. >> Emergency services. 1116 01:32:36,480 --> 01:32:42,880 » Emergency service. I'm sorry. Thank you for all your guys did. Did did a 1117 01:32:40,239 --> 01:32:47,600 tremendous job through all that and a quick cleanup. I mean, that was a really 1118 01:32:44,560 --> 01:32:54,159 quick cleanup. Partially DOT, but a lot of staff, county staff. So, I appreciate 1119 01:32:49,920 --> 01:32:58,719 all that effort. Um, thanks to D and Mr. Bner's gone now, but for their work on 1120 01:32:56,719 --> 01:33:03,199 on getting the audit out. I know it was late this year. He explained the reason 1121 01:33:00,480 --> 01:33:08,400 for it being late. So, but I appreciate us getting that out as well and I look 1122 01:33:05,600 --> 01:33:10,800 forward to to going through it and seeing what we where we can save next 1123 01:33:10,239 --> 01:33:13,840 year. >> Thanks. That's all I got. Mr. Chairman, 1124 01:33:12,320 --> 01:33:17,920 » thank you, Commissioner Sh. Commissioner Walder. 1125 01:33:15,120 --> 01:33:23,760 » Uh, thank you, Chairman. Uh, happy President's Day and I appreciate all 1126 01:33:21,679 --> 01:33:30,480 those that came and spoke about parks and wrecks. I am so glad that people are 1127 01:33:26,880 --> 01:33:36,719 participating in that um update of the master plan. Uh you've got 1128 01:33:34,400 --> 01:33:41,760 I I don't think I'm speaking out of turn. You've got seven advocates that 1129 01:33:39,199 --> 01:33:46,880 we're waiting to take action as best we can in a very thoughtful and phased 1130 01:33:44,719 --> 01:33:54,239 approach I think is going to have to happen. Um but thank you for being con a 1131 01:33:50,880 --> 01:34:00,000 consistent voice of the children and um it was a great point about economic 1132 01:33:56,400 --> 01:34:07,600 development and uh I completely see that I'm also working on our um our state our 1133 01:34:03,760 --> 01:34:12,880 homes program uh with the department of economic development and a few other 1134 01:34:10,080 --> 01:34:17,360 advocates here in the county. Uh it's with a program from the school of 1135 01:34:15,040 --> 01:34:23,600 government. I'm very proud to be sitting on that. Uh 14 counties out of the out 1136 01:34:21,199 --> 01:34:29,120 of the state have been selected to work on that. We've been we're almost at the 1137 01:34:25,920 --> 01:34:35,360 completion. Um it's a tough nut to crack for Carter County, but you all brought a 1138 01:34:31,600 --> 01:34:41,440 very good perspective from creating a synergy between parks Rex um and all the 1139 01:34:38,880 --> 01:34:47,679 advocates that could benefit from that. So, thank you. Um, and keeping people 1140 01:34:44,560 --> 01:34:54,800 off the street, Dr. Williams, and doing the right thing. Um, emergency services. 1141 01:34:51,760 --> 01:35:01,840 Man, what a tough way to break in day seven, 8, 9, 10. Right. Thank you. 1142 01:34:59,040 --> 01:35:07,280 Thanks. My former chief, now our director. So, thank you. Um, I did my 1143 01:35:05,120 --> 01:35:12,800 part. I stayed off the road, so I feel like I helped. So, there you go. 1144 01:35:10,159 --> 01:35:20,000 um election very important. The synergy of this board is uh something that I 1145 01:35:16,159 --> 01:35:25,440 take um great pride in. We've got seven people that work well together. Uh we 1146 01:35:22,560 --> 01:35:31,760 really like uh how we communicate. We really like how we think and we all have 1147 01:35:28,719 --> 01:35:38,159 our tentacles out in different aspects of this county. Um so when you go out to 1148 01:35:35,120 --> 01:35:45,760 vote um the culture of the board is very important and please take that to heart. 1149 01:35:42,639 --> 01:35:51,600 Uh respit program I am so happy that we've moved out on that and and just to 1150 01:35:49,600 --> 01:35:56,480 maybe put another perspective on the expenditure of money. Those people have 1151 01:35:54,080 --> 01:36:01,199 been waiting and they are taxpayers. They've been waiting for this kind of 1152 01:35:58,239 --> 01:36:07,360 support in our community. So, um, Commissioner Clark, maybe you can just 1153 01:36:03,199 --> 01:36:13,840 kind of believe that there are taxpayers that are going to benefit from that 1154 01:36:09,760 --> 01:36:19,760 20,000 that we've done. So, um, those people need attention, too. Uh, and and 1155 01:36:17,280 --> 01:36:27,040 there's a lot of, uh, stakeholders in that program beyond just the caregiver. 1156 01:36:23,679 --> 01:36:32,239 And thank you, D, and the finance for the great audit. and all that they do 1157 01:36:30,000 --> 01:36:35,840 year round. And we're happy to go into budget season. It's going to be very 1158 01:36:34,080 --> 01:36:41,520 difficult, but we've got the right people on the on the commission um to do 1159 01:36:38,960 --> 01:36:46,000 the best we can for this county and to move us forward. 1160 01:36:43,600 --> 01:36:48,400 We're all about moving forward. Thank you. 1161 01:36:47,119 --> 01:36:53,679 » Thank you, Commissioner Wald. Commissioner Moore, I'd 1162 01:36:50,000 --> 01:36:57,280 » like to want to u echo things that has been set up on here on the board this 1163 01:36:55,360 --> 01:37:01,600 evening, but I personally want to thank the county employees for this last 1164 01:36:59,840 --> 01:37:06,880 snowstorm working around the clock like they did. Some of them just unbelievable 1165 01:37:03,840 --> 01:37:11,920 amount of work. We had vehicles when it comes to the sheriff's office, the EMS 1166 01:37:09,440 --> 01:37:17,280 stuck on the roads and between our county and their uh state, we were able 1167 01:37:14,560 --> 01:37:22,639 to get things back rolling. You know, a lot of people realize, but when it comes 1168 01:37:19,440 --> 01:37:25,440 to those main uh drags, uh the main areas going through our county, they 1169 01:37:24,000 --> 01:37:29,520 have to be cleaned. It had to be cleaned first, and it takes time. We're not set 1170 01:37:27,679 --> 01:37:34,320 up for a lot of this stuff that that happened, but they did. And uh the state 1171 01:37:32,239 --> 01:37:38,800 helped out and got it got it going. Uh the secretary roads has a lot of calls 1172 01:37:36,320 --> 01:37:44,400 on, but you've got to get the main drags done before we get to that area. And I I 1173 01:37:41,520 --> 01:37:48,400 just want to thank everybody for um for staying off the roads, helping that 1174 01:37:46,639 --> 01:37:52,719 really helps out when it comes to the people that's trying to work on the 1175 01:37:49,679 --> 01:37:56,800 roads and get them get them cleared up. With that being said, again, thank you 1176 01:37:54,960 --> 01:37:59,520 all. Be safe out there and I turn it back over. 1177 01:37:58,560 --> 01:38:03,040 » Thank you, Commissioner Moore, Commissioner Quinn. 1178 01:38:00,639 --> 01:38:06,960 » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh once again, welcoming our emergency service 1179 01:38:04,159 --> 01:38:10,639 director, Billy Matias. Uh sometimes I say trial by far. You had a trial by 1180 01:38:08,960 --> 01:38:14,080 ice. So, thank you very much for all the hard 1181 01:38:12,880 --> 01:38:18,239 work that you and all the county employees did in order to keep our 1182 01:38:15,840 --> 01:38:23,199 citizens safe during this unprecedented snowstorm. Pelleter in my district 1183 01:38:20,159 --> 01:38:28,400 received 19 and a half inches of snow, which is completely unheard of for our 1184 01:38:25,280 --> 01:38:31,920 area. Um, speaking of Pelleter, I would like to thank my fellow commissioners 1185 01:38:29,760 --> 01:38:36,880 for supporting the resolution asking the DOT to have a look at the Westfire Tower 1186 01:38:34,159 --> 01:38:41,679 and Pelier Loop Road intersection. Uh, thank you to Celeste Karens who took the 1187 01:38:39,360 --> 01:38:45,280 time to meet with myself and a member of the Pelleter Town Council and someone 1188 01:38:43,520 --> 01:38:50,320 I'd like to give a special thanks to, Miss Donna Beerley who spearheaded this 1189 01:38:48,080 --> 01:38:55,360 effort. Uh, this is a a very dangerous intersection. Uh I was at the Pelier 1190 01:38:52,719 --> 01:38:59,040 Town Council meeting last week and we were talking about this resolution and 1191 01:38:57,280 --> 01:39:05,600 Lieutenant Jensen, one of our deputy sheriffs, had set up there uh the prior 1192 01:39:01,760 --> 01:39:13,199 week and on a weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 1 hour, he pulled 26 cars for 1193 01:39:10,239 --> 01:39:17,280 running that stop sign. It is a very dangerous intersection. It needs to be 1194 01:39:15,280 --> 01:39:21,199 addressed as quickly as possible. So, thank you very much to Miss Donna 1195 01:39:19,280 --> 01:39:25,600 Beerley for that. Uh, again, just can't say enough about 1196 01:39:23,360 --> 01:39:31,679 D. Mishaw and all the hard work that she and her crew do in order to um really 1197 01:39:29,040 --> 01:39:36,239 make our county economic system work so smoothly. AAA bond rating is as good as 1198 01:39:33,840 --> 01:39:40,960 you can get. Um, and so that's she needs to be commended as well as her whole 1199 01:39:37,520 --> 01:39:45,679 team. And thank you very much also uh to Dr. Randall Williams and to Director 1200 01:39:42,719 --> 01:39:51,679 Shelley Ashley uh for getting together the Alzheimer and Dementia Respit 1201 01:39:49,119 --> 01:39:59,040 Center. Uh I'm I have been a primary caregiver for my mother who suffers from 1202 01:39:54,960 --> 01:40:05,280 um dementia and it is a very tough task and the ability to have just a few hours 1203 01:40:02,239 --> 01:40:08,880 even if it's just once a week um to to see that they're in safe hands and to 1204 01:40:07,440 --> 01:40:13,119 give the primary caregivers an opportunity to to take care of things 1205 01:40:10,400 --> 01:40:16,239 that they need to do. It's it's it's really quite extraordinary what y'all 1206 01:40:14,320 --> 01:40:21,280 were able to do put together. Um so thank you very very much. And another 1207 01:40:18,560 --> 01:40:26,239 special thank you to Joseph and Smith who came in and gave a very heartfelt uh 1208 01:40:24,000 --> 01:40:30,560 request to this board for this respit center to get started. And so thank you 1209 01:40:28,400 --> 01:40:36,000 very much Miss Smith waiting or listening at home. Um folks come out and 1210 01:40:33,679 --> 01:40:40,800 talked about parks and rack. Uh thank y'all. I've raised two boys here in this 1211 01:40:37,679 --> 01:40:43,840 county soccer little league. Uh every sport you could imagine. they played at 1212 01:40:42,480 --> 01:40:48,800 one time or another. And I completely understand the need for additional 1213 01:40:45,040 --> 01:40:52,800 fields and certainly this uh opportunity to expand our uh expenditures on parks 1214 01:40:51,600 --> 01:40:57,440 and recreation is something that I'm fully behind. We need more parks. Uh we 1215 01:40:55,760 --> 01:41:01,920 need more recreational opportunities for our youth. And so the the county looks 1216 01:40:59,840 --> 01:41:06,159 after everybody, those that are in an emergency situation during an 1217 01:41:03,280 --> 01:41:09,840 unprecedented snowstorm, looking after our elderly members of of our society 1218 01:41:08,239 --> 01:41:14,239 and looking after our kids through parks and recreation. And this is something I 1219 01:41:11,760 --> 01:41:18,960 often say, what does county government do for you? And it's all these wonderful 1220 01:41:16,800 --> 01:41:24,239 uh services that our county provides. And and when I hear people, particularly 1221 01:41:21,520 --> 01:41:28,560 in a public forum, criticize uh the services that a county provides, our 1222 01:41:26,320 --> 01:41:33,600 county provides, it it's it's very hurtful. And and what we can stand it. 1223 01:41:31,119 --> 01:41:39,440 We are the Billy Goats Gruff, if you will, as far as being trolled on social 1224 01:41:35,840 --> 01:41:44,960 media and and media in general. But uh to to insult our teachers, our school 1225 01:41:42,320 --> 01:41:49,679 staff, our emergency services, health department, social services, first 1226 01:41:47,199 --> 01:41:53,119 responders, and law enforcement. Those are the services that our county 1227 01:41:51,199 --> 01:41:57,679 provides on a day-to-day basis, and they need to be celebrated. They need to be 1228 01:41:54,800 --> 01:42:03,119 commended every single day. Thank you'all very much. Mr. Chairman, 1229 01:42:00,560 --> 01:42:07,760 » thank you, Commissioner Quinn. Uh everybody said it all, but I'll say it 1230 01:42:04,880 --> 01:42:11,760 again. And uh I'm glad we are moving forward with the respit care program 1231 01:42:09,520 --> 01:42:16,159 that uh it was my understanding that we were moving in that direction and I 1232 01:42:14,320 --> 01:42:19,920 think going ahead doing it now versus couple months from now don't really make 1233 01:42:18,159 --> 01:42:24,080 a whole lot of difference except getting it done sooner and being able to provide 1234 01:42:21,840 --> 01:42:29,520 that service. So I'm definitely uh thankful for that. The ballparks we 1235 01:42:26,639 --> 01:42:34,320 continue to look for property. If you come up with a piece of property let our 1236 01:42:31,920 --> 01:42:39,520 county manager know. But we are looking to acquire some properties that we can 1237 01:42:37,600 --> 01:42:43,840 have nice facilities similar to what you mentioned in Rocky Mount and 1238 01:42:41,600 --> 01:42:48,159 » Wilson and other other places because it's good clean uh fund and brings a lot 1239 01:42:46,159 --> 01:42:54,960 of uh not only the tourism dollars but the social aspect and the u physical 1240 01:42:51,199 --> 01:42:58,560 aspects of it. So we we are looking so the government wheel doesn't move as 1241 01:42:56,800 --> 01:43:02,560 fast as the private wheel but we're we are moving as fast as possible once we 1242 01:43:01,040 --> 01:43:08,480 identify a piece of property that would be suitable for that. Um 1243 01:43:07,040 --> 01:43:15,520 I want to talk a little bit about the elections but I'm going to going to uh 1244 01:43:12,880 --> 01:43:20,880 save that to the end. uh you know, February 13th about four years ago, we 1245 01:43:18,080 --> 01:43:26,480 had a horrific plane crash and we we honored those young boys and Stephanie 1246 01:43:23,360 --> 01:43:32,639 and Hunter uh with lighting the Koopa up blue uh in remembrance of them. So that 1247 01:43:30,239 --> 01:43:37,520 that was horrific event. Uh Comm Commissioner Moore and myself were there 1248 01:43:34,800 --> 01:43:44,159 during the the recovery. We spent three days in the ocean and 1249 01:43:40,159 --> 01:43:49,920 it still stays with you. So keep those families in your hearts 1250 01:43:47,920 --> 01:43:55,440 for sure. Uh I can't read my own writing now. 1251 01:43:53,360 --> 01:44:00,159 So uh certainly we want to remember those folks. We recently had the 1252 01:43:57,760 --> 01:44:05,119 groundbreaking on the Highway 24 boat ramp. It's going to be one of the 1253 01:44:01,199 --> 01:44:09,760 largest boat ramps in the state. It took four or five years, maybe even longer. 1254 01:44:07,119 --> 01:44:13,280 We we waited for state permits and federal permits and we finally got them 1255 01:44:11,679 --> 01:44:17,360 all. And uh 1256 01:44:15,520 --> 01:44:22,159 pretty soon we're going to be breaking ground on the new health plex in Cedar 1257 01:44:20,000 --> 01:44:27,440 Point. It's going to be a new emergency room, uh doctor's offices, 1258 01:44:26,000 --> 01:44:34,159 uh I'm not sure what else >> CT sc some some testing, some surgery, 1259 01:44:32,080 --> 01:44:37,199 and that's going to be a great addition. And a man having to come all the way 1260 01:44:35,679 --> 01:44:41,199 from Solder Path in an emergency situation, then come back down 24 or go 1261 01:44:39,840 --> 01:44:46,639 to Atlantic Beach and then back to Morehead City. going to cut those 1262 01:44:43,360 --> 01:44:50,320 response time response times probably in half. So, it's going to be a great 1263 01:44:48,480 --> 01:44:51,840 addition uh 1264 01:44:51,119 --> 01:44:55,600 » on the 26th >> to to the area in a heavy heavy 1265 01:44:53,840 --> 01:45:00,960 populated area. So, that's going to be February 26, I think 4:00 in the 1266 01:44:58,239 --> 01:45:06,880 afternoon. Uh but those things just don't come just don't pop up and happen. 1267 01:45:03,440 --> 01:45:10,639 They they take dedication. They take strong people. And before Commissioner 1268 01:45:08,960 --> 01:45:16,000 Clark got on the board and Commissioner Moore and Commissioner Waldrip, 1269 01:45:13,199 --> 01:45:19,440 Commissioner Quinn stepped up, Commissioner Shin stepped up and along 1270 01:45:17,679 --> 01:45:23,760 with Commissioner Farington and Commissioner Mansfield. And there was a 1271 01:45:21,119 --> 01:45:28,719 there was an impass on some boards and some I think 1272 01:45:26,560 --> 01:45:33,040 Commissioner Quinn said it best. Sometimes I don't use the best language, 1273 01:45:30,320 --> 01:45:39,199 but he's always real eloquent. Uh it was a log jam. So he Commissioner Quinn 1274 01:45:36,639 --> 01:45:44,480 helped un undo the log jam. Commissioner Shin Mansfield Farington and and the 1275 01:45:41,920 --> 01:45:47,840 other members here. And that's the reason you're able to have that facility 1276 01:45:45,920 --> 01:45:52,080 today. It's going to be a $50 million facility that 1277 01:45:50,320 --> 01:45:56,400 everybody on this board at the time had to roll up their sleeves and and and 1278 01:45:54,000 --> 01:46:01,760 deal with the hospital board and some people had to change hands and and we're 1279 01:45:59,040 --> 01:46:06,560 able to do that and that's going to be a uh great addition to the western end of 1280 01:46:03,760 --> 01:46:11,040 the county. So, it this job is tough. It does uh not get a whole lot of accolades 1281 01:46:08,880 --> 01:46:14,800 many times, but you have to stay the course and do what's best for the young 1282 01:46:12,960 --> 01:46:18,639 people with the ballparks or the elderly people with a rest center and and all 1283 01:46:17,280 --> 01:46:22,080 the things we do. You know, >> Salvation 1284 01:46:20,159 --> 01:46:26,800 and and De was out the room. I saw you out there taking the auditor to task, so 1285 01:46:24,080 --> 01:46:32,400 I didn't want to interrupt you, but De does an excellent job. AAA bond rating. 1286 01:46:29,360 --> 01:46:36,800 You know, the county is growing by leaps and bounds and we're going to have to 1287 01:46:34,400 --> 01:46:40,719 spend a little money I'm as tight as the next guy. Almost as tight as 1288 01:46:38,159 --> 01:46:44,960 Commissioner Clark, but not quite. But but I'm I'm a tight guy. I want I want 1289 01:46:42,480 --> 01:46:49,280 the best deal. But at some point, we got to spend some money on some ballparks, 1290 01:46:46,880 --> 01:46:53,440 some tennis courts, some things for our kids. We got to spend some money on our 1291 01:46:51,520 --> 01:46:57,280 elderly people. We also have to spend some money on our county employees. We 1292 01:46:55,040 --> 01:47:01,760 recently did a very nice raise for them, but we're going to have to do that 1293 01:46:59,280 --> 01:47:05,360 again. And and obviously, we want to be as conservative as possible. I think the 1294 01:47:04,159 --> 01:47:12,000 voters recognize that we're a conservative board and 1295 01:47:08,159 --> 01:47:16,480 so far we've been reelected, but it's uh you know it it takes a lot of money to 1296 01:47:14,400 --> 01:47:21,920 go around all these programs and DE does a great job of keeping a large piggy 1297 01:47:18,960 --> 01:47:25,119 bank, but last time we had a severe hurricane, it took the federal 1298 01:47:23,360 --> 01:47:29,600 government four or five years to reimburse us. So, if we'd had two 1299 01:47:27,520 --> 01:47:34,880 hurricanes back to back, we have to be in a strong uh financial position. So, 1300 01:47:33,679 --> 01:47:37,520 we can't just throw all the money out there to everybody that comes in here 1301 01:47:36,239 --> 01:47:41,360 and ask for it. We do try to help everybody we can, but we we have to be 1302 01:47:39,920 --> 01:47:47,199 conservative. Well, there there is some good uh things at the top of the list, 1303 01:47:45,520 --> 01:47:51,040 including the ball fields, the respit care, and and our employees that that I 1304 01:47:49,920 --> 01:47:56,239 think this board is going to be working on in the upcoming year or so. I think 1305 01:47:54,000 --> 01:47:59,920 that's all I had. And you haven't lived Kimer until you 1306 01:47:58,000 --> 01:48:04,239 cut donuts down east during the snowstorm. So I don't know how you guys 1307 01:48:01,920 --> 01:48:09,199 did it up north, but down here we have a good time when it snows and uh everybody 1308 01:48:06,800 --> 01:48:12,719 has fun. So if there's anything nothing further to come before the board, I'll 1309 01:48:10,960 --> 01:48:14,800 entertain a motion to adjurnn. Make a motion. 1310 01:48:13,199 --> 01:48:17,679 » Commissioner Moore made the motion. Commissioner Walp second it. All in 1311 01:48:16,400 --> 01:48:21,320 favor? I. >> Thank you all for coming.