County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Commissioner Quinn, would you lead us in
the pledge of allegiance? My
>> pleasure.
To the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
» Next, we have Pastor Kevin Club of the
Cape Carter Baptist Church will lead us
in the invocation. Welcome, Pastor.
>> Thank you.
I've had the privilege of being a pastor
here in Carter County for 32 years now.
And anytime I find myself in a room
filled with people, I'm tempted to do
two things. Preach and take an offering.
But
>> [laughter]
>> uh
>> we'll pass the plate.
>> We'll split it.
>> All right. [laughter] I don't think
that's the way that works, but I
appreciate the offer. I do. All right.
Let me lead us in prayer here. Father,
we uh come to you tonight to acknowledge
that you are a God of great design and
purpose and and intention and uh yours
is a good design and you've been
[snorts] gracious to us and we um uh so
that's why we come to you. We
acknowledge that we we do trust in you,
Lord. Uh you know that and you know how
we struggle uh from time to time to
trust in you. So, uh, we would confess
to you that we are faced with situations
and, uh, circumstances in our community
that,
uh, call for great discernment and
wisdom and insight and u uh, just um the
ability to to see things as they really
are. And uh so we we thank you that
you're the source of wisdom. Uh we're
grateful for the resources that you have
so
generously provided to us in uh in this
part of our state. Uh we are grateful uh for the bounty you
have you have given us and um for the
privilege it is to be able to live in a
community like this. And so we would ask
uh tonight uh that Lord as you have
raised up uh leaders in our community
that you would uh give them great uh
wisdom and discernment that they would uh see things clearly
and that they would make decisions that
would uh be good for our community and
ultimately would bring great honor and
glory to you. So um we give the evening
to you and ask your blessings on it in
Jesus name I pray. Amen.
>> Amen.
>> Thank you pastor.
>> Thank you.
>> In accordance with the state government
ethics act, it is the duty of every
board member to avoid both conflicts of
interest and the appearance of conflict.
Does any board member have any known
conflict of interest or the appearance
of conflict with respect to any matter
coming before the board this evening? If
so, please identify the conflict and
refrain from any undue particular
participation in particular matter
involved.
We're all good. I'd like to remind
everybody to silence our cell phones and
devices.
>> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to
adopt the agenda for this evening.
>> All right. Motion by Vice Chairman
Mansfield. Is there a second? Seconded
by Commissioner Wal. All in favor? All
right. Is there a motion on the consent
agenda? Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion on the consent agenda to
uh table items 9 and 10
uh regarding jail version recovery
services with uh two entities
um for the reason of give us a month or
more time to evaluate a current contract
that we have with another entity
and to evaluate the necessity of writing
two more contracts uh with with other
[cough and clears throat] other
entities.
Okay,
that's item nine and 10.
Is there a second to uh
Commissioner uh Shin's motion?
>> I'll second.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Clark. All in
favor of taking item nine and 10 off the
consent agenda, raise your hand.
All opposed.
Okay, we're gonna leave those items on
there. Is there a motion to approve the
consent agenda?
>> Chairman, if I may, if I may interrupt,
I'm sorry. The motion on the floor to
table the item for a future meeting has
failed, but any one commissioner can
take an item off the consent agenda and
make it eligible for consideration and
discussion in the regular agenda.
>> Okay.
>> So, I I would say loop back around and
now Commissioner Shen, if he pleases,
can make a motion to remove it from the
consent agenda and to include it as an
action item for this evening. if if
you'll excuse the interruption on that.
» Would you I'll I'll move to take them
off of that and have a discussion in our
[clears throat] regular agenda.
>> And we'd like to put that down around
right before the manager's report. Maybe
add 9A.
>> I'm good with that.
>> All right. We're going to move item nine
and 10.
remind me of that.
>> Okay.
>> Right before the manager's report.
>> All right. So, is that an amended uh
consent agenda or is that
>> That's what that is. Yes.
>> Is there a motion to approve the amended
consent agenda?
>> Motion by Commissioner Waldrip, seconded
by
>> I'll second.
>> Commissioner Shen. All in favor.
>> All right.
Now, we have public comment.
>> Point of clarification.
>> Yes, sir.
So
if that had have not been the case and
that had have been a vote right there, I
abstained. So I didn't vote.
>> But an abstension counts as an
affirmative.
>> Yes, it does.
>> So it would have made it three to three.
So what would have happened
>> um tonight? It it would have stayed put
and it would have stayed on the consent
agenda because the motion was to remove
it and it didn't pass. It would have
been a tie and we don't have anyone to
break the tie tonight because we don't
have our
>> So tie would have kept it on there,
>> right? It wouldn't have been a majority
vote.
>> Okay. Interesting to note.
>> All right. And for the record,
Commissioner Moore is under weather and
he has an excused absence tonight. All
right. Next, we have public comment. Mr.
Derwood Hudson is first on the list, and
you'd like to speak about a road name
change. We're going to have a separate
public hearing on that.
>> So, if you hold tight, we'll get you on
the next. Thank you.
>> The next one is Mr. James Jones.
If you will approach the podium and give
your name and address for the record and
you have three minutes.
[clears throat]
Appreciate that.
All right. Uh I'm part of a newly
elected board that has been constructed
in the Murman committee and community
and we're looking to establish a a
public park in the mun in the community.
something totally new, something that
exciting. The board members are excited
about it. We've already gone throughout
the community. We've taken and we've got
names all the way up to Garb Bacon. And
so we continue to get other names of
individuals that are excited about a
park coming in in Murman. And we're all
starting the process of allocating
property. So hopefully the county and
merman we can come together with this
project and you know and really see the
need for not only for the youth that are
spread it out for future grandkids that
are coming. A lot of people moving in
that's got kids, grandkids that vacation
there and so uh there's a great need for
it as well. We're excited about it
because it's something new. It helps to
develop also the community. It is
property that's that we are looking to
obtain that's going to be on the silver
dollar road. you know, over the years
there's been, you know, all kind of bad
news or somewhat not favorable news, but
we're here to turn that around because
there's so many great people that live
in Murman and as well as off the Silver
Dollar Road. And so we're looking for a
partnership, you know, with the with the
county far as to, you know, to get on
board with this right here and uh and as
well as help us out because we're new at
this here, but we already started doing
the leg work far as establishing an
account, 501c, possibly grants, talking
to anybody that we can possibly talk to.
And so we're excited and we're going to
go further. You know, as long as it
takes, we're going to be like a thorn in
your side about this situation. Uh uh uh
I mean, I got a lot of great friends
that are here in the room. A lot of you
probably already know me as well. I got
a lot of free time now since I'm
retired. And so, you know, [laughter]
hope hopefully, you know, you know, we
can keep this thing just on a friendship
and keep this thing just rolling. I, you
know, I I thank all the commissioners. I
thank all all the board over there. I
mean, I worked in the courthouse many of
years and I was a police officer here in
Bowford as well. And so, uh, they elect
me cuz I don't mind talking. But anyway,
I don't want to go over the 3 minutes,
but we're looking forward with the
getting on board with the county. Uh
we're excited about someone donating
property. So hopefully in that process,
donating property, then we can in turn,
hey, turn that property over to the
county as a partnership and further this
thing is on uh and so we're excited
about being boost on the ground right
now, but we're going to be further more
excited about completing this project
and not only completing this project,
but future projects that's going that's
going to take place out in that part of
the county. So I guess that's my three
minutes.
>> But anyway, I want to give you guys
>> Well, stick around because you come to
the right meeting because the parks and
recck master plan is going to be talked
about here tonight. So you're you come
to the right meeting.
>> Yeah, I've already met him. So
[laughter]
we're going to be teaming up.
>> Yes, sir.
>> There's Chuck Leonard in the background.
Go ahead and talk get him on board, will
you, too? [laughter]
So thank you, Mr. Jones.
>> Next, we have Mr. Ronnie Watson.
» Well, I looked at the agenda. Thank God
I ain't got to stay for all of that.
[laughter]
But my name's Ronnie Watson. I'm from
Emerald, North Carolina. And I'm coming
to speak to you. And I want to thank
y'all for the support that I've heard
that you are supporting the tennis
courts at Croatin, East Carter, and West
Carter. I have coach Shehan here
tonight, but he can verify what I'm
going to say. You know, the courts, they
might not be important to y'all, but you
know, sports are very important to our
kids. You know, a lot of them, they play
tennis, they play basketball, football,
baseball, and they go on to college
maybe and play the sports. But, you
know,
I I know the school bond referendum was
passed what, three or four, five years
ago, and there was money in there for
tennis courts. And I look at the tennis
courts, and I was a coach there 20 years
ago, and they're this they're worse. I
mean, nothing has been done to them. And
the thing, the reason I'm saying this,
Jim's uh the guys, the boys team and the
girls team, they have to go to Fort
Benjamin to play home matches.
And God forbid that they going down Nine
Mile Road and somebody gets killed. And
I hate I maybe hate to say that, but
it's the truth. But if this happens,
there'll be some lawyers involved and
they going to bring the school in it as
well. But we hope that uh we thank you
for what you're doing. We hope that the
schools will go ahead. They've got the
money and we need to build. You know,
I've been building buildings and stuff
all my life. And if you don't maintain
them, I mean, it's like the gym, the
football field or the baseball field you
and the track which hadn't been
maintained.
We need and I go to other schools in the area in other counties and I see
they've got these facilities but they're
maintaining what what they got. We're
one of the wealthiest counties in North Carolina. And why we can't do
it, you know, it just beyond me, but I
pray to God that you do it. And coach
Shehan, have you can you verify anything
I'm saying?
[clears throat]
>> We are indeed of course. We have a an
outstanding program and there's no
telling how how well program could take
off if we had a facility that was equal
to what the kids are putting out.
>> Well, I thank you and that's that's my
three minutes. We appreciate it.
>> Thank you, Mr. W.
>> Thank you, sir.
>> Next, we have Mr. Chuck Linder.
123 Center Drive, Atlantic
Beach. I'd like to commend these two
young gentlemen that just came up here
and spoke because they're advocating
again for the youth of our county and
that's why I'm here. As you know, we're
in desperate need of more youth athletic
fields. I'm very curious to see what's
in this master plan.
As you know, we we Moria City Little
League has been bringing the Woodbat
tournament to Carter County and other
tournaments for the last 15 years. We
recognized that the county alone could
not maintain their facilities. So, we
went out, we did tournaments, we
fundraised, and we made close to half a
million dollars improvements at Swinson
Park. So, I would encourage all
organizations to become interested in
bringing outside tournaments,
activities. It's been proven, as Mr.
Watson said other counties are able to
make money off of these facilities that
they build.
In last February, March, the young lady
stood here and and talked about the
Burke complex in Wilson.
Uh grossed about 44 million that year.
Expenses were 40. So they had a a small
profit of $4 million, which is not a bad
little uh investment. But I I think what
we need to think about more so than the
finances that it's going to cost to
maintain facilities is our youth and the
investment that we need to make in our
youth more so than other facilities. I'd
rather see the investment go to our
youth than more jail space. Not that I'm
against it, but if we can get our youth
at an early age to become good citizens,
we don't need to keep building jails
every 10, 15, 20 years. That's what I'm
interested in. We We have grandchildren
coming up and I would love to see them
be able to stay in this county with
something to do, but right now we're maxed out. We with Moyes City just
approved 310
new units in Moyes City. Our Lily
program is going to we're not going to
have anywhere to go next year. It's it's
we need more youth facilities. I thank
you gentlemen for coming tonight.
>> Thank you, Mr. Linder.
>> Three minutes is not enough.
» But them three minutes add up though.
[laughter]
>> Next we have Miss Betty Williams.
[snorts]
Miss Betty Williams, is she out there?
>> Okay,
>> I'm here with James.
>> All right, you're keeping James
straight. You got your hands full.
[laughter]
Mr. Charlie Collins.
My name is Charlie Collins. I'm from Moa
City, North Carolina. And I'm here to
represent Meman for Me Park. Uh like
James had integrated earlier. Uh we got
our youth is coming up and uh they need
somewhere to go some some activities
they can come and play nice playground
where they can play in and uh and we can
do this if we work together. And I and I
believe in our heart that it's going to
work. and and if the county
commissioners and and the me bow and moy
city and and our community working
together, we can make this happen.
>> Thank you.
M. Collins.
>> Thank you, sir.
Joshua Miller.
You will state your name and address for
the record, please.
>> Joshua Miller from Peliter, North
Carolina.
I'm here on um I thought I never thought
I'd be here on a flock problem. [snorts]
The Fourth Amendment exists for a
reason. And Carpenter v. United States
Supreme Court recognized something
fundamental. The government cannot
simply obtain a detailed record of a
person's movement over an extended
period of time without complying with a
fourth amendment requirement. [snorts]
Yet, this county has chosen to put a
powerful surveillance system on the
roads, one that captures our license
plate records. They're updating them and
getting new information every day. And
when the citizens object, we're told,
well, if you have nothing to hide, you
have nothing to fear. And that's not the
standard of a free society. We don't owe
this county an explanation where we
drive. We don't owe our government
justification on our lawful movements.
Benjamin Franklin, he warned us
precisely ex this exact situation. Those
who would give up essential liberty to
purchase little temporary safety deserve
neither liberty nor safety.
Security purchased at the expense of
constitutional rights is not true
security. It's the surrender of our
liberty. And I'm shocked you guys are
doing it in this county right now. And
that's why I'm here is because I have
kids. So I have an obligation to be here
and make sure they don't grow up in a
surveillance state.
Terminate the flock contract, dismantle
the warrant warrantless surveillance
apparatus, and bring this county
practices back in compliance with the
constitution and the principles that you
all swore the oath to uphold. I swore
that same oath many times.
You can see I'm ticked off.
And the American Revolution,
it wasn't fought by every American. It
was only fought by about 10 to 15% of
the population. So out of every hundred,
10 guys. And now sorry, that's male and
female.
Fortunately for you, I'm one of those 10
that still believe in liberty.
>> That's just you got time.
>> Okay. And I'm not talking about a
historical statistic. I'm talking about
the kind of citizen who believes that
liberty is worth standing up for. who's
not going to quietly surrender because
the government says that it's for my own
safety. I can keep my kids safe. I don't
need the government's help. Protect our
rights or we'll find people that will.
That's all I got to say.
>> Thank you,
>> Mr. Mr. Chairman. I'd like to break
protocol. Mr. Mo, if you wait just one
second. So,
>> where did you get your research on this?
>> I I go on flocks. You can go on
dflock.org and see where every camera is
and I went and verified looked and saw
the cameras.
>> They're not county cameras.
>> We don't have any cameras.
>> We don't have We don't We don't have a
cop. They can point them at the highway.
>> We don't have I I don't know. But
they're not count. They're not
>> You're commissioner. You should know
that.
>> No. No sir.
>> There is not a contract with the county
with flock.
>> So why do we have them pointing at our
roadways right now tracking our
movements? That doesn't concern you.
>> It's probably in a municipality or
something. No, I'm not saying it doesn't
concern me. I'm just saying the basis of
your conversation tonight, your concerns
are valid and most of us agree with you.
But the county does not have a contract
with them and we don't have any cameras
that we've put up. So all these cameras
pointing right now on the highways
>> getting all the license plates getting
on Bluetooth tracking.
>> They're not they're not they're not in
they're not with Carter County.
>> They may be more at city. They may be
Atlantic Beach. I can't speak to that.
>> And maybe we are actually a board of
Carter County Commissioners not of the
municipalities.
>> Okay. So
>> So you may want to speak to some
municipal meetings.
>> Yeah.
>> We don't have a contract with Flock. All
right. For the record. Let's move on.
Thank you for coming. Next we have Brian
Nicolo.
>> [clears throat]
» Good evening. I'm Brian Niclo, 1402
Salter Path Road. Um, it's u we
appreciate what you all do and sovereign
showing up is important because you all
don't know what to address if we don't
let you know. I'm here to make just a
general comment. Um, so it's um about
Noah Webster's dictionary 1828. American
uh dictionary of the English language
was produced during the years when
America home church and schools were
established upon biblical and patriotic
bases. Webster made important
contributions to an American educational
system which kept the nation upon
Christian constitutional course for many
years. A federal catechism was
introduced into curriculum in 1794. He
gave a short explanation of the
principles of the American
constitutional form of government and
defined America as a representative
republic. Students learn distinct
distinctly why a federal representative
republic is a better form of government.
Shortly after schools became organized
under the state systems, the
substitution of democracy for republic
was made, which was incorrect. Upon
Horus man, who is also known as the
father of American education, rest the
blame for removing from the curriculum
the study of an American philosophy of
government which included the concepts
of our constitution. Horus man and his
contemporaries made America's early
education a ward of the state. Today,
the necessity for restoring the clarity
and identity of constitutional meanings
is obvious if we are to make substantial
progress in rebuilding the foundation
upon which this nation was established.
The reason I'm here telling you about an
old 1828 Webster's dictionary is to make
you aware of the globalist effort to
omit, substitute, and redefine the
meanings of words and phrases. For the
globalists, it's easier to change the
meaning of words and phrases than it is
to enact new legislation and enact
pertinent laws.
We experienced an onslaught of changes
the meaning of words and phrases during
the following the stone election of
2020. Remember they changed the word
vaccine the def definition thereof. They
changed the definition of recession,
gender, gain of function. However,
looking forward with the advent of AI,
artificial intelligence, that is, there
is a massive effort by some AI companies
to scan and then destroy old books. Once
the old books are destroyed, it will
only take a couple generations to
convince people with revised
information. So, what I want you to do
is save old books, register to vote, get
out and vote because we have midterms
coming up. Don't let 15% of the
electorate choose your elected
officials. And with that, I thank you
for your time.
>> Thank you, Mr. Nicolo. Is there anyone
else would like to speak tonight?
>> All right.
Next, we have a
>> sir.
>> Yes, ma'am. If you will approach the
podium and give your name and address
for the record.
Theresa Morton
um 3815 3813 semicircle in Mort City,
North Carolina.
I would like to speak on the mass
surveillance.
I support the protection act against
mass surveillance.
Um my rights are important, my liberty
is important, my freedom's important.
And
I think that sums it up.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
Next, we have a public hearing for a
road name change
from a portion of White Oak Street to
Circle Drive. Miss Moren Dory.
» Good evening.
[laughter]
» Uh, okay. So, we've uh received a
request for um changing a portion of a
street in Cedar Point
um from White Oak Street to Circle
Drive. It's a portion of White Oak
Street to Circle Drive. Um so, a little
bit of background, if you would flip the
slide so we can see the map. Um thank
you. The um
issue is
when this several subdivisions were
developed, White Oak Street, which goes
from Highway 78 and hooks down to Hidden
Bay,
>> sorry,
>> 58.
>> Highway 58, right?
>> Um was supposed to continue um to have
serve as a connection between
subdivisions. Well, there actually is a
portion of White Oak Street that is
impassible. It was never um constructed
as planned. So, essentially, we've got a
White Oak Street segment coming off 58
and a White Oak Street segment coming
off of Hidden Bay, and it causes routing
and emergency services and and mail
delivery issues because of that gap in
the street. Um, so the proposal is to um
continue Circle Drive down to Hidden Bay
Drive and cut White Oak Street. So it
ends um before Circle Drive. And we have
received um over 51% of
um approval from the affected owners
that are highlighted in red. And um we
actually [clears throat] received
another um petition for support the
other day. So almost all of the owners
have signed to agree to this change and
if if you all would approve
um we would update the 911 system to
reflect and hopefully fix this issue for
that's been there for many years.
>> Okay. And here's a picture just showing
that it's path. It's kind of a pathway,
not even passable by emergency services,
vehicle or mail delivery. Um, and eight
owners now have signed the petition.
» Okay.
>> I'm sorry.
>> And nine were affected, right?
>> Nine were affected and eight.
>> Right. And we've not received any u any
note um that uh
dis disapproves of the change.
>> Okay. Thank you, Moren. We need to go in
a public hearing.
>> Make a motion to go into public hearing.
>> Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield,
seconded by Commissioner Clark. All in
favor? We are now in public hearing. Uh
if anyone like to speak on this matter,
Mr. Hudson, would you like to go first?
Hi, I'm Derwood Hudson. I live on White
Oak Street. Thank Thank you
commissioners for listening. Thank you,
Moren, for a hard job. Marian, I um I've
delivered mail for 30 years, so I know
changing dress is a bit of a pain, but
it it's not that big of a struggle, but
I live here.
My wife has a her dad lives here, so we we've been here. She's been She's had
her place for 40 years. I've been here
for nine. I've seen I've seen people
with GPS. It's horrible because if you
get the GPS and you're coming from 58,
it's going to take you here and it's
going to take you here. And they've just
This start here has just been put there.
I mean, it was like where the creek used
to be and it's not anymore. I've seen
ambulances get caught and and go there.
Most of the firemen do not because
they've they've been there. they're on
this side of 58 and it's going to turn
them on to hidden bay. So, we understand
it's kind of a pain, but we really
appreciate if you guys could help us
out. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you, Mr. Hudson. Is there anyone
else would like to speak?
Is there a motion to go out of public
hearing?
>> So, move.
>> Motion by Commissioner Wald, seconded by
Commissioner Quinn. We are now out of
public hearing.
>> Mr. Mr. Chairman, in an effort to uh
puff for public safety, I'd make a
motion to approve the request of the
rename the affected portion of White Oak
Street to Circle Drive. All right.
Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield. Is
there a second? Seconded by Commissioner
Walder. All in favor?
All right, that passes.
Thank you all. Next, we have a public
hearing for a road name change from
Morris Lane to Sea Turtle Bay.
Thank you, Moren. take it away.
>> You're welcome. Uh, so this is a
previous request that was tabled last um
meeting. Just bringing it back. There's
no um changes to the request.
It's in Harker's Island. Morris Lane
currently um which
if we can see the map um
Morris Lane is s currently only serving
two properties and the applicant um owns
these two properties and they wish to
change Morris Lane to Sea Turtle Bay. Um
the road actually um does cross Harker
Island Electric, a property owned by
Harker Island Electric. Um,
uh, I did manage to find an official,
um, subdivision plat that showed
this driveway to be labeled Morris Lane.
And there was a, um,
a maintenance agreement that the owners
um,
submitted for um,
mortgage approval um, to maintain Morris
Lane. Um, and
that's all the new information I have. I
tried to present the applicant with some
history of the Morrises down east. Um,
and they still would like to change the
name. So,
>> okay. Is there a motion to go in a
public hearing?
>> So, moved.
>> Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield.
>> Second.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. We are
now in a public hearing. Is there anyone
here that would like to speak on this
matter?
All right. All right, while I'll take
the floor, I'm against this. Uh the
Morrises that lived on that road was
Lori Morris, his wife Brenda Morris, and
his daughter Laura Morris. And uh you
see these old guys walking down the
street with a Vietnam hat on or a uh
army hat or whatever. And then you see
on the internet where it shows uh what
that guy looked like 30, 40, 50 years
ago when he's in his tiger stripe
camouflage outfit holding his M16. He
was much more badass dude looking back
then than he is walking down Front
Street here in Buffer and uh or Atlantic
or Harker's Island or wherever. So
that's the kind of guy Mr. Lori was in
the Army or the Army Corps of Engineers.
His wife, Miss Brenda, she was like a
home health nurse. Uh but that was
before you had home health. So they said
the old people called it she set with
people
>> and her daughter Laura, she worked it
out of crossroads and uh made those big
cheese biscuits that everybody likes. If
you hadn't had one of them, you're
missing out. But so it might be Morris
Street today. Next week it might be
Willis Street or you go over to Newport
and want to erase the Quins or the
Garners or Mansfield Parkway over to
Morehead. Now where does it stop? So,
I'm for hanging with the badass guy back
any years ago when I was in the army and
not erasing a part of Downy's history or
any other part of the history. And I'm
for sticking to uh Morris Lane and I'm
not for the sea turtles l not for Sea
Turtle Bay. So, that's Chris's opinion
and I appreciate my fellow commissioner
support me on that.
>> Mr. Chairman, motion to go out of public
hearing.
>> Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield. Is
there a second?
>> Second. Seconded by Commissioner Clark.
All in favor? We're now at a public
hearing.
Is there a motion on the floor?
I'll make a motion that we denied a
request.
>> Second.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. All in
favor?
All right. Next item.
>> Thank you.
Moren. You've been with the
county a long time and you do an
excellent job for us.
>> Thank you very much. Appreciate your
help
>> with Mr. Derwood.
>> Next, we have the presentation and
consideration of adoption of the
comprehensive parks and recreation
master plan for 2027
all the way to 2042.
Matt Renal, take it away, Matt.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the
board. I still have a lot of years ahead
of me, so we built a 15-year plan.
>> All right.
>> So, last year, the county contracted the
McGill Associates to assist with the
updating of our parts and rec master
plan. The primary objectives were to
assess the existing parks and programs,
gather input from the community, and
develop that amazing 15-year action
plan. There was a lot of community
engagement, which uh my partner here
next to me will get into. Um but this
master plan is to be used as a living
document to help guide future program
and financial decisions. It is also
necessary to have this plan adopted by
the board so that when we apply for
grants such as part and others that we
have and it's up to date on it. uh to
introduce Nate uh with McGill
Associates. He's been the project lead.
He has over 20 years experience working
in parks and wreck at the local, state,
and federal level in addition to a
master's degree in parks and wreck from
UNCC Greensboro. And he was the program
manager or project manager, sorry, on
North Carolina's statewide outdoor wreck
plan. So, with that, I'll turn the next
portion over to Nate. And there's there
we go.
>> Good evening, commissioners. How are we
all? So, it's encouraging to hear that
you had members of the public that come
out and talk about how important parks
and recreation is for the county. Um,
it's encouraging because uh you as the
leaders in the community saw that in
advance and took steps to do this plan.
Um, the document itself is over 100
pages long. I don't think anybody wants
me to go through all 100 pages tonight.
Um, I am going to go and hit the high
points. You're welcome to stop me at any
point in time if you'd like. And Nate,
just to let everybody know, this parks
and recrecks, the plan that he's talking
about is in the agenda package for
tonight,
>> so you can see it as well.
>> That's right. Yep. Um, so, uh, as I
said, commissioners, you're welcome to
stop me as we're going through this. I
am going to hit the high points. Um, all
right. So, we're going to start with,
um, what is one of the most critical
pieces of the comprehensive plan. Um,
that being the public input. And just to
let you know on the high notes, what
we've gone through to include to to
understand what the public wants is a
statistically valid survey that's been done to academic standards. We
actually partnered with a firm that does
these all across the country. So it was
done at the highest level possible. We
also offered an open survey um that was
not only done and and encouraged
community members to participate, but it
was also broken up in a way so that we
can understand, you know, what the area
residents around um Morehead or Marman
or whatever part of the county what they
were interested in. we can see kind of
in greater detail what they'd like. Um
we also had public input meetings that
were spread around the county. We had
staff um staff meetings and focus group
meetings. Now what we're going to do is
whenever we go through the actual
recommendation piece, it's more or less
a conglomeration of what that is. I'm
not going to go through each one of
those in great depth. Um all right. So
the other thing that we did was that we
compared your park system against the
National Recreation Parks Association
metrics. This is a best practice and
what it does is it compares your system
in particular what we're talking about
is uh parks and recreation facilities
that the county itself owns against
comparably sized communities ac around
the county I'm sorry around the country.
Um what we have up on the screen it may
be a little bit hard to see but what I
want you to pay attention to is um first
up before we get into this parks and
recreation metrics and benchmarking is
not standards. All right. So, what we
see up on the screen is um if it is in
red, it's below uh benchmark. If it's in
green, it's within benchmark. If it's in
blue, it's above benchmark. The reason
why I brought up standards is it's
important to understand that if you're
below benchmark in a certain area, it
doesn't mean that you're failing. What
it is actually doing is describing what
the community has and then we'll compare
that to what the actual residents want.
So, as you'll see here, there's several
areas where you're actually above
benchmark
and and a lot of those are athletic
fields related. That doesn't mean that
you don't need more of that. That just
means that that's how your current
system is stacked up. Right now, your parks and recreation system is more
leaning towards a more active recreation
style system.
All right. So, some of the other things
that we took into account are your
program related data. And as I
mentioned, um, just because you have
more athletic fields doesn't mean that
you have too many. What we have up on
the screen here is a review of some of
your athletic programs. And, and what I
want you to see is the trends that are
going on. So, your baseball programs are
continuing to grow. Your soccer programs
are continuing to grow. And then the one
that's on the biggest area down there is
total travel ball participation that's
going on. And this is a trend that's not
only happening just in Carter County,
but it's happening all around the count
around the country is more and more um
athletics is being not only used to
encourage local participation, but more
and more competit it's becoming um
competitive in the sense that it's
drawing more people in from out of the
area. Um so why is that important?
Whenever we benchmark your system
against other comparably sized
communities around the county, your park
system in terms of acreage is low.
Um, and why that's important is whenever
you have a smaller system like what you
currently have now in terms of acres,
the the parks that you have um can get
loved to death. And and whenever that
happens, no matter how strong of an
effort your parks and recreation
department is making, your facilities
are going to get worn out. They're going
to get used. And as we saw with this,
with more and more people using your
facilities, it's straining that system.
Uh it's jumping around. That's just
something to bear in mind. And that's
not true of just Carter County. It
happens a lot that whenever you build a
system and you have a lot of growth
that's coming in, in particular,
especially with y'all having Interstate
42 coming in, that's more and more
what's happening. your parks department
is doing a great job. It's just your
facilities are getting strained. So, the
next piece that I want to pull up is
unmet facility needs.
Um, if you look at kind of from the
bottom to the top, if you see more red,
it means that those are not those are
unmet needs. If you see it in blue, it's
a partially met need. I'm sorry, in
gray, it's a partially met need. If you
notice, your athletic fields are up
towards the top.
Now, that doesn't mean that you don't
need more athletic fields. Your your
recreation program data is actually
saying that you have need for more
athletic fields 100%. What this is
saying is that you actually have
community members that desire recreation
that isn't athletic fields.
So, you have both a desire for passive
recreation, trails, hiking, biking, um
those type of things, and there's also a
desire for um more of those athletic
fields. But right now, both of those
demands are trying to be met by a very
limited amount of parkland.
All right. So, why do I bring this up?
Um, so whenever we asked through the
statistically valid survey how important
it was to have high quality to fund high
quality parks and recreation in the
county, the part that I want to draw you
to is 68% I'm sorry, 64% said it was
very important. The part that I want to
really draw your attention to is that
only 1% think that it's not important.
And I want to let that sink in. We've
heard a lot about uh people talking
about how important it is for the youth
to have recreation, but this is saying
it's not just important for the youth to
have recreation. It's important to
virtually everybody in the entire
community. So, I want you to bear that
in mind as you're using this tool, this
comprehensive plan, as a resource over
the next 15 years.
All right. So, how do you stack up? We
also benchmarked you uh both nationally
and against comparably sized counties
around uh the state in terms of what
you're spending on operational funds.
For the state, you're actually not doing
too bad. Um you know, a lot of those
other counties that are of comparable
size are more inland. Whenever we look
at um another kind of coastal community,
you're you're pretty close to where
they're at. They're slightly above you.
But whenever we benchmark you against
those national tiers, those uh the
national lower median and upper cortile,
you're a little bit lower. And the
reason why I wanted to bring that in and
why that's important is you have a
destination. Your community is important
not just to your residents but to
non-residents. And being able to bring
people in is central to to not just your
quality of life but also to your
economy. So that's that's important to
bring that in.
All right. So whenever we we also did
some kind of tangential study within uh
the comprehensive plan Carter County
through visitnc data um recreation is a
significant portion of your local
economy. Um you have $743 million it's
spending related to tourism. 107 of that
is recreation related. That doesn't mean
that it's you know your parks and
recreation department alone but it is a
significant portion of it. And what
we're going to get at, and I'm going to
kind of tip my hand here for just a
second, is sports tourism is a growing
portion of the the US economy and it's
really important to a lot of different
places. Right now, your community just
because of your system being so small,
you're really not really able to serve
that niche just yet. But it is something
that we want to uh that as we're going
to go through here in just a second, it
is something that we think that you
should start to look at. So, I'm going
to get in kind of two terms. I'm going
to go through. There's a lot of detail
within the plan that's talking about how
the plan should actually roll out in
terms of facilities and programs. I want
you to take two major themes home with
you. The first of which is most of your
parks right now around the county and we
also look to see where the municipal
parks were at and also your school
facilities. Most of your parks to date
have been largely developed in coastal
areas and in the sound areas and
certainly you have the national for
forest that's currently inland. But with
Interstate 42 development coming in, we
really think that the county should
start to look at inland areas for
parkland and do some feasibility
research into whether that be a nature
type uh type park, a sports tourism
destination. Um because you know if you
develop a park that is one able to serve
the residents first but also maybe in
the shoulder seasons um whenever you
could maybe you develop a sports tourism
complex or maybe you develop a nature
park that's inland that not only serves
those residents during your peak times
but in the offseason and the and in your
shoulder season is also able to put more
heads in your beds to to bring more
tourists into the area which also
bolsters your local economy. And doing
that we think is really essential to by
trying to find some inland area to
expand your park system.
The other thing that we want you to
think about is your program base. Um
right now your staff is giving it all
they can, but a lot of the passive
recreation programs that the community
wants, you need more space to be able to
offer it. So a lot of things that the
community is interested in are things
like special events, uh more fitness
areas, programs for seniors and
different age groups. But the way your
current system is set up is because if
it's more active recreation, you have to
have additional land to be able to offer
more of those program spaces and it's
going to take you a little bit of time
to actually get there. So, in time
expanding more of that passive
recreation to serve uh the community.
All right. Again, this was just an
overview. What I have up on the screen
are kind of what the details look like.
I know that you've had a chance to see
it. The community will also have a
chance to see it. that we finitely go
through the very um regimented list of
not only the details that you think that
we think you need to to pursue over the
next 15 years but broke that break those
down into different areas and prioritize
them. The other thing that we do is we
also give you a list of capital um
considerations that you should make over
the next 15 years. Now, I will say that
whenever you look at those capital
projects, it benefits you to have a
larger list within there that really
describes the whole area of what the
county would really need with the idea
that if it's listed in there, you can
actually go after grant funds. If it's
not listed in there, you really struggle
to go after grant [snorts] funding for
it. Um, and then it's really meant to be
a piece that helps you make decisions.
Most communities will not go in and
develop 100% of what's recommended, but
it does give you a road map of, you
know, what uh what you can pick and
choose and go after grant funding and
move forward.
All right. Um, with that being, like I
said, I meant for this to be an over uh
an overview of the the comp plan. Um,
and I'm happy to entertain any questions
that you may have.
>> Any questions?
>> So, does McGill
Sorry. Is that okay? Go ahead. Cool.
>> So, does does Miguel stay with us for
any length of time after the publication
of this? I mean, do we have you as a as
a resource to
>> I I will say so a lot of the communities
we do end up staying on and working with
the communities after the comprehensive
plan for feasibility studies for sight
specific master plans for more detailed
analysis of the data that we collected.
Uh I'd say that happens probably 70 or
80% of the time.
So, we have to have this plan, Matt,
ever renewed ever so often to be
eligible to apply for grants.
>> Yes, sir. The standard is typically 10
years, and correct me if I say anything
wrong, but typically 10 years. We're
just looking a little bit further out.
>> Yeah. So, uh, two of the major grants
that the state offers, the parks and
recreation trust fund and land and water
conservation fund. I used to manage
those for the state. So, this plan has
been developed to help you go after
those grant funding. uh it it is a
10-year window um for this plan to
actually be eligible for those.
Typically, a community will come in
later and then actually update it. But
yes, this plan will help you over the
next 10 years go after grant funding.
[clears throat]
>> Okay. So, while you were in the midst of
this, did you get close enough to our
county to know or to see some of the
regions instead of just saying inland
where some of that land might be of
interest for a
>> Yeah, there are, if I can bring up on
the map, um the zone area one, you're
going to have you're having a lot of
growth that's happening along the um
>> highway that area. Yeah. Highway 50 area
and then also Interstate 42 as that's
coming through especially around kind of
the Newport area and the connecting
pieces between that. Um you do the down
east community definitely had a lot of
expressed need. So I would not put that
off. It's just that's going to need to
be developed more for local use. The
your thoroughares your major highways
are going to be where you're going to be
able to hit the double benefit of
serving the residents plus also
attracting visitors. I would the only
thing I'd add to that is we actually
recommend a feasibility study within it
so that you can go in and know you know
if you put a certain investment level
into a park what your ROI is going to be
on that site and how many visitors you
may actually be able to attract with
that particular park.
And just of note, you did make note in
the report that of 160,000 acres that we
have of Croatan National Forest, 54 of
it, 54,000 you said onethird is in
Carter County,
>> right? Yeah. So, good point. Yes, the
Croatan is definitely described within
it. We also outline not just that, but
other recreational opportunities that
are found. Um, and the Croan forest
plays a massive role in serving passive
recreation, but it doesn't serve all of
the need that's out there.
» Okay, any further questions?
>> We're going to need a motion to adopt
the comprehensive park and recreation
master plan.
>> So moved. Motion by Commissioner Walder.
>> Second.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. All in
favor?
>> All right.
>> Have a good evening.
>> We'll be in we'll be in touch, I guess.
>> And it's worth looking at. So, if you
guys can go out and find our agenda
package, go look at allund
x number of pages of it.
>> Don't go nowhere, Ronnie. The main
event's coming up right now. [laughter]
>> Don't go nowhere.
Ne
next next is we're going to have
discussion about the tennis court needs
for the Carter County Public School
System. Mr. Richard Pal.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate being
referred to as the main event.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
>> Um so I am here to discuss uh tennis
court needs um and advocate for our
youth. Um
I became an assistant superintendent 9
years ago and when I became up to the uh
district office at that time we were
talking about the need for tennis
courts. Um at that time we were also
talking about a bond referendum. Um and
the the numbers for that bond referendum
was uh they were put together in the
years of 2016 and 2017. Um but that bond
was not voted on until 2020 as you know.
Um at that time um we we had CO and um
we had a $42 million bond and uh the
first two projects that were bid out
were not accepted because of the bids
were so high. And then uh we went back
to the drawing board with our architect
and figured out that for the $42 million
bond we really needed about $80 million
to complete all the projects on the bond
list. Um at that time the bond committee
decided to concentrate on uh number one
safety and number two was capacity of
our schools. And so that's what we did.
Um right now we're getting down to the
end of our bond money. Um we just uh
approved the the last project. Um the
last major project which will be a
renovation at East Carter High School.
Um, I originally I was on the agenda
tonight to come to you and talk to you
about the need and I planned on coming
and showing you the slides of how how
bad a shape our tennis courts and and
even our tracks are in. Um, but that
changed on Friday when the bond
committee met. Um, we we do have a
little bit of money left over um that
the the last of the bond money and the
bond committee decided to um bid out
tennis courts and so we are going to bid
out tennis courts. Um we're putting
together the package right now for East
Carter, West Carter, and Croatan. Um and
we're also going to take some alternate
bids for our tracks. So um there there's
needs for all uh tracks at all three of
our schools. We actually have a track at
Bro Creek Middle School, but we're going
to concentrate on our high schools for
now. Um and we're going to uh definitely
put the bids out for the tennis courts.
So
>> any question?
>> Thank you, Mr. Per. I think everybody's
pleased to hear that we got a couple
million dollars going after the tennis
courts first and uh the tracks are in
horrible shape as well. A lot of
settling and uh going to need to be
totally redone and what money we have
left over or hopefully in the near
future we'll be taking the tracks next.
>> Right. We may need a need from from you
guys for the tracks, but we we feel
pretty confident about tennis courts.
>> Okay.
>> All right. Thank you, Richie.
>> Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> Okay.
Now you can go, Ronnie.
>> I didn't want you to miss that.
>> All right. Next, we have our items that
we moved off of the consent agenda,
which is uh item nine and 10, approval
of a jail diversion recovery service
agreement with Loaves and Fishes. And
item 10, approval of a jail diversion
recovery service agreement with the
Mariam.
Is there any discussion?
>> Mr. Chairman, thank you. I was it was it
was my request to remove those from the
consent agenda. Um and the reason for
the request, so earlier, as you recall,
earlier this month, we had a meeting um
with with vendors and the county staff,
uh the sheriff's department, health
department um to discuss the current
contract that we have with a vendor to
provide
uh mental health, substance abuse
treatment.
Um, that's been kind of a rocky road
since that contract was signed
originally.
Um, so
I would like to see before we sign
contracts with two more entities, I
would like to see some results or find
out um if there's any results or if
anything's changed, if we've made any
improvements or progress following our
meeting earlier this month.
uh and then to also uh evaluate the
success of the um contract that we have
currently and to
look at the necessity the actual
necessity of signing a contract with two
more entities. I don't feel like we're
fully utilizing the contract that we
have with Southeastern Integrated Care.
That's who we currently have a contract
with. I don't think we're fully
utilizing that contract and we did that
in good faith and I feel like before we
signed additional contracts with other
agencies
um
we need to evaluate the the real need
and necessity for them. These other
agencies have been providing a service
uh to my knowledge. I didn't know about
it prior but they were providing a
service without a contract. Uh they were
operating I think there were some some
insurance issues which I understand now
have been resolved but also these are
nothing against it but these are
religion-based organizations. I don't
have a bit of problem with with
religion-based organizations but the
county has to be very careful as to how
we uh conduct business with them. We
can't just, you know, I encourage
everybody to go to church and pray and
whatnot, but there's a time and a place
and there's and there's a service for
that. So, we have to be very careful
about what we do and and how we uh
interact with with those organizations.
So, I'm not saying that we don't need
those uh additional contracts. So, I'm
just saying I would like to know the
exact necessity and and a little bit of
time to to decide if the meeting that we
had was fruitful, if there's any
benefits for it from it, if it was
productive at all. I don't know. I
haven't got I haven't gotten any reports
uh one way or the other on that from
that meeting. So, um, I don't think it's
a big deal to give it a little bit more
time till the next meeting or maybe the
following meeting to make a decision.
That was the only only point I I wanted
to make and removing those.
>> Okay. Well, certainly I respect your
opinion as always. U, but I don't like
having all our eggs in one basket. We
know mental health is a big issue here
in Carter County and uh the Loaves and
Fishes folks have been providing a
service for us. The Mariam Tammy Thomas,
former deputy sheriff, uh excellent
individual running an excellent program.
These people when they go to this jail
diversion, they are in the custody of
the sheriff. So really, we shouldn't be
we should be approving a contract or the
county manager should be approving a
contract, but really it's up to our
sheriff. We have a very fine sheriff,
John Nyberg, back there in the
background. Chief Deputy, uh, David
Clifton. I was getting it out. Uh, David
Clifton doing an excellent job for us.
And when people come to our jail and
it's determined that they have mental
health issues and maybe a program,
whether it be a religious program, and I
think studies show that religious
programs have a better outcome than some
of the other programs. I've been told
that uh those folks once they're
determined to fit into that uh group
that can go here to these programs
instead of being in our overly populated
jail. You know, we have 160ome people in
our jail that's designed for 114 people.
Uh so we have these programs that we can
place them in the Loaves and Fishes or
Southeastern or the Marryiam and it
helps the county out.
Uh, and we talked about doing this last
month, and we did find that there was
some insurance issues. Our great county
manager and county attorney, Sharon
Griffin, uh, went over the contracts
with a fine tooth comb and picked up
that they didn't have the adequate
insurance. So, she reached out to them
and they obtained the insurance. And,
uh, I feel like we need a multitude of
services
at our disposal, not just one. And the
contract we have with Southeastern
is not an exclusive contract. We we have
a contract to send folks there, but it
doesn't exclude us from having contracts
with other people to be able to send
them wherever they might fit best. So, I
would like to move forward with the
agreements, but it's up to the rest of
the commissioners what they say.
Commissioner Walder, you got an opinion?
>> I support your position, uh, Chairman. I
also believe that in the past um we've
also used multiple opportunities for
recovery. Miriam's not new to our
program. We've been using Miriam
although they are exclusive to women. Um
I think there is an opportunity for um
many um recovery programs because I
don't believe one sizefits-all.
Commissioner Quinn,
» I certainly do appreciate um
Commissioner Shin's request to consider
and go back over a lot of the uh
agreements that we have had, but I feel
that the uh the more I've thought about
it and the in the meetings that we have
had previously that we've done that and
that we've asked um our the other two
organizations that we've had a long
relationship with to come up with the
insurance that they need. We are not in
breach of any contracts with any of the
organizations that we have currently
signed. And again, I I do agree with
Commissioner Waldruff that it's not a
one-sizefits-all as far as treatment
programs are concerned. Some treatment
facilities, treatment programs, and
methods of treatment uh are going to be
more effective for indiv certain
individuals and not maybe for others. So
I I I'm for moving forward uh with um of
these contracts. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Vice Chairman Mansfield.
>> I mean, I don't I don't have much many
thoughts. I mean, I agree with what
everybody said here tonight, but
>> have a little bit more time would
probably help, but I mean, I think
competition is good. I'm for free
market. I'm not for government picking
winners and losers. Uh, Commissioner
Clark,
>> I'm uh I think that the key part of the argument is exclusivity and we
don't have an exclusive as you've
already mentioned with uh the one that
we've signed and so I would I would vote
that we just proceed.
>> Okay. So, we need to take a vote on that
or
>> Yes, if you could take two votes, one on
loves and fishes and one on the Miriam,
please.
>> Okay. Is there a motion to approve the
contract with Loaves and Fishes for a
jail diversion recovery service?
>> Just for the record, Mr. Chairman, I'm
going to maintain my motion as before to
uh table the contracts until a further
meeting to evaluate the necessity.
>> So, we need to vote on that motion.
>> You need to see if there's a second in
the on the motion to table.
>> Okay. Is there a second to table this?
Without a second, that motion fails.
Correct.
>> That's correct.
>> All right. So now, do we we need a
motion to approve a jail diversion
recovery service agreement with Lowe's
and Fishes?
>> So move.
>> Motion by Commissioner Wald.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. All in
favor?
Any opposed?
All right. Next, we need an
approval of a agreement for jail
diversion services with the Mariam.
>> So moved.
>> Motion by Commissioner Waldrip.
>> Second.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. All in
favor?
All right. Motion carries.
All right.
We good there?
>> Yes.
>> Next is the manager's report.
>> That's me. I'll be very brief. Thank you
everyone for being here this evening and
thank you to our commissioners for all
the work that they do. Couple of
announcements in observance of Labor
Day. Most county offices will be closed
on Monday, September 7th. It's a little
late this year and we do wish everyone a
safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.
Also, um please remember we're getting
into the month in September that
unfortunately is the peak of our
hurricane season. If you've not made
arrangements in your own household and
with pets and with anyone that you care
for, like an elderly parent, um make
sure to make some plans to be prepared
for hurricane season and to have um some
things ready in your household. We all
remember some of the ones that have come
through and uh kind of stuck around a
little longer than we wanted them to.
So, we want to make sure everyone's
still keeping that at the front of their
mind. And maybe if we prepare really
well, nothing will happen, right?
>> So, um, anyways, we're hoping, right,
>> Billy still over there? Yes. Yeah. Okay.
Um, also, the board of elections are
recruiting and the and the staff over
there. We're are recruiting precinct
officials right now for the November
general election. This is so important.
And we have training coming up in
September.
Um, precinct officials can either be
paid or volunteer and you need to
register um as a Carter County voter
before you can be a precinct official.
So, if you're not registered to vote
here in Carter County, you probably
can't be a precinct official here. But
if you're if you are registered here and
you're interested in serving, please
call the board of elections to learn
more about signing up for that. And
that's all I have unless any of you have
questions. Thank you. Any questions of
the manager? All right. Next, we have
appointments. First one is Carter
Community College Board of Trustees,
Cindy Brown. All in favor of Miss Brown.
Next is the Carter County Buffer Airport
Authority, myself, James Fwell, Roy
Graham, Patrick Joyce, and Randall
Ramsey.
>> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to
approve Commissioner Chadwick, Mr.
Fwell, Mr. Graham, Mr. Joyce, and Mr.
Ramsey to be reappointed for another
two-year term.
>> All right. All in favor of all those
folks.
Next, we have Civilian Military
Community Council, Commissioner Maryanne
Waldrip.
>> I'll make a motion to appoint M. Waldrip
to a perpetual term to the Civilian
Military Community Council.
>> All right. All in favor, Commissioner
Waldrip.
>> Next, we have Consolidated
Human Service Board, Dr. Joseph Smith.
[snorts] All in favor, Mr. Smith.
Next, we have the Highway 70 corridor
commissioner, uh, former mayor mayor of
Morehead City, Jerry Jones. Mr.
>> Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to
appoint Mr. Jones as the Highway 42,
Interstate 42 on the Highway 70 corridor
commissioner.
>> All in favor, Mr. Jones.
Next, we have the Juvenile Crime
Prevention Council, Jackson Valentine.
All in favor, Mr. Valentine.
Next, we have the Carter County Planning
Board, Michelle Moffett, to a three-year
term expiring August 17th, 2029. All in
favor, Miss Moffett.
Next, we have the Senior Center Advisory
Board, uh, Shirley Cobb, a reappointment
to a two-year term. All in favor, Miss
Cobb.
Okay, that does it. Next, we have
commissioner comment.
Start down there with Mr. Clark.
Commissioner Clark.
>> Thank you, Chairman. Um, I'll be brief,
but I will make u
I would like to direct to some comments
that were dear toward us earlier. Um,
as a followup since we can discuss it in
this forum, this [clears throat] county
does not have any contracts and in while
I'm sitting here, we have no intention
of getting contracts with any flaw
camera companies.
>> I I'm I'm speaking
>> so they may be on the street. The NC DOT
has control of streets, but the county,
you can pull up our our budget and you
can comb every page and you won't find
us paying for any flop cameras. So, I
don't know where you got your
information and I'm not denying that the
cameras are there. But this board here
didn't put them in place because I'm I'm
as adamant against those kind of things
as you are.
>> You're a commissioner. They're all over.
>> We don't control
>> uh Excuse me, Commissioner Clark. Sir,
this this is not a question and answer
session. So, you're just going to have
to sit there and listen. And uh the
commissioners are making their comments
and then we're going to adjourn the
meeting.
>> I'm done.
>> Go ahead.
>> Okay. All right. Commissioner Shin,
>> I'm going refrain from comment this
evening, sir.
>> All right. Vice Chairman Mansfield,
>> I'll yield my time also.
>> All right. Commissioner Walder,
>> good evening. Thank you everybody for
coming out. Good to meet you, Mr. James
Jones. you were a great uh
representative for the Marryman um park.
Um well done.
>> We hear you loud and clear and I hope
that you're able to work with our parks
and wrecks because I think that's really
the next step is to work with Miss Tina
Puroy. Um so and we have uh pages and
pages to comb over for our parks and Rex
master plan and you certainly can be a
part of that for uh for your zone. So,
thank you and thanks for all your
enthusiasm.
Um, Mr. Watson, thank you for have been
here earlier today. Thank you,
Superintendent,
uh, for listening to us. Thank you for
Croitan for stepping up and being a a
loud voice with Mr. Watson. Um, I think
we went a long way in trying to get that
rectified.
Um,
thank you, Brian, for always being here
and speaking, and I appreciate being
nominated to the Civilian Military
Community Council.
>> Thank you.
Commissioner Wald,
Commissioner Quinn.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, students
are back at Carter Community College.
We're glad to welcome them back on
campus once again. Over [clears throat]
1,700 students registered. So, that's
outstanding number for us. Uh this is my
26th year as an employee of Carter
Community College. I'm very proud of
that number and very proud of all the
achievements that uh the college has
made during that time period. Things are
looking great on campus. If you're uh in
the area, please drop by. Um we have our
women's soccer team that is going to be
having their first home match next
Thursday.
>> September.
>> Oh, I'm sorry.
>> September.
2nd. September 2nd. Thank you
very much. That's going to be at Rotary
Park. So, please come out and support uh
the women's soccer team. Uh baseball
players are already on campus. I got a
few in my class. Um and uh looking
forward to that upcoming season.
Uh the the street name changes. I I just
want to offer my opinion there because
we had two street name changes that came
up and we approved one and we and we did
not approve the second. And the first
one is pretty obvious. is for a 911
emergency services issue. Uh a lot of
confusion as far as mail delivery,
package delivery, uh and just confusion
generally for uh the residents in that
area. And so it made sense to me to
approve that particular street name
change. When it came to the second
street name change, there's not a a
pressing issue when it comes to uh any
kind of 911 emergency services issue.
This is just a request in order to
change the name uh from one to another.
And I'm going to kind of go back to what
Commissioner Chairman uh the chairman uh
Chadwick said that changing these names
from our original family names, street
names, place names, buildings, towns.
This is going to erase the heritage of
Carter County, the history of Carter
County. We've got to hold on to those
place names. we've got to hold on to
those family names that are a big part
of Carter Countyy's heritage because
that what makes Carter County such a
great place to live and a great place to
visit. And so that's that's the reason I
just wanted to explain that's why I
supported one change and and not the
other. And then finally, uh the tins
courts, I'm so pleased uh that a
decision has finally been made to build
those uh tennis courts. Uh I've been an
advocate for that since I was sworn in
almost four years ago. really happy to
see that that change is finally made.
Coach Shehan is here uh tonight and he
and I have had a lot of discussions
about this and really happy to uh see
that this is going to be a move forward.
These are much needed facilities.
Football, baseball, basketball, they get
all the attention. They bring in all the
money. U but there are a lot of other
sports that are outstanding for a large
number of student athletes that really
build character. And I'm going to say
one thing. I did not know that uh coach
Sheen and Miss Ellen were going to be
here tonight, but I would love to see
those tennis courts out at Croatan High
School named for Coach Jim Shihan. 47
years of coaching, building student
athletes, their uh character, building
the community. I would love to see that
he is honored for [clears throat] the
dedication, for the leadership, and for
the commitment to developing young
athletes in our community.
um this would be a great reflection of everything that he has done uh for
our community, for our students, for our
schools, for our county. That's all I
got to say. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Commissioner
Quinn. Uh it escaped me a little while
ago when we were talking about Morris
Lane. So, I went back and looked at
Lor's obituary and guess what his
favorite meal was? Stewed turtle.
[laughter]
>> Oh, no. So that's so that's when Jesus
said, "Chris, do not let the name of the
road get changed." So So [laughter]
that's why Commissioner Quinn speaks a
lot better than I do. But I'm going
right to the point. The man worked on
his car. His family lived there. They
originally from Atlantic. They moved to
Harker's Island. But I went back and
read his obituary and his favorite meal
was stewed turtle. That was just the sun
just come over me and it was the right
thing to do. say that's where I stand on
that.
The Marman parks, I'm all in favor of
the Marman parks. I want y'all to get in
touch with James Fulture with a Sarah
James Fulture fishing tournament. They
just helped out North River and uh
redoing the playground there. They've
done one at Cape Carter at Eastern Park
in Smyrna. I want to put you in touch
with them. They're always looking for a
project to playground uh to honor Sarah
James. She had some disability. she
passed away and they have that fishing
tournament at Cedar Island to honor her
and they build playgrounds that are
handicap accessible and they do mats uh
and they have wheelchairs that have big
tires on them so disabled people can get
to the water but that's a good spot and
James would be love he would really jump
right on that I believe so that I'm all
behind helping out the Marman community
there almost didn't uh recognize Mr.
Collins with his white hair there, but
mine's turned a little white, too. But,
uh, he's a he's a good fellow. We did
business together for many years, and
first class guy. Uh, school starts soon,
so I want everybody to be careful about
the buses early mornings. And, uh, you
know, everybody's going back to school,
so I want everybody to be safe. And, uh,
if there's nothing further to come
before the board, I'll entertain a
motion to adjurnn.
>> Motion by uh, Commissioner Walp,
seconded by Commissioner Shin. All in
favor? Thank y'all for coming.