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public hearing to order.
>> First up this evening is the first

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public hearing. The purpose of the
public hearing is to receive public

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comment on the consideration of the
proposed application for the community

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00:07:11,599 --> 00:07:17,759
development block disaster grant uh
recovery grant. Mr.

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00:07:19,599 --> 00:07:25,360
Good evening, commissioners. Um, we
talked about this at our last meeting

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when we uh did our public hearing for
the intent to apply for funding. Again,

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00:07:27,599 --> 00:07:35,599
this is a community development block
grant disaster recovery funds uh which

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is being uh which uh is we qualify
because we're one of the Helen disaster

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counties uh that been designated. Uh the
reason why we're applying for these

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00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:48,319
funds is in the first round of funding
uh they have a prioritization schedule

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and parks and recreation is on that
first prioritization. So it gives us an

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opportunity to uh look at uh our
greenway expansion and that uh in

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conversations with the state uh that
would qualify as as uh part of that that

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was damage to the existing greenway
during the Helen flooding. And so this

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project would uh would qualify uh and
the the uh the uh census track that the

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greenway is in also qualifies as a load
moderate uh income census tract as a

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whole. So that again qualifies us for
this opportunity. Uh the intent of the

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of the county staff is to ask the
commissioners to approve an application

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00:08:25,759 --> 00:08:33,919
later on to apply for $1.25 million
towards the construction of that

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greenway. And um part of that is to
allow the uh uh community to to comment

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on that. Uh so that's what I we have
here for you tonight.

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And I believe
we have a couple people signed up.

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00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:58,320
Quick reminder to everyone this evening
um especially with these while it's on

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00:08:55,519 --> 00:09:02,560
the agenda. Um we've got a timer set up
on the screen for three minutes.

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00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:08,640
purposes for us to listen, not to answer
questions. Um, we'll you'll hear a

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little beep uh at the three minute mark.
And with that, I'll start off public

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comment with Leanne Young. Miss Young,

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00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:29,279
thank you so much.
I'm glad to be here. I came directly

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from the airport. I've was in Arlington.
um national cemetery yesterday interring

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my mother-in-law. So I made it a
priority to be here.

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00:09:37,519 --> 00:09:44,080
Um
this letter is on behalf of friends of

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00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:47,920
the Jackson County Greenways.
On behalf of the board of directors of

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00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:52,480
friends of the Jackson County Greenways,
I am pleased to express our strong

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00:09:49,839 --> 00:09:56,880
support for Jackson County's application
for community development block grant

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00:09:54,720 --> 00:10:01,200
disaster recovery
funding offered by the US Department of

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00:09:59,279 --> 00:10:05,680
Housing and Urban Development to help
western North Carolina communities

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recover and rebuild following Hurricane
Helen. This funding represents an

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00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:13,360
important opportunity to support
continued investment in the Jackson

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00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:17,519
County Greenway.
As an organization dedicated to

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supporting the development, stewardship,
and enjoyment of Jackson County's

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00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:27,120
greenways, we have seen firsthand the
value these spaces bring to our

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community. Greenways connect people to
nature, to one another, and to the

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communities they call home.
The greenway represents a shared

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00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:42,800
investment in recreation, public health,
outdoor access, tourism, and community

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development. A connected greenway system
is public infrastructure that can serve

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residents and visitors while
contributing to the quality of life and

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00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:57,040
economic vitality of the communities
through which they it passes.

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Investment in resilient public
infrastructure is especially important

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following Hurricane Helen. Greenway
corridors provide valuable flood plane

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00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:10,727
and storm water management benefits,
helping to slow and absorb storm water

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while protecting surrounding private
[clears throat] and public property.

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00:11:13,839 --> 00:11:19,760
The proposed improvements will
strengthen these natural functions while

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making the greenway more durable and
better prepared for future severe

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weather.
Jackson County has already demonstrated

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its commitment through planning,
partnerships, land acquisition,

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00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:38,160
engineering studies, and local
investment.

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00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:43,839
CDBG DR funding provides an opportunity
to build on that foundation and advances

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00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:48,800
a regional asset designed to serve our
communities well into the future.

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00:11:46,959 --> 00:11:51,920
Friends of the Jackson County Greenways
respectfully encourages the

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00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:57,279
commissioners to support Jackson
County's CDBG DR application and

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00:11:55,519 --> 00:12:01,200
continued investment in the greenway
system.

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00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:05,519
A connected, accessible, and resilient
Greenway network is an investment in the

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long-term health and quality of life of
Jackson County. We are proud to work

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00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:14,399
alongside Jackson County and our
community partners to support the growth

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and strengthening of the Jackson County
Greenway. Thank you for your

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00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:21,760
consideration and for your continued
investment in the future of Jackson

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00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:26,000
County.
>> Thank you.

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00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:29,240
» Next up this evening we have Gail Woody.
Miss Woody.

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00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:41,760
» Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Um I want to tell two real short

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00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:47,600
stories. Um, first of all, um, when I
was young here in Jackson County, the

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00:12:44,639 --> 00:12:51,920
Tuckiji River was so polluted that no
one fished there unless you wanted to

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just throw the old fish away. It was
polluted by what was then the me

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00:12:54,079 --> 00:13:02,720
corporation. No one swam in the river.
There was very little recreation that

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took place. And now it is one of the
most beautiful rivers in our region. And

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00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:15,200
we are so thankful that you as
commissioners have purchased the land

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that has allowed us to um expand that
greenway. And I personally walk on there

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00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:26,079
frequently. I take my grandchildren, my
great granddaughter and I walk many

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00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:30,480
mornings. Um it is so wonderful to see
senior citizens. Some of them are

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00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:35,600
recovering from heart surgery and walk
along the greenway with their walkers

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00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:40,639
because it's paved, because it's pretty
level and it's a place where they can

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00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:45,600
access. And if any of you drive along
the Tuckiji out towards Swing County and

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00:13:42,959 --> 00:13:50,560
all, you'll see more and more building
going up right next to the river. But

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00:13:48,560 --> 00:13:57,440
the fact that you all bought that land
and are protecting that for our citizens

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00:13:53,360 --> 00:14:01,600
to use ongoing for the rest of of our
lives and on into the future for our

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00:14:00,079 --> 00:14:07,199
children and grandchildren is a
wonderful thing. So, um we hope you'll

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00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:12,800
support um this grant application so
that we can continue using the greenway.

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00:14:10,079 --> 00:14:12,800
Thank you.

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00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:20,079
With that, is there a [clears throat]
motion to close our first public

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00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:22,880
hearing?
>> And a second.

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00:14:21,839 --> 00:14:25,920
» All in favor?
>> I.

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00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:30,880
» None opposed.
Moving on. Um, call this meeting to

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00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:34,720
order. The purpose of this public
hearing is to receive public comment on

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00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:38,880
the consideration of the proposed
community transportation program

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00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:44,199
application.
Um,

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00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,199
here to speak.

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00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:49,320
» Oh, Renee. I'm sorry, Renee.

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00:14:59,519 --> 00:15:08,560
» Good afternoon. Um, this public hearing
is u being held regarding Jackson County

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00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:13,320
transits applications for FY28.
>> Hi Renee, you scared to pull that

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00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,320
microphone.

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00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:20,480
» Okay.
>> Okay. It's for FY28 community

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transportation program grant funding. As
the applicant, Jackson County Transit is

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00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:29,519
seeking permission to apply for public
transportation program funding. Enter

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00:15:27,519 --> 00:15:34,000
into agreements with the North Carolina
Department of Transportation,

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00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:39,519
provide the necessary asurances, and
provide the required local match for the

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00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:44,240
requested grant funds. The North
Carolina Department of Transportation's

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00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:48,880
Integrated Mobility Division manages
applications with the FTA for mass

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00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:54,079
transportation and community
transportation programs. These programs

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00:15:51,839 --> 00:15:59,199
allow rural communities to work directly
with the state to access federal

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00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:04,320
transportation funding.
This year, oil for FY28, the

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00:16:01,759 --> 00:16:09,759
applications will be for three grant
programs. The 5311

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00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:14,720
um administrative grant, which
subsidizes the administrative cost

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00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:19,440
associated with operating a
transportation system.

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00:16:16,959 --> 00:16:25,279
Also, eligible expenses include
administrative salaries and benefits,

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00:16:21,839 --> 00:16:29,519
office supplies, training, uniforms, and
marketing.

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00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:35,120
The second one is the 5310 operating
grant program. That program supports

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00:16:32,639 --> 00:16:39,440
operating cost associated with providing
transportation

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00:16:36,639 --> 00:16:44,480
services for elderly individuals and
individuals with disabilities.

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00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:50,000
And then there's the combined capital
grant program which um helps us to

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00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:56,160
maintain an up-to-date fleet. And then
it also addresses other capital needs.

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00:16:52,720 --> 00:17:01,920
Um for FY28, we will only be replacing
one mobility transit raised roof van

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00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:07,360
and that would include the lettering and
logos for that vehicle and a propane

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00:17:04,319 --> 00:17:12,000
conversion kit. We also uh have
available two desktop computers and one

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00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:18,160
laptop. So that's that's all we have for
that year on the capital grant program.

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00:17:14,799 --> 00:17:22,559
Um I might add that the computers are
more than 5 years old. So they've

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00:17:19,919 --> 00:17:25,520
reached the end of their useful life.
And I'll [snorts] just go ahead and say

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00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:30,039
that the total amount requested through
these grant programs is $520,773

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00:17:31,120 --> 00:17:37,320
and the local required share is $129,53.

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00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:47,440
And it is just um this funding, it
really is essential to maintaining

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00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:52,320
reliable transportation services for the
residents of Jackson County and to

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00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:57,120
ensure that Jackson County Transit can
continue providing safe, accessible, and

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00:17:54,640 --> 00:18:04,679
dependable transportation to the
individuals and communities that we

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00:17:59,039 --> 00:18:04,679
serve. Have any questions?

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00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,520
» Did anyone sign up for public comment?
No.

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00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:12,880
» Should be. Okay.
>> I will.

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00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:16,559
» Nope.
>> Okay.

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00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,160
» Sure didn't. [laughter]
>> Thank you, Miss.

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00:18:17,360 --> 00:18:21,440
» You're welcome.
>> Is there a motion to close this public

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00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:25,039
hearing?
>> And a second. Second.

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00:18:23,360 --> 00:18:29,760
» All in favor?
>> None opposed.

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00:18:27,120 --> 00:18:33,600
I'll call our third meeting to order.
Purpose of this public hearing is to

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00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:38,720
receive public comment on the
consideration of the proposed bond uh of

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00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:43,600
the proposed bond order authorizing the
issuance of general obligation bonds for

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00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:51,240
school facilities in the maximum amount
of $105 million.

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00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:51,240
Turn over to Mr. King.

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00:19:04,799 --> 00:19:10,360
First up this evening we have Miss Gail
Woody. Miss Woody,

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00:19:13,679 --> 00:19:20,880
» um, thank you for letting me speak
again. Um, [clears throat] I just have

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00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:27,200
two short comments to make. Um, number
one is as a retired teacher and um, as a

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00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:33,360
person that went through public
education myself and my children did,

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00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:38,720
um, I am a great advocate of public
education. And the second thing I want

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00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:44,080
to say about that is that it's never
going to get any cheaper. And um, I'm a

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00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:49,520
retired person. My husband and I are
retired teachers. We live on a fixed

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00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:54,640
income, but we we know our taxes will go
up some if this bond passes, but our

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00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:59,919
children are worth it. They're the
future of our community, and we need to

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00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:07,160
support them. Thank you for considering
this,

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00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:07,160
» Miss Wood. Next up is Michelle Samuel.

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00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:19,120
I'm gonna try to keep this three
minutes, y'all.

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00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:24,240
I'm gonna try.
Okay. My name is Michelle Samuel. My

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00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:30,480
family lives behind the middle school
site. I want to be clear that I'm not

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00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:34,720
against bettering children's education,
but I believe the middle school is not

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00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:40,720
warranted, especially with all of the
schools other schools needing extensive

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00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:45,760
repairs. As property owners, we were not
given the courtesy of a middle school

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00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:51,120
going in. I understand this is a year
process, but my question is how this

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00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:56,320
particular site was chosen. The question
comes after a quote in the Smoky

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00:20:53,520 --> 00:21:01,840
Mountain News that Alchiteex are still
working on site plans for the proposed

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00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:08,000
middle school and Jackson County Public
Schools has not yet put out a request

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00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:13,200
for proposal on this project. As of now,
Miss Ays says the middle school numbers

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00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:19,280
are a shot in the dark as there have
been over 30 generations of project

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00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:24,320
planning in an attempt to find the best
possible location for the school's

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00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:30,480
construction in logistically challenging
mountainous landscape. End quote.

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00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:36,000
Usually, you submit in writing to the
board planning board and engineer

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00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:41,360
drawings. Wildlife impact study. Was
this done? Because we have deer, bear,

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00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:46,080
turkeys, all of that in our field behind
us. Conservation,

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00:21:43,919 --> 00:21:51,200
environmental impact study like with
native flowers, wet walls, that would

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00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:57,440
have told you how many numerous springs
were located there. EPA erosion, steep

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00:21:54,640 --> 00:22:01,919
slope traffic studies, DOT entrance,
which is still questionable,

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00:21:59,679 --> 00:22:07,360
submit um specialized lighting for
sports complex within the ordinances.

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00:22:04,799 --> 00:22:12,559
core testing. There is all of the rock
there. Ask me how I know because my

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00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:20,960
house is on. Okay. We didn't want to go
through the expense of d of the blasting

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00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:25,520
because we didn't want to um hurt our
neighbors property. I'm also worried

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00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:30,400
about the changes in the direction of
the water flow because of the numerous

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00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:36,480
springs because we have an artisian
well. I attended a K through8 school,

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00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:42,320
first class at Fairville. I graduated
Silvets High School in 87. I'm dating

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00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:47,760
myself. Huge. I have a cosmetology
license. I own my own salon. I have an

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00:22:44,799 --> 00:22:52,400
online boutique. I'm a partner of a
construction company. And that's all

185
00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:58,480
here in Jackson County. I am part of
successful citizens that did not go to a

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00:22:55,840 --> 00:23:04,159
standalone middle school. With all the
new laws in place for grant writing, the

187
00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:08,720
language should have included
pre-existing renovations and new

188
00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:13,600
construction. The proposed bond
referendum is really not fair to the

189
00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:18,559
taxpayers of Jackson County to have this
burden with this huge undertaking of

190
00:23:16,159 --> 00:23:23,760
debt obligation.
I thought at one time, I'm not sure um

191
00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:29,520
about the sales tax on there. the tax
base in question could and will probably

192
00:23:27,120 --> 00:23:34,640
increase considerably and the proposed
amount needed keeps changing

193
00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:40,480
continuously. I feel that this is not a
citizen quandreum. We did not create

194
00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:45,760
this. It is however a tricky situation
because if the language of the bond

195
00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:51,360
referendum is not clear and precise. If
passed, then a lot of Jackson County

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00:23:48,159 --> 00:23:56,240
citizens will be voting for considerable
cons continuous tax increase based on

197
00:23:54,400 --> 00:24:00,799
the assumption it is for the betterment
of the children. I feel putting this

198
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:06,640
bond referendum is going to be a burden
of continuous rising taxes bases on our

199
00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:13,200
citizens without a clear feasible
guaranteed fixed stable amount of debt

200
00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:18,799
to fix all of the problems. especially
considering the county currently has a

201
00:24:15,679 --> 00:24:23,520
lot of existing debt obligation already.
Thank you for considering voting no to

202
00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:28,720
putting this on the November ballot and
I agree with Miss Jenny Lynn Hooper.

203
00:24:25,919 --> 00:24:33,520
This issue needs to have more work and
time spent researching this topic. I

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00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:39,440
feel that it is being rushed for the
sake of meeting a deadline. Thank you.

205
00:24:37,919 --> 00:24:42,640
» Next up this evening we have Wes
Jameson. Mr.

206
00:24:43,592 --> 00:24:45,612
» [clears throat]

207
00:24:57,279 --> 00:25:04,320
» Good afternoon. Uh, appreciate having
the opportunity to come up here and

208
00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:08,640
speak. I'll be quick. Obviously, I would
like for this bond referendum to move

209
00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:12,720
forward and allow the taxpaying citizens
of Jackson County to vote on it in

210
00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:16,960
November. Uh, last time I checked,
there's probably I think around 13,000

211
00:25:14,799 --> 00:25:20,320
registered voters in Jackson County.
Maybe eight or nine thousand will vote

212
00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:25,039
in November. I doubt you've heard from
that many up to this point. So, I think

213
00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:29,200
it needs to be on the ballot so folks
can vote on it. Obviously, I'm in favor

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00:25:26,799 --> 00:25:34,240
of a middle school. uh for every
negative article you can produce about

215
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one, I can find one in favor of it, you
know. Um but this referendum is about

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more than just middle school. There's
many school capital improvement projects

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on here that all need to be done. Um
Jackson County has one of the lowest tax

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rates in North Carolina, and all that
does is put you guys in a situation

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where you're continuously having to
search for money to fund uh these public

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activities that need to be done. So, um,
this is a way to help move that forward

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and, uh, I am definitely in favor of it
and hope to be able to see it on the

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ballot in November. Thank you,
>> Mr. Jameson. Next up, [clears throat] we

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have Miranda Bryson Jameson.

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Good evening. I want to take a few
minutes tonight to talk about why I

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believe Jackson County needs to give
voters opportunity to decide on a school

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bond referendum this November. This is
not simply about building a new

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building. It is about asking ourselves
what kind of educational opportunities

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we want to provide for the children of
Jackson County in 2026 and beyond.

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Jackson County currently has one of the
lowest property tax rates in North

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Carolina. That doesn't mean taxes don't
matter. They do. Every dollar matters

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and taxpayers deserve accountability for
every dollar we spend. But we also have

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to recognize that investing in our
schools is an investment in our

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community. Today, our students in grades
6 through 8 are spread across multiple

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KA campuses. And while our teachers and
administrators work incredibly hard, the

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structure itself limits the
opportunities we can provide.

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When you divide middle school students
and teachers among among multiple

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campuses, you cannot offer the same
variety of courses that you can when

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those students are brought together.
Think about what our sixth, seventh, and

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eighth graders could have access to in a
middle school designed specifically for

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them. Some examples are Spanish 1 and
two, home economics, shop classes, FFA,

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math one, English one, environmental
earth science, US history, child early

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childhood education, and so many more.
These aren't just extra classes. They

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are opportunities for a child to
discover something they're p they're

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passionate about, something that could
influence what they they choose to

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study, what career they pursue, and what
they ultimately contribute to our

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community. And this isn't about
abandoning the schools we already have.

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Quite the opposite. The proposed fund
includes investments in existing Jackson

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County schools and facilities as well.
As a community, we do have a

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responsibility to take care of these
schools we already have while also

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building for the future. K12 schools may
have been the right answer for Jackson

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County in the 1950s, but it is 2026.
Our children's world is different. The

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jobs are different, technology is
different, education is different, and

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the opportunities available for our
children should be different, too. We

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cannot be afraid to change simply
because something is the way we've

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always done it. Our responsibility is to
look at where Jackson County is today,

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and that's what our children need
tomorrow. A bond gives the people of

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Jackson County the opportunity to make
that decision. This isn't about

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buildings.
It's about opportunities. It's about

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making sure a child growing up in
Jackson County has access to the same

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education possibilities as a child
anywhere else. And I believe our ju our

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children in Jackson County deserve
nothing less.

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Jameson. Next up this evening is Steve
Bush. Mr. Bush,

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[clears throat]

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Steve Bush.

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[clears throat]

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» Thank you for the opportunity, ladies
and gentlemen, to talk to this board.

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Um, I probably will be the most
unpopular man in the room when this is

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through, but I have a lot of hard
questions.

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Where why are we missing $40 million to
this and nobody can explain it? Nobody

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can explain what's going on. The tax
base was already heavily heavily handed

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this past year and yet my understanding
is the Jackson County Tax Department has

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00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:07,440
already sent people out for the
prospects of 2029 and they've already

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sent out letters different neighborhoods
to do assessments. So that tells me

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there's something wrong in the head
house. Um, I think schools are great and

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I understand that you already have $52
million uh already granted, but aren't

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grants matched money?
Most of them are. You know, you put up

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00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:33,720
so much, they put up so much, usually
it's 50/50. Um,

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I just think there's a lot of unanswered
questions here. And I think a lot of

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people want to know where the money is
going to. And I truly think along with

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others that uh there actually needs to
be a forensic accounting of the county

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before anything moves forward. And I
think that's a fair assessment of

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anything. We keep getting taxed more and
more. And yet we see all those projects

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00:30:58,799 --> 00:31:07,840
going on, but we see people
up Western for instance, you closed

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00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:12,080
basically 54 businesses along 107 and
the tax base went down. Who's to account

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00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:16,399
for that? You're counting on the
citizens to pick up what the tourists

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00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:21,840
used to pick up. And that's a legitimate
question. They get a 17 foot wide grass

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00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:28,720
strip in the middle from Walmart all the
way down to the middle of town. Well, to

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00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:32,960
town and you know, u gets what two bike
lanes, but how much is it disturbed in

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00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:36,559
the county? I mean, how much has it
disturbed the tax base? You got people

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that don't even want to do business here
anymore because of how it's treated. So,

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I'm speak for myself and others. You
know, I think a school is great, but

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here's the other thing. How many
non-English-speaking students do we have

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going to these schools of illegals? And
that's that's a pertinent question.

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We're supporting people that, you know,
are here illegally and yet we're

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00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:06,320
supporting them. And
that's some of my hard question. The

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00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:11,440
other one is is y'all bought a bunch of
land that was up there just nothing but

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00:32:08,559 --> 00:32:16,880
a baldf face rock. How much more do you
anticipate that it costing when you get

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00:32:14,559 --> 00:32:22,240
on rock and start finding fissures
waters you know talking about acryers

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00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:27,440
and things like that. You know this
could go more a lot more just to

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00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:32,240
circumvent those things just like we had
with the pool. You know you have

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00:32:29,279 --> 00:32:38,240
everything but then you have nothing. I
thank you for your time and thank you.

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» Next up this evening we have Dean Woods.
Mr. Woods.

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00:32:46,332 --> 00:32:48,352
[clears throat]

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00:32:50,559 --> 00:32:59,200
I want to say hello and thank you. Uh I
won't take much time. I'm pretty direct.

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00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:04,320
Um, like he just mentioned about the the
loss of the money not accounted for. I

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00:33:02,559 --> 00:33:08,399
bet I'm just betting if your power bill
went up enough you'd know where the

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00:33:05,279 --> 00:33:11,840
honey's going. So there's a reason
there's got to be a reason why that

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00:33:09,679 --> 00:33:18,080
lights going up. You should know why.
And another thing is if uh blue get on

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00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:22,080
the back burner every year there's a
sign up in the in the front yard of the

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00:33:19,919 --> 00:33:27,679
school saying construction coming. And
now that has changed again. For years,

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00:33:24,799 --> 00:33:33,360
it's been that uh for some reason Blue
Rig's not getting the construction and

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00:33:31,279 --> 00:33:39,279
the necessities that they need. They
they don't they're not a handicap

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00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:44,799
accessibility to the soccer field.
Did y'all know that? Nobody want to walk

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00:33:42,159 --> 00:33:48,960
soccer from the street. There's not a
ramp going to the bleachers at the

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00:33:46,159 --> 00:33:53,360
soccer field. That's how bad Blue Ridge
gets treated. And I just want to say

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00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:56,960
there's no way about no guess for
another school when you can't even

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00:33:54,960 --> 00:34:00,320
support the ones you got. That's all
I've got to say about it. M

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» Woods.
Next up is Brandon Lewis. Mr. Lewis.

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00:34:09,518 --> 00:34:11,538
[clears throat]

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00:34:11,679 --> 00:34:20,240
» Good evening, Board of Commissioners.
The first time I ever heard the word

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00:34:17,599 --> 00:34:25,200
referendum in my life, it was about 31
years ago by a dear friend that was a

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00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:28,720
Gideon over in Asheville that got
annexed in by the Asheville city limits

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that used to be in Buckingham County.
When many people over that way said,

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00:34:31,359 --> 00:34:37,119
"Our tax r's great here in Buckingham
County. We're just the whole country

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00:34:34,639 --> 00:34:40,560
people still." And then when the man
died on his locker in the nursing home,

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00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:45,359
they was taxed on the poor house.
explains to me what a over 30 years ago

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00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:49,679
a bond referendum was and the people
that want it and they're more than good

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00:34:47,919 --> 00:34:58,320
to find someone to come in and vote for
that and um but u anyway I'm a resident

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00:34:55,679 --> 00:35:02,960
and a homeowner in Jackson County and
I'm opposed to the county funding the

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00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:07,920
new middle school has proposed. [snorts]
I believe that the site is unstable as

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00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:12,960
per reports and software cost estimates
have shown

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00:35:09,839 --> 00:35:17,920
and it is unwise to rush into this just
because a grant is available. If the

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00:35:15,119 --> 00:35:24,240
school is really necessary then a viable
alternative should be searched out. I

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00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:30,960
further oppose the bond referendum.
With all due respect, I voted for you

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00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:35,359
board to represent me in these matters
such as this to vote for decisions that

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00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:41,599
need to be made instead of kicking it
back to the public again. And uh you

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00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:46,640
know, people don't really have time to
that. And if uh why do we vote on

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00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:50,880
anything? Why could we not just take the
budget for the year and put that up to

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00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:54,560
the people and let us all come in here
and vote on the budget instead of a

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00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:58,960
board of commissioners? that's voted in
to be leaders, make decisions that are

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00:35:56,400 --> 00:36:02,880
hard with information they see during
your work sessions that you know the

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00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:06,720
things that are going on and know
decisions that need to be made. It's

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00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:10,640
despite popular opinion, despite what
someone may decide because there's

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00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:14,880
always going to be a difference of
opinion and there's going to be a lot of

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00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:19,040
ignorance involved at the polls, people
coming in, well, if I don't vote for

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00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:23,599
this, it won't be for the kids. I'm not
gonna stand here and argue and pull out

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00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:28,000
things like been said earlier that I can
argue that the middle school is not

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00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:31,599
good. Well, my family and my kids have
went to places where it is. So, I have

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00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:36,800
direct experience with that and I say
you can't prove on me that it does make

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00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:40,560
a big difference. And as a matter of
fact, they was the least popular school

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00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:44,720
they liked and they got kind of behind
and then swain from the elementary

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00:36:43,119 --> 00:36:50,800
school until high school and they loved
high school again.

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I remember over 15 years ago as my board
was involved in new sports and the first

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00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:59,760
thing I heard about a middle school was
that board would stink at football here

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00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:03,520
and if we can all get together
petitioning the school board to get us a

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00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:07,040
middle school, a centralized middle
school, make sports better and we're

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00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:10,560
going to win championships here. This
was going on with many of the parents,

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00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:13,680
many of the coaches. Well, I was leaving
in that because I really like football

359
00:37:12,079 --> 00:37:17,920
then and want see my boy make a bunch of
tackles telling you we can't base it

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00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:23,200
just on those kind of things. You got to
look at the hard key facts and not set

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00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:28,400
up our people for a generation or more
than one generation of a tax burden and

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00:37:26,240 --> 00:37:32,160
being in debt. You know, when I was a
child, I spoke as a child and had to

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00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:35,599
have the latest pickup and trade in for
it. And that's put me back in life

364
00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:40,160
because I was in debt for years and I'm
finally at a place where I'm a little

365
00:37:38,079 --> 00:37:43,760
bit fiscally responsible. not rich, not
a millionaire, but I make choices. I

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00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:47,280
don't go to the beach when I don't have
money to go to the beach. I don't borrow

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00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:51,200
money just because I have a coupon in my
hand. I'm not going to pop the balloon

368
00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:54,720
fortune warehouse and buy the new
biggest gun that I also have to pitch in

369
00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:59,440
$800.
Now, I don't say that's necessarily a

370
00:37:56,480 --> 00:38:03,520
bad thing, but when Swain can deal with
middle school, the new middle school the

371
00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:07,440
ground's broken for the $52 million
grant mode and not have to contribute

372
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:12,240
any herself, I think there's a chance if
we look into it. We might figure out

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00:38:09,599 --> 00:38:16,960
something like that, too. That we look a
little bit wise before.

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00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:20,480
And uh but anyway, um I thank you for
your audience and uh God bless Jackson

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00:38:19,839 --> 00:38:22,960
County.
>> Thank you.

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00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:28,956
» Thank you.
Next up, we have Garrett Craig. Craig.

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00:38:26,936 --> 00:38:28,956
[clears throat]

378
00:38:29,599 --> 00:38:35,280
» Hi, my name is Garrett Craig. I'm a
homeowner in Silva. I'm here this

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00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:39,520
evening to speak in support of putting
the proposed school bond referendum

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00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:43,760
before Jackson County voters in
November. I do have notes, but I want to

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00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:48,720
call back momentarily and just say that
no person is illegal, let alone a child.

382
00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:54,160
I also believe that property ownership
comes with great responsibility. None of

383
00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:58,720
us owns in isolation. The value of our
land depends on the roads we share, the

384
00:38:56,320 --> 00:39:03,520
emergency services we rely on, the
strength of our local economy, and the

385
00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:07,920
public institutions around us. In some,
it depends on the community that we

386
00:39:05,119 --> 00:39:13,119
choose to build together. And educating
children well is one of the most

387
00:39:10,079 --> 00:39:17,440
important things that we can choose.
accepting taxes as part of that social

388
00:39:15,359 --> 00:39:23,200
con contract
and the mechanism of a bond refendum

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00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:27,520
occasionally being necessary. Our goal
should then be to use shared resources

390
00:39:25,119 --> 00:39:32,480
wisely. That is for things that make
Jackson County a better place to live

391
00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:38,000
both now and in the future. And provided
that specific expenditures are allocated

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00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:42,720
smartly and transparently, it's
difficult to think of many wiser ways to

393
00:39:40,079 --> 00:39:47,599
spend our tax money than on schools.
Good schools, beyond their potential to

394
00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:51,599
actually increase property values,
affect whether young families feel

395
00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:55,839
welcome to put down roots. They affect
businesses confidence that they can find

396
00:39:53,520 --> 00:40:00,000
people to hire. And crucially, they can
make a life-changing statement of hope

397
00:39:57,839 --> 00:40:04,160
in coming generations.
The buildings that need our attention,

398
00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:08,880
not just the middle school, will serve
this community for decades. So, we

399
00:40:06,079 --> 00:40:15,359
cannot afford to be shortsighted.
Maybe this bond will cost a tax payer

400
00:40:11,359 --> 00:40:19,680
like myself an extra $150 next year. But
how much more will it cost us all to

401
00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:24,400
keep postponing critical needs and
handing problems down the line? We

402
00:40:22,079 --> 00:40:28,720
aren't being asked for luxuries here. We
should be able to transport our kids

403
00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:32,640
safely, feed them properly, accommodate
them physically, challenge them

404
00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:37,760
academically, and give their teachers
and staff the tools and space to do

405
00:40:34,720 --> 00:40:41,839
their jobs. These aren't extravagant
expectations for public schools. They're

406
00:40:39,839 --> 00:40:46,400
basics that a community like ours should
be able to provide. In closing, I'd like

407
00:40:44,720 --> 00:40:51,280
to see Jackson County embrace the
mentality that it takes a village, and I

408
00:40:49,359 --> 00:40:55,359
want to give our kids schools that they
can be proud of. I believe it will be

409
00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:59,200
worth the money. Thank you,
>> Mr. Craig.

410
00:40:57,280 --> 00:41:03,520
» With no one else signed up for public
comment this evening on this referendum,

411
00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:05,119
is there a motion to adjourn?
>> So move

412
00:41:04,079 --> 00:41:10,000
» and a second.
>> Second.

413
00:41:05,599 --> 00:41:15,599
» All in favor? I. None opposed.
Now call to order a regular meeting.

414
00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:19,160
Everyone will please stand up this
evening for the pledge.

415
00:41:22,240 --> 00:41:31,440
I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic

416
00:41:28,240 --> 00:41:37,880
for which it stands. One nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and

417
00:41:34,319 --> 00:41:37,880
justice for all.

418
00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:44,960
» Thank you everyone.
Welcome.

419
00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:50,960
First up this evening we have a couple
of proclamations. Uh first one we have

420
00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:54,599
is the firefighter rescue squad and
first responder week.

421
00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:01,599
Whereas firefighters, rescue squad
members and first responders provide

422
00:42:00,319 --> 00:42:04,880
valuable services through their
assistance to citizens of their

423
00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:09,440
communities in Jackson County during
times of need and crisis. And whereas

424
00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:13,920
they respond to emergencies without
hesitation when the call of duty arises

425
00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:18,319
and tirelessly give of their time and
energy and humanitarian efforts, making

426
00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:22,319
themselves available every hour of the
day, every day of the year. And whereas

427
00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:26,560
responders have physical strength,
stamina, extensive training, courage,

428
00:42:24,560 --> 00:42:31,280
and selfless concern for the welfare of
others. And whereas it is appropriate to

429
00:42:28,720 --> 00:42:36,480
recognize the duties of services uh that
firefighters, rescue squad members, and

430
00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:40,720
first responders perform by observing
September 6th through 12th as

431
00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:44,960
firefighter, rescue squad, and first
responder week in Jackson County. Now

432
00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:48,400
therefore, Jackson County Board of
Commissioners does hereby proclaim

433
00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:51,920
September 6th through 12th as
Firefighter Rescue Squad and First

434
00:42:49,839 --> 00:42:56,160
Responder Week in Jackson County and
encourages all residents to take time to

435
00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:59,520
show the volunteers how much their
service is valued in the county. Is

436
00:42:58,079 --> 00:43:01,119
there a motion for approval of this
proclamation?

437
00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:02,800
» So move.
>> Is there a second?

438
00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:07,200
» Second.
>> All those in favor?

439
00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:12,240
» None opposed. This evening we have our
fire marshal, Michael Forbes, here to

440
00:43:08,720 --> 00:43:15,240
accept this uh proclamation. Mr. Forbus.
also

441
00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:25,640
assistant chief green Wilson.
Perfect.

442
00:43:31,515 --> 00:43:33,535
[clears throat]

443
00:43:47,359 --> 00:43:51,220
Just be like Nike and just do it.
[laughter]

444
00:43:52,240 --> 00:43:57,040
» Look this way. You good job. You're
doing great. [laughter]

445
00:43:56,319 --> 00:44:01,720
Good job.
>> Thank you guys.

446
00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:01,720
» Appreciate it.

447
00:44:08,319 --> 00:44:10,319
All

448
00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:17,839
right,
next up we have

449
00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:21,440
proclamation declaring September is
Jackson County opioid awareness month.

450
00:44:19,985 --> 00:44:25,280
[clears throat] Where is the disease of
substance use disorder and overdose

451
00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:28,640
death,
excuse me, pose a threat to the life,

452
00:44:27,119 --> 00:44:33,520
health, and well-being of Jackson County
residents and family units. And whereas

453
00:44:31,760 --> 00:44:38,400
three Jackson County residents lost
their lives to fentanyl overdoses

454
00:44:35,119 --> 00:44:42,880
between January and May of 2026.
And whereas Jackson County has a higher

455
00:44:41,040 --> 00:44:47,440
rate of medication and drug overdose
deaths and opioid related deaths when

456
00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:51,680
compared to the state rate and three of
the four surrounding counties. And

457
00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:56,400
whereas the opioid epidemic has
contributed to a rise in serious and

458
00:44:53,520 --> 00:45:00,400
costly health consequences and and a
significant number and rate of

459
00:44:58,319 --> 00:45:05,440
hospitalizations associated with drug
withdrawal in newborns and a high number

460
00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:09,680
of children in foster care. And whereas
a lack of behavioral health services,

461
00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:14,240
treatment facilities, harm reduction
measures in the region leave residents

462
00:45:12,240 --> 00:45:19,520
and families without access to resources
for help. And whereas substance abuse,

463
00:45:16,960 --> 00:45:23,920
substance use disorder, and overdose
deaths cause pain, suffering, and loss

464
00:45:21,920 --> 00:45:29,760
to individuals and families and
communities across all demographics and

465
00:45:26,319 --> 00:45:33,119
regardless of socio socioeconomic status
that can never be measured. Now

466
00:45:31,520 --> 00:45:37,680
therefore, be it resolved that the board
of commissioners of Jackson County that

467
00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:42,480
September is in Jackson County is open
awareness month. Is there a motion to

468
00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:45,599
approve this proclamation?
>> And a second.

469
00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:50,880
» All in favor?
>> I. None opposed. With us this evening is

470
00:45:48,240 --> 00:45:55,079
Anna Liippard and Jody Rodall to accept
this proclamation.

471
00:46:17,680 --> 00:46:24,359
We take two
this way. One more.

472
00:46:27,599 --> 00:46:33,800
Look this way. I'll do it again for you.
>> Thank you.

473
00:46:51,280 --> 00:46:57,842
» All right,
moving on. Now, first up this evening is

474
00:46:55,280 --> 00:47:00,079
the approval of the agenda.
>> [clears throat]

475
00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:03,680
» There are no needs for any amendments.
I'll seek a motion for approval.

476
00:47:03,040 --> 00:47:06,880
So move
>> and second.

477
00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:10,560
» All in favor?
>> I opposed.

478
00:47:08,880 --> 00:47:15,520
» Moving on now to our approval of the
minutes. We have special call meeting uh

479
00:47:13,440 --> 00:47:22,000
on the 10th of August, public hearing
for uh the CDBG DR grant, public hearing

480
00:47:19,359 --> 00:47:27,680
for the data center moratorum and our
regular meeting um from August 18th. If

481
00:47:25,119 --> 00:47:30,480
there are no needs for any amendments to
those me minutes, I'll seek a motion for

482
00:47:29,599 --> 00:47:33,760
approval.
>> So moved

483
00:47:31,359 --> 00:47:37,680
» and a second.
>> All those in favor?

484
00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:43,200
» None opposed. Moving on now to
administrative reports. Uh last Thursday

485
00:47:40,079 --> 00:47:50,960
I was able to attend
the reopening of uh what is now the

486
00:47:47,119 --> 00:47:59,839
Elden Jameson uh rescue squad center up
in uh Hamburg in Glimble Cashers. It was

487
00:47:54,880 --> 00:48:05,760
a great event. A lot of uh ancillary uh
um help. uh the the auxiliary unit was

488
00:48:04,079 --> 00:48:11,200
there and served up a nice meal and it
was great to remember J uh Elden um all

489
00:48:09,200 --> 00:48:15,520
that he did in southern Jackson County
and just uh seeing his family and what

490
00:48:13,920 --> 00:48:21,839
it meant to them was well worth the
renovations. It's great and um it'll be

491
00:48:19,440 --> 00:48:26,240
representation for for Elden his family
for a long time. So do any other

492
00:48:24,880 --> 00:48:31,119
commissioners have anything to report
this evening?

493
00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:37,040
I was able to take my son get enough
time take my son down to the Koala

494
00:48:34,720 --> 00:48:43,200
Whittier Park and that looks looks real
good. Looking forward to some some

495
00:48:40,319 --> 00:48:47,599
different things coming I hope. But uh
it's looking good. I'm glad it's open

496
00:48:44,960 --> 00:48:53,280
and it's it's good for that community
because community's been left behind for

497
00:48:49,680 --> 00:48:57,760
a long time. So appreciate what parks
and red done for that. He loved it.

498
00:48:57,053 --> 00:49:02,400
» [laughter]
>> That's most

499
00:49:00,960 --> 00:49:06,480
» any other reports from commissioners
this evening.

500
00:49:04,880 --> 00:49:09,880
» I'll turn it over to County Manager King
in his report.

501
00:49:11,440 --> 00:49:20,319
» Just got a couple things this evening.
One, on the 12th of September is the

502
00:49:16,319 --> 00:49:24,640
175th birthday of Jackson County at
Whittier Heritage Ground. It'll be

503
00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:30,880
between 4 and 8:00 p.m. There are
tickets on sale to ride the train

504
00:49:26,960 --> 00:49:35,440
between Dillsboro and the event center.
Um, so those are on sale I think through

505
00:49:33,520 --> 00:49:39,520
Thursday of this week.
>> They go from Dillsboro to

506
00:49:37,040 --> 00:49:45,040
» Oh, next week, I'm sorry. Excuse me.
>> Dillsboro to

507
00:49:40,960 --> 00:49:48,960
» from Dillsboro to the Heritage. Yes.
So

508
00:49:46,720 --> 00:49:52,720
uh the second thing is I was in um I
want to bring you a little bit on the

509
00:49:50,319 --> 00:49:57,200
cashers water and sewer discussion. So I
have um been up there a few times

510
00:49:55,200 --> 00:50:02,800
talking to different stakeholders in the
community. Uh we are engaged with the

511
00:50:00,400 --> 00:50:06,559
public utility uh there and all the
different partners that's kind of come

512
00:50:04,240 --> 00:50:12,400
out of the come out of the woodwork. So,
we are in a really good discussions uh

513
00:50:09,040 --> 00:50:16,960
on the the 28th this month of the take
up there and we're going to have some

514
00:50:14,000 --> 00:50:21,040
some more uh discussions with those
folks and try to figure out a good

515
00:50:18,720 --> 00:50:25,760
method to move forward both in the water
and the sewer arena for the future. So,

516
00:50:24,160 --> 00:50:29,319
just want to let you know about the
y'all I've got today.

517
00:50:31,280 --> 00:50:34,280
Moving

518
00:50:34,650 --> 00:50:36,670
[clears throat]

519
00:50:38,640 --> 00:50:46,240
on to uh
public comments. Quick reminder about

520
00:50:44,160 --> 00:50:51,359
our threeminut rule and we're here to
listen and um not answer questions. With

521
00:50:49,280 --> 00:50:55,400
that, open [clears throat] it up with
Brandon Lewis. Mr. Lewis.

522
00:51:03,359 --> 00:51:10,079
Once again, good evening, Jackson County
Board of Commissioners. My name is

523
00:51:07,040 --> 00:51:13,520
Brandon Lewis. I'm a resident homeowner
in the Little Savannah community of

524
00:51:11,599 --> 00:51:20,240
Jackson County.
Let me pose a question. In an engine,

525
00:51:16,880 --> 00:51:26,559
what is more important? The oil the oil
pump, oil filter, or the oil plug?

526
00:51:24,559 --> 00:51:31,599
If the county government goes down the
slippery slope of giving payroses to

527
00:51:28,800 --> 00:51:35,760
only one department, it would create an
environment of jealousy of

528
00:51:33,839 --> 00:51:38,720
discontentment that could exacerbate
current hiring and workforce

529
00:51:37,119 --> 00:51:44,160
difficulties.
How could you weigh the impact of such

530
00:51:40,640 --> 00:51:49,599
actions? How can the cost be measured?
You could have a salary study conducted

531
00:51:46,319 --> 00:51:54,640
given an impartial report based on facts
and real world figures that could guide

532
00:51:52,240 --> 00:52:00,800
your decisions and calm the human
emotions of the people with transparency

533
00:51:57,680 --> 00:52:05,760
and equity. Make no mistake, just
because you may have not heard from

534
00:52:03,200 --> 00:52:10,400
every department, many employees of
other Jackson County departments are

535
00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:16,640
feeling the burdens of the inflationary
cost of living and the draw of higher

536
00:52:13,599 --> 00:52:21,440
paying jobs. Elsewhere, as Sheriff
Farmer has stated, the lower you go down

537
00:52:19,359 --> 00:52:26,559
the pay scale, the greater the hardship
than employee to make a living and the

538
00:52:24,960 --> 00:52:31,440
more difficult it is to fill those
positions. There are also skilled trade

539
00:52:29,520 --> 00:52:35,200
workers employed by Jackson County that
were not compensated for their

540
00:52:32,960 --> 00:52:40,240
experience. They had to start at the
bottom of the pay scale while stepping

541
00:52:38,079 --> 00:52:44,000
um the state of North Carolina and the
private sector credits employees for

542
00:52:42,079 --> 00:52:48,480
their experience.
A low starting pay with small step

543
00:52:46,319 --> 00:52:53,119
increases leads to a feeling of being no
better off after years of service. These

544
00:52:51,119 --> 00:52:59,920
skilled laborers with many years of
experience, expertise, education,

545
00:52:57,280 --> 00:53:04,646
certifications, and licenses have saved
Jackson County taxpayers thousands of

546
00:53:02,240 --> 00:53:09,440
dollars.
[clears throat]

547
00:53:05,520 --> 00:53:14,960
Um, other employers are hiring, paying
higher wages with competitive benefits,

548
00:53:12,160 --> 00:53:19,599
and good health is hard to find. Uh,
there are also teachers in the same

549
00:53:16,960 --> 00:53:24,880
boat. They can find positions in nearby
school systems with higher pay due to

550
00:53:21,839 --> 00:53:28,640
higher state and county supplements. In
my opinion, teachers are more important

551
00:53:27,040 --> 00:53:34,079
than new school buildings or ball
fields. Jesus taught multitudes on a

552
00:53:31,440 --> 00:53:37,839
mountain side. Most county employees
were counting on a salary study that

553
00:53:35,839 --> 00:53:42,240
would lead to increased pay to help with
low starting wages and inflation and to

554
00:53:40,880 --> 00:53:46,880
give a little hope of attaining
retirement a little while before death.

555
00:53:44,960 --> 00:53:52,000
There is much discouragement with many
right now and a lot of job shopping is

556
00:53:49,680 --> 00:53:56,240
going on. If the county loses any of our
highly qualified and experienced

557
00:53:53,520 --> 00:54:02,079
employees, it will be very difficult to
replace them. Retention is key. It is

558
00:53:59,440 --> 00:54:07,280
very difficult in today's job market to
get any applicants, much less highly

559
00:54:04,640 --> 00:54:12,800
qualified ones to fill positions.
Without employees uh to maintain and

560
00:54:10,319 --> 00:54:17,920
care for what you have, county
properties will become dilapidated. And

561
00:54:15,520 --> 00:54:21,240
how will that have the budget looking in
a few years?

562
00:54:23,280 --> 00:54:30,480
This brings me back to the question that
I posed. My answer is that we need them

563
00:54:27,760 --> 00:54:36,400
all. The oil, the oil pump, the oil
filter, and the oil plug

564
00:54:33,119 --> 00:54:40,960
for this engine to run and to last. We
need all of our productive employees to

565
00:54:38,559 --> 00:54:47,599
keep this counted going. And we need
equity and fairness for all their pay.

566
00:54:44,079 --> 00:54:53,599
The Bible tells us in Daniel 2:21, "He
removeth kings and setth up kings. He

567
00:54:51,040 --> 00:54:59,200
giveth wisdom unto the wise, and
knowledge unto them that knowing."

568
00:54:56,480 --> 00:55:05,760
May God give you wisdom, understanding,
and knowledge. We, the people of Jackson

569
00:55:02,000 --> 00:55:12,240
County, chose you to represent us. Be
wise leaders. Thank you for your

570
00:55:08,480 --> 00:55:18,359
audience. God bless Jackson County.
>> Lewis. Next up this evening, we have

571
00:55:14,800 --> 00:55:18,359
Cornelia Waldram.

572
00:55:26,960 --> 00:55:34,880
Hi, good evening you guys. Um,
I am

573
00:55:32,160 --> 00:55:42,160
Koya Waldron. I live in Silva up on
Ridgeway right up by the library. Um and

574
00:55:39,599 --> 00:55:47,599
um you guys are
dealing with a lot of weighty issues. Um

575
00:55:45,760 --> 00:55:56,240
and I'm not here to talk about any of
them. Um yeah. So but I am coming

576
00:55:53,520 --> 00:56:02,880
as I always try to remind you that I
come as your neighbor.

577
00:55:58,559 --> 00:56:07,680
We are each neighbors. We are all part
of this community. I do want to very

578
00:56:05,599 --> 00:56:13,520
quickly, not a public comment, but speak
Todd to the um how many folks I work

579
00:56:11,359 --> 00:56:17,680
with out in Woodier and on the boundary
that are so excited to finally have that

580
00:56:15,280 --> 00:56:24,400
park open. So, I want to say that
completely aside, but anyway, yes, as a

581
00:56:21,040 --> 00:56:30,799
neighbor, um, and as I was mentioning
over the past few years,

582
00:56:27,119 --> 00:56:36,079
you guys have really been, uh, sometimes
creating at least navigating whole

583
00:56:33,839 --> 00:56:43,200
series of messes that have really kind
of heaped up in a big pile. Um, and as a

584
00:56:40,400 --> 00:56:46,079
somewhat sympathetic neighbor, um, I
haven't [clears throat] wanted to

585
00:56:43,920 --> 00:56:52,640
continue to nag you about my own
particular concern. Um, that is that is

586
00:56:49,119 --> 00:56:58,880
affecting me as your direct neighbor.
Um, but maybe this would be an easy win

587
00:56:56,480 --> 00:57:05,200
and not as heavy as all this other
stuff. Um,

588
00:57:01,359 --> 00:57:10,559
I would really strongly I am strongly
requesting once again that you please

589
00:57:07,920 --> 00:57:15,280
address the condition of your property
that sits between Kener Street and

590
00:57:12,720 --> 00:57:20,720
Ridgeway Street.
It is marginally safer than it was when

591
00:57:18,960 --> 00:57:29,280
I first started bringing this situation
up, but it continues to impact the

592
00:57:24,480 --> 00:57:35,599
adjoining properties. It is a mess.
There is a large stand of bamboo that is

593
00:57:32,240 --> 00:57:44,160
rapidly spreading now well beyond your
property line into adjoining properties

594
00:57:39,200 --> 00:57:49,760
and the bamboo and the cudoo are
all over the utility lines. I have sent

595
00:57:47,119 --> 00:57:54,079
you guys pictures of this and I've not
heard back from anyone, but this

596
00:57:52,640 --> 00:58:00,319
continues to be a problem and it's just
getting worse every year. So, um,

597
00:57:58,720 --> 00:58:05,200
I would really like it to be addressed
and may I respectfully suggest that this

598
00:58:03,119 --> 00:58:09,280
winter would be a fabulous time to do
it. Once the leaves are all down, the

599
00:58:07,119 --> 00:58:14,079
kudzu's died back, everything's gone
dormant, it's great time to take care of

600
00:58:11,440 --> 00:58:20,160
this problem, and I would love to see
that happen. Thank you.

601
00:58:15,839 --> 00:58:24,559
» Thank you, Miss K. I'm sorry.
>> All right. If no one else signed up for

602
00:58:21,920 --> 00:58:30,319
public comment, we did receive one. Uh,
Miss Laura Watley, we did get your

603
00:58:26,559 --> 00:58:34,799
public comment via email.
Moving on now,

604
00:58:32,319 --> 00:58:38,760
first up this evening is Miss Fox in the
sheriff's office budget amendment.

605
00:58:42,880 --> 00:58:53,359
Good afternoon.
I've heard several budget amendments and

606
00:58:49,440 --> 00:59:01,079
I presented you options on the salary
discussions. Now I just need some

607
00:58:55,359 --> 00:59:01,079
guidance on which what you can do.

608
00:59:02,480 --> 00:59:09,119
» I I do feel like we need to table this.
I

609
00:59:06,960 --> 00:59:16,400
you know
no matter what the increase it's going

610
00:59:11,680 --> 00:59:20,960
to be felt negatively in other
departments and I I I do feel like the

611
00:59:18,640 --> 00:59:28,000
salary study is the better option for
for right now. Um just so that we're

612
00:59:25,599 --> 00:59:32,160
what should I say equitable across all
departments. It it's it's not that I

613
00:59:30,400 --> 00:59:41,440
don't feel that the the sheriff's office
is under crunch.

614
00:59:35,920 --> 00:59:45,520
Everybody is. Um and so with that, I I'm
I'm going to I'm going to support that.

615
00:59:43,839 --> 00:59:50,480
I've heard a lot from a lot of different
people and it's really not fair to give

616
00:59:49,040 --> 00:59:55,920
one, you know, to carve out one
department and give them a raise and

617
00:59:52,720 --> 01:00:00,720
ignore everybody else. U they're all
hurting.

618
00:59:57,520 --> 01:00:05,599
So I think I I would support a salary
study and and go from there.

619
01:00:03,760 --> 01:00:10,799
» Reference, what does a salary study cost
in time frame in which it can be?

620
01:00:08,559 --> 01:00:14,559
» It probably would be between 30 and
$50,000

621
01:00:12,559 --> 01:00:19,920
» and it would take several months to
>> I think that's a good investment to

622
01:00:17,520 --> 01:00:25,040
» Okay, so that's several more months that
we're going to go without the proper

623
01:00:22,079 --> 01:00:30,880
police staffing. I'm for looking at it
across the board. Why can't we give the

624
01:00:27,599 --> 01:00:37,040
police what they need to keep us safe
and work our communities and our streets

625
01:00:34,559 --> 01:00:40,559
and then we can tighten our belt on the
budget for next year. But look at the

626
01:00:39,040 --> 01:00:43,359
study as well and see what we're going
to do about increasing and see where we

627
01:00:42,240 --> 01:00:47,280
can cut.
>> Looked at the turnover rate. Both DSS

628
01:00:45,839 --> 01:00:50,960
and the health department has a higher
turnover rate than the share.

629
01:00:49,040 --> 01:00:55,359
» But who protects the community? I know
DSS does the kids. I'm not saying that.

630
01:00:53,839 --> 01:00:59,839
health department. Yeah. Protect the
health of the community.

631
01:00:56,400 --> 01:01:04,240
» I deserve I agree. But I think we need
to go on and give the in my opinion

632
01:01:02,480 --> 01:01:08,960
because who do you call first? The
police. I think we need to give them

633
01:01:07,119 --> 01:01:12,880
what we're going to give them and then
look at the study and take care of the

634
01:01:11,040 --> 01:01:19,040
rest of them.
>> I think that you call us dispatch.

635
01:01:17,200 --> 01:01:23,000
Dispatch has had a higher turnover rate
than all three of those departments.

636
01:01:25,920 --> 01:01:32,079
And I'm not saying that everyone is not
deserving of this.

637
01:01:30,559 --> 01:01:37,760
» But you're also saying let's cut the
budget next year. If we give a raise to

638
01:01:35,599 --> 01:01:39,280
a department, where's that money coming
from?

639
01:01:37,920 --> 01:01:42,880
» There's plenty of ways to cut the
budget. There's plenty of places in

640
01:01:41,359 --> 01:01:45,880
there to cut it. There's a lot of
overspending.

641
01:01:47,997 --> 01:01:50,017
[clears throat]

642
01:01:50,799 --> 01:01:57,680
address that during the next budget.
>> Well, yeah, if you don't wait and bring

643
01:01:55,200 --> 01:02:01,440
the budget in week or two before it's
ready to be passed.

644
01:01:59,839 --> 01:02:07,760
» When do we start budget?
>> We we start in January.

645
01:02:04,160 --> 01:02:12,079
» The actual approved budget till it's at
least a month before we do it, if it's

646
01:02:10,000 --> 01:02:15,760
even that.
>> I was at a budget meeting in February.

647
01:02:14,400 --> 01:02:20,319
» February is when we have
>> approved budget yet. No, but we kept

648
01:02:18,160 --> 01:02:24,480
directives in where we're wanting to
>> budget in in February. We're just then

649
01:02:22,559 --> 01:02:29,119
getting all the information from the
different departments.

650
01:02:25,520 --> 01:02:32,880
» Well, and the required budget is
>> we do the approved budget. You mean the

651
01:02:31,359 --> 01:02:37,760
recommended budget?
>> Yeah. Whatever. [clears throat]

652
01:02:36,000 --> 01:02:43,760
» The state law requires and it's
presented to the board by June 1st.

653
01:02:41,520 --> 01:02:46,559
» Well, it has to be voted on before July
1st. So, that's

654
01:02:44,720 --> 01:02:52,480
» correct.
But the board sets the priorities in

655
01:02:48,559 --> 01:02:56,480
February at the retreat for the budget.
>> And I've talked to several departments.

656
01:02:54,240 --> 01:03:02,160
I've talked to emergency management
prior to the

657
01:02:59,119 --> 01:03:07,359
this year's budget. And
I have to say I'm sorry to you guys, but

658
01:03:04,400 --> 01:03:12,079
we were trying to cut and he come to me
and asked if we could, you know, get get

659
01:03:09,839 --> 01:03:19,520
some more money for them, but we were,
you know, tight. we've trying to cut and

660
01:03:15,680 --> 01:03:23,599
you know all departments deserve a raise
because

661
01:03:21,839 --> 01:03:29,039
it's it's sad what some of these folks
are making

662
01:03:25,359 --> 01:03:32,400
but and again I agree with you sheriff's
office

663
01:03:30,559 --> 01:03:36,559
they provide safety and everything for
the community

664
01:03:34,079 --> 01:03:41,920
um but our other departments are just as
important

665
01:03:38,079 --> 01:03:49,280
um as far as retaining staff
>> raises has to come from somewhere

666
01:03:45,520 --> 01:03:55,200
and county employees are not going to be
part. So taxpayers will have to be

667
01:03:52,480 --> 01:04:01,000
paying more for anything
and they're already earned to begin

668
01:03:57,680 --> 01:04:01,000
with. So

669
01:04:01,760 --> 01:04:07,760
I'm all for everybody get as much as
they can get. I mean but it's got to

670
01:04:05,680 --> 01:04:10,960
come from somewhere.
But the most important thing in our

671
01:04:09,599 --> 01:04:16,319
county in my opinion is [snorts] our
sheriff department because

672
01:04:13,280 --> 01:04:20,799
without them what chaos you have. I know
everybody's important. I'm not saying

673
01:04:18,000 --> 01:04:26,480
that nobody's less important but I am
saying

674
01:04:23,520 --> 01:04:31,839
uh I think there's enough money in that
budget that we could give some raises. I

675
01:04:29,680 --> 01:04:37,599
I I think there was enough found last
year that could have been taken out and

676
01:04:35,200 --> 01:04:40,920
spent more appropriately.
I agree.

677
01:04:42,000 --> 01:04:51,960
» Want a table? That's fine. But my vote
sheriff department if nobody else if

678
01:04:47,280 --> 01:04:51,960
nobody else gets my

679
01:04:56,240 --> 01:05:05,039
» there a motion.
>> I think we need to table. Um

680
01:05:02,480 --> 01:05:08,960
how long does it would it take to get a
study?

681
01:05:05,839 --> 01:05:14,319
» Months. It would take several months
>> because we'd have to interview.

682
01:05:10,559 --> 01:05:19,440
» And what's the what's the um just so
everybody knows and

683
01:05:17,600 --> 01:05:23,680
[clears throat] what's the increase that
the sheriff's office asking for?

684
01:05:21,280 --> 01:05:29,920
» They ask for $10,000 per employee.
>> What total? What does the total come to?

685
01:05:28,400 --> 01:05:34,000
» Depends on how you give it. If you put
it on step one of the grade, it'd be

686
01:05:31,760 --> 01:05:39,839
$866,000.
If you gave it to them developing a new

687
01:05:36,640 --> 01:05:45,960
grade table and just straight 10,000 in
each step increase, it'd be $662,000.

688
01:05:46,799 --> 01:05:53,359
» If every other department in the county
came to us and said we want the same,

689
01:05:51,119 --> 01:05:58,160
what would that cost us? Well, I
calculated it. That's $4.5 million. We

690
01:05:56,720 --> 01:06:01,839
don't have that. We don't have that in
the budget buried anywhere. And that's

691
01:06:00,319 --> 01:06:08,079
what they're going to come and ask for.
I [snorts] uh Kathleen and HR send me

692
01:06:05,520 --> 01:06:14,640
those numbers and I put them in the
spreadsheet and that's what it worked

693
01:06:09,440 --> 01:06:18,480
out to. So I I don't see singling out
one department and saying, "Yeah, you

694
01:06:15,920 --> 01:06:21,520
can have 10,000 and everybody else you
don't get anything until we do a salary

695
01:06:20,079 --> 01:06:26,799
study." If we're going to do it, then we
need to do it across the board and do it

696
01:06:23,680 --> 01:06:31,760
the proper way. The last salary ster
survey was done in 2022

697
01:06:29,599 --> 01:06:34,920
and it was $3 and a half billion dollars
to implement

698
01:06:35,119 --> 01:06:39,839
» and it's it's probably going to be close
to that or more

699
01:06:38,000 --> 01:06:44,319
» or more now.
>> So, and like Michael said, that money's

700
01:06:42,480 --> 01:06:48,160
got to come from somewhere and we just
can't pull it out of thin air. So, it'll

701
01:06:45,839 --> 01:06:52,039
have to be factored into the next budget
cycle. So,

702
01:06:56,720 --> 01:07:03,039
Is there a second on tableling?
I'll second.

703
01:07:00,559 --> 01:07:07,160
» Are there any other
um motions?

704
01:07:08,640 --> 01:07:14,000
All those in favor of tableabling and
and working towards a salary study say

705
01:07:13,200 --> 01:07:16,240
I.
>> I. I.

706
01:07:15,200 --> 01:07:21,839
» No.
>> All those against.

707
01:07:18,319 --> 01:07:25,599
» Yes or no? Whatever I just say. I I do
have another budget amendment for the

708
01:07:23,760 --> 01:07:31,359
sheriff's office. The state of North
Carolina is giving a bonus to the sworn

709
01:07:28,160 --> 01:07:37,920
officers, $1,750,
and they're they're covering the five

710
01:07:34,799 --> 01:07:41,319
Medicare on that also. So that amendment
is 92,30988

711
01:07:42,400 --> 01:07:48,880
and it would be all state funded.
>> Okay. All state funded.

712
01:07:46,880 --> 01:07:53,599
» Yes. Is there a motion for approval of
the budget amendment as presented?

713
01:07:52,240 --> 01:07:56,160
So move.
>> All in favor? I

714
01:07:55,520 --> 01:07:58,319
» I.
>> None opposed.

715
01:07:57,760 --> 01:08:02,640
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

716
01:08:00,000 --> 01:08:06,920
» Moving on now to uh fireworks display
requests and Mr. Elders.

717
01:08:11,440 --> 01:08:17,440
» Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, I'll
come before you to uh get fireworks

718
01:08:15,680 --> 01:08:22,319
approvals. I'd be more than happy if you
set that threeminute clock if you want

719
01:08:18,960 --> 01:08:26,239
to. I'll be quick. Uh we have two before
you. Uh the first one, Saturday,

720
01:08:24,239 --> 01:08:30,159
September 12th for the Jackson County
anniversary celebration. It'll be down

721
01:08:28,560 --> 01:08:35,040
at the Elder Event Center or your
Heritage Grounds. Familiar with it down

722
01:08:32,560 --> 01:08:40,080
there. It'll be a smaller lower caliber
show down toward the treatment plant

723
01:08:38,080 --> 01:08:45,120
between there kind of along the river.
Uh it's the same company that did the

724
01:08:41,600 --> 01:08:48,480
county fireworks here at 4th of July.
That's September 12th. They have another

725
01:08:46,640 --> 01:08:53,279
one to be approve Saturday, October 3rd
up at Castle Lady Hawk in Tuki. It's a

726
01:08:50,960 --> 01:08:58,400
private wedding. It's a pretty large
show. They've had them up there before.

727
01:08:55,600 --> 01:09:02,159
Fortunately, that excuse me, this
property has a pretty big track of land

728
01:09:00,319 --> 01:09:05,440
and there's not really any neighbor
complaints on it. We've had those

729
01:09:03,759 --> 01:09:08,880
before, but for private events, if
you've been up there, it's on the side

730
01:09:06,799 --> 01:09:12,719
of the hill before. So, those are the
two. And again, it's the same company

731
01:09:10,159 --> 01:09:16,799
that did the counties. Uh we will be
making an additional site visit to the

732
01:09:14,719 --> 01:09:19,520
castle lady hawk because there's a a
change in where they're shooting from.

733
01:09:18,319 --> 01:09:22,960
But other than that, everything's ready
to go for both of them.

734
01:09:21,440 --> 01:09:25,199
» Is there a motion to approve both
fireworks?

735
01:09:24,080 --> 01:09:28,319
» So moved.
>> Second.

736
01:09:26,400 --> 01:09:31,359
» All in favor?
>> Thank you, Mr.

737
01:09:29,839 --> 01:09:40,120
» Thank you, John.
>> On now to the CDBG DR grant application

738
01:09:35,040 --> 01:09:40,120
and Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Poston.

739
01:09:47,440 --> 01:09:54,159
afternoon.
Um we're just here just to pres talk to

740
01:09:52,239 --> 01:10:00,159
you a little bit about what we are
asking for within this uh with this

741
01:09:56,719 --> 01:10:04,080
grant process. Um it's the parks and
recreation and planning staff with

742
01:10:01,440 --> 01:10:07,120
assistance with southwestern uh
commission have prepared a grant

743
01:10:05,840 --> 01:10:10,640
application for the community
development block grant for disaster

744
01:10:08,880 --> 01:10:14,880
relief funding available to local
governments uh located within the

745
01:10:12,800 --> 01:10:18,640
hurricane hurricane HUD or state
identified mid counties. Uh their grant

746
01:10:17,280 --> 01:10:21,360
request is for funding for the
construction or the help for the

747
01:10:19,920 --> 01:10:26,000
construction of the 1.6 six mile
expansion of the greenway as well as

748
01:10:23,360 --> 01:10:29,120
stabilization efforts on portions of
existing greenway damaged in the

749
01:10:27,440 --> 01:10:33,760
flooding associated with tropical storm
Helen. The new portion of the greenway

750
01:10:31,280 --> 01:10:38,320
will incorporate mitigation measures and
a design to limit the potential for

751
01:10:35,440 --> 01:10:42,080
storm related damage in the future. Um
Equinox Environmental has completed a

752
01:10:40,400 --> 01:10:46,000
preliminary cost estimate for the
project at just over $2.4 million. The

753
01:10:44,880 --> 01:10:49,920
estimate does include the
following.420,000

754
01:10:47,760 --> 01:10:54,920
design, engineering, hydraulic modeling,
and permitting.

755
01:10:51,920 --> 01:10:54,920
1,258,286

756
01:10:55,120 --> 01:11:05,040
in greenway construction,
$375,855

757
01:11:00,320 --> 01:11:09,679
in construction contingency and $410,881
in conceptual design level estimating

758
01:11:07,280 --> 01:11:15,760
contingency. The county is requesting
1.25 25 million from the CDBGDR

759
01:11:13,199 --> 01:11:20,480
grant. The grant does not have a match
required. In addition, the county staff

760
01:11:17,679 --> 01:11:24,080
has also applied for half a million
dollars from the parks and recreation

761
01:11:21,920 --> 01:11:30,239
trust fund for the project. So, the
remaining balance would be $715,286,

762
01:11:28,960 --> 01:11:34,320
which would come from the county's
already approved greenway construction

763
01:11:32,000 --> 01:11:39,760
fund. So staff at the board of
commissioners approve staff's request to

764
01:11:36,960 --> 01:11:43,360
apply for the CDBGDR grant funds and
appoint the county manager to sign and

765
01:11:41,679 --> 01:11:49,199
execute documents on behalf of the
county for the application and all other

766
01:11:45,600 --> 01:11:52,480
required documents if awarded the grant.
Questions from the board?

767
01:11:52,080 --> 01:11:56,719
Not
>> is there a motion move?

768
01:11:54,880 --> 01:12:02,960
» Second.
>> All those in favor I none

769
01:11:59,440 --> 01:12:09,760
» oppose. Thank you. Thank you Mr.
Moving on now to um

770
01:12:06,159 --> 01:12:15,000
5311 5310 and operating combined capital
transportation grants resolution R26-4

771
01:12:15,360 --> 01:12:20,790
and Miss Moore.
[clears throat]

772
01:12:22,480 --> 01:12:25,480
» Yeah,

773
01:12:26,320 --> 01:12:34,400
» we're good. Any questions for the board?
If not, is there a motion for these uh

774
01:12:31,840 --> 01:12:38,960
grants?
>> And a second.

775
01:12:36,800 --> 01:12:43,679
» All in favor?
>> None opposed. Moving on now to our

776
01:12:41,679 --> 01:12:49,719
wittier Heritage Grounds fee schedule
and Miss Henry, economic development.

777
01:12:46,480 --> 01:12:49,719
» Good afternoon.

778
01:12:51,199 --> 01:12:59,040
So, as you all know, um the Charles
Elders Event Center is now complete and

779
01:12:56,719 --> 01:13:02,320
we have had the opportunity to host
several events in the facility already,

780
01:13:01,040 --> 01:13:08,080
including the Great Smoky Mountain
Railroad and the NRA. Um as we move

781
01:13:05,120 --> 01:13:13,040
forward, um those initial events and
those initial uses, um it's time now to

782
01:13:10,880 --> 01:13:16,719
really look at making the event center
available for broader collective rental.

783
01:13:14,880 --> 01:13:23,440
And so what we need to do is we need to
set a consistent fee structure and some

784
01:13:19,360 --> 01:13:27,880
put some rules in place. So tonight
I am going to find the mouse.

785
01:13:29,520 --> 01:13:34,320
Oh, I don't have them up here. Well, you
have them in front of you. The fee

786
01:13:32,960 --> 01:13:39,920
schedule. I'm sorry. I thought they were
up here. Um the fee schedule and the

787
01:13:37,440 --> 01:13:44,719
rules and regulations um for the
Whittier Heritage Grounds. So, for the

788
01:13:41,760 --> 01:13:49,679
Charles, our Elders Event Center, we're
proposing a regular pay rate of $1,500.

789
01:13:49,360 --> 01:13:53,719
And
>> we don't have those in front of us.

790
01:13:59,440 --> 01:14:05,280
» Tada. [laughter]
Here we are.

791
01:14:02,320 --> 01:14:11,120
» Okay. So,
it's like magic show. [laughter]

792
01:14:08,880 --> 01:14:17,040
Um so what one of the things that we did
is we looked at neighboring counties and

793
01:14:14,719 --> 01:14:21,679
regional um event centers that were
comparable to what we have there or what

794
01:14:19,040 --> 01:14:25,600
we will have with the future arena. And
so we used what they were doing. We

795
01:14:23,600 --> 01:14:31,120
talked all of them and that's kind of
where these rates came from. So

796
01:14:28,320 --> 01:14:35,199
specifically um the Charles R. Elder
Event Center.

797
01:14:33,199 --> 01:14:40,320
We are proposing that we set the regular
daily rate at $1,500 a day and the

798
01:14:37,840 --> 01:14:47,040
nonprofit daily rate $1,300 and an
hourly rate with a minimum of four hours

799
01:14:43,840 --> 01:14:53,280
at $200. Um, I think it's important to
note that these include access to the

800
01:14:51,600 --> 01:14:59,520
county own tables and chairs with no
additional charges. Um, and then we have

801
01:14:57,679 --> 01:15:04,080
other
specific things as far as like what is

802
01:15:02,400 --> 01:15:08,159
expected of the people that use the
facility as far as taking out their

803
01:15:06,239 --> 01:15:15,600
trash and cleaning up after themselves
and that rules and regulations. But

804
01:15:10,400 --> 01:15:20,560
we've got the I went ahead and put both
the Charles R. Elders event center and

805
01:15:18,400 --> 01:15:25,360
the arena
space in here because we know that is

806
01:15:23,199 --> 01:15:29,520
forthcoming. And then if they wanted to
rent both the whole sort of whole

807
01:15:27,840 --> 01:15:35,440
property, if you will, and what that
rate would look like. And so the arena

808
01:15:33,360 --> 01:15:44,320
would be $1,000 a day, an $1,800
nonprofit rate. And if they combine the

809
01:15:38,880 --> 01:15:48,800
two, again, 2,300 per day or 1,900. We
have

810
01:15:45,840 --> 01:15:54,320
specific hours, 8 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
That is what's sort of considered a

811
01:15:50,719 --> 01:15:57,120
rental day for an event period. that
would need to include the setup,

812
01:15:55,520 --> 01:16:01,199
decorating, event activities, clean up
and tear down. So, they'd have to do it

813
01:15:59,120 --> 01:16:06,159
within that time frame. Outside of that,
then they would be expected to pay an

814
01:16:04,000 --> 01:16:11,679
hourly rate for some of setup or take
down if they were beyond those hours.

815
01:16:09,199 --> 01:16:19,120
Um, and then of course we talk about
hourly renewals. And I um can go through

816
01:16:16,640 --> 01:16:25,440
again. I think it's important to remind
everybody this is a 24,000 square foot

817
01:16:21,679 --> 01:16:29,600
facility with a um current maximum
occupancy of a thousand people. Um so we

818
01:16:28,239 --> 01:16:34,640
felt these rates were reasonable
starting point and

819
01:16:33,199 --> 01:16:39,920
um let's see.
>> I'm just curious like on the arena when

820
01:16:37,840 --> 01:16:43,360
if it's 4, I mean they're obviously
nonprofit. Is it still going to cost

821
01:16:41,920 --> 01:16:47,600
that amount of money for them to have
like lamb shows or cow shows or whatever

822
01:16:46,239 --> 01:16:51,760
they're going to have in there?
>> So, obviously we've got I'm just going

823
01:16:50,000 --> 01:16:56,480
to kind of skim through here and get to
that, but additional fees if they need

824
01:16:54,239 --> 01:17:01,199
additional rental time or unauthorized
overtime that they use the facility.

825
01:16:58,080 --> 01:17:05,199
Excessive um cleaning, that's actual
cost of what it would cost us to clean

826
01:17:02,640 --> 01:17:10,880
up after an event. Um and then the any
damage actual cost, obviously loss of

827
01:17:07,520 --> 01:17:14,480
keys. Here's the nonprofit eligibility.
Um I'm skipping down here

828
01:17:12,213 --> 01:17:20,400
[clears throat] because um
we obviously have the availility here

829
01:17:18,159 --> 01:17:25,679
rental um fees may be waved event
sponsored by Jackson County or partner

830
01:17:23,199 --> 01:17:31,840
on an event. So I would imagine
specifically to your question we would

831
01:17:28,400 --> 01:17:38,800
be a part of that in some degree.
Um we also for nonprofits for example

832
01:17:35,679 --> 01:17:43,199
organizations requesting um
this eligibility would need to provide

833
01:17:41,199 --> 01:17:50,760
suffici sufficient documentation showing
that they are truly taxexempt um to

834
01:17:46,960 --> 01:17:50,760
qualify for that rate.

835
01:17:54,640 --> 01:18:02,159
» So you looked at other counties and to
come up with the price

836
01:17:58,560 --> 01:18:09,040
» I did what Haywood County's
enclosing event center is smaller than

837
01:18:05,520 --> 01:18:12,640
ours. It's probably 15,000 or something
like that, I guess.

838
01:18:10,480 --> 01:18:19,600
» So, they have
I'm not sure.

839
01:18:14,960 --> 01:18:25,120
Their arena is $1,500 a day um for
non-aggriculture events, thousand for

840
01:18:21,760 --> 01:18:31,520
nonprofit events. They have pretty
complex schedule or fee schedule.

841
01:18:28,000 --> 01:18:37,199
They're Apple Orchard Event Center, it's
$800 per day, 700 for nonprofits. the

842
01:18:34,960 --> 01:18:40,440
Dogwood Event Center, 700 per day, 600
for nonprofits.

843
01:18:40,560 --> 01:18:47,440
» But now, Haywood also has stalls.
>> But I was just talking about

844
01:18:45,360 --> 01:18:50,320
» Yeah, but that's probably included in
like the

845
01:18:48,560 --> 01:18:52,159
» I was just thinking about the enclosed
event center.

846
01:18:51,280 --> 01:19:00,199
» I'm not sure [clears throat] which
specific room that is. They also charge

847
01:18:54,880 --> 01:19:00,199
stalls um that they rent.

848
01:19:00,880 --> 01:19:06,239
Did you say this is the rental fee for
both buildings when they get built or is

849
01:19:04,800 --> 01:19:10,080
this just for Charles Elders?
>> There's two different breakdowns. So, if

850
01:19:07,840 --> 01:19:13,920
they only wanted to rent the Charles R.
Elders Event Center, that would be the

851
01:19:11,679 --> 01:19:17,760
rate for this if they just wanted to do
the arena once that's built. Or if they

852
01:19:16,000 --> 01:19:20,760
wanted to do both.
>> Yeah,

853
01:19:24,525 --> 01:19:31,120
[clears throat] both.
>> Not too bad for the whole thing. Yeah, I

854
01:19:27,760 --> 01:19:34,960
think we're pretty reasonable.
>> I think it's important like we're trying

855
01:19:32,560 --> 01:19:39,199
to, you know, protect the facility um
set clear expectations on this, keep

856
01:19:37,120 --> 01:19:44,000
enough flexibility um for different
types of events and not really pigeon

857
01:19:41,040 --> 01:19:47,120
hole ourselves into that. Um I also
>> who's approving events is that going

858
01:19:45,679 --> 01:19:50,120
through the county manager?
>> Yeah.

859
01:19:51,840 --> 01:19:59,120
» And these are the rules and regulations
that we have. And so again, we put in

860
01:19:56,159 --> 01:20:04,239
here the max occupancy for the event
center. There's

861
01:20:01,840 --> 01:20:07,920
a lot of different stuff in here. Um
felt like it was appropriate to put that

862
01:20:05,760 --> 01:20:12,239
in there. Of course, the access setup
tear down so people have reasonable

863
01:20:09,440 --> 01:20:17,360
expectations of what is expected. the
keys and facility access, what that

864
01:20:14,480 --> 01:20:22,159
includes, when when to return it, what
happens if they lose it. Um failure to

865
01:20:19,679 --> 01:20:28,800
return tables and chairs once they have
access to that cannot be removed from

866
01:20:24,640 --> 01:20:32,800
the property. Um prohibited items um
obviously open flames, combustible

867
01:20:31,280 --> 01:20:38,800
items,
smoke um and special effects. We did

868
01:20:36,080 --> 01:20:41,760
also address firearms and weapons,
smoking and tobacco use. I just have a

869
01:20:40,960 --> 01:20:44,159
question on that.
>> Which part?

870
01:20:42,960 --> 01:20:49,120
» The firearms.
>> Because it says uh

871
01:20:47,440 --> 01:20:53,199
uh in accordance with North Carolina
law, does that mean concealed carry and

872
01:20:51,040 --> 01:20:59,360
open carry is fine? Because that is
allowed in North Carolina law as long as

873
01:20:54,719 --> 01:21:02,960
there's no alcohol being served. So it
it's kind of open to interpretation. And

874
01:21:01,120 --> 01:21:08,480
then you say, you know, including law
enforcement or law enforcement's allowed

875
01:21:05,600 --> 01:21:14,000
to is and part of event staff or
whatever is allowed to. But by North

876
01:21:11,520 --> 01:21:18,480
Carolina law allows both open carry and
concealed carry

877
01:21:15,920 --> 01:21:23,760
as long as you have a permit for the for
the concealed carry.

878
01:21:21,840 --> 01:21:29,199
» Do you want me to talk about this part
or you want to talk about this? Okay. So

879
01:21:26,560 --> 01:21:35,600
we talked about in um the open bowl
indicator and sort of whether or not

880
01:21:31,520 --> 01:21:39,840
like these could be loaded um weapons.
So firearms associated with approved

881
01:21:37,440 --> 01:21:45,679
events displayed handled or transferred
or offered for sale must remain unloaded

882
01:21:42,000 --> 01:21:50,320
while on the premises. Um ammunition
must be handled and stored in accordance

883
01:21:47,440 --> 01:21:56,800
with applicable law and any special or
event specific safety requirements

884
01:21:51,840 --> 01:22:02,719
established by Jackson County. So,
>> yeah, but that that kind of ties into

885
01:21:58,719 --> 01:22:07,600
the approved with an associated event.
>> So, if you go back to in accordance with

886
01:22:05,520 --> 01:22:11,920
North Carolina law, that's different
than being displayed in a, you know, as

887
01:22:10,480 --> 01:22:14,960
part of an event.
>> So, I I just think we need to clarify

888
01:22:13,679 --> 01:22:17,440
that and what the
>> Do we want to ask?

889
01:22:16,400 --> 01:22:21,600
» Do we want to ask?
>> So, in all of our county billings, we do

890
01:22:19,199 --> 01:22:25,920
not allow conceal concealed firearms.
So, and that building would be specific.

891
01:22:23,760 --> 01:22:29,760
When they're talking about like the the
events, we're talking about the gun

892
01:22:27,440 --> 01:22:34,239
shows, the NRA events, things like that.
Any unloaded firearm would need the OBI

893
01:22:32,239 --> 01:22:38,480
in it or open bolt indicator, just
making sure that anything that's going

894
01:22:35,679 --> 01:22:43,600
in the facility is not loaded.
>> Right. I'm just saying [clears throat]

895
01:22:39,760 --> 01:22:46,560
by North Carolina law, if there's not a
that normally has people in it, allowed

896
01:22:46,159 --> 01:22:49,840
conceal.
>> Yeah. It's going to be restricted. So,

897
01:22:47,760 --> 01:22:52,560
there there's going to be no concealed
weapon. I just

898
01:22:51,679 --> 01:22:54,560
» change that language.
>> We just need to change that language to

899
01:22:53,920 --> 01:22:57,600
call it out.
>> Okay.

900
01:22:55,199 --> 01:23:01,120
» By North Carolina law,
>> somebody with concealed carry could

901
01:22:58,960 --> 01:23:04,080
still walk in there with a gun without
appropriate signage without it being

902
01:23:03,520 --> 01:23:07,440
spelled out.
>> Well, if we don't pay the police, they

903
01:23:05,440 --> 01:23:12,080
might need to.
I don't see a problem.

904
01:23:10,239 --> 01:23:18,159
» Well, I I don't but I don't want
somebody to be caught up,

905
01:23:15,040 --> 01:23:22,719
you know, get their license revoked or
arrested or whatever because they

906
01:23:20,880 --> 01:23:28,199
misinterpreted what's written in the
policy.

907
01:23:25,199 --> 01:23:28,199
» Yeah,

908
01:23:28,400 --> 01:23:31,920
» thank you for that feedback.
[clears throat]

909
01:23:30,159 --> 01:23:36,120
» I wouldn't want to get arrested if I
walked in with mine. So,

910
01:23:37,840 --> 01:23:40,840
Um,

911
01:23:41,040 --> 01:23:47,600
we also have alcohol listed on here as
well. If um, alcohol may not be

912
01:23:45,760 --> 01:23:50,800
possessed, served, sold, or consumed at
Weeder Heritage Grounds without prior

913
01:23:49,040 --> 01:23:55,040
written approval from Jackson County.
Rener is responsible for determining and

914
01:23:52,800 --> 01:23:58,880
complying with applicable
um, North Carolina alcoholic beverage

915
01:23:57,040 --> 01:24:02,880
control requirements and obtaining um,
any required permits. Copies of required

916
01:24:01,120 --> 01:24:06,159
permits must be provided to Jackson
County before the event.

917
01:24:06,639 --> 01:24:15,040
noise hours. Again, amplified sound um
reasonable levels must end by 11 p.m. or

918
01:24:13,040 --> 01:24:19,280
at the end of an approved rental period,
whichever occurs first.

919
01:24:17,760 --> 01:24:23,840
Of course, we address vendors, catering
and food service, and what that might

920
01:24:21,520 --> 01:24:28,239
look like for food trucks, other sort of
cooking equipment, catering trucks, um

921
01:24:25,760 --> 01:24:31,600
and the like. And then, of course,
decoration, tents, and temporary

922
01:24:29,760 --> 01:24:37,520
equipment.
What is um expected of that? Of course,

923
01:24:34,880 --> 01:24:41,920
insurance, permitting, fire safety, um
the larger tents have to be inspected um

924
01:24:40,000 --> 01:24:46,480
by our code enforcement. And then of
course, the fire marshall also at times

925
01:24:44,480 --> 01:24:51,440
needs to inspect that as well. And then
of course cleaning trash and and damage.

926
01:24:49,040 --> 01:24:56,480
Um they have to remove all of their
personal property, decorations,

927
01:24:52,800 --> 01:25:00,159
equipment, any spills or things that
they have made a mess with and need to

928
01:24:58,320 --> 01:25:05,600
clean that up. return the tables and
chairs as directed by um facility staff

929
01:25:03,440 --> 01:25:09,840
and then collecting and bagging the
trash and putting it in a dumpster that

930
01:25:07,600 --> 01:25:14,480
will is on the property. And then of
course we did note on here excessive

931
01:25:11,920 --> 01:25:18,159
cleaning. If there requires excessive um
cleaning after they have left that's

932
01:25:16,080 --> 01:25:22,320
beyond you know what's reasonable,
they're expected to pay that excessive

933
01:25:20,000 --> 01:25:27,440
cleaning fee that is listed in the fee
schedule. And then any other damage,

934
01:25:25,199 --> 01:25:30,639
same thing.
If there's anything damaged or

935
01:25:29,120 --> 01:25:36,159
accidents, they need to report that to
Jackson County staff. Liability for

936
01:25:33,679 --> 01:25:39,520
personal property. Jackson County is not
responsible for personal property,

937
01:25:37,440 --> 01:25:43,520
equipment, decoration, supplies, food,
rental items, or other property brought

938
01:25:41,199 --> 01:25:47,679
on to Whidier Heritage Grounds by the
renter, guest, vendors, contractors, or

939
01:25:45,679 --> 01:25:51,760
other persons associated with an event.
Renters are responsible for safeguarding

940
01:25:50,080 --> 01:25:56,239
their property and arranging for
security of valuable items. items left

941
01:25:54,639 --> 01:25:59,600
of the facility after the rental period
may be removed or disposed of in

942
01:25:57,679 --> 01:26:02,639
accordance with county procedures. And
then we have the parking and

943
01:26:00,880 --> 01:26:06,480
accessibility
animals

944
01:26:04,159 --> 01:26:11,120
um animals associated with approved um
agriculture, livestock, educational or

945
01:26:08,320 --> 01:26:15,280
other events may be permitted in
designed outdoor or arena areas with

946
01:26:13,600 --> 01:26:19,199
prior approval from Jackson County and
subject to any applicable health,

947
01:26:17,040 --> 01:26:26,080
safety, sanitation, or event
requirements. Of course, children must

948
01:26:22,239 --> 01:26:30,719
not um be left unattended. Emergency
exits cannot be blocked. Of course,

949
01:26:28,320 --> 01:26:35,600
there's use of fire extinguishers and
sprinkler systems. Security and count um

950
01:26:33,679 --> 01:26:39,440
county access kind of talk a little bit
about what that looks like. Obviously,

951
01:26:37,120 --> 01:26:43,760
with our um law enforcement, fire
officials, emergency personnel um would

952
01:26:41,920 --> 01:26:48,880
need to be able to retain the ability to
access the property during events should

953
01:26:46,320 --> 01:26:52,639
that be necessary. And then compliance
and enforcement renters responsible for

954
01:26:51,360 --> 01:26:57,120
compliance with these rules and
regulations and the fee schedule. We

955
01:26:54,560 --> 01:27:03,360
also have um worked on a facility use
agreement that we're going to be getting

956
01:26:59,360 --> 01:27:07,760
um John Cubis to bless us um after we
get this information approved to make

957
01:27:05,600 --> 01:27:12,880
sure that it complies with all of the
rules and regulations um and laws. We

958
01:27:11,440 --> 01:27:15,679
reserve the right to stop or terminate
any activity that violates these

959
01:27:14,239 --> 01:27:20,480
requirements, presents any immediate
safety concern um threatens county

960
01:27:17,920 --> 01:27:25,639
property or materially differs um from
the approved um rental application.

961
01:27:28,575 --> 01:27:34,880
» [clears throat]
>> So, what we had planned to do if you

962
01:27:32,000 --> 01:27:40,480
approve these two documents, we will
have a landing page on our website that

963
01:27:37,840 --> 01:27:44,000
will include both the rental application
for them to go through. they'll have

964
01:27:42,000 --> 01:27:48,159
access to these two documents. And then
if approved or when approved for their

965
01:27:46,239 --> 01:27:53,920
specific event, then they will be
required to provide the

966
01:27:51,040 --> 01:27:58,800
nonprofit status documentation or permit
copies of their permit or insurance um

967
01:27:56,239 --> 01:28:04,320
documents that we will need um to be
allowed to have the event. And then the

968
01:28:01,600 --> 01:28:09,760
facility use agreement will follow and
all of that will land on our homepage or

969
01:28:06,080 --> 01:28:14,719
not on our homepage but on our website.
What's going on with the other property

970
01:28:11,920 --> 01:28:17,719
we that we purchased to complement the
fairgrounds

971
01:28:19,040 --> 01:28:22,040
forward

972
01:28:22,960 --> 01:28:31,520
initially purchased for
[clears throat] my husband on the

973
01:28:29,040 --> 01:28:38,400
livestock side and the shooting sports
on the other. shooting sports has used

974
01:28:34,800 --> 01:28:42,040
utilized that their side a couple times
on the animal husbing

975
01:28:43,040 --> 01:28:51,280
that and I know I think one of your one
of your thoughts was opening up public

976
01:28:48,639 --> 01:28:56,880
use and that that's up to y'all but I
think the encamp was it was going to be

977
01:28:53,520 --> 01:29:02,320
for educational proponents with
utilizing that space

978
01:28:59,280 --> 01:29:06,480
that can be dispens
I think that needs to be for later

979
01:29:03,920 --> 01:29:10,480
discussion, but um I just had a lot of
people call me and like I said, I think

980
01:29:08,560 --> 01:29:14,800
just curiosity and want to go down
there, but anyway.

981
01:29:12,320 --> 01:29:17,920
» Yeah, Rob Hawk and I actually have um we
had to reschedle our meeting today, but

982
01:29:16,159 --> 01:29:19,760
we have a meeting scheduled for Friday
to kind of dig into that just a little

983
01:29:19,600 --> 01:29:23,199
bit.
>> Oh, okay. Yeah, I'd like to I'll talk to

984
01:29:22,159 --> 01:29:28,960
Rob about it, too.
>> Yeah, that' be great.

985
01:29:26,960 --> 01:29:37,440
Is there a motion to approve both
documents with the amendments presented

986
01:29:32,080 --> 01:29:44,080
for the concealed carry firearm carry?
>> Well, I don't know. I I want to say if

987
01:29:40,480 --> 01:29:51,120
if you got if you're having an event,
horse show

988
01:29:46,159 --> 01:29:55,440
or something, what why do we care if
concealed carry permitted people carry

989
01:29:53,600 --> 01:30:00,159
their guns?
I mean, why should we go against what

990
01:29:57,679 --> 01:30:05,040
the state law
because it's it's not a courthouse. It's

991
01:30:03,120 --> 01:30:09,760
not where there's offices and people are
going to be upset center if they're not

992
01:30:07,440 --> 01:30:12,400
going to be out probably we shouldn't
not

993
01:30:10,719 --> 01:30:16,400
» I I don't see a problem with it either.
>> I agree.

994
01:30:13,440 --> 01:30:17,520
» But I'm just saying as it was written,
>> right?

995
01:30:16,639 --> 01:30:19,360
» You could get in trouble.
>> You could get in trouble.

996
01:30:18,639 --> 01:30:24,639
» Yeah.
>> Just I mean I I have no problem with

997
01:30:21,199 --> 01:30:26,880
concealed being out there either. um
>> need to be rewrite.

998
01:30:26,239 --> 01:30:31,360
» Well, we can
>> Yeah, that's what we were doing about

999
01:30:29,760 --> 01:30:35,040
» Yeah, I'm going to make an an amendment
on that will allow

1000
01:30:32,560 --> 01:30:36,719
» you need to pass it through Cubis. But
>> yeah.

1001
01:30:35,280 --> 01:30:41,040
» Yeah.
>> Make make sure that we're not violating

1002
01:30:38,639 --> 01:30:45,520
any laws. But the way I read the statute
is that as long as there's not people in

1003
01:30:43,679 --> 01:30:50,000
an office there all the time, it's not
considered a Yeah. place to conceal

1004
01:30:47,840 --> 01:30:54,520
carry.
>> John, do you want to chime in here?

1005
01:30:55,120 --> 01:30:59,440
Um, I'm just going to add that, you
know, we'll we'll look through the

1006
01:30:57,840 --> 01:31:04,159
language. I think what's been discussed
so far is probably um the appropriate

1007
01:31:02,480 --> 01:31:08,560
way to go about it. Make sure that we're
preserving applies with North Carolina

1008
01:31:06,400 --> 01:31:12,719
law, but also uh you know, given the
flexibility that we want to have

1009
01:31:10,320 --> 01:31:16,518
available in inside of their event
center.

1010
01:31:14,239 --> 01:31:20,239
» Okay.
[clears throat] You know, if suppose it

1011
01:31:17,920 --> 01:31:24,719
doesn't violate any statute, I would
prefer that if you have conceal carry,

1012
01:31:22,800 --> 01:31:29,280
you've already
done the course,

1013
01:31:26,560 --> 01:31:33,719
you have your license and sheriff's
approved, you should be able.

1014
01:31:40,719 --> 01:31:46,080
So, how do you want them to handle that?
Do they need to do we need to come back

1015
01:31:44,560 --> 01:31:48,480
or do they need to vote it as is with
that amendment?

1016
01:31:46,639 --> 01:31:51,199
» Can we just go ahead and accept that
amendment based on state law under

1017
01:31:50,080 --> 01:31:54,639
concealed carry?
>> I think let's table it till we get that

1018
01:31:53,440 --> 01:31:57,520
garbage back.
>> Let's see what we're going to do.

1019
01:31:55,840 --> 01:32:00,960
» Go ahead and approve the fee schedule so
we go ahead and get that in place and

1020
01:31:59,360 --> 01:32:04,320
then
bring the

1021
01:32:01,840 --> 01:32:10,719
» that's up to you language back on the
rules the next meeting.

1022
01:32:07,440 --> 01:32:15,120
» That's up to you guys.
>> Doesn't matter to me.

1023
01:32:12,719 --> 01:32:18,400
I mean, we are getting inquiries um all
the time. They're wanting to know more

1024
01:32:17,120 --> 01:32:22,480
about how to access it.
>> Schedule approved. That's fine. And and

1025
01:32:20,159 --> 01:32:25,920
and I mean, we're talking two weeks.
>> I was going say we can put it on the

1026
01:32:23,679 --> 01:32:29,440
agenda for next meeting.
>> We're just talking about very small.

1027
01:32:28,159 --> 01:32:33,920
» Yeah. Of the rules.
>> Yeah.

1028
01:32:31,760 --> 01:32:36,639
» And maybe by then I I'll now that I've
got the fee schedule, I can do the

1029
01:32:35,040 --> 01:32:40,400
facility use agreement as well. We'll
have that.

1030
01:32:38,400 --> 01:32:42,400
» FE schedule.
and a second.

1031
01:32:41,760 --> 01:32:44,880
» Second.
>> All in favor?

1032
01:32:43,360 --> 01:32:48,719
» I opposed.
>> Thank you.

1033
01:32:47,120 --> 01:32:53,679
» Moving on now to the bond order
authorizing the issuance of 105 million

1034
01:32:51,440 --> 01:32:56,960
general obligations for bonds.
>> Could we take a quick recess? A quick

1035
01:32:56,159 --> 01:33:01,520
quick break.
>> Yeah, that's fine. Is there

1036
01:32:59,354 --> 01:33:07,679
[clears throat] to take a quick recess?
Five minutes. Second. Second. All in

1037
01:33:05,040 --> 01:33:07,679
favor?

1038
01:42:00,080 --> 01:42:08,080
Next up is the bond order authorizing
the issuance of 105 million general

1039
01:42:04,239 --> 01:42:13,199
obligation school bonds. Mr.
>> I think we've been over this a few times

1040
01:42:10,719 --> 01:42:18,000
in the last few meetings. Uh this is the
final piece of the

1041
01:42:15,520 --> 01:42:21,760
um the bond order. Uh the next one on
the agenda is actually the resolution

1042
01:42:19,520 --> 01:42:28,400
authorizing the the referendum to be
sent to the board of um elections. So

1043
01:42:25,280 --> 01:42:32,400
this is for um bond order authorizing
the issuance of 105 million general

1044
01:42:30,480 --> 01:42:35,920
obligation school bonds of the county of
Jackson, North Carolina. Whereas the

1045
01:42:34,320 --> 01:42:40,080
board of commissioners of the county of
Jackson, North Carolina, uh has

1046
01:42:38,239 --> 01:42:43,679
ascertained and hereby determined that
it is necessary to pay for capital cost

1047
01:42:42,239 --> 01:42:47,760
of constructing, improving, and
renovating various school facilities for

1048
01:42:45,600 --> 01:42:52,560
Jackson County Public Schools, including
but not limited to Smoky Mountain Middle

1049
01:42:50,560 --> 01:42:56,800
School, Smoky Mountain High School, Blue
Ridge School, and the school bus garage.

1050
01:42:54,880 --> 01:43:01,520
acquiring equipment and furnishings
required, therefore acquiring land,

1051
01:42:58,880 --> 01:43:05,520
routes of way and easements in land and
if necessary and constructing public

1052
01:43:03,679 --> 01:43:10,960
infrastructure improvements related
thereto. And whereas an application has

1053
01:43:09,119 --> 01:43:14,560
been filed with the secretary of the
local government commission of North

1054
01:43:12,400 --> 01:43:18,239
Carolina requesting local government
commission approval of the general

1055
01:43:15,840 --> 01:43:24,800
obligation school bonds here and after
described as and required by the local

1056
01:43:21,040 --> 01:43:27,600
government bond act and the clerk of the
board of commissioners has notified the

1057
01:43:26,560 --> 01:43:30,560
board of commissioners that the
application has been accepted for

1058
01:43:29,119 --> 01:43:34,800
submission to the local government
commission. Now therefore be ordained by

1059
01:43:33,119 --> 01:43:39,360
the board of commissioners of the county
of Jackson, North Carolina as follows.

1060
01:43:37,280 --> 01:43:43,920
Section one, in order to raise money
required for the purposes described

1061
01:43:41,600 --> 01:43:49,360
above in addition to any funds which may
be made available such purpose from any

1062
01:43:47,040 --> 01:43:54,159
other source general obligation school
bonds of the county

1063
01:43:51,840 --> 01:43:58,159
are hereby authorized and will be issued
pursuant to the local government finance

1064
01:43:55,920 --> 01:44:02,400
act of North Carolina. The maximum
aggregate principal amount of such

1065
01:44:00,880 --> 01:44:08,000
general obligation school bonds
authorized by this order will be $105

1066
01:44:05,040 --> 01:44:10,800
million. Uh section two, taxes will be
levied in an amount sufficient to pay

1067
01:44:09,520 --> 01:44:14,400
the principle and interest of the
general obligation school bond. Section

1068
01:44:13,119 --> 01:44:17,520
three, a sworn statement of the
countyy's debt has been filed with clerk

1069
01:44:16,080 --> 01:44:22,159
to the board of commissioners and is
open to the public inspection. And

1070
01:44:19,840 --> 01:44:27,119
section four, the bond order will take
effect when approved by the voters of

1071
01:44:24,239 --> 01:44:31,400
the county at the referendum scheduled
for November 3rd, 2026.

1072
01:44:34,719 --> 01:44:45,600
» Any questions by the board?
>> No. Again, I have something to say. Um,

1073
01:44:41,760 --> 01:44:53,600
it will be the taxes will be levied. the
the cost on that $105 million bond or

1074
01:44:50,560 --> 01:44:59,760
will be 57.5
million in interest alone. It will raise

1075
01:44:56,719 --> 01:45:05,679
your taxes 5.26
on the tax rate which is $5260

1076
01:45:03,360 --> 01:45:10,400
per 100,000.
And like I said before, I think this is

1077
01:45:07,600 --> 01:45:16,000
very rushed. I think it is not well
planned through. Um, I think we need to

1078
01:45:13,199 --> 01:45:22,000
go to value engineering
when we do this again. And we don't have

1079
01:45:19,679 --> 01:45:24,639
enough teachers, bus drivers, and
custodians [clears throat]

1080
01:45:22,719 --> 01:45:30,239
for what we got. And I think we need to
maintain and fix up what we got and back

1081
01:45:27,280 --> 01:45:34,960
up and punt and
go from there. We got plenty of schools

1082
01:45:32,320 --> 01:45:40,159
to take care of what we got. And the
number of students is not growing and

1083
01:45:37,520 --> 01:45:44,800
has not.
That's my two cents.

1084
01:45:41,600 --> 01:45:50,560
» I got a question about it, too. Uh, it's
for 105 million, but nobody yet has said

1085
01:45:48,080 --> 01:45:57,520
this middle school can be built for this
amount. That's still up in the air. So

1086
01:45:54,400 --> 01:46:04,880
without knowing that what happens if
let's just suppose it gets voted on

1087
01:46:00,800 --> 01:46:08,480
uh people vote it through uh we start to
build this middle school start these

1088
01:46:06,639 --> 01:46:15,000
other projects and all of a sudden well
it's going to cost 25 million more than

1089
01:46:10,239 --> 01:46:15,000
we thought. What happens then?

1090
01:46:15,199 --> 01:46:22,000
Where's that money going to come from?
So, you did get an initial estimate of

1091
01:46:19,040 --> 01:46:26,159
the 108 and that was for all the school
plus all of the sports complexes and

1092
01:46:24,400 --> 01:46:31,199
everything that that y'all wanted at
that joint meeting that was discussed.

1093
01:46:28,800 --> 01:46:35,360
» We got 60 million to do all that.
>> We need to clarify all that

1094
01:46:34,000 --> 01:46:38,639
» school board wanted.
>> We at the joint meeting that was what

1095
01:46:37,840 --> 01:46:41,840
was brought out. Yes.
>> We didn't bring the proposal. The school

1096
01:46:39,920 --> 01:46:45,040
board brought the proposal to us and
that's what we

1097
01:46:43,520 --> 01:46:48,880
» discussed and talked on.
>> Correct. Yes. Okay.

1098
01:46:46,480 --> 01:46:54,080
» And so that that number is is pretty
accurate. Also, the $78 million is is

1099
01:46:51,679 --> 01:46:58,800
accurate based on the information that
has been supplied from the designer to

1100
01:46:56,400 --> 01:47:02,880
the Seymour or the construction manager
at risk, which is Vanoi Construction.

1101
01:47:01,199 --> 01:47:08,320
Between those two, those two are
accurate. Um, if you don't do the sports

1102
01:47:06,000 --> 01:47:13,679
field, it's the $78 million figure. If
you do the sports fields, it's the $108

1103
01:47:10,560 --> 01:47:19,040
million figure. The money that's
allocated in this bond referendum is 48

1104
01:47:16,639 --> 01:47:23,360
million just for the middle school. And
that's part of that 108.

1105
01:47:21,520 --> 01:47:26,560
That's how you come up with that. It's
48 plus the 60 that's already been

1106
01:47:25,360 --> 01:47:29,360
allocated.
>> That equals the 108.

1107
01:47:27,679 --> 01:47:31,199
» And that does not include all of the
fields. Correct. [clears throat] That's

1108
01:47:30,719 --> 01:47:35,679
just
>> No, that 108 does include all of the

1109
01:47:32,960 --> 01:47:38,639
fields. So this bond referendum, the 48
million that's a part of this 105,

1110
01:47:38,159 --> 01:47:44,960
» right,
>> would do the sports fields.

1111
01:47:41,440 --> 01:47:51,920
» And you know, I've had a while to
process and went back and thought about

1112
01:47:49,520 --> 01:47:57,040
our joint meeting and what we wanted to
do is put it's all or nothing. It's all

1113
01:47:54,480 --> 01:48:00,639
it's a consensus of both boards.
>> Well, yeah. I mean, I suggested during

1114
01:47:58,800 --> 01:48:04,960
that meeting we split it into
maintenance and repairs, upgrades.

1115
01:48:03,040 --> 01:48:08,560
» When I got to thinking, hang on now a
minute, you know,

1116
01:48:07,040 --> 01:48:13,119
» we've already allocate, we've already
started Fair View. We've already

1117
01:48:11,520 --> 01:48:19,040
allocated, I mean, correct me if I'm
wrong, Darlene, 15 million for Blue

1118
01:48:15,840 --> 01:48:25,840
Ridge. We was going to borrow that.
Um, you know, the bus garage, it's was

1119
01:48:22,000 --> 01:48:30,000
up in the air. Um the extra stuff at
Smoky Mountain High School was up in the

1120
01:48:27,520 --> 01:48:35,440
air and
the consensus was to get everything done

1121
01:48:32,560 --> 01:48:39,520
with a bond. Um they we wanted the
fields at the

1122
01:48:37,840 --> 01:48:43,679
middle school and you know the whole
nine yards. But I've got you know I've

1123
01:48:41,760 --> 01:48:48,639
got to thinking
we've already spent that money at Fair

1124
01:48:46,080 --> 01:48:53,639
View. We've already got 15 million going
to Blue Ridge.

1125
01:48:50,639 --> 01:48:53,639
So,

1126
01:48:53,760 --> 01:49:01,600
and then we've got 60 million for a
middle school. And I had county manager

1127
01:48:58,159 --> 01:49:07,040
today call other counties um
and um look at I brought up tonight

1128
01:49:04,320 --> 01:49:12,400
actually look at uh the middle schools
that are being built in other counties.

1129
01:49:08,800 --> 01:49:17,679
And what did you come up with for Swain?
>> The one at Swain is right at 100,000

1130
01:49:15,040 --> 01:49:22,560
square feet and it's 48 million. It was
designed for 650 kids.

1131
01:49:20,960 --> 01:49:25,760
And how many students are we going to
design for? 800.

1132
01:49:24,000 --> 01:49:31,600
» Uh we're doing 800. Yes.
>> And how big's the square footage?

1133
01:49:27,520 --> 01:49:37,840
» Uh 129 129,000 square feet.
>> So just to And how many times have you

1134
01:49:34,880 --> 01:49:41,679
asked Pinnacle for a threetory? I know
this board's asked Pinnacle multiple

1135
01:49:39,920 --> 01:49:46,239
times for a threetory drawn and they've
not got it and they work for Jackson

1136
01:49:43,760 --> 01:49:51,440
County. So, I'm tonight I'm putting
Pinnacle on notice to get us what we

1137
01:49:48,639 --> 01:49:56,560
want because they work for us. We're
paying we're paying them. Um, and if

1138
01:49:54,960 --> 01:50:02,800
they can't, then I guess we need to look
at others. Is COP is cope doing that and

1139
01:50:00,159 --> 01:50:11,520
Swain? And
>> um, no, LS3P is the one in Swain. Cope

1140
01:50:08,080 --> 01:50:16,159
is over in Graham doing a elementary
school.

1141
01:50:13,920 --> 01:50:21,760
Well, how big is that school?
>> Uh, that one's 108,000 square feet, 38

1142
01:50:19,440 --> 01:50:24,320
million for that one.
>> And then site prep's included in that.

1143
01:50:23,679 --> 01:50:26,800
Correct.
>> Correct.

1144
01:50:25,440 --> 01:50:29,840
» Where was that at?
>> Graham County.

1145
01:50:27,840 --> 01:50:36,239
» And none of these none of these includes
fields. And we don't

1146
01:50:34,000 --> 01:50:40,679
those locations aren't flat either. So,
>> right.

1147
01:50:36,719 --> 01:50:40,679
» Yeah. Um,

1148
01:50:41,280 --> 01:50:48,000
do most middle schools tend to have
fields?

1149
01:50:45,679 --> 01:50:51,440
I All I know is Jackson County. All I
know is K8. So

1150
01:50:49,760 --> 01:50:56,800
» I know we don't have enough fields in
Jackson County. [snorts]

1151
01:50:53,679 --> 01:51:01,280
» Did middle schools usually have anybody?
John, did you go to middle schools?

1152
01:50:58,880 --> 01:51:05,040
» I did. And we all all we had two
different middle schools in the county I

1153
01:51:03,199 --> 01:51:07,760
grew up in and they had
>> share. Did you [clears throat] Did you

1154
01:51:07,280 --> 01:51:10,080
share with
>> No, each school had its own football

1155
01:51:09,520 --> 01:51:12,800
field,
>> everything.

1156
01:51:10,560 --> 01:51:17,199
» Soccer wasn't a big deal there, but had
their own baseball, softball, multi-use

1157
01:51:14,880 --> 01:51:20,480
field, and tennis courts, but they all
both schools,

1158
01:51:18,639 --> 01:51:23,679
» they were geographically separate, kind
of like Blue Ridge is from here. And

1159
01:51:22,080 --> 01:51:27,840
they they had their own fields.
>> Well, we, you know, we've already

1160
01:51:25,199 --> 01:51:35,280
allocated $60 million
and we're at 79

1161
01:51:30,719 --> 01:51:37,760
million. 78 79. Is that right?
Wait a minute. We've already allocated

1162
01:51:37,040 --> 01:51:42,000
60.
>> Well, not allocated. We've allocated

1163
01:51:39,360 --> 01:51:47,360
eight and we've got $52 million grant.
Sorry. Um,

1164
01:51:45,119 --> 01:51:50,639
so
for a three-story building, you're going

1165
01:51:48,880 --> 01:51:56,000
to take down the footprint, you're going
to take down site prep.

1166
01:51:53,360 --> 01:51:59,679
I I don't see why we don't change
architects. If it's if we're getting it

1167
01:51:57,679 --> 01:52:03,840
done in Swain County for $48 million,
we'd be stupid not to change it.

1168
01:52:02,159 --> 01:52:10,000
something needs to be done because not
to me I mean all right so if if we were

1169
01:52:06,719 --> 01:52:15,119
set on the 105 and nothing could
possibly change which we all know it

1170
01:52:11,840 --> 01:52:20,239
can't our interest on it's already grew
by 22 million

1171
01:52:16,800 --> 01:52:24,880
» from what we've started hearing that
that alone's that much more money but I

1172
01:52:22,719 --> 01:52:28,400
know good and well just because of the
way thing the world is it's not it's

1173
01:52:26,800 --> 01:52:33,199
going to cost more than what they say
>> and these projects need to be you know

1174
01:52:30,400 --> 01:52:37,679
phased instead of throwing it all in
there. And that's what we should have

1175
01:52:34,400 --> 01:52:43,520
done. We should have stepped back and
done done them in a phased approach. And

1176
01:52:40,800 --> 01:52:47,440
we're to blame for that, for agreeing to
put it all together um on a on a bond

1177
01:52:45,840 --> 01:52:51,840
referendum. But if we step back and
think a minute, we've we've got Fairview

1178
01:52:50,239 --> 01:52:55,520
started.
Blue Ridge has got 15 million already,

1179
01:52:53,920 --> 01:52:59,760
and they're nobody's going to take that
away because we've already set that

1180
01:52:57,119 --> 01:53:05,280
aside. I don't think they have to spend
it on what it I don't think once it's

1181
01:53:02,400 --> 01:53:06,960
given that it has to be spent on that.
>> The bond.

1182
01:53:05,760 --> 01:53:09,599
» You think it has to? You don't
>> the bond would have to. But

1183
01:53:08,560 --> 01:53:12,880
» you talk
>> what we give them like

1184
01:53:10,719 --> 01:53:15,760
» for Blue Ridge. Well, I think we can.
It'd be us. It' be

1185
01:53:14,400 --> 01:53:20,320
» We pay that because we do the
facilities. It's not the school board.

1186
01:53:18,239 --> 01:53:24,880
» Oh, cuz I was once you give
>> allocated they can do it what they want.

1187
01:53:23,199 --> 01:53:28,960
» Up to the county to ensure that 15
million is they're writing the checks

1188
01:53:26,960 --> 01:53:33,199
for that. Nothing's going to the school
that's going through Darlene.

1189
01:53:30,719 --> 01:53:37,520
» Yeah. See, and I'm I see both ways. I
see where you're coming from. It's going

1190
01:53:34,560 --> 01:53:41,679
to put a burden big time on the people
of this county

1191
01:53:38,880 --> 01:53:44,400
» to especially the elderly and the living
on a fixed income.

1192
01:53:42,800 --> 01:53:50,080
» Yeah.
>> But at the same time, our schools are

1193
01:53:47,440 --> 01:53:54,239
behind
and again, we've I've been thinking

1194
01:53:51,760 --> 01:53:59,119
about it and we we've put a bunch of
money towards it already.

1195
01:53:57,280 --> 01:54:03,199
Well, and you look at all the kids that
if we did the middle school, they won't

1196
01:54:01,119 --> 01:54:07,280
be able to play ball. I mean, that cuts
a lot of kids out

1197
01:54:05,840 --> 01:54:13,119
of being on the team.
>> But if we can get the middle school for

1198
01:54:10,000 --> 01:54:18,800
60 million
that's already there by going through

1199
01:54:15,520 --> 01:54:24,320
another architect,
why not? I mean, if we're going for a

1200
01:54:21,760 --> 01:54:28,800
three-story building and that's going to
reduce the footprint,

1201
01:54:26,719 --> 01:54:33,360
» that would be that would be great if if
we had a number. This is what it's going

1202
01:54:30,800 --> 01:54:38,239
to cost for sure.
>> And we won't know the for sure number

1203
01:54:35,040 --> 01:54:44,480
till it goes to bid.
And then I've also been contacted about

1204
01:54:41,840 --> 01:54:49,040
my representation of my district. And
I've got to remember my district and

1205
01:54:47,280 --> 01:54:54,480
that would be Smoky Mountain Elementary
School.

1206
01:54:51,520 --> 01:54:58,560
You know, they're left out of this bond
as it's written.

1207
01:54:56,880 --> 01:55:05,199
So, it's
>> so is Scots Creek and Cold Valley.

1208
01:55:01,679 --> 01:55:12,000
» That would be Jones and then be yours.
Um, and you been representing your

1209
01:55:08,320 --> 01:55:19,920
district very well for Blue Ridge, but
um I just feel like There's money there

1210
01:55:16,480 --> 01:55:27,520
to get all these projects done.
>> My district's

1211
01:55:22,560 --> 01:55:33,080
» Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Anyway,
I just feel like there's money there to

1212
01:55:29,119 --> 01:55:33,080
get all these projects done

1213
01:55:33,280 --> 01:55:41,840
and
not have to have $105 million.

1214
01:55:38,800 --> 01:55:43,840
» I don't want to put it on the taxpayers.
Either way, it's going to be put on the

1215
01:55:43,040 --> 01:55:47,840
taxpayers.
>> Well, we don't get it out thin air. It's

1216
01:55:45,520 --> 01:55:52,159
just when and how much.
>> Well, I don't want to put that big of

1217
01:55:49,520 --> 01:55:57,199
amount on them
>> because I will tell you this. I've had I

1218
01:55:55,280 --> 01:56:01,920
support the school system. I always I've
had done that my whole

1219
01:55:59,280 --> 01:56:07,760
» term. I've done that my whole term.
>> But I've had a lot of people concerned

1220
01:56:04,639 --> 01:56:12,400
about not the fact that the schools are
getting upgrades, but the fact that of

1221
01:56:10,480 --> 01:56:15,760
what it's what they're going to have to
the tax burden.

1222
01:56:13,520 --> 01:56:20,000
» Yeah.
>> And taking care of what we got. And like

1223
01:56:18,080 --> 01:56:24,960
Michael said
meetings ago, is this a need or a want?

1224
01:56:23,119 --> 01:56:27,840
» And that brings it back to needs and
wants. you know, what does Blue Ridge

1225
01:56:26,880 --> 01:56:34,719
really need? What [clears throat] does
Fairview really need?

1226
01:56:30,639 --> 01:56:40,760
So, and the 60 million that's been there
>> since two years before you guys took

1227
01:56:36,880 --> 01:56:40,760
office. So, I mean,

1228
01:56:41,840 --> 01:56:53,199
» I'm just the um the
current cost of steel and concrete is

1229
01:56:50,159 --> 01:56:57,360
five and a half% inflation every year.
>> Yeah. And

1230
01:56:54,320 --> 01:57:04,000
» so you're you're you're already saying
if we kick it down the road and we apply

1231
01:57:01,840 --> 01:57:10,239
for this grant as soon as we can do that
is two years. So there's 11% increase in

1232
01:57:07,840 --> 01:57:15,599
cost plus another two years to find
property

1233
01:57:11,760 --> 01:57:20,639
uh do more civil, do more engineering,
architecture, there's another 11%.

1234
01:57:19,280 --> 01:57:24,239
» We don't need to kick it down the road.
I mean, I just feel like we're

1235
01:57:23,951 --> 01:57:28,320
[clears throat]
>> But again, there

1236
01:57:26,080 --> 01:57:33,679
» again, the taxpayers just had the
largest tax increase. Even if we do have

1237
01:57:31,280 --> 01:57:38,880
a low tax rate, they're not used to
that. They just had the largest tax

1238
01:57:36,400 --> 01:57:42,320
increase on the land re-evaluation. I
just don't think they need another one.

1239
01:57:41,360 --> 01:57:47,360
Not now.
>> Why? that's up for them to vote.

1240
01:57:44,800 --> 01:57:51,440
» Well, they people will come to the polls
that and they won't be informed

1241
01:57:49,920 --> 01:57:56,159
about what they're voting for.
>> We can't baby

1242
01:57:54,080 --> 01:58:00,800
40,000 people.
>> I mean, like

1243
01:57:58,480 --> 01:58:05,239
Mr. Lewis, he said that they elected us
to make tough decisions. Amen.

1244
01:58:06,719 --> 01:58:13,280
» So many so many people vote that are not
taxpayers to but as far as property

1245
01:58:12,320 --> 01:58:15,920
taxes.
>> True.

1246
01:58:13,679 --> 01:58:19,280
» And I you know I want to see our school
system succeed. I mean I think all of us

1247
01:58:18,560 --> 01:58:26,000
want that.
>> Yeah.

1248
01:58:21,360 --> 01:58:30,560
» But I just I'm up in the air about it.
I think that

1249
01:58:28,320 --> 01:58:35,360
we can get it done. I think first step
would be get rid of Pinnacle. I'm just

1250
01:58:32,880 --> 01:58:40,960
being straight honest. I' I've been
harsh on them for several months now and

1251
01:58:37,360 --> 01:58:44,239
it's they work for Jackson County and
they need to get us what we've asked

1252
01:58:42,400 --> 01:58:47,119
for. If they can't do it, they need to
go on down the road and we can hire

1253
01:58:45,520 --> 01:58:50,560
somebody else that can.
>> I I agree. You know, I'm I'm 100% behind

1254
01:58:49,679 --> 01:58:54,960
that.
>> So, I mean, there's no reason

1255
01:58:53,840 --> 01:58:57,119
that
>> they they knew up front how much money

1256
01:58:56,480 --> 01:59:01,040
we had.
>> Exactly. They told us they could do it

1257
01:58:58,960 --> 01:59:06,880
for that amount of money.
>> So now they're throwing all these wild

1258
01:59:03,199 --> 01:59:11,360
numbers at us and you know we either
build it for what you said and I know

1259
01:59:08,960 --> 01:59:13,119
there's some inflationary numbers that
come in

1260
01:59:11,760 --> 01:59:19,599
» the job. They wanted the job.
>> Yeah. Or we'll go get somebody else.

1261
01:59:17,280 --> 01:59:24,400
» Yeah. I mean the schools that are being
built are pre-cast. Is that right? And

1262
01:59:22,719 --> 01:59:28,880
that saves money.
>> Yeah. So the design you know that has

1263
01:59:26,800 --> 01:59:33,920
been brought before with with the
numbers is not pre-cast. So that if you

1264
01:59:31,280 --> 01:59:40,560
go pre-cast option it is cheaper to do
that. Um you know Vanoi has said that

1265
01:59:37,679 --> 01:59:44,639
that the steel is going up about 3 or 4%
a month. You know it's because right now

1266
01:59:42,880 --> 01:59:48,719
it's kind of volatile. But
>> so it if it's cheaper to do the

1267
01:59:46,639 --> 01:59:52,560
pre-cast, we've been asking them to drop
the price. Why haven't they suggested

1268
01:59:50,719 --> 01:59:57,199
that? Have they have they suggested
that?

1269
01:59:54,560 --> 02:00:02,080
There has been discussions between
Vanoi. Vanoi has asked that of the

1270
02:00:00,320 --> 02:00:06,960
designer, but they've not come back with
any any mockup. The designer does stuff

1271
02:00:04,719 --> 02:00:11,520
and they keeping we're not going to give
that to you.

1272
02:00:07,520 --> 02:00:16,239
» I got I got a question. If if the the
money that they have, when was it? Was

1273
02:00:13,840 --> 02:00:21,280
it in the spring that we had to break
ground on doing something or they would

1274
02:00:18,719 --> 02:00:23,840
lose that money? No, it's not until
next.

1275
02:00:22,560 --> 02:00:26,960
» Next September.
>> Next September 27th.

1276
02:00:25,199 --> 02:00:31,360
» Okay, then why can we not go with
keeping it off the ballot this year and

1277
02:00:29,280 --> 02:00:36,960
let's back up and punt if they can wait
that long on them and hold that money

1278
02:00:33,920 --> 02:00:42,560
and see what other options we have to go
with.

1279
02:00:37,840 --> 02:00:46,560
» Has to be in a general
>> year be two year. If we don't ask this

1280
02:00:44,320 --> 02:00:48,000
year, it'll be two years during the next
regular election.

1281
02:00:47,119 --> 02:00:51,440
» I thought you said it had to be
September. That's when groundbreaking

1282
02:00:50,560 --> 02:00:54,800
is.
>> But we can only ask for a bond during a

1283
02:00:53,199 --> 02:00:57,760
normal election cycle.
>> Okay.

1284
02:00:55,520 --> 02:01:03,520
» And you know, even if it come in at 65
million, we've been accused for months

1285
02:00:59,840 --> 02:01:09,119
for having a general fund way more than
what we need. So I mean,

1286
02:01:07,440 --> 02:01:11,440
» what is that general fund sitting at
right now?

1287
02:01:10,159 --> 02:01:17,960
» It's about 31.
>> 31. And what's the 25%

1288
02:01:14,639 --> 02:01:17,960
that we

1289
02:01:18,080 --> 02:01:24,159
probably.
>> So, we don't have a ton of money above

1290
02:01:22,719 --> 02:01:28,239
what
>> and then is there any money in article

1291
02:01:26,480 --> 02:01:35,360
46
two

1292
02:01:29,440 --> 02:01:38,360
» there is money in the sales tax reserves
there?

1293
02:01:38,719 --> 02:01:42,119
» Well, currently

1294
02:01:42,639 --> 02:01:47,920
» keep in mind SEC is still part of that
as well.

1295
02:01:45,520 --> 02:01:52,400
» That's correct.
part of that's already allocated for

1296
02:01:50,400 --> 02:01:58,040
them.
>> Yeah.

1297
02:01:54,239 --> 02:01:58,040
» 3.6 million

1298
02:01:59,760 --> 02:02:07,599
or 46
and then 42 and 44 combined.

1299
02:02:05,920 --> 02:02:10,599
» Would you speak into the microphone,
please?

1300
02:02:11,599 --> 02:02:22,960
» Got $3.6 million in article 46. Some of
that money will have is used to pay the

1301
02:02:17,199 --> 02:02:31,440
debt on the SEC project and on the
other articles got 5.6 million

1302
02:02:28,400 --> 02:02:37,040
» and that has been built into the plan we
originally had to fund the projects that

1303
02:02:34,960 --> 02:02:41,280
we had talked about.
>> That's pretty much already allocated

1304
02:02:39,599 --> 02:02:45,159
that 5.6.
>> Yes.

1305
02:02:42,159 --> 02:02:45,159
» Okay.

1306
02:02:45,199 --> 02:02:50,239
And the 15 million we're borrowing that,
right?

1307
02:02:48,239 --> 02:02:54,719
» That's correct.
It could be borrowing in combination of

1308
02:02:53,280 --> 02:03:00,719
sales tax.
>> Do you know how much uh reserve the

1309
02:02:58,159 --> 02:03:03,679
school board has in their general fund?
>> I don't at this time.

1310
02:03:02,320 --> 02:03:07,199
» Dana, I [clears throat] put you on the
spot. Do you know how much that money

1311
02:03:06,719 --> 02:03:11,159
» balance?
>> Your fund balance in general.

1312
02:03:11,840 --> 02:03:18,840
between 2.6 and 2.8
>> 2.6 and 2.8. So less than three

1313
02:03:20,275 --> 02:03:22,295
[snorts]

1314
02:03:27,199 --> 02:03:36,560
» there motion. I I want the projects to
continue, but I think we've got adequate

1315
02:03:32,800 --> 02:03:39,599
money to finish these projects even even
if we don't do these

1316
02:03:37,679 --> 02:03:43,440
» the current projects without adding any.
>> Correct.

1317
02:03:40,639 --> 02:03:48,320
» Even if we don't do these fields and all
this other

1318
02:03:45,280 --> 02:03:53,280
nice stuff that would have been nice,
but

1319
02:03:51,040 --> 02:03:57,360
um
there's money there. There's $60

1320
02:03:54,719 --> 02:04:00,480
million. We give them that $60 million
at the very very beginning. They knew

1321
02:03:58,960 --> 02:04:05,320
what we had.
>> They said, "Oh, we can get it 40

1322
02:04:02,000 --> 02:04:05,320
something million."

1323
02:04:05,840 --> 02:04:12,239
» That really
aggravates me to death.

1324
02:04:09,440 --> 02:04:15,599
» Yeah, it eats at me, too. So,
>> you know, I think they let us on to get

1325
02:04:14,639 --> 02:04:19,360
the job. So,
>> I do too. And it's been a it's been

1326
02:04:17,440 --> 02:04:22,800
going on and on and on for
>> over two years.

1327
02:04:20,239 --> 02:04:28,400
» Uh two years. And the money's just been
sitting there. And I think Commissioner

1328
02:04:26,000 --> 02:04:31,599
Humper's very first
times we might have had a a joint

1329
02:04:30,159 --> 02:04:34,480
meeting, you mentioned a three-story
building because of the footprint,

1330
02:04:33,360 --> 02:04:36,880
» right?
>> And they said it wasn't feasible.

1331
02:04:36,400 --> 02:04:39,920
» Yeah.
>> Well, it's way cheaper to go up than it

1332
02:04:39,360 --> 02:04:44,560
is out.
>> I mean, in this situation, it is because

1333
02:04:42,000 --> 02:04:51,599
it's been brought up tonight and it's no
secret the side is rock. Um,

1334
02:04:49,599 --> 02:04:58,320
there's some rock there, but we're in
the mountains. We spent

1335
02:04:54,960 --> 02:05:01,679
a year plus picking that site.
>> How many sites we look at?

1336
02:05:00,400 --> 02:05:05,360
» 13.
>> I thought it was 13. Somebody said 12

1337
02:05:03,840 --> 02:05:09,679
and somebody said 18. So, I'm not sure
what the real number is.

1338
02:05:08,159 --> 02:05:14,320
» 13.
>> You know, I didn't necessarily like the

1339
02:05:11,360 --> 02:05:17,440
site because the folks in my district
having to go all the way across town.

1340
02:05:16,880 --> 02:05:21,280
Um,
>> but trying to put it somewhere in the

1341
02:05:18,800 --> 02:05:26,159
middle for Blue Ridge and then for yours
too. I agree. Y'all are both way out.

1342
02:05:23,679 --> 02:05:31,679
Still way out.
So, I just feel like we can get these

1343
02:05:29,040 --> 02:05:36,480
these things done if
Pinnacle can't get us the numbers by

1344
02:05:33,520 --> 02:05:40,239
this week that we've asked for. I know
that's a short timeline, but hey,

1345
02:05:38,239 --> 02:05:44,880
they've had two years. Yeah, they
they've had a lot longer than

1346
02:05:42,480 --> 02:05:50,000
» uh so
I I just they should be able to take

1347
02:05:47,440 --> 02:05:53,840
Swain's footprint, make it a little bit
bigger, whoever that is that's doing it.

1348
02:05:52,239 --> 02:05:57,920
And I know we probably have a little bit
more sight prep.

1349
02:05:55,920 --> 02:06:04,639
Even if you add 20 million on to that's
$68 million for 20,000 more square foot

1350
02:06:01,599 --> 02:06:11,119
and a little bit more sight prep. That's
$8 million difference that

1351
02:06:08,159 --> 02:06:16,000
surely to God this county that's got
millions sitting around, we could come

1352
02:06:12,960 --> 02:06:20,159
up with $8 million gap for that to get
it done. And it probably wouldn't be

1353
02:06:18,320 --> 02:06:25,360
this board anyway. It would be the next
board. It would be the next board for

1354
02:06:22,560 --> 02:06:29,360
any of this.
So

1355
02:06:26,639 --> 02:06:34,000
» the bond order is for a maximum amount
of 105 million.

1356
02:06:31,440 --> 02:06:36,560
» You don't have to borrow. That's way too
much money.

1357
02:06:34,880 --> 02:06:42,639
» That's outrageous. Um,
>> and it's includes those projects, but

1358
02:06:39,679 --> 02:06:48,000
it's not limited to those projects. So,
you could do something at another school

1359
02:06:45,520 --> 02:06:52,639
if needed.
>> Our schools are very outdated, but we

1360
02:06:50,239 --> 02:06:58,239
need to have we need to develop just
like parks and recck does. We have

1361
02:06:54,639 --> 02:07:02,400
master plan and you're you just go
through the plan and doing this doing

1362
02:06:59,840 --> 02:07:06,239
that doing this doing that instead of
trying to

1363
02:07:04,800 --> 02:07:10,400
trying to do it and the reason we done
it there again it falls back to pinnacle

1364
02:07:08,159 --> 02:07:16,480
we tried to do all this because Pinnacle
was promising us the moon and then

1365
02:07:13,599 --> 02:07:24,400
where's it at
I'm just I'm real aggravated with them

1366
02:07:21,199 --> 02:07:30,599
they can smile they can talk Good talk.
But if they can't give us the numbers we

1367
02:07:26,320 --> 02:07:30,599
need, they need to go on down the road.

1368
02:07:33,040 --> 02:07:40,313
» Motion
motion you want. Whatever motion y'all

1369
02:07:38,719 --> 02:07:42,333
want.
[snorts]

1370
02:07:47,360 --> 02:07:50,360
And

1371
02:07:51,760 --> 02:08:01,119
I think we could keep trucking on the
projects that we've got and

1372
02:07:58,880 --> 02:08:05,679
continue on with the middle school as
planned. And if they can't get us what

1373
02:08:04,000 --> 02:08:12,159
we need, we'll go somewhere else and
find it because there's no reason why we

1374
02:08:09,360 --> 02:08:17,440
can't if Swain County can build one for
48 million, there's no reason we can't

1375
02:08:13,840 --> 02:08:24,239
build one for $12 million more.
When did Swain start the process?

1376
02:08:22,560 --> 02:08:28,639
» I I don't know the date. I know that the
bids have gone out. They've got do have

1377
02:08:25,760 --> 02:08:31,360
a GMP at the 48. Did verify that today.
>> Then they get the they got a grant for

1378
02:08:30,320 --> 02:08:34,800
theirs as well. Yeah.
>> And it was right around the same time.

1379
02:08:33,599 --> 02:08:38,239
» This the same amount. Yeah.
>> Yeah. I think it's the same time, same

1380
02:08:36,239 --> 02:08:41,599
amount. They may have got theirs a few
months.

1381
02:08:40,159 --> 02:08:44,880
» It was announced that they got theirs a
few months before ours. But

1382
02:08:43,280 --> 02:08:46,960
» I don't want to lose this grant. I mean,
I don't either. I mean that that puts us

1383
02:08:46,560 --> 02:08:50,960
way behind.
>> I want to be very clear on that. I I

1384
02:08:48,960 --> 02:08:56,079
want to go ahead with the the middle
school, but I think looking at other

1385
02:08:52,719 --> 02:09:02,000
projects and saying, well, 48 million
and we're just for the school, we're at

1386
02:08:59,280 --> 02:09:06,880
79 million,
something ain't adding up here.

1387
02:09:03,599 --> 02:09:13,520
Something's wrong with these numbers.
Um, so that's just where I stand. I I

1388
02:09:10,400 --> 02:09:21,679
support the school system. I support our
middle school. um going forward with

1389
02:09:16,239 --> 02:09:27,040
that. But I at this point I've
I just I just don't think that the tax

1390
02:09:24,320 --> 02:09:28,880
burden on the people's the right thing
to do.

1391
02:09:28,000 --> 02:09:34,719
» Amen.
>> I agree.

1392
02:09:31,679 --> 02:09:37,920
» Totally agree.
>> I'm sure I'll get backlash over with

1393
02:09:36,400 --> 02:09:42,400
that.
We've we've spent a lot of money, a lot

1394
02:09:39,760 --> 02:09:44,560
of time, a lot of money on getting these
schools.

1395
02:09:43,199 --> 02:09:46,400
» Matter which way it goes, we're all
going to get backlash one way or the

1396
02:09:46,079 --> 02:09:52,079
other.
>> Um, we've spent eight on middle school.

1397
02:09:50,320 --> 02:09:57,040
I It's allocated, so might as well just
say spend.

1398
02:09:53,440 --> 02:10:04,320
» We going to spend 15 million in Blue
Ridge. We spent seven How much Fairview?

1399
02:10:03,040 --> 02:10:10,000
» Seven. Seven and a half.
>> Seven and a half at Fairview.

1400
02:10:07,599 --> 02:10:13,360
And we spent how much on the track?
>> Two and a half.

1401
02:10:11,599 --> 02:10:16,880
» So what does that add up to? Anybody got
a good number?

1402
02:10:15,760 --> 02:10:20,079
» I mean that's
>> What' you say again?

1403
02:10:18,800 --> 02:10:24,320
» I just want I just want
>> No, I know. What was the

1404
02:10:21,360 --> 02:10:34,560
» 33? Mike Mike's good. You said 33.
>> 3 Yeah. 15 plus. Yeah. So that's

1405
02:10:30,400 --> 02:10:41,119
$33 million that we've spent schools. I
think that's pretty darn good for

1406
02:10:37,520 --> 02:10:43,760
» um for our county. I'm proud of it.
>> Yeah.

1407
02:10:42,719 --> 02:10:47,199
» But
>> it's real good.

1408
02:10:44,719 --> 02:10:52,560
» I just uh I feel like the next board,
you guys

1409
02:10:50,000 --> 02:10:57,360
can take this at a phased approach. I
think you guys want to see all this

1410
02:10:54,639 --> 02:11:05,639
stuff done and do this at a phased
approach. The bus garage, the Smoky

1411
02:11:00,159 --> 02:11:05,639
Mountain stuff is needed. It's a need.

1412
02:11:07,599 --> 02:11:15,760
And even if you want to do fields at at
the at the uh middle school, that's that

1413
02:11:14,079 --> 02:11:19,159
can be done in phases. It don't have to
be done overnight.

1414
02:11:22,000 --> 02:11:25,239
There a motion.

1415
02:11:30,400 --> 02:11:37,920
I make a motion that we approve the $105
million general obligation school bonds

1416
02:11:34,719 --> 02:11:46,920
because I don't feel like
we're ever going to have this

1417
02:11:40,480 --> 02:11:46,920
opportunity again where we can set our

1418
02:11:47,920 --> 02:11:54,960
schools in a better place moving
forward.

1419
02:11:51,280 --> 02:12:00,719
» I make a motion that we deny it.
Uh, real quick, Darlene, how much are we

1420
02:11:57,760 --> 02:12:06,079
generating in article 46 and all those
other ones each year?

1421
02:12:04,320 --> 02:12:11,880
» I can get you those numbers.
>> Just to estimate. I ain't going [snorts]

1422
02:12:08,239 --> 02:12:11,880
to hold you to it.

1423
02:12:12,079 --> 02:12:17,920
» It's about seven to 10 million. Depends
on the year.

1424
02:12:17,040 --> 02:12:23,119
» Per year.
>> Yeah.

1425
02:12:19,679 --> 02:12:28,000
» There you have it. I mean, we got
>> some of it's committed already, too.

1426
02:12:24,880 --> 02:12:36,079
» Yeah, but there's still money there to
do each phase. Um, build the bus garage,

1427
02:12:32,960 --> 02:12:42,840
build the
uh Smoky Mountain High School ADA stuff.

1428
02:12:39,840 --> 02:12:42,840
Um,

1429
02:12:43,520 --> 02:12:51,119
just we need to we need to take a step
back

1430
02:12:48,079 --> 02:12:54,480
and focus on
And I ain't saying stop the middle

1431
02:12:52,560 --> 02:12:59,760
school. Just focus on what we're doing
and go forward.

1432
02:12:57,599 --> 02:13:04,079
Because how long is this going to take?
How long is project going to take? We

1433
02:13:01,360 --> 02:13:07,199
got 60 now. How long is it going to
take?

1434
02:13:05,599 --> 02:13:09,040
» You mean when it started?
>> Yeah.

1435
02:13:07,599 --> 02:13:14,639
» It'll be, you know, it's a two-year
project, but that's only after it bids.

1436
02:13:12,079 --> 02:13:21,280
So over time we're going to gain some of
this article 46 and others

1437
02:13:18,800 --> 02:13:26,880
and that
well when it goes out to GMP

1438
02:13:24,079 --> 02:13:32,639
from that point if we're annualizing
$7.5 million a year in both articles

1439
02:13:30,480 --> 02:13:37,360
let's say5 million because we know
something's going to go to SEC

1440
02:13:35,119 --> 02:13:43,840
that's $10 million is what we're going
to get. So by the time projects complete

1441
02:13:40,960 --> 02:13:46,560
then we would make up that six that $8
million that we're

1442
02:13:44,880 --> 02:13:50,239
» I'm just throwing out an estimate of $68
million.

1443
02:13:47,520 --> 02:13:53,040
» Yeah know but
>> well we would be close to the 19 million

1444
02:13:52,560 --> 02:13:57,360
that
>> that was one year is that what what you

1445
02:13:54,960 --> 02:14:01,840
said one year about $5 million.
>> Yeah. So

1446
02:13:59,360 --> 02:14:05,440
if it was 75 then three years recoup
that

1447
02:14:03,599 --> 02:14:14,000
» by that time the general fund will be
build up. Darlene be happy as can be.

1448
02:14:11,280 --> 02:14:17,903
» There's a second for either motion.
Keep giving her a headache. She's like

1449
02:14:15,920 --> 02:14:21,360
we retired.
[laughter]

1450
02:14:19,040 --> 02:14:26,960
I make a motion that we continue on the
projects that we've set to do

1451
02:14:24,159 --> 02:14:35,599
and plan to do
and put Pinnacle on notice. They can't

1452
02:14:30,159 --> 02:14:39,679
get us what we need. Find somebody else.
Three motions.

1453
02:14:38,239 --> 02:14:45,920
So there's a motion to proceed with the
$105 million bond.

1454
02:14:42,400 --> 02:14:51,840
What was your motion again, Miss Super?
>> To deny the request.

1455
02:14:47,760 --> 02:14:55,520
» Okay. So no [clears throat] bond.
>> It's okay. [laughter]

1456
02:14:53,280 --> 02:15:01,360
» I
Okay,

1457
02:14:58,400 --> 02:15:05,520
with no other motions, [sighs and gasps]
all those in favor of Miss Hoopers say

1458
02:15:04,000 --> 02:15:08,159
I. I
>> I

1459
02:15:07,360 --> 02:15:14,960
» I
>> opposed. I

1460
02:15:11,040 --> 02:15:18,920
motion does not or motion carries. Uh
with no need for legislation.

1461
02:15:19,280 --> 02:15:24,679
Is there a motion to adjurnn our regular
meeting?

1462
02:15:25,840 --> 02:15:28,698
» We are. [laughter]

1463
02:15:28,880 --> 02:15:33,840
» All right. Oh, we got another meeting.
>> We got a whole another meeting. Now

1464
02:15:32,400 --> 02:15:40,520
we're
>> got a work session.

1465
02:15:36,239 --> 02:15:40,520
» That's what all these people's here for.

1466
02:15:44,880 --> 02:15:51,159
» Thank you board.
>> Thank you.

1467
02:15:53,119 --> 02:15:56,119
» Okay.

1468
02:15:56,239 --> 02:16:02,000
Go ahead and call our work session to
order.

1469
02:15:59,679 --> 02:16:07,520
First up this evening, we have uh Jody
Rowald

1470
02:16:03,520 --> 02:16:11,920
from rec recovery housing support and uh
here for recovery housing support and

1471
02:16:09,920 --> 02:16:15,320
substance use prevention coordinator for
our health department.

1472
02:16:19,760 --> 02:16:27,040
» Okay.
>> Good evening. Thank y'all for having us.

1473
02:16:24,960 --> 02:16:31,440
We're um excited to be here tonight to
share some updates on how the opioid

1474
02:16:29,599 --> 02:16:39,599
settlement funds have been spent over
the last year and also to ask for some

1475
02:16:35,359 --> 02:16:48,319
um additional funding to be released.
So since thank you since July of 2025

1476
02:16:45,760 --> 02:16:53,439
the county funded um three different
priorities. So we funded recovery

1477
02:16:50,800 --> 02:16:59,120
support services, early intervention and
prevention and also nlloxxone

1478
02:16:56,000 --> 02:17:04,160
distribution throughout last year. So
from July 2025 through June 30th of

1479
02:17:02,479 --> 02:17:10,160
2026,
75 individuals with opioid use disorder

1480
02:17:07,120 --> 02:17:15,120
connected to services. 32 students
received substance use prevention and

1481
02:17:12,000 --> 02:17:20,639
intervention services and over 1,400
nlloxxone distrib kits were distri dist

1482
02:17:17,519 --> 02:17:26,319
distributed within the county.
I do want to give a thank you to Jod the

1483
02:17:23,280 --> 02:17:30,639
opioid settlement council um and the
organizations that provided these

1484
02:17:28,639 --> 02:17:36,639
resources to our community for all their
hard work and dedication.

1485
02:17:33,760 --> 02:17:40,359
And now Jod is gonna share about our new
proposal we have.

1486
02:17:42,559 --> 02:17:50,639
» Hello. Um so we are looking at a new
strategy. So this is under the opioid

1487
02:17:48,559 --> 02:17:56,080
settlement memorandum of agreement. So
it's recovery housing support. Um so

1488
02:17:53,920 --> 02:18:00,080
this is funding um programs offering
recovery housing support to people in

1489
02:17:57,760 --> 02:18:06,479
treatment or recovery or people who use
drugs such as assistance with rent move

1490
02:18:02,800 --> 02:18:09,920
in deposits or utilities or to fund um
recovery housing programs to provide

1491
02:18:08,319 --> 02:18:16,399
housing to individuals receiving
medication assisted treatment for opioid

1492
02:18:12,000 --> 02:18:20,399
use disorder. Um so um we as a county
have been facing ongoing opioid and

1493
02:18:18,639 --> 02:18:25,599
substance use challenges. We have
housing instability. um we have limited

1494
02:18:23,040 --> 02:18:30,960
long-term recovery support. So, one of
the gaps continue to see is what happens

1495
02:18:27,840 --> 02:18:36,080
when someone is trying to get stable,
right, trying to receive treatment um

1496
02:18:34,000 --> 02:18:41,920
but doesn't have a safe or structured
place to live. Um, so if they leave

1497
02:18:38,639 --> 02:18:47,679
treatment or they leave direct jail or
prison or crisis care, they go right

1498
02:18:44,559 --> 02:18:53,280
back into the same environment. Then,
um, it's really hard for them to find

1499
02:18:50,080 --> 02:18:59,760
work, to get a driver's license, um, to
find safe and stable housing, to access

1500
02:18:55,840 --> 02:19:07,040
medical care, um, and benefits, um, and
as well as other needed resources. Um,

1501
02:19:03,280 --> 02:19:14,240
so we're seeing about 69 residents um,
returning from prison every year. Um,

1502
02:19:10,960 --> 02:19:18,880
33% of those claim to have um, graduated
high school. We're seeing about half of

1503
02:19:16,559 --> 02:19:24,559
those folks are coming back in the
county and they're unhoused. They don't

1504
02:19:20,719 --> 02:19:28,719
have anywhere to go. Um, and we also are
continuing to see um, opioid overdoses

1505
02:19:27,040 --> 02:19:34,000
as well.
Um, so we have strong potential here to

1506
02:19:31,599 --> 02:19:40,040
support multiple houses, but intentional
outreach and dedicated local development

1507
02:19:36,080 --> 02:19:40,040
capacity are needed.

1508
02:19:40,719 --> 02:19:50,920
So,
so we've got a one pager on the um the

1509
02:19:46,080 --> 02:19:50,920
program that we're kind of looking at.

1510
02:19:50,960 --> 02:19:57,520
Um, so we're looking at recovery
housing. So the the need is not just

1511
02:19:55,680 --> 02:20:02,720
housing because we know that there is a
great need for housing in our county,

1512
02:19:59,920 --> 02:20:07,520
but the need is for safe structured
place for people who are trying to

1513
02:20:04,560 --> 02:20:12,640
stabilize in recovery. Without that,
people can leave treatment, they can

1514
02:20:09,359 --> 02:20:17,280
leave jail or prison, they go right back
um into the same environment. Um and so

1515
02:20:15,200 --> 02:20:21,040
it makes long-term recovery much harder
and it can lead to that cycle just

1516
02:20:19,120 --> 02:20:27,600
continuing. The recetivism rate is
really high. Um, those released from

1517
02:20:23,760 --> 02:20:32,640
detox to jail or prison are 40 to 129
times more likely to die of an overdose

1518
02:20:30,000 --> 02:20:37,040
within the first 14 days of their
release, but that doesn't really

1519
02:20:34,160 --> 02:20:42,392
diminish over time either. Um, and
that's due to lowered tolerance and then

1520
02:20:39,200 --> 02:20:47,040
that lack of continuity of care.
[snorts] So, recovery housing is

1521
02:20:44,000 --> 02:20:51,200
recognized by SAMA as best practice. And
this model is actually codified in

1522
02:20:48,960 --> 02:20:56,960
federal law as part of the Anti-Drug
Abuse Act of 1988.

1523
02:20:54,640 --> 02:21:02,080
So we're looking um to partner with
Oxford House.

1524
02:20:59,120 --> 02:21:07,439
So um these are houses that have been
around since um the program has been

1525
02:21:04,319 --> 02:21:12,240
around since 1975. They've got houses
all over the country. They have more

1526
02:21:09,120 --> 02:21:17,600
than 300 houses here in North Carolina.
They don't have any in western North

1527
02:21:14,080 --> 02:21:22,319
Carolina. The closest um office house is
in Asheville.

1528
02:21:19,359 --> 02:21:26,560
Um these houses operate democratically
electing house officers who serve

1529
02:21:24,080 --> 02:21:31,200
six-month terms. So these houses are
financially self-supporting. So members

1530
02:21:29,040 --> 02:21:39,200
of the house split the expenses which
average $110 to $160 per person per

1531
02:21:35,439 --> 02:21:44,640
week. Residents must either have secure
employment or they must receive

1532
02:21:41,359 --> 02:21:49,280
retirement or disability payments. any
resident who has a reoccurrence of

1533
02:21:46,560 --> 02:21:53,200
substance use will immediately be
expelled. So there's no substance use

1534
02:21:51,120 --> 02:21:58,880
allowed at the houses. Um the
eligibility to be a member one of these

1535
02:21:55,920 --> 02:22:03,840
houses um in Jackson County, we would
prioritize Jackson County residents that

1536
02:22:01,920 --> 02:22:10,800
are motivated to pursue recovery but
they lack that financial stability or

1537
02:22:06,800 --> 02:22:14,800
stable support system. Um it is that
individuals complete a treatment program

1538
02:22:12,800 --> 02:22:19,680
prior to entering an office house and
they must be substancefree for 13 or

1539
02:22:17,680 --> 02:22:23,040
more dates.
Um applicants have to go for an

1540
02:22:21,520 --> 02:22:28,319
interview with
>> test while they're in there.

1541
02:22:25,280 --> 02:22:33,040
» They I don't know the answer to that but
I know that there's a zero tolerance

1542
02:22:30,240 --> 02:22:37,359
policy. So I don't know about that but I
know that there's a zero tolerance

1543
02:22:34,399 --> 02:22:40,720
policy for for use. um they have to go
through an interview process with other

1544
02:22:38,960 --> 02:22:47,640
house members and the house members
there's like an 80% of house members

1545
02:22:43,280 --> 02:22:47,640
must accept this person as a roommate.

1546
02:22:51,040 --> 02:23:00,399
Um so um you can see in your handout um
the breakdown of their budget and how

1547
02:22:56,800 --> 02:23:08,080
the office has plans for sustainability.
So they are asking 165,000 for a year.

1548
02:23:04,319 --> 02:23:13,200
So this is special revenue funds that
are set aside for opioid settlement. So

1549
02:23:11,120 --> 02:23:17,600
these are funds that has started coming
into our county in 2022. They'll

1550
02:23:15,520 --> 02:23:21,040
continue to come into the county 2038
and beyond because of all of the

1551
02:23:19,439 --> 02:23:26,319
different newer settlements that are
happening. So this money is set aside

1552
02:23:23,439 --> 02:23:30,399
just for this purpose. So this is one of
the strategies that's in the MOA. The

1553
02:23:28,560 --> 02:23:35,680
money can't be spent on anything other
than these strategies. And so this is

1554
02:23:32,640 --> 02:23:41,600
one of the strategies. Um so they're uh
so this cost includes $12,000 in

1555
02:23:38,399 --> 02:23:46,960
one-time startup funds for two houses.
So they're looking to set up two Oxford

1556
02:23:43,680 --> 02:23:52,720
houses. So one male, one female. Um so
that would be six to 16 recovery beds.

1557
02:23:50,319 --> 02:23:58,240
Um, and the primary cost driver for this
startup is personnel because they would

1558
02:23:54,640 --> 02:24:04,000
need to send um, employees into the
county to secure the housing um, and to

1559
02:24:01,040 --> 02:24:09,120
to get everything started up. Um, equal
expense shared assistance is also part

1560
02:24:07,040 --> 02:24:15,439
of those upfront costs because the folks
that are coming into these houses, they

1561
02:24:11,760 --> 02:24:19,520
don't have employment yet. So there's a
period of time where they those expenses

1562
02:24:17,520 --> 02:24:23,280
are paid for them and then they have a
period of time where they need to look

1563
02:24:20,880 --> 02:24:27,520
for work or have secure disability
payments or retirement.

1564
02:24:25,600 --> 02:24:34,560
So these houses are designed to be self-
sustained. So once we have given you

1565
02:24:30,800 --> 02:24:37,680
know 165,000 for that one year there's
no more money that needs to come out of

1566
02:24:36,319 --> 02:24:42,720
the settlement funds for them because
their house will be sustained. Um, so

1567
02:24:40,479 --> 02:24:47,600
the goals of this project are to expand
recovering housing um, capacity in

1568
02:24:46,080 --> 02:24:53,040
Jackson County and to strengthen
recovery support and housing stability.

1569
02:24:49,840 --> 02:24:58,080
Um, and their timeline is once it gets
approved, it takes them between 90 and

1570
02:24:55,439 --> 02:25:02,319
120 days to hire staff and establish a
house.

1571
02:25:00,240 --> 02:25:06,479
So this evening, we're just here to ask
you to approve the release of the

1572
02:25:04,399 --> 02:25:11,040
$165,000
from the opioid settlement special

1573
02:25:08,240 --> 02:25:15,920
revenue fund over the next 12 months to
help meet an unmet need of supportive

1574
02:25:14,160 --> 02:25:20,080
recovery housing for Jackson County
residents.

1575
02:25:16,800 --> 02:25:26,560
» I I have a question. Um
I think y'all spoke about you had over a

1576
02:25:22,479 --> 02:25:30,479
million dollars to spend back of this.
Yeah, there's there's a lot of money

1577
02:25:28,240 --> 02:25:34,720
that's still there. So, we have
>> like what have you done with that

1578
02:25:32,399 --> 02:25:40,000
» with the money so far? So, um at the
beginning um so Megan went over what we

1579
02:25:37,680 --> 02:25:45,760
had um spent so far at the beginning.
So, last year you all moved um to

1580
02:25:43,280 --> 02:25:49,120
support uh Sunrise Community Recovery
and Wellness and so they have moved into

1581
02:25:47,600 --> 02:25:55,760
the county. They have a peer support
center. Um, and then Life Challenge of

1582
02:25:52,399 --> 02:25:59,600
Western North Carolina has continued to
be sustained. So, they have been able to

1583
02:25:57,600 --> 02:26:02,399
help 75 folks over this year.
>> 75. Okay.

1584
02:26:00,319 --> 02:26:05,760
» Yeah. Just this first year. Um,
>> I wondered if that's what that part of

1585
02:26:04,080 --> 02:26:07,359
the money was for. I wasn't sure. So,
I'm sorry you're having to repeat

1586
02:26:07,040 --> 02:26:11,359
yourself.
>> No, no, no. That's okay. Yeah. So, so

1587
02:26:09,280 --> 02:26:16,800
yeah. So, we've helped um 75 folks with
opioid use disorder, 32 students, and

1588
02:26:14,319 --> 02:26:20,000
we've distributed over 1,400 in the
lockdown. So obviously,

1589
02:26:18,240 --> 02:26:24,000
» and these are Jackson County residents.
>> These are Jackson County residents. Yes.

1590
02:26:22,080 --> 02:26:28,479
Yeah. So, and we don't know how many
lives have been saved in the lives.

1591
02:26:26,560 --> 02:26:32,160
» You know, um because we've only had
three overdoses reported, but that

1592
02:26:30,560 --> 02:26:35,280
doesn't mean there have been other ones
unreported, right?

1593
02:26:33,359 --> 02:26:40,000
» Because the majority of, you know, of
responses are citizens that are

1594
02:26:37,520 --> 02:26:45,000
responding, and so we don't always know,
but at least we know that that this is

1595
02:26:42,000 --> 02:26:45,000
working.

1596
02:26:46,479 --> 02:26:53,680
I think it's a great great asset.
>> Where's the houses come from? You said

1597
02:26:51,359 --> 02:26:59,200
they set up a
>> So they right they come into the

1598
02:26:55,439 --> 02:27:03,359
community and they talk with landlords
um and they look to you know also to you

1599
02:27:01,840 --> 02:27:08,880
know they there's a possibility of
purchasing homes. So

1600
02:27:07,200 --> 02:27:13,200
» here's
there's a lot you know backand support.

1601
02:27:11,040 --> 02:27:18,000
I I know but I'm that's what I wondered
if there support two houses where where

1602
02:27:16,640 --> 02:27:23,040
the houses come from
>> right

1603
02:27:20,240 --> 02:27:27,760
» what ideas you guys have about problem
you got

1604
02:27:25,120 --> 02:27:34,560
» we actually talk about that they're
going to look at I'll let you talk

1605
02:27:31,439 --> 02:27:39,439
» Sure um so you know there are a couple
of areas um that have been noted as some

1606
02:27:37,439 --> 02:27:44,399
problem areas we're going to go visit
those areas and kind figure out, you

1607
02:27:41,840 --> 02:27:48,960
know, how we can help. Um, we don't have
needle exchange at, uh, the health

1608
02:27:46,640 --> 02:27:53,200
department. The only, um, entity that
comes into the county to do that is

1609
02:27:51,280 --> 02:27:59,359
WindCap, and they only come in Wednesday
afternoons from 1 to 4, and they are

1610
02:27:55,600 --> 02:28:02,240
parked at Blue Ridge. Um, and so we, you
know, I could reach out to them, talk to

1611
02:28:00,880 --> 02:28:07,359
them, and see if there's a different
location that maybe they could go to,

1612
02:28:04,880 --> 02:28:11,920
um, that we're seeing more of an issue.
Um, we have talked to folks about um,

1613
02:28:09,680 --> 02:28:15,359
placing needle receptacles. The only
problem with that is statistics. So, who

1614
02:28:13,840 --> 02:28:18,720
goes to those places?
>> That kind of people that use drugs and

1615
02:28:17,280 --> 02:28:22,800
do needles, they're not going to be
responsible enough to go put it in a

1616
02:28:21,040 --> 02:28:26,880
proper receptacle. They're going to
throw it down wherever they're at

1617
02:28:24,560 --> 02:28:29,600
» or share it or whatever.
>> Think about who wants that in front of

1618
02:28:28,479 --> 02:28:32,560
their business or
>> Yeah. things like

1619
02:28:30,560 --> 02:28:36,160
» they're not going to go drop it off. I
think there are some options just in

1620
02:28:34,319 --> 02:28:38,720
terms [clears throat] of options where
we put some of these things.

1621
02:28:37,359 --> 02:28:44,160
» Some of these options some of these
buildings need to be demolished where

1622
02:28:41,600 --> 02:28:47,840
they're staying and throwing stuff out.
>> That's the option.

1623
02:28:45,439 --> 02:28:52,319
» Yeah, that's true. You use some of this
money and purchase some of those

1624
02:28:48,960 --> 02:28:56,479
locations and tear [snorts] them down.
>> But yeah, there's a lot of these places

1625
02:28:54,960 --> 02:29:01,600
where
people are squatting and they need help.

1626
02:28:59,840 --> 02:29:06,720
Don't get me wrong. They need this help.
But I don't I agree with you. [snorts] I

1627
02:29:04,240 --> 02:29:09,840
mean, when they're in that shape,
they're not going to take them either.

1628
02:29:08,160 --> 02:29:16,160
» I'm just thinking about the next high.
>> Yeah.

1629
02:29:11,520 --> 02:29:22,000
And we needed to
try to help with the root of it instead

1630
02:29:19,520 --> 02:29:25,160
of giving them a place to get rid of
their needles,

1631
02:29:25,760 --> 02:29:32,479
get them off of it.
>> Right. And that's what Sunrise and Life

1632
02:29:30,800 --> 02:29:37,280
Challenge are working towards, helping
folks with that. And then these recovery

1633
02:29:35,200 --> 02:29:41,840
houses will be that step down. So if
they go, for example, they go to Life

1634
02:29:39,680 --> 02:29:46,160
Challenge and they get treatment there,
then there's a step down. If if these

1635
02:29:44,160 --> 02:29:48,960
Oxford houses are allowed to be here,
then there's a there's a place for them

1636
02:29:47,840 --> 02:29:52,399
to step down to.
>> Yeah. Good. They're good homes. And

1637
02:29:50,800 --> 02:29:56,399
there's
um

1638
02:29:53,920 --> 02:30:01,600
place over in Tennessee. It's Christian
base, I think. I can't believe remember

1639
02:29:58,319 --> 02:30:08,399
what it's called, but um they're really
good, too, as far as bringing in homes

1640
02:30:04,080 --> 02:30:11,280
and stuff like that for and it's like a
two-year program, I want to say, for

1641
02:30:10,240 --> 02:30:14,319
that. I don't know how long.
>> There's a place like that down in

1642
02:30:12,399 --> 02:30:17,280
Franklin, but they only accept men.
>> Yeah, there's Yeah.

1643
02:30:15,439 --> 02:30:20,560
» Yeah. Men's Yeah. Men's Challenge of the
Smokies.

1644
02:30:18,560 --> 02:30:24,560
» This one's six to 12 months,
>> correct? in this facility and then it

1645
02:30:22,800 --> 02:30:27,760
would be
to the next location or hopefully

1646
02:30:26,560 --> 02:30:30,720
they're on their feet a little bit.
>> Right. The goal is to get them

1647
02:30:29,359 --> 02:30:33,200
independent
>> into what?

1648
02:30:32,000 --> 02:30:36,160
» To get them independent.
>> Oh, independent. Okay. How long did you

1649
02:30:34,960 --> 02:30:40,960
say it was? How long?
>> Um, it's just kind of depends on the

1650
02:30:38,319 --> 02:30:44,720
situation on on how where someone's at,
but it's about six to 12 months or so.

1651
02:30:43,200 --> 02:30:47,040
And then, you know, hopefully they're
independent. moving along and then

1652
02:30:46,640 --> 02:30:51,920
they're
>> work with the sheriff's office and

1653
02:30:48,960 --> 02:30:55,359
places like that for people that's
looking for help.

1654
02:30:53,120 --> 02:31:00,640
» Oh, sure. Yeah.
>> They need a good relationship there. But

1655
02:30:57,840 --> 02:31:05,760
that's that's where it starts. Mhm.
>> There's some people that, and I I know

1656
02:31:03,200 --> 02:31:12,439
this cuz I've got family and
>> a close family that's that's battled

1657
02:31:07,760 --> 02:31:12,439
with it for years and

1658
02:31:12,960 --> 02:31:18,800
» they're, you know, they're not just
going to go out here and walk out and

1659
02:31:16,880 --> 02:31:21,359
say, "I'm going to go get help. Got to
have a

1660
02:31:20,880 --> 02:31:24,319
fire."
>> Exactly.

1661
02:31:22,399 --> 02:31:30,319
» I had a half brother that lost his
battle with it years ago.

1662
02:31:27,280 --> 02:31:38,640
my my brother-in-law, he's uh well, I'm
not going to get into that, but it's um

1663
02:31:34,800 --> 02:31:42,000
» these people need help big time.
>> And they're good people,

1664
02:31:39,760 --> 02:31:46,080
» but they also have to be willing to want
to help theirel

1665
02:31:44,240 --> 02:31:50,240
work period. It don't matter what you
do.

1666
02:31:47,040 --> 02:31:55,680
» Underneath they're good people. And if
we have a good system set up for the

1667
02:31:52,640 --> 02:31:57,280
sheriff's office, offer them a future,
>> that's what we want,

1668
02:31:56,720 --> 02:32:02,560
» right?
>> We don't want to say, "Hey, let's just

1669
02:31:59,760 --> 02:32:04,479
let them out and roll down the road, you
know."

1670
02:32:03,040 --> 02:32:08,000
» Exactly. Yeah. And working with
community supervision as well. That's

1671
02:32:06,720 --> 02:32:12,720
really important because they're the
ones receiving these folks coming back

1672
02:32:10,240 --> 02:32:16,880
from from prison and they don't there's
nowhere for them to go. But so many of

1673
02:32:15,359 --> 02:32:20,960
them, they'll go and get help and then
they fall right back in the same rut

1674
02:32:18,720 --> 02:32:25,280
with the same friends, the same town,
the ones they're familiar with. And

1675
02:32:23,359 --> 02:32:29,040
» you know, nobody wants to see anybody
else do any better than them. So they

1676
02:32:27,280 --> 02:32:32,960
try to antagonize them and drag them
back down, you know, and it's it's

1677
02:32:31,200 --> 02:32:35,520
terrible, but it's a vicious cycle.
>> It is. Yeah.

1678
02:32:34,000 --> 02:32:39,600
» Something long term, something follow
them along to keep them on the right

1679
02:32:37,600 --> 02:32:43,120
track. But this is a good great start. I
mean I mean what y'all are doing is

1680
02:32:41,200 --> 02:32:48,479
great all the way around. So
>> thank you. Any anything helps that for

1681
02:32:45,439 --> 02:32:55,359
sure. And
the sheriff's done the uh

1682
02:32:51,920 --> 02:33:00,399
» Vivitrol program.
Are you guys overlapping with that or?

1683
02:32:58,720 --> 02:33:04,080
» No, but there would be, you know, if
folks were involved in that program at

1684
02:33:02,160 --> 02:33:08,000
the jail and they were being released
and they were going to continue that

1685
02:33:05,840 --> 02:33:11,040
program or go another route, I mean,
obviously this would be a great

1686
02:33:09,200 --> 02:33:14,399
placement for them. So if they're
continuing on this pivot trial, they can

1687
02:33:14,000 --> 02:33:16,000
y
>> continue and

1688
02:33:15,600 --> 02:33:20,720
» yeah,
>> this program will help them.

1689
02:33:17,920 --> 02:33:25,040
» Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. So there's no
they're not prohibited um if they're

1690
02:33:23,040 --> 02:33:28,800
receiving treatment, they're receiving
maintenance like Vivitrol or something

1691
02:33:27,200 --> 02:33:32,720
like that, they're not prohibited from
living at the house. They're they're

1692
02:33:31,120 --> 02:33:35,840
supported. So they'll make sure that
they get Yeah. They'll make sure that

1693
02:33:34,319 --> 02:33:39,920
they get their treatment.
>> Yeah. Regulation assisted therapies

1694
02:33:38,880 --> 02:33:44,200
probably [clears throat] crucial to
getting them clean. So

1695
02:33:41,200 --> 02:33:44,200
» yes,

1696
02:33:46,080 --> 02:33:51,600
» is there consensus or do we need to take
a vote?

1697
02:33:49,760 --> 02:33:54,720
» Agreed.
>> I'll need to present a budget amendment.

1698
02:33:53,359 --> 02:33:58,000
» Perfect.
>> That's what I was thinking.

1699
02:33:56,000 --> 02:34:01,600
» I think there is consensus to put this
on the next agenda.

1700
02:33:59,280 --> 02:34:03,040
» Okay.
>> Thank you ladies.

1701
02:34:02,399 --> 02:34:06,640
» Thank you.
>> Have a good night.

1702
02:34:03,680 --> 02:34:10,319
» Yeah. Appreciate what y'all are doing.
Next up, we have Miss Ash, our tax

1703
02:34:08,720 --> 02:34:14,560
administrator, talking [snorts] about
resolution in support of Senate Bill

1704
02:34:12,399 --> 02:34:19,439
349.
>> Good afternoon.

1705
02:34:17,600 --> 02:34:22,880
I hate that one gentleman left. I was
going to mention what we were doing for

1706
02:34:20,880 --> 02:34:27,040
the 2029 reappraisal, but he left before
I could get a chance to. Um, just for

1707
02:34:25,680 --> 02:34:30,640
information purposes, we're just out
there collecting data and ensuring our

1708
02:34:28,800 --> 02:34:34,640
data is correct for the 2029
reappraisal. We are not revaluing

1709
02:34:32,240 --> 02:34:38,399
properties until 2029. Just to be clear
on that. Of course, if you added a new

1710
02:34:36,640 --> 02:34:40,240
home or renovated or something, that
could be a little different,

1711
02:34:39,120 --> 02:34:44,960
» but we're not out there actually
reappraising. So,

1712
02:34:41,840 --> 02:34:47,200
» yes, you have I think probably at least
three of you.

1713
02:34:45,920 --> 02:34:50,000
» You skip my properties, please.
>> I think we already did yours.

1714
02:34:48,560 --> 02:34:54,000
» You can skip it, [laughter] I believe.
>> Yeah. Do it again. I'll do it again. Uh

1715
02:34:52,800 --> 02:34:57,840
I know
>> they're gonna add the Wii Park into

1716
02:34:56,720 --> 02:35:01,439
yours.
>> She knows mine's hard.

1717
02:34:59,280 --> 02:35:04,960
» We're gonna come for you. Good. I know
what what a lot of the issue is and

1718
02:35:02,960 --> 02:35:10,319
people don't realize is we do all of our
reappraisal in office now. It's all in

1719
02:35:06,960 --> 02:35:14,399
staff. There's 40,000 parcels in our
county takes what two hours to get from

1720
02:35:12,399 --> 02:35:18,479
one end to the other. And we have one
reappraisal filing. So if we didn't

1721
02:35:16,399 --> 02:35:23,600
start right after the one's done, we are
not getting a port the county visited.

1722
02:35:21,120 --> 02:35:30,080
» I think it's good to start three months
before. Well, we get about

1723
02:35:27,439 --> 02:35:33,200
» a quarter of one township maybe done.
Um, but either way, I just wanted to

1724
02:35:31,680 --> 02:35:35,840
mention that uh that we're not really
revaging. We're just making sure our

1725
02:35:34,640 --> 02:35:38,960
data is correct. A lot of these
properties we have not been to in

1726
02:35:37,280 --> 02:35:42,640
probably 10 plus years,
>> and we need to make sure the data is

1727
02:35:40,319 --> 02:35:46,080
correct. We had mentioned that um I know
you you two weren't part of a lot of our

1728
02:35:44,479 --> 02:35:50,080
previous reappraisal conversations, but
that was one of the things that got

1729
02:35:47,439 --> 02:35:52,560
brought up is how long has it even been,
you know, and we're like, we had even

1730
02:35:51,439 --> 02:35:57,120
really been to a lot of these properties
in a decade. So, um, it's it's much

1731
02:35:55,280 --> 02:36:01,439
needed. It's just a slow processing. We
do have one team.

1732
02:35:59,920 --> 02:36:04,479
» Your business yet?
>> You're It's in the town.

1733
02:36:03,280 --> 02:36:06,399
» It's in the town, right?
>> Yeah.

1734
02:36:04,800 --> 02:36:10,560
» We We haven't done the town just yet
because we did do the all the

1735
02:36:07,600 --> 02:36:15,760
municipalities last time before. So,
we're going to finish those off.

1736
02:36:12,800 --> 02:36:21,280
» I doubt we will get up to um Mr.
Jennings and um properties for this. We

1737
02:36:19,200 --> 02:36:24,640
will be for the next round. So,
>> I think it showed up last time.

1738
02:36:22,960 --> 02:36:27,600
» Yeah. Well, we showed up to yours
individually just because we checked all

1739
02:36:26,240 --> 02:36:30,319
of the commissioners to make sure
because we will get called out on that

1740
02:36:29,359 --> 02:36:33,920
for sure.
>> I I think I was I think number one.

1741
02:36:33,359 --> 02:36:39,399
» Oh,
>> yay.

1742
02:36:34,800 --> 02:36:39,399
» Oh, good. Well, you can't be

1743
02:36:39,680 --> 02:36:44,000
» when you go
number eight.

1744
02:36:42,720 --> 02:36:51,680
» No, we check everybody. We check
Darlings and Kevin and everybody else.

1745
02:36:47,280 --> 02:36:55,920
So, anyway, um got sidetracked there. Uh
so um I got a little something wrote

1746
02:36:53,840 --> 02:37:01,359
down here to go through because I got a
few points I want to mention. Um so uh

1747
02:36:59,200 --> 02:37:05,439
the main reason I'm here tonight is to
um see if this board is interested in

1748
02:37:03,520 --> 02:37:11,600
submitting a resolution in support of a
Senate bill that some positive

1749
02:37:08,160 --> 02:37:15,359
modifications to our property tax.
Other county boards are submitting a

1750
02:37:13,439 --> 02:37:20,080
similar resolution um to the general
assembly in hopes that we can get this

1751
02:37:17,200 --> 02:37:24,319
bill to get some movement behind it. Um,
before I discuss that, I'd like to give

1752
02:37:21,840 --> 02:37:27,439
just a little
and then talk about an upcoming

1753
02:37:26,000 --> 02:37:33,520
referendum that is completely separate
from that school bond referendum we just

1754
02:37:29,200 --> 02:37:37,840
talked about. And um those anymore I'm
trying to brief past it, but it is a

1755
02:37:35,120 --> 02:37:42,160
word on here. So separate referendum and
I give a little bit detail on that bill

1756
02:37:39,600 --> 02:37:47,280
that we're referring to
like this to Anna or anything Ferguson

1757
02:37:46,560 --> 02:37:51,840
» um
>> in the Senate.

1758
02:37:49,280 --> 02:37:55,280
or the house. Sorry.
>> Um, if you can get me a copy of this,

1759
02:37:54,160 --> 02:37:59,359
I'll send it to her.
>> The bill.

1760
02:37:56,080 --> 02:38:05,760
» Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
>> Yeah, I hope so. Um, so

1761
02:38:03,120 --> 02:38:10,000
» well, I'm let me go through my little
spiel here. So, currently the state

1762
02:38:08,160 --> 02:38:14,160
offers three homestead exclusions,
elderly and disabled, disabled veteran,

1763
02:38:11,920 --> 02:38:19,359
and the circuit breaker. The exclusions
are limited to both age and income of

1764
02:38:16,560 --> 02:38:23,600
course except for disabled veterans.
So every year there's around 10 bills to

1765
02:38:21,439 --> 02:38:28,160
have the general general assembly to
expand homestead exclusions. None of

1766
02:38:25,600 --> 02:38:33,120
them ever passed. Based on statute
history, the homestead exclusions have

1767
02:38:29,760 --> 02:38:36,880
not changed at all since 2009.
Um I also want to point out because I

1768
02:38:35,520 --> 02:38:40,960
get this a lot in my office. I don't
know if you do as well, but this board

1769
02:38:39,520 --> 02:38:44,319
has no control over the homestead
exclusions. Uh you can't modify them.

1770
02:38:42,880 --> 02:38:48,479
you can't change how they're set up. You
can do nothing about those besides hope

1771
02:38:46,399 --> 02:38:54,080
that the general assembly will make some
configurations to move that. Um, so we

1772
02:38:51,760 --> 02:38:58,800
do get that a lot with, you know, this
board didn't do homestead exclusions or

1773
02:38:56,080 --> 02:39:02,640
something like that. Um,
so I am also on a legislative committee

1774
02:39:00,880 --> 02:39:06,880
with several other assessors and we have
attempted to get real fast to expand

1775
02:39:04,880 --> 02:39:13,359
this exclusion program with zero success
as well. One of the options was to use

1776
02:39:09,840 --> 02:39:17,280
the HUD area medium median income. Uh
that was deemed unconstitutional because

1777
02:39:15,280 --> 02:39:22,000
of the uniformity clause because they
basically said it's got to be the same

1778
02:39:18,960 --> 02:39:25,200
statewide no matter what. Um to me that
is ignoring the fact that the incomes

1779
02:39:23,680 --> 02:39:29,439
and the property values can vary
drastically throughout the state. Um the

1780
02:39:27,520 --> 02:39:34,720
median household income in North
Carolina ranges from about 42,000 to

1781
02:39:32,160 --> 02:39:39,760
almost 100,000. Um, so they're lumping
all of those people in under the same

1782
02:39:37,359 --> 02:39:46,000
standard. Uh, there was also a bill
filed to add language to allow for them

1783
02:39:43,200 --> 02:39:52,160
use of the AMI and that also has not
moved at all. Um, I know this board also

1784
02:39:49,439 --> 02:39:55,520
submitted a resolution in February of 25
in the hopes of expanding that and I

1785
02:39:53,920 --> 02:40:03,280
don't think you heard anything back from
that either. Um, currently Jackson

1786
02:39:58,319 --> 02:40:08,640
County has 541 or 1.32% of our parcels
receiving the exclusion.

1787
02:40:05,840 --> 02:40:11,600
Uh, my office does not have any aid or
income information to know if there's

1788
02:40:10,160 --> 02:40:15,439
individuals currently in the county who
qualify and are not aware of the

1789
02:40:13,200 --> 02:40:19,200
exclusion. Uh, we took the information
out. Um, but most of the time that

1790
02:40:17,920 --> 02:40:23,600
people come in, they say either they
heard it from a neighbor or a friend or

1791
02:40:21,359 --> 02:40:29,040
someone else more than reading our tax
bill or going online or uh seeing the ad

1792
02:40:26,880 --> 02:40:32,960
in the paper. Uh, so we like to spread
the word as much as we can. So I like to

1793
02:40:31,359 --> 02:40:37,359
bring it up every time I can just to
make sure that if people do qualify for

1794
02:40:34,880 --> 02:40:41,040
the limited portion that we have
available that they are getting that

1795
02:40:39,439 --> 02:40:45,359
benefit.
Uh, one of the major limitations is

1796
02:40:43,600 --> 02:40:49,439
although the income limit increases
annually, the increase coincides with

1797
02:40:47,439 --> 02:40:53,040
the same increase individual see and
their social security payments. So,

1798
02:40:51,280 --> 02:40:58,080
they're required to increase it at the
same amount of those payments. So, if an

1799
02:40:55,760 --> 02:41:02,560
individual sole source of income is
social security and they're just over

1800
02:41:00,960 --> 02:41:07,760
that limit, they will likely never
qualify because their social security

1801
02:41:05,680 --> 02:41:13,520
payments are going up at the same amount
every single time. So, they're always

1802
02:41:10,800 --> 02:41:17,439
that window. Well, so usually new
individuals who qualify are just those

1803
02:41:15,439 --> 02:41:22,160
who are now new to meeting the age or
disability requirement, a spouse passes

1804
02:41:19,760 --> 02:41:26,479
away or they
had supplementary income coming in from

1805
02:41:24,479 --> 02:41:31,760
some job or source that they no longer
have.

1806
02:41:28,319 --> 02:41:38,160
So on the legislative side, uh the House
did um do a select committee on property

1807
02:41:34,560 --> 02:41:43,280
tax form that was created last year. The
committee's purpose was to that provide

1808
02:41:41,359 --> 02:41:49,040
property tax relief to taxpayers while
balancing potential impacts on local

1809
02:41:45,600 --> 02:41:54,720
government revenues. So after they went
through and listened to all things local

1810
02:41:52,080 --> 02:42:02,160
government uh they came up with two
propos what did you say?

1811
02:41:58,160 --> 02:42:07,439
Oh sorry uh they came up with two uh
proposals. One was an act to amend the

1812
02:42:04,640 --> 02:42:11,280
constitution to require to enact a
property tax levy limit. That is what

1813
02:42:09,520 --> 02:42:17,040
I'm going to talk about as a referendum.
And then an act to update and modify the

1814
02:42:14,000 --> 02:42:21,520
low-income housing exemption. So there
will be a referendum on the ballot in

1815
02:42:19,520 --> 02:42:25,760
November. The referendum will state the
general assembly shall enact general

1816
02:42:23,280 --> 02:42:32,800
laws limiting the amount by which the
levy of taxes on property may increase,

1817
02:42:29,600 --> 02:42:37,200
which may include exceptions. Um I
assume that referendum will likely pass

1818
02:42:35,359 --> 02:42:41,840
um because it states the result will be
to limit properties tax increases of

1819
02:42:39,439 --> 02:42:45,600
course. Um however there really is no
actual plan on how they plan to achieve

1820
02:42:43,840 --> 02:42:52,960
that limitation.
discuss um the uh something that NCACC

1821
02:42:49,760 --> 02:42:57,439
had trying to and you guys talked about
how they were kind of I don't know how

1822
02:42:54,880 --> 02:43:02,800
they plan to limit that but um so
there's really no plan there uh for how

1823
02:42:59,920 --> 02:43:06,560
they plan to achieve that. Um history
says they might not achieve anything

1824
02:43:04,560 --> 02:43:09,120
because that's just how normal things
go.

1825
02:43:07,359 --> 02:43:12,560
Based on the committee comments, the
referendum came about because

1826
02:43:10,640 --> 02:43:17,520
substantial increases in the tax base
were not always met with similar

1827
02:43:14,399 --> 02:43:23,760
decreases in the tax rate, especially in
municipalities. Uh we saw that a lot in

1828
02:43:19,920 --> 02:43:28,560
Wake County. Um so my concern, like I
just mentioned, is that nothing comes

1829
02:43:25,280 --> 02:43:32,319
from that. And my office and this board
takes the blame for a referendum that

1830
02:43:30,000 --> 02:43:38,000
passed that promised property tax levy
limits that never came to fruition. Um,

1831
02:43:36,080 --> 02:43:43,120
the modification to the lowinccome
exemption is is definitely needed

1832
02:43:39,920 --> 02:43:48,560
because law currently allow forprofit
owners to give a minimal percentage

1833
02:43:45,680 --> 02:43:52,880
ownership and I'm talking about 01%
ownership to a nonprofit and receive a

1834
02:43:50,880 --> 02:43:57,760
full tax exemption even though the
complex only has a limited number of

1835
02:43:54,479 --> 02:44:02,399
low-inccome units. Yes.
So, on to this bill. I'm hoping to get

1836
02:44:00,640 --> 02:44:07,120
this board support in creating a
resolution for Senate Bill 349, which

1837
02:44:04,960 --> 02:44:11,600
I'm hoping we can get some movement on
because it's a it's a good bill. Um,

1838
02:44:09,920 --> 02:44:16,080
this is separate from the referendum and
is specific to the homestead exclusion.

1839
02:44:14,000 --> 02:44:21,200
This bill really doesn't expand it like
I would like to, but it does address a

1840
02:44:18,319 --> 02:44:25,439
couple limitations. The main one that
will benefit our citizens expand is

1841
02:44:23,279 --> 02:44:29,840
expanding the income to help with what
we call the marriage penalty. So

1842
02:44:27,920 --> 02:44:35,439
currently the income requirement is the
same for individuals and spouses. So if

1843
02:44:32,640 --> 02:44:41,439
this were to pass um and you can see
right here it would increase the income

1844
02:44:39,760 --> 02:44:46,960
eligibility limit for a married couple
to 115% of the income limit. Um so that

1845
02:44:45,439 --> 02:44:51,439
would hopefully allow more married
couples to qualify. Um and based on the

1846
02:44:50,080 --> 02:44:54,560
applications that we had for married
couples, a lot of those that we did have

1847
02:44:52,960 --> 02:44:58,240
to deny because they were over have the
potential of being approved in that

1848
02:44:56,479 --> 02:45:03,120
scenario. So I think that that portion
would definitely benefit our citizens

1849
02:45:00,319 --> 02:45:08,560
and you know and take away that kind of
penalty. Um you know you can be married

1850
02:45:05,200 --> 02:45:13,439
and get you get less benefit. So um then
one of the other items in the bill we

1851
02:45:11,439 --> 02:45:19,040
don't really have anyone utilizing but I
think we could potentially in the future

1852
02:45:15,920 --> 02:45:22,160
um of the deferred taxes that people owe
back are owed back after the circuit

1853
02:45:20,640 --> 02:45:28,080
breaker with the circuit breaker
program. And so that program limits um

1854
02:45:25,520 --> 02:45:32,800
your tax bill percentage of your income.
So most people that qualify for the

1855
02:45:30,960 --> 02:45:36,000
normal are going to get the elderly
exemption just because it's probably a

1856
02:45:34,319 --> 02:45:40,319
better benefit. And then if you're over
that income up to a certain amount, you

1857
02:45:38,000 --> 02:45:44,000
can get it based on 5% of your income.
So basically that law is saying you

1858
02:45:41,840 --> 02:45:48,479
should be able to afford 5% of your
gross income in a tax bill. Anything

1859
02:45:45,840 --> 02:45:52,720
over that could be deferred.
But because our tax rate is so low for

1860
02:45:51,279 --> 02:45:56,640
the most part outside of maybe people
that are in municipalities, we don't

1861
02:45:54,399 --> 02:46:00,240
really have anybody that qualifies. And
then a lot of people are also not

1862
02:45:58,319 --> 02:46:02,720
interested when they realize that they'd
be leaving their children with a

1863
02:46:01,439 --> 02:46:05,279
deferred tax bill that they would have
to then pay back.

1864
02:46:03,840 --> 02:46:08,640
» No, that's what I was wondering. So a
deferred means when you sell it or when

1865
02:46:07,600 --> 02:46:12,319
you pass or
>> it's very similar to our present use

1866
02:46:10,160 --> 02:46:16,479
value program where if you know changes
in ownership or use then you could be

1867
02:46:14,560 --> 02:46:20,880
removing that program and then you owe
those previous amounts that you saved on

1868
02:46:19,200 --> 02:46:24,560
the tax bill. Now you won't be paying
back all of those years but you would be

1869
02:46:22,800 --> 02:46:29,920
paying a portion of those those years
which could definitely be a death to

1870
02:46:27,439 --> 02:46:33,200
especially a kid trying to come in with
resources

1871
02:46:30,479 --> 02:46:35,600
» taken people like the state and the
government. They probably be with

1872
02:46:34,399 --> 02:46:37,920
interest and penalty.
>> It will be.

1873
02:46:36,640 --> 02:46:41,520
» Oh, that's nice.
>> It absolutely will be.

1874
02:46:39,920 --> 02:46:45,279
» Your taxes, you're going to have to pay
a penalty.

1875
02:46:42,160 --> 02:46:49,040
» Yeah. Yeah, it absolutely will be. So,
um

1876
02:46:47,279 --> 02:46:54,880
so and hopefully we could get some more
interest in this program as well if that

1877
02:46:50,640 --> 02:46:59,760
portion would be um removed. Um,
so I know I threw a lot at you, but that

1878
02:46:57,760 --> 02:47:04,800
is really what I'm hoping that we can
um, and I've already sent up a similar

1879
02:47:02,000 --> 02:47:09,120
resolution to um, Kevin and Angie of
what it's just a simple resolution just

1880
02:47:06,880 --> 02:47:14,800
saying that the board would support
this. I mean, we can expand it to say

1881
02:47:11,439 --> 02:47:19,520
support other avenues or something like
that. But this one is actually a pretty

1882
02:47:17,040 --> 02:47:23,520
good bill and it's already out there and
I think it's something that would at

1883
02:47:21,279 --> 02:47:27,520
least cover a couple of the main issues
that we have with our current exclusion

1884
02:47:25,279 --> 02:47:32,399
which is helping a little bit with the
marriage penalty and then removing that

1885
02:47:29,760 --> 02:47:37,439
deferred tax penalty. I'll call for
those that qualify. I think us all that

1886
02:47:35,520 --> 02:47:43,279
are primary residents ought to be some
type homestead exemption and then the

1887
02:47:40,640 --> 02:47:48,479
folks up the mountain that are not
primary residents should have to pay

1888
02:47:45,200 --> 02:47:53,200
significantly more because they're the
ones that's driving our property values

1889
02:47:50,160 --> 02:47:55,520
out the roof. Nothing against the locals
up there at all. It's the ones that are

1890
02:47:54,960 --> 02:47:59,279
moving in.
>> Well, they're definitely trying to drive

1891
02:47:56,560 --> 02:48:03,680
drive them out. But um
>> billion dollar homes.

1892
02:48:00,640 --> 02:48:09,439
» Yeah. Yeah. I think we had $11 million
home sale not long ago. Um

1893
02:48:07,439 --> 02:48:14,080
yeah, I mean and they did discuss a lot
of different avenues in that committee.

1894
02:48:11,520 --> 02:48:18,399
Um so we'll see what they come up with
at you know at the end.

1895
02:48:15,439 --> 02:48:21,120
» They'll leave it up to the county.
>> We should be able to do

1896
02:48:20,000 --> 02:48:24,240
» well they'll have to get rid of that
uniformity

1897
02:48:22,960 --> 02:48:28,160
and that's really where it comes down
to. They want to make sure that all

1898
02:48:25,359 --> 02:48:33,600
counties are doing things they want to
do. This probably won't even pass.

1899
02:48:31,439 --> 02:48:37,840
I hope it does.
>> I I I believe that the referendum will

1900
02:48:35,680 --> 02:48:43,439
absolutely pass just because
>> Well, I mean, do you think it won't if

1901
02:48:41,680 --> 02:48:47,439
they say that the you know, they're
going to enact laws limiting the amount

1902
02:48:45,040 --> 02:48:49,200
by which the levy of taxes on property
may increase?

1903
02:48:48,319 --> 02:48:52,319
» I hope it does.
>> Yeah. I I mean, I would say that it

1904
02:48:50,640 --> 02:48:55,840
will. I don't know how they plan to
achieve that, but I mean, that's

1905
02:48:54,080 --> 02:48:58,399
» even Do they have
>> That's a referendum.

1906
02:48:57,040 --> 02:48:59,279
» It's a referendum. It will be on the
ballot.

1907
02:48:58,800 --> 02:49:04,160
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. even if the referendum passes.

1908
02:49:02,479 --> 02:49:07,680
» Basically, the referendum was saying,
"Yeah, we we support you doing that, but

1909
02:49:06,240 --> 02:49:09,920
we don't know what that means, how long
it may take, if it ever actually does

1910
02:49:09,520 --> 02:49:13,760
anything."
>> That's what I'm saying. [laughter]

1911
02:49:11,920 --> 02:49:17,920
» But because of that, you know, with
anything that they say is going to pass.

1912
02:49:16,640 --> 02:49:20,240
» Yeah. I believe the referendum will
pass.

1913
02:49:18,319 --> 02:49:24,640
» Yeah. It's going to come back from the
people who are the faces of those local

1914
02:49:22,960 --> 02:49:29,279
governments that are going to get the
complaints as to why why did I vote for

1915
02:49:27,520 --> 02:49:33,120
this and then enough to happen? and
that'll be this this board in my office.

1916
02:49:31,439 --> 02:49:36,720
I mean, you don't you you won't have to
deal with that. You know, they can I can

1917
02:49:34,800 --> 02:49:40,560
send them out to the your place of
business to complain to if you want.

1918
02:49:38,640 --> 02:49:44,319
» I think when you look at it, too,
they'll talk about the So, I think it's

1919
02:49:42,880 --> 02:49:47,760
going to happen pretty fast. If the if
the voters voted in November, the

1920
02:49:46,640 --> 02:49:50,560
general assembly is going to jump right
on it because they've already put a

1921
02:49:48,800 --> 02:49:53,760
moratorum against all everybody doing a
reevaluation in 27, right?

1922
02:49:52,399 --> 02:49:57,560
» Not everybody.
>> We had two exclus.

1923
02:49:57,680 --> 02:50:00,960
So
>> talk about uniformity,

1924
02:50:00,160 --> 02:50:04,479
» right?
>> There was several counties that were not

1925
02:50:02,720 --> 02:50:07,600
included in that and then I think
ultimately unfortunately that ended up

1926
02:50:06,160 --> 02:50:10,560
we haven't got all the data back but
being more of a detriment because most

1927
02:50:09,279 --> 02:50:15,439
of those counties ended up having to
increase their tax rate anyway. And so

1928
02:50:12,960 --> 02:50:19,439
it's really not sure if the between
changing the rates based on the new

1929
02:50:16,960 --> 02:50:25,359
values and increasing the rate and the
current value was a better

1930
02:50:22,080 --> 02:50:28,479
payoff or not. Um yeah, they did they
did put that into effect. I mean, it is

1931
02:50:27,120 --> 02:50:33,760
very possible they could move something
along. We don't know what that's going

1932
02:50:29,760 --> 02:50:38,160
to be and we're trying to, you know, I
can make some suggestions, but you know,

1933
02:50:35,520 --> 02:50:42,399
nobody cares about that opinion.
>> Nobody cares about us either. So,

1934
02:50:40,080 --> 02:50:49,920
» I see the sponsors and the co-sponsors.
Is our representative not co-sponsoring

1935
02:50:46,000 --> 02:50:54,040
that Kevin Corbin? Um, I don't believe
so on this one,

1936
02:50:54,479 --> 02:51:00,000
but we can definitely pass it along
along to

1937
02:50:57,840 --> 02:51:02,800
» it doesn't mean he won't add on. This
was in March 202.

1938
02:51:01,359 --> 02:51:05,439
» Yeah, it's an older one, but it's still
in an active session.

1939
02:51:04,319 --> 02:51:09,040
» It could have been added as a
co-sponsor.

1940
02:51:06,960 --> 02:51:12,960
» I hope so.
>> Yeah. [snorts]

1941
02:51:11,520 --> 02:51:20,120
So there's I mean there's been a lot
come through, but this one is one I

1942
02:51:15,840 --> 02:51:20,120
think could possibly maybe

1943
02:51:20,160 --> 02:51:27,359
» Yeah. Yeah. And it's it's not it's very
much fair and consistent for all. It's

1944
02:51:25,840 --> 02:51:32,720
not saying, you know, that we're going
to do some one way and do some another

1945
02:51:29,840 --> 02:51:36,000
way. And I think that you can look at
the numbers and usually see that we do

1946
02:51:34,399 --> 02:51:40,240
not have hardly anybody doing the
circuit breaker. Um, most of them I

1947
02:51:38,800 --> 02:51:43,120
think are in Wake County and there's
still not that many. I mean, we don't

1948
02:51:41,760 --> 02:51:46,880
have any. I don't think there's hardly
any in any surrounding counties. I would

1949
02:51:44,880 --> 02:51:51,279
say probably 80% of the counties, if not
more, don't even have an individual

1950
02:51:48,319 --> 02:51:55,120
doing it. Um, so it's really not a
successful program. I mean, the thought

1951
02:51:53,120 --> 02:52:00,000
is great that you have, you know, this
option to limit an amount and then defer

1952
02:51:57,279 --> 02:52:04,560
it over, but you know, even if you
qualified, the thought of having to pay

1953
02:52:02,960 --> 02:52:08,960
back those old taxes and especially
passing it on to your children, which is

1954
02:52:07,600 --> 02:52:11,680
more likely what people are going to do.
I mean, if they sold it, they probably

1955
02:52:10,160 --> 02:52:15,120
could care less. You know, if the new
owner had to pay for it, but you're

1956
02:52:13,439 --> 02:52:21,359
going to pass it on to your children,
which probably the case, then

1957
02:52:18,399 --> 02:52:27,600
it would be limiting. So,
>> but that's that's my spiel for this

1958
02:52:24,240 --> 02:52:32,160
afternoon. So, is there any interest in
us doing that? Okay, perfect.

1959
02:52:29,600 --> 02:52:36,240
» Absolutely.
>> All right. Oh, we'll be back.

1960
02:52:34,160 --> 02:52:40,240
» You want to add any modifications to it?
I mean, supporting this bill, but also

1961
02:52:38,080 --> 02:52:42,240
adding in the traditional homestead,
what y'all would consider?

1962
02:52:41,279 --> 02:52:44,800
» Yeah, we can add in whatever
>> primary primary resident.

1963
02:52:44,000 --> 02:52:48,640
» Absolutely.
>> Yeah, we could take a lot. we can mirror

1964
02:52:46,479 --> 02:52:55,040
a lot off of the original one that was
submitted and then add in um you know

1965
02:52:51,920 --> 02:53:00,479
that there's a current bill or I think
if we have I think the one that you sent

1966
02:52:57,520 --> 02:53:05,279
before was more just kind of generic you
know generic right is that right

1967
02:53:03,520 --> 02:53:10,479
» more just we would like to see so I
think if we um build on that and then we

1968
02:53:08,720 --> 02:53:14,314
have a specific at least bill to help
with the current tax exclusion that's in

1969
02:53:13,439 --> 02:53:16,399
place
>> [snorts]

1970
02:53:14,319 --> 02:53:20,160
» um but they they definitely did mention
about in that committee about offering

1971
02:53:18,479 --> 02:53:25,600
up some things for everyone that was in
one of the sessions. Did you hear that

1972
02:53:21,359 --> 02:53:30,160
one? So, it was considered what happened
of it. I don't know. So, um

1973
02:53:27,840 --> 02:53:33,120
» other states are already doing it. We're
basically the only one in the country

1974
02:53:31,760 --> 02:53:35,439
that doesn't.
>> Yeah.

1975
02:53:33,840 --> 02:53:38,880
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. A lot of counties do or a lot of

1976
02:53:37,040 --> 02:53:43,760
states do a lot of varying things, but
most of them do offer some kind of

1977
02:53:41,600 --> 02:53:46,560
better homestead exusion than we offer.
For sure. have a bunch of rental

1978
02:53:44,880 --> 02:53:48,399
properties. Those are not considered,
>> right?

1979
02:53:47,279 --> 02:53:52,960
» Residences,
>> right? Yeah. I think I I ran a numbers

1980
02:53:51,200 --> 02:53:57,760
just out of curiosity and I think
there's around 8,000

1981
02:53:55,920 --> 02:54:02,800
parcels probably if we look at people
with local addresses and take out the

1982
02:53:59,920 --> 02:54:07,279
multiple, you know, own properties um
that could potentially qualify for

1983
02:54:04,720 --> 02:54:13,600
something if more was offered.
Um so, but I don't know where that would

1984
02:54:11,439 --> 02:54:16,960
end. I mean, that would be great, but
right now, I'm just hoping that they'll

1985
02:54:15,040 --> 02:54:21,040
expand at least what we've got to offer
for now and then see what that committee

1986
02:54:19,520 --> 02:54:25,120
comes up with. That committee is still
going to continue to meet. Um, and I

1987
02:54:23,359 --> 02:54:31,520
know the NCAACCC is going to make
recommendations. Um, because I get

1988
02:54:28,160 --> 02:54:37,600
involved in a lot of that and and uh so
I think it says a lot when the to me

1989
02:54:35,279 --> 02:54:41,279
when the tax assessors are like, can we
do something a little bit more?

1990
02:54:39,466 --> 02:54:44,240
[laughter] I mean, you know, they're not
the people that you usually think are

1991
02:54:42,560 --> 02:54:48,800
the ones out here trying to fight for
them to expand a, you know, a benefit to

1992
02:54:46,720 --> 02:54:52,240
people, but um that's absolutely what
we've been doing. And I think they

1993
02:54:50,319 --> 02:54:57,279
started off a lot that committee did
talking about how can we keep people in

1994
02:54:53,840 --> 02:55:02,000
their homes and and then it just kind of
shifted away and I kind of want them to

1995
02:54:59,520 --> 02:55:06,399
pull it back back this way. But, uh,
we'll see where it, like Kevin said,

1996
02:55:04,160 --> 02:55:10,479
maybe they might they might have
something done in six months and we'll

1997
02:55:08,240 --> 02:55:14,640
have some kind of policy and as long as
it hopefully doesn't be to the detriment

1998
02:55:12,399 --> 02:55:18,479
of local governments and then we have no
you're so handicapped that you can't you

1999
02:55:16,640 --> 02:55:22,880
know hand you can't do anything then
that you know because they could come in

2000
02:55:21,040 --> 02:55:26,080
and say you know you have to adopt a
specific rate and if you don't adopt a

2001
02:55:24,560 --> 02:55:29,760
specific rate then you know you're going
to have a problem and that's one of the

2002
02:55:27,439 --> 02:55:35,200
things that we've talked about too. So,
um, but we'll just roll with that as we

2003
02:55:33,359 --> 02:55:40,160
as we get it. [laughter]
That's a conversation for a different

2004
02:55:37,040 --> 02:55:46,800
day. So, okay, good deal. I appreciate
you and we I will be back then in a

2005
02:55:42,319 --> 02:55:49,279
couple weeks with Angie's work on her
record.

2006
02:55:48,080 --> 02:55:52,960
» Thank you so much.
>> Thank you.

2007
02:55:50,800 --> 02:55:57,439
» Next up this evening, we have Miss Moore
again from the transit department.

2008
02:55:55,760 --> 02:56:00,880
» Is this a different night or is this the
same knot?

2009
02:55:58,880 --> 02:56:04,016
I'm I feel like I'm having deja
>> vu. [laughter]

2010
02:56:06,479 --> 02:56:12,120
Sleep [snorts] good.
>> We love you, Rene. We're just kidding.

2011
02:56:12,960 --> 02:56:19,120
» Logan,
this is transit, not part.

2012
02:56:16,080 --> 02:56:25,200
» Yeah, I'm not part.
>> Come on. He's He's sleeping back.

2013
02:56:22,560 --> 02:56:30,880
» He's ready to go home.
>> There we go. Stay until the end.

2014
02:56:28,240 --> 02:56:32,479
How are your ball fields, Miss Ray?
>> What?

2015
02:56:31,120 --> 02:56:36,880
» How are your ball fields?
>> What do you mean? My ball feels for park

2016
02:56:34,960 --> 02:56:39,387
recreation. I thought that was an absurd
question. [laughter]

2017
02:56:39,439 --> 02:56:47,439
» I was going to say I had a good lines to
start with. I'm changing gears here. I'm

2018
02:56:43,279 --> 02:56:52,800
talking about transit. Um anyway, I'm
not going to say a lot. Um as you can

2019
02:56:50,080 --> 02:57:01,200
see, there's a picture of of see if I
can get this word. Um I have to

2020
02:56:57,760 --> 02:57:05,439
Okay. Um, there's our group, our lovely
group, and we do have a full staff right

2021
02:57:03,120 --> 02:57:13,359
now, and that's a big deal. Um, because
it's been without that for a while. Um,

2022
02:57:09,920 --> 02:57:17,120
our, um, mission statement is to provide
dependable, regular, affordable

2023
02:57:15,040 --> 02:57:21,520
transportation for persons in Jackson
County by coordinating resources and

2024
02:57:19,680 --> 02:57:27,040
expertise within the local and state
governments, consumer agencies, and the

2025
02:57:24,399 --> 02:57:32,479
community. And I do like the vision
statement which is to be recognized as

2026
02:57:29,279 --> 02:57:36,560
the leading innovative resource in rural
mountainous transportation.

2027
02:57:35,120 --> 02:57:40,399
I'm not going to talk a lot lot about
the funding sources because we already

2028
02:57:38,479 --> 02:57:46,880
talked some about those earlier. The
5311 the 5310.

2029
02:57:43,200 --> 02:57:52,000
Um we do have this uh rope funding that
we get which provides transportation and

2030
02:57:50,640 --> 02:57:56,080
they'll break it down just a little bit
more here in in a minute. and and we

2031
02:57:54,000 --> 02:58:02,720
also get some help from block grant
services. We have contracts with DSS and

2032
02:57:59,600 --> 02:58:08,000
Medicaid um for Medicaid trips, both
rehab mountain projects, which we don't

2033
02:58:05,200 --> 02:58:13,520
do a lot with them at this time, and
local nursing homes that we provide

2034
02:58:10,160 --> 02:58:18,000
transportation for those as well. And we
get some funding of course because we

2035
02:58:15,520 --> 02:58:22,399
charge fairs and occasionally get
donations.

2036
02:58:19,520 --> 02:58:27,840
Um there again is the U community
transportation program the 5311 that I

2037
02:58:25,040 --> 02:58:36,000
talked about earlier and what that helps
us with. Um the rope program helps us

2038
02:58:32,319 --> 02:58:41,760
with just general public transportation
u somewhat with the elderly and disabled

2039
02:58:38,399 --> 02:58:47,439
transportation program employment
um somewhat supplements operating cost.

2040
02:58:44,399 --> 02:58:56,399
Um, we do use ETP as a match fund for
that 5310 grant that um, I talked about

2041
02:58:51,600 --> 02:59:03,680
applying for. The 5310 grant is a 50/50
grant. That's uh, 50% from federal and

2042
02:59:00,240 --> 02:59:09,840
50% from local. Um, and it really does
help a lot with with we put a lot of

2043
02:59:05,920 --> 02:59:16,560
people on that program that are over 65
or if they have disabilities and it

2044
02:59:13,600 --> 02:59:21,520
really it really does help them to get
the transportation that they need. The

2045
02:59:19,600 --> 02:59:28,479
block grant, we do get a little over
$20,000 a year for that on that uh

2046
02:59:24,560 --> 02:59:33,359
particular one. And we do a lot of um
a lot of the adult care trips. Um, we

2047
02:59:31,439 --> 02:59:39,200
have a whole group that goes every day.
We take them to and take them back home.

2048
02:59:36,240 --> 02:59:43,120
So, we use that a lot for that. This is
just a little breakdown of the staff. We

2049
02:59:41,279 --> 02:59:47,200
don't have big staff. We have, of
course, the director, the assistant

2050
02:59:44,720 --> 02:59:52,560
director. We have a dispatcher and an
operations manager. And of course, under

2051
02:59:49,840 --> 02:59:55,760
that is the drivers who are equally as
important.

2052
02:59:54,240 --> 03:00:00,479
Um,
the tab board. Right now, we have

2053
02:59:58,240 --> 03:00:09,800
currently we have 11 members. We have
room for more than that. We meet every

2054
03:00:03,680 --> 03:00:09,800
quarter, uh, four times a year. Um,

2055
03:00:10,000 --> 03:00:17,760
right now we have five full-time drivers
and six part-time drivers.

2056
03:00:15,279 --> 03:00:22,960
We have four full-time drivers with a
CDL with a passenger endorsement. We

2057
03:00:21,120 --> 03:00:29,680
only have two vehicles that require
that. Um, all the drivers, full-time and

2058
03:00:27,120 --> 03:00:35,520
part-time, have to go through a drug and
alcohol

2059
03:00:31,279 --> 03:00:40,080
testing. It is a pre-employment random.
We've never had to do a reasonable

2060
03:00:37,120 --> 03:00:48,240
suspicion thus far, thankfully. Um, or a
post accident, but everybody's in the in

2061
03:00:43,600 --> 03:00:53,920
the group for a random pool. And
those are not pulled by us. We send them

2062
03:00:50,880 --> 03:01:00,160
to a different facility. They they pull
the the people that have to be um tested

2063
03:00:58,319 --> 03:01:06,960
for that
uh quarter and we take care of sending

2064
03:01:03,520 --> 03:01:11,120
them and all that. We have a very close
you know the the trainer is very good

2065
03:01:09,279 --> 03:01:15,760
with the wheelchair and the passenger
assistance program when he does

2066
03:01:13,040 --> 03:01:21,120
training. Um,
we also they go every year they go

2067
03:01:18,080 --> 03:01:26,640
through defensive driving training which
it's a computer training program but

2068
03:01:24,800 --> 03:01:29,840
it's it lasts about three hours. It
takes them about three hours to get

2069
03:01:27,920 --> 03:01:34,240
through it and everybody no one wants
you to do it but they do it every year.

2070
03:01:32,000 --> 03:01:40,880
Um, it's really not that bad. It just
takes time. The other training

2071
03:01:36,880 --> 03:01:45,120
bloodborne pathogens and first aid. Um,
right now in our vehicle fleet, we've

2072
03:01:43,120 --> 03:01:49,680
got two
seven passenger. We never put seven

2073
03:01:47,760 --> 03:01:56,800
passengers in there. It's too too
crowded. But, um, they are 4x4 crossover

2074
03:01:53,200 --> 03:02:02,720
vehicles. Um, Nissan Pathfinders. We've
got one ADA minivan. We've got seven

2075
03:02:00,640 --> 03:02:12,640
nine passenger vans that are lift
equipped that we um, we call them a high

2076
03:02:06,800 --> 03:02:18,800
top mobility van. We've got a um the two
LTV eight passenger vans are what we use

2077
03:02:16,240 --> 03:02:24,720
for the trolleys that loop around town.
And then we have a 15 passenger and a 24

2078
03:02:22,319 --> 03:02:29,600
passenger van, which are the bigger ones
that we use going on trips and and

2079
03:02:26,800 --> 03:02:35,840
things mostly. And there's just a
picture some of the of the fleet that I

2080
03:02:32,240 --> 03:02:41,359
put in there and a picture of one of the
drivers. um

2081
03:02:38,560 --> 03:02:45,200
helping a lady get shows the lift that
we use for people that are in

2082
03:02:42,800 --> 03:02:53,200
wheelchairs or if they just can't manage
the steps, we use that as well. Um

2083
03:02:49,920 --> 03:03:01,680
we do have charter service regulations.
There are exclusions with that and we do

2084
03:02:56,000 --> 03:03:06,800
get um we do get some requests for um
for that service but there's some things

2085
03:03:04,319 --> 03:03:12,479
that you can't do with it but the
exemptions down here as you can read are

2086
03:03:10,479 --> 03:03:17,760
transportation of employee contractors
and government officials and then you

2087
03:03:15,279 --> 03:03:21,600
know we can do anything with the um
human service organizations like the

2088
03:03:19,840 --> 03:03:26,399
senior centers we do quite a bit of
trips with and and especially the

2089
03:03:23,760 --> 03:03:32,720
cashier senior center right now. They
take a trip um typically about once a

2090
03:03:29,439 --> 03:03:40,160
month and we almost always provide that
service for them and also if if needed

2091
03:03:36,399 --> 03:03:45,840
of emergency response and or emergency
preparedness planning and operation.

2092
03:03:43,439 --> 03:03:52,880
Some of the routes that we have uh for
medical routes, we do trips to dialysis.

2093
03:03:48,880 --> 03:03:58,240
Um we have the Medicaid the people that
qualify for that 5310 program. Of

2094
03:03:55,920 --> 03:04:04,080
course, we have just the general public
and we do go out of county Monday,

2095
03:04:01,120 --> 03:04:09,760
Wednesdays and Fridays. We go to the
Asheville area, Bunkham County,

2096
03:04:05,840 --> 03:04:15,279
Henderson County primarily for for
medicals. Um,

2097
03:04:12,880 --> 03:04:22,240
we do quite a bit of employment trips
right now. Um, some trips to Western and

2098
03:04:18,720 --> 03:04:27,359
SEC, but not a lot. Um, and there again,
the adult daycare and the trips with the

2099
03:04:24,960 --> 03:04:31,120
senior citizens.
And the trolley, I don't know if

2100
03:04:28,720 --> 03:04:36,560
everybody's knows anything about the
trolley, but it loops around town. It

2101
03:04:34,240 --> 03:04:41,920
starts at 7 in the morning in Dillsboro
and it loops around out to SEC and it

2102
03:04:39,760 --> 03:04:47,920
turns and it's back at Dillsboro at the
top of the hour again. So, u for a

2103
03:04:44,960 --> 03:04:52,240
dollar you can ride the trolley um all
day long and you don't have to schedule

2104
03:04:50,160 --> 03:04:54,399
for it. You can just get on and off
there. You don't have to schedule for

2105
03:04:54,240 --> 03:04:57,279
that.
>> But if you're in a county employee, you

2106
03:04:55,840 --> 03:04:59,520
can't ride any of these.
>> H

2107
03:04:57,760 --> 03:05:03,439
» you can't ride any of these. If you're a
county employee, that's what it Oh, it

2108
03:05:01,279 --> 03:05:07,439
said earlier
government or county.

2109
03:05:04,800 --> 03:05:09,520
» That's to do with that charter service.
>> Okay.

2110
03:05:07,840 --> 03:05:12,640
» You just have to be careful. Like we
can't do

2111
03:05:10,640 --> 03:05:13,760
» we can't pick up kids and take them to
school.

2112
03:05:13,040 --> 03:05:18,800
» I got you.
>> Because there's already a service for

2113
03:05:15,680 --> 03:05:23,040
that. A bus. I mean it's there's some
exemptions. That was one of the

2114
03:05:20,720 --> 03:05:26,000
exemptions that was on that. I know I'm
going through here fast. I'm sorry.

2115
03:05:24,479 --> 03:05:31,040
» Okay. I just was curious.
>> No, anyone can write it. Um we just have

2116
03:05:29,439 --> 03:05:36,640
to be careful about the charter service
because there's some things we can't do

2117
03:05:32,560 --> 03:05:41,760
with that. The um we still do Medicaid
trips. We don't do as many as we used to

2118
03:05:39,359 --> 03:05:49,120
because things there have have changed
and um but we still do do trips for them

2119
03:05:45,439 --> 03:05:56,800
and those trips are build on a per mile
rate of right now it's 288 a mile. Um,

2120
03:05:53,279 --> 03:06:04,080
of course that eligibility has to come
through DSS and they will um email us

2121
03:06:02,479 --> 03:06:09,600
people that need rides and where they
need to go and the dates and all that.

2122
03:06:07,439 --> 03:06:14,560
We do some employment. Like I was saying
earlier, we do quite a bit of employment

2123
03:06:11,840 --> 03:06:20,880
right now. Um, and that just shows some
of the places that that we go. West

2124
03:06:18,240 --> 03:06:27,359
Bridge, we do a few there. um quite a
few to Western that we take up there to

2125
03:06:22,880 --> 03:06:36,160
work. Um some of the agency sponsored is
uh Voke Rehab um upward mound and

2126
03:06:31,760 --> 03:06:40,880
occasionally the UP program at Western
there. Again, we don't do a lot of trips

2127
03:06:38,319 --> 03:06:47,520
right now there. It it fluctuates. It
changes all the time. Um

2128
03:06:45,040 --> 03:06:52,640
and we do the trips again. It's this is
just repeating itself for the seniors

2129
03:06:49,520 --> 03:06:57,920
and the adult daycare. And then the
cashers um senior center up there that

2130
03:06:55,760 --> 03:07:02,880
we have a a person that stays up there
and that one operates also five days a

2131
03:07:00,880 --> 03:07:09,600
week. Um
she works four hours a day. Um typically

2132
03:07:07,760 --> 03:07:14,640
» do they pick people up at their home and
take them to let's say or where?

2133
03:07:12,960 --> 03:07:19,439
» Yep. All they have to do is call and
schedule. We do some of that right now.

2134
03:07:17,040 --> 03:07:24,800
We have, you know, maybe a half dozen
that uses that.

2135
03:07:20,960 --> 03:07:27,439
» I know a couple that that have
they haven't used it just because I

2136
03:07:26,960 --> 03:07:30,000
mean,
>> well, some people don't realize they can

2137
03:07:29,439 --> 03:07:32,399
use it,
>> right? They don't

2138
03:07:30,640 --> 03:07:36,160
» that it's available.
>> All they have to do is call and and just

2139
03:07:35,200 --> 03:07:38,880
simple information.
>> A lot that don't realize they can use

2140
03:07:37,840 --> 03:07:44,080
it.
>> It is a good service, but yeah, up there

2141
03:07:41,439 --> 03:07:49,520
we could use a few more. Um, initially
it was to go to the senior center and it

2142
03:07:47,439 --> 03:07:54,319
well you know everything changes the
need dropped and we don't have as many

2143
03:07:51,359 --> 03:08:00,080
now but yeah that driver takes people to
Engles or to some to get a haircut or

2144
03:07:57,760 --> 03:08:05,600
anything like that but if you know of
someone they just need to call and I

2145
03:08:02,479 --> 03:08:12,080
think once they used it would help and
then they would probably probably use it

2146
03:08:08,399 --> 03:08:19,359
more after that.
Right now with this 5310 grant program,

2147
03:08:15,279 --> 03:08:25,680
um people that qualify for that can ride
in Jackson County for a dollar each way.

2148
03:08:22,800 --> 03:08:32,399
Um for those medical trips out of
county, the cost for that for Haywood

2149
03:08:28,560 --> 03:08:38,479
Mon and Swain is $30 round trip. For
Bunkam and Henderson, it's $50 a round

2150
03:08:34,720 --> 03:08:44,240
trip. uh for those people that qualify.
Um the good thing about those trips, and

2151
03:08:40,960 --> 03:08:49,120
I don't know if you are aware of that,
if they have if it's a medical trip out

2152
03:08:46,399 --> 03:08:53,760
of the county, the driver waits for them
because it's just not feasible to drive

2153
03:08:50,880 --> 03:08:58,800
back to Jackson County and then go back.
That helps people to know that the

2154
03:08:55,760 --> 03:09:02,720
driver is still there waiting for them.
Um,

2155
03:09:00,479 --> 03:09:09,439
a little bit about I just pulled up the
the numbers for fiscal year 25. We had

2156
03:09:07,359 --> 03:09:14,760
15,670.
That's service hours with 205,546

2157
03:09:14,960 --> 03:09:22,080
service miles. Our total trips was
24,298

2158
03:09:19,600 --> 03:09:29,600
for that year. And I kind of broke it
down into the the general public 10,227.

2159
03:09:27,120 --> 03:09:35,960
The contracts like I talked about before
there was 1,812

2160
03:09:32,240 --> 03:09:35,960
employment 3,961

2161
03:09:36,399 --> 03:09:47,760
and then on that 53 310 grant um but
it's not all together that some of it's

2162
03:09:43,279 --> 03:09:54,880
the um the block grant too 8,298
trips for that. So that to me shows that

2163
03:09:51,359 --> 03:10:01,840
um the grants that I asked for are
important because these people are using

2164
03:09:57,680 --> 03:10:07,200
the service. Those numbers show that
there's a picture of some of the adult

2165
03:10:03,600 --> 03:10:12,000
care ladies. Um
and that just talks a little bit about

2166
03:10:09,120 --> 03:10:18,560
some of the trips that we have done for
um in the past. So, we don't do co

2167
03:10:16,560 --> 03:10:23,520
changed everything and we haven't really
got back to doing as many of those trips

2168
03:10:20,640 --> 03:10:28,880
as before, but we recently did one for
the um casher seniors going to Pigeon

2169
03:10:26,479 --> 03:10:33,200
Forge. Um I don't think they went to
Dollywood, but they went to Pigeon

2170
03:10:30,240 --> 03:10:37,600
Forge. Um but that's just an example of
some of the things that we do and and

2171
03:10:35,680 --> 03:10:42,479
the services are available to everyone
in Jackson County. That being said, that

2172
03:10:40,319 --> 03:10:47,920
is if we can fit them in there and get
them in the schedule. It's it's the

2173
03:10:45,600 --> 03:10:52,240
other part of it.
The two types of services, the

2174
03:10:50,000 --> 03:10:55,760
doortodoor service where we will come to
your house and take you to your

2175
03:10:54,000 --> 03:11:00,800
destination.
Um your front door to the front door

2176
03:10:58,240 --> 03:11:05,359
where where your destination is. We do
not go inside anyone's house to uh to

2177
03:11:03,520 --> 03:11:09,040
help them or anything. and we we will go
to the front door, but we don't go

2178
03:11:07,279 --> 03:11:13,600
inside
the trolley. Again, I already uh talked

2179
03:11:11,359 --> 03:11:19,840
a little bit about that. It completes 10
runs per day, and actually our that

2180
03:11:17,359 --> 03:11:24,560
service has increased in the last while.
Um we're doing pretty good with that.

2181
03:11:22,240 --> 03:11:29,760
Also being said, we've reinstated the
Saturday trolley beginning June 1st, and

2182
03:11:26,800 --> 03:11:35,040
it's it's been doing pretty well. Um it
had not operated, we hadn't operated on

2183
03:11:31,920 --> 03:11:41,439
Saturday in a little while.
there. Again, it's $1 per boarding or

2184
03:11:37,920 --> 03:11:45,200
you can pay for a monthly pass and ride
as many times as you want to for that

2185
03:11:43,520 --> 03:11:54,840
month
or you and we also do tickets that you

2186
03:11:47,680 --> 03:11:54,840
get 15 um or 20 20 tickets for $15.

2187
03:11:55,688 --> 03:12:00,880
[laughter]
>> Take you to work.

2188
03:11:58,640 --> 03:12:03,520
» Not on the trolley.
>> 20 bucks. Hey.

2189
03:12:01,760 --> 03:12:06,560
» Yeah. That's not imagine. Come get me,
take me to lunch.

2190
03:12:04,880 --> 03:12:10,098
» Yeah. Yeah, we could do that. Come get
you and take you to lunch.

2191
03:12:07,680 --> 03:12:16,000
» Cheapest show forever.
[laughter]

2192
03:12:11,760 --> 03:12:20,960
» You have to um on the trolley if there's
there's stops along the route, but we

2193
03:12:18,160 --> 03:12:27,040
can go up deviate up to a quarter mile
off of that regular route. But the

2194
03:12:23,439 --> 03:12:30,640
passenger has to call and and um request
that. Actually, I can tell the driver

2195
03:12:28,640 --> 03:12:35,840
that when they get on, but if you're not
at a regular stop, you have to call and

2196
03:12:33,120 --> 03:12:39,520
and tell us where you're going to be.
And there's our a lovely bunch

2197
03:12:38,263 --> 03:12:45,760
[laughter]
um of people. But that is really quick.

2198
03:12:43,279 --> 03:12:50,720
Something we do at transit. I if you
have any questions, I try to answer

2199
03:12:48,160 --> 03:12:55,439
them. But I can't come to Wither and get
you on the trolley.

2200
03:12:53,359 --> 03:13:01,200
I can take but I can take you
>> I can take you to lunch from work

2201
03:12:58,399 --> 03:13:02,640
» anyway. Anybody have anything
>> any questions?

2202
03:13:02,240 --> 03:13:04,960
» No.
>> Okay.

2203
03:13:03,200 --> 03:13:09,200
» Todd just wants to be able to sleep on
the way to work.

2204
03:13:06,640 --> 03:13:14,240
» You can do that now. Just got to get you
a Tesla. Let it drive [laughter] you to

2205
03:13:11,600 --> 03:13:20,184
work.
Next up this evening we have uh

2206
03:13:17,040 --> 03:13:22,203
emergency management director uh Zapa.
[clears throat]

2207
03:13:22,399 --> 03:13:30,960
Good evening. Good afternoon. Thank
y'all for having us. Uh I want to start

2208
03:13:27,279 --> 03:13:35,520
off by thanking you for all the support
uh from me and from emergency services

2209
03:13:33,600 --> 03:13:41,279
in Jackson County. It really really
means a lot. And uh

2210
03:13:39,040 --> 03:13:47,279
first slide here. I hate we couldn't get
that funding for your dispatch, but

2211
03:13:45,439 --> 03:13:51,920
maybe these guys will do that this next
budget cycle. I won't be here for that.

2212
03:13:49,760 --> 03:13:57,600
That's right.
>> That'd be great.

2213
03:13:54,960 --> 03:14:03,200
» Currently, our our staffing, we have one
one intern from Western Carolina

2214
03:13:59,520 --> 03:14:08,239
University, eight part-time staff, 12
full-time telecommunicators, and four

2215
03:14:05,600 --> 03:14:13,680
people on our command staff for a total
of 25 employees.

2216
03:14:10,720 --> 03:14:21,960
Our primary responsibilities in
emergency management uh planning,

2217
03:14:16,640 --> 03:14:21,960
response, recovery and education.

2218
03:14:25,279 --> 03:14:34,800
So in our planning section uh this year
we have reviewed uh revised updated many

2219
03:14:33,359 --> 03:14:39,920
different plans. I just wanted to give
you a few here as examples. Uh not only

2220
03:14:38,239 --> 03:14:46,080
do we keep track of the county's
emergency operation plan, but we partner

2221
03:14:42,080 --> 03:14:50,239
with uh our community lifelines. So a
big one, Duke Energy, uh we have a big

2222
03:14:48,560 --> 03:14:57,680
meeting with them every year updating
the hydroelectric hydroelect electric

2223
03:14:52,960 --> 03:15:03,840
dam plan. Uh we also worked with uh
health department DSS on our county

2224
03:15:00,239 --> 03:15:08,239
emergency shelter plan. Jackson County
Tourism Development Authority crisis

2225
03:15:06,080 --> 03:15:12,720
communication plan.
We also worked a good while with Great

2226
03:15:10,880 --> 03:15:17,200
Smoky Mountain Railroad on a new
confined space rescue plan.

2227
03:15:15,600 --> 03:15:22,560
Great,
excuse me, Silva Valley Health and Rehab

2228
03:15:19,439 --> 03:15:26,000
for their emergency action plan. Uh, and
that's something that we do annually

2229
03:15:24,319 --> 03:15:30,000
with a lot of the senior centers
assisted living facilities is kind of

2230
03:15:28,399 --> 03:15:33,680
help them with their emergency action
plan. uh we don't necessarily approve

2231
03:15:32,160 --> 03:15:39,000
them. We just give them recommendations
and go through and and help them with

2232
03:15:36,000 --> 03:15:39,000
that.

2233
03:15:39,279 --> 03:15:48,239
On our response side, of course, we
respond respond countywide, whether it

2234
03:15:45,359 --> 03:15:51,920
be a disaster planned event, uh
emergency,

2235
03:15:49,760 --> 03:15:56,080
uh and we collaborate with all of the
agencies in Jackson County. Our

2236
03:15:54,160 --> 03:16:00,479
emergency management staff respond to
hazardous material incidents,

2237
03:15:57,920 --> 03:16:06,800
landslides, vehicle accidents, law
enforcement, search and rescues, water

2238
03:16:02,560 --> 03:16:13,680
rescues, and more. Uh the pictures here,
uh the bottom left was a a boat rescue

2239
03:16:09,120 --> 03:16:19,920
call on that was actually on Lake Shou.
assisted them with a drowning. Uh the

2240
03:16:18,080 --> 03:16:26,080
top one there, tractor trailer roll
over, a hazmat there on the bottom, and

2241
03:16:23,520 --> 03:16:30,319
another hazmat call. That was a a
tractor trailer, propane tractor trailer

2242
03:16:28,479 --> 03:16:33,960
that rolled over and cashers, we
assisted with it.

2243
03:16:36,960 --> 03:16:45,920
our recovery section. Uh we estimated
this past year we spent about 480 hours

2244
03:16:43,279 --> 03:16:51,520
in our recovery section. Uh so those
pictures there uh some of that was a

2245
03:16:48,239 --> 03:16:56,880
debris cleanup that we did uh for Helen
recovery. That second picture, it really

2246
03:16:54,080 --> 03:17:01,359
talks a lot in itself. Uh just a quick
glance there, I see a 30,000 out there

2247
03:16:59,279 --> 03:17:06,880
at the top. It's kind of hard to see
there, but those were all points in the

2248
03:17:04,080 --> 03:17:11,279
county that we visited uh with our staff
along with the debris tech, a company

2249
03:17:08,800 --> 03:17:18,840
that assisted
>> with monitoring of uh disaster debris.

2250
03:17:14,239 --> 03:17:18,840
So, we were very busy with recovery.

2251
03:17:21,439 --> 03:17:29,120
Something I'm passionate about along
with the rest of our staff is education,

2252
03:17:26,479 --> 03:17:33,439
our public outreach. Not only are we
talking about disaster preparedness, uh,

2253
03:17:31,600 --> 03:17:39,920
but we're assisting with things like car
seat safety, uh, hot car displays, motor

2254
03:17:37,279 --> 03:17:45,439
safety, water safety events. Uh, we
visit the schools each year and, uh, we

2255
03:17:43,200 --> 03:17:51,359
also are going to the senior center for
events. And, uh, anywhere that anywhere

2256
03:17:49,520 --> 03:17:57,560
that wants it, we'll be happy to go and
and tailor a presentation to whatever

2257
03:17:53,920 --> 03:17:57,560
the audience is.

2258
03:18:00,000 --> 03:18:09,040
So, our training this year, um, we have
increased it tremendously, uh, compared

2259
03:18:06,319 --> 03:18:16,319
to years past. That first picture there
was a countywide training that we did,

2260
03:18:12,640 --> 03:18:21,840
um, on a commercial building. Uh, we
simulated an explosion uh, with people

2261
03:18:19,120 --> 03:18:25,840
trapped inside of a building. Uh we had
three of those countywide trains this

2262
03:18:24,080 --> 03:18:30,960
past year and and we're trying to plan
some more uh in the in the future. Um

2263
03:18:28,960 --> 03:18:35,520
those are all emergency response
agencies in Jackson County were invited

2264
03:18:32,880 --> 03:18:38,960
to those. So uh police department,
sheriff's office, all seven fire

2265
03:18:37,279 --> 03:18:44,960
departments, two rescue squads, and both
EMS agencies. So those are a big deal

2266
03:18:41,600 --> 03:18:49,120
and have become very beneficial for us.
uh not only does it test our

2267
03:18:46,720 --> 03:18:53,359
capabilities uh but it builds those
relationships amongst our agencies. So

2268
03:18:51,920 --> 03:18:58,560
uh every time we see each other, it's
not on a bad day, it's a good day. Uh

2269
03:18:56,080 --> 03:19:04,160
our 911 center alone, our
telecommunicators had 720 training hours

2270
03:19:01,359 --> 03:19:07,760
this past year. Um I'll talk a little
bit more about 911 here in just a

2271
03:19:05,760 --> 03:19:14,080
minute. Uh our emergency management
staff, those are the ones responding out

2272
03:19:09,840 --> 03:19:20,160
in the field, uh had 860 training hours
this past year and we participated in

2273
03:19:17,600 --> 03:19:25,120
nine exercises. So uh some of the
exercises we done, the state does a

2274
03:19:22,479 --> 03:19:30,479
hurricane exercise every year, a cyber
security exercise, things along those

2275
03:19:27,279 --> 03:19:37,680
lines. Um the picture there in the
trailer, the bottom left picture is a uh

2276
03:19:34,800 --> 03:19:44,960
sonar training we did that's uh has all
has to do with um water rescues. Uh the

2277
03:19:41,760 --> 03:19:49,760
top one there on the right side was one
that Glenda, our 911 director, went to

2278
03:19:47,200 --> 03:19:53,680
down on the coast. Um that training
simulated a complete communications

2279
03:19:51,520 --> 03:19:58,720
failure with uh public safety
communications. Um, so they actually had

2280
03:19:56,239 --> 03:20:03,439
to go to an island and set up public
safety communications to talk back to

2281
03:20:00,479 --> 03:20:08,720
land. Um, so we were actually the
farthest traveled for that. So we're

2282
03:20:05,840 --> 03:20:13,120
we're excited. And then the bottom right
hand corner was a emergency emergency

2283
03:20:11,439 --> 03:20:19,760
mercy vehicle trailer driving course
that all of our staff did.

2284
03:20:17,600 --> 03:20:26,319
Just some other things we do outside of
our daily work. Um, all of our staff,

2285
03:20:23,840 --> 03:20:31,040
uh, mainly our command staff are on
boards and committees. Uh, some of those

2286
03:20:28,880 --> 03:20:36,000
are the Jackson County School Safety
Task Force, the sheriff's office and

2287
03:20:33,359 --> 03:20:40,640
school system, a local emergency
planning committee, safe, the Jackson

2288
03:20:38,479 --> 03:20:44,080
County Emergency Services Planning
Committee, the road naming and

2289
03:20:42,399 --> 03:20:48,040
addressing board, and domestic
preparedness region 9.

2290
03:20:50,080 --> 03:20:58,960
So, of course, um the county we're
responsible for, uh having a PAP, public

2291
03:20:55,680 --> 03:21:05,920
safety answering point.
So, our PAP uh actually covers all

2292
03:21:03,600 --> 03:21:10,239
Jackson County first responders. Uh
different counties dispatch to different

2293
03:21:08,479 --> 03:21:16,720
agencies, but here in Jackson, we
dispatch for law, fire, rescue, and EMS

2294
03:21:13,840 --> 03:21:24,560
all out of one center. All all of our
dispatchers are cross-trained uh to

2295
03:21:19,840 --> 03:21:31,359
dispatch for fire, law, EMS, and rescue.
So, just some data for you. July 25 to

2296
03:21:27,040 --> 03:21:35,359
July 26, our call center, 911 center had
50,5

2297
03:21:32,960 --> 03:21:40,640
calls for service reported. Uh that
number, what I like to explain to people

2298
03:21:38,239 --> 03:21:45,600
is that's not how many calls we took in
our center. um that calls that we took

2299
03:21:43,680 --> 03:21:51,840
required a second action that we did a
report for basically. Um so that that

2300
03:21:49,200 --> 03:21:57,840
number doesn't represent what they're
actually doing. That's uh but I broke it

2301
03:21:54,960 --> 03:22:04,239
down by by fire district here. Um it's
just a accurate representation of how

2302
03:22:00,239 --> 03:22:08,399
it's spread out. Um
>> when you receive those calls, is that

2303
03:22:06,560 --> 03:22:12,800
non-emergency and everything?
>> That's correct. Yep. So that 50,000 like

2304
03:22:11,279 --> 03:22:16,239
I said that's basically something that
required a second action out of out of

2305
03:22:15,120 --> 03:22:20,080
the dispatcher.
>> We call for an escort. That's

2306
03:22:18,239 --> 03:22:25,279
» that's right. They would they would make
a a call for service. A CFS is what we

2307
03:22:22,319 --> 03:22:31,359
call it.
>> A lot.

2308
03:22:26,479 --> 03:22:35,920
» It is and only getting busier.
Our upgrades in our 911 center. Super

2309
03:22:33,920 --> 03:22:39,600
excited about all these. Um, some of
these are technologies that we've needed

2310
03:22:37,600 --> 03:22:43,200
for a long time and and thankfully with
the help of the state and you all we've

2311
03:22:41,680 --> 03:22:53,680
been able to make some of these projects
happen. Um we are now a Viper phone

2312
03:22:48,880 --> 03:22:58,479
county and what that means is um any any
911 center in the state um within a

2313
03:22:56,640 --> 03:23:04,800
click of a button we can transfer our
911 calls. Um and then we have uhus with

2314
03:23:02,960 --> 03:23:09,760
other counties to also accept their
calls. So for example in during Helen

2315
03:23:08,000 --> 03:23:14,080
all of the Jackson County's 91 calls
were transferred to Enslo County. Uh and

2316
03:23:12,160 --> 03:23:19,040
then just the other day, Enso County had
a technology issue and we were taking

2317
03:23:16,160 --> 03:23:23,600
Enslo County's 911 calls from our center
here in Silva.

2318
03:23:21,040 --> 03:23:26,960
Uh part of the redundancy plan that kind
of goes along with that Viper phone

2319
03:23:25,120 --> 03:23:31,600
system is a pushto talk device in all
the call centers. We have two of those

2320
03:23:29,040 --> 03:23:34,399
here in Jackson. And uh that's that's
basically like an old school

2321
03:23:32,720 --> 03:23:38,720
walkie-talkie, but it's a high-tech
version of it. Uh and that's so we can

2322
03:23:36,399 --> 03:23:42,880
talk directly to each 911 center in the
state. So, uh, if internet goes down,

2323
03:23:41,520 --> 03:23:46,800
those kinds of things, we can still get
on that push to talk and we can talk to

2324
03:23:44,800 --> 03:23:52,080
Haywood, we can talk to Swain, whoever
we might need to reach out to. Uh, this

2325
03:23:49,439 --> 03:23:58,160
year we also added the capability of
video call to 911. Um, so everybody has

2326
03:23:56,239 --> 03:24:02,800
this different situations, but what that
is is basically a FaceTime or video call

2327
03:24:01,359 --> 03:24:09,359
that you can do on your phone. You can
actually FaceTime 911 basically. Uh we

2328
03:24:07,520 --> 03:24:14,960
added status indicator lights to all of
our consoles. Uh that's so each of the

2329
03:24:11,920 --> 03:24:18,080
dispatchers uh can tell what the other
person's doing. So depending on what

2330
03:24:16,800 --> 03:24:22,800
fail your light is, you're either
available for a call, you're on a 911

2331
03:24:20,000 --> 03:24:26,720
call, uh you need help, we have a
flashing red light. So if uh your

2332
03:24:25,120 --> 03:24:29,760
partner makes a 911 call and they're
given CPR instructions, they can turn

2333
03:24:28,399 --> 03:24:33,680
that emergency light on and their
partner can dispatch out the call and

2334
03:24:31,680 --> 03:24:38,720
never stop with the CPR instructions.
So, uh, those have been a big help to

2335
03:24:36,160 --> 03:24:42,479
us. Everybody likes those. Uh, we added
a situational awareness board in the 911

2336
03:24:40,880 --> 03:24:47,439
center that just keeps up with some of
our statistics, our call numbers, things

2337
03:24:44,239 --> 03:24:56,479
like that. And then, uh, automatic text
translations. So, uh, previously um, we

2338
03:24:51,760 --> 03:25:00,880
had added, uh, text to 911 and this year
uh, we've added the automatic text

2339
03:24:58,560 --> 03:25:05,520
translation. So if somebody's the
Spanish text message, it comes to us in

2340
03:25:03,760 --> 03:25:12,040
English. Uh we don't have to do any
translating. It's just automatic.

2341
03:25:08,080 --> 03:25:12,040
So that's been a big help.

2342
03:25:12,399 --> 03:25:23,439
This year, um we're in the process and
have accepted some of this, but uh with

2343
03:25:18,000 --> 03:25:28,800
grant funding so far, um $440,000
uh completed projects with those funds.

2344
03:25:26,080 --> 03:25:34,000
the child passenger safety seat course.
Uh that course we were able to get

2345
03:25:31,920 --> 03:25:38,080
someone from every fire department in
Jackson County to be a part of that. So

2346
03:25:36,239 --> 03:25:41,840
that was a partnership with Safe Kids.
So each fire department in Jackson

2347
03:25:39,600 --> 03:25:48,800
County has car seat technicians and can
install car seats. Uh we got a special

2348
03:25:45,359 --> 03:25:54,080
event camera trailer and also roadside
electronic message boards.

2349
03:25:51,439 --> 03:25:59,760
An upcoming project we have which is a
lump sum of this this money here is a

2350
03:25:56,720 --> 03:26:03,439
next generation warning system. And so
what that is, most people call it a

2351
03:26:01,359 --> 03:26:08,640
tornado siren, but it's really an
allhazard siren. It's whatever we deem

2352
03:26:05,439 --> 03:26:12,960
appropriate to set it off for. Um so for
us, this is a project that we're just

2353
03:26:10,479 --> 03:26:17,840
now getting started on, but we have
secured the funding for. Um we are

2354
03:26:15,920 --> 03:26:22,319
prioritizing communities within a flood
zone that have no cell service. Um, so

2355
03:26:20,640 --> 03:26:27,200
our first phase of that is going to be
the Tuscidi area. Um, it's important to

2356
03:26:25,600 --> 03:26:32,239
us because it's downstream from the
dams, both the east fork and the west

2357
03:26:29,120 --> 03:26:37,279
fork. Um, and there is pretty much no
cell service whatsoever. So, our primary

2358
03:26:34,960 --> 03:26:41,920
means of communicating out to the
citizens is our code red system. You all

2359
03:26:39,359 --> 03:26:46,560
know about that. Um, but of course
that's phone service. And so a lot of

2360
03:26:44,640 --> 03:26:51,120
times the ones that need it are those
people in Taci right below the dams and

2361
03:26:49,760 --> 03:26:54,800
uh and they they're not getting those
phone calls. So we're hoping that that

2362
03:26:53,279 --> 03:26:59,200
first phase will really help out with
that. Um

2363
03:26:57,120 --> 03:27:03,520
we're experiencing some difficulties
compared to how the traditional system

2364
03:27:01,120 --> 03:27:08,479
works because again the cell service and
us being in a rural community. Um, so

2365
03:27:06,080 --> 03:27:17,200
all the sirens that we're looking at are
capable of using radio frequency uh

2366
03:27:11,279 --> 03:27:21,520
technology to to alert. Um, we're in the
process of doing coverage assessments

2367
03:27:19,200 --> 03:27:26,399
just to determine what locations exactly
we need to put those. Um, and we are

2368
03:27:24,720 --> 03:27:31,279
coordinating with Duke's hydroelect
electric team. Uh so the plan is

2369
03:27:28,880 --> 03:27:35,120
hopefully uh we can also tie into the
sirens that are on the dam like at

2370
03:27:32,880 --> 03:27:40,600
Glenville Wolf Lake and and stuff like
that and uh be able to help each other

2371
03:27:37,600 --> 03:27:40,600
out.

2372
03:27:40,720 --> 03:27:47,120
» That's awesome.
And that's a that's a quick highlight of

2373
03:27:45,840 --> 03:27:52,960
what we've been doing in emergency
services. Uh if you guys have any

2374
03:27:49,439 --> 03:27:57,200
questions, I'd be glad to answer them.
>> Questions from the board.

2375
03:27:55,920 --> 03:28:00,359
Thank you for all you do.
>> Thank you.

2376
03:28:01,600 --> 03:28:08,279
» Moving on now, we've got Mr. Hopkins
from Parks and Wreck.

2377
03:28:10,080 --> 03:28:14,000
» We thought you'd keep posting here just
for

2378
03:28:12,080 --> 03:28:18,239
» I I tried. I tried. He said he didn't
want to take this call. That's what he

2379
03:28:15,279 --> 03:28:22,080
told me. So,
>> you you you'll wish that I was here

2380
03:28:20,319 --> 03:28:25,680
instead of posting to talk tonight. So,
>> yeah. [laughter]

2381
03:28:23,920 --> 03:28:28,640
» Well, uh good evening. Thanks for having
me to come just share a little bit about

2382
03:28:27,200 --> 03:28:32,640
uh the parks and recreation department
tonight. Um I don't have a lot of the

2383
03:28:31,279 --> 03:28:37,040
pretty pictures that other folks have
had and I know you've seen enough

2384
03:28:34,000 --> 03:28:41,840
numbers and money stuff to to drive you
crazy, but I'm going to throw a few more

2385
03:28:38,560 --> 03:28:44,560
numbers at you. So I'm sorry. Um I want
to highlight not only what we've

2386
03:28:43,040 --> 03:28:48,479
accomplished, but the people we serve,
staff who make these services uh

2387
03:28:47,040 --> 03:28:51,600
possible and the investments we're
making for the future. So over the past

2388
03:28:50,239 --> 03:28:55,840
year, the department has continued to
operate and improve the recreation

2389
03:28:53,520 --> 03:29:00,720
center, parks, campgrounds, greenway,
aquatic programs, fitness programs,

2390
03:28:58,000 --> 03:29:04,800
youth sports, and community events. And
um this also highlight our staff capital

2391
03:29:02,960 --> 03:29:08,640
investments, grant opportunities, and
some of the priorities we're we're

2392
03:29:06,160 --> 03:29:13,200
carrying into the next year.
Um,

2393
03:29:10,239 --> 03:29:16,479
so
this is just the well keeping the doors

2394
03:29:14,960 --> 03:29:21,840
open. But before we get to that, I want
to just share some participation stuff

2395
03:29:18,479 --> 03:29:28,239
at a snapshot. Uh, we currently have
over 4,000 active memberships and have

2396
03:29:24,640 --> 03:29:34,560
had over 102,51 facility check-ins in
the current 2026 year. That's just

2397
03:29:30,239 --> 03:29:38,720
January through uh July. So, uh, we've
also had fitness programming generate

2398
03:29:36,160 --> 03:29:42,720
over 17,000 participants across over
2,000 classes. So, this these numbers to

2399
03:29:41,040 --> 03:29:48,640
show that our recreation centers a
heavily used community assets. Um, Colt

2400
03:29:46,000 --> 03:29:53,760
will account for 2,399 active
memberships and more than 65,000

2401
03:29:51,520 --> 03:29:59,600
check-ins, while the Castle Center has
over 1,700 active memberships and more

2402
03:29:56,720 --> 03:30:02,720
than 37,000 check-ins um, up to date.
So, it's important to remember that

2403
03:30:00,720 --> 03:30:06,960
these numbers represent only one part of
what the parks and recreation provides.

2404
03:30:04,560 --> 03:30:11,040
Our parks, campground, gameways, aquatic
programs, youth support, special events,

2405
03:30:08,560 --> 03:30:15,760
and outdoor recreation opportunities add
significantly to our overall um

2406
03:30:13,600 --> 03:30:20,080
community impact.
Uh so,

2407
03:30:17,760 --> 03:30:23,520
what is my thing done here? So, here you
can just see the some of the staffing

2408
03:30:21,920 --> 03:30:27,200
that we that we have across the
department. So, be behind every

2409
03:30:24,960 --> 03:30:31,359
facility, program, park, and event staff
member making it happen. Um, captured in

2410
03:30:29,920 --> 03:30:36,319
the recreation center, we've got six
full-time staff, 14 part-time staff, 21

2411
03:30:34,319 --> 03:30:40,800
fitness instructors, four personal
trainers. Color rec center, we've got 10

2412
03:30:38,720 --> 03:30:46,560
full-time staff, one permanent part-time
employee, 12 part-time staff, 17

2413
03:30:43,680 --> 03:30:49,760
instructors, four personal trainers. On
the quad side of things, we've got eight

2414
03:30:48,080 --> 03:30:53,760
full-time positions, including five
full-time lifeguard positions. Uh, of

2415
03:30:52,239 --> 03:30:57,600
those five full-time lifeguard
positions, they are all currently

2416
03:30:55,040 --> 03:31:02,560
vacant. Um, and that's been over the
since since the period of of opening.

2417
03:31:00,640 --> 03:31:07,760
Um, at any time we've only had two
full-time lifeguards hired. So, uh, just

2418
03:31:05,600 --> 03:31:12,800
being able to recruit those is is is
hard. Um, and we currently also have 28

2419
03:31:09,920 --> 03:31:16,800
part-time lifeguards. Uh, at our Ralph
Andrews Park campground, we've got two

2420
03:31:14,720 --> 03:31:22,479
full-time folks and three part-time
employees that keep that open 24 hours a

2421
03:31:19,040 --> 03:31:25,680
day from spring to fall. Uh, and then
five folks that keep all of our parks

2422
03:31:24,000 --> 03:31:29,600
getting planned for us. We've got four
full-time park attendants, one part-time

2423
03:31:27,520 --> 03:31:33,120
employee. So, this represents a
substantial workforce required to keep

2424
03:31:31,120 --> 03:31:37,120
all our facilities operating, programs
running, and our parks maintained. Uh, I

2425
03:31:35,760 --> 03:31:41,120
also want to emphasize the importance of
our aquatic staffing. The the vacant

2426
03:31:38,880 --> 03:31:44,800
full-time guarding positions continue to
be an area where recruitment retention

2427
03:31:42,720 --> 03:31:49,160
are especially important uh just for
long-term operational stability.

2428
03:31:49,439 --> 03:31:55,920
So, keeping the doors open at our
facility. Uh, our recreation centers are

2429
03:31:53,279 --> 03:31:59,520
open 355 days out of the year. Um,
there's not many county departments that

2430
03:31:57,760 --> 03:32:04,560
are open as as much as we are. Not
saying that they're not as important,

2431
03:32:00,960 --> 03:32:07,600
but that takes a lot of uh require
access, requires significant staffing

2432
03:32:06,239 --> 03:32:13,760
commitments and daily operational
efforts. So, Kley Recreation Center is

2433
03:32:10,080 --> 03:32:19,520
open approximately 4,378 hours a year.
Casters Recreation Center is open

2434
03:32:16,000 --> 03:32:23,600
approximately 3,978 hours a year. So
together that's almost 8,500 hours of

2435
03:32:21,520 --> 03:32:27,840
recreation center operating time. So
when we talk about participation and

2436
03:32:25,439 --> 03:32:31,760
check-ins and it's important to remember
the infrastructure and the staffing

2437
03:32:29,600 --> 03:32:35,120
behind those numbers. Uh the department
is providing thousands of hours of

2438
03:32:33,040 --> 03:32:39,120
access for fitness, recreation programs,
community use, and other activities

2439
03:32:36,800 --> 03:32:43,040
throughout the year. And this is a
significant service commitment to the

2440
03:32:40,640 --> 03:32:50,399
citizens of Jackson County
and I'm very grateful for for all the

2441
03:32:45,279 --> 03:32:54,560
ones that we do have. So, um, looking at
some parks and recreation by the numbers

2442
03:32:52,479 --> 03:32:59,840
here. So, membership growth is another
strong indicator of demand. Active

2443
03:32:56,239 --> 03:33:07,520
memberships increased from 3,535
in the 2025 facility snapshot to 45123

2444
03:33:04,239 --> 03:33:14,319
in the 2026 update. So it's a net
increase of 588 active memberships or

2445
03:33:10,319 --> 03:33:20,000
approximately a 16.6% in growth. Um
color will increase by 5.9% while Cers

2446
03:33:17,040 --> 03:33:23,439
will increase by 35.9%.
Um so the growth of both facilities and

2447
03:33:21,920 --> 03:33:26,800
especially Casters Glimble area
demonstrates residents continuously

2448
03:33:25,279 --> 03:33:30,279
value in the services provided through
parks and recreation

2449
03:33:31,439 --> 03:33:38,479
membership activity. So, uh, you want
that's just some more active membership

2450
03:33:36,640 --> 03:33:42,479
stuff versus this year versus last year.
And you can see the percent change

2451
03:33:39,840 --> 03:33:47,279
there. Uh, some membership activity.
Looking specifically at membership

2452
03:33:43,760 --> 03:33:54,000
activity in 2026 through August, uh, the
25th, we reported 3,127

2453
03:33:50,560 --> 03:33:59,920
all new memberships and 672 renewals. uh
the monthly actual membership count

2454
03:33:55,520 --> 03:34:04,880
peaked at 4,78 in July and it's stood at
4568 members uh as of August 25th. So

2455
03:34:03,600 --> 03:34:09,040
that just the numbers show that
membership activity is dynamic

2456
03:34:06,560 --> 03:34:12,720
throughout the year and uh the important
point for for us is that residents

2457
03:34:10,960 --> 03:34:17,200
continue to choose our facilities and
programs as part of their recreational

2458
03:34:14,080 --> 03:34:22,560
and fitness routines.
fits programming remains consistent uh

2459
03:34:20,239 --> 03:34:27,680
very high volume seems to be one of our
most consistent sources of participation

2460
03:34:25,200 --> 03:34:33,120
uh so just from January through July
2026 we recorded over 17,000 fitness

2461
03:34:30,640 --> 03:34:40,239
participants uh across over 2,000
classes uh over 9,000 participants in

2462
03:34:35,840 --> 03:34:44,080
color over almost 8,000 in cash uh June
was our highest combined month with over

2463
03:34:41,840 --> 03:34:47,120
3,000 participants so these numbers
reflect the work of our fitness

2464
03:34:45,200 --> 03:34:51,120
instructors and personal trainers as
well is just the demand for accessible

2465
03:34:49,279 --> 03:34:54,120
fitness opportunities throughout the
county.

2466
03:34:54,640 --> 03:35:00,800
So, strong recreation core. So, looking
at these numbers is uh this slide

2467
03:34:59,040 --> 03:35:05,439
provides just some historical context,
but I want to be careful about how we

2468
03:35:02,880 --> 03:35:11,359
interpret these numbers. Uh the 2025
facility report represents a full year

2469
03:35:07,359 --> 03:35:18,880
total uh with 158,352
combined facility check-ins and 27,540

2470
03:35:15,120 --> 03:35:26,080
fitness participants across 3,170
classes. So to date in 2026, uh over

2471
03:35:23,120 --> 03:35:31,120
102,000 check-ins with over 17,000
fitness participants during the

2472
03:35:27,439 --> 03:35:34,640
reporting period shown. Um and that just
you know they demonstrate a continued

2473
03:35:32,960 --> 03:35:38,560
scale of use and participation occurring
in a recreation system. And if these

2474
03:35:36,800 --> 03:35:45,200
follow suit then these numbers will beat
the 2025 year

2475
03:35:43,200 --> 03:35:50,080
programs, events, uh community
connections. So we're uh we're much more

2476
03:35:48,319 --> 03:35:53,279
than just facility access. Our youth
sports programs include baseball,

2477
03:35:51,600 --> 03:35:58,080
softball, soccer, basketball,
volleyball, tennis, archery, and a

2478
03:35:55,279 --> 03:36:02,560
variety of clinics and camps. quality
programming includes swim lessons, aqua

2479
03:36:00,239 --> 03:36:07,680
fitness, swim team, lifeguard training,
scuba diving, swim meets, dive team,

2480
03:36:05,120 --> 03:36:12,880
birthday parties, and most recently we
have taken on pretty much all uh aquatic

2481
03:36:11,200 --> 03:36:15,920
related activities for Western Carolina
University because they've had some

2482
03:36:14,000 --> 03:36:19,840
structural damage at at Reed Pool. So,
we currently have their club swim team

2483
03:36:17,600 --> 03:36:25,600
and uh trying to help out with
fraternities and sororities for some of

2484
03:36:21,520 --> 03:36:29,840
their aquatic programming. So, um it's
it's been a big help for them. Um we

2485
03:36:28,000 --> 03:36:34,560
also provide some community events,
partnerships such as concerts on the

2486
03:36:31,600 --> 03:36:38,239
creek. Uh USA Today ranked that the
number four outdoor concert venue in the

2487
03:36:36,640 --> 03:36:44,239
United States. It just continues to
grow. Um Special Olympics, senior games.

2488
03:36:41,840 --> 03:36:48,560
We've done member appreciation days,
summer day camps, adventure camps, back

2489
03:36:46,319 --> 03:36:52,720
to school bash with the school system,
and just, you know, many other community

2490
03:36:50,399 --> 03:36:56,720
activities. Um outdoor recreation
opportunities include the greenway,

2491
03:36:54,399 --> 03:37:01,600
trails, parks, playgrounds, pavilions,
river access, hiking, paddling, and

2492
03:36:58,560 --> 03:37:05,439
biking. And uh just key message from
this parkation serves people in many

2493
03:37:03,600 --> 03:37:09,600
different ways and facility membership
numbers only just tell part of that

2494
03:37:07,040 --> 03:37:16,080
story.
So some current uh capital investment a

2495
03:37:12,880 --> 03:37:20,239
good one to use an example is the Paul
Woodier Park represents a significant

2496
03:37:18,479 --> 03:37:25,760
investment in recreation opportunities
in northern part of Jackson County. Uh

2497
03:37:22,479 --> 03:37:30,800
the county contributed over uh $1.4
million to that project. Uh there was an

2498
03:37:28,479 --> 03:37:34,800
additional 500,000 that was a part of
grant that went into that project as

2499
03:37:32,479 --> 03:37:38,800
well. And uh the completed project
included site grading preparation,

2500
03:37:36,720 --> 03:37:43,439
paving and circulation, natural surface
trails, playground with play surfacing,

2501
03:37:41,200 --> 03:37:47,040
pavilion, restroom facilities,
utilities, storm water and drainage

2502
03:37:45,120 --> 03:37:51,040
improvements, landscaping and amenities
such as benches, swing slides, and

2503
03:37:48,720 --> 03:37:54,560
picnic table. And that park is now open
and serving the community. So, this is a

2504
03:37:53,120 --> 03:37:59,760
good example of how county investment
can be converted into a tangible public

2505
03:37:57,279 --> 03:38:04,000
asset that provides opportunities for
active recreation, play, gathering

2506
03:38:01,760 --> 03:38:09,520
space, and just outdoor access in in
general.

2507
03:38:05,600 --> 03:38:15,600
Um, here's a pretty surprising number
for greenway usage. Um, we keep trailers

2508
03:38:12,239 --> 03:38:20,399
on the greenway. We we keep a strong
count on those very regularly. Uh the

2509
03:38:18,080 --> 03:38:25,279
greenway continues to stream to just
demonstrate strong community demand. In

2510
03:38:22,720 --> 03:38:30,239
2025, the greenway tracker recorded over
131,000 uses. Uh just from January

2511
03:38:28,160 --> 03:38:35,920
through July of this year, we're over
135,000. Um so that means the first

2512
03:38:32,960 --> 03:38:43,279
seven months of 2026 already exceeded 20
the entirety of 2025 by over 3,000 uses

2513
03:38:39,920 --> 03:38:47,040
and that's approximately 3.2% increase.
Um so this is important indicator of

2514
03:38:45,680 --> 03:38:51,200
demand for continued greenway
connectivity and investment and it also

2515
03:38:49,439 --> 03:38:57,040
enforc reinforces the importance of
maintaining existing greenway while

2516
03:38:53,439 --> 03:39:04,000
preparing for future expansion.
Uh next slide is related to some

2517
03:38:58,960 --> 03:39:09,359
hurricane Ken uh affected portions of
not only Pel east port but also the

2518
03:39:06,720 --> 03:39:12,960
greenway. um lowlying areas near the
kids bike trail, the outdoor classroom

2519
03:39:11,120 --> 03:39:17,200
and outdoor exercise areas were impacted
by this. We were able to clean up a lot

2520
03:39:15,520 --> 03:39:20,640
of that stuff in house with the help of
our public works department or

2521
03:39:18,560 --> 03:39:24,479
recreation staff. Um we're very
fortunate to have a good good willing

2522
03:39:22,319 --> 03:39:27,840
staff to help out with that um across
departments. And then there were, you

2523
03:39:26,239 --> 03:39:31,200
know, some ser several curved portions
of the river bank that took some

2524
03:39:29,040 --> 03:39:36,560
significant water flow um that resulted
in some erosion um and also some silt

2525
03:39:34,560 --> 03:39:41,760
tree and debris clean up along those
areas. Um with that said, the the

2526
03:39:39,840 --> 03:39:45,520
proposed approximate 1.6 mile greenway
addition is being designed with storm

2527
03:39:43,359 --> 03:39:50,080
water practices and mitigation in mind.
So drainage, slope stabilization are

2528
03:39:48,720 --> 03:39:55,359
part of the long form approaches
including approximately 290 linear feet

2529
03:39:52,399 --> 03:39:58,399
of retaining wall needs. Um the goal is
not simply to recover from the previous

2530
03:39:56,960 --> 03:40:02,239
storm. The goal is to build a more
resilient system that can better

2531
03:39:59,920 --> 03:40:06,560
withstand and recover from future storm
events.

2532
03:40:04,399 --> 03:40:10,800
So leveraging county investment through
outside funding. Um one of our

2533
03:40:09,359 --> 03:40:14,399
priorities is to leverage county
resources by pursuing outside funding

2534
03:40:12,479 --> 03:40:19,600
whenever possible. The Jackson County
TDA uh committed $755,000

2535
03:40:17,600 --> 03:40:24,560
towards the purchase of some Greenway
properties. Um we're pursuing half a

2536
03:40:22,560 --> 03:40:30,800
million dollars part of grant right now
for the greenway. The CDBGDR request is

2537
03:40:27,520 --> 03:40:34,399
approximately $1.2 million. So um we've
had some preliminary engineering

2538
03:40:32,000 --> 03:40:40,560
estimates come in for roughly around $2
million for that greenway expansion. So

2539
03:40:37,920 --> 03:40:44,560
CDBG DR request is structured as no
match opportunity and Southwest

2540
03:40:43,040 --> 03:40:48,160
Commission is assisting with that grant
writing with us. Um, but the larger

2541
03:40:46,479 --> 03:40:51,840
point is that we are actively looking
for ways to stretch local dollars and

2542
03:40:50,160 --> 03:40:57,279
bring outside resources into Jackson
County to support that uh recreation

2543
03:40:54,560 --> 03:41:02,080
infrastructure without coming and asking
you guys all the time for more and more

2544
03:40:58,640 --> 03:41:06,720
money. Um, some other facility and park
improvements that have been done over

2545
03:41:03,279 --> 03:41:10,239
the last year. Uh, not every uh
important project is a major capital

2546
03:41:08,479 --> 03:41:14,160
project, but throughout the year staff
continue making improvements across

2547
03:41:12,000 --> 03:41:20,000
facilities and parks. uh Casters
Community Park received an irrigation

2548
03:41:16,000 --> 03:41:23,600
system. Uh Tiff Bermuda on the larger
the field and then we just continued to

2549
03:41:21,920 --> 03:41:28,080
move through the development phase of
looking at expansion at the Casters Rick

2550
03:41:25,359 --> 03:41:31,680
Center along with the pool. Um as well
as the development of that park that

2551
03:41:30,319 --> 03:41:36,080
we've been trying to do for a few years
and that's currently back out in the the

2552
03:41:33,520 --> 03:41:44,000
bid phase again to to do that Casters
Community Park. Um Boston Community

2553
03:41:39,120 --> 03:41:47,760
Center. Uh we have um well getting ready
to do some tar top coating and new lines

2554
03:41:46,080 --> 03:41:52,319
for basketball and hookball courts up
there. Those are heavily used by the the

2555
03:41:50,000 --> 03:41:56,080
Boston community.
Uh we continue to improve existing

2556
03:41:54,000 --> 03:42:01,439
parks, courts, fields, recreation
facilities. Um

2557
03:41:59,279 --> 03:42:06,239
we also will continue expanding
aquatics, fitness, youth sports,

2558
03:42:04,000 --> 03:42:10,880
community program where demand supports
it. So, um, you can obviously see we've

2559
03:42:09,600 --> 03:42:15,520
done a few other things, more Watson
Park, Fair View, and the wreck park in

2560
03:42:12,479 --> 03:42:21,760
Powy. We've upgraded LED lighting in all
those. Um, we hit on the quality park

2561
03:42:18,160 --> 03:42:25,520
earlier about uh how big of a
of a

2562
03:42:24,080 --> 03:42:29,439
need that was needed for the northern
part of Jackson County to have a park

2563
03:42:26,960 --> 03:42:34,399
and provide those services for that end.
Um,

2564
03:42:31,840 --> 03:42:38,640
here you can see some of our our
campground information. So Ralph J

2565
03:42:36,479 --> 03:42:42,399
Andrews Park Campground provides another
important outdoor recreation

2566
03:42:39,760 --> 03:42:48,560
opportunity. Uh the campground's got 36
total sites with uh there's over 6,000

2567
03:42:46,399 --> 03:42:54,000
rental openings uh available during the
year. So uh there were 2,300 campsite

2568
03:42:51,120 --> 03:42:59,920
rentals last year. Um primitive sites
accounted for 620 rentals. Lake sites

2569
03:42:57,040 --> 03:43:05,200
561 rentals. Water and electric hookup
sites 483.

2570
03:43:02,000 --> 03:43:09,520
RV full hookup sites 607.
uh we keep some available on a first

2571
03:43:06,880 --> 03:43:13,439
come first serve uh basis. We had 89 of
those rentals during the 2025 year and

2572
03:43:12,080 --> 03:43:17,760
then we have the picnic center up there
as well and we rented that out 43 times.

2573
03:43:15,600 --> 03:43:21,680
So um campground provides additional way
for residents and visitors to experience

2574
03:43:19,520 --> 03:43:26,160
Jackson County's outdoor resources and
just adds another measure of recreation

2575
03:43:23,359 --> 03:43:28,800
demand beyond just the just the centers.
>> Has anything been done about the

2576
03:43:27,920 --> 03:43:33,120
internet up there?
>> There has. there's additional star link

2577
03:43:30,800 --> 03:43:38,000
added for the staff um which has
provided constant use for them to be

2578
03:43:36,160 --> 03:43:41,359
able to do their billing and uh
telephone and all that. So thank you for

2579
03:43:39,600 --> 03:43:46,080
that.
Um so just looking ahead

2580
03:43:44,560 --> 03:43:48,479
uh as we look ahead our focus is on
building from the foundation we've

2581
03:43:47,359 --> 03:43:51,680
already established the proposed
greenway expansion remains an important

2582
03:43:50,080 --> 03:43:56,000
priority particularly in improving
connectivity and resilience. Um we'll

2583
03:43:54,399 --> 03:43:59,840
continue improving existing parks,
quartz fields.

2584
03:43:57,920 --> 03:44:03,840
Um, we'll use our 10-year parks and
recreation master plan to help guide

2585
03:44:01,279 --> 03:44:07,680
future investment, prioritize projects,
and then finally, we continue pursuing

2586
03:44:05,600 --> 03:44:10,960
grants and partnerships that allow us to
stretch county dollars and bring

2587
03:44:08,960 --> 03:44:16,399
additional resources into the community.
So, bottom line, parkration is a quality

2588
03:44:14,640 --> 03:44:22,640
of life investment. Currently have more
than 4,100 active memberships, uh, more

2589
03:44:19,199 --> 03:44:26,800
than 102,000 facility check-ins, fitness
programs generating more than 17,000

2590
03:44:24,880 --> 03:44:31,840
participant visits. Our recreation
centers are open 355 days a year,

2591
03:44:29,199 --> 03:44:36,000
providing more than 8,400 uh combined
operating hours. Our staff operate and

2592
03:44:34,399 --> 03:44:40,960
maintain these facilities, programs,
parks, and outdoor assets every day. Uh

2593
03:44:38,720 --> 03:44:45,600
the numbers represent people, not just
transactions, and they represent

2594
03:44:43,279 --> 03:44:49,359
children learning to swim, families
using our parks, seniors participating

2595
03:44:47,120 --> 03:44:52,880
in fitness programs, athletes playing
sports, residents walking the Greenway,

2596
03:44:51,359 --> 03:44:56,800
and just visitors enjoying Jackson
County's resources. So, uh, just

2597
03:44:55,279 --> 03:44:59,600
remember every dollar invested in parks
and recreation helps create

2598
03:44:57,920 --> 03:45:02,800
opportunities, strengthens the
communities, and, uh, improves the

2599
03:45:01,680 --> 03:45:06,479
quality of life for the people who
serve. So,

2600
03:45:04,239 --> 03:45:10,640
» thank you. Any questions?
>> Hey, did you did y'all just have

2601
03:45:08,080 --> 03:45:14,640
increases at the um, somebody asked me
about it and I was like, I don't know.

2602
03:45:12,560 --> 03:45:19,120
» We did. It was approved to start July
one. Um, we had some meat recreation

2603
03:45:16,960 --> 03:45:22,640
software that went into effect. Um, so
we delayed rolling those out until

2604
03:45:21,680 --> 03:45:25,520
September one.
>> Yeah. Um, but that was something that

2605
03:45:24,720 --> 03:45:28,239
was approved in this.
>> How much of an increase was it?

2606
03:45:26,880 --> 03:45:31,840
» It wasn't much of an increase. It
actually equaled itself out. We we

2607
03:45:30,000 --> 03:45:36,479
lowered some rates while we raised some
other rates. Um, so it actually ended up

2608
03:45:33,920 --> 03:45:40,720
balancing itself out pretty much. Um,
we've also had added the ability to do

2609
03:45:38,880 --> 03:45:44,000
monthly payments now, installments on
like six month membership or a year

2610
03:45:42,319 --> 03:45:47,199
membership. So now you're not hit with
that.

2611
03:45:44,479 --> 03:45:53,000
» I gota fee big fee all. So now you can
just pay monthly like $50 a month.

2612
03:45:49,520 --> 03:45:53,000
That'll really help.

2613
03:45:54,479 --> 03:45:59,600
So, thank thank you guys for your
support. I appreciate it. I know

2614
03:45:57,520 --> 03:46:03,680
» you tell you tell Poston that tonight
his eyes just happen to be heavier than

2615
03:46:01,520 --> 03:46:07,226
his lips.
>> I don't mind to give him a hard time.

2616
03:46:05,206 --> 03:46:07,226
[laughter]

2617
03:46:08,319 --> 03:46:14,479
» Thank you guys. It's bedtime, is it?
>> Yeah.

2618
03:46:11,680 --> 03:46:17,920
Supper time with Yeah. No further
business. Is there a motion to adjourn?

2619
03:46:16,399 --> 03:46:21,880
Absolutely.
I'm saying that in a hurry.