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for the Alageney County Board of
Commissioners. At this time, please

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stand and join us in the pledge of
>> allegiance

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to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it

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stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice

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for all. Thank you.

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All right. On the agenda tonight, we do
have a couple of changes under general

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business. Um, we're going to drop item
five

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for information under the for action
section.

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We're going to be dropping item three
and adding an item 11 for Melissa

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Recctor Alagany motion. So with those
changes, I'll entertain a motion to

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approve the agenda.
>> I'll make a motion to approve.

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» Second.
>> Got a motion, a second. Any discussion?

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All right. All in favor? Show hands. 40.
Agenda is approved.

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All right. In your packets, you have
minutes from the 8:17 meeting. That's

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pages three through nine. Trust that
everyone's had a chance to review those.

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And at this time, we'll take a motion to
approve the minutes from the 8:17

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meeting.
>> I make a motion to approve minutes from

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8:17
meeting.

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» Second.
>> Got a motion and a second. Any

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discussion?
All right. All in favor? Show of hands.

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4.
Okay.

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[clears throat] At this time, we're
going to open the floor up for public

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comments.
Anybody in the public that would like to

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make comments, please come forward at
this time. State your name for the

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audience.

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Seeing no movement, we'll move ahead to
presentations to the board. Uh, Jennifer

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Green, App Healthcare
Communicable Disease Report.

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[clears throat]
[cough]

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» Good evening. Thank you for

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» Red is on.
>> Okay, perfect. Thank you.

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» Good. Um, thank you all for having us.
Um, I'm here

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Gonzalez is here to do our uh report on
diseases. It's not always the most fun

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topic, but it's one we try to update you
on um every so often so that you can see

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what's happening in Alageney County and
um remind you the work that we do um for

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[clears throat] public health. So um I'm
going to pass her the microphone and and

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stand aside here.
Hi everyone, my name is Karina Martinez

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Gonzalez. I'm the director of
epidemiology communical disease and

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preparedness throughout healthcare. Next
slide.

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Um so today I'm going to be going over
the communical disease burden incidence

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rate. So how much of a disease is in the
community relative to the population,

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what the local disease landscape looks
like here, including diseases that are

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spread by food and water to diseases and
increased outbreaks of preventable

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diseases. And then we'll talk about
emerging trends and what we've been up

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to with partner collaboration. Next
slide. So this is the communicable

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disease burden by county. So these are
the total number of cases

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[clears throat and cough] that we see
across our district that we serve with

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Alagany in the the blue right there. So
in Alagany in 2025 there were 59

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confirmed communical disease cases for
the year. Next slide.

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So for each of these cases that we see
we [clears throat] investigate seven

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more cases. So we have quite a few
number of cases that come in front of us

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to be investigated. And this number
here, the 51.8 is the incidence rate of

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communicable diseases in Alageney County
per 10,000 residents. So that's um

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adjusted to the size of the population.
So for every 10,000 residents, there are

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40 or 51.8 communicable disease cases,
which is a pretty standard communicable

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disease rate across the state as
compared [clears throat and cough] to

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other counties. Next slide.
So [snorts] this here is the data

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specific to Alageney County by quarter.
Um so you can see here that some of the

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diseases that we look at areas. So
things like tickborn diseases are in the

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the green colors and you can see that
those increase in summer months of

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course. And then you have entic diseases
which are diseases that are spread

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through food and water. Those are in the
the shades of red at the bottom there on

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the graph. And then sexually transmitted
infections like chlamydia and gorrhea

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are in the shades of purple at the top.
Um as you can see this year we've had a

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pretty significant tick tick year with
Lyme disease rates being pretty high. Um

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and we've also had a really high interic
disease year. So those are diseases that

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are spread by food and water. So things
like campleacter and salmonila and those

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kind of things which are in the red
color. Um but you can see the history of

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how Lyme disease has increased over the
years here. Um and as the tick landscape

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has changed um so has the interic
disease landscape. Next slide.

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So recently there have been some things
that have been um developing in the

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global landscape that do have local
impacts. So um I'm sure you all have

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heard of Ebola virus. There's a strain
of it called bundio virus which is

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currently having an outbreak in
Democratic Republic of the Congo. and um

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it's become the most deadly outbreak
that they have seen of Ebola virus. Um

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it's relevant because a couple counties
over we have the home of Samaritan's

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Purse which is one of the the aid
organizations that's working at the

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Ebola treatment units. So we see folks
come back from volunteering abroad who

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have come into contact with people Ebola
with Ebola. And so one of the things

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that we do is monitoring those folks and
seeing if they develop symptoms and

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making sure that they know the proper
channels to go through so that we're not

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um putting other first responders and
folks at risk in that process. Um and

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then in the the last slide that we
looked at there were the the bread cases

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the entic disease cases. So those that
spread through food and water and this

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summer across the state we saw an
increase in those of cycllosporasis

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which was linked to a big outbreak of
things like lettuce and parsley and

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cilantro and all of those um those
things that aren't cooked before being

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served. And so um we did hear see an
increase in cycllosporasis cases similar

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to what we saw at the whole broader
state level. Next slide.

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Oh, the other direction.
Oh, the

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there we go.
Um so in terms of what we've been doing

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about communicable diseases and to on
the prevention side of things, we've

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been doing outreach on um Ebola virus
and other viral hemorrhagic fevers with

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partners just to make sure that
everybody is aware of their role, making

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sure that we all have our policies up to
date and all of that. We've been doing a

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lot of tickorn disease education at
health fair. So our community health

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team has been going out and teaching
kids about tick prevention and all of

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that. And then in our other counties,
we've seen an increase in a lechiosis,

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which is another tickborn disease. Um,
and so we've been doing work

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[clears throat] with providers to make
sure that they're aware of that and are

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testing for that in their tick panels.
And then, um, so with communicable

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diseases that are reportable, it does
take a lift on local healthcare

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providers. And so in order to lessen
that lift, we've been working to get

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access to electronic medical records so
that reporting to us is easier. so that

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folks just need to tell us and not send
us over all the records [snorts]

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and then we can use the electronic
medical record to get all the

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information that we need to decrease the
lift on those provers's offices. And

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then um we've been doing outbreak
mitigation collaboration. So that looks

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a lot of different ways, but um with an
increase in measles [clears throat] in

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the state over the past couple of years,
um we we border South Carolina of course

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and they had a pretty significant
measles outbreak that we saw um spread

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out into North Carolina. And um in order
to make sure that we are prepared

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locally, one of the things that we did
was fit test the local school nurses

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here to make sure that they're prepared
and they're not putting themselves at

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risk if they were to come into contact
with somebody who hadn't been vaccinated

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or um who was symptomatic and
potentially infectious with measles. Um

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so that's everything I have, but that's
kind of the the summary of what we've

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been working on up.
Talk about goats. Oh yes. Um,

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[clears throat] the other thing that has
been even more recent than all of this

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is, um, over a couple weeks ago, there
came to light that there was a farm that

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had, um, some baby goats, kids that they
were taking around in a mobile petting

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zoo that had developed symptoms of
rabies. They tested them and they did

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come back positive for rabies. And so,
um, what we have been doing is

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identifying the families of folks that
have been exposed and doing the the risk

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assessment to see if they need to
receive rabies postexposure prophylaxis

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because, as I'm sure you know, rabies is
almost always fatal, but it's also

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preventable. And so, we've been
identifying who needs the postexposure

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prophylaxis and administering that
vaccine. you know, we had four folks in

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Ash County um who were exposed and then
um around 47 in Wata County who were

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exposed who ended up needing that
postexposure prophylaxis which we've

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been administering at the health
department in order to decrease costs

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for individuals um so they don't have to
pay for ER visits every time that they

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need one of those vaccines in the
series. [cough and clears throat]

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» Any questions?
>> Yeah. Um, when you encounter an animal,

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a wild animal out
not acting the way that he should be

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acting, you know, especially like the
skunk, uh, [clears throat]

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raccoons nowadays and coyotes.
If you kill one of these animals, what

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should you [clears throat] contact the
health department, the local vet? How do

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you, if you suspect something that's
wrong? I would contact animal control.

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They're the ones who do the the
processing for testing for us. They're

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uh most likely to test if it's if it
influences whether somebody needs to get

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the postexposure prophylaxis because if
you [snorts] have like a skunk like you

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said that has [clears throat and cough]
someone then if you can determine that

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that skunk wasn't rapid then the person
doesn't need to get all the the rabies

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shots in the series for postexposure
prophylaxis. Um, so in those situations,

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they're more likely to test, but um, it
is always a good idea to [clears throat]

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call because sometimes they'll want to
test even if there isn't human

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involvement um, [clears throat] if they
are seeing a trend in in suspicious

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activity in animals.
>> Yeah. And I'll just add a local vet is a

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good um, a veterinarian is a is a good
resource. Unfortunately, I think that's

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one of the things that broke down in
this mobile petting zoo, you know, um,

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that did not happen soon enough. Um,
consulting a local vet if you have pets

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that may have been exposed to um, a
potentially rabid animal or wild animal

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is always a good idea. They may need a
book of physical

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[clears throat and cough] disting to
consult with the vet to see if they need

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evaluation. Um, because if they start,
you know, um, showing symptoms or even

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before they do, um, sometimes you you
want to monitor for symptoms really

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carefully if they've been exposed like
what happened with the the goats in this

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case. So, you said we should contact
[clears throat] our local animal

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control.

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I'm I'm not sure that that's in our
policy. It may be. Uh we're going to

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review our animal control policy, but we
need to be sure that that's your

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recommendation
that it's in there.

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» We'd be happy to work with you all on
how we how we've been managing that. Um

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what we want to do is have the right
level of response that doesn't um I

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think Karina mentioned um we know that
the typical species that carry a lot of

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rabies but what we want to do is focus
on where we have risk right if there's

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someone who's been exposed or someone
that might have a farm that's had their

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animals exposed that's when you want to
do a test um for for rabies which um you

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requires euthanizing an animal um to
test because their brain has to be

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tested. So um it's something you want to
take on carefully and I think um David

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00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:28,399
may want to comment more when I cut you
off. I just wanted to add

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00:13:27,624 --> 00:13:34,160
[cough and clears throat]
willing to continue working with you all

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as needed to try to coordinate that.
>> Yes. So, so animal control will come out

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and and take care of the um suspected
animals who have the possibility of uh

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rabies, especially if it is bitten
someone. Now, if it has bitten someone,

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the state will normally pay for having
that test done. Now, just because an

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animal is acting strange doesn't
necessarily mean that they have rabies,

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00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:05,839
but it's like Jennifer said that if
there has been [clears throat] a

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00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:12,079
succession of several different animals
and they want to try to do a trend, the

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state may pay for that um
testing to be done, but not always. So

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just because you think that an animal's
not acting right and just want it tested

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00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:26,959
just because um they won't always the
state won't always pay for that testing

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00:14:24,079 --> 00:14:31,279
that that falls back on the person who
is requesting that to be done. So the

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public needs to understand that that the
state will not pay for every single one.

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And if you do um euthanize an animal
that has bitten someone make sure that

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you do not shoot them in the head. Uh if
you shoot them in the head, then that

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does away with the possibility of us
being able to have them tested because

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as Jennifer said, the brain is the part
that needs to be tested to see if that

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00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:59,120
animal is raid. So, um animal control
does do that. We do go and and we will

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00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:04,399
kill the animal. We will dispatch the
animal, euthanize it in a humane way,

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00:15:02,079 --> 00:15:09,199
and then we'll we'll send it off. We
take it to the local vet. The vet

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00:15:06,079 --> 00:15:14,800
prepares the the the head for uh
testing. it's done and and put into a

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coal storage and then it's sent to the
lab. So, um that is part of animal

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00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:25,680
control part that if it is if it is
rabid or possibly rabid and it has

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bitten someone.
>> Thank you.

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00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:33,600
» Yeah, good questions.
>> Best not to pet something that you just

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00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:39,440
leave it alone. You know, mama's advice
still holds true.

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» Anybody else?
Thank you for your time. [clears throat]

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00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,519
» We appreciate it.
>> Thanks.

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00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:46,540
[snorts]

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00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:54,880
» All right, moving down to general
business for information.

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00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:59,639
Rachel Refe and DSS request for approval
to establish a statuary case review.

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00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,516
» How you doing?
>> Good. How are you all

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00:16:02,639 --> 00:16:06,880
» doing?
[snorts] My name is Rachel Brown and I

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00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:13,279
am the adult protective services
supervisor at AligsSS. Um we are coming

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00:16:10,399 --> 00:16:15,680
before you today in regards to our adult
multi-disiplinary cases.

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00:16:14,651 --> 00:16:19,759
[clears throat and cough]
This is a team that we have within our

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00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:23,759
agency that consists of a group of
professionals that are involved with the

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adult population together with a
commitment of working towards a common

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goal of protecting the adults within our
community. This team typically meets

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00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:37,199
quarterly [clears throat] to identify
ways to respond to and prevent abuse,

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00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:42,320
neglect, and exploitation
um for the disabled adults within our

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00:16:39,839 --> 00:16:48,480
county. Members are able to share
information, resources, identify gaps

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00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:53,279
and deficiencies, and problem solve in
order to best serve the adults within

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00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:59,440
our county. At this time, there are
three different types of teams that

216
00:16:55,600 --> 00:17:05,199
meet. Um there's systematic and limited
case review which is currently what we

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00:17:02,079 --> 00:17:10,799
are what our team operates under. Um the
systematic review addresses gaps in in

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00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:17,039
services or deficiencies within our
county. Um and the limited case review

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00:17:13,919 --> 00:17:21,839
is just limited information that we are
able to share about some cases but again

220
00:17:19,360 --> 00:17:27,356
it's very limited due to confidentiality
reasons and things like that. Um so we

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00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:32,799
are actually coming before you today
[clears throat] to request permission to

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00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:38,400
do the statutory case reviews within our
team. Um and this is so that members can

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00:17:35,360 --> 00:17:43,679
discuss very specific information on
open cases that we have and enable in

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00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:48,880
being able to do such the different
community members that we have will be

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00:17:45,919 --> 00:17:54,160
able to share specific information or
adults that they might be serving or um

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00:17:51,919 --> 00:17:59,600
other resources that they have so that
we can talk more openly and better

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00:17:57,360 --> 00:18:06,480
identify the gaps and deficiencies and
the needs of the specific adults that we

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00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:09,520
are working. Um, this is also something
that we're requested in part

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00:18:07,967 --> 00:18:14,480
[clears throat and cough] with School of
Government as this um, system or the

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statutory case review was something that
was just approved um, back in October of

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00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:24,559
2025. I think that this would be super
helpful for our small county because we

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are so small and so many of our agencies
all work together, but that way that we

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can share all of this information um and
just really better best serve the adults

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within our community.

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00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:41,280
» Anybody have any questions? Who who all
is on that team? Just just

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00:18:40,062 --> 00:18:45,440
[clears throat] social service employees
or people in the community?

237
00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:48,720
» Yes, sir. It's different agencies within
our community who are involved with

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adults. So it might be like law
enforcement um specifically you know the

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00:18:51,039 --> 00:19:00,320
ED and the sheriff's office um is the
council on aging. We invite different um

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00:18:57,039 --> 00:19:04,559
branches of banks. Um we also have
invited people like the clerk of court

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00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:10,240
um different attorneys who were involved
with the adults that we serve. Um it's

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00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:15,280
also people like Alagany in Motion, um
the different facilities that are here,

243
00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:19,200
the landings, Lotus Village, um just
anybody like any agencies that are

244
00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:22,960
specifically involved, the health
department, the hospital that are

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00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:27,039
involved with the adults that we serve
or and it's also a really good

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00:19:24,559 --> 00:19:30,720
opportunity for people to say, "Hey, I
have a concern about an adult." And we

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00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:33,840
can kind of talk that through and what
that looks like that the different

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00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:37,679
agencies in the community can
specifically help with as well. So, so

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00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:40,720
it's not just individuals from the
community on it.

250
00:19:38,559 --> 00:19:45,280
» No, it's it's representation from
different agencies.

251
00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:48,640
» Do you have representation from ADAP or
the group homes?

252
00:19:46,559 --> 00:19:53,440
» Um,
I believe so, but we do send out like an

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00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,400
email thread of of people that we do
invite.

254
00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:58,160
» Okay.
>> Um, and we can always add to that list

255
00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:01,400
too as they are people that we work with
as well.

256
00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:12,000
» Okay. So, we have uh your request under
for information. We'll take this up at

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00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:15,748
our next meeting later this month.
>> Thank you. We appreciate it.

258
00:20:13,728 --> 00:20:15,748
[clears throat]

259
00:20:18,559 --> 00:20:25,120
» All right. Lisa Ashley, Octo [snorts]
October 19th board meeting.

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00:20:22,559 --> 00:20:32,679
» So, the meeting for October 19th needs
to be moved because of early voting. So,

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00:20:28,159 --> 00:20:32,679
we can have that at 90 South Main.

262
00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:42,840
I think that's what we did in the past.
We moved back up there.

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00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,840
» Yes.

264
00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:49,120
» So, that's just an FYI.
>> Yeah. That's just for information that

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00:20:47,919 --> 00:20:53,840
that's where we'll move.
>> That's where we'll move. Yes.

266
00:20:52,080 --> 00:21:00,240
» All right. We'll take that up for action
at the next meeting. Um, moving right

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00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:04,400
along to law enforcement surplus vehicle
sales.

268
00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:09,679
» So, they have two vehicles that they um
confiscated years ago, and they're going

269
00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:16,480
to be putting those up on gov deals for
sale.

270
00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:23,880
It's a 2004 GMC pickup and a 2006 Dodge
Ram truck with the flatbed.

271
00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:23,880
And they've chosen Gov deals.

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00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:32,120
That's just so you know, the first one
was a 2004 GMC pickup.

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00:21:40,844 --> 00:21:44,174
[snorts]
[clears throat]

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00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:51,600
And so we'll just need a resolution to
declare it surplus property at our next

275
00:21:49,679 --> 00:21:56,720
meeting.
>> I think it already has been

276
00:21:54,159 --> 00:22:01,440
Is that how it works? I'm not sure.
>> Yeah, I guess we just put it out for bid

277
00:21:58,799 --> 00:22:03,440
at the next meeting.
>> Well, they're going to put it on the

278
00:22:02,559 --> 00:22:06,559
auction site.
>> They're going to put it on the auction

279
00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:09,440
site and they wanted Yeah.
>> Okay.

280
00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:13,440
» So, so we we'll take that up.
>> It's just for your information.

281
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:15,039
» Yeah. No. Where's this auction site at?
You're just

282
00:22:13,919 --> 00:22:17,600
» It's gov deals.
>> GoDeals.com through the state.

283
00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,559
» Yeah. Okay.
>> Yeah.

284
00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:25,120
» Okay. I think [clears throat] I think
there's no issue with that as long as we

285
00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:31,120
have like a like a working link on our
uh social media so folks can see that.

286
00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:33,760
Um
all right, Aaron Ray Thompkins for the

287
00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:37,039
fairgrounds.
>> Let me ask one more question.

288
00:22:35,039 --> 00:22:40,320
» Oh, sorry. Why don't we take all our
county vehicles and put on that?

289
00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:43,039
» I mean, we can
>> I mean,

290
00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:45,600
» we can there's a fee associated with
that, I'm pretty sure.

291
00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,679
» I mean, we're going to reach out a lot
further anyway.

292
00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:50,960
» Exactly.
Yes, we can certainly look into

293
00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:54,400
» I mean this could be our test program.
>> Yeah, this I mean it be something to

294
00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:56,400
look into still to just
>> Yeah, definitely.

295
00:22:55,360 --> 00:22:59,600
» Everybody ain't going to see the sign
out front when they drive by.

296
00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:02,600
» Exactly. Or the website.
>> Yeah.

297
00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,919
» How you doing?
>> I'm good. How are you?

298
00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:10,640
» Doing good, man. Thanks.
>> Um so this is for information and

299
00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:16,799
actually I had visited with Mr. Sheffley
and David Spicer in regards to this. Um

300
00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:21,919
but we wanted to make you all aware. um
of some conditions and things that are

301
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:27,039
actually impacting the fair grounds. Um
and I don't know that I'm necessarily

302
00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:32,400
have a specific request that I'm asking
tonight. Um it's more offormational so

303
00:23:29,919 --> 00:23:36,000
that way you all know um the condition
and some things that we've had to work

304
00:23:33,679 --> 00:23:40,320
with and going to be working through. Um
so if you look this is pictures of the

305
00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:45,840
fairgrounds back [snorts]
um which would be in May um which is

306
00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:49,120
before the first event there. Um there's
two main pictures so you can at least

307
00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:55,360
see the condition that that the track
was left in um after our first event.

308
00:23:52,559 --> 00:24:00,240
Then due to mother nature and some other
events um I will credit that because it

309
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:06,080
was a rainy season throughout the
summer. Um here are pictures from the

310
00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:12,640
first event before the second event
actually happened going into

311
00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:16,880
the second event. Um, and this actually
caused a drain to be clogged and it's

312
00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:23,840
can still clog that we're trying to get
unclogged. Um, and then moving into the

313
00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:29,039
third event. Um, so the condition that
was left um, after the three events

314
00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:34,320
three weeks in a row. Um, however, we've
had to have one of our fairgrounds board

315
00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:37,760
members go in and drain [snorts] this
um, to where it was bad enough. at one

316
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:43,039
point he just about got the bulldozer
stuck that was out there um and has had

317
00:24:40,159 --> 00:24:49,679
to bring in an excavator. Um and this
was after um the a board had spent

318
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:55,520
almost $10,000 last year making
improvements to that. Um part of the

319
00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:59,679
issues is over time there was a tractor
trailer load and a half of sawdust

320
00:24:57,120 --> 00:25:05,440
brought in and dumped in that area to
absorb some of the water but wasn't

321
00:25:01,919 --> 00:25:09,600
removed. Um and so he has now got it to
where it's draining better. Um hopefully

322
00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:13,919
we'll have the drain cleared out this
week um after meeting with him again

323
00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:18,159
this morning. Um but more or less just
wanted to let you all aware that this is

324
00:25:16,559 --> 00:25:23,200
something that the fairgrounds board has
been discussing and visiting weekly with

325
00:25:20,559 --> 00:25:26,159
the rec department. Um and there's some
recommendations that's going to be

326
00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:30,880
coming forward to to hopefully try to
correct that um to prevent this in the

327
00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:35,600
future. Um but the thing is is we can't
have people think that this is okay the

328
00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:39,440
way to to leave that at the end is the
biggest thing. So it's it's not that I

329
00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:43,520
have a specific request today other than
just providing you all information.

330
00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:45,440
» So the people's having an events are not
leaving it the way they found it in

331
00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:49,039
other words.
>> Right.

332
00:25:47,120 --> 00:25:52,880
» Do you have a set contractor that's
supposed to

333
00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:56,320
resurface that area or are they allowed
to use whoever they want or what's your

334
00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:59,440
what's your framework? they can use
whoever they want as far as a

335
00:25:58,159 --> 00:26:03,840
contractor. And that's one of the things
that that I think we wanted to look at

336
00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:08,480
very heavily. Um is you can use whoever
you want to build your your track, your

337
00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:12,480
pit, whatever you want, [clears throat]
but we have one set person that's

338
00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:16,080
contracted to clean it up afterwards and
it's going to cost they more or less

339
00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:19,840
have to pay that at the beginning of the
event um to have that established and

340
00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:24,400
then that way we have it properly
drained which would have prevented some

341
00:26:22,159 --> 00:26:27,279
of this here. I'm not say it's all
because there was a lot of rain over

342
00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:32,080
that period of time and when there was
three events back to back to back you

343
00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:37,520
couldn't get the event fixed from the
first one to get everything straightened

344
00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:44,880
up to the second one to then the third
>> th this is going to continue to happen

345
00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:50,400
when you have an outside event. I mean,
you know, we were dry in the s in the

346
00:26:47,279 --> 00:26:56,640
early spring, but thank goodness we had
those rains to help, but I mean, this is

347
00:26:53,760 --> 00:27:01,760
something every time it's used, you
know, there's going to be an issue about

348
00:26:58,559 --> 00:27:06,240
getting it back the way that it was. And
I think part of it is just them

349
00:27:03,279 --> 00:27:10,799
understanding that even if it takes them
a week, two weeks, three weeks, whatever

350
00:27:08,559 --> 00:27:16,240
it takes, that some of that expense may
be split of among multiple event

351
00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:19,200
holders.
>> What are you

352
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:23,200
th
>> What are you looking at getting this

353
00:27:20,559 --> 00:27:26,880
back to normal? How much money?
>> 8 to $10,000.

354
00:27:25,679 --> 00:27:30,000
» And you gonna have to have it done
before the fair?

355
00:27:28,559 --> 00:27:34,320
» It will have to be before the next
event. It's just We're fortunate that we

356
00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:37,919
have a board member that's has been
willing to do this work at this point to

357
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:42,240
to try to correct it.
>> So that's that's why.

358
00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:46,240
» So it's just for information but
awareness, but you know trying to figure

359
00:27:44,159 --> 00:27:50,080
out I know that I had visited with with
both of y'all and um that way you had a

360
00:27:48,799 --> 00:27:56,640
better understanding of what we were
working with. So

361
00:27:51,840 --> 00:28:02,080
» do you plan to assess the the users an
equal share of that fee? So that's what

362
00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:06,240
we had proposed initially and sort of
brought to the table with them and um

363
00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:10,720
and had because the recreation
department is the department that

364
00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:14,559
handles that um we had let them sort of
discuss that at this point but that's

365
00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:20,159
something that we'll have to have some
further conversations even though we had

366
00:28:18,159 --> 00:28:26,799
approached that to begin with.
>> Okay. Well, it it's our largest outdoor

367
00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:31,120
uh facility
and if you notice the crowds that you've

368
00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:36,159
drawn this year Oh, yeah.
>> They've been unbelievable.

369
00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:42,000
» So, we need to do whatever we need to do
to keep that facility open, some more

370
00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,640
more people will start using it.
>> Exactly. And that's what we're trying to

371
00:28:43,279 --> 00:28:49,120
prevent because what we don't want to
have happen is somebody that rented the

372
00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:54,159
facility come in and stop using it
because of getting it in this shape. You

373
00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:58,000
know what I'm saying? Because if
somebody would have been in the shape of

374
00:28:55,919 --> 00:29:02,880
having to fix it from from this last one
other than the a board itself. Um so

375
00:29:01,039 --> 00:29:07,679
that's where we are on that. It's it's
trying to create it the usability for as

376
00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:14,000
many individuals as possible.
>> Yeah. and good when when somebody talks

377
00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:18,880
about they had a good experience here
then another people may start using it

378
00:29:17,039 --> 00:29:24,159
but if they go back and say it was
nothing but a mud hole they're not going

379
00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:30,720
to be that anxious to come back.
>> No. And I think if we have one person as

380
00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:34,559
you would ask um Harrison fix it every
time I think that will help especially

381
00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:37,600
with some of the drainage because as you
see here this is not going to drain is

382
00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,480
the biggest issue that we're trying to
correct.

383
00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:42,399
» Are we hauling that sawdust off
somewhere or just piling it up out

384
00:29:41,919 --> 00:29:46,640
there?
>> Um so the last event last two events

385
00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:50,080
didn't do anything with it and left it
in the track.

386
00:29:47,919 --> 00:29:53,840
» Um so they've had to pile it up. They've
had to pile it up to be able to start

387
00:29:51,679 --> 00:29:57,760
working on it. Um, and that's one thing
that I think is going to have to be

388
00:29:55,600 --> 00:30:02,159
required. Um, is if that's brought in,
it's got to be removed. Um, because when

389
00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:05,840
you're looking at two tractor trailer
loads of sawdust brought in this year,

390
00:30:04,399 --> 00:30:09,679
um, part of it was dumped in other
places, but that doesn't necessarily

391
00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:13,039
help us long term.
>> Mr. Shley,

392
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:17,360
» yes, Erin Ray, we appreciate all you do
with the with in all the fields,

393
00:30:15,679 --> 00:30:24,720
different fields that you're involved.
Um, is there a a set fee that these

394
00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:28,960
users of the park have to have to pay if
they don't um do what needs to be done

395
00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:33,120
when they when they leave?
>> Um, there is a deposit, but there's

396
00:30:30,799 --> 00:30:38,159
nothing there's some rewarding that
needs to happen in that contract. Okay.

397
00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:41,760
um a after we have reviewed that um and
feel like we need to to explore that

398
00:30:39,679 --> 00:30:45,279
some more and have that in place for the
next season because at this point we're

399
00:30:43,679 --> 00:30:48,960
already too far in this season to change
anything unfortunately um and this is

400
00:30:47,919 --> 00:30:53,120
something that we will have to work
towards and have it in place to to work

401
00:30:51,039 --> 00:30:59,039
for next year. The other question I have
is uh in your in the planning between

402
00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:03,440
the uh the fairgrounds and the
recreation department

403
00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:09,200
when you get in these situations, what
was the plan on how to remedy it? What

404
00:31:06,399 --> 00:31:13,440
would be the way that it got got fixed?
>> If nobody if if one of the vendors came

405
00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,286
in and just didn't do anything when they
were done,

406
00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:18,640
» right? And that's one of the things that
[clears throat] we want to try to to

407
00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:22,240
improve and have that if we had one
person that that more or less cleans

408
00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:24,960
that up at the end and that's already
those funds are already secured before

409
00:31:23,919 --> 00:31:28,080
the event.
>> I think that will be much easier.

410
00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:33,039
» Okay.
So you're suggesting as part of the

411
00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:37,600
application process or or built you
build it into the fee structure to where

412
00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:42,799
there's already a cleanup fee or deposit
involved right off the bat. Okay.

413
00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:46,080
Is there a specific action that you need
from the board before the a fair?

414
00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:51,039
» No. To get this done
>> at this point? No, because we have to

415
00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:55,440
It's more of a I hate to say it, but
it's more of afterthought because we had

416
00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:59,760
already signed a $20,000 contract um
just with the pull. So, some of those

417
00:31:57,519 --> 00:32:04,000
things have to be in place no matter
what, even the the time frame. And we

418
00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:08,480
just wanted to make you all more aware
at this point than anything else. Um and

419
00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:13,360
there will be some follow-up
discussions. Um but we also have time to

420
00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:18,919
work towards.
>> Anybody else?

421
00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,919
» Thank you, sir.

422
00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:32,640
» All right, we've dropped item five.
We'll move to Heather Klein, our county

423
00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:38,480
attorney. Okay. So, I recently had a
conversation with uh Trey Fusher who's

424
00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:44,320
with the state and we've worked with him
for several years now um in regards to

425
00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:50,880
grants that we have against our
properties. Um there are multiple grants

426
00:32:46,799 --> 00:32:57,519
that we have and we worked with him in
regards to the pool um trying to get the

427
00:32:55,519 --> 00:33:03,039
pool declared
um basically unusable and that we can't

428
00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:06,880
do anything with it. It's a lot more
complicated than we thought it was going

429
00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:12,960
to be in order to make that happen. Um
it's called obsolete uh in regards to

430
00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:18,159
the the grants that we have. But we have
state grants and we have federal grants.

431
00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:23,919
Um a lot of our grants are on Sam Brown
Mountain um property, but we have other

432
00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:31,519
ones, Veterans Park. Um and then I think
we have one on um Davis Field um which

433
00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:37,120
is part of Sam Brown. Um, so in our
conversations, um, we we've discussed

434
00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:41,120
trading out properties with the school
system, uh, for some of our ball fields

435
00:33:39,679 --> 00:33:46,080
and some other things so we can get
additional grants. And we've done some

436
00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:51,919
surveying. We've, um, talked to the
school about what potentially we could

437
00:33:48,799 --> 00:33:58,640
do um, also in regards to their barn
that is on the Sam Brown property. And

438
00:33:55,519 --> 00:34:02,080
so I went back to uh Trey and said,
"Hey, this is what we were thinking

439
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:06,559
about doing."
And Trey said, "Well, it's a little more

440
00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:10,159
complicated than we just thought about
trading out where we would have to have

441
00:34:08,399 --> 00:34:14,560
a survey and we would have to have an
appraisal of the properties that we were

442
00:34:11,919 --> 00:34:19,520
going to trade to make it even so that
we [snorts] could take a grant off of a

443
00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:23,040
property and then add it to one that we
might obtain so that the school might be

444
00:34:21,359 --> 00:34:28,560
able to have property that didn't have a
grant on it." Um, I think that's in

445
00:34:25,359 --> 00:34:34,800
violation of our grants to the county.
So, um, unfortunately, Trey said, "Well,

446
00:34:31,839 --> 00:34:40,079
it's not as easy as, um, as we might
think." He said, "Because a couple of

447
00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:46,240
the properties that we're asking to swap
out have a federal component to them,

448
00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:51,359
not just a state component." And because
they have the federal um he said that we

449
00:34:50,079 --> 00:34:54,960
would have to get approval from the
state to begin with, but then we would

450
00:34:53,359 --> 00:35:02,160
have to go through the federal process.
And he said the federal process is very

451
00:34:57,839 --> 00:35:07,359
long. Um, so it's something that we we
probably should get together and maybe

452
00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:11,839
even do a work session on or something
um to talk about all the properties that

453
00:35:09,359 --> 00:35:16,960
we have grants on, what portions of
those properties we might be thinking

454
00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:21,440
about trading out and get a handle on
what do we have surveys on and what do

455
00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:28,240
we have appraisals on, what might we
need to do in order to, you know, get a

456
00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:34,079
proposal together to send to Trey. Um he
did send me an application

457
00:35:31,119 --> 00:35:40,720
um and some requirements in a sheet that
said what we needed to do. It it's going

458
00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:45,520
to be complicated. Um we thought that it
wasn't going to be as as hard to

459
00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:51,599
accomplish and all that we had to do was
some surveying and some appraisals. Um,

460
00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:56,000
but that was I don't know maybe the
explanation coming from the state was a

461
00:35:53,920 --> 00:36:00,960
little bit inadequate and Trey is
correcting us letting us know it's going

462
00:35:58,079 --> 00:36:05,040
to be much more lengthy and difficult.
He said the state approval is pretty

463
00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:09,119
easy. That's not really the big issue.
Um, it's dealing with the federal

464
00:36:06,720 --> 00:36:14,640
government to get a release of property
that might be under one of the grants

465
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:20,720
that was approved through uh the federal
government. That is the hard part. Um,

466
00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:26,079
so one of the other things that I wanted
to mention that I did get a copy of um,

467
00:36:23,359 --> 00:36:32,880
a while back from him, uh, one of the
grants that we have, uh, it's called the

468
00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:39,440
Sam Brown, um, park ball field. That one
does expire December 25th of 2027.

469
00:36:37,119 --> 00:36:45,599
And we have the Duncan Recreation Center
renovations grant. Um, that one expires

470
00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:52,640
2034.
And we have the Sparta Parkway Park and

471
00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:58,079
that expires in March of 2040.
So the federal grants are permanent. Um

472
00:36:56,240 --> 00:37:03,440
I don't know of any of them that expire.
So the state grants are the ones that

473
00:36:59,599 --> 00:37:07,040
might expire. Um federals are permanent.
So which is why we have to go through

474
00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:10,800
the state to get a release and then go
to the federal government to get a

475
00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:15,680
release. So those were just three, but
those were state ones that we have. and

476
00:37:13,359 --> 00:37:21,359
some portions of our property might
include some of those grants and then a

477
00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:25,359
part of the federal. So, so not as easy
as we think and it's maybe a multi-year

478
00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:29,760
process,
unfortunately.

479
00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:33,760
» Certainly not what we wanted to hear.
>> No.

480
00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:38,000
» Would you be open to to doing a work
session around the the first of Octo the

481
00:37:35,839 --> 00:37:41,040
first week of October?
Yeah, depending on everybody's schedule,

482
00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:47,440
I think we need to look at the
properties and the grants.

483
00:37:43,839 --> 00:37:54,079
» I think we have a a preliminary work
schedule for the animal control.

484
00:37:51,280 --> 00:38:02,640
This would be, you know, used to we
could do two things at one time. and uh

485
00:37:59,599 --> 00:38:09,760
the Duncan Recreation, the swimming pool
is the main one, but also the barn that

486
00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:18,240
is on the county property. And like you
said before, the county is liable if

487
00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:23,200
somebody gets hurt at that barn. And you
know, those are the ones we've been

488
00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:26,720
trying to work on for four, five, six
years now.

489
00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:31,839
» Yeah. We have more than that too because
the tennis courts are also um an issue

490
00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:38,560
for us because they were transferred to
the school system in 2019 and that's not

491
00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:42,800
allowable under the grants. So
we have a lot of issues to work through

492
00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:48,079
and and Trey did say that that we're not
under any scrutiny at this point because

493
00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:53,280
we're trying to work towards a solution
for several of our grants and the issues

494
00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:58,079
we have with the properties. So, we're
not under any timeline. We're not under

495
00:38:55,119 --> 00:39:02,400
a crunch. Um, we recognize there's some
issues that we have to take care of.

496
00:38:59,839 --> 00:39:08,160
It's just going to take a while.
>> Well, you mentioned about the swimming

497
00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:16,480
pool being somebody has to say it's not
usable or is that our our inspection

498
00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:22,880
department? Is that a who who does that?
>> So, we've already been through that

499
00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:27,839
process. Um, we declared it obsolete.
Uh, we had a public hearing. Uh, we did

500
00:39:25,359 --> 00:39:35,760
ran a notice in the paper. Um, we did
send that to the state, send it to Trey.

501
00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:39,520
Um, but the state rejected it and we
need to work with Trey in order to go

502
00:39:37,839 --> 00:39:45,280
either potentially back through that
process. It's just another one on our

503
00:39:42,320 --> 00:39:51,200
list because they understood what the
problem was, but I don't know if they

504
00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:55,040
want us to present it differently. I
don't know if they want to trade

505
00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:59,040
property. I I'm I wasn't really clear on
why they rejected it. Um, but that's

506
00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:04,320
something we're going to have to work
with Trey on again to go through that

507
00:40:01,599 --> 00:40:08,720
process and maybe do it slightly
differently in order to get it declared

508
00:40:06,240 --> 00:40:14,079
obsolete. Well, there was something in
the grant about an earthquake.

509
00:40:12,079 --> 00:40:20,320
You know, that was one of the reasons
that it couldn't be used and that was

510
00:40:17,839 --> 00:40:26,000
highly affected by the earthquake.
>> I know. But they rejected

511
00:40:23,119 --> 00:40:29,520
our request to declare it obsolete. And
it's just something we're going to have

512
00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:36,720
to work on and maybe maybe have more in
our in our request. Um I wasn't very um

513
00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:40,400
clear on why they rejected it. Like they
didn't send a letter saying we're not

514
00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:43,920
going to give it. It just was Trey
calling me to say they've they've

515
00:40:42,079 --> 00:40:50,480
rejected it and then we're going to have
to work on it.

516
00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:55,599
» That That's the government [laughter]
>> question.

517
00:40:52,079 --> 00:41:02,480
Chairman, um so do we know how many
federal grants we have that's tied to

518
00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:10,480
that? Trey has told me um
I these are the state one two three four

519
00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:16,960
there's five five state
I think there were two or three federal

520
00:41:14,319 --> 00:41:23,760
and I have copies of all of them they're
they're lengthy um and a lot of them are

521
00:41:19,680 --> 00:41:28,079
old they're not new uh grants that we've
received from the federal government the

522
00:41:25,359 --> 00:41:34,400
the state grants are the newer ones um
Hardiff and um LWCF, but the the federal

523
00:41:32,319 --> 00:41:39,680
grants are the older ones that were
received

524
00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:43,119
probably 40 maybe even 50 years ago. So
they're the ones that once they were

525
00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:48,400
attached to the property, they it made
it permanent.

526
00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:55,680
» And one of those grants, if I may, one
of those grants was just for $68,000

527
00:41:53,040 --> 00:42:03,520
that we got from the feds that we had to
match. So that's $68,000 [laughter]

528
00:42:00,319 --> 00:42:05,040
stretched out over 30 or 40 years
>> permanent.

529
00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:08,720
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. You're [snorts]

530
00:42:07,119 --> 00:42:13,760
» and now to change the use of that
property, you have to go through the

531
00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:18,160
state to recognize that you need to
change based on the state grant that we

532
00:42:15,920 --> 00:42:22,640
have, but then you have to then go to
the federal government to get a release

533
00:42:20,319 --> 00:42:27,040
even for an acre of property that you're
talking about potentially switching or a

534
00:42:25,119 --> 00:42:31,920
couple acres. it the size doesn't
matter. It's the fact that it's under a

535
00:42:29,599 --> 00:42:37,040
grant and that's that's the issue.
>> So, I mean, this is a good lesson that

536
00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:41,599
people always say, well, apply for a
grant, get a grant,

537
00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:47,119
» you've got to read the fine print in
that grant. It may look good on the

538
00:42:44,240 --> 00:42:53,520
surface, but just like you've got five
or six or seven problems here,

539
00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:57,680
» not all of them are a problem, but
because we want to do some maneuvering

540
00:42:55,680 --> 00:43:02,319
with the property in order to get a
better recreational use for the

541
00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:06,480
community um and the public, that's
where we've run into the complication

542
00:43:04,319 --> 00:43:11,280
because it's not easy to make that
change. Definitely it's not easy to

543
00:43:08,880 --> 00:43:16,800
switch the property out of our names and
we've done that one time and we weren't

544
00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:22,800
legally allowed to do that. So, and I
think it probably is because there's no

545
00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:26,400
until recently within the last five
years, we didn't know all of the grants

546
00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:30,400
that we had. We didn't have a
centralized place that we could look to

547
00:43:28,240 --> 00:43:35,119
say, oh, we have these grants on these
properties. And I I think that that is a

548
00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:39,280
bit of a problem and we probably need to
put something on public record to

549
00:43:36,720 --> 00:43:43,760
recognize the properties and the grants
that are associated with each of them so

550
00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:47,200
that we don't have to worry where's that
paperwork.

551
00:43:45,280 --> 00:43:51,920
It's on public record that we have a
grant on a specific property or

552
00:43:49,680 --> 00:43:55,839
multiples. And then that way anybody
that would come after us, it's on public

553
00:43:54,480 --> 00:43:59,280
record. You could just do a search for
the county and you could find that

554
00:43:57,280 --> 00:44:02,280
information.
Any

555
00:44:02,400 --> 00:44:10,000
other questions?
>> Do we have a preliminary date set for a

556
00:44:07,040 --> 00:44:15,920
work session at this point in time?
Okay. Um maybe we can get everybody on

557
00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:20,000
the same page at some point this week or
next and start looking at everybody's

558
00:44:18,160 --> 00:44:24,319
availability for the first or second
week of October. Um hopefully 30 days

559
00:44:22,720 --> 00:44:29,359
will be enough time to give every give
everybody time to do the research they

560
00:44:26,319 --> 00:44:36,720
need to have a productive work session.
Um, all right. Uh, last on the list for

561
00:44:34,079 --> 00:44:40,920
general business information is our tax
administrator, Rita Miller.

562
00:44:42,255 --> 00:44:45,920
[cough and clears throat]
[snorts]

563
00:44:44,319 --> 00:44:52,240
» Good evening.
>> Candace is going to hand out to each of

564
00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:55,040
you. Um, thank you for listening to our
update.

565
00:44:52,800 --> 00:45:00,880
» Thank you. Mr. Shley had asked me to
provide the board with a legislative

566
00:44:57,280 --> 00:45:05,920
update. Um, so tonight I'm presenting
this brief on major property tax bills

567
00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:11,359
that were introduced during the 2026
session of the North Carolina General

568
00:45:08,240 --> 00:45:16,480
Assembly. As you know, rising property
values across the state have driven some

569
00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:21,839
intense legislative interest in property
tax reform, more than I've ever seen in

570
00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:26,880
my career. Um the handout she gave you
outlines just a few of those bills, but

571
00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:31,839
tonight I'm going to focus on three of
those bills. After talking with u my

572
00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:36,319
counterparts with the assessors
association, we have we have a

573
00:45:33,760 --> 00:45:41,200
legislative committee that's part of the
North Carolina Assessors Association.

574
00:45:38,720 --> 00:45:47,520
And so I've talked with them and they
agree that these three are the most

575
00:45:43,760 --> 00:45:52,079
prominent at this time. So session law
2026-5

576
00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:57,440
is the proposed constitutional amendment
and this will appear on the November

577
00:45:54,000 --> 00:46:02,720
2026 ballot. If approved by the voters,
it will grant the general assembly

578
00:45:59,359 --> 00:46:08,640
authority to enact laws limiting the
amount of which the levy on property tax

579
00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:12,400
may increase which may include
exceptions.

580
00:46:10,160 --> 00:46:19,280
and the current language, the way it's
was written is not specific on how those

581
00:46:15,920 --> 00:46:23,839
future tax caps can be implemented. Um,
it does signal a profound shift in the

582
00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:30,720
authority, shifting the authority from
the local boards to the state level on

583
00:46:27,119 --> 00:46:35,760
how your property taxes can be spent.
Um, as on a fiscal outlook, [snorts] of

584
00:46:33,200 --> 00:46:41,359
course, property tax in Alagany is our
primary source of revenue.

585
00:46:38,240 --> 00:46:46,480
um and state imposed limits could result
in um local budget stability and flex

586
00:46:44,720 --> 00:46:49,839
flexibility.
And

587
00:46:48,240 --> 00:46:55,680
interestingly enough, late this
afternoon, Chris Mclofflin with the

588
00:46:52,079 --> 00:46:59,760
School of Government sent out um a a
blog and it's the the law blogs. I don't

589
00:46:57,920 --> 00:47:05,520
know if you saw it yet or not, but I
just I'll read you just a little bit of

590
00:47:01,760 --> 00:47:10,640
what he had put in his um publication
today. So he says the proposed amendment

591
00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:16,640
grants the general assembly discretion
to decide what type of limit on property

592
00:47:13,760 --> 00:47:21,359
tax increases it wishes to adopt.
Presumably the general assembly could

593
00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:26,880
satisfy the proposed amendment by
adopting a limit on appraised values.

594
00:47:24,240 --> 00:47:31,760
For an example, Florida limits the
increase in tax appraisals for primary

595
00:47:29,359 --> 00:47:36,240
residents to 3%.
Or they could adopt something on

596
00:47:33,867 --> 00:47:41,520
[snorts] tax rates. Um the example he
gave that was South Carolina limits the

597
00:47:39,280 --> 00:47:48,640
increase in local tax rates to the
percentage increase in population plus

598
00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:53,760
inflation. That sounds easy to do that
or the total tax levy for example New

599
00:47:51,599 --> 00:47:59,200
York limits the increase in [snorts]
local property tax levies to 2%.

600
00:47:57,280 --> 00:48:04,400
Overall, the general assembly would
attain retain the discretion as to the

601
00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:09,920
timing of any prop property tax
limitations. It could do it immediately

602
00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:15,440
or it could do it not not at all. It
would be up to them. So, and then this

603
00:48:13,040 --> 00:48:20,480
is actually something I I did not
realize until the this came today. said,

604
00:48:18,240 --> 00:48:25,040
he says, "Remember that a constitutional
amendment is not required for the

605
00:48:22,480 --> 00:48:31,119
general assembly to enact limits on
local property taxes. It already has the

606
00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:36,960
authority to enact tax limits because
our state constitution contains no

607
00:48:34,319 --> 00:48:43,839
language which prohibits such
legislation.

608
00:48:39,440 --> 00:48:47,920
So that's that. basically um if it's on
the ballot for the state to enact

609
00:48:46,559 --> 00:48:53,920
something and we just don't know what
that thing is yet.

610
00:48:50,240 --> 00:48:59,839
So the next one is Senate Bill 349. It's
the elderly or disabled property tax

611
00:48:56,400 --> 00:49:05,280
exclusion. Um this is one bill that is
fully endorsed by the North Carolina

612
00:49:02,559 --> 00:49:10,400
Association of Assessing Officers. This
bill seeks to increase the income

613
00:49:07,599 --> 00:49:17,920
eligibility thresholds for elderly and
disabled property owners. It also does

614
00:49:13,839 --> 00:49:22,720
away with a deferred tax um caveat in
the circuit breaker [snorts] exclusion.

615
00:49:20,160 --> 00:49:26,559
Circuit breaker exclusion has not been
very popular through the state. There

616
00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:30,480
are very few counties who have residents
who have taken advantage of that. We

617
00:49:28,720 --> 00:49:35,920
don't have any in Alageney [snorts]
that have done that because of that

618
00:49:33,359 --> 00:49:40,960
deferred tax. it basically defers the
tax to your parents. So, we've not had

619
00:49:38,079 --> 00:49:47,520
any property owners that that wanted to
um do that. Um just for the board and

620
00:49:44,079 --> 00:49:52,800
for the citizens information, and this
is a program that Candace is over, the

621
00:49:50,319 --> 00:49:57,760
elderly and disabled income limit for
2027 is 39,900.

622
00:49:56,240 --> 00:50:03,359
The circuit breaker [laughter] is
59,850.

623
00:49:59,920 --> 00:50:08,880
So, as you can see, in today's time, 399
is is pretty low for a household. So, I

624
00:50:06,559 --> 00:50:13,920
I fully agree that those limits need to
be raised so that we can get more of our

625
00:50:11,280 --> 00:50:18,240
vulnerable demographic enrolled in some
of these programs.

626
00:50:15,839 --> 00:50:22,960
So, what this bill would do, it would
expand tax relief to our vulnerable

627
00:50:20,720 --> 00:50:28,480
demographics. It would require
additional public outreach on the tax

628
00:50:25,599 --> 00:50:33,119
office's part, on the board's part, and
it would increase some of the processing

629
00:50:30,640 --> 00:50:38,000
within the tax office. Um, but if it
gives relief to some of our more

630
00:50:35,440 --> 00:50:42,880
vulnerable citizens, then, you know,
we're we're all willing to do that.

631
00:50:41,119 --> 00:50:48,000
The last one I wanted to point out
that's getting a lot of discussion is

632
00:50:45,599 --> 00:50:53,920
Senate Bill 992 called Truth and
Taxation. This bill mandates strict

633
00:50:51,119 --> 00:50:59,440
transparency protocols whenever a local
governing body intends to adopt a tax

634
00:50:56,640 --> 00:51:05,200
rate exceeding the revenue neutral tax
rate in a reappraisal year, which you

635
00:51:02,000 --> 00:51:11,119
know 2027 next year is our reappraisal
year. Local governments would be legally

636
00:51:08,480 --> 00:51:17,680
required to publish their intent to
exceed the revenue neutral tax rate by

637
00:51:14,559 --> 00:51:23,839
local newspapers or government websites
and individual direct mail notifications

638
00:51:20,640 --> 00:51:28,160
to all county property owners. So while
this bill is [snorts] designed to

639
00:51:25,119 --> 00:51:35,920
increase public transparency,
the I guess the one opposition us as tax

640
00:51:31,920 --> 00:51:41,839
folks have is that mandatory direct mail
notification. Postage is one of my

641
00:51:38,720 --> 00:51:47,440
biggest line items. It's very expensive.
Um, so this bill the way it's written

642
00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:52,160
now, the county would be responsible for
notifying all the county property

643
00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:57,440
owners, but we are also the way it's
written responsible for also notifying

644
00:51:54,720 --> 00:52:02,000
all the municipal property owners. So
it's kind of a double whammy for the

645
00:51:59,040 --> 00:52:06,640
county, but for those listening that
don't know what a revenue neutral tax

646
00:52:03,760 --> 00:52:13,119
rate is, I wanted to explain that. So
that is the tax rate that we estimate to

647
00:52:10,400 --> 00:52:18,720
produce the same revenue for the next
fiscal year as the current fiscal year

648
00:52:15,760 --> 00:52:23,040
adjusted for growth as if no reappraisal
had occurred. So basically that's saying

649
00:52:21,119 --> 00:52:27,839
when we start the budget process next
year we're going to know hopefully what

650
00:52:25,680 --> 00:52:31,520
our new values are. Hopefully we're done
with board of VNR and all the hearings

651
00:52:29,839 --> 00:52:36,640
and all that. So we know the value we're
looking at. So we've got to estimate

652
00:52:34,400 --> 00:52:42,960
what the tax rate would be using those
known values to come up with the same

653
00:52:39,040 --> 00:52:48,800
levy we had this year. So it's kind of a
difficult process. Um but that that is

654
00:52:46,720 --> 00:52:52,800
what revenue neutral means and that's
only in the year you do a re a reappra.

655
00:52:50,891 --> 00:52:58,640
[snorts]
So, in closing, I I just want to let you

656
00:52:56,000 --> 00:53:03,040
know that as your tax collector, I fully
understand the financial burden that

657
00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:08,720
rising property taxes places on our
citizens. [snorts] I support any measure

658
00:53:05,839 --> 00:53:13,200
to promote fair and equitable taxes. I
fully support an increase in thresholds

659
00:53:11,119 --> 00:53:18,240
for the elderly and disabled property
tax exclusion and expansion of the

660
00:53:16,319 --> 00:53:22,640
disabled veterans property tax
exclusion. I didn't cover any of those

661
00:53:20,480 --> 00:53:27,280
tonight. There are several of those out
there. There's not any one that's kind

662
00:53:24,800 --> 00:53:31,839
of in the lead, so to speak, right now
for [clears throat] for veterans.

663
00:53:30,079 --> 00:53:35,760
But as a member of the county budget
committee, I have to kind of put on

664
00:53:33,280 --> 00:53:40,559
another hat because I also have to look
at the reality of these changes. If the

665
00:53:38,559 --> 00:53:45,119
constitutional amendment passes in
November, the resulting limits could

666
00:53:42,720 --> 00:53:49,760
constrain our local budget, [snorts]
potentially impacting our ability to

667
00:53:47,359 --> 00:53:55,040
fund county services. So, they're two
different hats. I have to put on with

668
00:53:51,680 --> 00:53:59,359
with this this particular amendment. But
my office will continue to closely

669
00:53:57,280 --> 00:54:05,200
monitor these legislative developments
and keep this board informed as policies

670
00:54:01,920 --> 00:54:09,359
take taken force and take shape. Mr.
Sheffley forwards me things he gets um

671
00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:13,359
through the North Carolina Association
of County Commissioners. I know y'all

672
00:54:11,280 --> 00:54:19,040
watch here that website. It's full of
good information on all of these bills.

673
00:54:15,839 --> 00:54:24,319
And then um every Monday at 3 o'clock I
have an assessor's um Zoom call where we

674
00:54:22,079 --> 00:54:29,040
discuss all of this, what's happening in
the legislation this week. What do they

675
00:54:26,400 --> 00:54:34,000
think's gaining ground? What's not? So
we will try our best to keep everybody

676
00:54:31,280 --> 00:54:39,440
informed. Like I said, property tax has
got the most attention right now that

677
00:54:36,640 --> 00:54:43,359
I've ever seen. I'd be glad to answer
any questions that I can't answer. And

678
00:54:41,680 --> 00:54:47,119
if you have questions later, just
contact me.

679
00:54:45,119 --> 00:54:52,559
All right, Mr. Owen has a question,
please.

680
00:54:48,079 --> 00:54:57,839
» In I guess state bill 128
143,

681
00:54:54,079 --> 00:55:05,280
it mentions that disabled veteran, but
then [snorts] you go down to 228

682
00:55:00,880 --> 00:55:16,079
and it says veterans disability rating.
>> But the first two, 128, 143 doesn't give

683
00:55:09,839 --> 00:55:20,559
a rating. So if you're 10% or 90%.
>> So none of those bills have passed.

684
00:55:18,240 --> 00:55:23,760
They've all been introduced.
There are many bills. This is just a few

685
00:55:22,880 --> 00:55:29,119
of the ones that [snorts] are
introduced, but there are a lot um about

686
00:55:27,040 --> 00:55:33,920
veterans and providing property tax
relief for veterans. That's just a few

687
00:55:31,280 --> 00:55:38,160
of the the language in different bills.
Now, which one gains momentum and gets

688
00:55:36,079 --> 00:55:43,200
passed, you know, that's not for me to
say, but that's just language and some

689
00:55:40,240 --> 00:55:47,359
of the different bills that have been um
put before the

690
00:55:44,800 --> 00:55:52,400
» So, not all of them depend on your
rating of your disability.

691
00:55:50,079 --> 00:55:59,760
» That's just that. Okay. That's just
language and that one bill. And for you

692
00:55:56,000 --> 00:56:07,280
to verify it, do you go through the
veteran service officer or how do you

693
00:56:02,559 --> 00:56:13,280
verify a veteran gets a a rating or gets
a discount? So right now the only the

694
00:56:10,720 --> 00:56:19,920
only law on the books about veterans is
the veterans exemption and it states

695
00:56:16,319 --> 00:56:26,480
they have to be 100% totally service
related disabled and that is a a form or

696
00:56:24,079 --> 00:56:30,974
application that the veteran service
officer has to sign. They're the one who

697
00:56:28,480 --> 00:56:34,960
has to verify that information and
[snorts] then he signs off on it and we

698
00:56:33,440 --> 00:56:38,179
process that application.
>> Okay. Thank you.

699
00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:39,760
» You're very welcome. Anybody
[clears throat]

700
00:56:38,880 --> 00:56:44,240
else?
>> Thanks.

701
00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:49,520
» Um, yes. Uh, Mr. Chairman, um, this
county is very lucky to have Rita in the

702
00:56:46,559 --> 00:56:54,000
role that she's in and she's extremely
knowledgeable and I would, you know, I

703
00:56:51,920 --> 00:56:58,960
would put her up against any any person
that has her role in the state of North

704
00:56:56,559 --> 00:57:04,079
Carolina that I've interacted with.
She's proactive, you know, thinking

705
00:57:00,799 --> 00:57:08,960
ahead. um she's absorbed the information
that they're sending to me at from

706
00:57:06,344 --> 00:57:13,359
[snorts] NCAACC
and has looked into it and and

707
00:57:11,280 --> 00:57:18,880
participates in
activities that bond together her with

708
00:57:16,799 --> 00:57:23,359
the other people that have the same role
that she has so that we can be as

709
00:57:21,040 --> 00:57:27,760
prepared as possible for the future. The
worst thing that could happen,

710
00:57:25,760 --> 00:57:32,880
I guess it depends on how you look at at
government. So it might be, you know,

711
00:57:30,400 --> 00:57:38,880
you could argue it on either side, but
if you had, let's say that they said uh

712
00:57:35,440 --> 00:57:43,839
no increase in your total revenue from
one year to the next, then you would

713
00:57:41,359 --> 00:57:48,559
every year you would lose at least the
inflationary gap. You know, you would

714
00:57:46,319 --> 00:57:53,760
lose at least three or 4% of your of
your buying power with the same amount

715
00:57:50,960 --> 00:57:59,520
of money. So you would have to logically
continually cut. Now, if they included

716
00:57:56,480 --> 00:58:02,960
like I think you mentioned that uh a
couple of the places have like an

717
00:58:00,880 --> 00:58:07,680
inflationary
increase recommended

718
00:58:05,680 --> 00:58:12,480
» 3% or something something along those
lines. If you were in that 3 to 4%

719
00:58:10,480 --> 00:58:16,960
range, you could stay pretty much even
and keep up with the inflationary costs,

720
00:58:15,200 --> 00:58:22,079
particularly with things happening with
gas and and that sort of thing. is, you

721
00:58:19,359 --> 00:58:28,799
know, we do have some elements of what
we do that are affected by the use of

722
00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:33,359
gas. Um, so it's something that
everyone's looking at. And you know,

723
00:58:30,880 --> 00:58:36,240
it's hard to argue against to the
citizens about saying, listen, we're

724
00:58:34,960 --> 00:58:41,200
going to limit the amount that you're
taxed. You just have to think about what

725
00:58:38,799 --> 00:58:44,960
happens on the other end of that and
make sure you're prepared for both sides

726
00:58:43,520 --> 00:58:49,599
of that. you know that the fact that
you'll you could have to cut services

727
00:58:47,599 --> 00:58:54,720
down the line. We're prepared to do
whatever the the people want. Uh but

728
00:58:52,960 --> 00:58:59,200
it's just important to understand the
overall picture.

729
00:58:57,280 --> 00:59:04,799
» And I do try to pay very close
attention. We're a small county. We're

730
00:59:01,440 --> 00:59:09,200
not a wealthy county. We we don't have,
you know, dollars to just go here and

731
00:59:07,520 --> 00:59:14,319
there. So, I do try to pay very close
attention [snorts] the legislature and

732
00:59:11,359 --> 00:59:19,200
what's going on. And we get when when
they're in session, it's daily that we

733
00:59:16,960 --> 00:59:23,440
get requests. Tell us what this would do
to your overall tax base. Tell us what

734
00:59:21,920 --> 00:59:27,920
this would do. How much money would you
lose if this law got passed? So, it's a

735
00:59:25,760 --> 00:59:32,240
daily thing that you're you're running
reports and sending down to my

736
00:59:30,480 --> 00:59:35,839
association's legislative [snorts]
group. So, we do I do pay close

737
00:59:34,160 --> 00:59:40,480
attention.
>> Mr. Did you have some?

738
00:59:38,079 --> 00:59:43,119
» No, I don't. I just They don't want to
hear from me what I think about the

739
00:59:41,920 --> 00:59:48,480
state
>> taking our control, but it's all good. I

740
00:59:46,559 --> 00:59:54,799
think
glass half full tight deal. Um, we did

741
00:59:51,359 --> 01:00:01,440
get a have a visit from a representative
uh last week I think and

742
00:59:58,079 --> 01:00:05,161
he he doesn't have answers like what
specifically is going to be in the

743
01:00:03,200 --> 01:00:07,599
writing even if the constitution
[clears throat]

744
01:00:05,816 --> 01:00:14,720
[snorts] amendment is put in which is I
think is so stupid like why you why is

745
01:00:11,119 --> 01:00:20,880
the they coming up with these why are
they coming up with these new ideas of

746
01:00:17,520 --> 01:00:25,280
laws I do not understand he explained
that what the problem is. There is some

747
01:00:22,880 --> 01:00:30,640
areas that are getting running rampant
about how they tax people. So, I get

748
01:00:27,520 --> 01:00:35,520
that. But he also pointed out that his
group of counties all does a great job

749
01:00:33,440 --> 01:00:40,559
of that. And he was always wondering
like why, you know, we're going to put

750
01:00:38,960 --> 01:00:46,079
this on the backs of the smaller
counties that does a good job on our tax

751
01:00:42,559 --> 01:00:51,760
rates and just so we can get the other
stuff which is collateral damage really.

752
01:00:48,880 --> 01:00:57,119
But my question is
the common sense part of it is we deal

753
01:00:54,319 --> 01:01:02,160
with strung out budget stuff from the
state takes them forever to pass a

754
01:01:00,079 --> 01:01:08,799
budget but they can spin off a hundred
different laws that creates problems in

755
01:01:05,040 --> 01:01:13,520
county. So I I don't have a lot of
things but it it is what it is. But I

756
01:01:11,359 --> 01:01:17,839
really believe that
uh when it first they started I actually

757
01:01:16,079 --> 01:01:24,079
we went down and visited them at the
legislature um building on the

758
01:01:21,119 --> 01:01:28,720
legislature days and did talk to Mr.
Picket a little bit about that and he

759
01:01:25,839 --> 01:01:33,680
really felt like that once they got into
this that they would be some um but

760
01:01:32,079 --> 01:01:38,319
there's no promise of that. There's no
guarantee that that there would be some

761
01:01:35,359 --> 01:01:43,520
great, you know, some things uh for the
smaller [snorts] uh lesser tax base

762
01:01:40,960 --> 01:01:47,839
areas that would have a little bit more
playroom than than some of the other

763
01:01:45,839 --> 01:01:54,000
things. But there's still no writing in
there to say that specifically. So,

764
01:01:49,839 --> 01:02:00,079
we're all just waiting, I guess. But I
guess my first thing is

765
01:01:57,440 --> 01:02:07,920
I mean I'm not campaigning about it, but
say no with the with the with the uh the

766
01:02:04,880 --> 01:02:14,000
uh constitution amendment. I mean you
the state does not need any more power

767
01:02:10,319 --> 01:02:19,440
than they have. I mean, um, you know, I
I think they tie our hands a lot from

768
01:02:17,359 --> 01:02:24,880
counties and it's harder for us, as you
say, because we're a to some degree a

769
01:02:22,480 --> 01:02:30,640
poor county that doesn't have a very
large tax base and everything that they

770
01:02:27,119 --> 01:02:33,520
do really hurts us. So, you know, if
they want to go play with all those

771
01:02:32,079 --> 01:02:37,520
other counties, fine, but leave us
alone. That's what I say. Well, there's

772
01:02:35,520 --> 01:02:41,760
a lot of people in this county here, you
know, thinks the county's got too much

773
01:02:39,200 --> 01:02:46,720
control. Not only the state
address some of the taxpayers

774
01:02:44,079 --> 01:02:52,240
is, you know, barely making it. That's
all I got.

775
01:02:49,760 --> 01:02:55,520
Maybe they need to send Rita to the
general legislator, let her straighten

776
01:02:54,559 --> 01:03:02,799
them out. [snorts]
She's a walking encyclopedia on taxes.

777
01:02:59,599 --> 01:03:06,400
You're welcome to come up any August and
there are people who really struggle.

778
01:03:05,599 --> 01:03:11,680
» Exactly.
>> And you know it it weighs heavily on us.

779
01:03:09,280 --> 01:03:16,960
» So I'm for
fair and equitable but

780
01:03:15,520 --> 01:03:21,640
we want to know what the rules are
before we start the game.

781
01:03:18,640 --> 01:03:21,640
» Yeah.

782
01:03:21,839 --> 01:03:26,440
Thank you for your time. We appreciate
it.

783
01:03:26,640 --> 01:03:35,359
» All right. That concludes general
business for information. Uh at this

784
01:03:32,799 --> 01:03:40,599
time it's 7:04 p.m. I'm going to call 5m
minute recess before we move into full

785
01:03:37,599 --> 01:03:40,599
action.

786
01:03:40,720 --> 01:03:46,440
We'll reconvene at 710.
>> Text

787
01:03:49,680 --> 01:03:54,839
said
good.

788
01:03:56,379 --> 01:03:58,399
» [snorts]

789
01:04:08,400 --> 01:04:12,520
» We was just getting going good.

790
01:10:46,880 --> 01:10:51,440
All right, we're going to call the
meeting back to order

791
01:10:50,159 --> 01:10:56,719
and [snorts] start on our general
business for action section. And we're

792
01:10:53,920 --> 01:11:00,000
going to start with Miley Delt, admin
education coordinator for Alagany Soil

793
01:10:58,560 --> 01:11:06,320
and Water.
>> Now, which one's going to talk? It'll be

794
01:11:03,040 --> 01:11:10,640
him today. Good evening everybody. Um,
last time I was here, I came to you

795
01:11:08,159 --> 01:11:15,520
asking for approval for an out of state
conference. Um, it's the SECDA meeting.

796
01:11:13,920 --> 01:11:20,480
Educators come from all over the
Southeast to go over um their programs

797
01:11:18,080 --> 01:11:24,080
and things that can make it better. So,
in previous years that we've done this,

798
01:11:22,239 --> 01:11:28,239
we actually got the book barn idea,
which is in every school now. Um, and

799
01:11:26,320 --> 01:11:32,560
then we've put different a books into
the book barns. So, I'm just asking for

800
01:11:30,800 --> 01:11:37,280
approval to go to that this year.
>> I'd make a motion to approve. We've done

801
01:11:35,120 --> 01:11:39,520
this in the past.
>> Second.

802
01:11:38,080 --> 01:11:44,054
» Got a motion in a second. Any
discussion?

803
01:11:41,760 --> 01:11:46,719
» All right. Show of hands in favor.
[clears throat]

804
01:11:44,480 --> 01:11:48,719
» 40.
You're good to go.

805
01:11:47,679 --> 01:11:51,880
» Thank y'all.
>> Thank you.

806
01:11:53,120 --> 01:11:59,199
» All right. [snorts] Aaron Ray, you're up
again. board member change for the egg

807
01:11:58,560 --> 01:12:02,000
board.
>> All right. Good afternoon. So, I have a

808
01:12:00,719 --> 01:12:06,480
different hat on this time at the
podium. Um, and this is coming as far as

809
01:12:04,239 --> 01:12:10,255
uh from the extension office and the
Alagany egg board. Um, so this request

810
01:12:08,960 --> 01:12:12,400
will actually be
>> [snorts]

811
01:12:10,400 --> 01:12:17,760
» um something that we had brought to you
last time as far as Stacy Barker to

812
01:12:15,440 --> 01:12:20,320
finish out the term of Maggie Osborne.
So,

813
01:12:18,320 --> 01:12:23,760
» I'll make a motion to approve.
>> Second.

814
01:12:21,120 --> 01:12:29,040
» A motion and a second. Any discussion?
All in favor? Show hands. 40.

815
01:12:27,760 --> 01:12:32,440
» Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, sir.

816
01:12:33,920 --> 01:12:43,040
We have dropped item three.
Next, we'll move to Lisa Ashley for

817
01:12:40,080 --> 01:12:47,760
approval of the fuel contract.
So you have in front of you the uh

818
01:12:45,520 --> 01:12:54,880
contracts that were not contracts but
the the bids that were submitted

819
01:12:52,000 --> 01:13:03,280
and
you can see on those uh one vendor did

820
01:12:58,239 --> 01:13:09,400
not submit a bid for certain items and
one vendor submitted for everything.

821
01:13:09,520 --> 01:13:17,320
So, I just ask uh you guys to approve
who you want the contract to go to.

822
01:13:19,031 --> 01:13:21,051
[clears throat]

823
01:13:21,650 --> 01:13:27,440
[cough]
>> Any discussion from admin?

824
01:13:25,600 --> 01:13:32,560
» I'm going to make a motion go with every
one the one vendor is going to do it

825
01:13:29,600 --> 01:13:35,440
all. Less headaches.
>> We have a motion on the floor.

826
01:13:34,560 --> 01:13:41,360
» Second.
>> And a second. Any discussion?

827
01:13:38,159 --> 01:13:46,440
All right. All in favor show I hand.
4 Z for Hometown Oil.

828
01:13:46,541 --> 01:13:48,561
[cough]

829
01:13:50,159 --> 01:13:59,440
All right, David Spicer, fire contracts.
So, as you all know, um we've been

830
01:13:57,120 --> 01:14:05,120
working on this fire contract for quite
some time now. Um we have met with the

831
01:14:03,280 --> 01:14:13,600
fire chiefs and some of the board
members uh to get some insight on things

832
01:14:10,000 --> 01:14:20,400
that they wanted to change. So we have
come up with the correct wording as of

833
01:14:16,719 --> 01:14:25,040
uh now um with the fire contract. They
have all come forward and I think

834
01:14:22,400 --> 01:14:31,120
they're all good with that then now. So
then that went back to Heather and uh

835
01:14:27,600 --> 01:14:33,840
Heather reviewed that and we had to
change just a couple of things, but

836
01:14:32,719 --> 01:14:39,920
there were some things that we
absolutely had to leave in there. So we

837
01:14:37,040 --> 01:14:45,280
had to do those things. U but right now
this is the finished product. So this is

838
01:14:42,800 --> 01:14:49,360
ready for you all's approval tonight and
then we'll send it out and start getting

839
01:14:47,679 --> 01:14:52,080
them signed.
>> So the chiefs have reviewed this

840
01:14:51,360 --> 01:14:55,120
version.
>> Yes.

841
01:14:52,640 --> 01:15:02,239
» Okay. All right. At this time, we'll
entertain a motion.

842
01:14:56,960 --> 01:15:07,840
» I make a motion that we u approve the CO
fair approval for the fair contract.

843
01:15:07,120 --> 01:15:10,560
» Second.
>> All right. Got a motion, a second. Any

844
01:15:09,360 --> 01:15:18,000
discussion?
>> And I'm assuming that Heather's been

845
01:15:13,280 --> 01:15:25,040
through it front to back, back to front.
All right. All in favor, show hands. 4.

846
01:15:22,000 --> 01:15:30,000
» Thank you.
April H

847
01:15:27,280 --> 01:15:33,760
fire tax funds.
>> Okay, just have a couple of things from

848
01:15:32,080 --> 01:15:38,800
finance. The first one is a budget
amendment to pay out the fire tax funds,

849
01:15:35,840 --> 01:15:45,199
the additional funds received and that
should be for fiscal year 2526.

850
01:15:42,480 --> 01:15:50,920
Um I used a template so under revenues
it says fiscal year 23 24 but it is

851
01:15:47,920 --> 01:15:50,920
2526.

852
01:15:52,960 --> 01:15:59,199
So this is from last year.
>> Yes. This is additional revenue that

853
01:15:57,280 --> 01:16:03,440
came in last year for the fire
departments. We wait on all the

854
01:16:01,600 --> 01:16:07,920
collections to be done upstairs and
reconciliation. Then it comes downstairs

855
01:16:06,159 --> 01:16:12,080
and these will actually be paid out this
week.

856
01:16:09,840 --> 01:16:16,480
» I got another question about the fire.
How's Glade Creek doing on coming up

857
01:16:13,920 --> 01:16:19,840
here making us look at their books?
>> Uh they're actually emailing them to me

858
01:16:18,239 --> 01:16:25,440
and I have them tonight if you want to
see them. There's there's everything's

859
01:16:21,920 --> 01:16:32,080
fine. I mean, no dollar lease month on
the house or here.

860
01:16:27,760 --> 01:16:37,760
» It's been insurance, fuel, and propane.
>> That's all I got.

861
01:16:34,320 --> 01:16:42,719
» I make a motion to approve the budget
amendment, a fair tax fund 2526

862
01:16:41,600 --> 01:16:45,280
year.
>> Second.

863
01:16:43,520 --> 01:16:52,080
» All right. Got a motion and a second.
Any discussion? All in favor? A show of

864
01:16:48,640 --> 01:16:56,000
hands 4.
All right, moving along to DSS.

865
01:16:54,159 --> 01:17:01,360
» Okay, the next one is a line item
transfer for DSS just for $200 and this

866
01:16:58,880 --> 01:17:06,320
is for last year also.
>> I'll make a motion to approve. Second

867
01:17:05,199 --> 01:17:12,080
motion and a second. Any [clears throat]
discussion?

868
01:17:08,080 --> 01:17:17,199
All in favor show hands. 4.
That's approved.

869
01:17:14,640 --> 01:17:19,520
And the final line item transfer for
recreation.

870
01:17:18,239 --> 01:17:24,640
» Yeah. And it's actually a budget
amendment for recreation. They received

871
01:17:22,320 --> 01:17:30,000
uh some sponsorship money to help with
uniform cost. So we just need to receive

872
01:17:27,520 --> 01:17:36,800
that revenue and budget that so they can
spend that on the uniforms.

873
01:17:33,440 --> 01:17:42,998
» Motion to approve. Second. Motion a
second. Any discussion? All in favor

874
01:17:39,520 --> 01:17:45,360
show hands. 4.
[clears throat]

875
01:17:43,040 --> 01:17:52,480
» Thank you. All right. Thank you. That'll
wrap that part up. Miss Ber for human

876
01:17:48,719 --> 01:17:56,719
resources. Okay. DSS.
>> Good evening. My first request this

877
01:17:54,159 --> 01:18:01,920
afternoon is for a one time approval for
a service credit enhancement. And that

878
01:17:59,199 --> 01:18:07,040
would be for $1,300 per five years of
service for a sole

879
01:18:04,880 --> 01:18:12,320
for a social worker applicant with
almost 13 years of experience. DSS is

880
01:18:10,400 --> 01:18:16,719
currently down onethird of their social
workers. So, this would benefit the

881
01:18:14,800 --> 01:18:21,199
department. Um, it would allow them to
bring somebody that in that's already

882
01:18:18,560 --> 01:18:26,199
trained and ready to go. And they do
have the funding availability in their

883
01:18:23,199 --> 01:18:26,199
project.

884
01:18:26,800 --> 01:18:30,080
» Make a motion to approve.
[clears throat]

885
01:18:28,640 --> 01:18:35,120
» Second.
>> Any discussion?

886
01:18:32,320 --> 01:18:38,120
All in favor? Show hands.
4.

887
01:18:38,880 --> 01:18:45,760
» All right. You're up again. All right.
Next, I'm requesting approval for an

888
01:18:43,040 --> 01:18:52,920
income maintenance administrator 1. This
is a new position for DSS and the

889
01:18:48,719 --> 01:18:52,920
starting salary be 53,465

890
01:18:53,040 --> 01:18:59,040
dollars. They're not requesting any
additional staff. They're just wanting

891
01:18:56,560 --> 01:19:04,239
to restructure their income maintenance
unit. And the job description is in your

892
01:19:02,080 --> 01:19:07,920
packets and it has been approved by the
state.

893
01:19:06,480 --> 01:19:14,080
» Make a motion to approve.
>> Second. I got a motion in a second. Um,

894
01:19:10,880 --> 01:19:17,679
one bit of discussion is is there a
minimum and maximum set for this

895
01:19:16,159 --> 01:19:21,199
position yet?
>> Yes, it would fall under the pay grade

896
01:19:19,920 --> 01:19:25,520
of 72.
>> 72. Can you remind me what that what the

897
01:19:24,239 --> 01:19:29,360
max is on that one?
>> Um, I will have to I don't have it right

898
01:19:27,679 --> 01:19:34,320
here. Okay.
>> That's all right.

899
01:19:31,520 --> 01:19:39,199
All in favor show hands
for it.

900
01:19:36,080 --> 01:19:39,199
» Thank you.

901
01:19:41,840 --> 01:19:51,600
And our last item 11, Melissa recctor
for Alagany and motion. Oh, Mr. Shepley.

902
01:19:49,679 --> 01:19:57,040
» One second. Um, I just wanted to say
that, um, I wanted to, uh, tell Stacy

903
01:19:54,560 --> 01:20:02,880
that we appreciate the work that she did
together with Tiffany and a little bit

904
01:19:59,600 --> 01:20:06,960
of my myself in included, uh, in order
to work out some of these things are

905
01:20:04,480 --> 01:20:12,159
much more complex than they appear on
the surface. And the key is to be able

906
01:20:09,440 --> 01:20:16,320
to get the resources to these folks that
are some of the heroes in the county.

907
01:20:13,840 --> 01:20:20,910
And I I appreciate the way that you
dealt with this

908
01:20:18,890 --> 01:20:20,910
» [snorts]

909
01:20:24,159 --> 01:20:30,239
» Come on. How you doing?
>> I'm fine.

910
01:20:27,920 --> 01:20:38,880
» Good.
>> So, I'm here for a public hearing and to

911
01:20:34,880 --> 01:20:43,960
take action on this FY28
grants, the 5311, 5310.

912
01:20:48,239 --> 01:20:54,640
Do we need to do a public hearing?
>> We did everything.

913
01:20:52,560 --> 01:20:58,719
» Yeah, it's just
>> All right. So, we'll entertain a motion

914
01:20:56,320 --> 01:21:02,960
to approve.
>> Second.

915
01:20:59,920 --> 01:21:10,080
» Motion and a second. Any discussion? All
in favor? Show hands, please. Four.

916
01:21:08,480 --> 01:21:14,960
» All right. Thank you, Conley.
>> Thank you.

917
01:21:13,120 --> 01:21:19,120
» We appreciate it.
That wraps up our four action portion.

918
01:21:17,520 --> 01:21:23,920
We'll move along to county manager
comments.

919
01:21:21,199 --> 01:21:28,159
» Yes, Mr. Chairman, and I'd like to make
a statement here. Um, the Alageney

920
01:21:26,400 --> 01:21:31,679
County greatly appreciates the
dedication [clears throat]

921
01:21:29,520 --> 01:21:37,120
and service provided by the Alageney
County Rescue Squad and our county's

922
01:21:34,400 --> 01:21:42,000
volunteer fire departments. The men and
women who serve our communities in times

923
01:21:38,960 --> 01:21:46,480
of emergency are true heroes and the
county recognizes the critical role they

924
01:21:44,080 --> 01:21:50,800
play in protecting the lives and
property of our citizens.

925
01:21:49,199 --> 01:21:56,320
Recently, a fundraising letter
distributed by the Alageney County

926
01:21:52,560 --> 01:22:01,600
Rescue Squad stated that in quotes,
Alageney County has reduced their

927
01:21:58,239 --> 01:22:06,880
funding but by $75,000
for the rescue squad. End of quote.

928
01:22:04,960 --> 01:22:11,120
We want to provide our citizens with
accurate information regarding the

929
01:22:08,400 --> 01:22:17,520
county's funding of the rescue squad.
The actual county funding provided to

930
01:22:13,040 --> 01:22:23,120
the rescue squad has been 20 24 25
90,000

931
01:22:19,280 --> 01:22:28,080
2025 26 140,000
and in 2026 27 125,000.

932
01:22:27,272 --> 01:22:31,520
[clears throat]
Therefore, the reduction in county

933
01:22:29,600 --> 01:22:36,080
funding for the current fiscal year is
$15,000,

934
01:22:33,360 --> 01:22:41,360
not $75,000.
In fact, over the past two fiscal years,

935
01:22:39,120 --> 01:22:48,080
Alageney County increased its annual
funding to the rescue squad by $35,000

936
01:22:44,960 --> 01:22:51,679
from $90,000 to $125,000
currently.

937
01:22:49,600 --> 01:22:56,400
While the county recognizes that any
reduction in funding can present

938
01:22:53,199 --> 01:23:00,560
challenges for an organization, it is
important that our citizens have an

939
01:22:58,159 --> 01:23:04,880
accurate understanding of the county's
financial support.

940
01:23:02,880 --> 01:23:09,360
The county's budget decisions this year
were particularly difficult. Requests

941
01:23:07,520 --> 01:23:13,679
for funding from county departments and
outside organizations

942
01:23:11,360 --> 01:23:18,400
exceeded projected revenues by more than
$4.6 million.

943
01:23:16,400 --> 01:23:22,960
The county commissioners therefore faced
difficult choices including the option

944
01:23:20,800 --> 01:23:27,199
of increasing taxes or reducing
expenditures.

945
01:23:24,960 --> 01:23:31,920
The decision was made to avoid a tax
increase and instead make measured

946
01:23:29,360 --> 01:23:37,600
reductions in funding and spending
across the county's budget. This deci

947
01:23:35,280 --> 01:23:42,960
decision should not be interpreted as a
lack of support for the rescue squad or

948
01:23:40,400 --> 01:23:47,440
for our fire departments. Alageney
County understands the importance of

949
01:23:44,719 --> 01:23:52,239
adequately funding emergency services
and remains committed to supporting the

950
01:23:50,320 --> 01:23:57,760
organizations that provide these
essential services to our communities.

951
01:23:55,600 --> 01:24:03,040
Alageney County is in a strong financial
position. However, it is important to

952
01:24:00,400 --> 01:24:07,920
recognize that a significant portion of
the county's general fund is currently

953
01:24:06,239 --> 01:24:12,719
restricted because of the county's
financial responsibilities

954
01:24:10,400 --> 01:24:18,480
related to building and infrastructure
projects for the Alageney County school

955
01:24:15,520 --> 01:24:22,960
system in the town of Sparta. These
obligations limit the amount of

956
01:24:20,239 --> 01:24:28,960
unrestricted funding available for other
purposes and must be considered when

957
01:24:25,520 --> 01:24:33,520
making responsible budget decisions.
We believe our citizens deserve

958
01:24:30,960 --> 01:24:38,639
transparent and accurate information
regarding how their tax dollars are be

959
01:24:35,679 --> 01:24:42,800
are being used. At the same time, we
want to make clear that the county

960
01:24:40,159 --> 01:24:47,199
deeply values its relationship with the
rescue squad and our volunteer fire

961
01:24:44,719 --> 01:24:51,840
departments. We are grateful for the
countless hours these volunteers

962
01:24:48,880 --> 01:24:56,159
dedicate to serving our residents, often
under extremely difficult and dangerous

963
01:24:54,480 --> 01:24:59,760
circumstances.
The county looks forward to continuing

964
01:24:58,000 --> 01:25:04,880
to work cooperatively with the rescue
squad, our fire departments, and all of

965
01:25:02,400 --> 01:25:10,320
our emergency service providers to
ensure that Alageney County remains a

966
01:25:07,120 --> 01:25:15,199
safe and vibrant place to live. Thank
you.

967
01:25:12,400 --> 01:25:20,159
Thanks, sir.
Anybody else have any comments from

968
01:25:17,360 --> 01:25:25,600
admin staff? Okay. All right. We'll move
the county commissioner comments. We'll

969
01:25:21,920 --> 01:25:29,840
start off with Mr. Walker.
I ain't got no comment. I got a question

970
01:25:27,280 --> 01:25:32,840
or two. Is a new loader at the landfill
broke?

971
01:25:33,199 --> 01:25:39,040
» It uh it was out of commission. Yes,
>> it's back over now.

972
01:25:37,600 --> 01:25:41,360
» Yeah.
>> What happened? Is it under warranty? Out

973
01:25:40,480 --> 01:25:46,719
of
>> No, it's out. It's out of warranty now.

974
01:25:44,800 --> 01:25:50,320
» How old How old is that now?
>> It's three and a half years old.

975
01:25:48,800 --> 01:25:54,960
» So, it's already been that long.
>> Mhm. And the other question I got, did

976
01:25:53,360 --> 01:25:56,800
the ambulance service purchase a new
pickup?

977
01:25:56,320 --> 01:26:00,239
» Yes. The
>> campground where do we have that

978
01:25:59,040 --> 01:26:06,000
budgeted in there?
>> It's a grant. It came from a grant for

979
01:26:02,560 --> 01:26:11,280
the community paramedic program
>> as a grant. Had we did we know about it

980
01:26:08,639 --> 01:26:14,000
before today? Did the commissioner know
about the grant?

981
01:26:12,560 --> 01:26:15,520
» Yeah, the commissioners knew about the
grant.

982
01:26:14,320 --> 01:26:21,920
» We know about the grant, but we didn't
know what we were buying with the grant.

983
01:26:17,920 --> 01:26:24,400
» I'm not sure if I think so.
I mean, we had to we had to present the

984
01:26:23,679 --> 01:26:27,760
budget. [clears throat]
>> It's in the budget.

985
01:26:26,320 --> 01:26:30,639
» Okay. I just wondered. I didn't know if
we need to pick up over ambulance or

986
01:26:29,520 --> 01:26:33,760
what what the deal was.
>> Sure.

987
01:26:31,440 --> 01:26:37,360
» And I did get a call today on it said am
service got a new four-wheel drive

988
01:26:35,120 --> 01:26:39,679
pickup with a camper on it.
>> I didn't know how many people we could

989
01:26:38,480 --> 01:26:42,159
haul in the back of it like an
ambulance. I

990
01:26:41,199 --> 01:26:46,080
» got you.
>> So, what are we using it for? I mean,

991
01:26:44,800 --> 01:26:51,280
» it'll be used for the community
paramedic program and will be certified

992
01:26:48,159 --> 01:26:53,679
as a quick response vehicle.
>> What's a little car we got up there? We

993
01:26:53,040 --> 01:26:59,840
use
>> Well, it it will also it's it's used for

994
01:26:56,080 --> 01:27:05,760
the a MAP program and it's also
qualifies as a QRV. So, we had to have

995
01:27:03,120 --> 01:27:11,440
one for the MAP program and one for the
community paramedic program because they

996
01:27:07,520 --> 01:27:15,840
won't be going to the same places.
So they can't transport nobody in this

997
01:27:14,400 --> 01:27:19,199
pickup or anything.
>> Okay.

998
01:27:17,360 --> 01:27:23,760
» I just I just wondered I thought we
might need ambulance over a pickup. But

999
01:27:21,920 --> 01:27:30,080
» there was a budget amendment that came
to the board probably about six weeks

1000
01:27:26,320 --> 01:27:35,440
ago that budgeted 100,000
for the initial amount of the MIH grant

1001
01:27:34,000 --> 01:27:40,880
that he's talking about the community
paramedic program. The actual total

1002
01:27:38,000 --> 01:27:45,440
grant is 300,000.
Um, and there'll be you'll be seeing

1003
01:27:42,800 --> 01:27:51,040
some more budget amendments, but the
vehicle portion of that and I believe

1004
01:27:48,880 --> 01:27:54,480
well the vehicle portion of it I believe
was about 70,000. I'm doing it by

1005
01:27:53,520 --> 01:28:01,360
memory,
>> but 70,000 for the vehicle, 10,000 for

1006
01:27:57,600 --> 01:28:05,040
equipment, and I believe uh portion of
the salary was already budgeted.

1007
01:28:03,360 --> 01:28:11,600
» Yes. So, what are we going to use the
other 200,000 for? Well, that'll be used

1008
01:28:08,719 --> 01:28:15,679
for equipment and medications and
supplies and salary

1009
01:28:14,960 --> 01:28:19,679
» benefits.
>> Benefits. Yeah.

1010
01:28:16,719 --> 01:28:21,679
» Yeah. It's a whole additional program
for EMS.

1011
01:28:21,631 --> 01:28:25,199
[clears throat]
>> And we're going to hire somebody to

1012
01:28:22,960 --> 01:28:28,159
drive this truck or we moving somebody
up or

1013
01:28:26,239 --> 01:28:33,679
» Yes, we've been we've been through the
process of uh applications and we've

1014
01:28:31,440 --> 01:28:39,760
also been through the interview process.
We have not gotten someone hired as of

1015
01:28:37,199 --> 01:28:44,080
today, but we are in the process of
that.

1016
01:28:42,480 --> 01:28:47,920
» So, we're having any luck filling any
positions we got open.

1017
01:28:45,600 --> 01:28:53,120
» Yes.
>> Yes. And we've been getting a lot of

1018
01:28:49,920 --> 01:28:58,800
good applicants to come forward to put
in applications for uh these jobs that

1019
01:28:56,080 --> 01:29:05,040
we have open right now.
>> All right. That's all I got for today.

1020
01:29:02,320 --> 01:29:13,280
» All right. Thank you, Mr. Evans.
>> Um, yes, I couple things. Um,

1021
01:29:10,239 --> 01:29:17,040
I think the Heritage Festival will be uh
happening before we come back to our ne

1022
01:29:15,199 --> 01:29:17,920
next meeting because it's on the 19th,
correct?

1023
01:29:17,520 --> 01:29:22,960
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. So, we have that going on and also

1024
01:29:20,560 --> 01:29:26,476
that big weekend. I think we're having
the county fair also. It's

1025
01:29:25,120 --> 01:29:32,400
» going to be a lot of stuff going on.
[clears throat] I hope we have less rain

1026
01:29:28,400 --> 01:29:36,800
that few days. Um, also there's
something that they've been doing for

1027
01:29:33,920 --> 01:29:40,960
the last few, I guess, two or three
years. The Alageney County Partnership

1028
01:29:38,960 --> 01:29:47,360
for Children
does a little fundraising thing at the

1029
01:29:43,679 --> 01:29:52,639
Alagany Partnership building. Uh, they
actually go out like a Friday, I think

1030
01:29:49,679 --> 01:29:58,880
it's the 25th, and they start making
apple butter and they sell it on

1031
01:29:55,040 --> 01:30:05,840
Saturday. So, it's always been a good
fundraiser. So, that's happening. Um,

1032
01:30:03,440 --> 01:30:11,440
also I wanted to go um circle back to
the revenue neutral explanation that

1033
01:30:08,400 --> 01:30:15,679
Rita is talking about.
Revenue neutral, which you explained it

1034
01:30:13,199 --> 01:30:21,440
very well, is if you hold the line on
that, that's pretty much all you can do.

1035
01:30:18,880 --> 01:30:26,239
In other words, if the state asks you to
do more than that, then you're going to

1036
01:30:22,800 --> 01:30:31,760
have to axe employees and you act
services. So, and I think Alageney

1037
01:30:29,520 --> 01:30:37,199
County over the last four years has done
a good job with the revenue neutral, not

1038
01:30:34,560 --> 01:30:42,000
trying to take in which our tax rate
set. You know, you can't change it for

1039
01:30:39,040 --> 01:30:47,120
those many years. But I think they've
done a, you know, a good job with what

1040
01:30:43,920 --> 01:30:53,040
we've had coming in that we, you know,
it's took care of our services. So I,

1041
01:30:51,280 --> 01:30:58,880
you know, the revenue neutral, if you're
trying to do that, there's not much more

1042
01:30:55,440 --> 01:31:03,440
that you can do. Um, and that's where I
have a problem with the state. If it

1043
01:31:00,480 --> 01:31:10,639
asks you to do more than that, you know,
because you have services and from 2000

1044
01:31:08,080 --> 01:31:16,760
from the last time we had a tax
valuation 2019

1045
01:31:13,440 --> 01:31:16,760
to now,

1046
01:31:16,800 --> 01:31:26,239
nothing's held costwise.
It's went up and actually extremely went

1047
01:31:22,320 --> 01:31:33,360
up. So, so it's just the common sense
figure of math. But, um, anyway, I think

1048
01:31:30,960 --> 01:31:41,600
Alageney County has done a great job and
within her leadership of some of the

1049
01:31:36,639 --> 01:31:46,400
things that we've I think the um picture
this the I can't remember the name of

1050
01:31:44,000 --> 01:31:53,600
it. Pictometry.
um that stuff has brought in a lot of

1051
01:31:49,840 --> 01:31:58,400
things that's not been um permitted or
whatever. So, it's actually brought in a

1052
01:31:55,840 --> 01:32:04,480
lot of um revenue. Actually, it's been
worth the money on that that people

1053
01:32:00,960 --> 01:32:10,880
didn't know about, you know. Um but
thing is if you have services, you have

1054
01:32:06,400 --> 01:32:15,120
cost. But look forward to the fall and
hopefully all the, you know, we get some

1055
01:32:13,760 --> 01:32:21,120
good weather and we don't, our
fairgrounds don't look like it has been

1056
01:32:16,960 --> 01:32:25,280
lately. Um, and it turn they have a good
turnout because they have, like you

1057
01:32:22,880 --> 01:32:29,520
said, there's been a lot of really good
events and everything. It's been a good

1058
01:32:27,040 --> 01:32:32,239
year for Alagany. So that's all I wanted
to say.

1059
01:32:30,480 --> 01:32:37,040
» Thank you, sir.
>> Mr.

1060
01:32:34,320 --> 01:32:43,040
Just a few things. Uh I think you know
we've got several upcoming events at the

1061
01:32:39,600 --> 01:32:48,719
fairgrounds and uh those are some of our
biggest events of the year. So I hope a

1062
01:32:45,840 --> 01:32:55,360
lot of people will turn out for those. I
think it was mentioned that uh on the

1063
01:32:51,600 --> 01:33:04,080
Glade Creek uh checkbook was that a twow
weekek test period or a month and have

1064
01:32:59,440 --> 01:33:08,000
we passed that and how's it going? Um, I
have two reports from them. The

1065
01:33:05,904 --> 01:33:13,120
[clears throat] first one was, you know,
a full check that was dispersed to them

1066
01:33:10,560 --> 01:33:18,239
and the three things that I pointed out
to Commissioner Walker, that's what they

1067
01:33:15,280 --> 01:33:22,880
paid. Um, they hadn't received their
other check in the end of the twoe

1068
01:33:20,320 --> 01:33:27,679
period. So, he just sent me a report
that second check had not been received

1069
01:33:25,600 --> 01:33:30,159
and nothing paid out.
>> Are you satisfied with the way it's

1070
01:33:29,679 --> 01:33:36,400
going?
>> Yeah. Yes. and that Mr. Sheepard keeps

1071
01:33:33,679 --> 01:33:42,239
in touch with me, you know, if he's got
any questions, he calls me to make sure

1072
01:33:39,199 --> 01:33:46,159
it's allowable under the fire tax funds.
>> Okay. Thank you. That's all.

1073
01:33:44,480 --> 01:33:50,560
» Okay.
>> Um [clears throat] I don't have a whole

1074
01:33:48,000 --> 01:33:56,960
lot to add to that, but I will echo kind
of what Tammy said. Um,

1075
01:33:53,679 --> 01:34:00,719
I don't agree at all with the state
trying to take over the the ability for

1076
01:33:59,280 --> 01:34:07,280
local governments to make their own
decisions as to, you know, any increases

1077
01:34:04,719 --> 01:34:13,679
on property tax. You know, I think that
the people in the county uh elect local

1078
01:34:11,040 --> 01:34:17,840
officials to seats of office to make
those decisions and represent their

1079
01:34:15,520 --> 01:34:23,760
interests. And I don't think it has any
business being decided at the state

1080
01:34:20,639 --> 01:34:27,840
level as to what should be capped and
what shouldn't. You know, when we look

1081
01:34:25,360 --> 01:34:31,840
at decisions down the road, like how
much we're going to increase funding for

1082
01:34:29,600 --> 01:34:35,760
the rescue squad or how much we're going
to increase funding for the recreation

1083
01:34:33,840 --> 01:34:41,040
department, if we're going to increase
the level of service that our citizens

1084
01:34:37,840 --> 01:34:46,400
are going to receive, and we're capped
by the state on how much we can levy a

1085
01:34:43,679 --> 01:34:49,679
tax or increase our revenues to to meet
those demands,

1086
01:34:48,159 --> 01:34:55,360
you know, we're going to be faced with
some very uh serious choices. So, um,

1087
01:34:54,000 --> 01:34:59,760
that's something I would encourage you
to think about,

1088
01:34:57,440 --> 01:35:07,040
um, as you're making your decision, you
know, for the ballot coming up in

1089
01:35:01,120 --> 01:35:10,800
November. Um, I read a study on this and
it would really only [gasps]

1090
01:35:09,120 --> 01:35:15,840
across the board for the average citizen
in North Carolina, I think it's would

1091
01:35:12,480 --> 01:35:20,560
only save the average household between
84 and $100.

1092
01:35:18,239 --> 01:35:24,880
But the impact that it's going to have
on your local, municipal, and county

1093
01:35:22,800 --> 01:35:29,920
governments is going to be to the tune
of millions. So, I I would just

1094
01:35:28,320 --> 01:35:34,080
encourage you to think about that when
when you're making that vote. I know

1095
01:35:31,440 --> 01:35:38,080
nobody likes to hear the
the term tax increase or even, you know,

1096
01:35:36,480 --> 01:35:43,040
discuss that. and it's always got
negative connotations, but it's really

1097
01:35:40,480 --> 01:35:49,040
going to impact the ability that we have
to to shape the future here if we're

1098
01:35:46,000 --> 01:35:55,040
restricted by our state government. So,
that's that's all I've got. And thank

1099
01:35:52,480 --> 01:35:58,320
everybody for their time today. And at
this time, we'll look for a motion to

1100
01:35:56,800 --> 01:36:01,280
adjurnn. Some move.
>> Second. All right.

1101
01:35:59,360 --> 01:36:05,480
» All in favor, show hands. We're
ajourned. Thank you.