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Good morning everybody.

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We'll ask everybody to take your seats so we can get started here. It is the third Monday, August 17th, 2026. We will call the meeting to order, remind everybody, including myself,

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to silence your electronic devices.

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And I will, I'll ask, Mike, then I'll need to feel

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leaders in the pledge and Jerry, if you will open with prayer.

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Please, do I want to?

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I'll play to the flag of the United States of America,

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and feel Republic, or which it stands, one nation, under God,

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and invisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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God, we come to you, thank you, and it's for another day.

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It's just as far as the two would go with us today,

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in the questions we have that everything might be decently in an order and that you would

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bless us with the knowledge slower to make the right decisions on behalf of the people

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in Ice County and that's lower that everything would be done in a way that would bring

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glory to you because you created everything we have.

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And the time of your son cross week break, amen.

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All right.

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Okay.

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Thank you both.

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Next item is the consent agenda with some odds and ends routine stuff, would hear a motion

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to approve the consent agenda, if anybody's willing.

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Some of them.

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discussion in favor.

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Thank you. Next is adoption the agenda. We've got two quick edits.

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We've got one add-on and one takeaway.

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We have a time-sensitive funding opportunity for a federal grant

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I guess Adam, will you talk about that?

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Okay.

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Anyway.

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We need to, we'll just tack it on at the end for, let's see, what do we want to call it?

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Emergency management grant acceptance.

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How's that?

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That works.

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And again, that's time sensitive that came up after the agenda went out and needs to be remedied before the next meeting.

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And also, removal of the last item, an executive session, to discuss property that will come off.

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So, with one addition and one deletion, with here a motion.

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I move, adopt the agenda, Jerry, with a motion.

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We have a second discussion in favor.

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This

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is the public comment period and before we begin public comments, a quick reminder

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of our policies.

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Each speaker has up to three minutes to share their thoughts with the board.

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Board members will not respond or engage in dialogue during this time to ensure an orderly

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process and to allow more voices to be heard.

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Comments are taken seriously and relevant matters may be referred to staff for future

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agendas, please state your name and your home community for the record to missy the clerk

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sitting to my left and we thank you in advance for your participation.

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Good morning. Good morning.

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I'm here this morning to open up and home community and I'll do that.

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So my name is Dolly Reeves and I live in Creston and I'm here this morning to open up

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comments around a racism against resolution and hate speech. We are known for being the coolest

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corner in the state. And what we have now is an opportunity to be a beacon of the mountains

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and leaders in making a deep commitment to all who live here. A resolution against racism

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and hate speech is a commitment to stand by the Appalachian values we claim, the values I

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was raised on. Such as speaking out against injustice, showing radical hospitality and treating

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all people with dignity. This resolution is an action, an opportunity to not just talk about it,

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to be about it. There are a reasonable ask in it that we believe are achievable by this

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commission to take such to take such.

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Much as condemning speech, that specifically targets group of people in a manner meant to disparage or cause harm.

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There's a lot of pride built by those who call Ash County home. I too share that pride.

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And it is for that reason. I feel confident that you will be in agreement with this resolution.

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This is a public declaration that you, the elected officials, represent and respect all who live here.

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Let's prove why Ash County is the coolest corner in North Carolina.

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morning. My name is Mike Harsog, Wes Jefferson, North Carolina.

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And I'm going to

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read you the resolution that all it was referring to. Whereas Ash County

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Commissioners are elected to represent all Ash County residents.

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Whereas

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All individuals is fundamental to the promotion of human health and well-being, whereas every

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individual and group should be safe, secure, and include included in society, whereas immigrants

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are an integral part of our local economy and contribute to members, contribute members

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of our community and racism and stereotypes degenerate the inherent worth of all human beings

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whereas every individual's voice should be heard and every individual should be valued.

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Therefore, be it resolved that comments that disparage stereotype or belittle groups of people will not be tolerated in county commissioner meetings.

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including public comment, periods, and county commissioners shall adhere to the protocol

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of reframing from returning comment into the end of the period.

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Father, it'd be resolved that when protocol is not being followed, the county manager will

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and since I have a full time left evidently, I would just like to say that, you know,

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we don't believe that anybody on setting up our means to be racist or anything, however,

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Or as I watch back on the video of the event which brought this forward, it did appear

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that way to the common person and it's not good.

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I deal with a lot of different nationalities through the ministry and I can tell you that

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I've not ever made one of them that was not deserving of the same respect we give anyone.

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And I just feel strongly on this issue because I don't believe it has the place.

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I have been in different countries due to my military and everything and I know how it feels.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Horses.

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Can you leave that with Clark?

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Thank you.

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Anyone else for public comment?

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Good morning.

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My name is Sally Kinka.

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I live in Todd.

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But these are not my words.

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These are the words of Pastor Laura Birch,

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Pastor of Blackburn, United Methodist Church, also in Todd.

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My Christian faith calls me to advocate

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for the dignity of all our neighbors,

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as we are all made in the image of God.

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I urge the County Commissioners to take actions

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and conduct their business in ways

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that reflect our shared belief in our common humanity.

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Signed Reverend Laura Birch.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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I'm Padding Miller and I live here in Jefferson.

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And I think I've told each of you several times that my roots run very deep in Ash County. And I have a deep and abiding love for Ash and Allegheny because of the length and history of Amah relatives that live here. The thing that I would ask is for each everybody in this room to remember the things that I learned growing up is the golden rule.

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You treat everybody the way you want to be treated and the other one is love your neighbor yourself

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and that pretty much in my mind settles the question if we observe those two things we have really given our best and

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it's just this is just to serve as a reminder to all ear and all within hearing that that's our

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mandate, that's if we make everybody, we want to make everybody welcome, they'll comfortable

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here,

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and I just want to emphasize, making people feel welcome is incredibly important.

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Each of us does work that makes this county what it is, and we've got a lot ahead of us

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with budget cuts coming from the state and the federal government.

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So we're all gonna have to work together in a positive way and I urge that positive thoughtful and kind effort from everybody.

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Thanks.

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Thank you.

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My name is Nancy Yamashita from Jefferson.

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I am a woman of color.

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And have had racial comments, discrimination throughout my life, even here in ash, I love ash.

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And I don't want to be treated differently, I don't want people to think that they can comment about my race, about being a woman.

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I love Ash and I want us to all be equal.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Good morning, guys.

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My name is Jeff Land.

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I live in West Jefferson and I'm here to just make a few comments.

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I've been here for about 20 years and one thing that's noticeable to me is how many fewer

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Confederate flags we see flying around which indicates to me that there's been a growing

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understanding of what the symbols of racism can mean.

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And I've been thinking actually a lot about the actual incident, which occasioned this ongoing

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series of comments, and thinking what a dreadful situation would have been had the share

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of for ICE agents been called under these circumstances.

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We would have been now dealing not with civic conversation, or we're actually not having

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much of a conversation, but nonetheless, a kind of public conversation, but we would be in

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much more concerning situation if there had been some mass round up and bounty on some

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of our immigrant neighbors.

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So I'm hoping in the future, we actually get to have more of a real conversation that it's

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not a bunch of us coming up presenting our point of view and hoping that you listen to

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us, but actually having a little bit more given take so we can understand your perspective

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on how this is working out because that's one of the things that I would really like to know

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if possible and I do thank you for your time, so.

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Thank you.

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Good morning.

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My name is Luzzella and I live in Glendale Springs.

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We all want to live in a world where people feel safe, respected, and cared for, a world

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where harm is no longer than an arm.

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Even when harm isn't intentional, it can still be real, especially when we ignore the

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larger systems around us, like racism and sexism.

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These systems shape behaviors that can hurt others in both obvious and subtle ways.

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From low paying jobs for housing laws, from the lack of healthcare access on an underfunded

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public education.

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current laws and systems exist to

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Maintain and order, where a small minority of wealthy people make all decisions while the rest of us simply struggle to survive.

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I'm not going to argue about today whether recent remarks made to this board reflect race prejudice against immigrants.

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No. The statements by you and others in the public forum have settled the matter and they

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are division divisive, biased unfair and based on prejudice. I ask, has the county or

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town issued a warning notice or a ticket for noise? The Reverend Dr. William Barber

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said the forces of greed, selfishness, fear, and division have a long history of promoting

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a divided America.

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They are good at it.

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They are loud at it, and they are consistent at it, and, quote, I say, it's time for the

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forces of generosity, charity, courage, and unity, to band together, to display an unswerving

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commitment to equality, equity, and justice.

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Let us take steps community by community to unravel the golden garment being woven by the forces of greed and create a coat of many colors.

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I support the resolution against racism and hate speech.

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Thank you.

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Thank you very

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much.

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Seeing no movement, we will continue next time.

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Next, we're going to be up for a few minutes with a handful of items.

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All similar, but you need to know in a way.

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Good morning, gentlemen.

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So we have four sets of resolutions with accompanying public hearings

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associated with them for the CWGDR Community Infrastructure

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grant applications that we'll be putting in. I'll start by talking about the program

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generally and then go into our first application which would be for the consolidated

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DSS and Health Department building and then allow y'all to motion into that public hearing

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and hold that and then do that for each one of the accompanying projects.

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So generally this is that the community development block grant disaster recovery in total

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There is roughly $193 million in this round.

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There's going to be two rounds.

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There's about 55 million that are allocated.

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If we don't get funded in this round,

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we're able to reapply with all of these projects for round two.

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The funding totals are awards between 500,000 and 15 million.

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And generally, the eligible projects involve infrastructure

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that's supporting lower moderate income individuals

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and or infrastructure supporting future disaster response.

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And I can note where these would become eligible within each of these projects.

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The projects that are put before you were guided by our Capital Improvement Plan.

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And I think a line with some of the requirements that the C2BG program holds.

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And so, for this first project, the Department of Social Services and Health Department

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Building, this is a project that was started, a handful of years ago, and we have a conceptual

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design of what this consolidated building would look like.

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This would the proposed project would meet the National Objective of primary benefiting low

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and moderate income persons and being located in an area primarily resided in by low

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and moderate income persons.

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The goal with this grant application would be to seek the max of $15 million for this grant

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application.

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Okay, and just a little bit of a comment before Facebook gets wound up, and the story

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is that we're building four new buildings and spending $100 million dollars and all that.

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That is not the case.

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These are grant applications for available federal funds, and we're just trying to get our

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piece of the pie.

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Yes, sir.

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Absolutely, this is the funding that's allocated because of this storm because of Haleen and just the 25 counties that were indicated as most impacted

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to stress or eligible for this.

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There is honestly generational funding coming down from the federal end-state government because of what we went through with the storm and us applying for this money does not

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There's nothing frivolous about it. If we don't raise our hand for it, somebody else will. So the money's

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The money is there to help and we're our teams doing our part to make sure Ash County gets its peace.

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I just wanted to clear that up. Yes sir. These are applications for funding. This is not signing a contract with a builder to start grabbing nails tomorrow.

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Yes sir.

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All right. So you ready for me to do the first one? Yes sir.

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So, I will call open a public hearing for any comments regarding the CDBG federal grant application

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for the consolidated DSS and Health Department building.

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Is there anyone here that would like to speak to the

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application for that?

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Seeing no movement, close the public hearing for the application for CDBG funds for a consolidated

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DSS and health department building, and I would ask for a motion to adopt that resolution

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as it's presented.

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So I'll move.

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Discussion.

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In favor.

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Thank you.

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Moving on.

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So the second project that we have is the ongoing continuation of our discussion for EMS.

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This project would be proposed to construct the consolidated EMS Fire Marshal Emergency Management

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and EOC consolidated public safety building is what the application is going to say.

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This again would be seeking the max of $15 million and the national objective that this means is being located in area of low and moderate income persons.

232
00:21:59,980 --> 00:22:10,900
All right, so I will open a public hearing for comment regarding the C2BG application

233
00:22:12,220 --> 00:22:17,060
as presented for a consolidated public safety building,

234
00:22:19,450 --> 00:22:21,190
and he wanted to speak to that.

235
00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:32,220
The new movement, we will close the public hearing and I would ask for a motion to adopt

236
00:22:32,220 --> 00:22:37,920
the resolution supporting the application for funding for consolidated public safety building.

237
00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:39,040
Second.

238
00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:41,140
Second discussion.

239
00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:42,180
In favour?

240
00:22:47,740 --> 00:22:53,260
The third project we have is somewhat of an interesting one, but it's our animal shelter project.

241
00:22:53,580 --> 00:22:56,620
This would be an application up to $12 million.

242
00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:02,060
The public objectives that this would hit are primarily benefiting low and moderate in

243
00:23:02,060 --> 00:23:07,880
persons being located in area primarily resided in by low and moderate income persons and reducing

244
00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:14,560
slumber blight. Some might ask why is an animal shelter eligible and part of what the overall

245
00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:21,420
eligibility could do is if we design the shelter to house, folks' animals during a disaster

246
00:23:21,420 --> 00:23:27,660
and potentially be able to be used as a shelter spot for people in terms of just having showers

247
00:23:27,660 --> 00:23:33,120
and being able to cook hot food, which is all something that would likely be included in our

248
00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:39,080
general animal shelter project. It does make the project eligible to be funded through this.

249
00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:43,700
And so that's how this project ended up making the eligibility.

250
00:23:45,060 --> 00:23:55,940
Okay, I would open the floor, Republican, and any comment regarding the resolution and

251
00:23:55,940 --> 00:24:03,540
application for CDBG funds for the animal control facility, any comment.

252
00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:13,200
Seeing no movement, we will close the public hearing and I would ask for action regarding the

253
00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:18,560
resolution and application for the proposed animal control building.

254
00:24:18,980 --> 00:24:19,780
So move.

255
00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:21,220
Second.

256
00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:22,020
Question.

257
00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:22,940
Second discussion.

258
00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:24,280
In favor.

259
00:24:25,500 --> 00:24:26,200
All right.

260
00:24:27,220 --> 00:24:27,980
We're getting there.

261
00:24:29,590 --> 00:24:38,350
And the final project that we have is the acquisition of the property at 247 Mount Jefferson State Park Road and West Jefferson.

262
00:24:38,350 --> 00:24:45,650
And the primary national objectives that this hits are primarily benefiting low and moderate

263
00:24:45,650 --> 00:24:51,290
income persons and being located in an area primarily resided in and reducing slumber

264
00:24:51,290 --> 00:24:55,790
the application would go up to $4 million.

265
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:29,840
Goal of that property, being? At this point, it would be to reduce slumber blight to remediate the property. This is the old-low's food property. So we know that there are structural issues for the building. Hopefully we would be able to remediate it into a variety of different county priorities. At this point, and in the application, we aren't going to identify those, because we haven't decided that this is the best use of that property. But we think that we'll be able to paint a structure with the reduction in the blight.

266
00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:35,640
along with the two other eligible national objectives that it's going to be hit.

267
00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:43,880
At this time, we would offer a public hearing and time for any comment regarding this

268
00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:52,180
resolution and CDBG funding request for a property acquisition at 247 in Mount Jefferson State Park Road.

269
00:25:52,580 --> 00:25:53,100
Any comment?

270
00:25:55,690 --> 00:26:04,050
Seeing no movement, we will close the public hearing and entertain a motion to approve this

271
00:26:04,050 --> 00:26:06,210
resolution and application as presented.

272
00:26:07,550 --> 00:26:08,010
Don't move.

273
00:26:09,110 --> 00:26:09,630
Discussion?

274
00:26:10,210 --> 00:26:10,750
In favor?

275
00:26:13,970 --> 00:26:13,970
We

276
00:26:16,750 --> 00:26:18,150
did it.

277
00:26:18,710 --> 00:26:19,350
That's a lot of work.

278
00:26:20,250 --> 00:26:20,750
Thank you.

279
00:26:20,750 --> 00:26:27,510
Thank you, Nick, for putting these together for us and hopefully because success was the time

280
00:26:27,510 --> 00:26:31,110
or the public board, do you have any idea when the closing is?

281
00:26:31,450 --> 00:26:32,370
We do not.

282
00:26:32,710 --> 00:26:37,250
So commerce is still honestly building the program as they're administering it.

283
00:26:37,390 --> 00:26:40,470
We are at the point where they are taking that first round of applications.

284
00:26:41,070 --> 00:26:45,270
We haven't been told when those applications are planned on being responded to.

285
00:26:45,490 --> 00:26:50,530
But as I learn more, I'll make sure to share that with you guys that we have an awareness

286
00:26:50,530 --> 00:26:53,070
of when we can expect some of these decisions.

287
00:26:53,870 --> 00:26:55,490
Well, thank you again to do appreciate it.

288
00:26:55,490 --> 00:26:55,990
Thank you, sir.

289
00:26:55,990 --> 00:26:56,910
It's a favorable fund.

290
00:26:57,690 --> 00:26:58,370
Yes, sir.

291
00:26:58,410 --> 00:27:01,010
It's being administered at the state level, but it is federal funding.

292
00:27:01,370 --> 00:27:02,010
Yes, sir.

293
00:27:04,570 --> 00:27:05,490
Good job.

294
00:27:05,850 --> 00:27:06,950
Chris, you're up next.

295
00:27:11,980 --> 00:27:12,100
Morning.

296
00:27:12,740 --> 00:27:13,140
Good morning.

297
00:27:21,470 --> 00:27:26,410
As required every year, I have to give a kind of a snapshot of what we've done throughout

298
00:27:26,410 --> 00:27:27,030
the collection.

299
00:27:28,310 --> 00:27:32,010
Here, this is our 25, 26 settlement.

300
00:27:32,930 --> 00:27:36,410
If you have any questions, just stop me any time as we get through it.

301
00:27:40,090 --> 00:27:51,110
As of July 1, 2025, we had a beginning levy of $29 million, $446,455.

302
00:27:52,150 --> 00:27:58,490
We also had the discoveries of $801,450 in 63 cents.

303
00:27:59,210 --> 00:28:04,790
The discoveries, most of those are your public utility, like Blue Rich Electric, the Natural

304
00:28:04,790 --> 00:28:08,770
Gas Pop Lines, we build those in September, or count as the discoveries.

305
00:28:08,770 --> 00:28:19,250
We had $25,666 of releases, air corrections, rebuilding, causes that, so it created a

306
00:28:19,250 --> 00:28:25,610
current level of $30 million, $222,299 of the 53 cents.

307
00:28:26,770 --> 00:28:36,470
Also, this past fiscal year, we had $421,823 worth of discounts given to citizens of paid

308
00:28:36,470 --> 00:28:37,930
during the month for July and August.

309
00:28:38,130 --> 00:28:40,990
That was up over $19,000 a year.

310
00:28:41,190 --> 00:28:43,230
That means we're getting a lot more money early.

311
00:28:43,810 --> 00:28:44,730
We just get things.

312
00:28:45,530 --> 00:28:51,930
Our total payments of taxes this year were $29,000,000, $296,

313
00:28:52,230 --> 00:28:53,290
and $27 cents.

314
00:28:53,290 --> 00:28:57,250
That was up about $1.4 million this year.

315
00:29:02,230 --> 00:29:06,250
Of our original Navy, we collected 99.93% of that.

316
00:29:06,330 --> 00:29:08,650
That is up also over last year.

317
00:29:08,650 --> 00:29:14,230
of the current way, but we collected 97.37% which is also the

318
00:29:19,220 --> 00:29:21,720
link with tax collections, we collected

319
00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:29,600
the total of $986,880 in three cents. That is down from last year, which is a good

320
00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:34,820
thing because that means we're collecting more and we're running out of stuff to collect. So that's

321
00:29:34,820 --> 00:29:39,640
a good thing. So the more people we have paying on time helps our current year and our current year

322
00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:40,460
The

323
00:29:44,910 --> 00:29:48,050
things your office does, of course, is mail the tax bills.

324
00:29:48,390 --> 00:29:52,170
We mail those in July, to let people know what they owe, it also has the

325
00:29:52,170 --> 00:29:53,810
delinkment mounts on those.

326
00:29:54,410 --> 00:29:56,990
We also turn around and mail delinkment notices in January.

327
00:29:58,110 --> 00:29:59,990
We advertise in a newspaper which is required.

328
00:30:03,940 --> 00:30:15,000
We have numerous wage garnishments, bank attachments that set off, which is where we look at a local and a tax return and take those.

329
00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:22,100
And we do do some payment arrangements and foreclosures. We utilize all this to keep our tax collection rates up.

330
00:30:28,180 --> 00:30:38,020
$2526, we had $30 million, come through our front windows, out of those, we had $43,825

331
00:30:38,020 --> 00:30:44,880
transactions, which is up around $2,500 over last year, cash transactions last year.

332
00:30:44,980 --> 00:30:52,120
We had $4,55, we collected almost $1.1 million in cash in our office.

333
00:30:52,120 --> 00:31:02,420
check transactions 32,635 value of 26.8 million and online transactions

334
00:31:02,420 --> 00:31:08,120
continued to grow 7,135, we collected almost $3 million online.

335
00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:23,800
D&V, the rest of the motor vehicles, the current way of it was 2,732,263 dollars

336
00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:31,140
we collected $2,717,385 in 10 cents.

337
00:31:31,460 --> 00:31:35,920
We had a collection rate of 99.46% of the MB.

338
00:31:36,340 --> 00:31:39,020
That number is also up over last year.

339
00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:42,840
There's up around $350,000 for people,

340
00:31:42,980 --> 00:31:44,180
bond colors and shopping.

341
00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:49,800
Optimacy tax.

342
00:31:50,380 --> 00:31:54,800
We collected $589,744 not 10 cents.

343
00:31:54,900 --> 00:31:56,520
Again, that is up over last year.

344
00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:57,620
About 28,000 dollars.

345
00:31:57,620 --> 00:31:58,960
$1,851.

346
00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:04,220
Any questions?

347
00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:06,780
Students?

348
00:32:09,900 --> 00:32:11,040
Why do any questions for Chris?

349
00:32:11,260 --> 00:32:12,800
I've got a couple of curiosity.

350
00:32:13,220 --> 00:32:14,500
What point do you fall close on?

351
00:32:15,100 --> 00:32:15,640
So my is proper?

352
00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,480
So first, we can start to foreclose your process.

353
00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:23,760
The date, the property becomes the length when on tax is so January 6.

354
00:32:23,820 --> 00:32:27,160
So no matter to the year, are the amount owed?

355
00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:32,340
We first started, we was going over the after the high mails trying to get that work down.

356
00:32:33,260 --> 00:32:43,580
Now, we look at the time of, you know, if they haven't paid in three years, four years, five years, six years, we're starting to go after those, but we can foreclose the day it becomes the Lincoln.

357
00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:53,360
Is there any way I get in a breakdown with occupancy taxes, like nations in hotels or holidays?

358
00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:59,780
Yeah, I'll just make sure I know Airbnb's is a lot of it in there, too.

359
00:33:00,060 --> 00:33:00,420
Oh yeah.

360
00:33:00,500 --> 00:33:01,020
Of course.

361
00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:03,100
Can we give you a break down all the chaos?

362
00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:05,900
Just a curiosity on that.

363
00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:09,820
That's something you want.

364
00:33:10,380 --> 00:33:10,880
Don't come back.

365
00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:11,220
Get it?

366
00:33:11,220 --> 00:33:12,540
Yeah, I'll do it.

367
00:33:12,540 --> 00:33:12,660
Thank you.

368
00:33:12,660 --> 00:33:13,940
All right.

369
00:33:14,060 --> 00:33:14,780
Any other questions?

370
00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:15,540
Thank you.

371
00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:16,460
Thank Chris.

372
00:33:18,140 --> 00:33:23,340
Well, if this requires action as we do every year, we do needs take

373
00:33:23,340 --> 00:33:29,160
to accept the 25-26 settlement as Chris is presented.

374
00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:30,480
So I'm moved.

375
00:33:31,140 --> 00:33:31,460
Thank you.

376
00:33:32,100 --> 00:33:32,720
Any more discussion?

377
00:33:33,620 --> 00:33:34,000
In favor?

378
00:33:37,130 --> 00:33:42,310
Next, Chris has one more legally required item.

379
00:33:52,180 --> 00:33:53,780
This is called the tax collector charge.

380
00:33:53,780 --> 00:33:58,420
Just where I give you a snapshot of what we're supposed to collect this year.

381
00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:12,380
This year starting July 1, the starting levy is $30 million, $373,723,

382
00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:17,900
this is up around

383
00:34:17,900 --> 00:34:22,740
$929,000 every last year, based off several things.

384
00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:27,880
We've already had a good start as of this morning.

385
00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,840
We've already collected $9.1 million of that.

386
00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:36,180
Again, we get a large amount of money the first few months for discount reasons.

387
00:34:37,660 --> 00:34:44,980
The next page is a breakdown of the county, lancing fire departments that we will play

388
00:34:44,980 --> 00:34:46,220
for them as well.

389
00:34:48,940 --> 00:34:49,480
Any questions?

390
00:34:52,750 --> 00:34:59,090
Any questions for Chris on the 26-27 tax collector charge?

391
00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:08,240
Anybody's got anything? Would entertain a motion to,

392
00:35:12,250 --> 00:35:14,730
yes, to move

393
00:35:17,100 --> 00:35:22,580
forward and authorize the 2627 text collector charge as presented.

394
00:35:23,380 --> 00:35:24,240
Go move.

395
00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:24,820
Right.

396
00:35:26,340 --> 00:35:27,080
Anything further?

397
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:28,280
Any favor?

398
00:35:30,700 --> 00:35:31,240
Thanks, Kruea.

399
00:35:32,180 --> 00:35:32,760
Thank you.

400
00:35:33,020 --> 00:35:33,960
See you next year.

401
00:35:34,260 --> 00:35:35,020
See you.

402
00:35:47,470 --> 00:35:52,450
Next, our friends from Ash County Transportation Authority are here.

403
00:35:56,890 --> 00:35:59,950
Are there annual check-in?

404
00:36:00,070 --> 00:36:00,950
So to speak.

405
00:36:01,910 --> 00:36:03,710
We've all got a job for the hoops, not way.

406
00:36:03,790 --> 00:36:04,290
We do.

407
00:36:05,250 --> 00:36:05,670
Good morning.

408
00:36:05,790 --> 00:36:06,070
Good morning.

409
00:36:06,730 --> 00:36:08,850
I'm Amanda Rotten with Ash County Transportation.

410
00:36:08,850 --> 00:36:22,810
I'm here on behalf of the agency to request the FY27 rule operating assistant program funds this year from the state.

411
00:36:23,130 --> 00:36:28,970
This year the allocation for the ed tap is $63,389.

412
00:36:29,830 --> 00:36:32,770
Employment is $8,068.

413
00:36:32,770 --> 00:36:41,850
RGP is $66,093 for a total of $138,450.

414
00:36:43,710 --> 00:36:48,710
Again, the ad tap funding is for those that are elderly,

415
00:36:49,270 --> 00:36:51,050
or those that might have a disability.

416
00:36:51,810 --> 00:36:56,590
The employment funds cover those that are going to work.

417
00:36:58,370 --> 00:37:22,090
The RGP stands for rural general public and those are for those individuals that are 59 years and younger and that can be going to work if we run out of employment funds, which we do every year to the doctor's offices, shopping, get their mail, get their pharmacy and things like that.

418
00:37:23,250 --> 00:37:30,710
This year, in July, we did celebrate 40 years of providing public transit to Ash County citizens.

419
00:37:31,910 --> 00:37:38,570
The business become a nonprofit in 1986, and so we have celebrated 40 years.

420
00:37:38,710 --> 00:37:41,490
We're proud of that as an agency.

421
00:37:41,490 --> 00:37:44,870
Do you have any questions?

422
00:37:46,190 --> 00:37:56,930
I presented the memorandum of understanding and also put in there the application that has to be filled out.

423
00:37:57,210 --> 00:37:58,930
You might have any questions for me.

424
00:37:59,210 --> 00:38:00,210
Everything's still in line.

425
00:38:00,470 --> 00:38:07,070
As far as if I want to take a trip down to Charlotte Airport and pay you, you can take me.

426
00:38:07,090 --> 00:38:07,930
Any questions?

427
00:38:08,370 --> 00:38:08,610
Yes.

428
00:38:10,230 --> 00:38:11,670
You serve any other airports?

429
00:38:12,530 --> 00:38:13,330
We do.

430
00:38:13,770 --> 00:38:13,790
We do.

431
00:38:13,790 --> 00:38:13,810
We do.

432
00:38:14,050 --> 00:38:14,870
We do.

433
00:38:14,870 --> 00:38:18,430
We do a good job.

434
00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:23,440
You take one person or ten.

435
00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:29,640
Like if somebody has a doctor's mom and somebody has a, what needs to go to the airport, you

436
00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:31,060
try to coordinate both those.

437
00:38:31,240 --> 00:38:33,340
Yeah, we coordinate as much as we can.

438
00:38:33,540 --> 00:38:38,560
But, even if there are two or three hours apart, we just have to let the people know

439
00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:42,980
your time's moving. We've got other people going into some.

440
00:38:45,050 --> 00:38:45,850
Anything else for

441
00:38:45,850 --> 00:38:51,570
Amanda? Do you have much kickback when like you say we're going to be leaving

442
00:38:51,570 --> 00:38:55,530
two hours earlier than what I told you day before yesterday because we have

443
00:38:55,530 --> 00:38:59,990
somebody going very close to where we're taking you. Do you have a lot of

444
00:38:59,990 --> 00:39:07,050
complaining about that? We do have some that we all cancel. They're trips but then

445
00:39:07,050 --> 00:39:13,290
You know, some will grumble, but then, you know, others will go, you know, we try to

446
00:39:13,290 --> 00:39:18,530
express to them, you know, we are public transportation, and we have to get people in

447
00:39:18,530 --> 00:39:24,630
the seats, and we don't have the resources to send one vehicle for two or three different

448
00:39:25,390 --> 00:39:25,910
people.

449
00:39:26,650 --> 00:39:35,110
Well, just out of curiosity, I live a mile from Allegheny County, and I see Allegheny public

450
00:39:35,110 --> 00:39:41,990
transportation coming down to 21 in the Ash County quite a bit as that like doctor visits

451
00:39:41,990 --> 00:39:43,670
and such as that.

452
00:39:43,930 --> 00:39:49,810
So I think that there's programs over here that they bring their residents to every day

453
00:39:49,810 --> 00:39:54,910
just like we go to Allegheny twice a day to take our residents over there today programs.

454
00:39:57,570 --> 00:39:59,970
We've talked about consolidating to see how...

455
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:06,040
How we could, you know, take our people over there and bring their people back or vice versa, but the times just don't

456
00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:10,560
align. I have to be at different places, you know, at the different times.

457
00:40:12,970 --> 00:40:19,630
What's a good thing with County Haves? It helps. It helps a lot of people. Anybody else got anything?

458
00:40:20,250 --> 00:40:24,910
You all provide a valuable service and do a great job and we're grateful.

459
00:40:24,910 --> 00:40:39,960
So need a motion to approve the memorandum of understanding and the certified statement for the rope program from the second.

460
00:40:40,180 --> 00:40:44,820
There's a motion in a couple of seconds. Discussion in favor.

461
00:40:45,900 --> 00:40:46,860
Thank you for coming.

462
00:40:47,120 --> 00:40:47,580
Thank you.

463
00:40:47,680 --> 00:40:48,580
Appreciate it.

464
00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:06,200
Adam with a couple of special recognitions.

465
00:41:11,220 --> 00:41:18,180
It's always an honor to stand here and recognize folks as they've spent many years here with us at the Ash County,

466
00:41:19,340 --> 00:41:22,720
but are able to enjoy retirement and part with us.

467
00:41:23,540 --> 00:41:33,220
I want to recognize first, who's not able to be here, but Mark Fibs, who spent 14 years with us in corrections over the law enforcement jail center.

468
00:41:33,220 --> 00:41:38,000
I'll check to make sure he's not here, I think he would see him if he was here just based

469
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:42,060
on the Statue, but I want to appreciate Mark and his time.

470
00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:48,600
I also want to appreciate Chris Dollar if you want to come up and invite the family if you

471
00:41:48,600 --> 00:41:49,400
want him as well.

472
00:42:00,310 --> 00:42:02,810
Go ahead, Andrew Chris is not at yours, not at Marseilles.

473
00:42:05,790 --> 00:42:10,870
But I want to appreciate your service and communications 25 years about not mistaken.

474
00:42:11,430 --> 00:42:14,890
It's quite a service in the seat over there.

475
00:42:14,950 --> 00:42:20,470
I know not every day is a great day, but I appreciate the service and appreciate what you've

476
00:42:20,470 --> 00:42:29,170
done for the county and a plaque of recognition, card and small gift for appreciation as well.

477
00:42:29,670 --> 00:42:29,850
Okay.

478
00:42:30,070 --> 00:42:30,890
Thank you very much.

479
00:42:31,250 --> 00:42:32,310
Thank you.

480
00:42:35,020 --> 00:42:35,660
Great question.

481
00:42:36,060 --> 00:42:37,120
The podium is yours.

482
00:42:37,580 --> 00:42:42,080
If you had anything you wanted to say, tell us what you got with you anyway.

483
00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:52,380
Okay, I certainly will, I have got my mother, Linda Walton, and my son Jacob Dauer.

484
00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:55,080
I think I appreciate you all the time.

485
00:42:55,820 --> 00:43:03,460
Chris, I'm a scanner listener, and I always appreciate, I hear your voice and I know that

486
00:43:03,460 --> 00:43:09,540
I know that everything's well under control when I hear you on the scanner, so I appreciate

487
00:43:09,540 --> 00:43:20,540
All the years and that's a tough job and you were one of the goats over there for sure.

488
00:43:22,060 --> 00:43:22,840
Thank you very much.

489
00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:23,700
I appreciate it.

490
00:43:23,700 --> 00:43:30,540
Go meaning greatest of all time for anybody not up on the youthful lingo of today's.

491
00:43:31,620 --> 00:43:35,620
Anyway, Nick started rolling his eyes at me, so I figured I'd better clarify that.

492
00:43:35,920 --> 00:43:37,260
I appreciate you.

493
00:43:37,260 --> 00:43:38,340
Okay, well, appreciate it.

494
00:43:38,340 --> 00:43:39,280
Thanks very much.

495
00:43:39,620 --> 00:43:41,360
Anybody else that have a word for congratulations?

496
00:43:42,100 --> 00:43:42,440
Congratulations.

497
00:43:42,860 --> 00:43:43,500
Thank you.

498
00:43:43,540 --> 00:43:45,780
Now you just work for nothing when you're a time.

499
00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:51,040
I do think Chris would you do that.

500
00:43:51,260 --> 00:43:52,720
That's not easy job.

501
00:43:53,620 --> 00:43:59,680
I appreciate you and your family and you to this job and what you did.

502
00:44:00,100 --> 00:44:01,180
Thanks so much.

503
00:44:01,400 --> 00:44:03,120
Yeah, thank you.

504
00:44:03,340 --> 00:44:03,640
Appreciate.

505
00:44:04,220 --> 00:44:04,740
Appreciate.

506
00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,740
job you're done and I'm sure you're welcome to come back to work so I'm if you want to.

507
00:44:10,420 --> 00:44:12,120
Okay, why I appreciate the offer.

508
00:44:14,660 --> 00:44:20,940
I was a volunteer for Health and Mabel and Service for 13 years and so I know how important

509
00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:26,960
the communications can be every once in a while.

510
00:44:27,080 --> 00:44:28,740
Everyone goes up around holler.

511
00:44:30,770 --> 00:44:31,770
It happens.

512
00:44:33,730 --> 00:44:38,050
Let's have a picture mate. Next one, take a picture. I bet Jesse's got his camera and

513
00:44:38,050 --> 00:44:41,470
we hopefully get you a little recognition for your service.

514
00:45:08,910 --> 00:45:11,550
Thank you all for being here.

515
00:45:21,230 --> 00:45:30,910
Next on the list, I've got Kelsey, our HR coordinator, with proposed changes to the human resources resolution.

516
00:45:32,810 --> 00:45:33,330
Good morning.

517
00:45:33,550 --> 00:45:33,910
Good morning.

518
00:45:34,610 --> 00:45:44,810
You all have these in your packets, so I won't go through them one by one unless you want me to, but I'm open to any questions concerns you might have.

519
00:45:44,810 --> 00:45:54,790
So the only edits are the stock crews in red, that second one is consistent with federal laws.

520
00:45:55,470 --> 00:45:55,630
Yes.

521
00:45:58,570 --> 00:46:01,390
I'll make a motion we approve those changes.

522
00:46:02,590 --> 00:46:03,790
Thank you.

523
00:46:04,050 --> 00:46:04,350
I'll say.

524
00:46:04,730 --> 00:46:06,330
There's a motion in a second.

525
00:46:07,790 --> 00:46:09,710
Kelsey, it looks like you're getting off easy.

526
00:46:09,790 --> 00:46:10,390
I am.

527
00:46:10,530 --> 00:46:11,110
About hardcore.

528
00:46:11,590 --> 00:46:12,910
So anybody got anything?

529
00:46:12,910 --> 00:46:14,770
in favor.

530
00:46:14,770 --> 00:46:15,670
All right, thank you.

531
00:46:15,670 --> 00:46:15,890
Thank you.

532
00:46:27,120 --> 00:46:27,420
Thanks.

533
00:46:27,980 --> 00:46:31,540
Adam is up and we've got some friends here with us.

534
00:46:31,860 --> 00:46:33,980
With the Ash County Beekeeper Association.

535
00:46:35,700 --> 00:46:41,240
Or yeah, all the partnership and.

536
00:46:41,260 --> 00:46:46,160
Q this up and yeah, talk about my friend Todd to the podium as well.

537
00:46:47,420 --> 00:46:48,320
But we're approached.

538
00:46:48,620 --> 00:46:53,760
I think it's been maybe a month or so about utilizing some of the space that the agricultural center.

539
00:46:55,940 --> 00:47:03,920
for some educational space, for B-Hives, and I'm going to a horrible job of explaining that.

540
00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:10,600
So I wanted to give a little explanation, but we have prepared an MOU somewhat of a lease,

541
00:47:10,880 --> 00:47:16,000
and we've got some images here that Todd can speak on, and kind of what the use of the property will be.

542
00:47:16,520 --> 00:47:19,360
Do you want a book copies of all that you want to go to today already?

543
00:47:19,800 --> 00:47:20,600
They've got one in there.

544
00:47:20,600 --> 00:47:22,280
and they have the memorandum as well.

545
00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:26,640
Thank you for the opportunity to come before you guys today.

546
00:47:26,780 --> 00:47:28,900
I appreciate all what you do for the county.

547
00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:33,940
As a present in the Ash County Beekeeper Association, we're always looking for opportunities

548
00:47:33,940 --> 00:47:39,040
in the community to educate people about the importance of beekeeping and pollination services

549
00:47:39,580 --> 00:47:40,100
specifically.

550
00:47:41,060 --> 00:47:44,800
Several of our neighboring counties in the last two to three years have developed what's

551
00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:46,020
called a communal apiary.

552
00:47:46,020 --> 00:47:53,580
You've probably heard a communal gardens for the people that like to plant flowers and counties and stuff like that.

553
00:47:53,720 --> 00:48:02,500
Beekeepers are trying to do the same thing and it is difficult sometimes to have a place where you could have 30 or 40 beekeepers come to one place and learn about beekeeping.

554
00:48:03,100 --> 00:48:09,020
Because if you're out of farm somewhere, they may not have parking, they may be hard to reach, they may have to have a foil drive to get there and that kind of thing.

555
00:48:09,020 --> 00:48:13,320
So I used an example, and I hope that you have photos of that,

556
00:48:13,320 --> 00:48:17,620
of the token, beekeepers, and Avery County that recently built one.

557
00:48:18,060 --> 00:48:18,800
And it was phenomenal.

558
00:48:19,180 --> 00:48:22,880
They had the, the workings of the local community college and the county

559
00:48:22,880 --> 00:48:28,060
chipped in and helped build a fenced in area with a little trailer next to it,

560
00:48:28,080 --> 00:48:29,040
where they stored their materials.

561
00:48:29,720 --> 00:48:31,440
And they use it for educational stuff.

562
00:48:31,520 --> 00:48:33,600
I mean, every single month, multiple times a month.

563
00:48:33,960 --> 00:48:35,960
Our goal is to do the same thing here in Ash County.

564
00:48:36,020 --> 00:48:38,220
We had one of our beekeepers pass away in November.

565
00:48:38,220 --> 00:48:43,460
and his family generously had people make donations to the Ash County beekeepers and so several

566
00:48:43,460 --> 00:48:49,020
thousand dollars was donated late last year and we looked at how could we use that money and

567
00:48:49,020 --> 00:48:54,160
an idea was presented to build a community area where we could use that. We just received a

568
00:48:54,160 --> 00:48:59,260
$5,000 grant this last year from the North Carolina State beekeepers to do queen rearing program here

569
00:48:59,260 --> 00:49:04,380
in the county which is exciting but it's difficult to do queen rearing at different farms every

570
00:49:04,380 --> 00:49:10,360
months. So this would be a great opportunity for us to find a spot. And I have worked with many

571
00:49:10,360 --> 00:49:17,500
people with the new Ag Center out there in Jefferson to do several events. And we felt like that

572
00:49:17,500 --> 00:49:21,580
might be a great opportunity to build something in that area. And we know it's temporary.

573
00:49:22,540 --> 00:49:32,080
Obviously it's going to depend on what the county uses that land for in the future. But right now it's

574
00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:36,000
there for several years until the property is developed into something else.

575
00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:38,140
It would be a great way to start that program.

576
00:49:39,140 --> 00:49:43,960
So I worked with Adam and created a memorandum of understanding about what that would look like.

577
00:49:44,020 --> 00:49:46,180
I think you guys have a copy of that.

578
00:49:46,700 --> 00:49:52,500
I think the term was three years, but it would be obviously either side could remove that.

579
00:49:52,560 --> 00:49:56,360
If there's a need for you to build something on that property before then.

580
00:49:56,860 --> 00:49:59,980
And the photo that you, I think you can see that's on the screen here kind of

581
00:50:13,040 --> 00:50:29,980
There's plenty of land there, plenty of opportunity and we would not be doing anything to the land that would be permanent. It's just a temporary putting up some poles in the ground, put some gravel on the ground for parking, and that kind of thing. It would be a great use of that and it would keep that area, also focused on the ground.

582
00:50:29,980 --> 00:50:32,760
agriculture which I know there's a great desire for a lot of the

583
00:50:32,760 --> 00:50:37,320
ag community to try to keep agriculture in one area and so I think that would be a great

584
00:50:37,320 --> 00:50:41,180
opportunity. Really, I'm here just to answer questions that you may have in a

585
00:50:41,180 --> 00:50:44,560
addition to what I've just presented and I'd be happy to answer any questions that

586
00:50:44,560 --> 00:50:45,820
you have about the project.

587
00:50:46,660 --> 00:50:47,780
Where's our sample honey?

588
00:50:48,580 --> 00:50:50,980
Actually, you know, it's good.

589
00:50:50,980 --> 00:51:04,800
I'm not going to bring it up to you right now, but there's a funny jar in here for every one of you, and that's not a prize.

590
00:51:08,700 --> 00:51:17,060
But I apologize. I grabbed the wrong box this morning on the way out the door and these don't have labels on it, but I'm giving him to you. I'm not selling so legally, I can just give you a jar of honey.

591
00:51:17,060 --> 00:51:22,200
And this did finish third in the state of North Carolina last week, so it's a really good

592
00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:23,740
honey and it's from here in Ash County.

593
00:51:23,740 --> 00:51:25,560
I think you guys will like it.

594
00:51:25,860 --> 00:51:27,020
Any other important questions?

595
00:51:28,340 --> 00:51:33,640
Last point of clarity on the you said three years on this are what we received says five

596
00:51:33,640 --> 00:51:33,900
years.

597
00:51:34,300 --> 00:51:40,300
Yeah, I think Adam and I discussed it three years might be more agreeable originally the idea

598
00:51:40,300 --> 00:51:44,260
was five, but you know you kind of shoot high and you hope for that, but if three years

599
00:51:44,260 --> 00:51:50,640
more in line with what the county wants. I'm happy with five years if that's what the commissioners

600
00:51:50,640 --> 00:51:56,680
would like to approve it's totally up to you guys. We didn't want to do less than three years

601
00:51:56,680 --> 00:52:00,320
because to build a fence and put it in the ground and stuff we didn't want to take it back up in three

602
00:52:00,320 --> 00:52:06,220
months. So three years was more than agreeable to us but that's up to you guys. We could do the

603
00:52:06,220 --> 00:52:11,180
three years. We could also add a sentence about renewal of the agreement for another two, three

604
00:52:17,280 --> 00:52:24,860
There's no permanent structures being put in here and there is a, there's a 60 day parachute for both parties.

605
00:52:26,120 --> 00:52:27,040
I'm fine.

606
00:52:27,340 --> 00:52:28,100
I'm fine.

607
00:52:28,400 --> 00:52:28,640
Whatever.

608
00:52:29,100 --> 00:52:30,600
It wasn't image of the structure.

609
00:52:34,600 --> 00:52:36,140
Currently he has subject.

610
00:52:37,380 --> 00:52:42,120
That's a trail that we would use to store all of our equipment.

611
00:52:42,120 --> 00:52:47,200
It is sometimes with a challenge to for people to bring all their equipment that's needed.

612
00:52:47,860 --> 00:52:53,340
So this was a facility that was not currently being used, but I believe it's right here in the parking lot.

613
00:52:53,840 --> 00:52:55,720
And it's no longer being used after healing.

614
00:52:56,800 --> 00:53:03,100
So our great extension officer Blake grabbed it and said, hey, I know a group that would love to use it if it's not going to be used.

615
00:53:03,620 --> 00:53:07,560
So it would not be the property of the Ash kind of beekeepers, but it would be there.

616
00:53:07,560 --> 00:53:13,080
it would be would remain in owned by the county.

617
00:53:13,080 --> 00:53:14,100
Cooper of extension.

618
00:53:14,860 --> 00:53:16,500
And they're letting you use it.

619
00:53:17,960 --> 00:53:24,160
Be in the non voting member on the AIC committee or the non voting commission

620
00:53:24,160 --> 00:53:26,060
or representative on the AIC committee.

621
00:53:30,880 --> 00:53:37,080
This area where this is going to be is a highly unlikely area to be developed

622
00:53:37,080 --> 00:53:45,980
for any kind of future industry especially that the county might be interested in.

623
00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:49,500
This is next door to be in a salt.

624
00:53:50,440 --> 00:53:52,340
So it's a great place to be.

625
00:53:53,100 --> 00:53:54,380
Wonderful place for bees.

626
00:53:55,100 --> 00:53:57,840
And not a very good place for development.

627
00:53:59,220 --> 00:54:05,440
So I can imagine it be in a problem in Poland in that period of time.

628
00:54:07,360 --> 00:54:08,760
That's a good idea.

629
00:54:09,640 --> 00:54:10,080
Either way.

630
00:54:15,580 --> 00:54:19,840
If everybody's comfortable with this as presented,

631
00:54:20,480 --> 00:54:23,060
yeah, motion to approve this as presented.

632
00:54:23,500 --> 00:54:25,720
I'll make the motion that we do the five-year

633
00:54:25,720 --> 00:54:27,080
subscriber in the three years.

634
00:54:27,280 --> 00:54:28,980
That was basis and important.

635
00:54:29,760 --> 00:54:32,240
To one for bees, we all wouldn't be setting it right now.

636
00:54:35,400 --> 00:54:37,960
I think it's cool.

637
00:54:38,600 --> 00:54:39,540
Anything further?

638
00:54:39,540 --> 00:54:41,820
It's a great, in-vover.

639
00:54:42,100 --> 00:54:42,640
All right.

640
00:54:42,780 --> 00:54:44,280
Congratulations on the grant.

641
00:54:44,700 --> 00:54:45,340
Thank you very much.

642
00:54:45,500 --> 00:54:48,780
And we will be letting you know when it comes time to dedicate that area.

643
00:54:49,880 --> 00:54:53,140
The several organizations that have done it have had a really good presentation.

644
00:54:53,520 --> 00:54:55,220
The state comes in, the state,

645
00:54:55,700 --> 00:54:57,660
the president of the beekeeper's association.

646
00:54:57,860 --> 00:54:58,840
North Carolina comes in.

647
00:54:58,880 --> 00:54:59,980
We'll see if we can get some of our...

648
00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:06,240
Local officials to be there as well as you guys would love for you to attend when the time comes. Thank you for your time.

649
00:55:06,520 --> 00:55:09,340
If you go there, sweating, the bays will let you know you've been right.

650
00:55:11,440 --> 00:55:11,960
Oh, yes.

651
00:55:15,480 --> 00:55:19,640
Oh, yeah, I can do that too. If you grant me one minute, I'll troll.

652
00:55:20,160 --> 00:55:24,860
I'll mention also, and I'll leave these with Adam and he can distribute to you guys.

653
00:55:25,660 --> 00:55:30,000
Yeah, I can do super association is also part of a festival that's coming up in October.

654
00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:35,840
I think most of you may know we're trying to create the second largest festival in Ash County

655
00:55:35,840 --> 00:55:39,420
behind the Christmas in July and it will be called the High Country Honey Festival.

656
00:55:40,240 --> 00:55:43,400
It will be October 3rd at this exact site right here.

657
00:55:44,220 --> 00:55:53,060
We have about 15 food trucks and 150 vendors, 3 bands that will be there and the most important

658
00:55:53,060 --> 00:55:57,420
thing for us is that we're crowning the first Honey Queen in North Carolina in 50 years.

659
00:55:57,420 --> 00:56:08,300
So, we have not done that for a long time in the State of North Carolina, and I think that's a great educational outreach to have a young gal that can go speak in schools and 4-H groups about beekeeping.

660
00:56:09,220 --> 00:56:18,900
I think this last year the stats came back. We had 6,800 registered beekeepers in the State of North Carolina. The median age was 68.

661
00:56:19,660 --> 00:56:23,520
It's a lot of us gray-haired old people, and we need to get young people involved in

662
00:56:23,520 --> 00:56:23,880
beekeeping.

663
00:56:24,520 --> 00:56:26,600
So, honey queen, I think, is going to be a great opportunity.

664
00:56:27,160 --> 00:56:32,000
We're also going to judge 200 honey and have honey tasting for the community, honey small

665
00:56:32,000 --> 00:56:32,660
over the world.

666
00:56:33,300 --> 00:56:37,760
So we would love any endorsement or encouragement that you can give to the community for this

667
00:56:37,760 --> 00:56:38,340
event.

668
00:56:38,960 --> 00:56:42,960
Parking will be our big challenge out there as you are fully aware, but we're excited

669
00:56:42,960 --> 00:56:48,660
and we've secured some more parking area and suddenly an opportunity to get hopefully 10,000

670
00:56:48,660 --> 00:56:51,920
people to this festival would be a great first year. We would really

671
00:56:52,480 --> 00:56:56,840
welcome that opportunity and we thank the egg people for all their hard work

672
00:56:56,840 --> 00:57:01,000
Judy and a bunch of folks have really helped us make this festival an

673
00:57:01,000 --> 00:57:05,020
opportunity. We've been working on it for 18 months so we're excited about it

674
00:57:05,020 --> 00:57:08,800
and any encouragement that you can give this share that would be great.

675
00:57:09,940 --> 00:57:19,680
You have another one of these? I've got lots. I'll give it to Jesse on your way out on the

676
00:57:19,680 --> 00:57:20,580
How could you?

677
00:57:20,780 --> 00:57:21,380
I did that.

678
00:57:22,000 --> 00:57:23,520
And don't forget your hiding in here.

679
00:57:29,020 --> 00:57:29,860
Good stuff happening.

680
00:57:30,240 --> 00:57:30,440
Thanks, Todd.

681
00:57:30,660 --> 00:57:31,000
Thank you.

682
00:57:31,420 --> 00:57:32,120
Good stuff.

683
00:57:32,840 --> 00:57:33,120
All right.

684
00:57:36,080 --> 00:57:37,200
All right.

685
00:57:38,660 --> 00:57:45,920
That rounds it out except for the last item, which we will recess here for and go to the conference room

686
00:57:45,920 --> 00:57:54,080
where we have some audiovisual things and Adam can pull up maps and all of his things.

687
00:57:54,080 --> 00:57:59,560
of course that's open anybody is welcome to go to the second floor and here are project

688
00:57:59,560 --> 00:58:08,820
updates right under us yep right straight down so anyway so I will call us in recess here

689
00:58:08,820 --> 00:58:15,020
and we will reconvene in the second floor conference room of us and anybody wants to come at

690
00:58:15,020 --> 00:58:19,200
10 minutes after 10 when the big hand gets to the table

691
00:58:22,300 --> 00:58:23,040
we'll do downstairs