[0:00] That's a little bit better there. I pray
that your day have been a blessed day
[0:03] all day long.
So, at this time, I will ask that you
[0:07] turn off all cell phones or put them
place them on silent. [clears throat]
[0:11] Excuse me.
[0:17] » I would I will now call this meeting of
the Betha board of commissions to order.
[0:21] The time is 602.
[0:26] The date is September [clears throat]
the 1st, 2026. At this time, we're going
[0:30] to have a roll call. Commissioner Jones
>> here.
[0:33] » Commissioner Whitehurst
>> here.
[0:35] » Mayor Promp Griggs
>> here.
[0:37] » Commissioner Lily
>> here.
[0:39] » Commissioner Conger [clears throat]
>> here.
[0:42] » Madame Clerk, we do have a quorum. At
this time, I would like for the board of
[0:46] commissioners to look at the agenda to
see if there's anything unethical or
[0:50] immoral on the agenda.
[1:02] There's nothing unethical or immoral on
the agenda that you see at this time.
[1:06] We're going to ask Mayor Promp Griggs to
lead us in our invocation.
[1:11] » Let us bow our heads. Father, in the
name of Jesus, we just want to say thank
[1:16] you for this day, a day that we never
seen before. We thank you that our
[1:19] [clears throat] circles and our families
have not been broken on today. We just
[1:23] like to say thank you. We ask that you
would give us um safe passage in this
[1:28] meeting that we would do as business as
men do in business and let us be well
[1:34] pleased with the outcome of our meeting
on tonight in Jesus name. Amen.
[1:39] » Amen.
>> Amen. At this time, we're going to ask
[1:42] one our very own our county
commissioner, Commissioner Mary Perkins
[1:46] Williams to lead us in our pledge of
allegiance.
[1:55] To the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
[2:01] stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
[2:08] for all.
[2:15] At this time, I would [clears throat]
ask
[2:18] if I have a motion to approve the
proposed agenda.
[2:22] » Mayor, if I can ask the board to
entertain adding an item under old
[2:26] business. I refer the first item. That
would be a report um from myself and
[2:32] representatives from the Pit County
Inspections Department regarding our
[2:35] condemnation process where we're we're
we're doing some condemnations to take
[2:40] down some dilapidated structures in
town. [cough and clears throat]
[2:46] » Okay. Do I have a motion that we add to
add the report for the Pit County
[2:52] inspection?
>> So move.
[2:53] » Okay. Motion made by Commissioner Lily.
Do I have a second?
[2:58] » A second.
>> Second by Mayor Pro Tim Greg. [snorts]
[3:01] All in [clears throat] favor right hand.
>> Any oppose? Motion carry unanimous.
[3:09] Okay. And that was added to old
business.
[3:15] » For number one.
>> No. For number one.
[3:19] All right. At this time, do I have a
motion to approve the proposed agenda?
[3:24] » So move.
>> Okay. Motion made by Commissioner Lily.
[3:27] Do I have a second?
>> Second.
[3:29] » Second by Mayor of Commissioner Conger.
[clears throat] All in favor by raising
[3:34] your right hand.
Any opposed? Motion carried unanimous.
[3:41] Next to claim our attention will be item
E, our consent agenda. Do I have a
[3:46] motion to approve our minutes from the
special call meeting on July 14th, 2026
[3:53] and the minutes for the monthly meeting
August 4th, 2026?
[3:58] » So move.
>> Motion made by [clears throat]
[4:01] Commissioner Lily. Do I have a second?
>> Second. Second by Mayor Pro Tim Griggs.
[4:06] All in favor raise your right hand.
[4:11] Okay. Can we put them back up? Make
sure. All right. Okay. Any oppose?
[4:17] Motion carry unanimous. The next thing
to claim our attention will be uh public
[4:24] comments.
[4:27] And uh first on our [clears throat]
list, we're going to ask Miss Trisha
[4:32] Waroff.
[4:42] And we ask that you will you have five
minutes um to for public comments. And
[4:47] just to let you know uh public comments
provides an opportunity for residents to
[4:52] com comment on any item included on the
agenda or to address the town board on
[4:58] any matter related to the town of Bethl.
Comments are limited to five minutes. So
[5:04] we ask that you state your name and your
address.
[5:11] All right. Good evening, friends. I'm
Trisha Workah. I live 213 Railroad
[5:15] Street here in Bethl. And I am here to
as a concerned resident about um
[5:23] planning and what we can do as a
community and you guys as a board can do
[5:29] to be proactive regarding weather events
that are we are [snorts] going to be
[5:35] just essentially having for the next few
years. Um, I don't know how many people
[5:39] follow weather patterns, but we're
walking into like an LU [clears throat]
[5:42] event, which we don't know how it's
going to treat the world. We we are
[5:46] looking at a lot of struggles um
globally from the impacts and I'm coming
[5:53] to you guys this week. We are under a
heat advisory and I know a lot of
[5:58] residents in this town don't have AC and
I'm asking what can we as a you guys as
[6:05] a board do? What can we as a community
do to take care of our residents who
[6:10] don't have AC, who don't have access to
cooling stations, who don't have access
[6:15] to ways to get out of the
life-threatening conditions that we are
[6:20] going to be under far more far more
regularly. And so, while we're only
[6:25] going to be under a heat advisory for a
few days this week, it is going to
[6:28] become a more regular thing. we will
have more heat extremes that are
[6:33] endangering lives. And I don't want
those heat extremes to be endangering
[6:37] lives in our community if we can if we
can prevent it. And so I'm coming to you
[6:43] guys to say, can we plan for that? What
can we do this week perhaps to take care
[6:48] of our residents who are going to be
struggling? What grants are available to
[6:52] help them get their houses up to where
they need to be done? But I am inviting
[6:57] you guys as a board to start doing these
things and researching this so we can
[7:01] make sure everyone in the community is
taken care of. There's this saying that
[7:07] it goes the average Roman, they didn't
know Rome was failing. It was just the
[7:12] local bridge went out one day and no one
ever showed up to repair it.
[7:16] » [clears throat]
>> And
[7:18] I don't want that to happen here in our
community where things need to be get
[7:23] done, get to take things need to be
taken care of and no one shows up to do
[7:28] it. Thank you guys for your time. Have a
wonderful evening.
[7:32] » Thank you. Next [snorts] up for public
comments, Mr. Jerome Brown and Miss
[7:37] Carolyn Mayo.
[7:43] Once again, we ask that you state your
name and your address.
[7:48] » Good evening. I'm Carolyn Mayo. Um, we
are the owners of Bethl Pharmacy, which
[7:54] is 7433 Main Street. Uh, Coffee Shop and
More, which is 123 West Railroad Street.
[8:00] Bethl Hardware, which is 7389 South Main
Street. Um, so,
[8:05] » and I'm Jerome Brown.
>> [laughter]
[8:08] » Um we're here this evening to present to
the board our project which is rule
[8:13] renewal. You're all aware of what we um
what our plan is for Bethl. And um just
[8:19] wanted to kind of give you an idea of
what the bigger picture is for Bethl in
[8:25] addition to all the rural areas that we
plan on going into. So the project name
[8:30] is called rural renewal and um it
represents where people eat, live, live,
[8:36] work, play and age. Those are those are
the social determinants of health. We're
[8:41] a healthcare company and what we
realized in rural areas is that um we
[8:47] need to rural areas need a better
quality of life and that's what our aim
[8:50] is. So, the pharmacy provides access to
medication. The hardware store provides
[8:58] um essential needs and tools that you
may need for your home. Um and so you
[9:02] don't have to drive 20, 30 minutes away
to get a screw that Mr. Brown always
[9:07] says. Um also the coffee shop provides
entertainment. Um and that's
[9:12] [clears throat] ne necessary for your
quality of life. Um the other things
[9:17] that we are planning in the future is
the grocery store in addition to a
[9:21] boutique that's behind the hardware
store. So all of those things affect a
[9:26] person's health and we are determined um
to pro promote and also build in rural
[9:33] areas. We're not just wanting to do a
stop or drivebys or um things that are
[9:40] not permanent, but we are planning on
remaining in Bethl and then going in
[9:45] other areas. So, Mr. Brown, would you
like to say anything before?
[9:49] » Yes, just a couple comments. So, the re
renewal strategy is a big thing now. As
[9:54] you may know, uh of the hundred counties
in North Carolina, 80 of them are rural.
[9:59] We're North Carolina have the second
largest rural area in United States next
[10:02] to Texas. You hear that? The second
largest rural area in United States next
[10:07] to Texas. So rural strategy and it says
um I can't read the back of my shirt,
[10:12] but [snorts] it said what does it say?
>> Rural renewal.
[10:16] » We believe
>> and we got to believe in Bethl. So we're
[10:18] passionate about this one in 2023
article written about Bethl um on
[10:23] national magazine. We can give it to you
all as well. So we're here for a long
[10:26] term. Um we're we want to do
transformation. You know, one of the
[10:30] things that I know Scott and the mayor
preach about is not coming make them
[10:33] stop but going forward. So it's a lot of
work. It's a lot of financial
[10:37] requirements for the work to make it
happen. We believe and we're doing it
[10:41] our own from that perspective. So rule
strategy will be having these t-shirts
[10:45] around whatever to market to sell
whatever. But rural renewal is what it
[10:50] all about. It won't make you all aware.
Nothing special about it. Just a mindset
[10:55] you got to start with first. my mind
feel differently then my body will act
[10:59] and my living condition will act so the
social determinance of health is a major
[11:05] item that they're trying to address in
the world and we want to do it here
[11:09] Bethl is the only town that has the
things in place soon to be a city and I
[11:14] told the government soon to be the
capital in a couple years [snorts] but I
[11:17] believe right mayor and Scott
>> that's right
[11:19] » so you got to believe it so that's the
mindset we have uh that miss Carol and I
[11:24] have it's great being here love it we
commute
[11:26] um four, five, six times a day and we
love it. My truck has 217,000 miles on
[11:32] it and it's only three years old.
>> Four years old, right?
[11:36] » She beats me about it but all the time.
But it's all Beth M. So that was it. I
[11:40] don't run out of time. Believe in the
strategy. As my t-shirt says, we say
[11:45] rule renewal starts in Bethl and we
thank you for your time and all the
[11:49] parties, all the cities, all y'all do
come by our place. We appreciate the
[11:53] business no matter what because if we
can keep that going, we can do more in
[11:56] Beth. We thank you all from our heart.
>> And one more thing is um the reason why
[11:59] we have on these two shirts is because
the we believe is all about community.
[12:04] It's not just Jerome and I that we
believe but we we are we have um
[12:09] providing all of these for the town for
the board so that you can be a part of
[12:14] what we're doing. It's not anything that
we're trying to do individually, but
[12:18] this takes the communities and we it
won't last unless the community believes
[12:23] in rural renewal. Um, and so that's why
we're wearing these. We'll have them in
[12:28] different colors. U, we'd love to see
the community put them on and wear them
[12:34] around town, wear them wherever you go
because we want to see change, not just
[12:39] as Mr. Brown stated and the mayor and
all of the board, it's just not a stop.
[12:44] This is renewing rule. Um the state does
have a program this rural health
[12:48] transformation program. It's about 50
200 million that they've received
[12:53] already. Um but anyway, this is this is
totally separate. So thank you for your
[12:59] time.
[13:05] » All right. Thank [clears throat] you,
Mr. Brown. Miss Miss Mayo
[13:10] rule renewal. That's all right.
Next to claim our attention is our
[13:17] public
>> Yes, sir.
[13:19] » our public hearing. And at this time,
we'll go into our public hearing. And
[13:24] I'll turn it over [snorts] to our entry
man.
[13:27] » Yes. So, tonight we have the second
public hearing on our community
[13:31] development block grant applications.
This is the CDBG
[13:34] um- NR. NR stands for neighborhood
revitalization. We held the um last
[13:40] public hearing at your last meeting on
August 4th. Um so tonight we would
[13:46] invite anybody who has any comments
regarding the town submitting its second
[13:52] um application. The application will be
for the like amount of money that we did
[13:56] the first time, $950,000.
Um I believe our intent and Ben you can
[14:02] correct me if you want to come to the
podium. our consultant Ben Jones. Our
[14:05] intent would be to do four more
replacement homes, I believe.
[14:08] » Um, and [clears throat]
Mr. Jones has been um interviewing those
[14:13] who have asked to be contacted to see if
they might qualify to be considered by
[14:19] the the committee, the housing committee
that will be um making a selection,
[14:23] making a recommendation to the town
board.
[14:26] Add anything else I may have missed?
>> Um, I I think you covered it, but um
[14:30] I'll just uh ditto it. Um, just like uh
our town manager said, this is our
[14:35] second public hearing. The applications
for the community development block
[14:39] grant are due on October the 13th, and
we are actively um working on surveys
[14:44] and identifying homes that will be
considered for the uh community
[14:49] development block grant program. The
town will be applying for the maximum
[14:53] amount, as he stated, $950,000.
and um
[14:58] » and that will consist of all housing
related activities.
[15:11] » Okay. Uh are there any are there any uh
question from the board?
[15:16] » Yes, I have a question. um the houses or
the properties that were chosen last
[15:21] year, do you have any idea when those um
construction will begin on those?
[15:27] » I I currently uh don't have an estimated
timeline. So, um the best I can give you
[15:34] is just kind of an update of where we're
at. So, in June of this year, we
[15:38] submitted um all of our documentation to
the state that they've requested and um
[15:44] essentially started a comment period for
them to review. Um they've exceeded that
[15:52] amount of time and we're just waiting on
them to respond. And um I've followed up
[15:56] with them on two occasions already. Um
they responded recently and just said,
[16:01] "Thank you for your patience. We're
working on it." And um so really we're
[16:05] just waiting on them and as soon as we
get their approval then we'll be full
[16:09] steam ahead.
>> So Commissioner White, just to repeat,
[16:11] we've we've submitted all the paperwork,
all the documents. You've taken all the
[16:16] actions. Um we're waiting for their
environmental reviews like Ben is saying
[16:21] and it's in [clears throat] their hands.
As soon as we get that clearance, we'll
[16:23] be be ready to roll and
get moving.
[16:27] » Yeah. Essentially what we're waiting on
from them is um we the request for
[16:32] release of funds. So, we've done the
environmentals, we've done [snorts] all
[16:35] the compliance plans, we've sent it all
in, and we've said, "Hey, we've done it
[16:38] all. Do you agree? If so, we want to
start spending our money." And so, we're
[16:42] just waiting on them to agree and say,
"Yes, you've got release of funds." And
[16:46] then, as soon as we have that, then we
can start doing uh, you know, asbestous
[16:50] inspections and surveys and all the
things and then take the house plans to
[16:54] the residents so they can pick their new
house and um, and then bid it out, put
[16:58] it out to a contractor. So soon as we
get that, I mean, it'll just be a maybe
[17:02] a month or two turnaround before we have
a contractor selected.
[17:06] » So you're going to bid it out to a
single contractor or more than
[17:10] » it'll be a open bid process. So we will
um advertise it in the newspaper and
[17:14] we'll [clears throat] also direct
solicit um known contractors that work
[17:18] on these grant programs. probably a bid
list of um you know six or seven
[17:24] contractors that I've worked with
throughout the past and then obviously
[17:28] any other local contractors are invited
if they would be interested in bidding
[17:33] then they can request a a bid.
>> Ben, can you clarify? Will each house be
[17:38] a separate bid? A contractor won't bid
one price on all four houses, but you
[17:44] you'll have a separate price for each
house.
[17:46] » Correct. Yes, sir. We'll put them all
out together, but each [clears throat]
[17:50] house will be its own line item and a
individual contractor could win each
[17:54] house.
[17:58] [clears throat]
>> Are there any other question from the
[18:00] board? Okay. At this
>> I was just going to ask about that the
[18:05] housing selection committee. I know we
talked about it a little bit the last
[18:08] time, right? Uh
uh is that committee and I know we have
[18:14] some information in here about the size
of it.
[18:16] » Is that pretty much uh in place in stone
for that committee?
[18:23] » We have not formulated the committee
since we had the one we had last year
[18:27] for the first application. And again, on
that one, it was the mayor, myself at
[18:32] the time, um, Miss Griggs before she got
on on the the board,
[18:38] » and Miss Margaret Witherspoon.
>> Witherspoon.
[18:41] » We had a a citizen in the last board
meeting who said they'd like to be on
[18:45] it. Um, [clears throat]
[18:49] » Miss Hall,
>> Mary Hall. Yeah, Mary Hall. And um if
[18:54] the board is satisfied with that group,
do the documents say that I appoint that
[18:59] committee or does the board appoint
them?
[19:02] » I would have to review them. I think
it's pretty it's not really a
[19:06] necessarily a board appointed thing. I
mean, you could appoint the committee.
[19:09] It's
>> okay.
[19:10] » It's just however the town wants to
handle it.
[19:13] » If the board's comfortable with that, we
we will go forward with with those
[19:16] people unless you've got additional
people you would you would like to be
[19:19] appointed to it. We like to keep it kind
of small to be manageable if possible.
[19:25] [clears throat]
[19:28] » So if somebody comes forward you will
consider them.
[19:32] » Sure.
>> Okay.
[19:34] » For the committee.
>> Yes.
[19:39] my well I would say this would sort of
be my concern because the committee
[19:44] would only be uh the town officials
>> keep in mind the committee will make a
[19:52] recommendation we'll come back to you as
a board you will then vote on whether
[19:56] you agree with
the the houses being selected both for
[20:01] the the four primary houses and three or
four alternates that we might have. So
[20:06] ultimately you you as the town board
will
[20:11] stamp the approval of that list.
So there's just advisory.
[20:16] So we'll come back. I think we were
projecting October 6th the next meeting.
[20:22] » Does the well does the committee
actually go out to inspect the
[20:25] properties? How does that work?
>> Mr. Jones does the in-depth review of
[20:29] each of the houses. He takes pictures.
He then provides a think last time we
[20:33] had a packet of photos, pictures printed
out about an inch thick. He then reviews
[20:38] each of those houses with the committee
and um I guess if we needed to go out we
[20:43] » So he will go out and do all the
inspections and things.
[20:46] » Yeah. He literally goes in the house,
correct?
[20:48] » Yeah. Yeah. We've been working on that.
We've [clears throat] been here probably
[20:51] three or four days already and um we
just have another probably another day
[20:56] or so to work through um trying to get
through the rest of our our list. Um but
[21:02] yeah, we'll present we'll put all the
photos together in a in a document
[21:08] whether like a PDF and whatnot and then
present it to the board. They're able to
[21:12] review the photos of the homes and then
also the applications that has the
[21:17] demographic information, the age of the
resident, the number of residents, and
[21:21] so forth.
[21:27] » I'd like to say um can I Yeah. All it's
not just the board that's on that
[21:33] committee. We do have residents
>> that are on that committee.
[21:39] Correct. Any
[21:44] other question for
Mr. Jones from the board? At this time,
[21:49] we we'll open it up to the public. Uh is
there any question you have?
[21:57] » Come to
>> If you come to the podium, please, and
[22:00] state your name and your address.
[22:10] My name is Mary Hall and I'm the one
that wants to be on that board with
[22:14] them. So when he said he he got a list
and he's already started.
[22:19] » Could you Could you state your address
for us please?
[22:21] » Oh Mary Hall 3535 Smith Street, North
Carolina 27812.
[22:28] I just want to know how do you pick the
people that's on the list that he say
[22:33] he's been going to look at or whatever
cuz somebody here I don't know. I'm on
[22:37] the board to help make a decision. So, I
want to know how it start from the
[22:41] beginning. How do you decide who's on
that list that we're voting to make a
[22:46] decision on?
[22:53] » Are you saying the list of names that he
will give the committee?
[22:56] » Yes.
>> So, originally starts with
[23:02] people.
>> Ben, can you come to the podium? So,
[23:06] televised.
>> Yeah. So, it um just essentially the way
[23:12] it's working in Bethl right now is uh
any resident who feels that they meet
[23:17] the criteria of the grant um which would
mean that they own their home, they live
[23:21] in their home, they're they're they meet
the income requirements and their home
[23:25] is real property and that they have
obviously apparent need for repair.
[23:31] they've been able to come to town hall
and the town's been keeping a running
[23:36] list of people and then we've received
that list and we've reached out to
[23:41] contact all those people. Um I think we
have a few that we'd like to contact at
[23:46] this point and um we've reached out to
them. Um if we don't get answers, we
[23:51] leave messages and then the ones that we
that answer us um we set up a time to
[23:56] come to their home to view their home
and to complete a survey. And then once
[24:02] we've completed that, those surveys will
be uh presented to the housing selection
[24:07] committee and then they will review
those surveys and the photographs of the
[24:12] home. And
>> but that's not not that not cutting you
[24:15] off. That's not what I was asking. I was
just asking about the list.
[24:19] » How do the people that's on the list be
aware of how to get on the list? I
[24:24] haven't heard anybody mention it. I was
at the last meeting.
[24:27] » Was it mentioned [clears throat] before
the meeting?
[24:30] » 45 people on the list. [snorts] So they
>> Yeah, we've had a lot of people sign up.
[24:34] We've advertised in the paper both of
these public hearings. We've posted it,
[24:38] I believe, on our website. Um we've
announced it here during during the
[24:43] board meetings. Um the CDBG in our
program is not a new new thing for
[24:47] BETHL. This is this should we've had a
lot of people throughout the year who
[24:51] who have called in to inquire, hey, when
are you going to do it again? Can I get
[24:55] my name on the list? Um the purpose of a
public hearing, advertising for a public
[24:59] hearing is to allow people to come ask
questions like like yourself. the the
[25:04] bottom line of what the process Ben goes
through and then the committee and
[25:08] ultimately the board is to determine
hopefully those homes, those residential
[25:15] structures in the most need based upon
low and moderate income threshold that
[25:20] that need this. Not that they want it,
but they truly need it.
[25:24] » Okay. Well, I'm satisfied. I just wanted
to know if I'm going to be on the board.
[25:28] I want to know what I'm dealing with.
Thank you.
[25:31] » You're welcome.
Yes, ma'am. Could you come to the
[25:34] podium, please?
[25:39] » Carolyn Mayo again. Um, the address, you
need the address.
[25:43] » Yes. 7433 Main Street, Bethl Pharmacy.
And um, and this question is regarding
[25:48] to Bethl Hardware, 7389 South Main
Street, Bethl. Um, to the board and to
[25:54] um, what's your name again?
Then as far as um any new bids coming in
[26:00] to build, are you accepting for
construction or the developers? How
[26:05] what's that process like? And then the
second thing is um is there a
[26:10] requirement to use any of the vendors
here in Bethl, for instance, Bethl
[26:15] Hardware for some of the flooring? Um
you know, anything like that? Is there a
[26:20] process or requirement to use some Bethl
um small businesses?
[26:34] Keane, you want to make rent a judgement
on that?
[26:38] » Well,
I mean the purpose of public hearings
[26:44] um is a little large and widespread. I
would it's my opinion that we just um
[26:54] answer this cont
[snorts]
[26:59] it's it's sort of all part and partial.
>> Yeah. The only reason I ask is because
[27:03] we're mixing public hearing from 26
grant and now we're asking questions
[27:07] about 25 grant. Um but uh no, there's
not a requirement for them to purchase
[27:13] materials at any particular um vendor.
Um but any local contractor um maybe if
[27:20] you have um contractors that purchase
from you guys regularly, they would be
[27:26] invited to bid and um
[clears throat and cough] and you know
[27:29] they could reach out and get a bid
package and then but I'm sure that just
[27:33] naturally it being so convenient that
the contractors probably will um reach
[27:38] out and buy material from you that they
can buy.
[27:42] » Yeah. Thank you.
Is there any other question
[27:45] [clears throat] from the the audience?
If there's no other question, we'll now
[27:51] close this. The public hearing is now
closed.
[27:55] Okay. Thank y'all so much. At this time,
we'll proceed on to the old business and
[28:03] and first up we going to ask u I'mma
turn it over to the manager and he's
[28:08] going to straight from there.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, board members. So
[28:12] tonight we want to just make a brief
report regarding the um process of which
[28:17] the board has authorized and sanctioned.
We I think probably two years ago you
[28:22] set aside a sum of money out of the fun
[clears throat] balance to condemn
[28:27] vacant dilapidated properties in town
and it's taken us a while to um get that
[28:32] program rolling. But we've identified
well over a dozen structures and there's
[28:37] probably those are just residential.
There's quite a few non-residential
[28:40] structures as well. But we have started
the process. The town of Bethl contracts
[28:45] with Pit County inspections, Pit County
government for all of our inspection
[28:50] needs. That also includes the the
process to condemn properties that are
[28:55] dilapidated and need to be taken care of
through that process. So, we've done two
[29:01] two properties so far. Um, we've gone
through two two different public
[29:05] hearings. We have representatives from
the P County Inspections Department
[29:08] here, Steve Allen and Renise Keys. Um
the first one um is the structure here
[29:14] on Railroad Street, 191 Railroad Street.
Um that one has been condemned and they
[29:22] have been given 60 days to um um Steve,
you want to come come up? I don't want
[29:27] to misspe here, but that has been
condemned. They did take out a
[29:31] demolition permit. Um their intent is to
demolish it. If they don't demolish it
[29:36] within 60 days at then thereafter at
some point the town will then have the
[29:40] authority sir
>> to do what it needs to do to bring the
[29:43] house down. The sharks are down.
>> Yes, sir. All right. So, I'm Steve
[29:46] Allen. Um I'm going to put 1717 um East
Fifth Street to West Fifth Street,
[29:51] Greenville. Um,
if I'm not mistaken, 191 um, Railroad
[29:56] Street, which is down the street, has
been given a fact of finding from the
[30:00] hearing that states that they will be
have till October 30th was the last
[30:05] Friday of the month to um, be actively
working on the house to tear it down.
[30:11] Um, they're giving instructions not to
do one, two before a weekend or
[30:16] whatever. I need to see active uh
process. If at the time of day 30 or 61
[30:22] that they are not actively tearing it
down, then it will fall into Bethl's
[30:25] hands to uh um continue with the
condemnation and the demolition at their
[30:32] their speed, their their request orever
how fast they need to have it done. So
[30:36] that would be turned over. Our second
hearing um was scheduled. We had one
[30:42] last week for 190 Andrew Street. Um with
it
[30:48] we had a little bit of um kickback
because the homeowners are unable to be
[30:53] reached. One has passed away, one's in a
nursing home. So that one unfortunately
[30:58] we're going to start over since they're
not showing up. Hopefully in two weeks
[31:02] have an additional hearing from that to
make sure all our tees are crossed and
[31:07] do eye dotted. So we we are trying to
expedite um a lot of commendations. I
[31:15] think we had a list maybe 12 to 13. So
that is a process and thanks to the help
[31:21] of uh Scott, we are moving forward kind
of rapidly.
[31:24] » So we've we've given them a list of five
additional properties. Now that we've
[31:28] kind of nailed this process down, um,
and also we we intend to hopefully
[31:34] partner with the Bethl Fire Department,
those structures that we can burn for a
[31:38] training exercise for the Bethl Fire
Department and other departments they
[31:42] partner with for training exercises, we
will burn down. There may be some that
[31:46] are are located too close to an
adjoining structure that can't be burned
[31:50] down. In that case, you'd have to have
them to tore down, per se. But if
[31:55] they're burned down, um that'll save the
town substantial money. We will we'll
[31:59] have cleanup cost of the foundation and
any debris that's left after that
[32:03] burning. But we're hoping to stretch our
money and all the ones that we can burn
[32:07] down through a training exercise will
burn down. So this ball is rolling and
[32:12] um we are hopefully going to see some
properties cleaned up.
[32:16] » Yes, sir.
>> Thank you.
[32:17] » So thank you. I don't know if the board
had any questions. [clears throat]
[32:21] » Yes, I do. Is the list of properties
available publicly
[32:26] » uh that that are are you're going to
seek condemnation of?
[32:30] » Yes, we actually have a like a fourpage
spreadsheet of um of properties. Not all
[32:35] not all the ones we were condemned, but
there's condemnations on there. There's
[32:39] junk um help me here, Linda. Junk
vehicles. There's ones with grass
[32:45] issues. Forget all the categories of the
four.
[32:48] » I had high grass, excessive bushes,
junk. as far as major rehab and tear
[32:54] downs.
>> But yes, we have we had supplied that I
[32:56] thought to the board about a year ago,
but we we need to update that because
[33:00] it's been a year, but we'd be happy to
do that. And technically, that's a
[33:04] public record if somebody want to see
it.
[33:06] » Okay.
Thank you.
[33:09] And if I can get this in and it might
need to be a a conversation for another
[33:13] time, but like uh when I was talking to
people about the community development
[33:18] block grant and I was stopped by um some
people were living in homes. Do we have
[33:23] uh any type of uh minimum housing
standards like these people that are
[33:28] renting homes to people?
Uh do we have anything in place for that
[33:33] kind of thing?
>> We we do in the the town's code of
[33:35] ordinances. There's a whole whole
section on that.
[33:39] » Okay. What we lack is truly a code
enforcement
[33:43] » falser
>> um to really bird dog all these issues
[33:48] whe there's a lot of things in the code
of ordinances that um unless it really
[33:52] comes pushed to shove that kind of just
go by get by whether it's a rooster
[33:59] crowing that was one issue that I I took
on and it took a while of letters and
[34:04] knocking on doors and talking to them
and then even finding
[34:09] of a minimal fee, but they finally did
back their year get rid of that the
[34:13] rooster that was causing a an issue to
the neighboring property owners. Okay.
[34:18] » And if I may add to it, and this is I'm
going address this to the board as a
[34:24] board of commissioners, as you ride
through the community through the town,
[34:28] you will see these dilapidated
structures. You will see how your the
[34:33] citizens in Betha are living. And if you
would make note of what you see, bring
[34:39] it back to the manager and myself, and
we'll continue to do what we we've done
[34:44] as far as putting together a a list of
of houses and just the overall condition
[34:51] of how the community looks. Uh that
that's where we need you guys' help at
[34:55] to because there's there's some that it
it that way it's [clears throat] still a
[35:00] hard decision when you got to sit down
and look that okay well does this person
[35:05] needs to need u say to be on this list
versus another person need to be on the
[35:11] list and at the same time we've had
houses that's been here for years that
[35:14] have should have been turned torn down
years ago
[35:18] » and nothing really took place and so
we're We're we're beginning to move
[35:23] forward. Not only do we have houses, but
we have buildings that need to be towing
[35:28] down that we're trying to move forward
on. And um it's a it's a slow process
[35:34] and sometime it can be a little painful
especially when you have a more than one
[35:39] sibling that's I guess oversee the
property or whatever. But that that's
[35:45] where we at with that. Yes, sir. Um,
we've talked about a code enforcement
[35:49] officer before, but we just never seem
to get around to um hiring one. Um, you
[35:55] know, Mr. What's his name?
>> M. Uh, Mr. Uman. [clears throat]
[35:59] Mr.
>> Heyman. Yes. He, you know, he was a
[36:02] sheriff's deputy.
>> Yes.
[36:03] » And he would be very very suited for
that. But then that kind of died.
[36:08] » Well, actually, I've spoken with him. It
hasn't died down yet. He just got to
[36:12] » take some time to come up here so that
we can talk with the manager and then
[36:17] bring it to the board. Okay. Of what he
he wants to do.
[36:21] » It's also wrapped around budget
constraints too. How much
[36:25] » I understand that. Yes.
[36:34] » Are there any other questions in
reference?
[36:37] Okay. All right. I'll let the manager
you move forward.
[36:41] » Okay. So, the first formal item on old
business is a local work group for the
[36:45] strategic economic development plan.
You've heard twice on this already where
[36:49] you've adopted the um program documents
to do this. The um Department of
[36:55] Commerce is asking the town to appoint a
a small working group that would be
[37:00] meeting for a limited time to work on
this. And you can see on the second page
[37:05] behind the the abstract the different
suggested categories of people. Um
[37:11] internally we kind of brainstormed a
number of people that we thought could
[37:15] serve on this. You'll see those names um
that could very well be added to if you
[37:19] have other people that that you think um
should be considered. I do believe um
[37:24] there were two names on here um Linda
that we said we weren't able to get up
[37:28] with. Cassie Penland from um
packagecraft and was it Tim Goddard?
[37:34] » It was Tim Goddard and Kevin Adams.
>> Kevin and Kevin Adams. Okay. But
[37:40] everybody else was agreeable. Okay. Um
[clears throat]
[37:44] I really need to get this ball rolling
with um Department of Commerce to kind
[37:48] of get get this going. As you see on the
bottom of page two, it said workg
[37:52] groupoup members should be prepared to
meet in person for several meetings at
[37:54] town hall about an hour and a half a
piece. participate in candid input and
[37:59] information, participate in a 10 to 15
minute confidential online questionnaire
[38:04] or phone video interview. So that will
hopefully help help them help us create
[38:10] this plan for Bethl to to move forward.
can
[38:18] I personally think it would be a good
idea and you know to have um
[38:27] a couple of say teenagers or young
adults
[38:33] um they're the future of
>> Bethl
[38:37] » and you know what is it that would what
would it take for them to want to stay
[38:42] to bring their families back you know to
bring their families back to have their
[38:46] families here. Um, just something to
think about.
[38:49] » Any names you might suggest?
>> Uh,
[38:53] I give me some time and I can probably
come up with a couple. Yeah.
[38:56] » Okay.
>> So,
[38:58] » would the would the board be willing to
maybe um, okay, this list and if there's
[39:03] other names you you may call in for us
to add those. I mean,
[39:08] ultimately you would you'll adopt the
strategic plan. So, at the end of the
[39:12] day, [clears throat and cough] it it's
the the board's plan for the town.
[39:19] » Um, this is H1 in the agenda package on
the top.
[39:30] H1
[39:41] Andy, do you have an extra copy? Each
one.
[39:52] Go ahead.
[40:02] So you're saying uh to maybe approve
this this list as it is presented here
[40:08] and then if it needs to be expanded.
>> Yeah, expand. We could then report back
[40:14] to you on the next meeting if there's if
there were additional people that were
[40:18] were added to it.
[40:22] This is a very time limited group. Um
it's not like it's you know your
[40:27] planning board that will go on year
after year after year.
[40:34] » I'd make a motion in order to
approve the the list that's presented
[40:40] here.
>> Okay. We have a motion uh to consider a
[40:44] list of people to serve as a local work
group on the town's strategic economic
[40:49] development plan. Mayor ask would that
also include any additional names the
[40:54] board may call in and suggest that
motion or or not?
[40:58] » Uh yes sir. We could uh include that in
the motion.
[41:02] » Okay.
>> Okay.
[41:04] » Any additional people?
[41:08] [clears throat]
>> Okay. You heard the motion made by
[41:12] Commissioner Jones. Do I have a second?
>> Second.
[41:14] » Second by Mayor Promp Griggs.
All in favor, I raise your right hand.
[41:20] » Mr. Mayor, I want to be on that group.
[41:25] » Is there a problem with that?
>> Well, what it is, what we we're it's
[41:29] [snorts] not a problem. What we're doing
is we are making a motion for the names
[41:33] that's already here and then
>> uh later we add the names or consider
[41:39] the people that's okay. They're being
brought forward.
[41:42] » We're trying to make the motion for the
people the list that we have on the
[41:45] list. Now,
>> that's what the motion
[41:48] You were going to say something's gone.
>> No, [laughter]
[41:55] I might last for words. I I I don't see
a problem with you being on the
[42:00] committee. Um I don't know if
Commissioner Jones would want to amend
[42:02] his motion to include you
>> or if we just deal with that afterwards
[42:06] or
>> we can follow the lead. We can follow
[42:08] the lead of the mayor.
>> Yeah, I think the the motion was to add
[42:12] any additional ones. Right. The motion
is to approve the listing that we
[42:17] already have selected and then at a
later time you can add the people. First
[42:21] of all, you have to get the ones you
have to make the motion to approve the
[42:25] ones that's already up here and then go
back.
[42:27] » Right. So, this motion would allow you,
Commissioner Whitehurst, to call in and
[42:30] recommend that Mr. Fred Whitehurst be
added.
[42:33] » Exactly.
>> This is my call, but let's go on with
[42:35] this motion.
>> Thank you, sir. All right.
[42:39] Okay. Uh [clears throat]
>> second.
[42:43] » The motion was second by Mayor Pro Tim
Griggs. All in favor by raising your
[42:46] right hand.
>> Okay. Is there any opposed?
[42:53] Okay. No. Motion carry unanimous. Okay.
Mr. White, you make sure you call in.
[42:59] » I called.
>> So, well, I we've already voted on it.
[43:05] So,
>> yes,
[43:06] » that's good.
>> That's that's the end of the
[43:08] conversation.
>> Yes, sir. Okay. But but [clears throat]
[43:11] for the future because we we we get
presented just we get presented a list.
[43:16] We I I guess somebody makes up the list.
>> Well well here here's what needs to
[43:21] happen, right? Is just like
[clears throat] instant we call these
[43:25] people and talk to them about being on
this on this list. And you know
[43:30] [clears throat] just because we get a
name, we need to make sure that's what
[43:34] they want to do if they willing to serve
on on this planning board. And when when
[43:39] they call in and at the same time to be
honest with you when we bring the names
[43:45] be before the board we want to make sure
that you guys agree or this board agrees
[43:51] that okay we are we are okay with the
names that's being presented to us
[44:00] » because be honest with you we're living
in a time now that that people want to
[44:05] be on things not so much to help but to
but to deter you from doing moving
[44:09] forward with what you're trying to do.
[44:15] [snorts]
>> You know, I'm just going to be honest
[44:16] with you as as it is.
>> I have a question. Um, and the [snorts]
[44:22] people, this I don't know if it's a
question or a suggestion, but the people
[44:28] that we appoint to these committees
should be people that attend town
[44:34] meetings
that are interested in the town that
[44:37] just not know come in and got people in
the audience that are here all the time
[44:43] and they never get a chance to uh
participate.
[44:49] We have people that are here, faces that
we see are here all the time. And then
[44:56] it looks kind of funny and weird.
Somebody that never attends for year
[45:00] after year.
That's just a comment.
[45:07] And and I I like to say this here, and
even though I don't have a vote on this,
[45:14] I'm looking at the fact that we want
people to be on these boards that that
[45:18] truly have an interest in the town of
Bethl
[45:21] » and not just because, okay, the the
board is having a a selection of
[45:27] somebody to be on the board, but we want
some people that's in the community
[45:31] that's taking a look at the community
and and
[45:34] don't mind putting some time into the
community.
[45:37] » And when I say timing [clears throat]
into the community, I'm talking about
[45:40] that goes through the community. And it
don't matter what side of the track you
[45:43] I'm going to call it like it is,
>> right?
[45:45] » That the fact of it is is that we want
people that's really looking out for
[45:49] both sides of the track.
>> Because we have been a divided
[45:52] communities for too long. It's time to
come together. And when we want people
[45:56] on these boards, considering that some
of these are uh go from one year to two
[46:00] years to three years, that's a long time
to have a person up there that don't
[46:04] really have an interest in Bethl, but
just sitting on on on the board. So, we
[46:07] need people that really have an interest
in Bethl to see Bethl move forward and
[46:11] not become stalemate and and be
stagnant.
[46:15] » And I'm going to leave that alone,
>> Mr. Mayor.
[46:18] » Yes, sir.
>> If Jerome Brown's on that committee, I
[46:21] want to be on that committee.
No sit.
[46:26] [laughter]
[46:28] » Mr. Brown, [snorts] I'm gonna be joining
you.
[46:34] [laughter]
>> All right. Next, claim my attention.
[46:38] » Okay. Next item is the 2026 CDBG NR
program documents. These are the
[46:43] required documents that the town is must
adopt in order to be eligible for um
[46:50] applying for the the CDBG funds. These
10 documents are very similar to what we
[46:56] went through a year ago or two years
ago, whatever it was, we we applied on
[46:59] the first round.
>> So, it's recommended to approve the
[47:02] documents as presented.
>> Okay. Have you heard the recommendation
[47:07] of the manager? Do I have a motion to
approve the presented 2026 CDBG-
[47:13] NR program application document?
>> Motion.
[47:17] » Okay. Motion made by
>> everybody.
[47:19] » Commissioner Lily. Do I have a second?
>> Second.
[47:23] » Second by Commissioner Conger. All in
favor? I raise your right hand.
[47:30] Any oppose?
Motion carry unanimous.
[47:39] Okay, we're going to let the manager
continue to move forward.
[47:41] » Okay, next item is a follow-up to the
planning board appointments. So, in your
[47:44] last meeting on August 4th, you as a
board selected the um individuals that
[47:48] you would like to serve on the planning
board. As a second step, the um code of
[47:54] ordinances, as you revised it in section
151, sets terms to those um planning
[48:00] board members. And since you're starting
out, they would be staggered terms.
[48:03] You'll have two individuals with a
one-year term, two years with a two-year
[48:07] term, and three and three with a
three-year term. And then [snorts] once
[48:10] these expire thereafter, they'll all be
three-year terms. So, I'm suggesting in
[48:16] this abstract that in the the order in
which the names were selected, um you
[48:22] had Jones, Blunt, Ibram, Cabara, Perry,
Adams, and Cox. Those seven names that
[48:27] you just go, as you can see out
outlined, year one, Jones, year one,
[48:32] Year one with Blunt, two years for
Ibram, two years for Cabrera, three
[48:36] years with Perry, three years for Adams,
and three years for Cox. Remember the
[48:41] Kevin Adams [clears throat] and Otis Cox
are the ETJ members. We've sent a
[48:44] request to the county. They will be
considering these at their meeting on
[48:48] September 14th, but um you can set the
the term subject to the county
[48:53] commissioners appointing them.
[48:58] » Pardon me.
>> Read them again. The full list of names
[49:01] or just the county commissioner ones?
>> Full list.
[49:05] » County commissioner names. Okay. Kevin
Adams. Um and Otis Cox.
[49:17] » Okay. Um you heard the the
recommendation from the manager. At this
[49:22] time need a motion to set and approve
the terms in order in which each member
[49:28] was selected as submitted in the aster.
>> Do we have a motion?
[49:33] » I'll make if I make I'll make that
motion, sir.
[49:36] » Motion made by Jones. Do I have a
second?
[49:40] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner
[49:43] Lily.
All in favor by raising right hand.
[49:49] All right. Any opposed?
Motion carried unanimously.
[49:58] » Next, we'll move into item I of new
business and we'll let the manager
[50:04] continue to lead off on that.
>> So, your first item under new business
[50:07] is budget finance matters. You have a
series of budget amendments and I'll
[50:10] read these off quickly. Um the fourth
budget amendment of the year is to
[50:16] basically reappropriate the mural
project revenues from fiscal year 2526
[50:21] that were unspent. Those will be going
into this year's budget fiscal year um
[50:27] 2627. That was a total of $21,000.
Budget number five creates the
[50:33] professional services line item. At your
last board meeting, you selected Rivers
[50:36] Associates to be the town's professional
engineer, setting aside $10,000 for
[50:41] their needed services on an asne basis.
This takes $10,000 out of um fund
[50:47] balance for these [clears throat]
services. Budget number six um
[50:52] reappropriates unspent funds again from
the last fiscal year into the new fiscal
[50:56] year. These were the remaining funds for
the stormwater utility rate study that
[51:01] Rivers Associates is working on. of the
40,000 was 5,121 that was still unspent
[51:07] that they'll be billing us for. Budget
amendment number seven
[51:12] establishes a budget account to account
for the revenues and expenses of our
[51:16] first CDBG NR grant at $950,000.
Budget number eight um removes the
[51:24] firetruck loan proceeds and appropriates
fund balance of $125,000 for the for the
[51:29] firetruck purchase. Um, as you see noted
here, it says instead of internal loan
[51:35] um, within the town, the town's auditor,
Greg Redmond, has suggested that the
[51:39] town annually move back the two budget
appropriations within the fire
[51:43] department, the 10,400 and 11,243.
Both of those were associated with um
[51:50] increase in the rural fire tax to to the
the town's fund balance to repay this
[51:55] loan. There was really in talking to the
auditor, there was really no way to to
[51:59] set up a loan with an interest interest
rate. He just suggested at the end of
[52:03] each year moving that back amount until
we pay ourselves back $125,000.
[52:08] So in effect, that's what that budget
amendment would do. Um budget number
[52:13] nine
um moves $10,000 from contracted
[52:17] services from law enforcement um to the
skiff project. We had a couple um change
[52:23] orders on the back room renovation for
law enforcement as well as town staff
[52:28] that we needed um some additional money
on. There were funds within the law
[52:33] enforcement budget that I had basically
over budgeted anticipating a higher
[52:38] increase being requested from the
sheriff's office for the contract
[52:41] renewal. Um these expenses that we are
trying to cover on change orders is we
[52:46] had had to tap a sewer line into
Railroad Street to service that that
[52:51] room for water and sewer. We had
exterior window wrapping on all the
[52:55] windows on the exterior of the building.
Um the sidewalk out front had to be tore
[52:59] up to do the sewer line and we had a
town hall door replacement. So again,
[53:03] that moves $10,000 out of that that line
item into um the skiff line item. skiff
[53:10] is the overall budget code that we paid
for the project out of. With that, those
[53:14] are the the budget amendments.
>> Okay. Before I ask for a motion, I want
[53:19] to ask the town attorney being that we
have six budget of adjustment that's
[53:25] needed and I need a motion. Can I just
make a motion for all six to be
[53:29] approved?
>> Um the managers just read off all
[53:33] » the the town manager I think did a
really good job explaining it. it if if
[53:37] it would uh ultimately be up to to the
board, but if the board consents, I
[53:41] think it would be appropriate to have
one motion. Just make sure the motion
[53:45] identifies the budget in the budget
number so it's clear. One vote for all
[53:49] all budget amendments.
>> Okay.
[53:51] » Such as budget amendments four through
through nine.
[53:54] » There you go. That that's that. Just
make sure it's in the motion. Yes, sir.
[53:58] So, at this time, do I have a motion
uh for budget amend to approve budget
[54:04] amendment number four through nine?
>> I make a motion that we
[54:10] adopt the budget amendments from four to
nine.
[54:16] And I make a motion that we go ahead and
do it.
[54:18] » Okay. Motion made by Commissioner Lily.
Do I have a second?
[54:22] » Second.
>> Are there any any questions?
[54:27] If no question. Okay. The motion with
the second by Commissioner Conger. Is
[54:32] there any question for the manager?
There's no question for the manager. Do
[54:37] [snorts]
[clears throat] all those in favor by
[54:40] raising your right hand.
Okay.
[54:44] Any oppose?
Motion carry unanimous. Thank you.
[54:52] Next to claim our attention will be the
resolution honoring Dorothy Le Dorothy
[54:57] Leathers Harold.
So this is an item I think the entire
[55:02] board was um emailed on this requesting
that the town develop some type of
[55:07] letter rec resolution proclamation.
We've done a resolution, gathered this
[55:12] information from the family um um from
the details they provided us and dumped
[55:18] it into a little tool called AI and um
spit out a a proclam a resolution that
[55:24] we then further um edited and created
this for your consideration. I'd be
[55:28] happy to read it if you like or you can
just adopt it.
[55:32] » Wish you as a board
[55:36] adopted.
Okay.
[55:43] » Okay. At this time, do I have a motion
to adopt the resolution honoring Dorothy
[55:48] Leather's Harold on the occasion of her
100th birthday?
[55:53] » So moved.
>> Motion made by Mayor Pro Tim Griggs. Do
[55:56] I have a second?
>> Second.
[55:58] » Second by Commissioner Conger. Is there
any discussion?
[56:02] All in favor by raising your right hand.
Any opposed? Motion carry unanimous.
[56:09] Thank you. Next to claim our attention
will be the departmental reports and
[56:14] we're going to let the the manager
continue to take the lead.
[56:19] [clears throat]
>> Okay. So your first report is your
[56:20] monthly town's public safety report from
P County Sheriff's Office who provides
[56:24] law enforcement on behalf of the town of
Bethl. You can see in the last column of
[56:29] this report for July of 2026, the last
month reported. Um, in terms of violent
[56:34] crimes, no murders, no sexual assault,
no robbery. You did have one regular
[56:39] assault. Under property crime, one
burglary, no larenies, no autotheft, and
[56:45] one arson.
On the next page, you can see calls of
[56:49] calls for service day of the week. Um,
this month looks like Tuesday was
[56:53] probably the the oddly enough one
[clears throat and cough] is days
[56:57] compared to a weekend.
And those I'll have on that report. On
[57:02] the next item, item B is your financials
for um July 31st through July 31st. This
[57:09] is the first month of the fiscal year,
first month of 12. And this would be for
[57:16] the first 31 days of the month. You can
see that our revenues, we've collected a
[57:20] whopping 2% of our revenues, but
obviously we're just beginning the year
[57:24] um per se. on expenditures. The overall
expenditure we've spent about 10% of the
[57:29] budget.
>> On your cash balance report, you can see
[57:32] the overall
um total cash balance is 2,827,740.36.
[57:41] That includes, you know, both your
Southern Bank checking account, your
[57:44] North Carolina Capital Management Trust
Fund, um as well as the the other funds
[57:50] that we have monies in such as the this
the skiff. We are anticipating uh
[57:55] $197,000
coming to us from the state to reimburse
[57:59] us for our RTG, that's the rural
transformation grant expenditures. We
[58:04] had to spend those funds first. The I
believe all of those funds were spent
[58:08] spent on this on Smith Street Park. So
when those funds come in, we'll be able
[58:13] to add those to this total cash balance
and get us back up over three million.
[58:19] » And with that, we could have a motion to
adopt that.
[58:25] Do I have a motion to approve the
financial report?
[58:28] » So move.
>> Okay. Motion made by Commissioner Lily.
[58:32] Do I have a second?
>> Second.
[58:34] » Second by Mayor Pro Tim Griggs. All in
favor by raise your right hand. [snorts]
[58:39] Any oppose? Motion. Unanimous.
[clears throat]
[58:43] » Okay. Your next board meeting date is
Tuesday, October 6th. Um, one other item
[58:49] to mention. I've been asked to announce
that the um right now the tenative date
[58:54] of the town's Christmas parade will be
1212 26 December 12th and I've been
[59:00] asked to um put a call out for parade
volunteers. If anybody be willing to
[59:05] assist with the parade if you would
contact town hall and talk to our clerk
[59:09] or deputy clerk. We would um appreciate
any help we could get. The the town does
[59:14] coordinate this event on behalf of the
the the residents in the town. So we we
[59:19] need your help if if possible.
>> And [clears throat] Mr. Mayor, that's
[59:24] all I have.
>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Next up to
[59:28] uh for our departmental report, we're
going to ask our commissioner Lily to
[59:32] put on his fire chief hat and talk to us
about the fire department.
[59:36] » All right. Let me start off with um
saying I like to thank the sheriff
[59:42] department because we've had some calls
here lately with trees down and
[59:46] everything else and they've came out and
helped us direct traffic or whatever we
[59:50] need to do. So, make sure you send it
back. We thank them for that. I haven't
[59:55] got a fire department report for actual
cause. Uh it's my fault. I was trying I
[1:00:01] was doing so much other stuff I didn't
get it. But just to let you know, 21106
[1:00:05] is still got air problems. Uh hadn't got
the guy to come fix it uh at this time.
[1:00:11] Uh so we're having to pump it up with
the air hose that we have at the station
[1:00:16] before the truck can even leave the
building. Uh it's been worked on twice
[1:00:21] already. Um and it has not been fixed
and I've got somebody else getting ready
[1:00:26] to work on it. So hopefully they're
fixed. Also, [clears throat]
[1:00:29] I brought it to um the town manager that
the air conditioner in the office area
[1:00:36] and the bathrooms has quit. It's totally
gone. Um we're trying to keep it cool
[1:00:41] enough with the new mini split we put in
the meeting room. It's doing a good job,
[1:00:46] but in order to keep it cool enough, we
can't do anything with the restrooms. Um
[1:00:51] so, if you happen to go to the fire
department, try to use the restroom,
[1:00:54] it's going to be hot. Uh we're sorry
about that. So hopefully we'll be able
[1:00:58] to take care of that in in the upcoming
future. Um the daytime guys are doing a
[1:01:04] great job. They're keeping their station
clean. They're keeping their trucks
[1:01:06] clean. Everything's up to par.
Everything is uh been checked and ready
[1:01:11] to go. Also to remind you that we do
have our ISO coming up June. Um and that
[1:01:18] is going to be a big uh uh big meeting.
Uh I was told that the gentleman is
[1:01:25] going to retire and they're doing a
trainee. Uh he will be here in June and
[1:01:29] they're going to be checking us for top
to bottom. They haven't done that the
[1:01:34] last two times because it's always been
the same guy doing it. So he pretty much
[1:01:38] knows us. He pretty much knows the
station what we got which with this year
[1:01:42] we will have some much needed equipment.
Hopefully uh uh we fly out the 22nd of
[1:01:49] September to go to is it
>> Okala?
[1:01:55] » Yeah. Florida. Uh there will be four of
us going out. Uh the mayor, I mean the
[1:01:59] town manager would be flying with us.
And what that does, we go down and do
[1:02:04] the final inspections on the fire truck.
If we see any scratches, any blooms on
[1:02:08] it, if they hadn't got something put in
the right spot, then we'll write it up.
[1:02:13] They'll change it before it ever comes
to us. Once it gets to Rocky Mount, um
[1:02:18] then we'll get the equipment off the old
truck. We'll take it over. Then they'll
[1:02:22] put it on for us. Um and then hopefully
by later part of October, middle part of
[1:02:27] October later, then it will be here at
our station and then we'll take
[1:02:31] ownership of it at that time. Um so
everything's looking good. Um again, um
[1:02:38] we do have some issues going on right
now at the station, but other than that,
[1:02:42] everything's
best we can.
[1:02:45] » Any question from the board for
Chief Lily?
[1:02:51] » Oh, one more thing. September the 19th
is our annual barbecue. We will be
[1:02:56] selling barbecue chicken, um uh
potatoes, string beans, rolls, and
[1:03:02] stuff. So
>> the date again
[1:03:04] » se September the 19th se
[1:03:10] [clears throat]
>> time
[1:03:11] » and we fly out that following Monday.
>> What time?
[1:03:14] » Uh from 11 to 2 or 11 until we sell it
all. Hopefully we'll be able to sell 600
[1:03:19] plates.
>> Uh we [clears throat] are selling
[1:03:21] tickets. So if you want to pre-by you
can just get up with one of the people
[1:03:25] in the fire department. we'll sell you
tickets or either uh you know we'll you
[1:03:30] come to the station that day and pick
them up.
[1:03:32] » How much are tickets?
>> Uh $12. [snorts]
[1:03:35] » I think that's what it was. Yeah, $12.
So, but uh other than that,
[1:03:42] » that's a whole or half chicken?
>> That's a whole half chicken.
[1:03:45] » Okay.
>> A whole half.
[1:03:48] » A whole half.
[1:03:52] » All right. Next to claim my attention,
we're going to ask at this time our town
[1:03:57] attorney.
>> Can we do public works?
[1:04:00] » Okay, we do public public works.
>> So, we have a public works report. Um,
[1:04:04] like to show you a quick video regarding
a a project we've been working on seems
[1:04:10] like for forever.
This deals with Smith Street Park. As
[1:04:16] you've may have seen, been out there,
the the walking trail was leveled,
[1:04:21] graveled, compacted, then we've been
waiting and waiting and waiting for the
[1:04:27] asphalt.
>> And as of today,
[1:04:32] » will that play, Lind, or is that just a
picture?
[1:04:36] » The [clears throat] asphalt. Okay, maybe
it's just a picture, but the asphalt
[1:04:40] truck machinery crew is out there and
it'll probably take several days to do
[1:04:46] that entire loop out there.
>> Maybe there's several pictures,
[1:04:54] but they're doing a great job. They did
a great job preparing the the path with
[1:04:58] the um the rock and having it compacted
and making sure that it is level.
[1:05:05] And now we're going back with the the
asphalt. Once the asphalt is put down,
[1:05:09] they will smooth the dirt along the
edges of the path, clean it up and seat
[1:05:13] it. And um that phase of the work will
be done. We'll then we will then be
[1:05:18] installing all of the remaining
equipment that we have in storage,
[1:05:22] whether picnic tables, trash cans,
exercise equipment, just the the
[1:05:27] remainder of the um the improvements
that we've been long awaiting to to get
[1:05:32] in the ground out there.
>> How Eight
[1:05:36] 8T.
>> Yes.
[1:05:44] » Correct.
[1:05:49] » Miss Hall, that walker trail is waiting
for you.
[1:05:55] Thank you.
[1:06:05] [clears throat]
[1:06:08] » All right. Next, we'll hear from our
town attorney. [clears throat]
[1:06:15] Uh, thank you, [clears throat] mayor.
Um, I thought what I would do tonight
[1:06:19] would be make a report that would
supplement
[1:06:23] the email I think that was in your your
packet. If I could, I'll start with
[1:06:28] this.
[1:06:33] Lawyers like our general statute. This
is
[1:06:49] make me.
[1:06:53] » So, um
[1:06:57] in um in North Carolina,
like in most most states,
[1:07:02] a municipality only has the authority
given to it by statutes approved by the
[1:07:09] general assembly. So, you know, we can
only and there are a couple minor
[1:07:14] exceptions. So we lawyers say there's
always an exception, but basically what
[1:07:18] a town can do uh is um the it can use
the authority given it uh by statute
[1:07:25] passed by the general assembly. So for
example uh and this one actually works
[1:07:31] perfect on many different levels. What
I've given to to you tonight is 16 160
[1:07:35] 16A
>> Keen can for the for the benefit of the
[1:07:38] audience, can we let them know we're
talking about the the former Gator issue
[1:07:42] which is also known as a modified
utility vehicle.
[1:07:46] » Thank you. That that's correct. Um, my
report tonight is that I mentioned to
[1:07:50] add to that email and that email that I
sent to you dealt with the um, what I'm
[1:07:56] going to call the gator issue or the
modified uh, utility vehicle some people
[1:08:00] call side by side. Um, and I'm going to
get a little more into the history of
[1:08:04] it, but but thank you. That that's what
that's what I'm what I'm discussing. And
[1:08:09] this particular statute that I've given
to you tonight um 168 300.6 Six uh it
[1:08:16] says regulation of golf carts on
streets. So uh by way of an example you
[1:08:22] can see the general assembly assembly
said that a city may by ordinance
[1:08:28] regulate the operation of golf carts on
any public street or road where the
[1:08:33] speed is 35 miles per hour or less. And
under B, a an ordinance. By ordinance, a
[1:08:39] city may require the registration of
golf carts, charge a fee, specify who is
[1:08:44] authorized to operate, da da da. The
point is the the general assembly said,
[1:08:49] you know, when it comes to golf carts,
we up here in Raleigh aren't going to
[1:08:53] pass a law that makes you have it or or
or says you can't have it. We're going
[1:08:58] to let the we're going to let the towns
decide if you want to have golf carts.
[1:09:03] And if you do, you need to adopt an
ordinance regulating how you um allow
[1:09:08] golf carts and what procedure a property
owner, a golf cart owner has so they can
[1:09:14] operate on your streets. So that's what
the the the statute does. And um that
[1:09:21] that statute was passed in 2009 and in
2010 uh the town of Bethl adopted his
[1:09:28] golf car ordinance which is in chapter
75. So, one year later, we just like a
[1:09:33] lot of towns did, we adopted a golf cart
ordinance that says if you want to put a
[1:09:36] golf cart on street that here's the
things you've got to do. Um, so again,
[1:09:41] it sort of shows you uh General Cy says
we're going to allow the towns to do it,
[1:09:46] but you have to adopt an ordinance. Now,
as it relates to um um the current issue
[1:09:54] of side by sides or gators, um in the in
the email I sent you in September of
[1:10:00] 2020, this issue came up before um I was
a I was asked by the town to research
[1:10:07] the issue. Um and uh I found when I did
my work in September of 2020 that in
[1:10:14] June of 2020, the general assembly
enacted a session law which ultimately
[1:10:19] became became a law whereby three
general statutes were amended to allow
[1:10:27] ultimately the use of modified
um utility vehicles. And I've got
[1:10:39] This is a copy of the session law. If I
could pass this out.
[1:10:45] [cough and clears throat]
[1:11:04] I think [clears throat and cough]
and and you can see by this
[1:11:10] this was a session law. Um and if I I
think it was yeah if you look to the
[1:11:17] second page you see it was a approved in
June of 2020. And this session law
[1:11:23] modified three general statutes
20-4.0127
[1:11:27] 0127 which is the definition of section
of of um chapter 20 and you can see it
[1:11:34] added in a definition for a modified
utility vehicle and um se you see under
[1:11:40] section two another general statute
20-8712
[1:11:44] was also modified to allow you can see
it says many trucks and modified utility
[1:11:49] vehicles this relates to fees that the
could be charged
[1:11:53] and under the last one 20-1 121.1
operation of low-speed vehicles, mini
[1:12:01] trucks or modified utility vehicles. And
I I just give you this to show you that
[1:12:06] this is when the general assembly said,
you know, we probably need to do
[1:12:10] something about this idea of sideby-side
gators. And so in 2020, they they took
[1:12:14] the the action needed to um allow those
vehicles to be used on public streets.
[1:12:22] And if you'll allow me the very last
handout, I promise.
[1:12:51] Yes, sir.
[1:12:56] what I have now given you this is the
act this is the actual statute of 20-
[1:13:04] 121.1
is actually on the other sheet but it's
[1:13:08] got lines and oh it's hard to read so
this is the more clear easier to read
[1:13:11] version and and this is where I mean
I'll just read over some parts of it
[1:13:16] says operation of low-speed vehicle mini
truck or modified utility vehicle on
[1:13:21] certain roadways the operation of low
speed vehicles, mini trucks or modified
[1:13:25] utility vehicles is authorized with the
following restrictions. Number one, if
[1:13:30] you read the second sentence, it says
the mini truck or modified utility
[1:13:34] vehicle may be operated only on streets
or highways where the posted speed limit
[1:13:38] is 55 miles per hour or less. So, you
can't put a gator out on the interstate
[1:13:44] at 70 m hour. It's got to be 55 miles
per hour or [clears throat] less. If you
[1:13:48] go to 2A, it says the modified utility
vehicles shall be equipped with shall be
[1:13:55] equipped with and you can see this is
that's a safety equipment. So in order
[1:14:00] to put um I'm going just call it the
Gator that we all think we all know what
[1:14:04] type of vehicle I'm referring to side by
side. In order to put that type of
[1:14:07] vehicle on a town street, it must have
that following safety equipment. And it
[1:14:11] makes perfect sense why the general
assembly says we don't want to put
[1:14:14] something out there that's driving at 55
miles per hour or less if it doesn't
[1:14:18] have certain safety equipment. So you
you must have the equipment listed
[1:14:21] there. Number three, a low-speed
vehicle, mini truck, or modified utility
[1:14:28] vehicle shall be registered and insured
in accordance with and and that that is
[1:14:33] the requirement where if you want to
operate a gator on uh public streets, it
[1:14:39] must be registered with DMV and it must
have uh motor vehicle insurance.
[1:14:45] Once you meet these requirements, uh, as
set up by statute, um, you're able to
[1:14:52] operate a gator on any public street in
town, out of town, just has to be 55 on
[1:14:57] a road posted 55 miles per hour or less.
Um
[1:15:02] the the general assembly for whatever
reason I I can guess we could probably
[1:15:06] all guess decided that when it comes to
a vehicle that has a larger engine can
[1:15:11] go faster that they decided that they
weren't going to leave this to the town
[1:15:16] to to adopt its own ordinance to control
that that vehicle on its streets. They
[1:15:22] said, "We, the state, are going to
control the operation of a of a gator on
[1:15:27] a public street." And as long as you're
registered with DMV and you you you
[1:15:32] know, you you've gone through what you
need to through go through to get
[1:15:35] registered and you have uh insurance on
the vehicle, you can operate on any
[1:15:40] public road. Um,
I hope that helps. I I may have missed
[1:15:46] my mark, but but I think I'm just trying
to sort of accentuate that golf carts,
[1:15:52] drive slow, don't go so fast. General
Sim said, "We're going to let the towns
[1:15:56] decide whether they want golf carts
driving around with you may have
[1:16:00] [clears throat] one golf cart or 300
golf carts riding around town. The town
[1:16:02] can control that." But but a but a
vehicle that has this more powerful and
[1:16:06] and faster DMV, I mean, the the the the
general assembly said, "No, no, no.
[1:16:11] We're going to control that. keep that
with us at the state level. Um, be glad
[1:16:16] to answer any questions you may have of
me.
[1:16:21] » Question for the board.
>> I got one. Uh, and I've already asked
[1:16:25] this one time and we talked about it,
but you know,
[1:16:29] last time this was brought up in what
was it? 22
[1:16:33] » 2020
>> 20. Um, the sub the owner of one of them
[1:16:38] went to DMV and it was classified by
CC's. Yeah.
[1:16:42] » And he said if it's 2400 and over, I
think they would do it 2400 and under,
[1:16:49] they couldn't do it. So, and the ones
that we're actually pertaining to is
[1:16:54] 2400 cc's and under
>> under.
[1:16:57] » So, I mean, you know, so they're not as
fast as they're not as big as the 2400
[1:17:02] cc's and over. So, how does how
>> if you look at that session law I passed
[1:17:09] out to you
>> when when this came up in 2020 and I was
[1:17:12] reading this um I think it was Tom Asbel
reached out to me says keen this has
[1:17:16] come up do some research on it
>> and I was reading over when I found out
[1:17:20] that here I was in September and the
general assembly had picked this up in
[1:17:24] June just a couple months before I
thought that was rather timely but under
[1:17:28] the definition section under section one
if you notice right in the middle it
[1:17:32] says an engine displacement greater than
2400.
[1:17:35] » Mhm.
>> So, when I read that, I mean, I I know a
[1:17:38] little bit about engines, I thought,
well, that's a dag on big engine. If
[1:17:42] it's got to be greater than 2400cc, I
that makes sense. In fact, I circled it
[1:17:46] and put a big question mark around it.
But if you look, when they actually
[1:17:50] passed the law, this this um well um I I
I did not bring that with me. I do have
[1:17:58] it in my my folder. Be glad to show you.
when they approve this actual definition
[1:18:04] that's in the current version of the
law, they took that 2400 out. There's no
[1:18:09] requirement. So, um I think they
realized the mistake they made that that
[1:18:14] that was for some reason they were
requiring a very large engine which made
[1:18:17] no sense because most Gators I don't
think have the engine that size. So,
[1:18:22] that 2400 requirement is no longer
there. It's not in the definition
[1:18:26] section. They they took they meaning the
general assembly took that out. So I I
[1:18:31] mean um
my I I don't have a Gator. I think if I
[1:18:37] went down tomorrow to the John Deere
place to buy one and said, "Hey, I want
[1:18:41] to buy a Gator." They would probably
say, "Yeah, you go put it on the
[1:18:43] street." And I would say, "Yeah." They
would set it up just like if I was
[1:18:46] buying a new car that it would be
registered with DMV and everything would
[1:18:50] be good to go and and and and would be
handled. If you have a a a gator today
[1:18:56] that you bought years ago, um I I spoke
um with uh Are you Mr. um Okay, Mr.
[1:19:04] Harris? He and I spoke on the phone.
Hadn't met before, but I told him I
[1:19:08] thought that probably the thing to do
would be to to to contact the John Deere
[1:19:13] dealership that he bought his vehicle
from and say, "Listen, I bought it a few
[1:19:17] years ago, but I want to put it on the
street. what do I need to do to make
[1:19:20] sure this thing will be registered with
DMV and find out what they say this
[1:19:25] these are the things you need to do or
add to I think he's done most of them I
[1:19:28] know he added on some additional
equipment that didn't come initially
[1:19:31] with it but as long as you can get as it
says in the statute as long as you can
[1:19:36] get your vehicle registered
should be no issues and henceforth you
[1:19:41] know you don't have to deal with the
town or the county or anybody it's just
[1:19:43] DMV did I answer your question yes sir
okay
[1:19:48] Um, would you like to say anything Earl
or come to the If you do come up here?
[1:19:56] As far as I know at this time, we've
only received um three people that's
[1:20:03] actually got them that wants to ride
them. Um, one of them is Mr. Charles or
[1:20:08] Harris. Um, and he does a lot with his
more or less farming and stuff. And I've
[1:20:14] got two more that depending on what goes
on tonight, you know, whether or not
[1:20:18] they come back and try to get it
inspected. Um, one of them said that his
[1:20:22] is the bigger one. Um, and DMV said that
they would uh register that one.
[1:20:28] » Okay.
>> So, I hadn't heard on the other one yet.
[1:20:30] I put a call out to him. So, at this
time, you know, I I don't know what
[1:20:34] they're going to do, but I do know that,
you know, um,
[1:20:39] » he was the one I was talking about.
yesterday.
[1:20:44] [snorts]
>> State your name and address.
[1:20:47] » My name is Charles. Harris Jr. I live at
3761 Ceil Street. Been here for about
[1:20:52] five years. Uh getting back to you,
mine's a little bit older.
[1:20:58] Uh they don't give me the numbers no
more for them. That's the only thing to
[1:21:02] get it registered at DMV. I done gone
through John Deere. Uh
[1:21:08] » with numbers, you know what a VIN? No,
it's a it's they call it a certificate
[1:21:12] number and mine don't have it. Uh I got
I got the bill of sale and the
[1:21:19] restoration where I bought it like a
title. But mine my machine so old now
[1:21:25] the new ones is coming out where you
like you said if you go to today and buy
[1:21:29] one.
>> Yeah.
[1:21:30] » Yeah. They got it.
>> Yeah.
[1:21:31] » So that's where I'm in a that's where
I'm in a catch 22.
[1:21:35] » Did you Did you talk with your uh
dealer? I talked to him right after I
[1:21:39] got off the phone with you. Yes, sir. I
sit right there and called him and
[1:21:42] talked to him and and he called me back
the next day and he said, "Ain't no way
[1:21:46] I can get you a number because they got
to have that number to go to DMV with
[1:21:50] it."
But that's where I'm at catch 22.
[1:21:56] Well, I I'll be the first to admit I've
never dealt with this. I mean I mean on
[1:22:00] a on a on a you know here's a level
where somebody's actually trying to deal
[1:22:06] with it in town. Um I I would say as an
attorney that um I if if you meet the
[1:22:12] requirements in here it it should be
able to be it to me it doesn't make any
[1:22:17] difference whether the vehicle the gator
is one year old or 10 years old or 15
[1:22:21] years old.
>> I went back to John Deere with the thing
[1:22:24] I [snorts]
with the with the equipment I got on it.
[1:22:27] I spent the machine cost me $15,000
right to start with. Spent another
[1:22:33] [snorts] $1,000 to put the safety
equipment on. It come with the seat
[1:22:36] belts and everything, but I didn't go
and add brake lights and stuff myself. I
[1:22:43] carried it back to the deal and spent
another $1,000 on it that had the brake
[1:22:47] lights and all that. So, if I ever
decide wanted to sell it, Yeah. get rid
[1:22:52] of it. It ain't uh it ain't nothing that
I put on myself. just put backward to
[1:22:56] deal
>> at at the time when he bought it. I I
[1:23:00] don't know exactly when you bought it,
but he said it was a few years ago. You
[1:23:03] couldn't legally ride them on the
street. So, it was it was not even an
[1:23:06] issue at that time. You know, that the
the dealers weren't thinking about what
[1:23:10] do we need to do? So, the question is,
how do we get a vehicle that was sold
[1:23:15] pre um approval of use on public street
to get where DMV will register it? I
[1:23:22] mean, I I'm a I'm a I'm an optimistic
person by nature. There's got to be a
[1:23:27] way to get it to get DMV to register.
>> If you ain't got that number, you can't
[1:23:33] you I've done talked to them. I've
talked to the dealer. I cannot get that
[1:23:39] number.
>> Did Did Have you talked to DMV?
[1:23:41] » Yes. You got to have that number with
the You got to have the certificate
[1:23:45] number. When you when you buy the
machines, the new ones you buy today,
[1:23:48] they they prevent they provide you with
them numbers. Back when I would come,
[1:23:53] can't get it. He's already called the
people at John Deere to see if they can
[1:23:58] get it. Can't get it cuz my machine's a
little bit older than what the new ones
[1:24:02] are today
when it when I bought it. Well, I I'd be
[1:24:08] more than happy to talk to Mr. Harris
and see if if if there's anything I
[1:24:12] could do to help him. I mean, I on my
dime, not on your dime, but the I mean,
[1:24:18] uh, this is the put on my lawyer hat,
the the statute is clear. In order to to
[1:24:25] get out on the street, you got to be
registered. And, um, I'm I'm I'm sure
[1:24:29] they're thinking about today moving
forward, that's not a problem. General
[1:24:32] Assembly wasn't thinking 10 years ago or
15 years ago. But but I'd be glad to
[1:24:37] talk with them to see what we can
possibly do because again, it makes no
[1:24:40] sense to me. If you've got everything
that the statute requires, which is on
[1:24:45] this page right here, you you should be
able to get it registered and and right
[1:24:49] on the street. I don't care whether it's
one year old or 15 years old. Um but
[1:24:56] anyway, I I'll be glad to answer any
questions that you have of me.
[1:25:00] » Any other question for our town
attorney?
[1:25:06] Okay, if there's no question, thank you
so much.
[1:25:12] Okay, at this time, uh, Commissioner
Kong, you have anything?
[1:25:17] » No, just thank you for everyone for
coming out.
[1:25:20] » Commissioner Lennon,
>> u Thanks for everyone coming out and
[1:25:25] everything you do for the community.
Please don't forget September the 19th,
[1:25:31] 11 to 2 at the fire department. Um, also
I've said it at the last meeting and
[1:25:36] I'll say it at this one before we close
out. Next year in December is Bethl Fire
[1:25:42] Department's 100y year anniversary.
They've been here 100 years 100 years,
[1:25:47] excuse me. Uh, we are in process of
getting some stuff up. We're going to
[1:25:51] get some shirts made. Uh, we're going to
get some challenge coins made um and
[1:25:57] sell and and and all and uh to try to
help us pay for everything we're going
[1:26:01] to do. But uh we will have hot dogs,
hamburgers, basically like a open house
[1:26:07] at the fire department at the time.
Might be a little bit cool, but anyway,
[1:26:10] you never know what North Carolina
weather is going to bring. It could be
[1:26:13] 80° in December. So, uh but anyway, I
think the date was December the 7th or
[1:26:19] the 9th. I'm not real sure on that, but
I will get back and let everybody know
[1:26:24] the exact exactly date. It would be on a
weekend when we do it. So, but anyway,
[1:26:29] again, thanks for what everybody
everybody does and again, thanks to the
[1:26:32] sheriff department for helping us out
and u and just being there with us.
[1:26:37] That's all I got.
>> Mayor Pro Tim Griggs,
[1:26:42] » uh I just like to say I'd like to I'm
glad to see everyone come out. I'm happy
[1:26:47] to know that you're interested in what
goes on in your town. Whether everybody
[1:26:51] is for it or against it, I think
everybody has a voice. And keep coming
[1:26:56] because it's not going to work unless
we're together. It'll work for you this
[1:27:00] time, work for somebody else the next
time. But just keep coming. Don't quit.
[1:27:05] Keep hitting at it. Let us improve.
That's all I have to say.
[1:27:10] » Commissioner Whitehurst,
>> I got something to say this evening. I
[1:27:13] don't normally talk. Um, back in
January, a citizen raised the issue of
[1:27:19] gbody parts.com. It was a mess down
there and it was an eyesore in our town.
[1:27:25] Um, the manager and the mayor contacted
the owner, Mr. Brian Weaver. He's out of
[1:27:31] Indiana now. And, um, I've known Brian
since he came to town in ' 07. We got
[1:27:38] together and
um, what are we going to do about it?
[1:27:42] Um, we're trying to clean this town. He
doesn't live here anymore, but he spent
[1:27:47] well over $150,000
to move those cars to clean that lot up.
[1:27:54] Now, we've had a lot of volunteer help.
Um been down there cleaning the lot. If
[1:28:00] you I wish you'd go by and see it. It's
looking like it should have. Um there's
[1:28:06] a couple of things going on there now.
And and if somebody's got a suggestion,
[1:28:10] I'd appreciate it. We pulled 972 tires
out of that building. I don't know a
[1:28:16] good tire from a bad one. They're
sitting out over Well, you'll see them.
[1:28:21] You can't miss them. If there's
anybody's interest in those tires for
[1:28:25] any reason at all, every tire that
somebody takes, I don't have to get
[1:28:29] somebody to move. Also, there is a
probably a tractor trailer load of
[1:28:36] furniture inside that building. It's
decent furniture and there's a point at
[1:28:42] which we're going to have to bring a
dumpster in. It's good furniture. If
[1:28:46] you're interested, please let me know. I
don't want any money for it. There must
[1:28:53] be folks that we all know that could use
um dresser drawers or sofa or bed or
[1:29:00] something like that. And all we have to
do is go down there. we'll open the gate
[1:29:05] and if you bring you a tractor trailer,
you're going to end up all full of
[1:29:10] furniture. But that is a man who he was
here. He got here in ' 07. He left about
[1:29:16] four years ago. And he cares about what
happens in Bethl. Now, he's a growler
[1:29:22] just like a lot of us are, but he cares
about what happens in Bethl. And he
[1:29:26] spent a tremendous amount of money down
there to clean that place up. So, if you
[1:29:33] go by, you know, give me a thumbs up on
Facebook, would you? Okay. Thank
[1:29:40] [snorts] you,
>> Commissioner Jones.
[1:29:42] » Well, I'm certainly glad to see
everybody out as well. And I I would
[1:29:46] just like to if you know, they say it's
bad when you start calling out names,
[1:29:50] but Mr. Mr. Brown, Miss Mayo, for the
interest you've taken in the town and
[1:29:56] investments here to
uh bring some life back to the town. We
[1:30:01] certainly appreciate that. So,
>> pray it all goes well for you.
[1:30:08] [clears throat]
[1:30:11] » Okay. I guess it's up to me now. Okay.
Um, I just like to say thank everyone
[1:30:16] for continue coming out for your support
of me as mayor and support of this board
[1:30:20] of commissioners here. And as you go
through the town, you look around, you
[1:30:26] see things are
are looking up and we still have a lot
[1:30:31] of people that really have an interest
in Bethl to bring things to Bethl. And
[1:30:35] all we have to do is just give them the
opportunity to come and and express
[1:30:40] their ideas with Bethl such as Mr. Brown
and Miss Mayo have done and uh Dr. more
[1:30:47] with the youth center over there and uh
Miss Miss Reese and and Miss Barbara
[1:30:52] Flake from the library. They really have
a great interest in um uh promoting the
[1:30:58] library and stuff. So, we we we just
thank those all those people and anybody
[1:31:02] else that's coming to Bethl that's
trying to help Bethl to move forward and
[1:31:06] and continue to bring the community
together. Uh Miss Azora, she's done a
[1:31:10] great job on working on the buildings
over on Smith Street there. They they
[1:31:15] look fantastic on Barnhill Street there.
They're looking good. And hopefully we
[1:31:19] can get Smith Street looking like
Barnhill Street eventually and stuff.
[1:31:22] And so I just want to say thank each and
everyone for your support and and help
[1:31:27] us as a community to continue to work
together and support one another and
[1:31:32] we're going to move continue to move
forward. We thank the sheriff department
[1:31:35] for what they're doing and and coming
throughout Bethl doing the patrolling
[1:31:39] and everything. And we got all uh we got
uh first time with us here uh def uh uh
[1:31:45] deputy Maloney with us to tonight and uh
she's getting a taste of Bethl. This is
[1:31:51] her first is it your first time coming
to Bethl as
[1:31:55] » first contract. Okay. All right. And
having said that, we we thank everyone
[1:32:00] to just keep us in your prayers and and
and we still trying to get more and more
[1:32:05] people in the rural area to continue to
come to the town because they may be
[1:32:10] just outside our ETJ. Whatever affects
the town um still affects them also. And
[1:32:15] if you notice, we still got uh new homes
that are study going up. And then just
[1:32:20] the overall look of the town is looking
better. We got the mural that's up on
[1:32:23] the the uh hopefully we'll have the
mental health center open real soon. and
[1:32:27] and things are happening around town.
Great things are happening. The Smith
[1:32:31] Street Park uh that's being paved,
worked on constantly and eventually
[1:32:36] that'll be completed and stuff and we're
just moving from one project to the next
[1:32:40] and we thank our town manager for all
he's doing and our town attorneys and
[1:32:44] this board of commissioners for working
together to get things done. And having
[1:32:49] said that, um at this time, do I have a
mo motion to go into our close session?
[1:32:59] I failed to mention uh earlier that we
do have a closed session per the statute
[1:33:04] statute was mentioned in your um agenda
package. I think we've got uh we're
[1:33:08] going to have a personnel matter and
also an issue that we it relates to the
[1:33:12] attorney client privilege. Thank you,
mayor.
[1:33:14] » All right. So, having said that, um
we're going to close out. Do I have a
[1:33:19] motion to go into our
>> closing? Motion made by Commissioner
[1:33:24] Lily. Uh, do I have a second?
>> Second.
[1:33:26] » Second by
>> Mayor Pro Tim Griggs. All in favor raise
[1:33:31] your right hand.
Motion carry unanimous. We thank y'all
[1:33:35] for coming and be safe out there.
[1:33:42] » Called you out, didn't I?
>> Huh?
[1:33:44] » I called you out.
>> Do you guys have some kind of special
[1:33:47] love affair or something? What's up with
that?
[1:33:49] » Must be my blessing. My son the bedroom.
He just moved out of my house.
[1:33:53] » Oh, yeah.
>> Yeah. I'm I'mma think y'all. Can I get
[1:33:56] your number or you give me your name?
>> Oh, I'm at Yeah. So he needs that make
[1:34:01] life big, brother.