[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.] [5:51] All right, good afternoon. We will call our meeting to order this Tuesday, March the 11th at 430. If you will stand with me for the invocation by Commissioner Malowai followed by our Pledge of Allegiance. [6:15] We pray not for the power of your Holy Spirit to God our minds and hearts as we work on the [6:19] business of the town of Virgo, and bless us having a father make the right decisions [6:23] and send the blessings of the town and the people we serve. [6:26] This we ask in Jesus' name, amen. [6:34] I pledge allegiance to the Father of the United States of America and to the Republic for which [6:46] All right. [6:55] Thank you to all of you who was with us this afternoon. [7:00] All right. We're going to go ahead and get started. Do we have an emotion to approve today's agenda? [7:06] Second. [7:07] Second. [7:08] All in favor? [7:09] Aye. [7:09] All right. [7:12] Also on your agenda approval of our consent agenda items, we have a motion to approve. [7:19] So moved. [7:20] Second. [7:21] All in favor? [7:22] Aye. [7:23] Okay. [7:24] All right. [7:25] So that brings us to our special request and presentations this evening. [7:29] We're going to begin by recognizing with a proclamation for Mr. Ray Ravenbark. [7:37] We all know as Ray's Ray, who has officially retired, he decided one day he just was not going to go to work anymore and I'm good for him. [7:47] So we want to do this proclamation in his honor. I'm going to read this, if you will. [7:54] Whereas Mr. Ray Ravenbark, affectionately known as Razor Ray, has been a beloved fixture [8:00] in the heart of downtown Burgall for decades, serving the community with dedication, skill, [8:06] and genuine care through his work at Ideal Barbershop. [8:10] And whereas his steady hands, welcome and smile and engaging conversations have made Ideal [8:15] Barbershop not only a place for haircuts but a gathering space where friendships were forged, [8:20] and stories of Burgall's rich history were shared. [8:23] And whereas Ray's commitment to his craft [8:25] and to the people of Burgall has left an indelible mark [8:30] on all who had the pleasure of sitting in his barber chair, [8:34] creating a legacy that will be cherished by generations. [8:37] And whereas after many years of service to his profession [8:40] and his community, Mr. Ray Ravenbark has chosen to retire, [8:44] leaving behind the legacy of hard work, integrity, [8:47] and the profound impact of small town kindness and dedication. [8:51] And whereas Mr. Ray Ravenberg's presence in downtown Virgo will be deeply missed, [8:56] but his influence will continue to resonate through the lives of those he has touched [9:00] and the stories that will be told in the years to come. [9:03] So now I therefore, now therefore I, Olivia Dawson, mayor of the town of Virgo, [9:09] on behalf of the town council, town commissioners and the entire community, [9:12] Do hereby extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Ray Rabenbart for his many years of service and contribution to the spirit of our town, and we wish him all the best and his well-deserved retirement. [9:26] So I herein to have set my hand and caused the seal of the town of Bergall to be affixed. [9:34] the 18th of March 2025. So I'm reading it today and signing the [9:38] proclamation but there will be a retirement celebration in his honor on March 18th. [9:45] So we again wish him the best and he's looking forward to some rest and a [9:52] little bit of traveling with his wife. So he will be missed. I know it's shocking to [9:56] the town and see what takes place next in his shop there. [10:04] All right. [10:04] Next item we have is Arbor Day. [10:07] We're going to have another proclamation to read, so I apologize for that. [10:12] That is coming up and we'll have staff update us on some of those details, but I'm going [10:19] to read this Arbor Day proclamation as well. [10:22] So, whereas at 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that [10:28] a special day be set aside for the planning of trees, and whereas the holiday called [10:33] Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, [10:38] and whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world, and whereas trees [10:44] can reduce the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, lower our heating and [10:49] cooling calls, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat [10:55] for wildlife. [10:56] And whereas trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our [11:02] fires, and countless other wood products. [11:05] And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business [11:10] areas, and beautify our community. [11:13] And whereas trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. [11:19] So now, therefore, I, Olivia Dawson, Mayor of the Town of Virgo, do hereby proclaim March [11:24] 21st, 2025 as Arbor Day. [11:27] In the town of Virgo, and I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts [11:33] to protect our trees and woodlands. [11:35] And further, I urge all citizens to plant and care for trees to glad in the heart and promote [11:39] about the well-being of this and future generations to come. [11:43] Data this 11th day of March, the year of 2025. [11:47] So Jane, I will give us some of those details [11:50] for our upcoming Arbor Day celebration. [11:53] Yes, thank you. [11:54] We just wanted to remind you guys [11:55] of our upcoming Arbor Day festivities. [11:58] Again, that's March 21st. [12:00] At 10 a.m., we'll have a tree planting ceremony. [12:02] That'll be a Southern Magnolia at Bergon Middle School. [12:06] Again, that's at 10 o'clock [12:07] and they're going to be planted by the gymnasium so back towards the back of [12:11] the property between the park and the school and then our tree giveaway is going [12:15] to be that Friday afternoon from 4 to 6 and we're doing pre-registration for [12:19] trees that's going to be everyone has the choice of getting a great [12:23] murder or a sky pencil holly any questions from the board all right questions [12:30] thank you some marker calendars the 21st 10 a.m. and then again [12:36] and register to claim your tree at 4 o'clock. [12:39] Is that correct? [12:40] Okay. [12:44] Yeah, that's if you want to pick up the tree. [12:47] All right. [12:49] We have North Carolina Blueberry Festival, [12:51] with Street Closure Request this evening. [13:10] Afternoon Madam Mayor and Board of Commissioners. [13:13] I'm here tonight to present to you Street Closure Request [13:18] where the 2025 North Carolina Blueberry Festival [13:20] We're joined our director, Mr. Crystal Bats and our president, Mr. Doug Kornicki. [13:28] Street closures request are pretty much the same streets as in years past with some time [13:35] differentials. [13:36] I've provided you with a special event permit application in past and it's not really [13:41] been provided for you but I wanted you to see a visual representation. [13:45] This is the same information that was presented to the courthouse, working with a clerk [13:50] the court and go into those street closures with the court system. [13:57] If you refer to the very last page, that's the list of street closures being proposed [14:04] and then the 5K street closures are not included in that but those chief hawk could probably [14:10] provide you with a little more, we handle those differently. [14:14] Those are just kind of temporarily closed for the 5K and then they open right back up [14:18] as soon as it's over. But these are the ones that are generally stay closed throughout [14:22] the whole day. And most of all street closures are closing at 10.30, 11 p.m. on Friday night [14:30] after the concert. But the two to take note of specifically for this year is the closure [14:37] of Fremont Street, which is the setups of the stage starting at 5 a.m., which is generally [14:46] around when PD closes the road so closure a free month from right to Walker at 5 a.m. to set up [14:51] the stage and some of those vendor tents but still leaving a travel lane for the business owners [14:58] in there as well as [15:00] Court House, personnel, and staffing. And then requesting to close the parking spaces on right [15:06] street at 5 a.m. between courthouse avenue and Fremont to just hold those spots. And then [15:12] at 12 o'clock p.m. close the entire length of right street in order to get vendors set [15:17] up. And where we generally the blueberry festival gets itself in trouble with the courthouse [15:23] in the town, perspective on right street is trying to get those food vendors in there. And [15:28] when those food vendors come in just like Dylan with any mass body of people playing, [15:35] playing, playing, and whatever thing can go wrong, can go wrong. [15:38] So generally in the past when those food vendors come in, they clog up the street that's [15:42] already open. [15:43] So if I close in that street earlier, it allows those food vendors to get in there without [15:47] causing a cluster with the traffic pattern. [15:52] So that is a rationale for Wright Street, trying to close that a little earlier. [15:56] We worked with the clerk once again to kind of meet in the middle. [16:01] The clerk requested that we close at 12. [16:03] That allows them from 8 to lunch to get their courthouse traffic in. [16:08] That's when the bulk of folks show up on Fridays and then generally things start dying off as [16:13] the day progresses. [16:15] They have a new online system for filings, but the courthouse still has to remain open until 5. [16:21] But once again, they've kind of met us in the middle to say mid day closure and they can work with us. [16:28] And if they start seeing that things are freeing up throughout Friday too, start taking a little more at a time if they're not seeing a lot of stuff going on that day. [16:39] But that's the main request for the streets. Am I missing anything? [16:47] No. [16:49] Looking at the date you got here June 14th, 15th. [16:53] I'm sorry if that was the, it may be. [16:55] 14th, 14th, correct. [16:58] No, there should be 20th and 21st, where are you seeing the, which page? [17:01] On the last page over the bottom. [17:03] On the top, first paragraph. [17:04] I'm sorry, that's just a missed, missed. [17:07] So 20th, 21st. [17:08] Yes, sir, that's correct. [17:09] I'm sorry, that's the type of. [17:10] I thought it was always the third, sir. [17:12] Yes, sir. [17:13] Thank you. [17:13] All [17:17] right. Any questions and additional clarifications that might be needed? [17:29] All right. With there being none, do we have a motion to accept the street closures as presented? [17:34] So moved. [17:35] Do I have a second? [17:36] Second. [17:36] All right. All in favor? [17:37] All right. [17:39] Just a clarification. [17:41] None opposed, right? [17:41] Okay. Thank you, Goady. [17:44] And thank you, Blueberry Festival. [17:46] Hard to believe it's time to plan for that already. [17:56] Okay. [17:57] Okay, next we have our Pender County Spring Festival that is coming up in May. [18:03] They also have street closure requests, right, we have Mr. Ross here with us. [18:14] I'm Ross Harrell and I am representing Pender County Spring Festival. [18:19] The Spring Festival this year will be on the first Friday and first Saturday in May, [18:27] which is the second and the third. [18:31] The street closures that we are requesting for Friday are just Friday evening for the street dance. [18:40] And that is right street between Courthouse Avenue and Fremont Street, leaving the Courthouse Avenue corner open. [18:50] So that traffic can turn down courthouse avenue and keep right street open in front of the businesses it'll be open that evening. [19:00] That's Friday evening. [19:03] Saturday morning we would like to close right street from Wilmington street to Fremont street. [19:16] Again, leaving the Fremont Street corner open, going south towards the post office. [19:24] I'm sorry, right street open, going south towards the post office. [19:28] And we would like to close Walker's, back up again, Fremont Street from right street to Walker Street and leave all of those intersections open for traffic. [19:41] It's just the sections of street closed. [19:46] Would like those closed early in the morning say six o'clock until probably about four in [19:54] the afternoon, if that's possible. [20:00] Okay, so Friday night starting at 5'30. [20:03] 5'30 would be great. [20:04] Okay. [20:05] And then you said Saturday morning at 6' or 6'30. [20:08] 6'30 is fine. [20:10] It's just early. [20:11] Okay. Yeah. [20:15] And so that's all of all of rights, not all of right straight, but right straight by the courthouse and [20:21] pretty much straight by the courthouse. You won't close. That's correct. Correct. Okay. All right. Any questions? [20:27] For Ross, Mr. Hale. In the gorgeous ring festival. [20:42] No, we do not need courthouse. [20:57] All right, do we have a motion to approve these street closure requests? [21:03] All right, all in favor? [21:06] Okay, thank you so much. [21:08] There are a couple other requests I'd like to make, and if this is not the appropriate time. [21:14] But in the past, the town has provided trash cans for that day on the the courthouse and [21:26] recycling cans, the rolling bins, and also picnic tables. [21:33] And I wanted to, that the town brings over and sets up on the courthouse square, [21:39] generally on Thursday or Friday, for the spring festival on Saturday. [21:45] If that's possible, I would love that. [21:48] And also, I wanted to find out about the electricity. [21:52] the list, does that stay on? [21:55] The electricity stayed on all the time, [21:57] but I still like to go around the test where you want [21:59] to make sure we don't have problems because it's [22:01] months, but maybe some time. [22:03] OK, but everything should be on. [22:05] That's fine. [22:09] And Rochelle wanted me to make note of the tent that [22:13] will be on right street on the courthouse square. [22:17] We'll have a locator coming in. [22:19] And then it'll be a big event type 10 for the school art display, the school's art display. [22:31] And we will have a locator come in to locate any underground utilities before we start driving [22:37] steaks and making problems. [22:41] Okay. [22:41] As far as the tent goes and permission to use the square you've gone through the county. [22:45] We're going back. [22:46] So there will be in charge of that. [22:48] The other request with the trash cans, picnic tables, electricity, does that all seem doable and okay, as usual, okay. [23:00] So if you will work with Cody on that, is that okay by the board? [23:09] Okay, all right, thank you all very much. [23:11] Thank you so much, we appreciate it. [23:12] Okay, [23:21] so that brings us to our department idle, departmental items this afternoon. [23:25] That finishes up with our special request and presentation. [23:31] So we're going to start with IT. [23:44] Hello, good afternoon, I'm Dustin McCullen, IT manager for the Tenantburg All. [23:48] I just started, wanted to start off with a couple items. [23:51] We had approximately 35 help desk requests and tickets that were resolved for the month of February. [23:57] and also we wrapped up a project for our redesign of our website which rolled out in [24:06] WinLive last week. So we encourage everybody to go over to burgaunc.gov and [24:11] take a look at that and that concludes it. I pulled up the website today and it looked [24:18] nice. So I haven't went through every page but I think it looks nice and a great start. [24:23] Any more questions? [24:26] Any more questions? [24:27] All right. [24:27] Thank you. [24:28] Thank you so much. [24:30] All right. [24:31] Public works? [24:37] Good afternoon, Mayor Commissioner. [24:39] Good afternoon. [24:39] Other than the weekly updates, I can't get no updates. [24:42] No news. [24:43] No additional items. [24:44] Any questions from me? [24:46] Do we have any questions for about works? [24:53] Okay. [24:53] All right. [24:53] Thank you. [24:54] All [24:58] right. [24:59] Fire Department. [25:03] Good evening, everyone. [25:04] one, Jonathan Fierce, each town of Virgo Fire Department. [25:08] During the month of February, we responded to 67 calls for services as a little under kind [25:12] of what we've been average and since I got here so that's good news for the community [25:17] means they didn't need us quite as much, but we did respond to 12 fire related incidents [25:22] during that time frame, a large portion of them being woods or grass type fires with the [25:27] drought conditions, and we did also respond to three structural related fires as well. [25:31] We also completed 230 hours of training during the month. [25:36] Some of the training was actually conducted on an acquired structure that novant was [25:41] kind enough to lend to us prior to it being demolished, where we were able to go over [25:45] there and do some incident scenario type training, some engine company operations, and then [25:50] the crew was able to go over there and do various different training objectives that did vertical [25:56] ventilation training, search training, practice, recovery and rescue and down firefighters and other things like that. [26:04] Also during the month of February we continue to grow the organization through our volunteer program. [26:09] We brought on one new volunteer firefighter and one new junior firefighter. [26:14] We actually have another junior firefighter application sitting on my desk right now that we hope to have on the department by April. [26:22] And then we also implemented our ride-along program that is available to anyone, age 16 or over, [26:31] which kind of falls in line with our same junior program, anyone under the age 18, [26:37] that would like to do the ride-along, just as have parent consent and signature. [26:41] This allows them to ride the fire truck, spend some time with us, see what we do, and kind of see what it's about, [26:48] whether it's somebody that's interested in joining the fire department or maybe [26:52] perhaps just a citizen that kind of wants to learn more about what does the [26:56] fire department do or perhaps even some elected officials that would like to [27:00] see what their fire department's doing. So we've debuted that program and already [27:06] had a lot of strong interest. We've already had about four or five people reach [27:09] out and ask about doing that. So we're real excited about that. Did anybody have any [27:14] questions for me. I think that's a great opportunity. We'll have to take you up on it. [27:20] We'd be glad to have you. All right. Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. [27:28] All right. So we don't have facility and grounds. Okay. Parks, recreation, and tourism. [27:36] Afternoon again. Before I jump into the West's trail of date shoot. All right. The clerks [27:42] I'm not in the head, I'm doing it right, had a few other updates. [27:46] Last night we attended the Pinder County Board meeting requesting funds on behalf of the [27:51] foundation for the community splash pad. [27:55] All that went very well and the county was very receptive to it. [28:00] So we appreciate their cooperation. [28:02] We got a very nice email from the county manager today thanking us for coming. [28:06] So we appreciate that continued partnership with Pinder County. [28:10] For our beautification board members on the town board, just let you know pressure washing is happening on Friday at the train depot and then working with Damon's crew to do some striping of some parking spots and some parking bumpers getting the depot looking nice before our mayor's gala at the end of the month. So thank you to Damon's group and we were $300 under budget for the beautification to just throw that out there. [28:35] We met with GAF this morning, did a photo op and released our press release. [28:40] We sent out some notification to the town board. [28:42] GAF has contributed $10,000 to the Splashpad project, as well as the surfacing material [28:47] through their street bond program, which was valued well over $20,000 to $30,000 in monetary [28:53] contribution. [28:54] So, we now have officially named our Splashpad, the GAF Community Splashpad. [29:02] They were very excited and we were very excited and glad to be working with Gaff on this project, so that press release has gone out to the media today and hopefully sparks some further interest from our corporations to get involved with that project. [29:18] Just to update you on another project, we're working with Trail Life, Mr. Peter Jergerson. [29:24] He is working on Fitness Equipment. [29:28] He's installing that as a Trail Project for similar to a Boy Scouts program. [29:34] There's four fitness stations. [29:35] He fabricated his self-stainless steel, working with Kilm Direct and some of our local businesses. [29:41] Our Park Foundation is purchasing the mulch and playground borders to go with that Trail [29:46] equipment. [29:47] He's going to be installing that later in the month on the east side of trail right here at Ash Street Park in the triangle. [29:53] And then our West Side Trail project obviously has fitness equipment on the west side. [29:57] So we'll now have fitness equipment on the... [30:00] Both sides of the trail for everybody to use. So, Peter is a very bright young man. He did all the community fundraising to get the materials for this project. So, we'll be notified in the board of when that ribbon cut and coming up and give Peter the round of applause he needs for his hard work. So, I will keep you posted on that. We did have a special events application. It was oversight on my behalf. So, please excuse me. The arts council has submitted a special events application to host. [30:28] And concerts inside of D's Park, which is fine, we don't have a rental system for D's Park, we added them to the calendar. [30:36] But they did request that when those concerts are going on, could they close Courthouse Avenue just for pedestrian traffic? [30:44] So it's, and Mayor, please correct me if any time I find them wrong, but it's the closure of Courthouse Avenue from right to Dickerson or the alley. [30:55] But I guess it doesn't matter. [30:58] I mean, whatever can be accommodated is fine. [31:02] They have closure, start time starting at 2 o'clock PM to 8 o'clock PM in those dates. [31:08] Bear with me, there's a few of them. [31:10] The second Friday. [31:11] April 11th, May 9th and June 13th. [31:16] The second. [31:17] July 11th and August 8th. [31:19] And I can repeat those again, I'm sorry. [31:21] The second Friday of the month, April through August. [31:23] So it's the same day as the classic car cruise ends that are already happening, yes, ma'am? [31:27] They're going to have the ARTS Council open for bathroom facilities during that day. [31:34] Okay. [31:35] Yeah, but they were hosting the concert in the park. [31:38] I believe there's some vendors own courthouse avenue like arts and crafts vendors and then [31:42] the classic car shows going on on right street which we don't close anything for that. [31:46] They just park in the available parking spaces. [31:49] But once again, it's closure of courthouse avenue from right to the alley to the alley from 2 o'clock PM to 8 o'clock PM April 11th May 9th June 13th July 11th and August 8th. [32:12] Any question on that request? Any questions or all [32:20] right, do we have a motion to approve that request? [32:22] So moved. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? [32:27] Okay, last item. It's been a long time coming on this one. Our west side trail and [32:33] park screen, I've provided you with a budget worksheet. I've been working with the [32:37] manager through this process and our contractor. We'll go through this. Our available [32:41] balance as of today is $725,263.71. That includes the $200,000 that was allotted in [32:51] last year's fiscal budget. The total, with the getting the pricing's back, environments [32:58] unlimited for the construction of the trail and that this construction price includes [33:02] cutting Fremont Street and Hay Street. So it's Fremont Street. What we're cutting is [33:08] from McCullen all the way into Dickerson Street. And then from Hay Street, what we're cutting [33:13] is from Pinder Memorial Park all the way down to the Railbed on Hay Street. That still allows [33:20] connectivity from Clark Street through the park down McCullen all the way down to Bridger Street [33:26] on this side of town which was a significant cut. It brought it from 2 million to 1.357. [33:35] Play World preferred. We had already approved their quote but it's been almost a year since [33:40] we've approved it and that that's not a significant change but a change of 1900 dollars [33:45] And then Terry Spell Mechanical, that's the three sets of rapid flash and beacon similar to the ones down here in the triangle that will go across 53 pinder, pinderly and bridges where the split is down here. [34:00] And then Smith Street, no, yes, Smith Street, where it crosses from Clark into Pinder Memorial Park. [34:10] So that's for that. That was about a $10,000 increase and that was mostly due to current tariffs. [34:19] So what's needed to complete the project at the current time is $692,844 and 20 cents. [34:27] We've already spent $361,552 with design and getting things prepared in-house. [34:34] If you go down to the bottom column, the original part of grant was for $886,816. [34:41] You got your new project cost of $1.7 million. [34:45] The part of free reimbursement is for the original contract cost of $443,408. [34:52] There was ARPA funds from COVID money for $350,000 allotted to the project. [34:57] The out-of-pocket expense total grant for the town would be $986,000. [35:02] dollars. We're [35:09] asking for this evening or the request to finish the project without [35:15] cutting anything further $692,844.20. [35:24] Okay. Is there any questions for Cody? [35:30] Okay. [35:33] So this [35:34] is the request. Do we have a motion to approve this request? Do we have the funding? [35:41] You large, large chunk, you can kind of fuck that up, do that. [35:46] I think we need, [35:50] you know, financing, you know, for, you know, something that would drastically reduce our number of fund balance. [35:56] Drop that percentage really quickly. [35:58] Correct. And we've already pulled out, I don't know, close to $300,000. If I'm not mistaken this year, I'm ready for this. [36:05] I'll just have all the projects and do the projects. That would be a substantial gift to the fund balance. [36:14] So is this do how soon is this do the six hundred like how much is needed all this was [36:22] to yesterday yeah now correct on finance and we got to go through the state and some [36:30] other things correct our [36:42] problem here is time right then my question when it comes [36:59] We don't have any more time to mess around with stuff we need to make a decision and move. [37:05] We need to come to appreciate it, we can come to agreement, get it taken care of, because we've been put off for so long. [37:12] And this needs to be good, it needs to be good. [37:16] Way too long, we have way too long. [37:27] I don't know anything about I mean the finance and how long that takes to get approval's back. [38:10] The [38:13] whole LGC approval bit and process you know it's if we can I think that the Mr. [38:22] your GAMP, the measure, I think you had a good point as far as finding what threshold [38:30] if it's even applicable that we can go about without going through the LGC process, not [38:38] avoiding the LGC in the sense of only to execute this as quickly as possible if that makes sense. [38:48] So preference would be, no, we don't want to tap in the phone dials very much. [38:53] It may be very, it would be who of us really to just do a slight mix of things. [39:01] We need to come back to the board very quickly on this. [39:08] My question would be this, we've been pushing it and pushing it. [39:12] And I did see the 69, 600 something thousand dollars. [39:17] Yeah. [39:18] We saw from last year the growth, the tariffs, whatever is going. [39:23] If we look at moving this out to next year, no telling what it's going to be. [39:28] We started off several years ago. [39:31] We looked at it last year. [39:32] We said, let's wait to this year. [39:34] Now, we see the increase in materials, increase in everything, because as we prolong. [39:40] Is there some other way that we can look at some kind of funding additional funding to at least start this and code you're stating that this needs to happen yesterday correct with the money correct? [40:12] We can work very as quick as we can with getting the ins back. [40:20] We can also go ahead and approve the funding out of fund balance, pending the approval of any type of financing and that sort of thing, [40:36] so that we can go ahead and move the project forward with the contingency being coming out of fund balance. [40:44] with our hopes to go ahead and be required with financing and pay for [40:48] what other time these bills come due. We have the money in thumb out to cover it. [40:52] So we can pledge the fund balance at this point [40:55] and work towards over the next few weeks getting the proper [41:00] documentation and all the four going [41:03] and obtaining that service on this project. [41:06] I think that's what we should do because this request has been here for some time. [41:11] And we knew that there was a large amount that's going to be due, so. [41:17] How savvy? [41:20] Is that good? [41:20] All right. [41:21] There's a raise. [41:22] There's a culture. [41:23] There's a lot of other questions. [41:23] Culture. [41:24] So what is the fund balance taken out? [41:27] $700,000. [41:29] What's that percentage put us out? [41:31] I mean, I don't have it right in front of me right now. [41:33] But is that going to put us below the threshold for this? [41:37] No. [41:38] It will not. [41:39] I got most certainly not most certainly. [41:42] The motion which there hasn't been a motion made yet. [41:45] Clear file manager was saying that contingency and other things. [41:50] So are you saying that we're going to a lot of this only based upon getting financing. [41:57] So if we don't pursue financing, we're on the vote for $400,000 in October to the state. [42:04] And our completion is contract right. [42:07] Well, you have had, [42:11] excuse my frankness with this whole thing, [42:13] this has been the last four years of me trying to get information, [42:18] to get information, to get information, to reap it and reap it and to reap it [42:21] and to be presenting the final information that we're talking about, [42:24] to find it, I have no clue what to tell, to say what we're doing. [42:29] Are we building the project, are we cutting portions of the project, [42:33] are we finding it to the project? [42:34] I mean, they're just eventually going to say, [42:50] We don't want that, do you know? [42:52] This is not been a last month to this month. [42:55] This has been four straight years. [42:57] It's going to cost us. [42:59] It's going to cost us. [43:00] It's going to be ready for this. [43:01] It's going to cost us. [43:02] And now we're here. [43:02] And it's still going up. [43:04] We're going up. [43:05] We're going up. [43:05] We're going up. [43:07] Mr. Attorney, if we make a motion to the finance department and then we'll go ahead and [43:13] work this out in this move forward, are we stepping out of bounds? [43:17] Yes. [43:18] Okay. [43:19] So, if your motion would have to be made, I mean, you call special meeting, you know, 48 hours [43:25] notice, is the mayor or two commissioners at any point, but if you're going to a lot [43:33] 692,000 fund balance, that has to be a formable motion and open meeting. [43:39] And then of course approving any financing contracts, that's got to be approved in an open session. [43:45] Okay. [43:54] All right, what is the pleasure of the board? [44:00] Let's move ahead and move forward. [44:04] I mean, next year we're going to be talking about the same thing. [44:07] I've been attending the meetings of wow, looking at this. [44:11] And all it's doing is just increasing and increasing until the project disappears. [44:18] And again, we've already submitted grant requesting that we're entire nine yards. [44:26] And then we're going to start pulling back and then we're going to want something again later on. [44:29] It seems like we're wishing Washington. [44:31] So it does sound like a bunch of money and it is a bunch of money. [44:35] But it's not going to get any better next year or the year after. [44:40] And we've already got consensus from a lot of the town people that they want this to continue. [44:46] I see this contribution. [44:48] So it is on, you know, you to make someone to make a motion on what you would like to do. [44:54] Yes, sure you won't be able to question. [44:55] Cody, how confident are you that this project is going to be completed by the doctor? [45:00] If the board says it's going to be. [45:09] If there's no. [45:14] Because of weather. We need to draw for. I mean, if we, if we obtain the loan within this fiscal year prior to June 30th, then we'll be good. [45:34] No, but the loan. [45:36] I'm talking about loan here. [45:37] Okay, so I think I'm correct here. [45:39] Okay, so it shouldn't be all that challenging for us [45:43] to, I don't believe, secure a loan as reputable as we are [45:49] in this community and whatnot. [45:51] It wouldn't take long at all. [45:52] And there are two different ways of handling that [45:55] and making that work. [45:56] So as far as securing the money within this fiscal year, [46:02] and making it kosher by the audit, [46:03] by actually June 30th, not October 31st, then that's what we'll do, and that's a good idea. [46:15] Okay, well, no. [46:18] Anybody have any other questions? [46:19] No. [46:20] Additional comments, questions? [46:26] Well, [46:46] this is something going on for years, and then we've got to get this project done. [46:51] We've got to move forward with it. [46:53] No, I mean, I think we need to move forward. [47:00] Someone like to make a motion on how you'd like to move forward. [47:05] In process, no matter. [47:11] My recommendation is to go into play, stun balance. [47:15] So go ahead and make a motion to appropriate the stun balance [47:17] in the amount of hours, 600, and 92 hours a week from it. [47:24] 692,000, I think. [47:25] Correct. [47:26] And then also, including that, wishing for us to seek funding opportunities in the [47:35] form of debt service for a loan to basically cover the cost so that we're not pulling [47:43] that out. [47:44] But in some cases that we did not get the loan funding, which are very, very minute, [47:54] then [47:56] Again, the bomb balance would be- [47:58] It's still coming out of unbalanced. [48:00] Right. [48:00] Okay. [48:01] All right. [48:02] With this recommendation on the table, [48:06] do we have a motion to approve? [48:09] Summon. [48:10] Do we have a second? [48:12] Second. [48:12] All in favor? [48:13] Aye. [48:14] Any opposed? [48:18] Right. [48:19] So, Cody, we want you to move forward. [48:21] Hi, Nancy. [48:22] And tell manager will work on the additional details to make sure [48:28] for that good's taking care of. [48:29] Call Mr. Cochran, tell him to get busy tomorrow. [48:33] All right. [48:34] Thank you, Cody. [48:41] Okay. [48:41] So that brings us to Planning Department. [48:44] All right. [48:45] Good evening. [48:47] I'm Ron Meredith. [48:48] I'm with the Planning Department. [48:50] So just a few things. [48:51] Just to hit off the 10,000-foot view. [48:54] Next week's Planning Board. [48:56] So we have the Council of the February Planning Board, [48:59] because the Inclimate Weather, [49:00] we have a Conditional Zoning for a [49:02] A bar, et cetera, tighten use has defined by the table permitted uses. [49:08] We also have a proposed chapter going in the UDO for a wellhead protection overlay district. [49:16] This basically just does a 150 foot buffer away from each of the wellheads that we have [49:23] so we can cop, protect, or water quality in town. [49:27] Also, their UDO is still in progress, as you may know, it will probably be until that Senate bill 382 is settled that you all made a motion for a resolution last time. [49:43] There has also been quite a few calls about development, some of them on some future forespanings and stuff like that coming in, so growth is on the edge just to give you all heads up. [49:54] You may have seen or heard that the rain garden meeting is tomorrow, so everybody's welcome [50:00] to come. [50:02] 3-5 is going to be internal, and then 5-30-7 will be an external for stakeholders. [50:10] But I believe we're going to provide a link so that you can watch it remotely if you choose [50:15] to do so. [50:17] Also, in your planning board package is a resolution for a sidewalk grant. [50:23] So through some of the latest NCDOT meetings that I've gone to, and I believe Mayor Dawson's gone to Mr. [50:32] Reurivenbark as well, we learned about opportunities for sidewalk or motting modal grant opportunities. [50:39] So I reached out to the colleague fairly quick and jumped on that, I very had one meeting with them. [50:45] They're filling out the application for us now as we speak, and it is a match. [50:50] It's like a 5% to 10% match. [50:52] I think that can still be worked in with the budget that I propose to you all during the CIP process a few weeks back. [51:00] There might need to be some massaging just to bump it up a little bit, $5,000 or so. [51:07] But I think it should be good. [51:11] But what this is going to take, it's not going to rewrite a plan. [51:14] It's going to take the existing plan, which I believe was approved in 2015, and it's going to build off of that and identify some projects. [51:24] So we'll be able to go in and locate those projects and kind of have some trouble ready projects. It sounds like so. [51:33] And that's planning from 10,000-foot view. Just to give you a heads up, we have had a number of violations. [51:42] If you guys are driving on 53 out of town, you'll notice that one of the violations has [51:48] been cleaned up pretty well across the street from Creamsbrute Road on the northern side, [51:54] which looks great to give thanks to Donna for working with all the violators to make [52:00] sure that they're brought in the compliance to each violation that comes in. [52:04] We're going to do an investigation, no matter if it's internal complaint or external or [52:08] or whatever, but we want to make sure that we look [52:10] and help the people come into compliance [52:13] and make the town look good and everything. [52:15] So also the tree that was ever by the middle school [52:17] was cleaned up as well if I didn't mention that last time. [52:22] And we're maintaining a level of about 15 [52:26] or so violations at this point from a zoning standpoint. [52:31] Very good, thank you for taking care of those. [52:34] Any questions for Ron? [52:35] Ron? [52:35] Ron, I'd like to thank you. [52:37] I spoke to you briefly on the West Side and I've seen you drive through in a matter of [52:41] two weeks, about three times, three or four different times and it's good to see, you [52:45] know, others from the, I guess the pick house, if you will, up front, to come down there and [52:52] look at that side of town, too, because we are part of the town of Bergau and much attention [52:59] needs to be looked at over there as we do the entire town. [53:04] So I appreciate you, you know, you're driving through and looking at some of the issues that we have been trying to get settled now. [53:14] So thank you. [53:15] I appreciate that. [53:16] All right. [53:17] I do have a request. [53:19] Assign suite. [53:21] Is that on yells radar? [53:22] Yes. [53:23] Okay. [53:23] Probably this Friday. [53:25] We're working on planning board packets right now. [53:27] Assign. [53:28] I mean, yeah. [53:28] And those should be out when they serve a few areas that's getting a little thick on signs. [53:36] Before we prove the resolution, any more questions for planning department? [53:41] All right, do we have a motion to approve this resolution request supporting the Town of [53:45] Burgos, a multimodal planning grant program application? [53:49] So I'm going to have a second. [53:51] A second. [53:52] All in favor? [53:53] Okay. [53:53] Okay, good. [53:54] I'm excited about that. [53:55] Thank you. [53:56] All [53:59] right, building and inspections. [54:05] Everyone, Lewis Hessey with the Building Inspections Department. [54:09] We continue to stay very busy, not a lot of exciting news. [54:13] Other than what I've told you in the past, the Law Enforcement Center and Health and Human Services is moving along very rapidly. [54:21] We are doing easily too a day at each one of those and sometimes more. [54:27] and each inspection, take you a good 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what it is. [54:32] But that's all going smoothly. [54:34] Novant has about five projects going on right now. [54:37] You heard about the demolition. [54:39] They've got a boiler project. [54:41] They've got the reg or the renovations of the second floor. [54:44] Now the first floor has been approved for total occupancy of the first floor. [54:48] Second floor should be in the next couple of weeks. [54:52] They've got an infusion project's been permitted, [54:54] which is the old DMV home that was back on the parking lot there, close us to the helicopter pad. [55:03] That's been permitted in and is on the way. [55:05] And then the ERHVAC big project is being replaced on there. [55:13] Black River is where expansion is going smoothly, but all deli is continuing on. [55:20] Bagel King finally got their first inspections so we're really excited that's that's taken off [55:27] We have a hardest and builders behind white tractor is if you can look behind there [55:32] You'll see a lot of trees down so it's getting cleared out and that should be [55:36] Come along good as we come out of the spring and the trees start to draw [55:44] Thank goodness that Ivy is as young and he is he's been spending just about seven days a week for every week [55:50] in some kind of class with just a little bit of break here [55:53] and there he'll be gone for the next three weeks still. [55:56] We can see leaves on Wednesday afternoon [55:58] and comes back on Sunday and starts back Monday morning. [56:02] So he is finishing up his, all of his level three classes [56:07] so hopefully we'll be testing here [56:09] and somewhere around June area and top out. [56:14] And that's about it. [56:17] All right, very good. Any questions for Lewis in their department? [56:22] I have a question. [56:24] The final form, if I count the numbers back right, right street, [56:31] plus its 509, next to [56:33] it is 505. It was in your little while back about the Robinson things. At house now, if [56:39] you look at it, the roof is beginning to cave in on it. [56:43] Yes, that one is one that really wasn't even on the radar to begin with. [56:49] It had a tarp on the roof, they came in, they came up with a great plan of how they were [56:55] going to renovate it and what they were going to have done by this date and what they're [56:59] going to have done by that date. [57:01] It didn't work out, gave it some other plan and it has not done anything either and that [57:09] is one that, and we haven't been as hot and heavy on those right now as we have been [57:17] in the past because we've got a new planner, a new community development coordinator, [57:22] a new inspector, tons of development, we've just been, we've been strung out as far as [57:26] we can go. So we have been trying for Donna can back me up on this, we have been trying [57:31] for several weeks to get out and get the fire started back under all these again, but [57:37] it has not worked out. We've got walk-ins all the time when we're doing, we're [57:42] staying real busy, but it is things are leveling out. Again, Tommy does help us, [57:48] but we've got Ivy out two and a half days a week and then I'll be out and it's [57:54] coming, I've got a little procedure to do and be out for about a week. So there's a [57:59] lot of things going on. It is not forgotten and we have been trying to make it into [58:04] to do the schedule for several weeks. [58:07] Do we have a timeframe? [58:09] We do not have a timeframe now. [58:11] I'd say the timeframe would probably start somewhere [58:15] in April once we get through all the schooling, [58:18] all the other things that we're out for here and there [58:21] because right now in order for the ones [58:23] that are still staying in office to keep up with things, [58:26] there's not much time. [58:27] So hopefully come somewhere around the first of April, [58:30] we'll have everybody back to where we're nobody's [58:33] taking off and going places and we'll be back in gear. [58:35] Again, we've got a new planner, a new community development [58:39] coordinator, a new inspector, tons of projects. [58:42] It's just kind of like really, really stretched out. [58:48] Not forgotten, we've had a lot of progress. [58:50] We've had a lot of success. [58:52] There's a lot of new houses where old houses were. [58:54] We know there's still something to be done. [58:56] We're proud of what's been done [58:57] and we know there's work more to be done. [59:00] Can I ask a quick question? [59:01] And many, many years ago, was there a program that Virgo had when there were homes that assisted [59:08] in replacing homes or not? [59:12] Obviously, it was a CVD grant. [59:14] Not through the town of Virgo, the Pinder County handled those when they were offered [59:19] and we have had probably close to a dozen projects that were done in town, but we don't [59:26] handle them ourselves. [59:27] We pretty much permit them, inspect them and move on. [59:30] It was being done in Berghall, but probably handled by the county. [59:33] Okay, I was curious, I didn't know as many years ago, but. [59:36] Right, there's probably been, it's probably been two, three years since the last one was done. [59:43] There's, they're usually pretty small, you know, even right now some of the houses down [59:48] right street are getting other kinds of funding for what's there, what's going in. [59:54] I don't want to tell you which ones they are, but some of them are getting assistance as well, so maybe not too much. [1:00:00] Thank you for the grant program, but through North Carolina housing North Carolina rebuild and that kind of stuff. Thank you. Good to know sir. All right. Thank you. All right. Any additional questions? Thank you. Thank you. [1:00:19] All right. Finance Department. [1:00:32] The finance office has been busy with preparing for the audit. We're actually very well underway in communicating with our auditors. [1:00:44] had they've provided the list where we slowly collect all the information that's needed [1:00:50] and so on and accessing their portal and to my understanding this might be among our [1:00:58] earlier times of beginning the other process. [1:01:01] I could be wrong but that's just my understanding and that's if that's true, that's just wonderful. [1:01:08] So it comes with a [1:01:13] challenge, and that's more for me on my end, coming in. [1:01:17] Again, that geyser is just going strong, and even though it's still drinking from it, [1:01:25] assessing everything from within the finance office to the way in which we operate just in general. [1:01:31] And all of that is to help us prepare for the audit and the budget. [1:01:37] So, when it comes to assessing, we're looking at all of our asset lines, our liability [1:01:42] lines, our revenue lines, our expansion lines, we're seeing how all of those line lines and [1:01:46] everything correlate to certain reports and whatnot. And again, all of this assessment that we're [1:01:51] doing also leads to and makes a difference with departments. And so, soon we'll be having our [1:02:02] quarterly departmental budget reviews, and that's something where that helps us with [1:02:10] the audit and it helps us with the budget process. [1:02:14] It just ensures that all of the line items and whatnot are things being posted to or [1:02:20] all of the transactions are being posted to each line item properly. [1:02:26] And if not, that's fine. [1:02:28] We can do the proper adjustment journal entry to go ahead and move the money around. [1:02:35] And again, the auditors are going to be good with it. [1:02:38] They're going to be happy. [1:02:39] And it makes it cleaner when it comes to the budget as we all review it and [1:02:44] that we're actually reviewing true proper, again, numbers, often can't say proper. [1:02:51] Well, okay, anyways, it's just a good thing, okay? [1:02:55] That's what it is. [1:02:57] So it helps, again, looking forward to this, [1:03:01] getting that going, and it's going to be wonderful. [1:03:05] So that is where we are at, [1:03:10] that is more or less also where I am at, [1:03:13] because there is a lot, again, [1:03:15] that I do need to take in, [1:03:17] and there are configuration matters [1:03:19] that need to be addressed. [1:03:21] It's nothing terribly severe, [1:03:23] nothing that we can't resolve, [1:03:25] there are good things and there are always things like anything that just needs to be addressed and that's what's happening. [1:03:35] So, there's a lot going on. Again, the budget, the audit and ensuring that our books are proper and clean. [1:03:45] So there you go. I love that word tonight. [1:03:47] Okay. [1:03:47] So, you've been with us a month now, correct? [1:03:50] Yes, ma'am. [1:03:51] Yes, ma'am. [1:03:52] getting acquainted. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've been drowned. Drowned. We understand. But enjoying it. Yeah, [1:04:01] much again, right? Any questions for Hans or the finance department? No, I just got [1:04:06] confused who get it done. I just, if something happens and we don't meet our deadline, we need to [1:04:12] know about it beforehand instead of getting caught right with the last year or year before [1:04:16] We just need to make sure stuff is submitted on the timely facts. [1:04:22] Good to hear it thoroughly. [1:04:24] Yeah, okay. [1:04:24] And the LGC did change the ruling this year. [1:04:28] How does it work to? [1:04:30] For ever? [1:04:30] I'm not sure with 31st. [1:04:32] Now that it's going to be similar to 31st because of the complexity and the timeframe [1:04:37] form. [1:04:38] They were having a lot of people with like all of it. [1:04:41] So they said that deadline to be somewhere 30 versus technically the [1:04:45] morning is not new until December 30th. [1:04:48] I would love to see it submitted for me. [1:04:52] Stick to that. [1:04:53] I wrote down myself some grace there. [1:04:56] Right. Wonderful. [1:04:57] The transparency will be there. [1:04:59] Thank you. [1:05:00] Thank you. All right. [1:05:02] Any questions? [1:05:03] All right. [1:05:04] Thank you so much. [1:05:05] Appreciate it. [1:05:05] All right. [1:05:05] That this time we'll take a five minute break. [1:05:07] If you need to sign up for public forum, please do so. [1:05:10] and we'll resume again in about five minutes. [1:11:35] We have Mr. John Johnson. [1:11:40] Hi. [1:11:48] I'm John Johnson. [1:11:50] I live at 200 sub-dickers street here in Bergeron. [1:11:52] I think everyone knows me. [1:11:54] I am here to speak about two issues. [1:11:59] One is, this should be a really, very minor issue with a really, really cheap resolution [1:12:05] and the other, I'm not so sure about. [1:12:07] But let me begin, if I can approach with mayor's permission, [1:12:21] someone [1:12:40] from the town's [1:12:41] landscaping department came over near my house at the corner of Freemont and Dickerson [1:12:47] to do some work with the two holly trees there, right there facing Freemont's tree. [1:12:53] And they dug around the trees to expose the flare with the purpose of the intent to allow [1:13:00] the trees to grow better. [1:13:03] But in the process of doing that, they uncovered, as you can see here, if you pass those [1:13:10] pictures down and the little jar with the samples, they exposed maybe thousands of these [1:13:19] little sharp brick charts, little tiny brick charts. [1:13:24] And at one time, I think all the trees in downtown had that red brick covering around [1:13:31] them for, you know, appearance. [1:13:33] And later, it was removed, and here I think it was covered up with dirt. [1:13:38] But when the town personnel came over to excavate that area, you can see the holes that they [1:13:44] goes around. They expose and spread the sharp, sharp, it's a brick. All of my concern is [1:13:57] is at beginning in about a month, it'll be time to begin mulling the grass. And anybody [1:14:04] has ever mowed the grass, they know that the lawn mower will suck up material, it spins [1:14:11] ends around robust and then is ejected on the side. [1:14:16] And in this particular space, which is right in the middle [1:14:20] of downtown, you can see from the picture's cars apart [1:14:22] with just a very few feet of this work. [1:14:27] Some of these thousands of very sharp particles [1:14:31] are going to strike the cars, but worse yet, [1:14:36] if it strikes a person, this is what [1:14:38] to call it very, very serious injury. [1:14:42] Now, I'm heavily insured. [1:14:44] I'm sure the town is heavily insured. [1:14:47] But regardless of that, if somebody has their eye put out, [1:14:50] nothing can replace that. [1:14:53] So my request for the town is for a motion to send [1:15:00] Now, first I'll back out and carefully rate, screen, and pick up all of this debris, dangerous debris that have been recently discovered just causing no public problems. [1:15:16] And feel these, feel these little pieces of debris. They're sharp and they're little. Those are some that I picked up about two handspoles this morning, wash them, you know, so you can see them and dried them. [1:15:28] So bring them so you can see for yourself the actual threat of these tiny little things may cause if a law more picks them up [1:15:37] And hurls it like a slingshot to hit the car hit somebody in the face. It's a problem [1:15:45] So I'm asking for the board to have a motion to have this cleaned up as quickly as possible. I don't think that we need a motion [1:15:53] But we we will make sure that landscaping crew and our guys [1:15:59] Our staff will get that up. I don't know that we probably all want to know that how sharp they were [1:16:05] Because they do can look like mulch. Yeah, but something I think that even beyond just covering that area [1:16:13] They need to be picked up because they won't come exposed again [1:16:16] Eventually, and they're not just in the town right away, but the trees are [1:16:20] So there's run sling out into my yard, right? Yeah, so it's not a wide area, but it's significant enough [1:16:28] that it's a danger and a real concern and it says, [1:16:32] I'm the one that cuts the grass here. [1:16:34] I can't remember the town ever cutting the grass [1:16:36] in this right way, and I cut it. [1:16:38] And the only text is a couple of minutes. [1:16:41] But it scares the daylight set of me [1:16:44] that I may accidentally cause a problem [1:16:48] through this arrow. [1:16:52] Thank you for bringing it to our attention. [1:16:54] Second item. [1:16:56] I don't know how expensive this would be, [1:16:57] but if [1:17:00] you will look at this, I was here in April, not here in Iraq, but April of 2022, [1:17:14] to speak about big 18-wheel trucks parking in downtown Virgo, and I was speaking of how [1:17:26] It was an impediment for visitors or patrons of businesses to park downtown because [1:17:34] one big truck would take up maybe four or five car spaces. [1:17:38] And they're also driving up as a turn apart upon the sidewalk. [1:17:44] And so I brought a photograph of where the sidewalk actually had been crushed and broken. [1:17:50] and to also request through this proof that it actually was occurring that the town would [1:17:57] replace that piece of sidewalk. [1:18:01] There are four squares that are affected. [1:18:04] That was in 2022, 23, 24, and now we're in 25, and we're in the middle of a sidewalk [1:18:15] We're placing a program, and that problem is not even on the schedule. [1:18:22] May I address that, please? [1:18:24] Yes, please. [1:18:25] And this was an item on my agenda to bring up this event. [1:18:28] So this is involved in the water replacement and that line in the American China as well, [1:18:36] that is currently in the permitting stage with the DQ to have that line replaced, and with [1:18:45] that the entire sidewalk and that block is scheduled to be replaced but we have to do [1:18:49] it in conjunction with the waterline. So there's the waterline in place in any fan? [1:18:54] Okay. Do we have a timeline on? [1:19:01] Well that's great and I appreciate that. Sooner we could have done the better. But if you [1:19:07] If you look at this, this is the only crack in broken concrete on any sidewalk in downtown [1:19:14] Burrow. [1:19:15] It is the only broken, broken, cracked sidewalk in concrete in the central businesses. [1:19:23] It is the only broken and crushed sidewalk on the walking bridge. [1:19:28] Plus, it is only concrete that is probably not ADA compliant. [1:19:33] And the fact that it's been ignored from 2020 to 2003, [1:19:39] you've asked before, and after that's the way you thought it, [1:19:42] you'll have done just data software art. [1:19:46] Well, I would say it may have gotten a real look before, [1:19:49] but it does appear to be on our radar right now. [1:19:51] So do we have a timeline, though, [1:19:53] of when we can try to estimate that that pipe will be replaced? [1:19:56] You said you had a contractor look at it recently. [1:19:59] As a permanent issue yet, I know it was in reduced days. [1:20:05] So we're looking at a couple months maybe? [1:20:08] It takes, they can take the DQ. [1:20:10] I know, DQ. [1:20:11] We [1:20:15] can schedule the project. [1:20:20] Well, what we can do is give, give you up the date on the timeline. [1:20:24] But hopefully that week... [1:20:26] In fact, I had a plan on speaking up to this issue today, [1:20:32] except while I was putting together my photographs and thoughts [1:20:35] with regard to these shards of brick, looking out my window, my office at my house, I saw somebody trip at the same place, right? [1:20:46] Relentless time. Walking and trip fell down underneath. [1:20:50] We'll make sure we get it addressed as soon as possible. [1:20:53] We're going to mark that area just to bring it to the tensions. [1:20:57] I'm like, can we sort of wait a spray pain at or something, I mean. [1:21:03] Just to bring a little bit of attention to it. [1:21:06] Sometimes. [1:21:06] Just replace it and then cut it up again and then do it again. [1:21:09] I'll see what we're trying to do. [1:21:11] But yeah. [1:21:12] I'm trying to solve a couple projects at one time. [1:21:14] And I never understand the constraints with the budget from the earlier conversation. [1:21:18] And it's not cheap doing this. [1:21:21] Yeah. [1:21:22] Well, luckily that falls into line with another project. [1:21:29] So we'll keep you abreast of the time on, hopefully we can get it done in the next couple [1:21:36] of months. [1:21:37] But thank you for bringing all this to our attention. [1:21:41] Appreciate it. [1:21:42] Oh, yes. [1:21:43] You can take care. [1:21:46] You're right. [1:21:50] Okay, next, we have Mr. Daniel Wedlock. [1:21:59] Good [1:22:03] day, Madam Mayor and Mr. Commissioner. [1:22:05] Good evening. [1:22:05] My name is Daniel Wedlock. [1:22:07] I live in 712 West Bridge Street. [1:22:11] I appreciate all the great things that y'all have done in the town of Bergo, me and my family [1:22:17] and friends, we enjoy all the improvements that you all have made changes to. [1:22:26] One of the things that friends and family have addressed me with when it's one of my concerns [1:22:31] also are the sidewalks, just like other people have been speaking up on. [1:22:38] One of the vision of optics is what is being done on the east side versus [1:22:46] is what has been done on the West Side. That's what the West Side be looking at, [1:22:53] because you have four sections of concrete, I mean, that sidewalk that has been [1:22:58] replaced recently through these streets. And they also have been not just totally [1:23:07] replaced. They weren't patched. They were just totally replaced. And on the east side [1:23:16] you have sidewalks all over the place. You know on Walker Street you have [1:23:21] the sidewalks all the way down to the senior center. But on the west side I've [1:23:28] only been able to see sidewalks in two places. About 30 feet on the side of [1:23:36] Pickley Wiggly and about 20 feet in front of the museum. That's it. That's it. [1:23:44] Now, I would recommend, highly recommend, that we start working on the west side too, you [1:23:51] know, that we pay taxes over there too, you know, but to at least, at least, start out on [1:23:59] Wimington Street and run some sidewalks down, passed pickley-wiggly, the auto store, the [1:24:09] a farm bureau, you know, all the way down through there. [1:24:15] You know, and that, that, that'd be a start [1:24:18] because on the, he says, you have sidewalks [1:24:21] through communities, but we don't even have [1:24:25] no sidewalks over there. [1:24:27] Pretty much, I mean, if you, if you look at it, [1:24:32] but you know, I'm dealing with the optics of it, [1:24:36] And we're seeing, hey, they not only are we, they're not just repairing the sidewalks. [1:24:48] You're digging them up and replacing the whole thing on all four sections that you did. [1:24:53] And we talk about budget, you know, that would be an issue there. [1:24:59] you know and I was in the budget meeting I didn't I wasn't able to see much but [1:25:07] in the budget meeting we were talking about paving roads and then it came up [1:25:13] about paving the trails and the same thing with the trails came up that we want [1:25:21] to replace sections of the trail, not do repairs, we're going to replace sections, and [1:25:30] I know good and well, you know, we can identify and cut that down some. [1:25:36] But at the same time, we're thinking about, I think it was like $10,000 to do the repairs [1:25:43] for the trail on the east side, when we ain't even started on the west side. [1:25:51] I would think that the money when it comes focusing on the trails will go to the west side. [1:26:02] You would save your money to put on the west side, but that isn't that isn't happening. [1:26:08] That's not the optics that we get, you know, but you know, some of these older people, you [1:26:17] And on the side, but they identified as a cross the tracks, you go across the tracks, [1:26:23] you got one way people live over here and then over here, you got the other thing. [1:26:28] And that's not, those optics aren't real for no one. [1:26:36] The last thing that I have on my street, I have a, I have standing water in my ditch. [1:26:44] and I brought that up before but I would like to get that area sprayed because last October [1:26:56] I mean it was real bad over there and I wasn't able to make it to the meeting last October [1:27:00] to make mention of it but like right now it's warden that ditch and it's going to be in that [1:27:07] ditch for a while and those mosquitoes are going to be there and I would just like for that [1:27:12] area to be sprayed at possible. [1:27:15] What's your address again? [1:27:17] 712 West Bridges Street. [1:27:19] Thank you. [1:27:20] Nobody sprayed over there last year. [1:27:22] No, I can't say that I've seen them, [1:27:27] but I know they sometimes come down through there. [1:27:30] But maybe they should come down through there [1:27:33] a little bit more. [1:27:37] So the water you ditch, though, doesn't drain very quickly. [1:27:40] I know you've made that question. [1:27:41] And once one area over there, where they did that complex, [1:27:45] where I was concerned when they built that concept [1:27:49] complex about the water drainage issue, [1:27:52] because I tried to talk to y'all, [1:27:55] and that was my only concern. [1:27:56] But sure enough, that's what I have, [1:28:00] that's what I have to live with. [1:28:03] All right, so can we make sure to spray over there? [1:28:06] Is that doable? [1:28:08] And then, of course, evaluate [1:28:12] What can be done about the ditch? [1:28:17] We need to continue to push DOT to address that. [1:28:22] Well, I was going to, too, but as you see, we approved money for West Side Trail, which includes additional sidewalks. [1:28:30] So that is a start. It's going to put sidewalks in places that there aren't sidewalks. [1:28:35] So that's a start. [1:28:37] But I agree. [1:28:38] We need sidewalks all throughout town. [1:28:40] Beyond the library, there are no sidewalks. [1:28:43] Other than walker street, we have folks [1:28:45] that cross over the busy intersection [1:28:47] walking to Walmart, and there's no sidewalks. [1:28:50] There's no sidewalks from down Walmington Street. [1:28:53] But I want to see that happen sooner than later. [1:28:59] But there's never enough money to get all this done. [1:29:02] But thank you and I do, you know, please always let us know, but also know that we are, we won't [1:29:11] these things to happen just as well. But if there's anything, it's [1:29:36] long overdue, but we're going [1:29:39] to get there. So be patient with it just a little bit longer, but continue to let us know what we [1:29:51] And just like what you just said about the trails, everybody going to be walking on the trails, you know? [1:30:00] You got somewhere to go. We say trails, we say trails, but they are sidewalks. It's a connection. It is so that folks can walk on on a sidewalk on a trail so that they're not walking on grass and roadway. So when we do say trails sometimes, it just means part of it may be a trail, a walking path, but it's some of it is going to be sidewalk as well. Sidewalk extensions. But then we can build on that trail. Pretty much for recreation. But what I'm speaking of, [1:30:29] the sidewalks for people that have to go in the direction to a store and be able to [1:30:36] get on the sidewalk and make their way. [1:30:40] Thank you. [1:30:42] Appreciate it. [1:30:42] Thank you. [1:30:45] Okay. [1:30:46] So that concludes all of those we have signed up for public forum. [1:30:49] We'll resume with our department updates, our last few departments, human resources. [1:31:00] Just getting evening, Mayor and Commissioner, I just wanted to share a fun event that we had last week we did a chili cookoff for our employees. [1:31:08] We had seven entries and every single one home was very good. [1:31:14] Everybody, it was just a fun event so everybody who came in and ate got to taste all the chilies and put their vote in. [1:31:22] first place was a clear winner but we had a four way top for second and third so [1:31:27] we had to have a revote but in third place was Tommy Lindsey he had a really [1:31:32] delicious like barbecue style chili second place was Cody Sugs he had a [1:31:39] more typical of a chili but it had state bits in it and then with the fiery [1:31:45] chili first place was Jonathan Provatt so his was really good but it was extremely [1:31:50] and we're spicy, but we just want to thank all our employees for participating. [1:31:54] We also had hot dogs and other things for our employees to enjoy during that. [1:32:00] The only other thing I have to share is that we have one of the facilities [1:32:04] and grounds of maintenance worker position being advertised as well as one water [1:32:08] and sewer maintenance worker position. [1:32:11] Okay, very good. Any questions for Kim and human resources? [1:32:15] All right, thank you, appreciate it. [1:32:21] Police Department. [1:32:27] Good afternoon, Jim Hock, Burgo Police Department. [1:32:33] Over the last couple of months, I've talked a little bit or quite a bit about Lee Williams. [1:32:37] We sent Lee Williams originally through Instructor Certification. [1:32:43] It's in order to be able to teach our community college for [1:32:47] law enforcement, continuing education, BLET, things along those lines. [1:32:52] We then turned around and he went to firearms instructor, just kind of worked out well that they had a vacancy, he was able to get in there. [1:33:00] So he's taken all the state tests, he has completed all the practicals, sent all the paperwork off, he had to teach eight hours in front of another certified instructor. [1:33:10] So all that is done, he got his certificates back yesterday. [1:33:13] So we now have a certified instructor that's also a certified fire arms instructor through the state of North Carolina within the department. [1:33:21] So it's been a goal for a little while, but it comes at a good time. [1:33:26] So our new firearms, everything's in, including the holsters. [1:33:30] So we finished putting those guns together on Sunday. [1:33:34] And so this week we'll zero in with the optic. [1:33:39] And then next week we have taken out there. [1:33:42] so everyone can shoot and qualify and get familiar with the new guns and those of the handguns. [1:33:50] The material Williams just finished up radar classes past weekend. [1:33:55] Watch guard has been there all day today. [1:33:58] I'm assuming they'll probably be there all day tomorrow, setting up the new body-worn cameras [1:34:03] and operation in system for the cameras for the PD. [1:34:10] So they were approved in the budget last year, so we're excited to have them. [1:34:15] Dustin's been great, he's been working with them, it's been a challenge on the technical side of it, but he's been great in helping go through that process. [1:34:25] Presented on a couple of weeks ago, maybe two weeks ago at Parks and Rec, Lunch and Learn on Scams. [1:34:31] So very good group of people there. [1:34:34] And then since our last meeting, we had our quarterly 911 advisory board meeting at the [1:34:39] sheriff's office. [1:34:41] And coincidentally, it was the day after the helicopter crash, so we kind of debriefed [1:34:45] on that and went through a lot of that as well. [1:34:49] Any questions, concerns? [1:34:51] How did the event downtown go? [1:34:54] Or around town? [1:34:56] The training? [1:34:57] The training? [1:34:57] Would you like me to switch hats and I'll go to point number one? [1:35:00] I'm sure. [1:35:00] I left it under the system manager. [1:35:04] It went great. [1:35:05] Got a lot of positive feedback, a couple from Citizens that thought it was kind of neat [1:35:10] to see the dogs and the drones flying. [1:35:12] We got feedback from other law enforcement agencies, the one guy said, I've been canine [1:35:16] for a while now and we've never done heart surface tracking like in a town. [1:35:21] Not many people are willing to kind of take that that leap forward. [1:35:28] Drones, there was one agency which is a large agency around here that never flew more than [1:35:33] just one drone at a time. [1:35:34] So part of this training was having multiple drones at multiple heights that are supporting [1:35:40] the canine and the search. [1:35:42] So a lot of positive feedback. [1:35:44] I thought it went really well. [1:35:45] We had Detective Fair and kind of represented a burger. [1:35:50] He's one of our drone operators. [1:35:51] and so I think well, well, we did not receive any complaints if there were any, so if anybody wasn't unhappy with it, so we take that as a win as well, but [1:36:03] did it as anybody had any concerns brought forward? [1:36:07] Because it was unique to see three or four guys running with a couple canines tracking and hard services. [1:36:13] It's harder for the dogs to track on hard services and it is through woods or grass. [1:36:19] I think I heard it was positive. [1:36:21] Very good, very good. [1:36:23] Yeah, I started a door and I talked to him on Sunday. [1:36:26] He was very appreciative. [1:36:27] He was one of the instructors, but he's the one [1:36:29] to put it on. [1:36:30] So I think we got word out there where people understood what [1:36:35] was going on. [1:36:36] We didn't get any panic calls or anything on those lines. [1:36:40] All right, any other questions on that one on the training? [1:36:43] So thank you for the support. [1:36:46] work. So Public Works dump truck came in last month. It's been striped. The emergency lights [1:36:53] have been ordered. We're just waiting for them to come in so it can get wired. And then [1:36:57] it will be ready to go. Detective truck, same thing. I'm just waiting for equipment to [1:37:02] come in. And then we're in the process of surplusing the old dump truck that was passed down from [1:37:08] public works, the parks and rack, the facilities and grounds. And it's just time for it to go. [1:37:16] And then an old facilities and grounds truck and then we just surplus a couple of other vehicles they sold last month. [1:37:27] But I think they were surplus two weeks ago. [1:37:30] Once again, those revenues just roll back right into the vehicles that are replacing them. [1:37:39] Questions and concerns for either hat? [1:37:41] I got one. [1:37:43] We brought it up. [1:37:45] the last meeting, the four last, the 25 minor speed limit signs. [1:37:50] If I call the ladies, they're going to do exactly who they're going to tell me. [1:37:54] She keeps asking about when they're going to put them up, when they're going to put them up. [1:37:58] I am waiting on quotes from a contractor and they are not gotten back quotes for installing [1:38:06] that at this point. [1:38:07] Our people can't do it. [1:38:18] Yeah, we just need to get them done. [1:38:20] I'll reach back after a while, I'll see if I can get them done. [1:38:23] Yeah. [1:38:24] They'll have some locations and everything. [1:38:28] They were working to try to get information about locates because they have to locate them. [1:38:32] They were in one location. [1:38:34] You got how many signs? [1:38:35] A hundred. [1:38:36] Yeah. [1:38:37] Twenty dollars a piece. [1:38:38] I'll take care of them. [1:38:44] All right. [1:38:45] Any more questions for Chief Hawk, Police Department, or Assistant Manager? [1:38:52] All right. [1:38:53] Thank you for your update. [1:38:56] Okay. [1:38:56] Item's for the manager. [1:38:57] There are a couple of things downtown projects with their energy. [1:39:04] The part of that project included some underground needing to be out of the courthouse grounds [1:39:11] and they had easements in place, those were approved at the county's board meeting last [1:39:16] night. [1:39:17] So that part of that project is on-go. [1:39:20] So the other section in the downtown area, they have gotten the work orders submitted waiting for the contractors to come in and set a schedule on actually doing the work. [1:39:34] They're still assuring me that it should be done in plenty of time for the festivities in the downtown area. [1:39:43] One of the issues that arose this past week about was this intersection here at Wright [1:39:53] and Wilmington Street because that is already in a project for NCDOT to move a bunch of [1:40:01] those poles and moves and lines and stuff out of the way because of the stoplights that [1:40:09] they're supposed to go into that location. [1:40:11] They're the mass-arm stoplights similar to what's out on 117. [1:40:17] So in order for them to put those, [1:40:20] they were happen to move and relocate some lines. [1:40:24] So we're coordinating with DOT on that project [1:40:28] and the Duke project so that we're not double [1:40:32] duplicating issues and also we're walking through those. [1:40:37] but everything's moving forward with that project as of right now. [1:40:43] One 17, the streetlights that were brought up as a concern in what our board meetings finally got to do to meet with me on those. [1:40:53] And they are going out to do an assessment and scoping and let me know what they can do. [1:41:00] that's an NTDOT road, so everything has to be approved by them. [1:41:04] Even changing out the lights from the old style to LED lights, [1:41:09] so I'm waiting for their response back to give me an idea [1:41:13] on when they can get that work accomplished [1:41:16] and get those lights updated, as well as the potential of adding [1:41:20] some additional lighting along that route. [1:41:25] The water and sewer master plan, we're supposed to have, according to our engineers, the final proposal and scoping of that this week, once we have that in hand, we'll be able to review that and look forward to that project. [1:41:40] The stormwater master plan is going well, all the assets and stormwater pipes [1:41:52] and drainage and all have been located. [1:41:56] they are doing, starting the modeling of the system, and doing additional survey work [1:42:04] to, they go along with that modeling, so it's progressing very well. [1:42:11] We will have meetings more regularly now, but we should have one in the next couple of [1:42:16] weeks to get a better update into review of the data that they collected so far, so that [1:42:22] projects going very well and we can get excited to see what will come to that point and that's all the major [1:42:30] updates at this point. Okay, any additional questions for the manager? Based on these projects or others? [1:42:41] Okay, items for the attorney, do you have anything? I have a lot for a close session and maybe [1:42:48] necessary to make some statement over record after that, but only close session for now. [1:42:55] Okay. All right, items from the Mayor and Board of Commissioners will begin with consideration [1:43:00] of our tourism development authority application. We have one position, is that right? [1:43:08] That needed to be field and we have one application that has been received and you've received [1:43:15] We leave to copy of that in your packets. [1:43:19] It's for Ms. Wendy Clawson. [1:43:22] She would like to join our TDA, so it looks like we should consider her application. [1:43:34] And if so, okay, by you, we'd entertain a motion to approve her request to join our TDA board. [1:43:40] Okay. [1:43:41] Do you have a second? [1:43:42] Second. [1:43:43] All in favor? [1:43:44] All right. [1:43:45] That was easy. [1:43:46] Welcome to TDA board. [1:43:47] Thank you for applying and wanting to join. [1:43:51] And thank you for moving to Bergo. [1:43:53] We appreciate that. [1:43:55] All right, so look forward to working with you on that. [1:43:58] We'll begin with hearing from our commissioners, Mr. Dawson. [1:44:02] Do you have anything? [1:44:02] I don't have anything. [1:44:04] I'll guess you're up here, sir. [1:44:05] All the sessions. [1:44:06] OK. [1:44:07] I have a couple. [1:44:09] OK. [1:44:11] First time I've ever seen it happen in Bergo. [1:44:15] A white truck came down Wilton Street. [1:44:18] He was running at least 75 miles an hour. [1:44:23] That was the first time. [1:44:25] Well, my boy, my mailbox. [1:44:29] I don't know. [1:44:30] I never in my life seen a vehicle running that fast. [1:44:37] And something needs to happen right there. [1:44:39] It's just freaking off. [1:44:40] Stop there. [1:44:41] At the end there. [1:44:43] And then I was going to do that. [1:44:44] Got the intersection. [1:44:48] Yeah. [1:44:50] Absolutely. [1:44:50] I get this thing but I swear to that truck that was terrible he's just going front coming [1:45:00] from one, 17, down, down, down, down, down, picked up speed, [1:45:09] just have our, be a look out. If it [1:45:14] will keep advocating or need to keep advocating, especially with growth, we're going to need some [1:45:18] stoplights, those intersections are getting more lengthy every day, a little tricky. Okay, [1:45:29] Okay, the only items I have was I was going to bring up the Dickers and sidewalk, Dickers [1:45:36] and Street sidewalk there, but looks like we have that underway. [1:45:38] So if we just see that project through, again, I know that it's important that we have [1:45:44] sidewalks all over town, but we do need to take care of the ones we have as well. [1:45:47] So if we can put on our radar walker street from the church to the park, it's very bad. [1:45:57] It's just, it's not really cracked up but it's very rocky. [1:46:03] There's a few places that are cracked. [1:46:07] We do want to maintain our sidewalks and our walk and trails to avoid you know any stumbling [1:46:13] and people getting hurt and all that but if we can make sure that's on our list of some [1:46:18] to repair moving forward. That would be great. I think that is all that I have myself. [1:46:29] All right, with that being said, we have a motion to move into close session. [1:46:34] All in favor? [1:46:35] We resume our regular meeting at this time with items that we need to... [1:46:43] So, the first thing with the resignation of the town attorney affects immediately, we need to contract with or I recommend contracting with the local police to appoint a town attorney to serve in an integral until the permit replacement is made. [1:47:04] Do we have a motion to approve that recommendation? [1:47:18] All right, and as far as we will work with that attorney as well as look at past RFP's [1:47:26] four legal services and go ahead and work on that once we get that drafted, we will work [1:47:35] with a board in setting a special meeting to review that so that we can move this process [1:47:41] as quickly as possible to go ahead and get that published and work on it. [1:47:52] The other item was reorganization of the Public Works Department and the Facilities Department [1:47:58] moving that into one department with a public services director over those two departments, [1:48:07] doing away with the assistant public works director position. [1:48:12] Correct. [1:48:12] And adding as the as a project manager and their job descriptions. [1:48:17] All right, do we have a motion to approve that request? [1:48:19] We'll move. [1:48:20] Second. [1:48:21] All in favor? [1:48:22] We need both. [1:48:26] Any addition? [1:48:27] You can have your hands full. [1:48:29] That's good, but it's good for you, Mr. Gantt, because if you get a good person that's over the public works, that's less work that you're going to have to do. [1:48:39] We can see spreadsheets, we can see documentation that what we're currently not receiving from those two departments. [1:48:44] Second, you have your hands full, which I'm getting these easements and stuff done. [1:48:48] So as quickly as you and Kim can get on getting that department [1:48:53] Feel that spot feel the better it is going to be for you [1:48:57] And if it would please ensure [1:49:03] Cheap pockets over [1:49:05] All right, we have any additional items [1:49:19] All right, we have a motion to adjourn. [1:49:23] Second. [1:49:25] All right. [1:49:26] See y'all.