[0:11] Good evening everyone. At this time
we're going to bring this meeting back
[0:14] to order.
We're going to have the invocation by
[0:16] Commissioner Barbara Fetherston and the
pledge of allegiance by Commissioner
[0:20] Coleman. Everyone will stand.
[0:26] » Dear God, thank you for another
opportunity to come and to transact
[0:29] business of this county. Lord God, we
ask that ask for your guidance and your
[0:34] vision as we go through this meeting
tonight. Be with us, Lord. Bless this
[0:38] county, bless the residents of your name
I pray and I thank you. Amen.
[0:42] » Amen.
>> I pledge
[0:45] salute pledge
>> pledge
[0:47] » I pledge allegiance
to the flag
[0:50] of the United States of America and to
the republic for which it stands, one
[0:55] nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
[1:02] » Yeah.
>> I know the pledge of allegiance.
[1:06] » Item number five, motion approval
agenda. We want to add on 7B,
[1:11] which is an adoption of the proclamation
recognizing Miss
[1:15] Lilly Williams for her 100th birthday.
Hear a motion to approve.
[1:21] Got a motion by Commissioner Fetherston,
second by Commissioner Floyd. All in
[1:25] favor say I.
All opposed. Item number six, board
[1:29] minutes approval of August 3rd, 2026
regular session.
[1:33] » I got a motion to approve.
>> Motion by Commissioner Coleman.
[1:36] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Floyd. All in
[1:39] favor say I.
All opposed. Item number seven,
[1:42] proclamation. Adoption of the
proclamation recognizing Dixie Central
[1:46] Columbus Ponytails
runner-up in the 2026 World Series. Hear
[1:51] a motion.
>> Motion to approve, Mr. Chairman.
[1:54] » Got a motion by Commissioner Bullard,
second by Commissioner Smith. All in
[1:58] favor say I.
>> I.
[2:00] » All opposed. All right, girls. Come on.
[2:06] Hey regular, come on.
[2:22] » I got these four young ladies with us
here tonight who we are so proud of.
[2:26] And uh
they're like my own daughter, you know,
[2:29] watching them play ball all season long
that I really enjoyed watching and
[2:34] and how proud they make me look in it.
Not just me, but
[2:38] everyone. But before we get started,
announce your names again and the
[2:42] positions that you played.
[2:47] » Um my name's Parker and I play pitcher
and third base.
[2:52] » My name's Jenna and I catch.
>> Uh Lily Grace, outfield.
[2:57] » I'm Carmela and I play first base.
>> Laken and I play center
[3:02] » Katie and I play shortstop.
>> Kaylee and I play outfield.
[3:06] » Mia and I play first base and third
base.
[3:09] » Paisley and I play outfield, first base
and pitcher.
[3:12] » I'm Rylee and I play second, third.
>> And you have Miss Rylee right there. She
[3:17] She really impressed me one day. They
They recorded the game. I think Cillian
[3:22] Cillian was recording it. She had game
change over there.
[3:25] » strength
>> She run up to it one time, she said,
[3:28] and and this was recorded live. She
said, "All right, y'all. We're behind. I
[3:32] want everybody to pray for us." And then
she turned around and said, "Lord, help
[3:35] us to win this game."
>> [laughter]
[3:37] » She said,
"And so I watched her do that."
[3:40] » [laughter]
>> And I said, "These girls learns a lot of
[3:42] things
at the ball field. They got good
[3:45] coaches, good coaches there."
Come on, Tyler. Say something. Guys, go
[3:49] on up here.
And uh
[3:52] there's more than just playing ball. And
so it makes me real proud of and I even
[3:57] got a granddaughter on the team right
there.
[4:01] They got a situation.
[4:04] And as coach of the
give your name sir.
[4:08] » I've never
been a player that been coached this
[4:10] group. They make it easy. They do all
the work.
[4:13] » Chase Lancaster.
>> And I'm the one in charge, Jordan
[4:16] Lassiter.
[4:19] » I didn't get to say something about your
team.
[4:21] » Hey, I just first of all I just want to
thank everybody for the support that we
[4:24] received not only this year but the past
few years.
[4:27] This is a very special group right here.
I'm very proud of each and every one of
[4:31] y'all. I mean they're not only great
ball players, they're going to be future
[4:34] leaders in this county. And
I wish them all well. It's been a
[4:38] pleasure to coach them and I hope you
get the opportunity again in the future.
[4:42] » [clears throat]
>> I'm just
[4:44] I'm just proud of them. I'm not just
proud of them on the field but off the
[4:47] field at all. So they have good
qualities and good characteristics.
[4:51] Um we kept God in the center of
everything. We made sure we always
[4:55] prayed
and that made me the most proud so and
[4:58] now I love them.
>> It's going proud of them. This team won
[5:01] a lot. This team all year never really
trailed at all until we got to World
[5:05] Series and they they learned how to play
through adversity and
[5:08] I think this is one of the neatest
things for me.
[5:12] » All of the 2026 Central Columbus
Ponytail World Series runner-up
[5:18] whereas Dixie Central Columbus Ponytail
team demonstrated exceptional talent,
[5:23] teamwork, determination, and
sportsmanship throughout the 2026 Dixie
[5:28] Softball season.
And whereas through their hard work and
[5:32] dedication, this team earned the
opportunity to represent Columbus County
[5:37] on the world stage at the 2026
Dixie Softball Ponytail World Series.
[5:43] Whereas competing against outstanding
teams from across the nation.
[5:48] The Dixie Central Columbus Pony Tails
displayed remarkable perseverance and
[5:53] excellence, advancing all the way to the
World Series championship game.
[5:59] Whereas the team concluded an ex-
extraordinary season with the 2026 Dixie
[6:05] Softball Pony Tails
World Series runner-up,
[6:09] bringing pride and recognition to
Columbus County
[6:12] through their very outstanding
accomplishments.
[6:15] Whereas the commitment shown by these
players, coaches, parents, and
[6:19] supporters exemplifies the value of
dedication, leadership, teamwork, and
[6:25] community spirit that inspire future
generations of young athletes.
[6:31] Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that
Columbus County Board of Commissioners
[6:35] hereby recognizes and congratulates the
Dixie Central Columbus Pony Tails for
[6:40] their outstanding achievement as the
2026 Dixie Softball Pony Tails World
[6:45] Series runner-up,
and extends its sincere appreciation to
[6:51] the players, coaches, families, and
supporters for representing Columbus
[6:56] County with honor, integrity, and
excellence.
[7:00] Let's give these young LADIES A HAND.
>> [applause]
[7:09] » GOOD JOB, LADIES.
AGAIN,
[7:14] CONGRATULATIONS.
[7:17] CONGRATULATIONS. Proud of you.
>> Thank you. Congratulations.
[7:20] » Thank you. Congratulations.
Thank you.
[7:25] Thank you. Congratulations.
Congratulations.
[7:28] Thank you, sir.
>> Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you.
[7:30] » Thank you.
>> Thank you. Congratulations.
[7:32] » That's my niece.
>> [laughter]
[7:33] » Okay.
[7:36] » All right.
>> I hear you, Ricky.
[7:39] I hear you, Ricky.
>> Ricky.
[7:41] If I make If I make copies of them and
you mash paper and put them in here, can
[7:45] you get them, too? Okay, I'll get you.
[7:50] » [clears throat and cough]
[7:57] [clears throat and cough]
[8:04] » All right, item number seven,
proclamation.
[8:07] 7B
[8:11] I'll let them get out.
[8:30] All right, item 7B
Here's a motion for proclamation
[8:35] adoption recognizing Mrs. Lilly Williams
for her 100th birthday.
[8:40] Motion by Commissioner Featherson,
second by
[8:44] Commissioner Coleman. All in favor say
aye.
[8:48] All opposed, Miss Miss Commissioner
Featherson is going to appoint this
[8:53] I guess at Miss Williams' birthday
party.
[8:57] Item number eight, public input.
Anything, Madam Attorney?
[9:02] » I haven't received anything.
>> Okay.
[9:05] Item number nine, administration
approval to establish a public hearing
[9:09] for the 2026 CDBG neighborhood program
grant application. Ms. Edwards.
[9:16] » So, we are applying for a CDBG
neighborhood revitalization grant in the
[9:21] amount of $950,000
before we submit the application, we
[9:25] must hold two public hearings. So, we're
asking for the first public hearing to
[9:30] be held on at the September 21st meeting
at 6:30 p.m. Okay. If awarded these
[9:36] funds, we hope to assist five homeowners
with probably tear down and rebuild of
[9:42] homes. Okay?
>> Make a motion to
[9:47] approve the here.
>> Motion by Commissioner Floyd, second
[9:51] by Commissioner Bullard.
All in favor say I.
[9:54] » I.
>> All opposed. Item number 10, DSS.
[9:58] Presentation of the DSS update for July
2026.
[10:02] » Miss Hall.
>> Good evening.
[10:06] Um the department was awarded um
$132,936
[10:12] in crisis intervention money or funds.
Um and it was for our um cooling season
[10:18] to help families um with the emergencies
and help ensure access to essential
[10:22] energy assistance.
Uh this month well in August, I had the
[10:27] opportunity to um attend my regional
director's meeting. Um it was held in
[10:31] New Hanover County and the focus was on
Path and C. So, I am proud to announce
[10:37] that we are finally finally rolling out
with Path and C for all of child welfare
[10:42] um as of August 10th um
the the remaining services like foster
[10:47] care and um
in-home services is now in child welfare
[10:52] is in Path and C. So, all of us are are
on live on that. So, we are totally
[10:56] paperless.
Uh I also had the opportunity to do a uh
[11:02] leadership retreat um host a leadership
retreat with my supervisors. Um the
[11:07] retreat was designed to express my
appreciation for their dedication and
[11:10] hard work and commitment to serving the
citizens of our county. So, I'm very
[11:14] very proud of their work.
Lastly, um I would like to recognize the
[11:20] outstanding work of our food nutrition
workers, my Medicaid unit, and my child
[11:24] support workers for meeting their state
targeted performance goals in the month
[11:28] of August. Um
also in July, we collected um in child
[11:33] support $410,913.
And program integrity, we collected
[11:38] $1,642.
And that is it. Any questions?
[11:44] » When do you start the um
6-month redetermination?
[11:50] Cuz right now you guys are doing
12-month redetermination for Medicaid
[11:53] recipients. Is that right?
>> Yes, ma'am.
[11:55] » I'm not sure when the actual
>> You're on that.
[11:58] » Yeah.
>> Okay.
[12:00] » I can get back with you on that one.
>> That Okay.
[12:02] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Thank you.
[12:04] » You're welcome.
>> Great report.
[12:05] » Thank you, Ms. Hall.
>> Thank you.
[12:06] » I hear in a motion to approve her
report.
[12:09] » So moved.
>> Motion by Commissioner Featherson,
[12:11] second by Commissioner Smith. All in
favor say aye.
[12:15] » Aye.
>> All opposed. Item number 11, Sheriff's
[12:17] office.
Approval of the resolution to surplus
[12:20] vehicles and associated auction
[12:25] for Wednesday, September the 2nd, 2026
at 10:00 a.m.
[12:30] Mr. Creech is here for any questions.
[12:35] » I move that it be approved.
>> Motion by Commissioner Smith.
[12:40] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Coleman. All in
[12:43] favor say aye.
>> Aye.
[12:44] » All opposed. Item number 12,
grant administration, Sheriff's office,
[12:48] approval of the amended capital project
ordinance for the Sheriff's office. Mr.
[12:52] Creech.
[12:56] Hey, there you are. I lost you.
>> So, the the uh there's actually a typo
[13:01] on the what the agenda says, but it says
parking lot, but it's actually money for
[13:06] we're moving money into the uh
furniture and equipment part of the uh
[13:12] the grant It's all grant money, but
we're just moving some money from the
[13:17] the grant itself into
the equipment and furnishing.
[13:22] » Motion to approve.
>> Motion by Commissioner Coleman.
[13:24] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Bowden. All in
[13:26] favor say I.
>> Aye. All opposed. Item number 13,
[13:30] transportation. Approval to establish a
public hearing regarding the
[13:35] physical year 28 North Carolina DOT 5311
admin capital and 5310 grant
[13:42] applications.
[13:46] Mr. Chairman, hello.
>> Good evening.
[13:49] » [clears throat]
>> This is the public hearing that we need
[13:52] to have in order to apply for the grants
for the fiscal year 28.
[13:58] And so we're just asking you to set the
public hearing date for September the
[14:01] 21st
at 6:30 or as soon as can be heard.
[14:05] » There's a motion
Motion by Commissioner Featherston.
[14:09] Seconded by Commissioner Floyd. All in
favor say I.
[14:12] All opposed. Item number 14,
transportation. Approval of the low bid
[14:16] from Waters Contracting
and the minute capital project ordinance
[14:21] for the transportation expansion
project. Mr. Chairman.
[14:26] » I'll make a motion to approve.
>> You got a motion by Commissioner
[14:29] Coleman.
>> Second that, Mr.
[14:30] » Seconded by Commissioner Bullard. All in
favor say I.
[14:34] All opposed.
Okay.
[14:36] » Where do you post your your your bids?
The bids, they were posted The bids
[14:42] themselves or the the request for
proposal?
[14:45] » Request for proposal.
>> It was posted on the county website. It
[14:49] was posted on Mr. Dixon's website.
Um
[14:55] and then I think it was emailed out
to two contractors as well.
[15:01] » Okay.
[15:04] » Thank you.
>> Uh-huh.
[15:06] » Item number 15,
planning department. Approval of the low
[15:09] bid from Barfield's Backhoe LLC for the
FEMA flood mitigation assistance grant.
[15:18] Ms. Bridget Span is here for
and uh the amount is $23,025
[15:24] to clear damaged residential structure
on Rogers Circle.
[15:31] » Yes, Mr. Chairman, uh Commissioners, as
part of the FEMA flood mitigation
[15:35] assistance FMA 2020 grant, the Planning
Department is requesting approval of the
[15:40] low bid and notice to proceed awarding
the property at 328 Rogers Circle in
[15:47] Tabor City to Barfield's Backhoe in the
amount of the $23,025.
[15:54] » Make motion to approve. Motion by
Commissioner Coleman.
[15:58] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Smith. All in
[16:01] favor say aye.
All opposed. Item number 16, Planning
[16:04] Department. Approval of the low bid
from Four Seasons Demolition for the
[16:10] FEMA flood mitigation assistance.
Planning Director Ms. Bridget Span is
[16:16] requesting $14,400
to clear damaged residential structure
[16:20] property located in Clarendon on
Chadbourn Road.
[16:25] » And were these requests for bids posted
on the county website as well?
[16:30] » They were in the paper, on the website
as well.
[16:32] » Okay. I didn't see it on the county
website, but I did see it on the
[16:36] planning board website. And I was just
curious as to all as to whether or not
[16:40] all of these requests are being placed
on the
[16:42] county.
>> Okay.
[16:45] Um our MIS, they are the ones that place
the bids out on the website. So, they
[16:50] may have only just put it on the
planning board website.
[16:56] » Is there a motion?
>> I motion to approve.
[16:59] » Second.
>> Motion by Commissioner Coleman, second
[17:02] by Commissioner Featherson. All in favor
say aye.
[17:05] All opposed. Item number 17.
>> [clears throat]
[17:08] » Thank you, Ms. Fran.
Item number 17, Attorney's Office.
[17:12] Approves of approval of the resolution
to define proceeds for quarter-cent
[17:17] sales tax. With your permission,
Chairman.
[17:21] Attorney Ms. Amanda Prince, all right.
Take it.
[17:24] By Commissioner Bull, um, motion I mean
Y'all be tongue-tied now.
[17:31] Motion by Commissioner Bullard, second
by Commissioner Floyd. All in favor say
[17:35] I.
>> I.
[17:36] » All opposed.
Item number 18, update regarding the
[17:40] quarter cent sales tax and alcohol
referendum economic development director
[17:44] Mr. Dylan Bullen and corporate extension
director Mr. Howard Wallace
[17:48] is going will give us an update.
>> Good evening. I'm Howard Wallace and I
[17:54] would like to give you guys an update on
what the
[17:56] um staff is doing to educate the public
on the quarter cent sales tax referendum
[18:00] and the three alcohol referendums um
that are going to be on the ballot for
[18:04] November
3rd, 2026 ballot. Um regarding the
[18:08] quarter cent sales tax, we have put
together an education committee that
[18:12] consists of myself, Howard Wallace, Yela
Edwards, Heather Woody, Amanda Prince,
[18:17] Casey Evans, and Jennifer Brown.
I am serving as the chairman and Howard
[18:21] Wallace has graciously graciously um
agreed to be our PIO.
[18:26] Um so, any questions that public or if
anybody needs, please contact Howard
[18:31] Wallace.
Um our first action was to get a
[18:34] resolution defined on the quarter cent
sales tax in which y'all did with it um
[18:39] agenda item 17. Our next step is to
bring for um some people in from the
[18:44] school systems and Southeastern
Community College and also put together
[18:48] a flyer which you have a copy of and
we're in the process of creating a
[18:52] brochure. Howard has reached out to
Southeastern to help us with the
[18:56] educational video and we hope to have
that completed in the next few weeks. We
[19:01] also have several other key individuals
to help us get the message out. We have
[19:05] secured secured a booth at the county
fair to share our educational materials
[19:10] with the public as well as utilizing
social media.
[19:13] Regarding the alcohol referendum, our
finance director Heather Woody is
[19:17] working to determine how, if passed,
these funds would impact the county.
[19:21] These steps we are taking
with these steps we have taken this far
[19:26] um to ensure the public that will be
well educated and provide accurate
[19:30] information regarding the quarter-cent
sales tax and three alcohol referendums.
[19:35] We will continue work to ensure the
public has access to clear and factual
[19:38] information as we move forward.
Um we are here to educate, not advocate,
[19:43] on these two items. Um I'll be happy to
answer any questions you may have.
[19:48] » I think we need to make it perfectly
clear, though, that they're not
[19:51] combined.
>> Right.
[19:53] » I know the way y'all represent tonight,
it looks like they're running together
[19:56] and you're promoting both of them.
>> Right. Two separate
[19:58] » But I think they need to be known that
they're they stand alone. They're
[20:02] totally separate.
>> Totally separate on ballot.
[20:05] » I'd like to see if you could put me on
that committee. I'd like to volunteer to
[20:09] be on that
>> meeting.
[20:10] » Yes, sir.
>> committee.
[20:12] » Yes, sir. Thank you.
>> And Ricky, to your point about them
[20:15] being separate on the ballot, the
alcohol referendum, I think correct me
[20:18] if I'm wrong, is actually three separate
>> Yeah, I've got a ballot.
[20:21] » Mhm.
>> And they're separate, but
[20:24] I was just saying the way y'all present
it to the public.
[20:27] » Yeah. [clears throat]
>> You know, tonight some of them may think
[20:29] they're running in conjunction with each
other.
[20:31] And I oppose that. I I don't think it's
it's good to make it think that you got
[20:35] to
to, you know, be supportive of one
[20:39] or both of them.
I think it need to be known.
[20:42] » We're just
>> And the reason I say that, there's
[20:44] [clears throat] a lot of people that
opposes the alcohol referendum and
[20:47] they're going to be coming out letting,
you know, be known, but we do want the
[20:52] support and pass the quarter percent
sales tax for the schools and
[20:57] and the entities that's getting it.
>> Yeah.
[21:02] Yeah, we we understand and yeah, these
are going to be two totally separate
[21:05] things.
>> [clears throat]
[21:07] » We're just here to help educate if the
public has any questions
[21:12] regarding both of these items.
>> And I think that's really important that
[21:16] we educate the public because
I mentioned it to some folks, they think
[21:20] that quarter of percent is one thing
when it's not. So I think it's great
[21:24] that we do educate
and and
[21:28] also separate the two.
>> Yes, ma'am.
[21:31] » I think all of us need to get out there
and educate for as much as we can that
[21:34] quarter of a cent and and you know so
we'll know exactly
[21:38] and and you know people some people say,
well
[21:41] a lot of people don't understand that
it's 1/4 of 1 penny.
[21:45] » Right.
>> You got to have 1 penny or 4 pennies to
[21:48] get a whole penny out of it.
>> Right.
[21:52] » [clears throat]
>> And the biggest thing is what we're
[21:55] advocating
for and that's the college, the schools
[21:58] system.
>> School systems, parks and rec.
[22:00] » Yeah.
>> Right.
[22:02] » That's where the money will go to
Article 26.
[22:04] » Right.
>> Yes, sir.
[22:07] » No questions.
Thank you.
[22:10] » Thank you, Mr.
[22:16] » Item number 18, but we just done that.
Item number 19, attorney's office.
[22:21] Approval of the personnel policy policy.
Attorney Amanda Prince is requesting
[22:26] approval of the following sections of
the proposed personnel policy to become
[22:30] effective January 1, 2027.
It's Prince can answer any questions.
[22:38] » I move it be approved.
>> Motion by Commissioner Smith.
[22:42] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Coleman.
[22:44] All in favor say I.
>> I.
[22:46] » All opposed. Item number 20.
Finance. Approval of the policy
[22:51] regarding ARPA funds. Finance Director
Ms. Heather Woody is requesting approval
[22:56] of the policy regarding property
management purchase using ARPA funds.
[23:01] Ms. Woody.
>> Good evening.
[23:05] So, we already have a property
management policy for um
[23:09] anything that is funded by taxpayer
funds.
[23:13] Um the ARPA funds are a little bit more
restrictive and this actually comes into
[23:17] play
um with some DEQ projects that we've
[23:21] done. And the only
we we've done four of them. Two of them
[23:25] were AIA's um
inventories and that is where they go
[23:30] in, they GPS every piece of
um the water system.
[23:35] And so, that's not something that can
really be disposed [snorts] of um cuz
[23:39] it's just it's just a map with a GPS
coordinates. And then there was a
[23:43] planning grant and then the other one
was actually uh replacement of some
[23:48] water lines that would have a
40-to-60-some-year lifespan. Um but this
[23:54] ARPA is requiring for us to have a
separate policy for these items.
[24:00] And so, that's only thing that this is
doing. It's just pertaining to those
[24:03] ARPA items.
>> Move to approve, Ms. Chair.
[24:06] Motion by Commissioner Bullard.
>> Second.
[24:09] » Second by Commissioner Coleman. All in
favor, say aye.
[24:12] All opposed. Item number 21, finance.
Approval of the budget amendments and
[24:17] departmental requisitions. Finance is
requesting approval for A, Sheriff's
[24:22] Office in the amount of $17,335.
B, Sheriff's Office, special alcohol and
[24:27] drug
$5,230.
[24:30] Prior year
requisitions and current year
[24:33] requisitions. Ms. Woody.
>> Okay. So, the first budget amendment I
[24:38] have is
>> [snorts]
[24:39] » uh $17,335.
Um the Sheriff's Office sold a car back
[24:44] to Enterprise and um we got $17,000
um for it and they're wanting to
[24:49] purchase another vehicle. So, we're
reporting that revenue against the uh
[24:53] expense of capital outlay so they can
make that purchase.
[24:57] The second, um, budget amendment I have
is for $5,230,
[25:03] and this comes from, um,
special drug and alcohol fund balance.
[25:09] And so, this is covering items that they
ordered last year that is on, um,
[25:15] back order, and we have not received
them yet. Um, so, we're rebudgeting
[25:20] these funds, and we're going to collapse
or do away with the fiscal year 26, um,
[25:25] purchase order form, and have a fiscal
year 27 purchase order for them. So,
[25:30] when they come off back order and we
receive them, we can go ahead and, um,
[25:33] pay pay for them.
[25:38] Okay, on page 61 is our prior year
purchase order, um, requisitions, and
[25:44] these are for purchases made without
purchase orders.
[25:47] Um, I have two that is, uh, for economic
development for Windsor Contracting, and
[25:52] that is capital outlay for, um,
uh, multi-year construction project. Um,
[25:59] we have one for H&W Glass and Mirror for
Sheriff's Office [snorts] for glass
[26:04] install. Um, Ingram Library, uh, for
books for the library. Campbell Brown
[26:10] for materials to outfit a car for
Sheriff's Office. Kill Well Food System,
[26:16] which is the inmates meals for Sheriff's
Office in detention. And then,
[26:20] Southeastern Drug Testing, um, and that
is for Human Resources. And so, after
[26:27] y'all approve these, we will not have
another list for prior year requisitions
[26:31] and POs. Um, if I continue to pay these,
we will never be able to start our audit
[26:37] process.
>> I have a question about these.
[26:41] » Um,
these are fiscal year 26?
[26:45] » Yes, these are fiscal year 26. So, these
are, um, bills that were encumbered or
[26:50] we received, uh, that was for prior to
June 30th, 2026.
[26:56] » Now, uh
[27:01] » And they either didn't have a purchase
order at all, or they did not have
[27:05] enough funds on the purchase order for
us to be able to pay them.
[27:09] » Would any of these affect our fund
balance?
[27:11] » Possibility. It could. So, the top two,
the two for Windsor Construction, that
[27:16] is a capital project ordinance. So,
those funds are completely separate than
[27:21] fund 10. So, when we discuss fund
balance, we're usually discussing our
[27:24] fund 10 or our general fund fund
balance. Those are not included in with
[27:29] that. Anything below that could
potentially affect fund balance. Now, on
[27:35] June 29th, June 30th, um
I brought in a bunch of budget
[27:40] amendments reallocating
some of the um
[27:44] revenues to fund balance usage, and I
feel like I've covered most of these. Um
[27:52] but, there is a potential that some
things that I was not aware of, I may
[27:56] not have known that they were that far
behind, could potential we could
[28:00] potentially have a fund in cuz there
wasn't enough budget to cover some of
[28:03] these.
>> And we've been cautioned already about
[28:06] our fund balance.
>> Yes.
[28:10] » And these uh
they don't have purchase orders.
[28:12] » These do not have purchase orders.
And um anything that's
[28:17] anything that is uh presented to the
finance office after the purchase of has
[28:22] already been approved takes my author-
authority away of creating a purchase
[28:26] order. So, that's why it's coming to the
board.
[28:28] » When was When was this [clears throat]
purchased, these items?
[28:31] » I do not have the invoice dates on here,
but it had [snorts] to be before June
[28:35] 30th.
>> Wonder if it was right before or
[28:38] on earlier in the year, you just don't
know. And you don't have no idea of how
[28:42] much will come out of this year's fund
balance.
[28:44] » No, not yet, because we will re-
This once these are paid
[28:49] And I get the um taxes paid to the the
Municipalities and everything that will
[28:56] close out our fiscal year 26 bills. But
we will continue to receive fiscal year
[29:02] 26 revenues until mid-September because
that's when our last sales tax payment
[29:08] that we can backdate into fiscal year 26
will come in in mid-September.
[29:14] So I will not have a firm number on how
much fund balance we actually used
[29:19] Um or come close a
Idea of how much. Firm number won't come
[29:24] until after the audit is complete in
case they have adjusting entries but I
[29:28] won't know
For sure
[29:31] Any type of estimate until we get those
that final sales tax in.
[29:35] » And why can't this come out of the
sheriff's budget for this year?
[29:39] » Because it was purchased actually
before. Before June 30th.
[29:45] So they
[29:48] » And that was about last year.
>> Yeah.
[29:50] » We didn't pay for them and we didn't
have money to pay for the tables. So
[29:53] there wasn't enough money put in
contracted services to pay for the
[29:57] meals.
So we have to pay the inmates.
[30:02] So whether it comes out last year or
this year
[30:05] We've got to pay for the inmate meals
and the people want their money.
[30:10] » Okay.
The only reason it's coming to the board
[30:12] because as I said it once it's
Once the purchase is already made once
[30:17] it's invoiced it takes away my authority
of creating a purchase order. A purchase
[30:21] order is before
Anything happens. So um af- if if it's
[30:27] already invoiced it takes away my
authority to turn it into a PO, admin's
[30:32] authority to turn it into a PO then it
has to come to the board.
[30:37] And as I said some of these
They may have had a PO for them. It may
[30:41] not been enough.
So.
[30:46] » So, all of this is inmate meals?
>> No, not all of it, just one.
[30:49] » 10,000.
>> Which one is that?
[30:51] » It Kellwell Food Management, the one um
the second one from the bottom that's
[30:55] $10,331.
>> Okay.
[30:59] » There's a brief description of what
they're for. I didn't
[31:04] request for them to put the invoice
numbers or the invoice dates on there,
[31:07] but we do have a description of what
they were for.
[31:13] And as I said, this will be the last
listing [snorts] for last year.
[31:20] Anything else that comes in will have to
be paid out of this year, so we can
[31:24] start our
>> Okay.
[31:27] » Then on page
>> to support it, Miss Chairman?
[31:30] » What's the uh
>> Do we want to just do ABC, or are these
[31:33] all of them?
>> So, I've got two more pages, sorry.
[31:36] » Okay, you want to do them all, or you
want to do them separate?
[31:40] » So, page page 62 is the same thing, it's
fiscal year 2017 purchases that did not
[31:45] have a purchase order. And so, these
should not affect our fund balance.
[31:50] There should be plenty of funds
available, there was just not a purchase
[31:53] order done before we received the
invoice for them.
[31:56] And then the last page on page 63 and 64
is um requisition over $24,999,
[32:06] which is coming to y'all for approval
based off of our approval levels that we
[32:10] have. So, this one is done correctly, it
just needs to be approved so we can pay
[32:14] his contract for this year.
[32:19] And then Miss Featherston, I think you
were trying to ask a question. Do you?
[32:24] » Um
I forgot if I was.
[32:27] » Okay, sorry.
[32:31] » [clears throat and cough]
>> And [snorts] that's everything for me,
[32:34] sorry.
[32:37] » I got a motion by Commissioner Bullard
to pass A, B, C, and D.
[32:44] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Coleman. All in
[32:47] favor say aye.
>> Aye.
[32:49] » All opposed.
Item number 22, administration approval
[32:52] of the council of the September
September the 8th, 2026 regular session
[32:56] meeting.
[32:59] » So moved.
>> Second.
[33:01] » It's marked as [clears throat]
Commissioner Smith, second by
[33:03] Commissioner Floyd. All in favor say
aye.
[33:05] » Aye.
>> All opposed.
[33:09] Appointments and reappointments, item
number 23.
[33:12] Voluntary agriculture district.
[33:17] Commissioner Smith.
>> I'd like to appoint Tyler Hyatt.
[33:24] And I'll get you his phone number.
>> It's Clark.
[33:29] » Voluntary agriculture district.
Mr. Coleman.
[33:34] » I'd like to table that one. I'll get
back with you next meeting.
[33:39] » Okay.
Economic development commission.
[33:43] » I'd like to appoint Billy Hobbs to
replace Mr. Jay Brunson.
[33:47] » Billy Hobbs.
>> Um
[33:51] economic [snorts] development
commission.
[33:55] » Reappoint Mr. Marco Bronsky.
>> Reappoint Mr. Bronsky.
[34:01] Same thing, economic development
commission, district five. That's me.
[34:05] And Janan That's Williams
William Winslow Phipps.
[34:14] That's D He's the older one, not That's
the daddy, not the son.
[34:18] » Okay.
>> Economic development commission, entire
[34:21] board, Dr. Dan Strickland.
>> Is he willing to serve?
[34:30] Move he be reappointed.
>> So I had a motion by Commissioner Byrd,
[34:33] seconded by Commissioner Smith. All in
favor say aye.
[34:36] » Aye.
>> Aye. All opposed.
[34:39] Here a motion recess regular session in
in Columbus County Water and Sewer
[34:42] Districts 1 2 3 4 and 5 board meeting.
>> So moved.
[34:46] » Got it. Motion by Commissioner Coleman.
>> Second.
[34:49] » Seconded by Commissioner [snorts] Floyd.
Now all in favor say aye.
[34:52] » Aye.
>> All opposed. Item number 24, Water and
[34:55] Sewer Districts 1 2 3 4 and 5 combined
board meetings approved August the 3rd,
[35:00] 2026.
Here a motion.
[35:04] » Second.
>> Motion by Commissioner Floyd.
[35:06] » Second, Mr. Chairman.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Bullard. Now
[35:09] all in favor say aye.
>> Aye.
[35:10] » All opposed. Item number 25,
Water and Sewer Districts 1 2 3 4 and 5
[35:15] approval of the resolution to approve
Lockwood Water Supply Plan. Public
[35:20] Services Director, Mr. Harold Noble is
requesting approval of this
[35:24] resolution.
Noble.
[35:31] » The Lockwood Water Supply Plan is the
same thing we do every year. It's to
[35:34] help us get grant funding through the
state.
[35:38] This water supply.
>> Would you be approved, Mr. Chairman?
[35:40] Motion by Commissioner Byrd.
>> Second.
[35:43] » Seconded by Commissioner Smith. Now all
in favor say aye.
[35:45] » Aye.
>> Opposed. Item number 26,
[35:49] Water and Sewer District 4 approval of
change order number 4 and number 5 for
[35:54] the
International Logistics Park
[35:56] water sewer and road extension project
and associated amended capital project
[36:01] ordinance.
A, change order number 4 additional
[36:04] paving
to
[36:06] for lot 3, $342,577.34.
[36:12] B, change order number 5 ABC storm
emergency spillway
[36:17] riprap and covers added fittings
plus water line sanitation testing,
[36:22] $67,500.
And C, amended capital project ordinance
[36:26] to reflect changes.
>> Where's this money coming from? The 300
[36:31] and some thousand. Is it a grant or
something?
[36:33] » Developer funded.
>> Excuse me?
[36:35] » The The property owners,
they're they're paying for it.
[36:39] The The The grant was for the road
extension.
[36:42] So, the property owners put in their
portion of the money. I believe it one
[36:46] uh the first portion of it was like
741,000,
[36:49] and then
A is going to be covered with with with
[36:54] their funds.
>> Well, why are we having to approve it if
[36:57] someone else paying for it?
>> We're We're approving the the road. It's
[37:01] It's all in the project. So,
so the IDF grant was approved for the
[37:05] water sewer and road construction,
but commerce said that they would pay
[37:10] for the road. We'd have to figure out
how to get the do the water and sewer um
[37:15] on our own, so the developer stepped up
and and and paid for for that extension.
[37:21] » And I understand what you're saying, but
if he's paying for it, why are why are
[37:24] we having to approve it? So, my question
>> It's all tied together in our capital
[37:28] project ordinance.
[37:31] » In other words, it's got to be approved.
The word is saying we consent to the
[37:34] change.
>> Cuz we got a line item for the
[37:36] developers um portion and our revenues.
So, when I do a capital project
[37:41] ordinance, it'll reflect that.
>> I motion to approve.
[37:44] » Second.
>> Motion by Commissioner Coleman, second
[37:47] by Commissioner Byrd. All in favor, say
aye.
[37:50] Opposed.
Motion to adjourn combination meeting of
[37:53] Columbus County Water and Sewer
Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
[37:58] Motion by Commissioner Floyd.
[38:02] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Coleman. All in
[38:04] favor.
Opposed.
[38:07] Item number 27.
Y'all been quiet tonight. On these
[38:11] motions. Who wants to
I'm going to let you go first, Scott.
[38:14] » I rest. I made a motion to approve.
>> [laughter]
[38:19] » Commissioner Smith.
>> I rest.
[38:21] » Commissioner Featherstone.
>> You know, I was reading something on
[38:23] Facebook that asked where did all the
people go in Columbus County?
[38:28] Um and they some of the comments
um
[38:33] were interesting to me.
Um
[38:36] It talked about why
people are not returning to Columbus
[38:40] County.
And
[38:42] » [laughter]
>> the one thing that I thought about was
[38:44] our sales and use tax and um
the uh
[38:49] black hole with um
ordinances that we're trying to pass.
[38:54] We need funding.
We need funding to create
[38:59] certain businesses and and to
um
[39:04] and to support our colleges our college.
Southeastern Community College is the
[39:10] best thing I think that Columbus County
has going, you know, we're we're we're
[39:16] educating our children. We we have the
various programs to train them and to
[39:22] for them to uh start jobs here in the
county and stay here. So, we need that
[39:27] money. We need that quarter cent sales
tax.
[39:30] And that's a good reason. Uh I didn't
put it I didn't respond to any of these
[39:34] uh comments on Facebook. But it asked
where did all the people go? And that
[39:38] was one of the things that struck my my
mind, you know, um our schools are
[39:44] important.
It's it's important that we give our
[39:47] kids quality education
and have a post
[39:51] uh high school
um
[39:53] situation so that they can get
additional training. And perhaps they
[39:57] will stay here because if you look
around there are a lot of empty homes.
[40:02] People are uh dying and leaving leaving
houses or either young people are
[40:07] leaving and not returning. So, we need
something for them to come back to or
[40:12] either re remain here.
That's all that I have to say.
[40:17] » Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Coleman.
[40:21] » Real light tonight. I just want to thank
the employees, the county employees.
[40:25] There's a lot of things
They're really the unsung heroes here.
[40:31] They're doing a job.
I appreciate what they're doing. I
[40:35] appreciate their attitude about it cuz
uh
[40:39] I know it's tough on them sometimes.
They get the blame for a lot of things
[40:43] that they shouldn't get the blame for.
And uh
[40:47] I just want to thank them personally. I
I really appreciate what y'all do and
[40:51] and how you handle yourselves and
represent the county.
[40:55] And uh it's a pleasure to work with
y'all. Thank you.
[40:58] » [snorts]
>> Mr. Bullard.
[40:59] » I'm good, Mr. Chairman.
>> All right, Mr. Burt.
[41:03] » [laughter]
>> Um
[41:06] I just want to apologize for being late.
I think this is the second time that I
[41:12] have been late since 2008.
And I don't know of a meeting I'm
[41:17] talking about an official meeting here
that I've missed uh
[41:20] since that time uh
unless I'm missing one and I know in
[41:26] between the term of '86 and '90, I
missed one night and that's the night my
[41:31] niece passed away earlier that
afternoon, you know, so Anyhow, I
[41:34] apologize for being late. I just
something today I couldn't help.
[41:38] But um other than that, Mr. Chairman,
uh I'll I'll rest, but if you would,
[41:44] please let the records note that uh I
mean in the minutes what I'm saying.
[41:49] Yeah, the second time late in all these
years.
[41:52] And I've been at every meeting. I think
it's something kind of record to be
[41:55] proud of, to tell you the truth.
>> Yeah.
[41:58] » I mean, we all missed during COVID now,
but I'm talking about an official
[42:02] setting meeting.
[42:05] Who else, Mr. Chairman?
>> Well, I'm not like the rest of you. I
[42:08] don't have much to say either. Um
[42:12] other than that, we've got Labor Day
coming up and
[42:16] everybody enjoy your last summer
vacation.
[42:19] Cuz maybe it eventually will cool off.
>> [laughter]
[42:24] » The what now?
[42:27] Yeah, we canceled it.
Yeah.
[42:31] So, we'll have the second meeting in
September.
[42:34] But anyway, other than that, you have
anything you want to say, Ms. Evers?
[42:44] Everyone have a safe vacation
or day off.
[42:48] » School starts back.
Be aware of school buses and their
[42:53] little children.
And you know, it's going to be an
[42:55] exciting time for them and they
And the Lord have mercy, I feel sorry
[42:59] for the mamas. Some of them you see
them, they got two young'uns
[43:03] and uh young'uns needing a hand and
trying to hold one with his teeth
[43:05] sometimes.
They're all [snorts] over the driveway
[43:08] and it's hard for them.
Just help them out, keep an eye on the
[43:11] children for them.
[43:15] » All hearts clear? Offer motion to
adjourn, Mr.
[43:18] » Second motion by Commissioner Bullard,
second by Commissioner Byrd. All in
[43:21] favor say, "Aye." All opposed.
[43:30] » Uh