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You said you might. You said, "Yeah." I
was like, "Yeah, you might."

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» Okay.
>> You could prove it's subject to

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» the board receiving.

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» However youall want to do it.

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» All right.
>> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm

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Emily Truman, serve as the 2026 chair of
the Gates County Board of Commissioners.

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I'm joined tonight by my vice chair
Nathan Barryman, uh, Commissioner

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Jonathan Kretic, Commissioner Brian
Roundtree, Commissioner Dave Foresight,

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County Manager Scott Sour, County
Attorney Thomas Wood, and clerk to the

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board Renee Draper, Commissioner
Barryman is going to provide the

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invocation and lead the pledge this
evening.

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» Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us all
here tonight to conduct our county's

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business. Please settle down with us.
Give us the patience and the wisdom that

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we see fit so that we able to um
conduct business as you seek.

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» In your reign we pray. Amen.
>> Amen.

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» Amen.
>> I pledge algiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation

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under God, indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

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All right. Thank you, sir. Um, and
moving forward, are there any amendments

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to the agenda? And if not, we'll
entertain a motion to approve the agenda

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as presented.
>> So move.

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» Is there a second?
>> All right. Close session.

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» Second.
>> Close session.

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» So
So

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then all in Yeah. Okay.
>> Yeah. So, sorry about that. Before we

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moved a little too fast there, I would
like to uh amend the minutes to have a

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close session at the
>> agenda. Excuse me. The amend the agenda

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to have a close session at the end of
the meeting.

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» So, we had a motion on the floor. So, he
would have to amend his motion if we

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were to do that.
>> Yes. I amen. My motion

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» to close. Okay. All right. So, motion
and a second on that. All in favor?

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Close session. Okay. There we go. That
is unanimous. All right. So, now do we

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have a motion to So, that was to add the
um close session to the agenda.

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Need a motion to approve the agenda as
amended.

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» Madam Chair, I move that we uh approve
the agenda as amended.

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» Okay, we have
>> second that.

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» All right. And all in favor? Okay, that
is all five.

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» Thank you all. All right. and then we
will move down to the consent agenda.

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Are there any amendments or
clarifications for the items listed on

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the consent agenda?

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» And if not, if we can get a motion to
approve the consent agenda as presented.

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» So, I'll move to approve them.
>> Okay. So, we have move for approval. Do

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we have a second?
>> Second.

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» All right. All in favor for the approval
of the consent agenda.

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» Minutes.
>> Okay.

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» Consent agenda and minutes or no. Okay.
>> That is on the consent agenda. Yeah, the

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minutes are okay. Um, all right.
Perfect. So, that is unanimous. The next

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thing we have on the agenda is for
Sheriff Campbell. Um, if he has an

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update this evening for us,

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[clears throat]

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folks, I'll be real quick. Just a just a
couple things. One thing on the law

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enforcement side, we are continuing to
see and catch people driving at

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extremely high rates of speed in the
county. Had one last night at 110, one

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night before at 114 mph. Uh I've got
multiple deputies with radars and we are

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catching them and we are stopping them.
But uh it's it's everywhere in the

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county and I don't there is no stopping
to people are just driving like maniacs.

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And uh other two things, we got two
events coming up. Both very very special

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events in October on National Night Out
October 6. We've got the night and gale

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that's going to fly in and we also going
to have the Batmobile there. So it

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should be a really good event. The other
event we've never participated in, I'm

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looking forward to it. It's called
Battle of the Badges. There's a flag

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football game. Uh we'll paired up with
[snorts] Kerry Tuck and Camden counties

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to make a team. Uh Pas Tank, uh
Pquimmans and Choan will be the other

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team. So I'm looking forward to that.
That that'll be September 26th at the

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Pquimman's High School football stadium.
So anyway, that's all I got. Thank you.

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» Thank you.
>> And I will be playing. So we might have

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a notice of potential quorum that day
over at the for women's county high

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school. [laughter]
Okay. All right. So u moving to public

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comments. Miss Ray, do we have anyone
signed up to speak tonight?

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» No. Okay. Moving along. Um
we have two special presentations

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tonight. The first we have Miss
Elizabeth Mitchell with the Boys and

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Girls Club. We can invite you to the
podium. Thank you.

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Good evening. I have some information
for you all about.

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» You going to do it?

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» Um, thank you all so much for the
opportunity to speak with you tonight.

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My name is Elizabeth Mitchell and I'm
the executive director of Boys and Girls

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Clubs of the Albam Marl. Um, we serve
two clubs in Edenton and Elizabeth City

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and are soon to open a new another club
in Perquins County in January of 27. So,

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I'm here to introduce to you guys a
little bit about our organization and

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tell you what we do for the young people
we serve. Um, I know you may have heard

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about us in name, but you may not
understand the impact uh that we have on

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the young people we serve. Uh we are a
nonprofit organization that serves

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school-aged children between the ages of
six and 18 during critical out of school

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time hours. Um our clubs in Edon and
Elizabeth City are open about 4 hours

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every day after school and more
importantly we offer an 8-week summer

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camp that operates Monday through
Thursday 8 to 5:30. Um, our mission is

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to inspire and enable all young people,
especially those who need us the most,

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to reach their full potential as
responsible, productive, caring

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citizens. And that is exactly what we
aim to do. And every one of our

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activities is geared toward every day
after school. Our programs are focused

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on four key areas: academic success,
character and leadership development,

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healthy lifestyles, and workforce
readiness. So, when the kids arrive at

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the club after school, um they go into
what we call power hour, which is our

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homework help and tutoring program.
We've got a very robust uh tutoring

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program at our club in Edon that's
manned by volunteers and run by our

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education director. We collect report
cards for all of our uh club members. We

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analyze them and those kids who are
falling the furthest behind are paired

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with a one-on-one tutor in our tutoring
room. Um and then our education director

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goes and visits the schools to uh work
side by side in the classroom with

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another set of students who are falling
even further behind than that. So we're

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really intentional about who we target
in terms of our academic success

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programs. After power hour, we serve
dinner. Um this is a part of a federally

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funded feeding program that we offer at
both of our clubs. Um, and there's more

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data in the um, handout that you gave
regarding how many meals we served and

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all of that. Um, we serve dinner, as I
said, and an evening snack during our

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afterchool program and during the
summer, we serve breakfast, lunch, and

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snack. Um, after dinner, everybody
rotates through a variety of different

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activities from STEM activities,
um, like unstructured play out on the

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playground. Uh we offer football,
soccer, uh I think I said STEM programs,

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healthy lifestyles activities. We have a
social worker at each one of our clubs

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who is there to kind of provide what one
of them refers to as real time therapy.

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So um and she can catch the kids as as
they get off the school bus and help

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them with little things that every child
encounters. And the beauty of being from

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a small town is we are aware of the big
things that children experience both in

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the home um and at school. And she's
there to catch that and and have a more

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intentional approach to those kids who
need that extra support. Um

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we charge for our club in Edon just $25
an a year to attend our um afterchool

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program. At our club in Elizabeth City,
we've recently had to increase our cost

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over there. And so the cost is $25 a
month. But having said that, we don't

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turn anybody away. Again, another beauty
of a small town. You're, you know, who

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needs the extra support and are able to
provide all of that. Um, so basically

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the Boys and Girls Club is all about
just leveling the playing field for

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kids. We believe that every child
deserves a chance to be a success. No

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matter who their parents are, no matter
what their parents do, no matter the

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community or um home environment that
they experience. We believe that every

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child deserves a fair shot to reach
their full potential and should never be

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limited again by the things that they
experience at home that are beyond their

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control. Um so I'm excited about the
possibility of bringing a Boys and Girls

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Club to the Gates County community. I
know Emily has been to our club in Edon

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and and toured maybe about a year or so
ago. So, I would love to give all of you

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a tour around of either of our
facilities. I think that's the best way

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to see the programs that we do in action
and see the young kids involved and

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engaged um and the important support
that we provide not only for them but

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for working parents uh in the
communities that we serve.

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» Yeah. Perfect. I'm going to open up for
comments and questions from the board.

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Um I will say it was a great tour and I
know when I was there she mentioned that

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we did have some Gates County students
that were taking part in the campuses in

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Elizabeth City and Eden. So
>> yeah, every year we have um kids come

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from Gates County and Perquimman's which
kind of prompted our growth into women.

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So
>> yeah,

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» uh we're currently evaluating uh uses of
space and everything for our Buckland

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school. So I know that's been discussed
as far as a Boys and Girls Club there

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and and could we fit it into the
footprint and all that kind of good

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stuff. So, as we go down that path and
and uh

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put everybody's names in a hat that
would like to have uh space there.

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» Mhm.
>> Um I'm kind of looking forward to that

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discussion and what will be the needs
and your requirements uh as we get to

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that point. So,
>> yeah. Wonderful. Wonderful. Yeah. Boys

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and girls clubs can operate in any kind
of environment, schools, independent

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facilities, all all of the above. Yeah.
>> And I'm most definitely the advocate of

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the boys and girls club. Uh one time I
in my young age I worked at the Boys and

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Girls Club and you're exactly right the
four aspects especially education and

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work preparedness you know that's very
vital to our youth today

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» because our youth today need structure
in order to get off to a level playing

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field get off to a great start and of
course we want our students healthy and

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the social aspect is phenomenal and I
applaud you the Boys and Girls Club for

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everything that you do and hopefully uh
we'll have a Boys and Girls Club here in

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Gates County. It'd be very vital to the
uh promotion of our young students and

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put them in the position to be valuable
and vital citizens. And if I may, um, to

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just because I know that it's going to
be on the forefront as as we go through

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all of the things, could you talk about
the funding of the program, how that

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works as far as the funding and what the
county responsibility would be, as far

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as what, um, private donor
responsibility is, and then you

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mentioned the monthly or yearly um,
annual fees for the different families.

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» Right. Right. So um I think maybe
contrary to popular belief, Boys and

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Girls Club, we do not receive any
funding from Boys and Girls Clubs of

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America. We receive supports in a
variety of other ways, programming,

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training, um, all of that. But we pay a
fee to Boys and Girls Clubs of America

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to operate our clubs. So, all of the
funding that we receive comes from the

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communities that we serve or private
family foundations. We've had a lot of

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luck with uh, foundations that really
like to serve uh, Eastern North

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Carolina. Uh, we get very little federal
funding. The only piece of that is the

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feeding program that I mentioned. Um,
and we do get some funding from the

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state that all boys and girls clubs
across the state get. Um, and we're

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getting that again for the first time
this year since 2004. So, we were left

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out of the state budgets for all that
time. And that, you know, left a lot of

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clubs in a bind. Um, but the majority
does come from the communities that we

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serve.

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How many do you have at Eden and how
many do you have at Elizabeth City?

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» Um, it's pretty much 5050. In Elizabeth
City, we serve, we've kind of had to

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decrease actually the number that we
serve because it was a little much, but

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we we serve 100 kids a day. I was there.
I think there was 103 um today in um in

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Elizabeth City and about 110 or 111 in
Edon. And that's lower than it would be

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as the year progresses when school first
starts. People are still trying to

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figure out bus routes and um and
applications for kids are still coming

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in.
>> So in Edon versus Elizabeth, what kind

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of facilities do you work out of those?
>> So our facility in Edon operates out of

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um a former um school building DF
Walker. um it was a high school and so

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we renovated that space and moved in
there in 2020 and we're in a lease

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00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:37,360
arrangement with Choan County where we
make an annual lease payment. They we

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00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:42,959
raised a bunch of money and
they needed to fund the facil help us

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00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:47,279
fund the renovations. So we put that
into a small foundation that we have and

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00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:53,279
that's used to make those annual lease
payments to Choan County. um at our

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00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:57,839
Elizabeth City Club. We own that club um
free and clear. We moved into that

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00:14:54,800 --> 00:15:01,920
building in 2022
um after kind of have having moved from

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a lot of different spaces, but love our
current space. It's got an outdoor

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00:15:03,199 --> 00:15:09,199
basketball court, lots of outdoor space,
indoor space. It's great.

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00:15:06,639 --> 00:15:14,480
» So, Emily alluded to the funding part
and you said something about $25 per

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00:15:11,839 --> 00:15:18,959
year for Edon, 25 per month. Is that a
fee that's paid by the individual or is

200
00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:21,440
that the fee that the local community
pays or that's

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» that's a fee that's paid by parents?
That's essentially our membership fee.

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00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:30,160
» So, how much is paid by local community
for each of those two facilities then?

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» So, oh gosh, it kind of varies. Um I
know, oh, I'd have to think real quick.

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Um so, there are different budgets for
different communities. Um so, the Edon

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Club is kind of better funded from the
community, if you will. Uh I would say

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at least 65% of the funding that we
receive comes from the local community.

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Um for our perquman's club that we're
starting off um kind of from the ground

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up, we're starting off with a small
budget uh of about 165 to 200,000

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depending on kind of utilities and some
things that we're still trying to work

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through um with the county over there.
So that gives you an idea.

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» 165,000 for Elizabeth City. Did you say
the 200?

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» That's for our um perquomen's club.
>> Perquim's club.

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» And I mentioned that just because it
would be a similar kind of startup

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situation.
>> You gave me a percentage, but is there a

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dollar number attached to the 65% I 65%
of what when you were saying for Eden?

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» I I don't know right off the top of my
head. I'm sorry.

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» Okay. [clears throat]
>> Okay.

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All right.

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So, do we have any other comments or
questions then? No. Um, yeah, if any of

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that information is available to go
forth, I will recommend that if you

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reach out to Miss Mitchell, she will
coordinate a a tour. Um, I did enjoy my

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tour. It was very nice to be there. It
was there when the kids were there, so

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got to see it um active. It was during
the summer last year, so I know it was

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during a summer camp. It came through.
So, um, a little over a year ago,

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» but yeah. Well, thank you.
>> I do have an additional question. What

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what is the uh basic layout of facility?
>> I guess the uh operational layout for a

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boys and girls club.
>> Um you mean in terms of the like?

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» Yeah. So in um in Edon, our DF Walker is
>> it's a school so it's set up kind of

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like a school like there are two long
halls. Um during our renovations we did

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kind of open up spaces by adding windows
and things like that. Mhm.

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» Um so one hall um we use for our
elementary school kids, other hall is

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for teens. Um and we have the rooms kind
of broken up into like our power hour

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room, our STEM room, an activities room,
an art room. Um and a similar we have a

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big game room for our middle school
kids. And then the the layout of our

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Elizabeth City Club is much different.
um you kind of walk in and there's a big

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open space with very little classrooms
for the kids to kind of break out in. So

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you have to be more kind of strategic
about that.

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» Hope that answers your question.
>> Yes. So you don't have any specific

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requirements basically the needs of of
the specific community?

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» Not really. I mean Boys and Girls Club
just all all around operate in just such

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a wide variety of facilities. So we can,
you know, meet the needs of the

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community wherever we're allowed to
operate.

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» Thank you.
>> Yes,

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» sounds great. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much.

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» All right.
The next item on the agenda um

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[clears throat] is our second
presentation from board uh school board

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member Danny Hail. Uh he's given an
update on the consolidation and

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leadership. Um,

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and
>> yay. And we also have board member

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[laughter]
Ryan and leg and superintendent Dr.

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Jordan. [clears throat]
[laughter]

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» I was just reading what I had down.
>> Hey, I walked [laughter] in the door and

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got this information. So, I am to say
thank you for having us here. We

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appreciate it very much and thank you
for everyone who's going to be

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listening. Uh what we're going to try to
do tonight is talk about our leadership

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changes, our strategic plan that we have
in place, the consolidation progress and

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spending and future planning that we as
a board have. Um I think we're all real

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excited with our
with our new uh superintendent here. She

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was approved as acting superintendent
July 21st through 31st and she is now

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going to be our interim superintendent
until December 31st. Now, this is a part

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I hate, but just I'm going to say it
real quickly. So, listen carefully.

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You're going to do it. Oh, well, if
she's going to do it, I'm going to pass

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it on. I'm going to say once again, did
I miss anything? No, not if she's going

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to do it. All right, I'm good to go.
Thank you very much for having us here

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tonight. [laughter] We appreciate it.
>> This is Dr. Shante Jordan. [laughter]

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» I felt like no better person to
introduce me or present me than me. So,

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I had it prepared for you. So, thank
you, Miss Ryan, and thank you to the

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board and thank you for all for allowing
us this opportunity tonight um or this

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evening. I do have a few words, but I'm
also sharing because I know people um

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listen in live and for those who I have
not had the opportunity to meet, just

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want to introduce myself to the
community um as well. Um chairman,

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members of the board of commissioners,
thank you for the opportunity to be here

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this evening. Um as everyone in here,
I'm sure knows, I am Dr. Jordan, um

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interum superintendent of Gates County
Schools. I'm especially proud to serve

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in this role because Gates County is
home. I'm a graduate of Gates County

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High School and much of my professional
career has been right here in Gates

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County. Um my educational background
includes a bachelor's degree in special

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education and master's degree in special
education from East Carolina. Go

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Pirates. Um master of school
administration and most recently uh my

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00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:17,440
doctorate in educational leadership from
East Carolina University. Um throughout

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my career, I've had the opportunity to
serve in several areas of public

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education, um including special
education, school and district

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administration, human resources, student
services, personnel management, and

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district operations. Um most recently, I
served as a human resource director for

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um Gates County Schools before the
appointment of interim superintendent.

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These experiences given me the
opportunity to see our school system

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from many different perspectives, but
have also reinforced one important

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belief. Strong schools and strong
communities depend on strong

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partnerships. Um, as interim
superintendent, I look forward to

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working collaboratively with our board
of education, board of commissioners,

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county leadership, and um, our families
and employees of our community partners.

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While our respective boards have
different responsibilities,

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we share community. We share the
community, serve the same families, and

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ultimately want the same thing, a
strong, successful future for Gates

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County and our students in Gates County
Schools. So again, I appreciate the

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opportunity to introduce myself this
evening and I look forward to

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strengthening the partnership between
Gates County Schools and Gates County

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government as we work together on behalf
of the community um for our students.

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So, thank you.
>> Thank you.

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» Thank you. Thank you.
>> All right. So, leading right into what

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do I do? What's my job? So our strategic
goal, our strategic plan or our roadmap

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00:22:39,039 --> 00:22:45,039
for the year and how we're going to lead
our students and our stu um schools to

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00:22:42,799 --> 00:22:48,159
success. These are our priorities for
this year and this is a requirement at

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00:22:46,799 --> 00:22:52,159
the beginning of every school year that
the district and our schools develop

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00:22:49,919 --> 00:22:56,559
priorities in which they will um follow
to operate for the school year. So just

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00:22:54,480 --> 00:23:00,480
a few of ours um one our strategic
priority is develop and retain ex

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exceptional employees. We want to
recruit and hire and retain the best of

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00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:08,159
the best um for our students here in
Gates County Schools. We do have a um

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00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:13,039
couple vacancies now, but we are working
diligently to fill those roles with the

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right people um moving forward. Next is
to increase um student achievement. Um

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our last year's testing data has not
been released yet, but that will be

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released soon and I'll be providing an
update to our board at a board meeting.

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But Gates County Schools, we're moving
in the right direction. Um we're moving

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in the right directions. our students
are performing well, but this year our

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00:23:28,559 --> 00:23:35,679
goal is to see that trajectory increase
and we want to be even better than we

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are now. Um, another is to adhere to
strict fiscal steward um stewardship and

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00:23:37,919 --> 00:23:45,360
operational operational efficiency. We
got to do a better job of planning how,

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when, and what we're going to use our
resources on and how they're going to

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support our students and our schools um
for the achievement that we just talked

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about in our party. Number two,
strengthen family and community

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partnership. That's another big area for
me is to um um bridge that gap that we

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have with just the workings of with our
families and our community with the

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operations of the school. So a goal for
me is to bridge that gap and bring our

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communities into the school so we can
all work on the same common goal and

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that's to support our students um
support principles and teachers and

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staff, promote transparency and
collaboration um through social media.

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I've been trying to do a lot of that um
in our schoolboard meetings having

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00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:27,679
presentations just making sure that
everybody's aware and have the

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00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:30,960
understanding and we're communicating
what's happening in Gates County schools

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00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:35,200
whether it's just procedural things
procedural changes celebrations or just

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need to know information. We want that
information to be provided by the right

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00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:42,559
people so that we're getting the right
information out to our parents and

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families. Um and last strengthen
district culture. Um, that's a major

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00:24:45,039 --> 00:24:50,080
priority for me is just strengthening
the culture in Gates County Schools. And

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that comes from supporting our students,
celebrating our staff, and just bringing

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00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:57,039
our community in, and letting everybody
know and be aware of the great things

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00:24:55,520 --> 00:25:00,320
that we're doing so we can all celebrate
each other together. So, they are just a

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00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:03,520
few of our priorities this year. I've
got a board behind me that I know will

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00:25:01,679 --> 00:25:07,360
keep me in line and make sure that we
are meeting these objectives, but these

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00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:10,640
are the goals that um we have to make
Gates County Schools even better than

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we've been before. Thank you.
>> Thank you.

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00:25:14,377 --> 00:25:18,159
» [clears throat]
>> All right. So now we're where we need to

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00:25:16,559 --> 00:25:21,840
be, right? Consolidation update. Anybody
remember the word consolidation? Seems

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00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:24,799
like that was 100 years ago, right? But
we're still in the midst of

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00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:28,159
consolidation for those that have sort
of forgot about it. So did a little

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00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,799
presentation here just, you know, again,
just a little refreshing history.

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00:25:29,442 --> 00:25:35,679
[clears throat] You know, started off
last winter u when we noticed the

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00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:38,640
general fund balance was the auditori
general fund balance was getting pretty

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00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:44,640
low. We went into sort of a
reorganization transformation that led

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00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:49,200
to a decision in March uh to close one
of our elementary schools. Uh then we

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00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:54,799
had to do a lot of work uh you know in
April and May and trying to get all that

352
00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:58,240
figured out. And uh this summer we've
been really busy. If you've ever had to

353
00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:01,919
move a school uh just think about
putting about 30 households together and

354
00:25:59,919 --> 00:26:07,840
try to move it all at one time. So a lot
of moving pieces. Uh again, um we are in

355
00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:11,760
our first week of school and we do have
our two elementary schools going right

356
00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:17,039
now. Trying to get the bugs out of it,
but it's been successful so far. Uh so

357
00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:21,200
again, uh understand that we're in this
process and we're still be in this

358
00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:25,600
process for a while. So next slide,
please. Let's get to where we're talking

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about. So, if you refresh your memory,
we had asked in our original budget

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00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:35,039
request for $325,600
to help us do the consolidation process.

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00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:40,320
This was the ask from the school board
to the county and you graciously uh

362
00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:43,919
accepted that. This is sort of our
expenditures and what we've spent on so

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00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:46,080
far. I sort of grouped a few things
together. So, let's talk about

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00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:49,679
additional staff, which is sort of
grouped together. That had a combination

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00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:54,080
of things in it. One of the things we
had in there was the ability to pay some

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00:26:51,679 --> 00:26:57,840
of our teachers during the summertime to
actually come and pack up their

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00:26:55,520 --> 00:27:02,159
classrooms or unpack their classrooms if
they were changing schools. Sort of

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00:26:59,919 --> 00:27:05,039
unfair to ask a teacher to come in in
the middle of the summer when they're

369
00:27:03,039 --> 00:27:09,279
normally off to unpack all the things
they sort of packed up. So, we gave some

370
00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:14,240
teachers some ability to actually pay
for that. We're paying on a fairly set

371
00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:17,200
salary. We also got to hire three, you
know, high school students during the

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00:27:15,679 --> 00:27:20,880
summertime. They worked about six weeks
for us, I think, actually that did all

373
00:27:19,679 --> 00:27:24,400
the leg work. They're the ones that did
all the boxing and they're the ones that

374
00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:29,600
moved all the pallets and all that kind
of stuff. So, uh, that was an additional

375
00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:34,159
staff. We had to pack up a library. I
mean, you walked in library, every book

376
00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:36,559
in there had a bar sticker on it that
said that book belonged to Buffin. So,

377
00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:42,080
we had to bring our media specialists in
in the summertime to rearrange and go

378
00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:46,240
into the computer and divvy all our
elementary books up to the two remaining

379
00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:49,919
elementary schools. So when we say
additional staff, that is the kind of

380
00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:54,320
effort that we had to put into it with
some of our people during the

381
00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:59,120
summertime. Um moving trucks and boxes,
we had to, as you know, rent a moving

382
00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:03,600
truck. And it worked out tremendously
well. It had a lift gate on it. So when

383
00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:06,640
we teachers piloted everything up, we
could move it out, lift it right up,

384
00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:10,559
push it right in the moving truck, take
it to new classroom, put it right in the

385
00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:13,520
center of the classroom. If we didn't do
that, we would have had been using

386
00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:18,000
trucks and trailers and all kinds of
things. So that that definitely helped

387
00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:22,640
with the moving truck coming in. Uh the
parking lot, that's where we're at right

388
00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:25,440
now, as you probably see. Uh so you see
some expenditures up there, freezer and

389
00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:29,520
a dishwasher. So we get through each one
of them. Uh we had budgeted 32,000, we

390
00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:34,799
end up spending about 28 and that should
be done now. So that's so I mean a grand

391
00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:39,120
total on that expenditure. Moving trucks
and boxes, we budgeted 36. We spent

392
00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:44,799
about 81. And again, the main reason for
that was the renting of that truck for

393
00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:48,799
30 days was quite a bit more than we
thought it was going to be. But that

394
00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:53,200
part is also done. Uh we're at the
parking lot. So right now, you saw we

395
00:28:50,799 --> 00:28:56,799
budgeted for 150. We're estimating at
105. We have not finished the parking

396
00:28:54,960 --> 00:29:00,960
lot, but we have done the work. We
haven't been built by the contractor

397
00:28:58,159 --> 00:29:04,559
yet. So we're feel pretty safe that
that's going to come in about 105 uh in

398
00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:08,880
our number there. So we're going to be a
little bit under budget on that. Uh the

399
00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:12,880
freezer, this is an extra freezer for
Gatesville. So this is not doing any

400
00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:17,440
work to it. This is actually placing
another freezer, an outside freezer. Uh

401
00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:21,039
we're still getting quotes for that. We
did get one quote in. We still feel

402
00:29:19,039 --> 00:29:23,679
pretty good about the 50,000, but
because of expenditure, you have to get

403
00:29:22,399 --> 00:29:26,880
more than one quote. So we're still
working on that little piece right

404
00:29:24,799 --> 00:29:31,360
there. The dishwasher has been bought
for Gainesville and installed. So that

405
00:29:29,279 --> 00:29:35,600
is a final cost for that, too. So we
only have two really expenditures up

406
00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:41,919
there. So that leaves us 52,000. So we
budget 3256. We spent about 273478

407
00:29:39,279 --> 00:29:46,000
leaves us about 52,000. Now working with
the county commissioners and just let

408
00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:50,080
you know um we talked about taking that
52,000 and doing the rock for the

409
00:29:48,799 --> 00:29:53,520
service driveway. The maintenance
department actually met with the

410
00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:59,279
contractor today and that is going to be
done I think before your gyms uh in

411
00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:03,520
September. So they are on track for
that. That is a $10,000 expense. um

412
00:30:01,919 --> 00:30:06,960
we'll take care of that doing the
contracting off for you on that. The

413
00:30:05,679 --> 00:30:11,279
second one is the one that's a little
bit more tricky and it's the freezer

414
00:30:08,559 --> 00:30:14,640
overhaul. So there's a freezer at
Buffman. It's been in existence for a

415
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:17,520
long time. But when it would break down
when we were there, when the school's in

416
00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:22,399
session, it breaks down. They
immediately noticed it broke down. You

417
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:27,360
know, it's an old 30 year old freezer.
Um when you put gym stuff in there and

418
00:30:25,039 --> 00:30:33,600
it's broke, nobody been it for a week or
two weeks. So our recommendation to you

419
00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:38,720
was to actually leave the four walls up
but put new outside controls and inside

420
00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:43,679
controls in it. So we have an estimate
for that now. Uh it's going to take some

421
00:30:41,039 --> 00:30:46,399
work. So the four walls will stay there.
We're basically just as Nathan was

422
00:30:45,279 --> 00:30:50,720
saying, we're ripping all the guts out,
putting all new guts in. That'll give

423
00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:54,799
you a dependable freezer there. Also
give you a warranty that you can use so

424
00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:58,080
if something goes wrong or something
goes out. And we're also, you know,

425
00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:02,000
looking at maybe putting Wi-Fi or
something in there that would notify

426
00:30:59,679 --> 00:31:07,600
somebody at the temperature below. So,
with all that said, we're at 52,000

427
00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:10,799
uh and our expenses left over. We can
spend 50 on behalf of the county

428
00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:13,600
commissioners leaving us with a balance
about 2,000. So, we're This is one of

429
00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:17,120
those that sort of worked out, right?
We're sort of dead on. It seems like

430
00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:21,679
it's a miracle math, but that is actual
expenditures. Um, as I promised the

431
00:31:19,679 --> 00:31:24,720
county manager back a couple months ago,
we will have the receipts and it some

432
00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:30,000
point in September, we'll bring the
receipts over and you can have them for

433
00:31:26,799 --> 00:31:33,600
your file. Next slide.
So, seems like that's the it, right?

434
00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:37,279
Everybody's consolidation. The money's
done. We're done. Not quite. So, we have

435
00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:42,320
some remaining short-term efforts that
are really the first one is our student

436
00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:45,919
estimates. If you remember, I mean,
everybody goes back to memory. DPI

437
00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:49,919
estimated we were going to lose 50
students this upcoming year. We were

438
00:31:47,919 --> 00:31:55,039
going to be at 1320.
We did all our budget planning,

439
00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:59,279
everything. Our teacher set up at 1320
as of today.

440
00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:02,880
» 1380
>> 1380.

441
00:32:01,039 --> 00:32:06,320
» Now that is actually I think six more
than we had last year.

442
00:32:04,399 --> 00:32:11,840
» So for a financial guy, I'm jumping up
and down going this is terrific news,

443
00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:16,240
right? Because ADM is how state sends
the money to you. But as a facility

444
00:32:14,559 --> 00:32:21,679
logistics person, this worries me
greatly. Right? Because we have got a

445
00:32:19,519 --> 00:32:25,919
lot more students than we anticipated.
Now, they're spread across four schools.

446
00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:30,640
We understand that. But again, this is a
good problem to have right now. So,

447
00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:34,159
logistically, we're trying to work this
out. This is going to take us a few

448
00:32:32,159 --> 00:32:37,039
months to get worked out to get all the
staff in place and all the teachers in

449
00:32:35,679 --> 00:32:41,519
place. Just think about it. Just
lunchrooms and how many lunch people you

450
00:32:39,919 --> 00:32:45,519
can through it, you know, go through at
a time. So, it's going to take us a

451
00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:48,799
couple while to work that out. One of
the obstacles we have and we talked

452
00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:54,159
about this in the joint session and I
think that sometimes the public sort of

453
00:32:51,039 --> 00:33:00,000
doesn't understand this this rule. DPI
does put requirements on you of how many

454
00:32:56,559 --> 00:33:04,000
students you can have per teacher. Okay,
it's a recommendation but it's a very

455
00:33:01,519 --> 00:33:08,080
strong recommendation and it's also for
the benefit of children. A good example

456
00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:12,960
is you can only have 16 first graders
per teacher. And if you'll notice we

457
00:33:11,279 --> 00:33:18,480
originally had our consolidation plan.
was to put three teachers at Gatesville

458
00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:22,480
in first grade. We now have four because
the number of students took us over that

459
00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:25,840
requirement. What we're happy with,
whether you're TS Coop or you're at

460
00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:29,200
Gatesville, your teacher to student
ratio is about the same. That's what

461
00:33:27,279 --> 00:33:34,399
we're trying to do. We're not trying to
overload one teacher to have 20 or 25

462
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:38,159
students and another another school only
have 10 or 12. So, we're trying to keep

463
00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:43,200
that balance. So, we're going to be have
to do this for several years. If you

464
00:33:41,039 --> 00:33:46,799
sort of think about it, is that student
population moves up and down. All your

465
00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:50,720
first graders this year will get
promoted to second grade next year. So

466
00:33:49,039 --> 00:33:53,919
you may have four first grade teachers
this year at Gatesville. Next year you

467
00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:57,200
may have to have four second grade
teachers because you may have to follow

468
00:33:55,360 --> 00:34:01,519
along with that class. So that really
concerns us. One of the things that

469
00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:05,200
happened in the consolidation process is
a lot of parents came to the board

470
00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:10,240
asking for their child to be moved to a
specific school and we completely

471
00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:15,040
understand that because Willin Road and
those kind of places Gatesville sort of

472
00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:19,679
closer than TS Cooper.
Unfortunately, we almost had to turn

473
00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:23,919
down every family to come to us even
it's it's it's tough but we couldn't

474
00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:29,200
keep putting students in Gatesville
because we were overloaded the teacher

475
00:34:25,839 --> 00:34:33,280
ratio. So, which is forcing some people
that live in the Drum Hill, Wilton Road

476
00:34:31,119 --> 00:34:36,399
to drive the TS Cooper. We think it's
going to be fine after everybody gets

477
00:34:34,720 --> 00:34:40,560
sort of used to it. But that just let
you know it wasn't because we were just

478
00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:44,639
trying to keep school numbers down. It's
because you have to keep the teacher

479
00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:48,720
ratio in place because if you violate
that, there's some things that come

480
00:34:46,199 --> 00:34:52,639
[clears throat] along with that. Um,
short-term dependency on long-term subs.

481
00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:58,320
How do we get there? Well, go back to
your timeline. March, we decide to close

482
00:34:55,359 --> 00:35:02,400
the school. April and May, we had lots
of meetings trying to figure out how to

483
00:34:59,920 --> 00:35:06,800
work that out. Teacher notifications in
June. Then we had an appeal process we

484
00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:11,359
had to go through. So it was almost
first of July before we got our ratios

485
00:35:09,119 --> 00:35:14,480
in the teachers, right? Well, when
you're competing for resources like

486
00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:18,640
teachers and you start advertising in
July, you're not going to get a lot of

487
00:35:16,240 --> 00:35:22,160
applicants. They've already been chosen.
We're very fortunate. When I say

488
00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:27,119
long-term subs, what I want to say about
that is we have a lot of outstanding

489
00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:31,200
retired teachers in this county. And
almost every one of our long-term subs

490
00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:35,440
is a retired teacher that taught right
here in Gates County that has come back

491
00:35:33,359 --> 00:35:39,680
and said, "I will fill that position for
a while. These jobs are still open. We

492
00:35:38,079 --> 00:35:42,880
still have them advertised. We're hoping
to get out and possibly get some

493
00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:46,079
December graduates
>> and bring them into our school system,

494
00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:50,480
but we just picked the wrong time of the
year to go after a bunch of teachers,

495
00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:55,520
you know. So, we're working on that, but
we feel comfortable with that. Again,

496
00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:59,599
the financial position, you mostly heard
the new budget passed and part of that

497
00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:03,520
budget was a pretty good raise for
beginning teachers. One thing we don't

498
00:36:01,839 --> 00:36:08,240
know yet is what's the impact on the
local budget for that because again,

499
00:36:05,839 --> 00:36:11,680
there is an impact to your local budget
because there's health insurance costs,

500
00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:15,119
retirement costs that we chip into that.
So, we're trying to figure that out,

501
00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:20,240
too. The next bullet's sort of
important. We have very limited growth

502
00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:25,920
right now in our elementary schools. We
do not have an available classroom in

503
00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:29,920
Gatesville. We are 100% in every single
classroom in Gatesville right now. So,

504
00:36:28,079 --> 00:36:34,960
we are very limited. I think his Cooper
is almost one.

505
00:36:32,560 --> 00:36:38,160
So, we're we're working through that.
We've got some plans we're we're working

506
00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:43,280
for. We can talk about that later on
with you. Um but, you know, we that is

507
00:36:41,839 --> 00:36:46,720
that is something that's troubling us
right now. How we get through that.

508
00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:52,000
Again, the growth number is great. I've
told you from a financial guy, I love

509
00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:55,040
it. Logistical guy, not so much. Okay.
One of the good things about the ride

510
00:36:53,359 --> 00:36:59,680
home that everybody talks about is being
built in the Willington area. Those are

511
00:36:57,200 --> 00:37:03,359
TS Cooper. They remember that line comes
through. So, we're going to be okay

512
00:37:01,359 --> 00:37:07,359
through the first phase of the growth
phase.

513
00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:11,040
The last one is the parent pickup line.
Now, that is uh that's that's a

514
00:37:09,599 --> 00:37:16,240
challenge. I don't know if anybody's
ever participated in that. I got to

515
00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:21,040
participate in the last few days. Um,
parents get there at 2:30 to pick up

516
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:24,480
their kids at 3:10 and I was at
Gatesville last couple days and we're

517
00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:28,720
talking about a couple hundred cars are
coming to pick up their kids. So, we're

518
00:37:27,119 --> 00:37:31,040
still working that out. I know we're
making some adjustments to Gatesville. I

519
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:36,560
know we're still making some adjustments
to KS Cooper. So, don't don't write that

520
00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:40,160
off as final yet on the parking lot
plan. Don't write that off as final yet

521
00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:43,760
because we're still trying to get to
that end result there. So,

522
00:37:52,880 --> 00:38:01,200
She didn't know. [laughter]
>> Thank you for the glasses. Good evening.

523
00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:05,280
Um so some of the future planning
opportunities um for the ways that we

524
00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:09,920
would like to examine the benefits of
utilizing the available space at

525
00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:16,079
Buckland for district purposes. Uh it
would be an excellent site for permanent

526
00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:21,040
meetings for the board of education. Um
currently our technology director every

527
00:38:19,119 --> 00:38:24,560
single time we have a meeting he has to
bring everything in. He has to set up

528
00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:29,359
the microphones. He has to bring his
whole team. He's um get it set up for

529
00:38:26,720 --> 00:38:32,800
live streaming. So it would be ideal if
we could have just a meeting place where

530
00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:38,400
we could come in and have a seat and it
would be a lot less work on the team. Uh

531
00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:42,720
it could be a permanent training site
for all of staff. Right now when we have

532
00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:46,079
a meeting and we go to a school, we have
to go to the principal, you know, which

533
00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:49,760
room do you have available or we're
going to have to kick somebody out of

534
00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:54,480
their classroom. Um so it especially
during the school year as a challenge of

535
00:38:51,280 --> 00:39:00,240
where we would meet. We could also use
some of that space just as a permanent

536
00:38:57,359 --> 00:39:04,000
place for district meetings when um
professional development days or people

537
00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:07,359
coming in and train it for different
trainings. we could have a set place and

538
00:39:06,079 --> 00:39:13,040
not have to worry about who we're going
to put out so that we can have a central

539
00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:18,400
uh meeting place and also it would be an
ideal place to relocate the central

540
00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:24,480
office. Right now we have some central
office staff who doesn't have room at

541
00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:29,760
the central office. So they may be at um
the high school at one of the elementary

542
00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:35,440
schools. So,
we've just kind of talked about having a

543
00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:43,240
place where everybody under the district
um office umbrella could have a meeting

544
00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:43,240
place in or an office in one spot.

545
00:39:44,882 --> 00:39:46,902
[clears throat]

546
00:39:47,599 --> 00:39:52,079
All right. So, if you haven't already
imagined and didn't already know, our

547
00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:56,160
future looks bright in Gates County
Schools. But I should have began with

548
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:59,680
this and I did not. Um, forgive me. But
as you see, we travel as a pack. When

549
00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:03,440
you see one, you usually see at least
three or four of us. Um, Mr. Bum could

550
00:40:02,079 --> 00:40:06,880
not be here tonight. He's a little under
the weather. And Miss Riddick had a

551
00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:09,599
family engagement. So, otherwise, they
would have been here. So, I want to say

552
00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:13,200
that on their behalf because they
definitely would have been here to

553
00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:16,320
support us. Um, overall, our schools and
our county are connected. When our

554
00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:20,480
students succeed, our families are
stronger and our community is stronger

555
00:40:17,839 --> 00:40:24,480
and Gates County is stronger. Uh we look
forward to working alongside um the

556
00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:27,520
board and we're not separate entities
but as partners with a shared

557
00:40:25,839 --> 00:40:31,680
responsibility for the future of Grace
County Schools. Again, we appreciate you

558
00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:34,720
hearing us tonight and considering our
presentation and look forward to more

559
00:40:33,359 --> 00:40:37,720
collaboration and conversation in the
future.

560
00:40:37,839 --> 00:40:43,200
» And this will be our new logo. It has to
be voted on and board approved, but

561
00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:47,280
we're looking at this as being our new
logo. As we change our vision and change

562
00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:50,320
our focus and rebrand for Gates County
Schools, we're looking at this as

563
00:40:48,240 --> 00:40:52,960
possibly being our new logo. We had
teachers that vote on it doing

564
00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:56,560
convocation. So, when those results are
in, hey, they make the rules. We'll see.

565
00:40:55,200 --> 00:40:57,760
We'll see what they think. So,
>> all right.

566
00:40:57,200 --> 00:41:00,160
» All right.
>> Thank you. Um ADM. Yay.

567
00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:02,160
» Yes.
>> That's really exciting.

568
00:41:01,599 --> 00:41:07,040
» Very.
>> Um the communication has been

569
00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:11,343
phenomenal. I will say there for a few
days. If my phone rang, it was

570
00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:13,760
absolutely Gates County Public Schools.
>> [laughter]

571
00:41:11,599 --> 00:41:17,760
» um which was great cuz communication was
amazing. Um but just a we'll dive in

572
00:41:16,240 --> 00:41:21,440
more. This was a presentation style, but
we do have a joint meeting in September

573
00:41:19,599 --> 00:41:25,440
that we'll look at planning. Um so I
look forward to to going more into that

574
00:41:23,599 --> 00:41:29,040
just talking about different things in
the interim for all things I'm going to

575
00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:33,119
offer again. Now we do have this meeting
space that is available that is set up.

576
00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:36,960
You all are always welcome to use it um
in the interim of any kind of long-term

577
00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:40,640
planning. Um but also we have been
incredibly grateful for the

578
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:43,760
collaborations. Um, I know here at the
county level they have been phenomenal.

579
00:41:42,240 --> 00:41:47,920
We've gone to Raleigh. We've been around
Gates County and they are continuing to

580
00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:52,400
meet with people in Raleigh. Um, I know
that there was a meeting yesterday y'all

581
00:41:49,359 --> 00:41:55,200
had with with with DPI and Raleigh. So,
thank you so much for all of the work

582
00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:58,480
that you all are putting in and the
continued collaboration and efforts.

583
00:41:56,960 --> 00:42:02,000
Yes. I was just going to say worth
mentioning at our work session just

584
00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:04,960
prior to this we talked to the A&E firm
that's going to go about doing a

585
00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:08,240
facility planning for us and we
specifically discussed with them that

586
00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:11,839
it's going to be a joint engagement with
the schools as well as the county for

587
00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:14,560
» looking at all the buildings and
long-term plans and facilities including

588
00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:17,839
Buckland and everything else.
>> So they yeah they'll be doing an

589
00:42:16,079 --> 00:42:21,920
assessment of all county county owned
facilities is the next step with them.

590
00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:25,359
So we plan on bringing you all into that
with us. It's going to be very important

591
00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:29,760
this these list of items that uh you
went through that that's brought up to

592
00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:33,599
them as far as short-term things for
Buffin, but we're we're looking at long

593
00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:39,040
term and what we need to do long term.
Um and and so having that feedback and

594
00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:41,839
collaboration with this whole system
would be phenomenal to be able to do

595
00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:43,599
that. We're trying to put that 20-year
plan kind of together.

596
00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:48,640
» Yeah.
>> I have a question concern consolidation.

597
00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:55,440
I know you said that uh of course you
got to look into it but what options

598
00:42:52,960 --> 00:43:00,079
um are you considering because there
have been uptick as you said ADM's great

599
00:42:58,240 --> 00:43:05,359
that's great great for the financial
part but as far as

600
00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:09,680
when we have even more students where
are these students going to go in the

601
00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:15,200
short term
in the short term we do have some

602
00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:20,240
classrooms that we might can reclaim at
Gatesville that could expand. We do have

603
00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:24,880
a little bit of margin that we can spend
a little bit, but again, like you

604
00:43:22,079 --> 00:43:30,800
saying, in a short-term plan, the growth
is an unknown number. Again, nobody

605
00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:34,880
expected us to get to 1380 this year.
So, we're going to have to keep a very

606
00:43:32,319 --> 00:43:37,040
very close eye on that. I think one of
the important things [clears throat] and

607
00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:40,560
I I'll go ahead and say it. Nobody else
probably wants to say this. This is why

608
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:46,560
we need to maintain that Buckland
infrastructure as much as we can because

609
00:43:43,920 --> 00:43:52,240
if we get expanded beyond our capability
at our two elementary schools, we can

610
00:43:48,720 --> 00:43:56,560
always make some small quick adjustment
that could utilize maybe that facility

611
00:43:54,560 --> 00:44:01,280
for something like a kindergarten or
first grade to try to get us through the

612
00:43:59,119 --> 00:44:05,200
gap until we get to our long-term plan,
which we're still under the premise and

613
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:09,200
we're still trying to work toward that
perhaps a new school down the road.

614
00:44:07,359 --> 00:44:13,760
» Right. cuz I reason why I asked this
question because I know economically in

615
00:44:11,359 --> 00:44:18,640
this region it's going to be a shift
especially what's going on in Herford

616
00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:23,280
County with contractors coming in also
with new employees coming in um the

617
00:44:21,280 --> 00:44:28,400
industry over in Herford County. So
housing is going to be an issue.

618
00:44:24,720 --> 00:44:31,920
Surrounding counties are going to uh
have a lot of people looking for

619
00:44:30,240 --> 00:44:35,359
housing, you know, not only in Herp
County, but Gates County, Bertie, and

620
00:44:33,280 --> 00:44:39,200
adjacent counties. And I know there may
be an uptick. There may be an uptick in

621
00:44:37,599 --> 00:44:42,880
our school system. And I, you know, just
asked that question for that reason.

622
00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:47,359
» And I think, you know, again, we we we
talked about this a lot back in March.

623
00:44:45,440 --> 00:44:53,599
the the decision to close Buckman was a
financial decision, not a growth

624
00:44:49,920 --> 00:44:58,319
decision, not a students or teachers. It
was simply a financial decision. I mean,

625
00:44:56,640 --> 00:45:02,640
we didn't have a choice as a school
board. There was a declining ADM at the

626
00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:07,440
time. We've lost 400 students over the
last seven or eight years. Now, when

627
00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:11,760
that trend stops, and you're exactly
correct, and maybe maybe we hit the

628
00:45:09,280 --> 00:45:14,720
bottom. I mean, not I hope so. And if
we've hit the bottom and we start

629
00:45:12,880 --> 00:45:18,880
growing and we open up Herford and we
get this sludge, we have to be very

630
00:45:16,720 --> 00:45:23,760
agile. We have to be agile from a school
board. We have to be agile from a um you

631
00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:27,040
know, a program and be ready to accept
that. Uh I think we still have students

632
00:45:25,599 --> 00:45:30,400
signed up today,
>> you know, so good problem to have.

633
00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:33,280
» Yes.
>> You know, from a physical stand, it's a

634
00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:36,640
good problem to have, but logistically
it could be a nightmare. [snorts] So

635
00:45:34,720 --> 00:45:39,280
we're we're we are tracking that every
single day.

636
00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:41,920
We ought to consider we ought to
consider at some point talking to our

637
00:45:40,720 --> 00:45:45,839
planning and zoning folks about it
because it's common place for the bigger

638
00:45:44,000 --> 00:45:48,400
municipalities when a development comes
in. They're add x amount of houses.

639
00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:52,480
They're required to go and have an
analysis done on who the market these

640
00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:55,200
houses are sized for, who's going to buy
them, and they'll likely impact the

641
00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:59,040
number of students that are likely to
come in with a school system. That's a

642
00:45:56,880 --> 00:46:02,880
routine requirement for almost every
city and county north of the state line

643
00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:06,160
for them to submit those. I see those
fairly regular where they come and say,

644
00:46:04,079 --> 00:46:10,000
"We're building 450 houses. we're gonna
add 72 students K through 12 or

645
00:46:08,480 --> 00:46:13,760
something and they usually have an
analysis. The planning group has a

646
00:46:11,599 --> 00:46:16,960
consultant on board that'll review them
and we've had them kick back and said,

647
00:46:15,119 --> 00:46:20,319
"No, you're underestimating it or you've
overestimated it or whatever." So, we

648
00:46:18,960 --> 00:46:24,240
ought to consider doing that if we're
really likely to see big growth.

649
00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:27,760
» One of the things that this board is
committed to right now is not to go over

650
00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:30,560
that student teacher
>> Yeah.

651
00:46:28,560 --> 00:46:34,160
» uh ratio. I think that's very important.
I think a lot of people gloss over that.

652
00:46:32,720 --> 00:46:38,800
You know, you can certainly fix problems
by just saying and you got 25 students

653
00:46:36,560 --> 00:46:42,560
now, you got 30 students there. But as
you saw, Dr. Jordan said earlier, who

654
00:46:40,960 --> 00:46:47,040
pays for that? And so students pay for
that. So we're we're going to be very

655
00:46:44,880 --> 00:46:52,319
strict as we be honest with ourselves
and say we're not willing to bend on

656
00:46:49,200 --> 00:46:55,839
that rule. If you're saying 16 or 17
students per first grade teacher, we're

657
00:46:54,240 --> 00:47:00,960
going to keep trying to stay in that
range because again, it gets hurt is a

658
00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:05,200
student. That's why Dr. Jordan strategic
plan is students first. that we have to

659
00:47:03,040 --> 00:47:10,640
think in a student way, not an easy
solve button where we can just put more

660
00:47:07,599 --> 00:47:13,520
desk in there if that makes sense.
>> It does. Thank you.

661
00:47:12,400 --> 00:47:18,000
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

662
00:47:16,240 --> 00:47:23,520
» All right.
So, we are moving along to the citizen

663
00:47:20,079 --> 00:47:30,560
advisory board recommendations. Um, we
have two tonight. The first is Thank

664
00:47:26,400 --> 00:47:34,640
you, my light. Um the first is the
Merchants Commerce Center committee

665
00:47:32,240 --> 00:47:38,640
recommendation um on site preparations.
If we can invite Miss Reva Green Holly

666
00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:43,400
to come to the podium to present that
recommendation on behalf of that

667
00:47:40,400 --> 00:47:43,400
committee.

668
00:47:45,520 --> 00:47:51,280
» Good evening commissioners.
>> Good evening.

669
00:47:48,079 --> 00:47:57,200
» Um I come before you as the chair of the
Merchants Commerce Center committee and

670
00:47:54,720 --> 00:48:01,119
I'd like to introduce our committee.
They chose to stay in place and say

671
00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:07,680
they'd stand there. But we have Paul
Ascu, our vice chair. [clears throat]

672
00:48:03,920 --> 00:48:12,720
Leslie Spinoglio, secretary,
Cecil Baggley,

673
00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:18,560
Larry Brothers,
Ray Brothers, sorry. And we have Lisa

674
00:48:16,079 --> 00:48:23,920
Cherry, our advisor.
And we have Nathan Bearman, our

675
00:48:20,720 --> 00:48:29,040
exofficio member. And we had our first
meeting July 22nd. And I'd like to say

676
00:48:26,880 --> 00:48:35,839
our committee has jailed and we are
about getting some work done. So um the

677
00:48:32,720 --> 00:48:39,760
first thing was we had we held our
meeting. We talked about why are we

678
00:48:37,280 --> 00:48:47,680
here? What are we supposed to be doing?
And um we decided to pick a strategy to

679
00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:54,079
bring before you all and see how you all
feel about it and vote for us to move

680
00:48:49,760 --> 00:49:00,079
forward. So I would like to start with
uh my committee representative that's

681
00:48:56,800 --> 00:49:04,880
going to present Paul Ascue.
He and uh Cecil have done a lot of

682
00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:12,040
background work on the presentation
they're getting ready to make to you and

683
00:49:07,760 --> 00:49:12,040
I'm going to turn it over to him.

684
00:49:16,559 --> 00:49:24,880
Good evening and and thank you for
allowing us to uh first participate or

685
00:49:22,079 --> 00:49:30,880
be appointed to this board and we all
thank you for that and and we we hope

686
00:49:27,359 --> 00:49:38,800
we're going to uh provide a good service
for the for the county. So, I'd like to

687
00:49:34,640 --> 00:49:46,640
be uh I think concept plan B is up there
and so um that's what we are focusing

688
00:49:42,800 --> 00:49:51,440
on. It's a it's a tremendously
it's a great concept

689
00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:56,880
and and we're really excited about it
and and we realize that not everything

690
00:49:54,640 --> 00:50:03,920
is going to get done at one time and
we're not asking asking for that of

691
00:49:59,119 --> 00:50:09,599
course but uh that's you know Cecil and
myself and I want to tell you we flipped

692
00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:15,839
the coin and I lost so that's why I'm up
here so next time you [laughter] but

693
00:50:12,480 --> 00:50:22,204
anyway Hey. Uh,
>> yeah. Oh, I'm not accustomed to using

694
00:50:19,119 --> 00:50:24,224
something like this, I tell you. But
[laughter]

695
00:50:25,040 --> 00:50:32,480
on August 10th, and I we we've been
watching the weather forecast very well.

696
00:50:29,680 --> 00:50:39,440
And and the the weather man said it was
going to be 85 degrees. Well, he was

697
00:50:34,960 --> 00:50:43,760
wrong. It was 95. And so Susan myself
decided he has a open Jeep. We decided

698
00:50:41,920 --> 00:50:51,760
we gonna we're gonna take this Jeep
drive and and we did. We started right

699
00:50:47,440 --> 00:50:58,520
here on Sony Lane and and we to weed as
much as this as we could. We we didn't

700
00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:58,520
do a we didn't do a hike.

701
00:50:58,640 --> 00:51:01,640
» Yeah.

702
00:51:02,160 --> 00:51:07,240
» [laughter]
>> I can't keep the steel and tell you I'm

703
00:51:04,240 --> 00:51:07,240
probably

704
00:51:08,055 --> 00:51:10,075
[laughter]

705
00:51:10,800 --> 00:51:19,920
from here and went all the way back to
the two farms back there and we drove

706
00:51:17,680 --> 00:51:24,640
back through here.
But basically what we want to talk about

707
00:51:21,920 --> 00:51:30,240
right now is just this section right
here for this small section right here

708
00:51:28,480 --> 00:51:35,680
is 11
some problem.

709
00:51:32,480 --> 00:51:39,280
» Well, so so actually actually it goes
all the way to the ponds.

710
00:51:38,079 --> 00:51:44,240
» You're right.
>> It is kind of you see a break right

711
00:51:41,440 --> 00:51:49,599
there and and that's that was uh we
measured that the other night at the

712
00:51:45,760 --> 00:51:55,920
meeting and it and it is 11.7 acres is
is what that turns out to be. And so um

713
00:51:53,680 --> 00:52:03,040
and this is what our focus is on and
this is what our recommendation is going

714
00:51:57,920 --> 00:52:07,839
to be on. Uh and so uh we we're going to
call it phase one. So I don't know how

715
00:52:05,920 --> 00:52:12,720
many phases we going to end up having,
but we we're going to start with one, of

716
00:52:09,839 --> 00:52:20,319
course. And so this is this is our this
is our board. And this is what we

717
00:52:14,960 --> 00:52:25,440
discussed was the clearing uh the
stumping, taking all the stumps out,

718
00:52:22,880 --> 00:52:34,160
leveling whatever we need to do and
preparing that 11.7 acres for uh we hope

719
00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:39,280
maybe some businesses coming in or or
whatever. But but we got to start and

720
00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:43,599
this this is what we recommend our start
is going to be it's right along the

721
00:52:41,280 --> 00:52:50,079
highway. begins as you come up the hill
anybody everybody is familiar with 158.

722
00:52:47,760 --> 00:52:55,200
You can't see the pond actually any
longer because it's grown up. But but we

723
00:52:53,119 --> 00:53:03,920
did ride through as much of that
property that part of the property as we

724
00:52:58,079 --> 00:53:09,040
could and and uh I'm as a farmer
I'm in the irrigation so I have a I have

725
00:53:07,200 --> 00:53:12,319
equipment to do this so I'm very
familiar with land clearing. But the

726
00:53:11,280 --> 00:53:18,160
first thing I'm going to tell you is
it's not a cheap thing to do. I mean, it

727
00:53:14,640 --> 00:53:22,319
cost a lot to do and and so, uh, that
that's going to be something you you

728
00:53:20,319 --> 00:53:28,000
guys are going to have to decide on on
our approach with that. But, uh, but

729
00:53:25,359 --> 00:53:33,760
once it is done and we we would possibly
get it seated down and have it looking

730
00:53:30,880 --> 00:53:39,359
where, you know, we could host community
events or whatever on that on that

731
00:53:36,480 --> 00:53:43,119
parcel. uh but it's going to have to be
maintained

732
00:53:41,040 --> 00:53:52,079
and so we realized that's going to be a
cost to the canon uh to to maintain that

733
00:53:47,200 --> 00:53:57,200
property. So, uh, Cecil did talk to Tom
Morgan about the timber disonment, if

734
00:53:55,599 --> 00:54:04,400
you want to call it timber. I don't call
it timber. I call it is not not a lot on

735
00:54:00,240 --> 00:54:08,960
11.7 acres is is in my vision and I
think Caesar will agree and we discussed

736
00:54:07,200 --> 00:54:12,960
it with the board. It's not anything
that we're going to log that's going to

737
00:54:11,520 --> 00:54:15,920
be excited about going in there and
logging anything and getting and

738
00:54:14,400 --> 00:54:20,240
generating any money out of that
portion.

739
00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:25,760
You want to speak on what John Morgan
had to say or just

740
00:54:23,680 --> 00:54:30,000
» if if I was see if you could use the
mic. Yeah.

741
00:54:28,559 --> 00:54:34,480
» You got him up there one way or another.
Right. [laughter]

742
00:54:32,000 --> 00:54:40,400
» Didn't need the coin. You got it.
>> I had a two hit a coin. [laughter]

743
00:54:37,839 --> 00:54:45,680
Um, yes, I did talk to Tom Morgan about
this and and basically uh it's a matter

744
00:54:43,599 --> 00:54:50,880
of bringing some equipment in there and
and uh pulling those trees up, taking an

745
00:54:49,280 --> 00:54:54,559
excavator, putting them in a pile, and
he said they could be burnt right on

746
00:54:52,480 --> 00:55:00,960
site. Of course, we would have to get a
permit to do so, but uh during the the

747
00:54:57,839 --> 00:55:06,400
right time of year, uh they could be
burnt right there. Uh [clears throat] he

748
00:55:04,480 --> 00:55:09,839
also mentioned that drainage pond that
has been grown up and it's not doing

749
00:55:08,079 --> 00:55:15,760
what it's designed to do that that needs
to have some maintenance uh done to it

750
00:55:12,319 --> 00:55:21,839
also. Um, [clears throat] and one thing
that I'm going to bring up regardless

751
00:55:18,880 --> 00:55:25,920
and and there's not a name of that road,
but there [clears throat] is a road that

752
00:55:23,280 --> 00:55:35,040
comes there's a there's a dirt path that
comes off of 158 to the left of the

753
00:55:30,400 --> 00:55:45,040
credit union that goes straight back
to about where the nursing home is.

754
00:55:40,079 --> 00:55:49,359
And the path ends in a large ditch.
So, we spotted some four-wheel tracks

755
00:55:46,960 --> 00:55:53,280
back there, too. And and my concern
about this big ditch and this path

756
00:55:51,440 --> 00:56:00,319
winding up in a big ditch is we do have
a liability there. Something needs to be

757
00:55:56,400 --> 00:56:06,240
done there. Uh either a barricade, a
couple loads of sand, or anything. But

758
00:56:03,599 --> 00:56:10,240
had it been
grown up more than it was and we had

759
00:56:08,319 --> 00:56:14,400
been cruising along a little faster than
we were were, we could have very easily

760
00:56:12,799 --> 00:56:20,760
wind up in the bottom of that ditch. And
and it would it's a large ditch. It's

761
00:56:16,319 --> 00:56:20,760
it's a deep ditch. It's a wide ditch.

762
00:56:21,680 --> 00:56:33,680
So what we what we are asking is uh you
know like I said we we envision we

763
00:56:29,520 --> 00:56:40,079
vision this 11.7 acres to be be cleared
dumped stabilized and sewn with grass.

764
00:56:38,000 --> 00:56:45,119
Uh we we could as I mentioned we could
have some events begin there. Fall

765
00:56:42,559 --> 00:56:50,720
festival was mentioned you know have
something going where the county can

766
00:56:47,599 --> 00:56:54,720
see. Yes, we we got, you know, we've got
something moving forward. We're not

767
00:56:52,160 --> 00:56:58,880
dependent on the school systems property
or whatever to host these events. And

768
00:56:57,359 --> 00:57:06,319
and so [clears throat]
um I what what we're asking is is

769
00:57:02,559 --> 00:57:11,440
permission for us to secure bids on
clearing that land. Um I don't I know

770
00:57:09,280 --> 00:57:14,960
what it cost me to do it and it's it's
not it's not a cheap thing. I mean,

771
00:57:13,119 --> 00:57:18,559
equipment equipment. Y'all all know
equipment is expensive and it takes it

772
00:57:16,720 --> 00:57:23,040
takes a lot to do it, but there are
people out there that are that could do

773
00:57:20,559 --> 00:57:28,559
it and and and we feel like with what
we've seen and uh it's not a lot out

774
00:57:26,640 --> 00:57:33,680
there and and it shouldn't take, you
know, a great deal of expense and and

775
00:57:32,000 --> 00:57:39,599
I'm not going to throw a figure out
there because I don't know what someone

776
00:57:36,079 --> 00:57:45,200
would charge, but um but we want
permission to secure, you know, some

777
00:57:42,000 --> 00:57:53,280
bids to get to get this ball rolling.
And so, uh, and and also, you know, with

778
00:57:48,960 --> 00:57:58,480
that, uh, if we do get a bid, we'll, you
know, whatever how many beers we get, is

779
00:57:56,799 --> 00:58:02,799
not a lot of people in that business.
Not like it, not like it used to be.

780
00:58:00,400 --> 00:58:07,920
But, uh, once we get a bid, we'll bring
that to you and present it to you and

781
00:58:05,599 --> 00:58:12,000
see what you say, you know. But I want
to tell you any bid we get it will have

782
00:58:10,000 --> 00:58:16,079
a it will have a time stamp on it
because costs change all the time. Make

783
00:58:14,799 --> 00:58:22,240
well aware of that.
>> And so uh you know we we just we just

784
00:58:19,760 --> 00:58:31,520
would have to I mean we're excited about
moving forward. Uh uh we have we have

785
00:58:26,319 --> 00:58:36,799
you know I uh uh as far as a timeline we
we're asking for the you know for you

786
00:58:34,000 --> 00:58:44,559
you commissioners to develop a vi a
vibrant merchants meal pond committee

787
00:58:40,319 --> 00:58:50,799
marketing plan. And so and with that uh
you know begin begin marketing that

788
00:58:46,720 --> 00:58:55,440
property uh right right away. you know,
hope hopefully we can can, you know, if

789
00:58:53,200 --> 00:59:00,480
the business knows that this is this is
in the beginning or they would they

790
00:58:58,400 --> 00:59:07,440
would be maybe perhaps excited about
coming to the county and so we ask we're

791
00:59:03,119 --> 00:59:12,000
asking for they for that. Um
anything anything else that anybody on

792
00:59:10,960 --> 00:59:16,160
the board
>> can thank

793
00:59:13,920 --> 00:59:20,400
u I just again thank you thank you for
your time. I'll I'll be glad or any of

794
00:59:18,480 --> 00:59:22,400
us be glad to answer any questions that
you may have or

795
00:59:21,920 --> 00:59:26,480
» Yes, sir.
>> Thank you. Yeah. Go ahead.

796
00:59:23,520 --> 00:59:30,160
» Excuse me. Yes. Uh I want to say I love
this concept and as you mentioned,

797
00:59:28,880 --> 00:59:36,400
marketability [clears throat]
is so important as we recruit industry

798
00:59:34,480 --> 00:59:42,880
or whoever
commercial to come here. Curbside appeal

799
00:59:40,480 --> 00:59:47,920
is vital. And also we want to be
productive of what we have ownership of.

800
00:59:46,079 --> 00:59:52,640
I see this as a great investment. I
would love to hear the bids because

801
00:59:49,760 --> 00:59:57,359
that's a big win factor also.
>> But it's good. It's a good investment.

802
00:59:55,520 --> 01:00:01,839
It's a good investment. We can get a
return on it. We can help the community.

803
00:59:59,760 --> 01:00:06,480
We can have as you mentioned festivals,
things like that that would generate

804
01:00:03,599 --> 01:00:11,359
revenue. So, I love the concept. I love
the marketability of it. I love the

805
01:00:08,799 --> 01:00:16,559
curbside appeal. and I want to thank the
committee um for everything you have

806
01:00:13,920 --> 01:00:20,319
done to get this off the ground.
>> Um I got to I got to make a point of

807
01:00:18,240 --> 01:00:24,799
order. Do you still own property there,
Mr. Roundree?

808
01:00:23,119 --> 01:00:28,079
» He he's allowed to make a comment.
>> I'm just asking a question. I just want

809
01:00:26,240 --> 01:00:32,480
to make sure for clarity. I mean, if you
don't, it's not a problem. I'm just want

810
01:00:29,520 --> 01:00:34,880
to the discussion previously was is that
you own some property in there and I

811
01:00:33,599 --> 01:00:39,200
just want to ask the appropriateness if
we're going to have this discussion

812
01:00:37,200 --> 01:00:42,960
advocating for something that
>> I do not own any property on the

813
01:00:41,119 --> 01:00:45,680
commerce part.
>> Yes.

814
01:00:43,599 --> 01:00:48,000
» Okay. On the commerce part. Okay.
>> All right.

815
01:00:46,319 --> 01:00:50,079
» Do not
>> Okay.

816
01:00:48,720 --> 01:00:54,079
» Well, first of all, I would like to say
thank thank everyone who serves on the

817
01:00:52,240 --> 01:00:57,760
committee. Uh you're right. It did on
the very first meeting it did jail right

818
01:00:55,680 --> 01:01:03,920
on up and it's nice to have good
conversations. One of the things that uh

819
01:01:00,000 --> 01:01:11,920
I was tasked with when I was uh um asked
to to generate this is um we wanted to

820
01:01:08,240 --> 01:01:18,079
take this space and and it's a lot of uh
of um community concern about purchasing

821
01:01:16,160 --> 01:01:21,520
the the the
land originally.

822
01:01:20,000 --> 01:01:24,880
One of the things I believe that this
board has said before in the past and I

823
01:01:23,200 --> 01:01:29,599
agree with that you know that's already
happened that's already been bought. the

824
01:01:26,720 --> 01:01:34,240
county owns it, what are we going to do
with it? And and so if we want to be

825
01:01:32,160 --> 01:01:38,240
able to generate any type of revenue off
of it through um you bring in any type

826
01:01:36,799 --> 01:01:42,720
of business or anything like that to it,
you got to be able to invest a little

827
01:01:40,400 --> 01:01:45,680
bit of money into it to be able to uh
make it not look like a cut down because

828
01:01:44,319 --> 01:01:49,440
right now when you ride by there, that's
what you see. You see a cut down, you

829
01:01:47,119 --> 01:01:54,319
don't see any type of commerce park or
anything like that. and and so when um

830
01:01:52,799 --> 01:01:57,760
to be able to market that is what you
need to do is be able to clear some

831
01:01:55,680 --> 01:02:02,400
areas up, rub it, make it look like it's
ready for a building to be built on it.

832
01:02:00,079 --> 01:02:07,040
» Um but at the same time, it's going to
take a while to be able to uh bring any

833
01:02:05,359 --> 01:02:09,359
type of commerce there. You got to get
people interested and all that kind of

834
01:02:08,240 --> 01:02:13,040
good stuff. So, what could we do with
the space in the meantime? And I think

835
01:02:11,599 --> 01:02:16,880
it was some good ideas that was thrown
out there. you know, we're getting ready

836
01:02:14,480 --> 01:02:20,640
to have uh fall festival here coming up
in a in a few weeks and looking forward

837
01:02:19,280 --> 01:02:24,400
to seeing everybody out there at the
ballpark for that. But this will be a

838
01:02:22,720 --> 01:02:28,400
great spot to do that. you know, we
could bring back uh something like a

839
01:02:26,640 --> 01:02:32,319
swamp fest like we've done in the past
and bring the community together to be

840
01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:37,599
able to have those type of things and
and so this would be a great area that

841
01:02:34,960 --> 01:02:40,799
we can prepare for to do that and then
see where it goes from there because

842
01:02:38,880 --> 01:02:45,440
those type of activities brings
businesses to the county so they can see

843
01:02:43,920 --> 01:02:50,640
what type of commerce that they can have
here. So, um, [laughter] I I'm going to

844
01:02:48,960 --> 01:02:53,839
go ahead and and unless you want to go a
little bit further and talk about it,

845
01:02:51,760 --> 01:02:57,599
» I I just think I'm really excited to see
from I mean, especially from meeting one

846
01:02:55,680 --> 01:03:00,480
to have a concept presented is really
exciting and to be able to move forward.

847
01:02:59,280 --> 01:03:04,000
I think that
>> yeah, any type of movement to show

848
01:03:02,400 --> 01:03:06,079
progress is going to be important. But
yeah, go ahead and do what you were

849
01:03:05,200 --> 01:03:09,839
doing. Thank you.
>> So, I'd like to go ahead and make a

850
01:03:07,440 --> 01:03:13,119
motion that we uh allow the Commerce
Committee to to move forward with

851
01:03:11,280 --> 01:03:17,599
obtaining bids and bringing those bids
back to the commissioners for review and

852
01:03:15,359 --> 01:03:21,119
and decision.
>> I'll second that motion.

853
01:03:19,760 --> 01:03:23,520
» All right. If there's any further
discussion.

854
01:03:21,760 --> 01:03:28,400
» Yeah, I got some discussion. So, we've
spent $600 some thousand on this piece

855
01:03:25,760 --> 01:03:31,680
of property and we spent another $50,000
on this property and we continue to

856
01:03:30,319 --> 01:03:34,480
spend money on this property. What I'm
hearing is, yeah, we want to clear some

857
01:03:33,039 --> 01:03:41,680
land and I appreciate what these folks
have done. Mr. Ascu Cecil, Miss Green, I

858
01:03:37,680 --> 01:03:46,319
mean babysitter Leslie. Um, the point
being is Miss Benolio, I appreciate

859
01:03:44,240 --> 01:03:48,960
y'all's effort. I I really do, Mr.
Brothers. I appreciate your effort. But

860
01:03:47,680 --> 01:03:51,359
for me, we're talking about going out
and clearing some land. We just were

861
01:03:50,319 --> 01:03:55,200
talking earlier about trying to
inventory what stuff we have, what we're

862
01:03:53,119 --> 01:03:58,240
going to do with it. And I I hear that
they're saying, "Hey, they want us to

863
01:03:56,559 --> 01:04:02,000
tell them what we would like to do with
this, a plan." I think we need to do the

864
01:03:59,920 --> 01:04:05,680
plan first. Again, I'm about planning,
figuring out what we want to do. And

865
01:04:03,680 --> 01:04:09,680
then if we want to clear that land
because we think long term that's going

866
01:04:07,119 --> 01:04:12,720
to be an area for parking or part of a
bigger facility, I think that would be a

867
01:04:11,200 --> 01:04:16,799
good thing. I think it might be a very
good thing. But I don't hear people

868
01:04:15,359 --> 01:04:21,039
saying, "Oh, if only that land was
cleared, you could market it and sell it

869
01:04:18,400 --> 01:04:25,599
for $50,000 an acre." It seems like
we're again, this is almost like we're

870
01:04:23,680 --> 01:04:30,319
spending more money after more money
after more money for a site that have we

871
01:04:28,640 --> 01:04:34,559
sold any land in there? Have we done any
marketing before now? Will clearing the

872
01:04:32,240 --> 01:04:38,799
trees make it more marketable? Maybe.
So, but I just feel like I have to be

873
01:04:36,799 --> 01:04:43,200
the voice to speak up and say, I have
concerns about us just deciding to go to

874
01:04:40,559 --> 01:04:49,200
do that. And maybe getting bids is okay.
I'm a little um averse to having

875
01:04:47,599 --> 01:04:52,880
contractors give bids if I'm not
absolutely sure I want to go have them

876
01:04:50,880 --> 01:04:54,960
do that. And if y'all are absolutely
sure you're going to have them clear it

877
01:04:53,920 --> 01:04:58,880
no matter what, then we should go
forward with it. I think at this point

878
01:04:57,039 --> 01:05:02,559
we don't even have a cost to consider if
we're going to be be moving forward. A

879
01:05:00,880 --> 01:05:06,400
bid is a a jumping off point.
Everything's going to be going to have a

880
01:05:04,880 --> 01:05:09,039
timetable to it. Nothing's happening
tomorrow. It's going to take time to

881
01:05:07,680 --> 01:05:11,760
gather bids. It's going to take time to
make a decision. Hopefully, we'll be

882
01:05:10,319 --> 01:05:14,880
further along in a planning process with
more information at that point. I don't

883
01:05:13,440 --> 01:05:18,480
think two things like collecting bids
and us going through an assessment

884
01:05:16,480 --> 01:05:21,839
simultaneously is a bad thing. It makes
us further along instead of kicking that

885
01:05:20,319 --> 01:05:24,480
can down the road further and further.
we're actually making progress by doing

886
01:05:23,359 --> 01:05:28,319
two things
>> cohesively.

887
01:05:25,920 --> 01:05:32,960
» Um is my personal opinion
>> and I'm in agreement with that. You

888
01:05:30,400 --> 01:05:38,400
know, we take our time. We're getting
the bids going through the process and

889
01:05:35,760 --> 01:05:43,440
in the end in the end this is an
investment for Gates County

890
01:05:41,200 --> 01:05:48,319
and we need to start the process instead
of delaying the land and you know it's

891
01:05:47,039 --> 01:05:52,319
something that need to be done. We have
the property. So, let let's

892
01:05:49,695 --> 01:05:53,359
[clears throat] utilize the property.
>> All right.

893
01:05:52,880 --> 01:05:55,680
» I like
>> So, we're going to call for a vote on

894
01:05:54,799 --> 01:05:58,640
that motion.
>> Very good mission statement. Could she

895
01:05:57,839 --> 01:06:02,319
read that?
>> We I think we

896
01:06:00,400 --> 01:06:05,119
» do. We have to vote with the discussion.
Yeah. I think we have to vote. We have a

897
01:06:04,000 --> 01:06:07,839
motion on the floor. We've had our
discussion. So, we have to call to vote

898
01:06:06,319 --> 01:06:15,119
and then welcome to hear that. All
right. So, all in favor?

899
01:06:11,039 --> 01:06:20,319
All opposed? Okay. And that will pass.
>> Okay. And because we weren't given a

900
01:06:18,079 --> 01:06:24,160
mission, we came up with this mission
statement. The mission of the Gates

901
01:06:22,160 --> 01:06:29,359
County Merchant Commerce Park Committee
is to provide informed communitydriven

902
01:06:27,359 --> 01:06:34,480
recommendations to Gates County
Commissioners for the future development

903
01:06:31,599 --> 01:06:40,640
of Merchant Commerce Park, advancing
sustainable economic growth, fostering

904
01:06:37,599 --> 01:06:44,720
business and employment opportunities,
and enhancing the quality of life for

905
01:06:42,720 --> 01:06:47,839
current and future residents of Gates
County.

906
01:06:45,680 --> 01:06:52,400
» Love that. Thank you.
>> I appreciate you all. Thank you. Thank

907
01:06:49,760 --> 01:06:56,160
you. Right,
moving on to the next citizen advisory

908
01:06:54,319 --> 01:07:00,720
board recommendation. Um, we have the
planning board recommendation for the

909
01:06:57,680 --> 01:07:06,400
data center zoning amendment. We will
have Miss Lisa Cherry join us to present

910
01:07:04,079 --> 01:07:10,400
the recommendation. Um, and I just want
to thank you on the forefront for the

911
01:07:08,000 --> 01:07:13,359
event you hosted last week while several
of us were out of town at conference. I

912
01:07:12,079 --> 01:07:16,400
think it is a phenomenal thing that
commissioners were not there and that

913
01:07:14,640 --> 01:07:21,039
you got to have true citizen input
without us being present. Um, so thank

914
01:07:18,960 --> 01:07:24,880
you for what you do. [laughter]
>> Thank you for what you do.

915
01:07:22,799 --> 01:07:31,520
» Oh, thank you. You You do you get your
turn. [laughter] I understand. You do.

916
01:07:27,920 --> 01:07:35,920
It's coming. It's definitely coming. So,
yes. So, data centers, we had the

917
01:07:34,400 --> 01:07:40,240
community engagement last week, just
like you said. So, this is the

918
01:07:38,079 --> 01:07:45,520
presentation that was just missing the
first slide of welcoming the public. So,

919
01:07:43,039 --> 01:07:50,240
I'm just going to go through it pretty
um I'll try to be brief because I'm sure

920
01:07:48,720 --> 01:07:53,599
you're aware of it and the public's
aware of it. We just want you to know

921
01:07:52,000 --> 01:07:58,720
that the Gates County Planning Board has
been researching and discussing data

922
01:07:55,359 --> 01:08:02,400
centers since September 25. So, this
presentation will summarize all the

923
01:08:00,799 --> 01:08:06,160
information, the moratorium, the
timeline, discussion, and the ordinance

924
01:08:04,240 --> 01:08:14,160
amendment itself.
So again the timeline December 17th you

925
01:08:10,559 --> 01:08:19,279
adopted the moratorum in July January
through July 2026 we continued the

926
01:08:16,480 --> 01:08:23,440
research workshops draft ordinance and
then of course August of last week we

927
01:08:21,520 --> 01:08:28,719
did the community engagement to show the
planning board recommendation. It's a

928
01:08:24,960 --> 01:08:33,759
draft recommendation at this point.
So, of course, we just went ahead wanted

929
01:08:31,199 --> 01:08:39,920
to let them see the moratorum and what's
highlighted there is just the uh plan of

930
01:08:37,120 --> 01:08:46,080
action and the schedule that we're in as
of right now and that we've met that and

931
01:08:42,640 --> 01:08:51,120
continuing to meet that. So the
recommendation itself has an authority,

932
01:08:48,719 --> 01:08:55,679
a purpose, a definition of data center
findings of fact, countywide

933
01:08:53,520 --> 01:08:59,839
prohibition, uh the permit denial and
the UDO use table that's in our

934
01:08:57,679 --> 01:09:05,679
ordinance currently. And we met with
county attorney Wood. Thank you. And he

935
01:09:03,040 --> 01:09:10,159
reviewed that as well. So we appreciate
that. We sat down and were able to go

936
01:09:07,679 --> 01:09:14,880
over that. So you know I think really
the best thing to go through because you

937
01:09:11,839 --> 01:09:20,080
will again we will have a public hearing
you will approve you know add to it deny

938
01:09:17,679 --> 01:09:24,560
what whatever you need to do. So I think
the best way to go through it is you

939
01:09:22,880 --> 01:09:28,159
know again we have the definition we
have the purpose and we have all that.

940
01:09:26,640 --> 01:09:34,719
So I think the best way to show it
pictures are worth a thousand words. So

941
01:09:30,880 --> 01:09:39,199
this is the use table and all of the
verbiage just backs this up. It shows

942
01:09:37,679 --> 01:09:47,120
our
zoning districts which you know we have

943
01:09:41,279 --> 01:09:51,040
R1, RH, C1, I1, A1, O and I RMF and also
those are residential,

944
01:09:49,120 --> 01:09:56,560
residential, manufactured homes,
commercial, industrial, agricultural,

945
01:09:53,759 --> 01:10:02,239
office and institutional and the
multifamily residential and the planning

946
01:09:59,760 --> 01:10:06,480
board is recommended to prohibit in
those districts and the data center

947
01:10:04,880 --> 01:10:11,120
which I know it's hard to see for you
guys, but that is what's highlighted and

948
01:10:08,560 --> 01:10:15,360
that there's that's prohibited. And then
we have the ordinance note that would go

949
01:10:12,719 --> 01:10:19,920
along with it that um like I had said
earlier that has a permit denial

950
01:10:18,239 --> 01:10:24,000
and and I'll be more than happy to read
the two pages if you'd like me to out

951
01:10:21,679 --> 01:10:28,880
loud, but it's it's up for everyone to
see and it's also on the website um if

952
01:10:27,120 --> 01:10:32,400
anyone would like to read it in its
entirety because we will read it fully

953
01:10:30,640 --> 01:10:36,640
on the night of adoption once it comes
for public hearing if you would like.

954
01:10:34,320 --> 01:10:43,520
But again, we had the engagement last
week. It was a great turnout. We had

955
01:10:39,280 --> 01:10:49,440
over 60 people attend. We had 45 surveys
filled out and to ask the question if

956
01:10:46,080 --> 01:10:54,000
people, you know, supported that, any,
you know, feedback they'd like to give.

957
01:10:51,440 --> 01:10:57,760
And we've compiled all that that you'll
be getting. And if you'd like to see

958
01:10:55,760 --> 01:11:04,719
that and anyone else in the public as
well. and it was seemed to be positive

959
01:11:02,000 --> 01:11:12,320
um for the uh ordinance draft amendment
itself. Um so with that being said, we

960
01:11:09,199 --> 01:11:16,880
have our next steps. It's to recommend
the adoption of the proposed data center

961
01:11:14,640 --> 01:11:22,239
ordinance amendment after all the
research as I've said. So now we'll move

962
01:11:19,760 --> 01:11:26,480
into a phase of formal adoption will be
after required public notice. public

963
01:11:24,719 --> 01:11:31,520
hearing by the Gates County Board of
Commissioners at a future scheduled

964
01:11:28,560 --> 01:11:36,239
publicly held meeting by the Board of
County Commissioners before December

965
01:11:33,520 --> 01:11:41,199
17th, unless you decide to extend it if
you do not agree with it. So, that's

966
01:11:39,040 --> 01:11:44,800
basically in a nutshell what we've done.
Um, and if you have any questions or

967
01:11:43,440 --> 01:11:48,719
comments, I'd be more than happy to
answer them.

968
01:11:46,000 --> 01:11:52,960
» Madam Chair, could we ask Lisa to please
read that statement in red? I don't know

969
01:11:51,520 --> 01:11:54,880
about the function. [clears throat]
I had a hard time.

970
01:11:54,080 --> 01:11:58,480
» I can go back
>> with the [laughter] friend.

971
01:11:56,320 --> 01:12:03,280
» I understand. Yeah. The the note that
will go along with the use table. We

972
01:12:00,239 --> 01:12:08,000
have these notes that um in our addition
to and it's the ordinance note and

973
01:12:05,199 --> 01:12:12,080
specific standards. Um it's data centers
as defined herein including

974
01:12:09,600 --> 01:12:16,000
cryptocurrency mining facilities and
similar highintensity computing

975
01:12:13,840 --> 01:12:19,600
operation are prohibited in all zoning
districts within Gates County. This

976
01:12:17,679 --> 01:12:24,159
prohibition applies regardless of the
principal use, accessory use, or

977
01:12:22,080 --> 01:12:27,920
occupancy classification of any building
or structure in which the activity

978
01:12:26,000 --> 01:12:30,880
occurs.
>> So, thank you. Yes, sir. Absolutely.

979
01:12:30,000 --> 01:12:34,560
» Thank you.
>> Yes. So, if if there's any questions

980
01:12:32,800 --> 01:12:37,120
again, I'll be more than happy to answer
them.

981
01:12:35,520 --> 01:12:38,640
» Have any comments or questions for Miss
Cherry?

982
01:12:37,760 --> 01:12:39,920
» No.
>> Yep. Okay.

983
01:12:39,520 --> 01:12:44,880
» Yes.
>> Uh for reference, is this comparable to

984
01:12:42,239 --> 01:12:47,760
any other loca localities or counties
around us?

985
01:12:46,000 --> 01:12:52,000
Clay County has done it. Most of the
other counties right now are we have a

986
01:12:49,679 --> 01:12:58,560
few that are in a moratorum status, one
and twoyear status. Then there's others

987
01:12:54,400 --> 01:13:02,560
that have um I believe some restrictions
um or maybe on size.

988
01:13:01,040 --> 01:13:06,239
» But the language you think is pretty
similar to what I

989
01:13:03,840 --> 01:13:09,280
» believe um Clay County is very similar.
Yes. Yes.

990
01:13:07,760 --> 01:13:13,920
» Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. And just
again, that's going to be accessible

991
01:13:10,719 --> 01:13:16,239
online for for viewing for or is
accessible.

992
01:13:14,320 --> 01:13:18,400
» The presentation is is there. Yes,
ma'am.

993
01:13:17,040 --> 01:13:22,400
» It is.
>> That might be something that's worth

994
01:13:19,760 --> 01:13:23,760
pushing out on social media.
>> Thank you.

995
01:13:23,120 --> 01:13:26,480
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

996
01:13:24,880 --> 01:13:30,080
» All right. Moving along to old business.
Uh we have the Buckland Elementary

997
01:13:28,159 --> 01:13:32,560
School facility planning. Uh, manager
sour, if you could update us on

998
01:13:31,280 --> 01:13:37,600
discussions from the special called
meeting and from our time with our

999
01:13:34,400 --> 01:13:42,480
legislative um, representatives today
and then we can open the floor for

1000
01:13:39,920 --> 01:13:47,199
conversation.
Boy, that's a lot to cover. We spent two

1001
01:13:44,800 --> 01:13:52,320
hours with our with our lobbyist and
with representatives from Senator Ted

1002
01:13:50,000 --> 01:13:58,239
Bud's office and and Tom Tillis's
office. We uh number one said a big

1003
01:13:55,840 --> 01:14:02,960
thank you uh to the North Carolina
General Assembly. In the last two

1004
01:14:00,640 --> 01:14:10,800
sessions, Gates County was the recipient
of 11.6 million of uh funding for some

1005
01:14:08,400 --> 01:14:15,600
very important projects. Some of those
are capital projects. Some of those were

1006
01:14:13,280 --> 01:14:21,840
direct impact for the school system with
the Naval Academy program, the science

1007
01:14:18,880 --> 01:14:26,159
uh equipment to expand uh those labs. I
think the sheriff's office received

1008
01:14:24,000 --> 01:14:31,840
about 300,000 of that, but most of the
money is going for infrastructure, both

1009
01:14:28,159 --> 01:14:37,920
water and sewer. Um,
couple of things that we uh discussed

1010
01:14:34,800 --> 01:14:43,280
moving forward. There's an upcoming
legislative goal session. The general

1011
01:14:39,840 --> 01:14:47,920
assembly will be u reconvening the long
section session in January. Our

1012
01:14:46,000 --> 01:14:54,800
association of North Carolina County
Commissioners will have a goal uh

1013
01:14:50,640 --> 01:14:59,920
committee effort to solidify goals as an
organization across our hundred uh

1014
01:14:57,280 --> 01:15:07,120
county members. And I think we may even
have one or two of those um to come up

1015
01:15:03,360 --> 01:15:14,000
later this evening. Uh but we uh said a
big thank you to those uh individuals

1016
01:15:09,760 --> 01:15:22,080
and also um hopefully had them leave
understanding that the the board has a a

1017
01:15:16,960 --> 01:15:26,800
strong vision uh a focus on the project
execution and completion and and we we

1018
01:15:25,199 --> 01:15:34,560
are moving forward. I'll have a few
details under my u report on the on the

1019
01:15:30,719 --> 01:15:41,840
Buckland planning. Um I I believe our
direction is that the gyms

1020
01:15:37,520 --> 01:15:49,360
uh food pantry is in the process of
moving with a few improvements

1021
01:15:45,600 --> 01:15:54,159
u in the cafeteria and kitchen so that
they can handle uh their distribution

1022
01:15:52,400 --> 01:16:02,960
with a little bit more elbow room.
hopefully a a lot better uh freezer and

1023
01:15:57,520 --> 01:16:07,920
and refrigeration uh system and and on a
level ground surface where there won't

1024
01:16:05,600 --> 01:16:14,239
be so much lifting and and they can
hopefully roll uh packages out to the uh

1025
01:16:11,440 --> 01:16:20,239
clients when they when they visit. Um,
and it really has been a a partnership

1026
01:16:17,280 --> 01:16:26,480
with the school system as we talked as
was mentioned earlier about some of the

1027
01:16:22,320 --> 01:16:31,360
elements that need to be uh addressed
and and and again it's a it's really a

1028
01:16:28,560 --> 01:16:36,320
credit to the Jim's organization and the
the board of commissioners. I think this

1029
01:16:32,800 --> 01:16:41,440
is about a 20 year partnership, maybe
longer.

1030
01:16:39,280 --> 01:16:45,120
» Wow. Oh,
>> I'll say that's 40 since my husband was

1031
01:16:43,440 --> 01:16:50,400
born that year. [laughter]
>> That's that's phenomenal. And I think

1032
01:16:47,840 --> 01:16:55,840
the commissioners are excited to be a
part of that and and a partner u in

1033
01:16:53,679 --> 01:17:02,960
that.
Um, we had a uh an opportunity to meet

1034
01:17:00,400 --> 01:17:08,159
with the design firm that the board
selected following

1035
01:17:05,280 --> 01:17:12,239
um a rigorous
review of proposals that were in

1036
01:17:10,159 --> 01:17:18,000
response to the county's request for
qualifications in North Carolina to f to

1037
01:17:14,960 --> 01:17:22,960
hire either an architectural firm or an
engineering firm. uh you don't just

1038
01:17:20,800 --> 01:17:31,199
simply go to the yellow pages and and
find a a engineering firm nearby. We

1039
01:17:26,400 --> 01:17:38,400
must advertise a stated u scope of work
intent and that was done earlier this

1040
01:17:34,640 --> 01:17:46,320
year uh for the purpose of uh moving
forward with a new community center and

1041
01:17:40,800 --> 01:17:50,320
senior uh center project. Um uh
initially the target location has been

1042
01:17:48,560 --> 01:17:55,840
the Merchants Commerce Center and and
that may well be where we end up, but

1043
01:17:52,640 --> 01:18:02,239
that's the the the path that we've been
on. Um the county has secured a million

1044
01:18:00,000 --> 01:18:07,920
dollars in its first piece of the
funding for the capital project. Uh but

1045
01:18:05,120 --> 01:18:11,199
that million dollars as it's available
through the US Department of

1046
01:18:09,360 --> 01:18:15,920
Agriculture, their rural development
division, uh indicates that under their

1047
01:18:14,080 --> 01:18:22,080
rules,
their money is the last money we spend.

1048
01:18:19,440 --> 01:18:30,159
And we've got a rough estimate of maybe
$12 million uh for what that uh project

1049
01:18:26,000 --> 01:18:35,840
might entail. U it would likely be much
more than just a building with four

1050
01:18:32,320 --> 01:18:41,280
walls. there's been uh quite a bit of
spirited conversation about the

1051
01:18:38,960 --> 01:18:47,760
amenities that we might have in the
outdoor area around this. So, the the

1052
01:18:43,840 --> 01:18:51,679
the the scope and the expansive
programming and the construction costs

1053
01:18:49,760 --> 01:18:58,239
we believe are going to be significant
and it may take years to generate the

1054
01:18:55,199 --> 01:19:04,480
money between where we are today and
spending that last $12 million. So, we

1055
01:19:00,560 --> 01:19:10,480
want to look at other potential
uh options within the county. U I think

1056
01:19:08,560 --> 01:19:16,800
I even heard the phrase looking at
lowhanging fruit. Uh and and that very

1057
01:19:13,679 --> 01:19:23,360
well could be u potentially at the
Buckland uh elementary school campus.

1058
01:19:19,280 --> 01:19:28,400
But in order to test that hypothesis and
and and look at all of our options, the

1059
01:19:26,560 --> 01:19:34,320
board had a conversation this afternoon
with the architect about revising our

1060
01:19:31,920 --> 01:19:39,199
scope of work
from

1061
01:19:36,080 --> 01:19:44,560
uh a contract to design a building for
construction that we may not be able to

1062
01:19:41,199 --> 01:19:48,640
afford to build for several years. U
hopefully not a decade, but certainly

1063
01:19:46,320 --> 01:19:54,800
several years. and put that effort
toward an evaluation of our existing uh

1064
01:19:52,320 --> 01:20:02,800
facilities, a needs assessment for
future uh programming, and utilizing the

1065
01:19:59,760 --> 01:20:10,159
uh other grant that the county secured
several years ago u for what started out

1066
01:20:06,640 --> 01:20:15,760
as as uh renovations on the old
community center, the facility next to

1067
01:20:12,080 --> 01:20:20,800
the high school. Um which over a period
of uh two different engineering studies

1068
01:20:18,320 --> 01:20:26,480
was determined that between the four
additions that they had, the additional

1069
01:20:23,040 --> 01:20:34,560
roof structures that were installed and
a building envelope is the word they use

1070
01:20:30,719 --> 01:20:40,080
that uh leaks like a civ when it when it
rains. There is no moisture barrier and

1071
01:20:37,199 --> 01:20:43,760
and the water literally comes inside.
And if you've ever visited the gym or

1072
01:20:42,000 --> 01:20:48,640
the hallways at the community center,
you've seen that. So, uh that money has

1073
01:20:47,120 --> 01:20:55,040
been
available to us, has been uh approved

1074
01:20:52,159 --> 01:21:01,440
for a design project. We are going to
now seek to revise that u agreement with

1075
01:20:59,360 --> 01:21:07,520
our funding agency. It's the It's the
state's construction infrastructure fund

1076
01:21:04,560 --> 01:21:12,719
to put that toward our uh facility
assessment and and planning. And as I

1077
01:21:10,480 --> 01:21:18,400
understood the board's conversation this
afternoon and as was spoken with the uh

1078
01:21:15,360 --> 01:21:26,320
board of education, uh this effort will
include school facilities

1079
01:21:21,040 --> 01:21:30,239
u and and with a a a long reach. I don't
know if we'll go 40 years, but I bet you

1080
01:21:27,920 --> 01:21:38,640
we'll go 20 or 30 years in our in our
projections. And I would think the term

1081
01:21:34,480 --> 01:21:46,719
facilities will be a uh a wide
definition uh with many components that

1082
01:21:42,080 --> 01:21:54,080
could include u expanded athletic
fields. It it it could be any number of

1083
01:21:48,960 --> 01:22:02,320
things. Uh we we've had suggestions for
uh down the road a a swimming pool, an

1084
01:21:57,120 --> 01:22:08,560
athletic track. Um just a a lot of
potential things. Yeah, the board um

1085
01:22:06,239 --> 01:22:13,600
this afternoon during a four o'clock
work session um has asked that we

1086
01:22:12,000 --> 01:22:19,920
prepare
a recommendation for their consideration

1087
01:22:16,320 --> 01:22:25,840
uh this evening so that we maintain some
momentum

1088
01:22:21,520 --> 01:22:32,400
u sharpen our focus and and really try
to take advantage of an opportunity we

1089
01:22:27,840 --> 01:22:37,600
have one with the growing partnership
with the board of education to the

1090
01:22:34,480 --> 01:22:44,320
opportunity to potentially use a portion
of of the Buckland campus, but possibly

1091
01:22:40,560 --> 01:22:48,800
find u an opportunity we hadn't yet
envisioned for the Merchants Commerce

1092
01:22:46,159 --> 01:22:53,840
Center property. I mean that we we've
got I don't know maybe a half dozen

1093
01:22:50,639 --> 01:23:00,639
different uh concept plans that the
board has engaged over the years and

1094
01:22:58,480 --> 01:23:07,920
I think it's safe to say all of those
are are plans that have a um a fluidity

1095
01:23:06,159 --> 01:23:13,600
to them. I mean there's nothing to say
we we can't erase this component and

1096
01:23:10,080 --> 01:23:19,520
move it over here or uh
there's some exciting discussion going

1097
01:23:15,600 --> 01:23:25,760
on. So, um, I
I could go on for another hour on this,

1098
01:23:21,760 --> 01:23:31,600
but it it really has been a a
an exciting path for the last few weeks,

1099
01:23:29,040 --> 01:23:35,440
and I'm I'm hopeful that we can push
this forward. And I think the

1100
01:23:33,360 --> 01:23:42,080
architectural firm of Skinner, Farlo,
and Kerwin is very excited and committed

1101
01:23:39,199 --> 01:23:45,840
and experienced in working on projects
of this nature and in securing

1102
01:23:43,920 --> 01:23:50,960
additional funding. As I recall, one of
the key elements of their selection was

1103
01:23:48,159 --> 01:23:56,800
they have a whole team geared toward
grant writing, grant administration, and

1104
01:23:54,400 --> 01:23:59,800
and and especially even USDA rural
development.

1105
01:23:59,920 --> 01:24:04,080
» All right. Well, uh, thank you very much
for the update and giving everybody

1106
01:24:02,903 --> 01:24:08,159
[clears throat] in the attendance and
the county update of where we stand with

1107
01:24:05,760 --> 01:24:11,920
that. Um, you know, all of this kind of
stems from what we're trying to do in

1108
01:24:10,400 --> 01:24:14,719
the future. In order to have something
in the future, you got to have a plan to

1109
01:24:13,280 --> 01:24:18,880
get there.
So, uh, in in light of, you know, Madam

1110
01:24:16,960 --> 01:24:22,560
Chair, in light of today's discussion
with the architect,

1111
01:24:20,960 --> 01:24:26,639
um,
regarding the community center and the

1112
01:24:24,320 --> 01:24:30,400
senior center project for, uh, Gates
County, uh, and the county manager has

1113
01:24:28,880 --> 01:24:37,440
been instructed to prepare the
following, um, midpoint motion for the

1114
01:24:34,560 --> 01:24:43,040
board's consideration.
Number one, approval of the revised

1115
01:24:40,000 --> 01:24:49,280
scope of work deferring
identify the design for construction of

1116
01:24:46,400 --> 01:24:55,760
a new community center and senior
center. an agreement to undertake a

1117
01:24:53,120 --> 01:25:02,000
countywide facility evaluation of
existing county facilities, office

1118
01:24:58,719 --> 01:25:11,199
spaces, needs, analysis, opportunities
for consolidation, and forecasting the

1119
01:25:06,159 --> 01:25:16,880
future program space needs for all
county agencies, including the senior

1120
01:25:13,760 --> 01:25:23,360
activities and community center and the
school system.

1121
01:25:18,960 --> 01:25:27,520
subject to concurrence with the school
board of education.

1122
01:25:25,679 --> 01:25:32,800
Number two,
approval for the county manager, excuse

1123
01:25:30,000 --> 01:25:39,840
me, approval for the county management
to seek approval for the funding agency

1124
01:25:36,159 --> 01:25:46,800
state construction infrastructure fund
to utilize the available and existing

1125
01:25:42,320 --> 01:25:52,560
grant funds in the amount of $495,000
to support this revised scope and work

1126
01:25:49,760 --> 01:25:58,239
as outlined above.
Number three,

1127
01:25:54,960 --> 01:26:06,159
directions for our county manager to
seek USDA rural development support and

1128
01:26:02,080 --> 01:26:13,199
approval from for its
commitment to utilize the funds

1129
01:26:09,600 --> 01:26:18,560
previously approved in the amount of $1
million

1130
01:26:14,960 --> 01:26:23,360
for construction and or renovation of a
facility to provide expanded community

1131
01:26:21,440 --> 01:26:27,360
center and senior center programs and
services.

1132
01:26:24,960 --> 01:26:35,920
Number four,
approval to invite and and join the

1133
01:26:32,480 --> 01:26:43,360
Gates County Board of Education
to evaluate the plan for the future

1134
01:26:38,400 --> 01:26:49,120
school facilities for the next 30 years.
Madam Chair, I'll offer a motion to

1135
01:26:45,440 --> 01:26:52,000
approve the above items.
>> We have a motion. Do we have a second?

1136
01:26:51,040 --> 01:26:56,480
second.
>> All right. Um and just open for

1137
01:26:53,600 --> 01:27:00,719
discussion. Um I think you know we had
covered a lot of this during the work

1138
01:26:57,679 --> 01:27:05,440
session earlier. Um my only my only
concern was just the moving too early on

1139
01:27:03,040 --> 01:27:10,480
reassigning that million from the USDA
rural funds just in the chance that they

1140
01:27:08,480 --> 01:27:15,520
won't be open to moving it more than
once if we go and suggest something else

1141
01:27:12,560 --> 01:27:20,400
again. So if that is I think in lie of
what we find from the assessment was

1142
01:27:17,440 --> 01:27:22,639
that correct? Like the item three would
be

1143
01:27:22,000 --> 01:27:25,360
» Yeah. The way
>> in lie of the first two coming to

1144
01:27:24,639 --> 01:27:28,000
fruition.
>> Yeah. So the way it's worded, we could

1145
01:27:26,719 --> 01:27:31,280
use it in either or.
>> Okay.

1146
01:27:29,840 --> 01:27:36,320
» Okay.
>> Yeah. Um

1147
01:27:33,440 --> 01:27:40,320
I agree with a lot of this and I believe
you said it earlier.

1148
01:27:38,800 --> 01:27:46,560
Um,
we're one of 100 that does not have a

1149
01:27:44,560 --> 01:27:51,840
senior son
and we need one. The seniors in this

1150
01:27:49,600 --> 01:27:56,880
county has been paying taxes for a long
time. Mo most of them have and they

1151
01:27:55,040 --> 01:28:02,560
deserve
a well organized place to go

1152
01:28:00,880 --> 01:28:08,560
exercise
and do whatever they want to do.

1153
01:28:06,239 --> 01:28:15,040
And
I don't want them to have

1154
01:28:13,199 --> 01:28:20,159
a huge building that we just turn into a
senior center.

1155
01:28:17,280 --> 01:28:24,560
If we have to rehabilitate something and
we

1156
01:28:22,320 --> 01:28:30,000
turn it into a senior center and that's
all we can do, that's all we can do.

1157
01:28:27,920 --> 01:28:35,360
We set out to have a new community
center because the one that we're having

1158
01:28:32,400 --> 01:28:39,760
is it's not falling apart.
Technically the bricks are still in

1159
01:28:37,840 --> 01:28:45,679
place
but it's in very poor condition and we

1160
01:28:43,199 --> 01:28:50,719
had started moving forward if I can
remember correctly because all the

1161
01:28:47,760 --> 01:28:57,440
insulation in between the two walls or
or wet with rain and it sag down.

1162
01:28:54,639 --> 01:29:01,440
There's no insulation value left. We
looked at putting the new roof on it. I

1163
01:28:59,120 --> 01:29:07,760
forgot how much that was going to cost.
We had we had made a decision to move

1164
01:29:03,679 --> 01:29:14,239
forward with a new community center.
$12 million. That's a whole lot of

1165
01:29:10,320 --> 01:29:18,880
money. Four years ago, the water system,
we spent a million and a half on it and

1166
01:29:16,400 --> 01:29:22,560
and the water the water system was back
in the in the black. You know, it it's

1167
01:29:21,040 --> 01:29:28,960
turnaround. We had to invest some money
in it. Uh, as far as community center,

1168
01:29:26,480 --> 01:29:33,199
uh, having it on one side of the county
a little bit further than the other

1169
01:29:30,480 --> 01:29:39,760
side, uh, I feel like needs to be stayed
in in the center of the county where

1170
01:29:37,199 --> 01:29:45,679
it's accessible to all people. No one
has to drive down much further than the

1171
01:29:42,159 --> 01:29:50,400
other. Um, we've got the board of
elections in the center county. Now, we

1172
01:29:48,480 --> 01:29:56,800
got high school in the center county.
would eventually hope to build a a uh a

1173
01:29:54,880 --> 01:30:01,120
new high school right there, consolidate
the schools even more, maybe one day.

1174
01:29:58,800 --> 01:30:07,920
That's it's been taught. Uh I feel like
this community center needs to stay in

1175
01:30:02,719 --> 01:30:12,480
the community. Um so $12 million.
We've applied for $4 million worth of

1176
01:30:10,719 --> 01:30:18,719
grants many times and we didn't get
them. I I don't think we need to

1177
01:30:17,120 --> 01:30:21,920
forget about the community center being
where we originally talked about it. I

1178
01:30:20,560 --> 01:30:26,880
think we just need to go after grants
order and find the money. Our our

1179
01:30:23,920 --> 01:30:32,040
citizens pay all these taxes and run
this county year after year.

1180
01:30:32,400 --> 01:30:40,480
They don't deserve something repurposed.
They deserve something that's brand new.

1181
01:30:36,800 --> 01:30:44,880
If we got to go after funding and find
$12 million, it's out there. You just

1182
01:30:42,639 --> 01:30:48,239
got to look in the right bucket. I just
don't think we've looked hard enough

1183
01:30:46,080 --> 01:30:53,760
yet.
So, I'm not for repurposing something

1184
01:30:51,920 --> 01:30:57,760
for our seniors. Now, if that's what we
have to do in the meantime until we can

1185
01:30:55,360 --> 01:31:02,880
find the correct money for it, then so
be it. But I don't want to repurpose

1186
01:31:01,360 --> 01:31:07,920
something
and that's what they end up with.

1187
01:31:05,520 --> 01:31:12,880
I want something new.
I want something nice. The citizens in

1188
01:31:10,320 --> 01:31:17,760
Gates County deserve anything just as
nice as any other county that's around

1189
01:31:14,800 --> 01:31:23,520
us.
Some of this I do agree with engaging

1190
01:31:20,480 --> 01:31:29,520
the board of education uh in it because
school facilities and and parks I know

1191
01:31:26,400 --> 01:31:35,360
we we do have to share because we are a
small county but we deserve just as good

1192
01:31:32,400 --> 01:31:38,480
as all the other surrounding counties
and we can do it. We just got to put our

1193
01:31:36,960 --> 01:31:44,480
minds to it. We got to look in the right
buckets of money. That's all I had.

1194
01:31:43,280 --> 01:31:48,960
» Are there any other comment? I just want
to like just kind of looking at it

1195
01:31:46,639 --> 01:31:51,600
though. I mean, a lot of this is just to
revise the scope of work, not

1196
01:31:50,159 --> 01:31:55,360
necessarily to move the community center
or senior center. It's to evaluate the

1197
01:31:53,920 --> 01:32:00,560
buildings that we currently have to
evaluate the opportunities that we have.

1198
01:31:57,120 --> 01:32:06,880
And so this is not something a motion to
>> relocate the the focus.

1199
01:32:02,400 --> 01:32:11,199
» I get that. And I and I do agree with
>> every build needs to be looked at. I

1200
01:32:08,560 --> 01:32:13,600
100% I do. It needs to be done. We need
to know what our assets are and what we

1201
01:32:12,800 --> 01:32:18,000
need to work on.
>> So, do we have any other discussion on

1202
01:32:15,280 --> 01:32:22,719
the motion at hand? If not, we will call
for a vote. All in favor of the motion

1203
01:32:20,960 --> 01:32:27,679
as presented.
That is unanimous. Okay.

1204
01:32:25,360 --> 01:32:34,639
Thank you all.
All right. We are moving along now. Um

1205
01:32:31,679 --> 01:32:39,120
new business. We just have a few things
here. One was the budget amendment. If

1206
01:32:36,880 --> 01:32:43,280
Mr. Sour could address this item for the
public and the board.

1207
01:32:41,120 --> 01:32:48,560
» Uh yes, commissioners. You will find
>> Well, I was going to say Yeah.

1208
01:32:45,920 --> 01:32:52,560
» budget or you doing the
>> Well, I was going to say we actually had

1209
01:32:50,480 --> 01:32:55,280
is discussed that earlier. Is that the
one different budget amendment? Yep.

1210
01:32:54,800 --> 01:33:01,280
» Yep.
>> Thanks.

1211
01:32:56,000 --> 01:33:07,040
» Okay. You you'll find F272.
This is the

1212
01:33:03,360 --> 01:33:15,440
um budget budget amendment prepared by
Mr. Robertson to carry forward the grant

1213
01:33:11,760 --> 01:33:23,840
program funds uh that had been u
underutilized or not utilized u

1214
01:33:19,920 --> 01:33:28,000
since the last fiscal year. Um
and and primarily the the biggest one is

1215
01:33:26,080 --> 01:33:32,400
the stream cleanup and the soil and
water conservation. The other is the

1216
01:33:29,600 --> 01:33:36,880
digital literacy teleaalth grant and
you'll see all of the expenditures

1217
01:33:34,400 --> 01:33:43,360
identified there. We've also got the uh
4H camp, United Way,

1218
01:33:39,840 --> 01:33:51,159
um some DSS miscellaneous, the veterans
office and the America 250. The uh total

1219
01:33:47,040 --> 01:33:51,159
is 134,134

1220
01:33:51,440 --> 01:33:58,719
F272.
>> All right.

1221
01:33:55,440 --> 01:34:02,080
Can we get a motion to approve if there
are no questions?

1222
01:34:00,000 --> 01:34:05,520
» I got a question. Okay. I I just if you
would give us a little explanation. The

1223
01:34:03,360 --> 01:34:10,639
grant one seemed pretty straightforward,
but like I know that 4H What is that

1224
01:34:07,840 --> 01:34:14,000
1,600? Didn't we approve a $5,000 one
like last month or something? Is this

1225
01:34:12,239 --> 01:34:17,679
additional to that? What is that
exactly?

1226
01:34:14,960 --> 01:34:21,600
» As the summer moves on, we we've had
different program fees come in and in

1227
01:34:20,000 --> 01:34:23,760
order to spend them, we have to budget
them.

1228
01:34:22,000 --> 01:34:25,600
» So that's fees coming in. Is what you're
saying? That's typically what those are.

1229
01:34:25,360 --> 01:34:28,560
Yeah.
>> Same. What the DSS the same thing.

1230
01:34:27,920 --> 01:34:31,920
» Mhm.
>> 5,000.

1231
01:34:30,159 --> 01:34:38,320
» And then I see the grant then America
250 North Carolina 4259.

1232
01:34:35,120 --> 01:34:40,960
» Yeah. That was originally a $10,000
grant. Okay.

1233
01:34:39,199 --> 01:34:42,880
» And and we just haven't finished that
yet.

1234
01:34:41,360 --> 01:34:46,880
» Okay. All right. Just want to make sure.
Thank you.

1235
01:34:43,360 --> 01:34:48,719
» All right. Get a motion to approve.
>> So move.

1236
01:34:47,600 --> 01:34:51,840
» All right. A second.
>> Second.

1237
01:34:49,520 --> 01:34:57,920
» All in favor?
That is unanimous. Thank you all.

1238
01:34:55,440 --> 01:35:04,440
» All right. Uh, next item is clerk to the
board a report and update. So, clerk

1239
01:35:00,560 --> 01:35:04,440
Draper has the floor.

1240
01:35:04,560 --> 01:35:11,040
Thank you, Madam Chair and
commissioners. Um, I would like to start

1241
01:35:08,480 --> 01:35:15,120
off with the open vacancies before we
move into the applications that were

1242
01:35:13,040 --> 01:35:21,920
submitted and are in your packet for
review. Um, open vacancies. I have one

1243
01:35:19,360 --> 01:35:27,679
for Trillium Health Resources Northern
Regional Board. We have six vacancies

1244
01:35:24,719 --> 01:35:35,760
for the nursing home advisory committee,
one for the planning board, four for uh

1245
01:35:32,639 --> 01:35:40,400
recreational advisory board, one vacancy
for the library board, three vacancies

1246
01:35:38,560 --> 01:35:49,440
for the opioid prevention and
intervention committee, and one which is

1247
01:35:45,440 --> 01:35:55,679
we have two, excuse me, uh for senior
Tar Hill Legislature Committee.

1248
01:35:52,880 --> 01:36:01,520
one would be a member and the other
would be a alternate. Um that is a new

1249
01:35:59,199 --> 01:36:06,719
one that I was not aware of and I'm
getting more information on that but we

1250
01:36:03,520 --> 01:36:12,800
actually had a candidate um submitted
application. So turning over to the

1251
01:36:10,239 --> 01:36:18,800
applications that were presented um to
you all for consideration. Y'all have

1252
01:36:15,440 --> 01:36:25,360
several applicants this month. Um we
have Sarah Montig. I hope I'm saying her

1253
01:36:22,800 --> 01:36:31,280
name correctly. She submitted interest
in um three separate boards. The nursing

1254
01:36:29,040 --> 01:36:36,400
home advisory committee, library board,
and the planning board. I have Miss

1255
01:36:33,679 --> 01:36:44,639
Tiffany Long who has applied for the
library board. Mary Chester was

1256
01:36:41,760 --> 01:36:50,000
applied for the planning board. And then
uh Debbie Savage who has applied for the

1257
01:36:47,440 --> 01:36:57,199
senior Tar Hill legislature committee.
Um I do have a couple recommendations

1258
01:36:54,080 --> 01:37:02,960
from one from
Miss Lisa Cherry. She has recommended um

1259
01:37:00,800 --> 01:37:07,199
Miss Montiki
>> Mon

1260
01:37:03,840 --> 01:37:13,440
» Monkey and then uh the branch manager
for the library, Miss um Kelsey Coburn

1261
01:37:10,080 --> 01:37:19,280
has recommended Miss Tiffany Long. So
you have these item

1262
01:37:16,239 --> 01:37:22,239
for consideration this evening.
All right. And can you just remind us as

1263
01:37:20,800 --> 01:37:26,480
far as serving on boards, is there a
limit on how many a citizen can be on?

1264
01:37:24,159 --> 01:37:31,600
Are there any kind of parameters there?
>> Um, I believe, don't quote me on this,

1265
01:37:29,520 --> 01:37:37,760
but I want to say I don't think there's
any anything in the rules procedures of

1266
01:37:35,679 --> 01:37:42,159
how many they can serve on.
>> Okay.

1267
01:37:40,639 --> 01:37:45,520
» All right. So, we've had these as an
opportunity to look over. Do we have any

1268
01:37:43,920 --> 01:37:50,320
questions, comments, or any motions to
move forward with any of the um

1269
01:37:48,639 --> 01:37:56,480
applicants?
>> So, and as a reminder, um one opening

1270
01:37:54,480 --> 01:38:00,679
for planning board and one for the
library board.

1271
01:37:57,679 --> 01:38:00,679
» Okay.

1272
01:38:07,600 --> 01:38:10,679
All right.

1273
01:38:13,920 --> 01:38:20,080
And you said on the nursing home
advisory committee we have currently no

1274
01:38:18,800 --> 01:38:22,000
we have six vacancies.
>> But I mean no members.

1275
01:38:21,280 --> 01:38:25,520
» No members.
>> I just wanted to point that out. We have

1276
01:38:23,199 --> 01:38:29,600
six members at We have no members at
all.

1277
01:38:26,000 --> 01:38:33,840
» That one does require some training that
comes from additional Yeah. outside

1278
01:38:33,040 --> 01:38:36,480
source. Okay.
>> Are the applicants aware of the training

1279
01:38:35,280 --> 01:38:39,960
requirement?
>> I'm not sure.

1280
01:38:44,159 --> 01:38:50,639
All right. Have any comments,
discussion?

1281
01:38:48,480 --> 01:38:54,480
Motions forward.
>> Well, we have one person who's only

1282
01:38:52,080 --> 01:38:58,800
applying for the planning board. So, if
there's only one spot, I would tend to

1283
01:38:57,280 --> 01:39:01,520
want to lean to give them that one to
share the wealth. There's four

1284
01:38:59,840 --> 01:39:06,639
applicants here. If we give the planning
board to the other person, then we over

1285
01:39:04,719 --> 01:39:12,400
with three applicants overall.
>> I agree. So I guess my recommendation

1286
01:39:10,080 --> 01:39:18,000
would be Miss Wasco for the planning
board. Same for Miss Savage for Tar Hill

1287
01:39:15,840 --> 01:39:22,560
Legislature. Then Miss Long and Miss
Montiku both for the library board.

1288
01:39:20,480 --> 01:39:23,920
» There's only one position for library
board.

1289
01:39:23,119 --> 01:39:26,400
» There's only one
>> one. There's six.

1290
01:39:25,679 --> 01:39:29,520
» No, [clears throat]
that's the nursing home advisory

1291
01:39:28,320 --> 01:39:34,639
committee has six openings.
>> And Miss Long for library. And then that

1292
01:39:31,440 --> 01:39:40,320
gives Miss Monty Q the nursing home
advisory. that would use all four

1293
01:39:38,560 --> 01:39:43,840
since we have four applicants that are
interested in participating. That'd be a

1294
01:39:42,719 --> 01:39:45,040
way to get all four of them on the
board.

1295
01:39:44,159 --> 01:39:48,400
» Is that your motion?
>> That's my motion. I'm sorry.

1296
01:39:47,119 --> 01:39:53,520
» Second that motion. Okay.
>> All right. Open for discussion.

1297
01:39:50,960 --> 01:39:58,880
Any comments or discussion on that? And
if not, we'll call for a vote. Um

1298
01:39:56,800 --> 01:40:02,400
and that would be for all four to have
the first listed board. Yes.

1299
01:40:00,800 --> 01:40:06,159
» For them is the easiest way to I think
say that.

1300
01:40:03,840 --> 01:40:11,119
» All right. All in favor of the motion as
presented.

1301
01:40:07,760 --> 01:40:17,760
Okay. Is unanimous.
All right. Thank y'all. And I have a

1302
01:40:13,520 --> 01:40:22,800
couple updates. Next month. Um the A250
lecture series will continue. Wanda

1303
01:40:20,400 --> 01:40:27,280
Lacier from the Museum of the Aramar
will be presenting a discussion of

1304
01:40:25,199 --> 01:40:32,480
woodworking in northeastern North
Carolina. The lecture is scheduled for

1305
01:40:29,760 --> 01:40:38,480
Thursday, September 19th here in the
historic courthouse. And as part of this

1306
01:40:36,000 --> 01:40:41,920
series, this lecture is an opportunity
to highlight regional history and

1307
01:40:41,119 --> 01:40:49,280
craftsmanship [clears throat]
as part of the broader American 250

1308
01:40:45,440 --> 01:40:55,159
commemoration. Um, in your packet you
will find the

1309
01:40:52,159 --> 01:40:55,159
suggested

1310
01:40:56,400 --> 01:41:06,239
2027 board of commissioners meeting
schedule and 2027 holiday schedule. Um,

1311
01:41:03,040 --> 01:41:12,800
this is just a suggestion for those. I
did highlight two of the dates on the

1312
01:41:08,880 --> 01:41:16,639
meeting um, schedule. The April one I
will be out of town for professional

1313
01:41:14,880 --> 01:41:21,119
development. I know y'all can handle it
without me, but wanted to [laughter]

1314
01:41:17,920 --> 01:41:25,520
make note of that. And then in addition,
typically the

1315
01:41:23,360 --> 01:41:30,400
» third week
of of August is when the NCACC

1316
01:41:29,040 --> 01:41:33,760
conference is, but I think there's
unofficial discussion that it might not

1317
01:41:33,040 --> 01:41:37,520
be
>> conversation this past week. I was

1318
01:41:35,679 --> 01:41:40,560
hearing August 5th through 7th earlier
in August. I know there's been an outcry

1319
01:41:39,119 --> 01:41:44,560
for it to be earlier because of the
start of school, right? Um so um from my

1320
01:41:43,280 --> 01:41:48,320
understanding it will be at the first
week of August.

1321
01:41:45,440 --> 01:41:52,719
» Okay. So this is um these schedules and
are being presented for board discussion

1322
01:41:50,560 --> 01:41:57,440
and action or it can be tabled to next
month as a first reading.

1323
01:41:54,639 --> 01:42:00,960
» Yeah. Any comments, questions or motions
for the holiday and meeting schedule for

1324
01:41:59,440 --> 01:42:05,760
2027.
I know we discussed doing it earlier

1325
01:42:02,400 --> 01:42:09,360
just so the staff can plan accordingly.
All right. So we have a motion or

1326
01:42:08,080 --> 01:42:12,180
» we got to do it. This is the first
rerun. So we

1327
01:42:10,719 --> 01:42:14,880
» this is the first three. Yes.
[clears throat] Don't have to adopt it.

1328
01:42:13,679 --> 01:42:17,920
You don't have to.
>> Or can we?

1329
01:42:15,840 --> 01:42:24,625
» You can. You can adopt it now. I just
have it ready.

1330
01:42:20,560 --> 01:42:27,679
» Make a motion to approve as presented.
[clears throat] Second.

1331
01:42:25,280 --> 01:42:34,719
» All right. There's no discussion. All in
favor? Show of hands.

1332
01:42:30,719 --> 01:42:38,880
All right. Um,
two other announcements. County office

1333
01:42:36,719 --> 01:42:44,560
closure. We will be clo all county
offices will be closed Monday, September

1334
01:42:40,960 --> 01:42:50,719
7th in observance of Labor Day. And then
I received communication of a diabetes

1335
01:42:47,280 --> 01:42:55,920
fair announcement. Um it's a health
announcement. The Edon Lions Club and

1336
01:42:53,280 --> 01:43:01,760
ECU Health Choan Hospital will host a
diabetes fair on September 26th from

1337
01:42:58,639 --> 01:43:08,080
9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This will be at
the Edon United Methodist Church Family

1338
01:43:05,119 --> 01:43:13,440
Life Center located at 2:25 Virginia
Road in Edon. This is a free event, but

1339
01:43:11,199 --> 01:43:19,119
registration will be required as there's
going to be a lunch provided. And I have

1340
01:43:16,320 --> 01:43:23,600
anformational flyer that I will post to
Facebook and the county website and

1341
01:43:21,280 --> 01:43:26,480
distribute in all the county buildings
by next week.

1342
01:43:24,639 --> 01:43:30,239
» I've got four copies of the big ones.
>> The big ones. Yes. Yes. Mr. S brought me

1343
01:43:28,719 --> 01:43:36,800
a handful.
>> Um and then the last thing I have um

1344
01:43:34,639 --> 01:43:42,639
this is also in your packet. We've
received an offer on surplus real

1345
01:43:39,199 --> 01:43:49,040
property. Um the board has been provided
in your packet with this offer from Mr.

1346
01:43:46,960 --> 01:43:55,920
Twifford Twilford Tweford
>> Twifford sorry um along with the backup

1347
01:43:52,159 --> 01:44:01,280
documentation provided by um our tax
administrator and this is being

1348
01:43:58,320 --> 01:44:07,440
presented to you all for review.
If you'll notice behind the offer um is

1349
01:44:04,960 --> 01:44:14,239
the information provided
by Taylor um Miss Pal, excuse me, um

1350
01:44:10,880 --> 01:44:18,880
that notes the total amount of funding
or the total amount of cost that we have

1351
01:44:16,239 --> 01:44:22,960
associated with this parcel. And I also
do want to say I have received a phone

1352
01:44:21,040 --> 01:44:27,679
call and email I haven't been able to
follow follow up with with some other

1353
01:44:25,040 --> 01:44:32,639
people inquiring about our our surplus
our real property surplus. So, um I'll

1354
01:44:30,400 --> 01:44:38,080
get back to y'all if if y'all are here,
but um this is what we have on the table

1355
01:44:35,840 --> 01:44:42,080
tonight. Okay.
>> I'm looking at the tax card as long as

1356
01:44:39,760 --> 01:44:44,880
I'm going through my correctly here.
>> Mhm.

1357
01:44:42,480 --> 01:44:47,040
» The tax card has the the land value at
31,000.

1358
01:44:46,320 --> 01:44:52,719
» Just Yes,
>> just the land value.

1359
01:44:48,159 --> 01:44:57,360
» Um and I should have provided a Google
map and I apologize I did not. It's

1360
01:44:55,119 --> 01:45:00,960
actually different. Um it's a lot of
grown up. It's a lot of growth on this

1361
01:44:59,440 --> 01:45:05,600
property. Not
>> versus what is on the GIS map currently.

1362
01:45:03,760 --> 01:45:07,760
I did look it up. It's a lot of
overgrowth and vegetation.

1363
01:45:07,067 --> 01:45:13,199
[clears throat]
>> Yeah. So, with the land being $31,000 of

1364
01:45:11,040 --> 01:45:16,239
value as far as a tax assessed value,
>> not including any structures or nothing

1365
01:45:14,880 --> 01:45:18,560
like that cuz I understand I mean I saw
the note as far as don't go in the

1366
01:45:17,520 --> 01:45:27,600
house.
>> Yes. But uh um and with the county

1367
01:45:22,560 --> 01:45:31,679
outstanding uh money owed being 155500,
>> he he needs to at least come back with

1368
01:45:29,600 --> 01:45:37,280
what the county has owed in taxes.
>> Okay. Okay. Do y'all want to counter

1369
01:45:35,280 --> 01:45:44,040
offer that and then we can do the upset
bid progress? 15 just under uh just over

1370
01:45:40,560 --> 01:45:44,040
15. 1553142

1371
01:45:44,880 --> 01:45:50,320
» taxes and attorney fees.
>> Uh should be right behind the offer.

1372
01:45:48,880 --> 01:45:54,639
» This one right here.
>> Um right uh right here. Right behind the

1373
01:45:53,199 --> 01:45:57,639
offer.
>> Sorry.

1374
01:45:57,920 --> 01:46:03,360
» Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
>> And so land value at 31. The amount owed

1375
01:46:01,760 --> 01:46:08,800
to county as is with attorney fees and
taxes is just at half of that. And the

1376
01:46:05,199 --> 01:46:13,320
offer came in was at 5,000. So at 5,8
>> make a motion to counter offer

1377
01:46:10,320 --> 01:46:13,320
$15,53142.

1378
01:46:14,400 --> 01:46:20,480
» I second that motion.
>> Any further discussion on that?

1379
01:46:18,800 --> 01:46:23,480
If not, we'll call for a vote. All in
favor?

1380
01:46:24,719 --> 01:46:30,480
» That's all I have.
>> All right. Thank you.

1381
01:46:27,440 --> 01:46:33,480
» Thank you all.
>> Okay.

1382
01:46:33,520 --> 01:46:41,840
All right. And now we have the county
manager report and update.

1383
01:46:39,040 --> 01:46:45,280
» I'll b be brief and it's show and tell
as soon as I get the computer up and

1384
01:46:44,320 --> 01:46:47,920
tell
>> and I'm not going to try the green

1385
01:46:46,800 --> 01:46:51,800
thing.
>> Is [laughter] this a picture of a

1386
01:46:48,800 --> 01:46:51,800
jugging?

1387
01:46:52,639 --> 01:47:00,000
» Just as reference, this is for the uh
well 2A

1388
01:46:57,760 --> 01:47:10,719
emergency replacement for the well that
failed in January. It's about 400 Brad,

1389
01:47:05,600 --> 01:47:16,960
is it 410 or 420 feet deep? 410 ft deep.
There are five screens. You'll see them.

1390
01:47:13,520 --> 01:47:23,440
They're uh kind of dark in color. Those
five screens, I think, total 65 ft of

1391
01:47:20,719 --> 01:47:28,960
screen material for for drawing uh
water. Uh we continue to work through

1392
01:47:25,920 --> 01:47:34,239
the development of those screens. Uh if
you'll jump to the next one, please.

1393
01:47:32,480 --> 01:47:38,800
U
on the left was the

1394
01:47:37,119 --> 01:47:44,800
u
hydro geologist analysis of how we

1395
01:47:42,239 --> 01:47:51,280
identified where to place the screens
and the

1396
01:47:47,840 --> 01:47:54,080
crane operator. I think that's when the
test well was being installed. Is that

1397
01:47:53,520 --> 01:48:00,199
» the case?
>> The case was being installed.

1398
01:47:56,480 --> 01:48:00,199
Then the next item,

1399
01:48:05,199 --> 01:48:12,880
Brad, help me out on this.
That's what they use for the

1400
01:48:11,840 --> 01:48:18,280
» Sure.
>> Yeah. Can you explain a little bit?

1401
01:48:24,000 --> 01:48:32,560
I'm going have to look this way cuz
that's what I I can see.

1402
01:48:28,960 --> 01:48:38,080
Basically what it is is is it's two um
disc at the top and the bottom and they

1403
01:48:35,119 --> 01:48:42,480
they they work it up and down on those
screens and in between th those two disc

1404
01:48:40,480 --> 01:48:47,199
they inject water
>> or some type of uh chemical mostly

1405
01:48:45,040 --> 01:48:51,520
chlorine and they inject it in and out
of the screen and pulls water or pushes

1406
01:48:50,000 --> 01:48:55,199
water through the screen and then sucks
it back out with that plunging and it's

1407
01:48:53,679 --> 01:49:00,159
supposed to develop the screen and work
the screen and clear it up. And that's

1408
01:48:58,239 --> 01:49:03,600
the work that's been completed. And this
next phase is the jetting that we

1409
01:49:02,639 --> 01:49:06,480
described during the
>> Yes. This is basically cleaning the

1410
01:49:04,960 --> 01:49:08,800
screens from all the well mud and
everything,

1411
01:49:06,960 --> 01:49:13,560
» right? That's correct. From the driven
mud, sediment and all that kind of

1412
01:49:10,560 --> 01:49:13,560
stuff.

1413
01:49:13,760 --> 01:49:19,920
» The next screen was one of the shots
you've seen in the past. This was from

1414
01:49:17,360 --> 01:49:23,600
Dr. Sproul. It shows the the available
aquifers. Our wells [snorts] all

1415
01:49:22,000 --> 01:49:29,520
presently
uh draw water from the upper Capefir

1416
01:49:26,719 --> 01:49:37,040
aquifer. In our next round of test
wells, we're going to put a an 800 foot

1417
01:49:33,520 --> 01:49:44,719
uh well into the lower Capefare aquifer
and run a comparison of the uh upper and

1418
01:49:40,400 --> 01:49:52,159
the lower and we are proposing that.
Next slide please. uh for the U Buckland

1419
01:49:49,119 --> 01:49:59,920
school property. And we will start with
two test wells and bring back uh results

1420
01:49:56,480 --> 01:50:06,080
and recommendations as to where uh on
that site or possibly another site we

1421
01:50:02,320 --> 01:50:13,280
may recommend uh the final production.
Well, uh, we've got real

1422
01:50:10,639 --> 01:50:19,920
high enthusiasm for the potential from
the lower Capefare based on Dr. Sproul's

1423
01:50:18,239 --> 01:50:26,000
analysis.
Item next uh

1424
01:50:22,960 --> 01:50:30,159
is reflective of the board's capital
projects. If you've been driving around

1425
01:50:28,159 --> 01:50:36,080
town, you've seen orange cones, you've
seen yellow trucks,

1426
01:50:32,239 --> 01:50:41,679
uh, pipe laying in the road, and, uh, we
most recently have started the

1427
01:50:38,400 --> 01:50:44,639
directional boring, Carter Creek, uh,
Bennett Creek, and a number of

1428
01:50:43,119 --> 01:50:51,199
intersections,
uh, throughout the county. If we flip to

1429
01:50:47,199 --> 01:50:59,119
the next slide, please. This is at the
lot county owned property adjacent to

1430
01:50:54,000 --> 01:51:07,679
DSS where we've allowed TA11 to
set up their layown yard.

1431
01:51:04,000 --> 01:51:11,679
And just another view, they have assured
us and promised that they will put the

1432
01:51:09,600 --> 01:51:18,800
property back the way they found it, but
they did have to put in a temporary

1433
01:51:14,159 --> 01:51:24,800
access driveway uh to to get in there.
This next slide I took this afternoon

1434
01:51:21,732 --> 01:51:31,840
[snorts] after I left our legislative
uh gathering. And Brad, talk to us about

1435
01:51:28,400 --> 01:51:34,832
these 24in pipes versus the others.
>> Well, what that is, that's the 24in

1436
01:51:33,920 --> 01:51:38,239
casing that's going under
[clears throat] Highway 158 that they're

1437
01:51:36,400 --> 01:51:46,480
going to run the 12 in water line
through. uh DOT requires uh to be at

1438
01:51:41,280 --> 01:51:51,599
least 30 inches below the asphalt and um
and it has to be inductive iron casing.

1439
01:51:49,040 --> 01:51:54,639
So you hit the
>> That's just to give you an idea of the

1440
01:51:53,119 --> 01:51:59,280
augers
that they used. And I think in a

1441
01:51:56,800 --> 01:52:02,000
previous month I showed you the augers
for the well. That augur was

1442
01:52:01,199 --> 01:52:09,040
» 36 in.
>> 36 in. That's 24. It was It was 36. And

1443
01:52:06,159 --> 01:52:14,800
then one last slide of a couple of folks
I saw in Durham at the state conference.

1444
01:52:12,960 --> 01:52:19,760
And and we'll end with everybody
smiling. [laughter]

1445
01:52:17,520 --> 01:52:24,159
That's all I have.
>> Thank you, sir.

1446
01:52:21,760 --> 01:52:28,080
Okay. So, moving along to commissioner
updates. I'm going to I can't remember

1447
01:52:26,639 --> 01:52:30,400
where I started last month, but I think
it was down there. So, I'm going to

1448
01:52:29,119 --> 01:52:34,800
start down here. [snorts]
>> Okay. Um report since uh last month.

1449
01:52:33,520 --> 01:52:37,679
Almoral commission. It's hard to
remember because we always have it the

1450
01:52:36,159 --> 01:52:40,960
next night after this meeting. So,
trying to remember notes. I I actually

1451
01:52:39,119 --> 01:52:45,360
wrote them down my phone to try and
capture. Just two things worth noting.

1452
01:52:43,280 --> 01:52:48,960
Um, I talk over and over again about the
housing assistance programs they've got

1453
01:52:47,199 --> 01:52:52,000
and the update as of last month, the
weather weatherization assistance

1454
01:52:50,719 --> 01:52:56,960
program, which is good for the whole
Alamo district. They have $2.9 million

1455
01:52:55,280 --> 01:53:01,199
available funds for a three-year program
for a weatherization that still can be

1456
01:52:59,040 --> 01:53:05,040
applied for. And then the essential
single family rehab program, that's the

1457
01:53:03,040 --> 01:53:09,360
one that's specific right now for Gates
County and Terrell County. They still

1458
01:53:07,280 --> 01:53:13,440
have $346,000
available. We're starting the second

1459
01:53:11,520 --> 01:53:17,840
year. We've had three people from Gates
County that have used it and I think

1460
01:53:15,199 --> 01:53:21,760
only two in Terrell. So, there's lots of
money still available for folks that

1461
01:53:19,520 --> 01:53:26,400
need that. Again, you have to show a
need, a financial need or whatever, but

1462
01:53:24,400 --> 01:53:31,679
um it's a big pot of money still sitting
there available for folks.

1463
01:53:29,119 --> 01:53:34,400
Now, um I did want to bring up I think
it's great we talked about the whole

1464
01:53:33,040 --> 01:53:37,199
planning actions. I've been a big
advocate. Everybody knows that. Run my

1465
01:53:35,920 --> 01:53:40,400
mouth. Won't shut up about it. I
appreciate and I appreciate the school

1466
01:53:38,960 --> 01:53:43,760
that we really do want to do the
facilities planning and get things

1467
01:53:41,679 --> 01:53:47,599
right. I think people see me a lot as an
opposition to everything. It's not so

1468
01:53:45,920 --> 01:53:52,400
much that I like to make a conscious
decision going forward with things and I

1469
01:53:50,080 --> 01:53:55,440
think that's a great first step. Applaud
the board here. Hopefully the school

1470
01:53:54,080 --> 01:53:59,920
board as well will embrace it. We'll do
a great thing going forward. Um

1471
01:53:58,239 --> 01:54:04,800
accountability is what it's for for me.
And I do want to say recently and this

1472
01:54:02,480 --> 01:54:08,480
is changing subject slightly. Some
people follow social media and other

1473
01:54:06,719 --> 01:54:13,520
things have seen some complaints about
the rescue squad and people are very

1474
01:54:11,760 --> 01:54:16,880
appreciative of having the rescue squad
the first time you're in need and they

1475
01:54:14,800 --> 01:54:21,040
show up all your concerns about them
fall away. But at the same time, I do

1476
01:54:19,199 --> 01:54:26,639
want to say that we mentioned back in
this budget development cycle that we

1477
01:54:24,239 --> 01:54:30,800
wanted to see an audit. And I just want
to reiterate that because we're coming

1478
01:54:28,400 --> 01:54:35,040
we're now well past the budget year and
we're going to be approaching the next

1479
01:54:32,159 --> 01:54:38,400
budget year. And if people come in in
May and say, "Well, we didn't know about

1480
01:54:36,719 --> 01:54:42,560
it. We don't have time to do an audit.
Let's just let it go another year." I'm

1481
01:54:39,920 --> 01:54:46,880
going to be drastically disappointed.
And so, I'd like to encourage us as a

1482
01:54:44,239 --> 01:54:50,800
board to reiterate that we expect a
audit when we're giving hundreds and

1483
01:54:49,280 --> 01:54:54,639
hundreds and hundreds of thousands of
dollars for something not taking away at

1484
01:54:52,960 --> 01:54:58,480
all the good job they do. And like I
said, if I had a health issue right now,

1485
01:54:56,880 --> 01:55:02,000
I'd be the guy that would be having no
complaints about them showing up. But at

1486
01:55:00,560 --> 01:55:06,800
the same time as a steward of public
funds I think we need to account for how

1487
01:55:04,480 --> 01:55:10,719
our money is being spent in a public
reconciled audit's important for me. And

1488
01:55:09,199 --> 01:55:14,480
then the last thing again we talked
about in the work session again that

1489
01:55:12,719 --> 01:55:19,199
whole big long facility planning effort.
I think it's again worth noting other

1490
01:55:16,080 --> 01:55:24,000
big thing I've harped on is the
necessity and having a conscious

1491
01:55:21,280 --> 01:55:27,840
decision about the pipeline pump station
from the Buckland school without us

1492
01:55:25,840 --> 01:55:30,159
having a clear idea of the use of that
building. And so I just want to note

1493
01:55:28,880 --> 01:55:33,760
that I think it's good that we talked
about it some today and hopefully we'll

1494
01:55:31,840 --> 01:55:37,040
make some conscious decisions just not
let momentum carry us forward. Thank

1495
01:55:35,920 --> 01:55:42,239
you,
>> Commissioner Roundry.

1496
01:55:39,119 --> 01:55:46,320
» Yes. Uh I truly enjoyed North Carolina
Association of County Commissioners

1497
01:55:43,760 --> 01:55:51,119
conference that was held in Durham. It
was very informative. It was a great

1498
01:55:48,960 --> 01:56:01,520
networking opportunity
and I was blessed to be selected as

1499
01:55:55,599 --> 01:56:06,000
regional director for the NCABCO
organization.

1500
01:56:03,119 --> 01:56:13,360
Also earlier at the Social Security
Institute, I was selected as regional

1501
01:56:09,440 --> 01:56:18,639
director at large for the North Carolina
Association of County Boards of Social

1502
01:56:16,159 --> 01:56:24,320
Services. So I look forward to serving
in those two capacity.

1503
01:56:20,880 --> 01:56:29,840
Also I want to congratulate Miss Leila
Eglson. She is a freshman at UNC

1504
01:56:27,520 --> 01:56:34,400
Charlotte. She's majoring in communi
management management communication

1505
01:56:31,679 --> 01:56:42,000
systems and she received a scholarship
during the conference. Also with sad

1506
01:56:37,119 --> 01:56:47,360
hearts uh I mourn and we mourn the death
of a Gates County legend Reverend Claude

1507
01:56:44,960 --> 01:56:52,800
ODM. He he also was a former
commissioner in Herford County. A great

1508
01:56:49,679 --> 01:56:59,920
statesman, a great reverend at New Mill
Swamp Baptist Church. He left a legacy

1509
01:56:56,159 --> 01:57:06,320
of e excellence and he was a great
individual who made impact not only in

1510
01:57:02,639 --> 01:57:14,560
Gates County but and not only the region
throughout the state. So with sad hearts

1511
01:57:09,280 --> 01:57:20,320
his he will be uh finalized Friday.
Also

1512
01:57:16,560 --> 01:57:25,840
there was a great um 250 uh America
celebration here. Everyone should have

1513
01:57:22,560 --> 01:57:33,280
been here. Um we recognize
former Secretary of State, the late

1514
01:57:30,239 --> 01:57:37,199
Thad U, the longest serving Secretary of
State in the state of North Carolina. He

1515
01:57:35,679 --> 01:57:43,119
was an awesome man. and his family was
here. They told great stories,

1516
01:57:40,400 --> 01:57:48,719
told about his impact in the community
throughout the state. He was a powerful

1517
01:57:45,760 --> 01:57:55,280
man and he made Gates County proud. He
made Gates County proud because he was

1518
01:57:50,239 --> 01:58:00,880
one of us and he served our state well.
Recognized for his red bow tie and also

1519
01:57:58,000 --> 01:58:06,719
his hat. He was a strong man with wisdom
and excellence. And I'm proud that Gates

1520
01:58:04,800 --> 01:58:13,840
County at one point in time had a
secretary of state. Also, October the

1521
01:58:10,480 --> 01:58:20,639
1st, this is my Trillium. October the
1st, Trillium will be launching a uh

1522
01:58:17,040 --> 01:58:25,840
claim system, a unified claim system.
And what that is, all claims is going to

1523
01:58:23,440 --> 01:58:32,480
go directly through Trillium. And
Trillium would be the payer for those

1524
01:58:29,280 --> 01:58:36,639
who are in that particular tail plan. So
that's going to take place October the

1525
01:58:34,800 --> 01:58:43,520
1st.
So that concludes my uh updates. So glad

1526
01:58:40,239 --> 01:58:49,040
to see everyone out and engaged and hope
everyone have a blessed night.

1527
01:58:45,920 --> 01:58:52,159
» All right. Thank you, sir.
>> All right. I don't really have any

1528
01:58:50,320 --> 01:58:57,520
committee updates. I've uh got some
medical stuff going on that I don't get

1529
01:58:54,159 --> 01:59:02,639
out as much as I was. Uh I did have a
constituent uh talk to me um yesterday,

1530
01:59:00,960 --> 01:59:09,280
day before, I can't remember which one
it was, but uh they were at our

1531
01:59:05,199 --> 01:59:14,400
wonderful library that we have. Um they
had problems getting on the internet and

1532
01:59:12,159 --> 01:59:21,840
uh come to find out they don't have
fiber optic internet

1533
01:59:17,440 --> 01:59:25,599
at uh at our library. So Mr. S if uh if
I can put this on one of your to-do

1534
01:59:23,360 --> 01:59:31,599
lists being that we have fiber optic
internet can uh we look and see what it

1535
01:59:27,840 --> 01:59:35,280
would take to get it to our library.
Um

1536
01:59:33,280 --> 01:59:40,639
I'm not sure if it's a regional thing
they they use all one vendor or whatever

1537
01:59:38,400 --> 01:59:44,480
but I think we might be able to even if
we have to pay for for our citizens you

1538
01:59:42,960 --> 01:59:49,440
know uh
>> I think they they deserve but everybody

1539
01:59:47,440 --> 01:59:51,840
goes to the library to learn. Some
people go to the library to get on the

1540
01:59:50,719 --> 01:59:56,400
internet because they don't have
internet and I think we should be able

1541
01:59:53,760 --> 02:00:00,639
to provide them with the best internet
and we got it. We got it. So that's all

1542
01:59:59,679 --> 02:00:04,320
I have.
>> All right. Thank you.

1543
02:00:01,920 --> 02:00:09,679
» All right. Well, uh I sit on the Almar
Regional Transit Authority and we had

1544
02:00:07,920 --> 02:00:15,280
some really good discussions this past
uh month and um a lot of was geared

1545
02:00:13,599 --> 02:00:21,280
around
trying to get more funding out of the

1546
02:00:17,520 --> 02:00:25,440
North Carolina DOT uh to the Alamar
area. You they talked about a lot of

1547
02:00:23,360 --> 02:00:31,599
things they wanted to do over uh in in
the the Deer County area, but uh Gates

1548
02:00:28,239 --> 02:00:37,280
County is on that list, too. and uh
they're continuing with uh working to

1549
02:00:34,080 --> 02:00:42,800
get additional funding to um modernize
158, widen it as it kind of comes down

1550
02:00:39,440 --> 02:00:49,199
through the the the county as well as uh
continuing the fourlane of 13 up to the

1551
02:00:45,840 --> 02:00:55,920
Virginia state line. Um
there's also uh that design has been

1552
02:00:52,000 --> 02:01:01,360
done and the funding is available
uh for a roundabout at 158 and Acorn

1553
02:00:59,040 --> 02:01:05,440
Hill Road. So that's something that's uh
>> could could be coming in the future. So

1554
02:01:03,760 --> 02:01:08,239
that's something that North Carolina DOT
is looking. So just kind of informing

1555
02:01:06,960 --> 02:01:12,159
everybody that something just different
for Gates [clears throat] County. So

1556
02:01:10,800 --> 02:01:16,159
» I don't know if I exactly agree with
them, but hey,

1557
02:01:14,400 --> 02:01:19,154
you try to drive a combine around that
thing. [laughter]

1558
02:01:20,080 --> 02:01:29,199
» Yeah. um
had a had a good time uh this past week

1559
02:01:25,360 --> 02:01:32,320
at the NA in NCACC.
Uh yes, I got up and spoke and I had

1560
02:01:31,040 --> 02:01:36,639
that was a tongue twister for me. I had
to slow down every time I got up and

1561
02:01:33,840 --> 02:01:43,599
talked about that. [laughter]
>> So, uh ju just to hear uh the issues

1562
02:01:40,719 --> 02:01:49,440
going on in the other 99 counties in
this great state and um they are very

1563
02:01:47,199 --> 02:01:54,800
similar. Some of them have more has a
bigger price tag than what ours do, but

1564
02:01:51,760 --> 02:02:00,239
they're very very similar. And to be
able to bat ideas off of one another, uh

1565
02:01:58,239 --> 02:02:06,000
how are they handling their issues, how
we're handling them? Um they were

1566
02:02:03,040 --> 02:02:10,080
shocked to hear how great of a uh
relationship that we have with our board

1567
02:02:08,080 --> 02:02:12,639
of education. And I said, "Well, when
you got good folks on the board of

1568
02:02:11,360 --> 02:02:18,080
education, then you got good
relationships. That's how it works." So,

1569
02:02:14,639 --> 02:02:22,800
um I I also want to uh uh thank Dr.
Jordan for and and let her know that we

1570
02:02:20,800 --> 02:02:28,480
appreciate her taking on that role as
interim superintendent. Um we look

1571
02:02:25,520 --> 02:02:33,199
forward to your success. Uh we know that
your success will bring the school

1572
02:02:30,159 --> 02:02:36,560
system success. So, um we're looking
forward to it.

1573
02:02:34,239 --> 02:02:41,599
» So, that's all I have.
>> All right. Well, thank you. Um so, just

1574
02:02:39,920 --> 02:02:45,360
to highlight, yeah, the NCAACC
conference was phenomenal. um as it

1575
02:02:43,679 --> 02:02:48,800
always is. Lots of great information,
lots of great connections. Um I had

1576
02:02:47,520 --> 02:02:53,760
mentioned last month that I was running
for the second vice chair. I had the um

1577
02:02:51,920 --> 02:02:57,920
vice chair of our board do one of my
nomination speeches. I did not win,

1578
02:02:55,679 --> 02:03:01,679
which I think is an okay thing. Um I was
I was the underdog going in. I knew

1579
02:02:59,520 --> 02:03:05,760
that. We're new to we're new to showing
up in Raleigh. We're new to showing up

1580
02:03:03,360 --> 02:03:08,880
at the NCAACC events. Um it's just been
the past few years. My opponent's been

1581
02:03:07,199 --> 02:03:12,400
there over 12. He's a mentor in the
association. So, I'm incredibly excited

1582
02:03:10,800 --> 02:03:17,520
to be under his leadership for the next
few years. Um, and continue to serve as

1583
02:03:15,440 --> 02:03:22,719
the district 1 director for the NCAACCC
as well, uh, which is the northeast most

1584
02:03:19,840 --> 02:03:26,239
10 counties here, um, in North Carolina,
what we jokingly call the forgotten

1585
02:03:24,880 --> 02:03:33,679
northeast. So, we're getting a little
louder so they remember us over here. um

1586
02:03:30,639 --> 02:03:37,840
also in the past month have traveled um
to DPI as we mentioned earlier with

1587
02:03:35,440 --> 02:03:42,800
board of education and our
superintendent and it was I think a

1588
02:03:40,159 --> 02:03:46,159
fruitful meeting. Um it came out with
relationships build and more

1589
02:03:44,239 --> 02:03:50,159
conversations going forward and I cannot
wait to see what um it does for Gates

1590
02:03:48,560 --> 02:03:54,400
County. I think it's going to be really
good. Um the EMS board is meeting

1591
02:03:53,119 --> 02:03:57,440
tomorrow and I just going to put that
out there. We haven't had a meeting

1592
02:03:55,760 --> 02:04:01,360
since the budget was passed, so it
hasn't been neglected. We're just having

1593
02:03:59,520 --> 02:04:07,280
our first EMS board meeting tomorrow
night in this fiscal year. Um [laughter]

1594
02:04:04,880 --> 02:04:13,520
just so I'll have that update in report
next month. Um and then lastly, I have

1595
02:04:10,480 --> 02:04:16,560
here um I have two legislative goals.
North uh the North Carolina Association

1596
02:04:15,280 --> 02:04:21,679
of County Commissioners, which is the
NCAACCC, um has a legislative goals

1597
02:04:19,360 --> 02:04:25,920
process every two years um when the
general assembly goes into a long

1598
02:04:22,960 --> 02:04:31,760
session. And so counties are able to
propose um goals for NCACCC to pick up

1599
02:04:29,920 --> 02:04:38,000
to lobby and to advocate for on behalf
of 100 counties. And so I've had just

1600
02:04:34,480 --> 02:04:40,960
based on conversations with um staff and
with our board various issues we've had

1601
02:04:39,599 --> 02:04:45,679
with funding and then with a citizen
that had come and asked for us to back

1602
02:04:43,440 --> 02:04:50,320
something. I've drafted two um proposed
legislative goals that you should have

1603
02:04:47,280 --> 02:04:54,239
received tonight. Um, but I will read
those and just see if we are open to

1604
02:04:52,719 --> 02:04:59,520
adopting these and if so, I need to have
them submitted tomorrow. Um, the first

1605
02:04:56,960 --> 02:05:02,719
is a proposed legislative goal uh to
reform North Carolina's county tier

1606
02:05:01,199 --> 02:05:08,320
system. And just for a little background
before I read what the proposed goal is,

1607
02:05:05,199 --> 02:05:12,000
um, the tier system is how we what we
use to apply for a lot of our grants. We

1608
02:05:09,920 --> 02:05:17,920
are a tier 2 county. You want to be a
tier one as far as a lowincome area. um

1609
02:05:15,679 --> 02:05:22,080
somehow or another, Pit County and and
various counties across the state are

1610
02:05:19,520 --> 02:05:25,599
tier one and we are a tier 2 county um
which loses a lot of grant opportunities

1611
02:05:24,159 --> 02:05:29,280
for us. A lot of funding that we could
get at state level we are not capable of

1612
02:05:27,360 --> 02:05:33,280
getting because of this tier system. So
we're trying to advocate for reform of

1613
02:05:30,960 --> 02:05:37,440
the tier system for counties like us.
And this proposal um says support

1614
02:05:35,520 --> 02:05:41,280
comprehensive reform of North Carolina's
county development tier system to ensure

1615
02:05:39,119 --> 02:05:45,199
that economic distress is measured
accurately and that counties are not

1616
02:05:42,880 --> 02:05:48,719
unfairly excluded from critical grants,
incentives, and other funding

1617
02:05:46,560 --> 02:05:52,960
opportunities. The current system
requires counties to be divided into a

1618
02:05:50,560 --> 02:05:57,520
fixed allocation of 40 tier 1 counties,
40 tier 2 counties, and 20 tier three

1619
02:05:55,119 --> 02:06:00,719
counties. This structure forces counties
to compete against one another for a

1620
02:05:59,040 --> 02:06:05,199
limited number of designations, even
when multiple counties face similar

1621
02:06:02,560 --> 02:06:08,880
levels of economic distress.
As a result, a county's designation may

1622
02:06:07,199 --> 02:06:13,119
reflect its ranking relative to other
counties rather than its actual needs,

1623
02:06:11,199 --> 02:06:18,480
resources, and ability to fund essential
services. Legislation should replace the

1624
02:06:16,000 --> 02:06:22,800
fixed 40420 allocation with objective
needs based thresholds that allow any

1625
02:06:20,719 --> 02:06:26,960
county meeting the established criteria
to receive the appropriate designation.

1626
02:06:25,119 --> 02:06:31,119
modernize the formula to account for
poverty, poverty, household income,

1627
02:06:29,119 --> 02:06:35,119
population loss, unemployment, taxbased
capacity, infrastructure needs, access

1628
02:06:32,960 --> 02:06:38,960
to health care, educational attainment,
and the cost of providing essential

1629
02:06:36,719 --> 02:06:43,119
services. Recognize the unique
challenges of rural low population and

1630
02:06:40,719 --> 02:06:46,800
geographically isolated counties.
Prevent counties from abruptly losing

1631
02:06:44,960 --> 02:06:52,079
funding eligibility because of small
annual changes in rankings or data. and

1632
02:06:49,760 --> 02:06:56,480
establish a reasonable or a transition
or hold harmless period when a county

1633
02:06:53,920 --> 02:07:00,159
moves to a higher tier and regularly
review the formula and its effect on

1634
02:06:58,320 --> 02:07:03,920
county's eligibility for state grants
matching requirements and economic

1635
02:07:01,599 --> 02:07:10,400
development programs. So that is the
first um proposed legislative goal. And

1636
02:07:06,480 --> 02:07:14,239
then the second um
general assembly for years has been

1637
02:07:12,000 --> 02:07:20,239
trying to take power away from the
county and put it at state level for um

1638
02:07:17,599 --> 02:07:23,360
property and land use and now property
taxes and all the things. You'll be

1639
02:07:21,679 --> 02:07:29,840
hearing from us a lot more on this as we
get closer to election times. But this

1640
02:07:26,480 --> 02:07:33,679
specific uh goal was brought to me by a
citizen um and asked that we put up and

1641
02:07:31,840 --> 02:07:38,239
it's restoring local control of fox
hunting pres preserves. Uh it states

1642
02:07:36,320 --> 02:07:41,280
support legislation clarifying that
controlled fox hunting preserves

1643
02:07:39,760 --> 02:07:44,800
commonly known as fox pins are
recreational or commercial hunting

1644
02:07:43,199 --> 02:07:49,760
facilities rather than bonafide
agricultural operations. amend North

1645
02:07:47,679 --> 02:07:54,239
Carolina law to ensure these facilities
are subject to county zoning, land use,

1646
02:07:52,079 --> 02:07:58,719
permitting, and reasonable operational
reg regulations. The legislation should

1647
02:07:56,800 --> 02:08:02,560
restore decision-making authority to
county governments, allowing locally

1648
02:08:00,639 --> 02:08:06,560
elected officials to consider location,
neighboring property uses, noise,

1649
02:08:04,239 --> 02:08:10,560
traffic, public safety, animal welfare,
environmental impacts, operating hours,

1650
02:08:08,320 --> 02:08:13,599
and other community concerns. Counties
should have the authority to approve,

1651
02:08:12,079 --> 02:08:17,520
condition, regulate, or deny these
facilities according to local needs and

1652
02:08:15,440 --> 02:08:21,280
circumstances. The North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission may

1653
02:08:19,119 --> 02:08:24,159
continue establishing minimum statewide
standards related to wildlife

1654
02:08:22,800 --> 02:08:28,239
conservation, animal health, and
licensing, but those standards should

1655
02:08:26,000 --> 02:08:32,639
not override a county's authority over
land use and local operational impacts.

1656
02:08:30,960 --> 02:08:36,800
Um, so these are the two proposed
legislative goals. Um, we could take

1657
02:08:34,480 --> 02:08:40,400
them individually or together if, but I
would like to make a motion that we move

1658
02:08:38,800 --> 02:08:45,280
these along in the legislative goal
process for the NCAACCC.

1659
02:08:43,599 --> 02:08:47,599
Take a second.
>> We have a second. Do we have any

1660
02:08:46,639 --> 02:08:52,239
comments or discussion?
>> Yeah. The only thing the the way the

1661
02:08:49,280 --> 02:08:55,840
formula currently works the you can hear
accounting for poverty household income.

1662
02:08:54,719 --> 02:08:58,159
» That's what killed us.
>> Separated.

1663
02:08:56,639 --> 02:09:01,119
» Okay.
>> What I was going to say was is the

1664
02:08:59,520 --> 02:09:06,400
current thing that killed this county
changed our tier was the household

1665
02:09:03,199 --> 02:09:11,040
income and poverty. I would say I think
you should push that household property,

1666
02:09:08,320 --> 02:09:15,440
household income to the last because the
order tends to give emphasis and I think

1667
02:09:13,520 --> 02:09:20,880
you should push up taxbased capacity
because that's really where we lack

1668
02:09:16,719 --> 02:09:23,119
compared to other counties similar tier.
>> Yep. Yep.

1669
02:09:21,760 --> 02:09:27,360
» Okay. All right. So, I'm going to make
an amendment to my motion. I'm going to

1670
02:09:24,960 --> 02:09:32,560
make a motion to we're going to separate
these out. um

1671
02:09:30,239 --> 02:09:36,320
approved their reform North Carolina's
county tier system with the amendment of

1672
02:09:34,480 --> 02:09:40,159
switching tax base and capacity and
household income um forward and we'll

1673
02:09:38,800 --> 02:09:44,000
take the other one as a [snorts] second.
All right, so that's my amended motion.

1674
02:09:42,400 --> 02:09:49,280
» And we have a second for that. So all in
favor of the amended motion.

1675
02:09:46,960 --> 02:09:53,679
All right, that is unanimous. And then
bringing forth the um restoring local

1676
02:09:51,520 --> 02:09:58,159
control of fox hunting preserves. Um I
mean I think land use in general, but

1677
02:09:55,280 --> 02:10:02,800
this is specific. So, um, it was a
specific request, so I'll open that.

1678
02:10:00,239 --> 02:10:06,639
Again, I make a motion for this one.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I'll I'll second that. It

1679
02:10:04,960 --> 02:10:10,079
was something that, uh, one of the local
citizens has come pretty big advocate

1680
02:10:08,800 --> 02:10:12,880
for that. So, we'll see.
>> Repeatedly. Yeah. We've had lots of

1681
02:10:11,440 --> 02:10:17,119
comments about this. Only question I'd
ask is not to argue for against this,

1682
02:10:15,040 --> 02:10:20,320
but what other counties nearby are doing
this? Have you talked to any of the

1683
02:10:18,239 --> 02:10:22,719
other neighboring counties with this?
We're making sure

1684
02:10:21,199 --> 02:10:26,000
» this was brought to me and I was told
and and I have had the person that came

1685
02:10:24,480 --> 02:10:29,599
to me say that they would do the leg
work for it. They just need our approval

1686
02:10:27,679 --> 02:10:32,320
and support as a county that they are
not asking for anything other than us

1687
02:10:31,040 --> 02:10:37,440
trying to push it through that they are
willing to call and

1688
02:10:34,079 --> 02:10:40,719
» county conversations you know years ago
but the the difference is that yeah

1689
02:10:39,440 --> 02:10:42,560
because of the new state law and how
it's working.

1690
02:10:41,199 --> 02:10:45,920
» Yeah understand I guess what I'm getting
at is there anybody besides us

1691
02:10:44,480 --> 02:10:50,079
» I do know there are other counties that
would like to see this change. Well, see

1692
02:10:48,000 --> 02:10:55,360
the whole thing about this is you can
affect people's businesses.

1693
02:10:52,880 --> 02:10:59,760
» You can you're telling them that if you
buy this 200 and some acres of land, you

1694
02:10:58,079 --> 02:11:04,480
can't do with it what you want to do
with you. You see what I'm saying?

1695
02:11:01,440 --> 02:11:07,119
» So, this this is a real touchy. That's
why I asked them to be separated because

1696
02:11:06,560 --> 02:11:12,880
» yeah,
>> I I'm not against it doing homework on

1697
02:11:10,239 --> 02:11:17,679
it, but I would need more information on
what we're really asking for before I

1698
02:11:14,880 --> 02:11:20,800
would vote to change something.
>> Yeah. So, like as of right now, I

1699
02:11:19,199 --> 02:11:25,280
believe and and I'm going to look it's
zoned as agriculture role through the

1700
02:11:23,280 --> 02:11:29,040
state
>> bonafide farm and agriculture.

1701
02:11:27,280 --> 02:11:31,520
» Yeah. Yeah. So, we're just asking to
separate it out of

1702
02:11:30,000 --> 02:11:35,440
» separate it and give county more control
over the approval of them. So this is

1703
02:11:33,360 --> 02:11:37,920
just requesting the authority return to
the county approve that that one would

1704
02:11:36,770 --> 02:11:40,320
[clears throat] then become ours to
determine

1705
02:11:38,400 --> 02:11:48,280
» 100% it's just requesting authority to
come back to the county authority

1706
02:11:42,639 --> 02:11:48,280
» I understand it but yeah I think

1707
02:11:50,320 --> 02:11:53,320
that's

1708
02:12:01,440 --> 02:12:07,119
» work
And again and I can say too when we

1709
02:12:05,920 --> 02:12:11,599
submit these the way the legislative
goals process works it goes to the NCC

1710
02:12:09,360 --> 02:12:15,199
staff they consolidate similar and like
request and bring them down. They go

1711
02:12:13,679 --> 02:12:19,199
before the steering committees and they
approve so many. If they make that then

1712
02:12:17,199 --> 02:12:23,119
they go in November before the 100
counties to approve the legislative

1713
02:12:21,040 --> 02:12:26,719
goals. And after November the NCACCC
will be given directives to advocate for

1714
02:12:25,040 --> 02:12:29,679
the goals that are approved in the
November legislative goals conference.

1715
02:12:28,320 --> 02:12:32,239
So it's not just saying it's going to go
to them and they're going to do it. It's

1716
02:12:30,960 --> 02:12:37,119
going to go through this process of
being weaned down and this process of

1717
02:12:34,000 --> 02:12:39,679
vetting um and being fine-tuned to fit
most counties.

1718
02:12:38,079 --> 02:12:42,320
» And these are just the two that our
county is

1719
02:12:40,480 --> 02:12:45,760
» right. Just submitting, but it will be
refined before it goes forth to anything

1720
02:12:44,239 --> 02:12:47,679
else
>> on their level.

1721
02:12:46,880 --> 02:12:52,400
» Yeah.
>> Okay. So, we have a first and second.

1722
02:12:50,000 --> 02:12:56,360
So, all in favor?
All right. Thank you all.

1723
02:12:56,480 --> 02:13:02,159
And [sighs]
my last comment was and they had left.

1724
02:13:00,239 --> 02:13:05,199
I'm guessing because of time and having
school, but I was really excited to see

1725
02:13:03,760 --> 02:13:08,560
a family with young kids in the audience
tonight. I had a text the other day

1726
02:13:06,639 --> 02:13:12,079
asking what time the meeting was that
they were wanting to get their family

1727
02:13:09,760 --> 02:13:15,440
involved in politics and just following
local politics and community

1728
02:13:13,440 --> 02:13:18,880
involvement. So, they're not here, but I
think it was phenomenal that they they

1729
02:13:17,119 --> 02:13:23,360
were and that the kids got to see some
of the process. So,

1730
02:13:21,119 --> 02:13:28,177
now
um do we have any end comments?

1731
02:13:26,157 --> 02:13:28,177
[laughter]

1732
02:13:30,480 --> 02:13:36,960
No. Okay. So, we have come to the end of
our business meeting. We do have a close

1733
02:13:34,960 --> 02:13:43,000
session that was added to the agenda.
Um, so if we could get a motion to go

1734
02:13:38,480 --> 02:13:43,000
into close session pursuant 143-318116

1735
02:13:43,599 --> 02:13:48,480
for personnel.
>> Just I'll make that. I just want to make

1736
02:13:46,480 --> 02:13:52,159
one comment. I may have insulted Mrs.
Spanolia. She was my kid's babysitter

1737
02:13:50,719 --> 02:13:55,040
when she was younger. And when I said
that earlier, I apologize. She's not

1738
02:13:53,679 --> 02:13:59,520
here now. I'm going apologize to her
later by saying my babysitter. The

1739
02:13:57,040 --> 02:14:03,440
woman's brilliant. She's a professional
and I said that lightigh-heartedly. It

1740
02:14:01,679 --> 02:14:06,719
may have offended her and I just want to
tell the public that was not my intent

1741
02:14:04,880 --> 02:14:09,360
at all and I will apologize. So with
that, I'll move to go into close

1742
02:14:07,920 --> 02:14:15,679
session.
>> All right. All in favor? Okay. We'll be

1743
02:14:12,639 --> 02:14:20,079
in close session.
>> I remember phone stay out here. Yeah, I

1744
02:14:18,079 --> 02:14:26,599
saw she gave me a look. I was like, "Oh
man, I'm in trouble." [laughter]

1745
02:14:22,639 --> 02:14:26,599
She's sharp. She's a shark.

1746
02:30:51,600 --> 02:30:55,640
Come on. Mhm.

1747
02:30:59,120 --> 02:31:04,120
» Quite expeditious. It would be nice.

1748
02:31:24,240 --> 02:31:28,960
Madam chair, I make a motion to come out
of close session.

1749
02:31:27,520 --> 02:31:32,640
» Do we have a second?
>> Is there a second?

1750
02:31:29,920 --> 02:31:35,600
» All in favor? All right, we are back in
open session.

1751
02:31:34,399 --> 02:31:38,880
» Motion to adjourn.
>> That is perfect. Can we have a second?

1752
02:31:38,160 --> 02:31:42,240
Second.
>> All in favor?

1753
02:31:40,720 --> 02:31:45,319
We are a turn.
>> All right.

1754
02:31:46,880 --> 02:31:51,000
» Way to make it happen, guys.