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[sighs]

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Okay.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

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Welcome to the Gates County Board of
Commissioners regular scheduled meeting.

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My name is Emily Truman. and I serve as
the 2026 board chair. I'm joined by vice

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chair Nathan Barryman, commissioners
Jonathan Katr, and Brian Roundtree,

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assistant county manager Warren Perry,
County Attorney Pic Godwin, and clerk to

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the board Renee Draper, Commissioner uh
Foresight will be unable to join us this

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evening. Um I'm going to go ahead and
open with the invocation and pledge.

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Father God, we thank you for the
opportunity to come together for county

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business in your name. Lord, we pray
that you um just let us listen with open

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minds and that you let us work uh
together for the betterment of the

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county and that you see us all home
safely this evening. In Jesus name we

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pray. Amen.
>> Amen.

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» I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands. One nation
[clears throat] under God, indivisible,

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with liberty and justice for all.

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» All right. Um, so to open the meeting,
we have a public hearing. I'm going to

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need a motion to open the public hearing
to receive public comments regarding a

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proposed action to change the personnel
ordinance to a personnel policy.

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» So moved.
>> Second.

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» All right. All in favor?
That is unanimous. Uh Mr. Perry, if you

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could provide a brief background to the
board and to the public for this topic.

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» Um thank you, Madam Chair. Good evening,
commissioners, Attorney Pow, and

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employees and citizens. The transition
from a personnel ordinance to a

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personnel policy involves several
reasons, including the need for clarity,

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the need for consistency, and the need
for structure in the workplace. A

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personnel policy manual serves as the
basis for all HR related documents,

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ensuring uniform standards across
different departments and locations. It

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also protects both the employer and
employees by outlining duties, rights,

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and minimizing disputes and legal risk.
Additionally, a personal policy aligns

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with specific laws to ensure compliance
reflecting on our values and culture.

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With the changes with the HR environment
and current labor laws, regular updates

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will be needed. It is best said that the
personnel policy is the blueprint by

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which an organization runs.
As noted in our commissioners meeting on

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November 10th of last year, the
commissioners in previous years had

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failed to adopt a new policy. Uh the
latest edition of the new policy is

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posted on our website as well as copies
here right behind me at the podium.

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After the proposed adoption of the new
policy, I will hold departmental

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meetings to discuss the changes and how
it may affect each employee. Some of the

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noted changes are imple implementation
of Gates County longevity pay, pdeium

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increases for travel meals, increase
vacation acral rates, and provisions for

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overtime pay with county manager
approval.

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At this time, I will yield back to
Madame Chair.

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» All right. Thank you, sir. Um, Miss
Draper, do we have anyone signed up to

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speak?

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No. All right. Um, with no one here to
speak on the changes um, suggested, if

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we could get a motion to close the
public hearing.

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» So move.
>> So second.

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» All right. All in favor.
Okay. So we are

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unanimous and out. So perver before
proceeding to the next item on the

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agenda, I need a motion to repeal the
current personnel ordinance as the

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adoption of the personnel policy is
listed under the consent agenda.

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» So moved. Second.
>> All right. And all in favor?

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And that is unanimous. Thank you all.
All right. So moving down, are there any

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additions or deletions to the agenda as
presented? And if none, I ask for a

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motion to approve the agenda as pres as
presented. So move,

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» second.
>> All right. All in favor? Show of hands.

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And we have unanimous.
>> All right. Are there um

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any other amendments or clarifications
to the consent agenda?

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And if not, a motion to approve the
consent agenda would be in order.

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» So moved.
>> So seconded.

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

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Okay. That is unanimous. All right.
Moving into public comment. Um, I do

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have a note here. Um, audience, the
board recently revised the rules of

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procedure which took effect last month.
Um, two public comment periods are still

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available during our meetings, but the
format has changed to be topic specific.

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The first comment period for agenda
related topics only with a 5minut time

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limit. If you wish to speak on any item
listed on the agenda, this is your

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opportunity. a second comment period
held at the end of the meeting for all

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other topics with a threeminut time
limit. There are two separate sign on

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sheets for this topic specific revision
um that will be at the front of the

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meeting and we'll repeat this for the
next couple of months as we move into

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this new process. Um
so with that said, do we have anyone

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signed up to speak for the first comment
period?

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No. Okay.
Well, moving straight along, we will

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have the sheriff's office update next.
And I know Sheriff Campbell

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has something for us.

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Good evening, commissioners. Mr. Perry,
uh, Attorney Gwin, uh, come to you

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tonight with a with a lot of good news.
Uh, I'm I'll try to get through it as

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quick as I can. You've heard me stand up
here and talk about Prime Health before.

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Well, I wanted you to be able to hold
that in your hand and look at it and see

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how much this company saves our county.
This has to do with inmate medical

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bills. And that is something that's been
a thorn in my side since I became

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sheriff. When you have a inmate, people
don't realize this. When you have an

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inmate, uh, he's in your custody and he
goes to jail and he has a medical

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condition. Well, there's a cost for that
and that cost comes directly back to the

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county. It's not picked up by the state.
Our county has to pay for that. So

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through the service association, uh I
was made aware of Prime Health. So they

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do what's called a scrub on our bill.
When we get inmate medical bills, we

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send these bills directly to Prime
Health. They do what's called a scrub

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and and you can see by this is almost
cutting the bills almost in half. Uh you

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can see here on the the total charges
from July to December our inmate medical

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was $47,000
do through Prime Health that bill was

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cut to just a little over $29,000.
So just in this statement alone that

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saved the county almost $18,000.
So it's a wonderful thing and we have

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saved a lot of money. And uh because you
you got you got inmates that's just

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trying to trying to play the system and
we call it incarceritis. You know,

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they're fine, but once you put cuffs on
there, they immediately get sick. So

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anyway, uh
[sighs]

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» uh our body cameras, we got those in.
We're just getting started in the

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training on those. Hopefully, we'll have
them up and uh everybody will be we've

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got 10 total uh body cameras and we hope
to have them on and uh the officers uh

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trained and ready to go with them by
February the 1st. Um we got two more new

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vehicles in. These are destroyer gray
Durango. They look really, really sharp.

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We could not get the black, but the
destroy the gray still looks really,

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really good striped up. So, Michael
Bunch, bless his his sweetheart, he he

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got the first new one. So, glad to give
that to him. Uh, one other thing, our

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call volume for the month of December
was 501 calls. So, we we're still busy.

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Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you.

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» Okay. Um, we have no old business, so
moving into new business. U Madame

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Clerk, you have the floor.

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Thank you, Madam Chair and
commissioners. I have so much I have a

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slideshow for y'all.
>> Ready?

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» All right.

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So, at the very back of your agenda,
you're going to find detailed

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information from the recent local
emergency planning committee. This

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material includes updates,
[clears throat] excuse me, on emergency

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preparedness initiatives, community
safety protocols, and collaborative

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efforts between local agencies.
Mr. Dr. Tutweiler requested that this

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information be shared with the board to
ensure transparency and alignment with

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ongoing safety measures. Sharing this
information not only fulfills compliance

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requirements but also reinforces
commitment to proactive planning and

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public safety.

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Uh, next item is the Alber Commission is
accepting applications for the 2027

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essential essential single family
rehabilitation program for homeowners in

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Gates and Terrell counties.
This program helps eligible homeowners

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make critical repairs. The program
prioritizes elderly, disabled, and

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veteran households as well as homes with
health and [snorts] safety hazards. This

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information has been shared on our
Facebook. Uh and more and if anybody

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needs more information, they can reach
out at the number listed for Evermore

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Commission.

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All right. Um, right here on February
12th at 6 PM, the Gates County America

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250NC committee will host Lisa Payton
Jones of Washington Waterfront

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Underground Rail Mu Railroad Museum. Uh,
she will be presenting an interactive

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living history program that prom that
promises to be both educational and

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engaging with some singing and dancing.
Um, we're really looking forward to this

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and additional details about this event
can be found um on our Facebook page on

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the A250 Gates County Facebook page and
here is a QR code for that and it will

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take you directly to that page.
Next, we have

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the quarter cent sales tax referendum
information. Um, I have emailed the

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board the final draft of this brochure
that you see listed here and a hard copy

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is at everybody's desk or seat. Um,
administration is ready to move forward

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with bulk printing and then we'll
distribute to ensure widespread

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community awareness. Educational
materials will soon be available on the

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county's website and this QR code here
that you see will take you directly to

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that site that houses all the
information. Additionally, a town hall

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meeting will be scheduled
um on February 24th at 7:00 p.m. And

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right now the location is to be
determined. We are having coordination

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efforts of trying to find a centralized
location in the county. So, um, this

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town hall is going to serve as an open
forum for residents to ask any

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questions, express any concerns, and
gain clarity on referendum details.

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[snorts]

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Um, the 2026 property listing period is
currently active and will run into the

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end of this month. All personal property
must be listed by January 31st to avoid

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a 10% penalty. Licensed vehicles are
excluded, but untagged vehicles and

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items like boats, ATVs, and farm
equipment must be listed. The elderly

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and disabled residents may qualify for
exemptions. So, we just ask that you

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please contact the tax department at the
number listed here if you have any

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00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,240
additional questions.

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community advisory boards. Um during the
October meeting, consideration of

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adopting resolutions and rules of
procedures for several newly established

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boards was tabled here. Um as you all
are aware, these advisory boards are

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design are designed to enhance citizen
engagement and provide specialized input

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on local issues. It was discussed that
evening that the board should collective

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collectively review each of these boards
and I'm prepared to present the

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information that I do have at any
upcoming work session.

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Um, this information actually has not
been shared online yet. From February

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00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:23,360
16th through February 27th, the
Emergency Operations Center here uh in

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Gates County will host a highway
construction trade academy. Um this is

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going to offer both classroom
instruction and hands-on training. The

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00:14:31,839 --> 00:14:41,040
program is funded by the NC DOT Office
of Civil Rights through its on the job

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training initiative. topics um as you
see here are going to include safety

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protocols, equipment operation and
project management fundamentals. Uh

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registration is required to ensure
proper planning and resource allocation

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and I will have this information posted
within the next few days.

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[clears throat]
Excuse me.

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00:14:59,980 --> 00:15:08,320
[sighs]
Next, um the regular schedule meeting

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schedule is February 18th. I will not be
in attendance due to my participation at

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00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:17,519
the IIMC conference. The board meeting
will proceed as scheduled and any

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00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:22,079
necessary arrangements for agenda
management and documentation will be

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00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:25,079
made in advance to ensure a smooth
process.

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Uh convenience centers, the 2026
calendar is on our website now. And a

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00:15:30,639 --> 00:15:38,880
note just to reference for the audience
and folks online, there are other

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counties listed. So, um, just make sure
that you pay pay close attention to

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00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:47,399
Gates. That is that last column before
the next section.

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00:15:49,199 --> 00:15:55,680
This flyer was shared with me recently,
so I throw it in here for this evening.

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00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:59,839
Uh, the COA business small business
center, excuse me, will hold a marketing

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00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:06,680
and a rural community training on March
3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the

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00:16:02,399 --> 00:16:06,680
Merchants Mil Pond State Park.

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00:16:07,519 --> 00:16:16,680
County offices will be closed January
19th in observance of Dr. Martin Luther

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00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,680
King Jr's birthday.

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00:16:18,079 --> 00:16:24,399
Uh, also on January 19th, the Merchants
Meal Pond State Park will host the Day

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00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:29,120
of Service volunteer event from 10:00
a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Volunteers are

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00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:34,440
encouraged to bring appropriate outdoor
gear, including gloves and closed toe

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00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,440
shoes.

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00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:44,240
All right. And um I've got this
proclamation was in your agenda packet

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00:16:41,519 --> 00:16:48,800
and I will now read it which I will ask
for the board's uh consideration and

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00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:54,480
approval.
So proclamation honoring Dr. Martin

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00:16:50,959 --> 00:17:00,800
Luther King Jr. Day whereas Reverend Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on

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00:16:56,959 --> 00:17:05,520
January 15th, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia
and devoted his life to justice,

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00:17:03,199 --> 00:17:10,880
equality, and the peaceful pursuit of
civil rights for all Americans. And

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00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:15,919
whereas through his leadership in the
civil rights movement, Dr. King helped

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00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:21,439
secure landmark social and legislative
proc progress, including greater access

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00:17:18,799 --> 00:17:27,760
to voting, fair housing, and equal
treatment under the law. And whereas his

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00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:32,880
commitment to nonviolent action, moral
courage and dignity of every person

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00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:38,080
advanced the cause of human rights and
brought about lasting change in

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00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:43,360
communities across our nation. And
whereas Martin Luther King Jr. Day is

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00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:48,559
recognized as a federal holiday to honor
Dr. King's life and legacy and to

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00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:55,600
celebrate his enduring contributions to
freedom, equality, and service. And

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00:17:52,960 --> 00:18:00,480
whereas this holiday encourages
reflection on Dr. King's vision, and

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00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:06,400
challenges each of us to uphold the
principles of justice, compassion, and

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00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:11,200
civic responsibility in our daily lives.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the

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Gates County Board of Commissioners that
Monday, January 19th, 2026 is designated

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00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:23,280
as Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's
Junior Day in Gates County. and we

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00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:28,320
encourage all residents to honor his
legacy through reflection, community

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00:18:25,919 --> 00:18:33,200
engagement, and actions that foster
greater understanding and equity for

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00:18:31,039 --> 00:18:39,280
all.
And then last but not least, just in lie

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00:18:35,679 --> 00:18:44,240
of Mr. Sour, um here's some picturesque
scenes here right here from Gates

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County. And that's all I have.
>> Thank you. Um I think the only point of

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00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:53,520
action for that is um if we can get a
motion to adopt the proclamation as read

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00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:55,360
honoring D Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Day.

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00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,559
» So move.
>> So second

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00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:02,320
» and all in favor
unanimous. All right. Thank you.

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00:19:01,678 --> 00:19:06,320
[clears throat]
Assistant manager Perry. Um turn to you

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00:19:04,799 --> 00:19:14,640
for county manager updates.
>> Okay. Thank [clears throat] you. Uh

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00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:18,559
the auditing firm of Malding and Jenkins
uh is in the final review of the

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00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:24,799
county's financial statements for the
fiscal year end June 30th, 2025. And it

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is anticipated the report to the
commissioners will occur at the February

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00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:33,200
board meeting, which we now know will be
on the 18th.

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00:19:31,039 --> 00:19:39,080
As previously reported to the board, the
fund balance for the general fund

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00:19:34,799 --> 00:19:39,080
increased by $554,798

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00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:45,240
and the unassigned fund balance is now
6,271,75

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as of June 30th of 2025
and is using the LGC's formula. The

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00:19:53,600 --> 00:20:01,200
county's general fund balance available
for appropriate appropriation exceeds

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00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:08,200
now 39%.
Sales tax receipts exceeded the original

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00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:08,200
budget ordinance by $273,318

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00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:17,200
or 7.3%.
The county's tax collection rate

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00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:22,000
improved from 96.5%
to 97.10%.

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00:20:19,919 --> 00:20:28,960
So, we appreciate the citizens and the
tax office for this improvement. Also,

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major kudos to the public utilities
department and the finance department

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00:20:31,039 --> 00:20:41,039
for coordination and transition to the
monthly billing cycle for all water

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00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:45,120
customers. Next month in February,
uh the county will be seeking requests

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00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:50,320
for a statement of qualifications for
the architectural services to assist in

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00:20:47,919 --> 00:20:56,799
the building of a new community center.
We will continue to update the county on

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uh this progress. And lastly, on the HR
front, uh the county will be

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implementing management training for
supervisors later this quarter. And that

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00:21:03,919 --> 00:21:09,600
is all I have.
>> All right. Thank you, sir.

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move into commissioner updates. Um,
Commissioner Roundtree.

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00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:22,080
» Yes. Hope hope everyone had a great
holiday. Happy new year to everyone. Um

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00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:28,240
my first update is Trillium update and
uh on January the 29th which is a

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00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:35,760
Thursday
check in began at 8:30 and this is from

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00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:41,840
900 a.m. to 12 p.m. This is the uh
re-entry program uh that we had once

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here in Gates County. This one will be
located at Elizabeth City State

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00:21:43,679 --> 00:21:53,039
University. Um the address is K White
Ballroom

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00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:57,200
1704 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City,
North Carolina 279

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09.
And this is a similation of how um

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00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:09,039
people who transition from being
incarcerated to the real world shows the

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00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:15,039
challenges and the adjustments that they
make in order to make that transition as

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00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:19,840
smooth as possible. It gives us a a
greater awareness what they go through

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00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:26,480
throughout this transition. It's very
interactive. It have scenarios in which

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the incar former incarcerated citizens
face the challenges they face. So this

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00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:37,440
is going to be great. I attended one
before along with madame chair was very

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00:22:32,799 --> 00:22:41,600
insightful and uh also gave me uh a
better understanding of what these

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00:22:39,679 --> 00:22:46,880
citizens that's transition from
incarceration to regular society how

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difficult it can be and how much they
need support during this transition. So

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that's going to be on Thursday, January
29th at Elizabeth City State University

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at K White Ballroom and you check in at
8:30 and then the actual assimilation

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the program is going to be from 9 to 12.
Also our trillium update uh we have

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eating disorders awareness symposium.
This is going to include mental health

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impacts and also mental health concerns.
This is going to take place February

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00:23:20,159 --> 00:23:31,679
27th from 8 to 11:30 a.m. It's going to
be at Berea Baptist Church, 2033 North

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Road Street, also in Elizabeth City,
North Carolina. Um,

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this is going to be very good for um
making the community aware of different

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eating disorders, bring them awareness,
how to counter that, things to do to

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implement.
And last, I want to give uh

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00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:58,559
congratulations to Mrs. Shondaanda
Harrison. She's the business business

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00:23:55,039 --> 00:24:04,720
owner for Totally Learning, Totally Kids
Learning Center. Uh she just recently

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00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:11,039
opened up and this was a great um
daycare u opportunity for our community

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00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:18,159
because it relieved the public schools
of their daycare challenges. Also, it

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00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:22,720
pro it provides daycare for our citizens
and it's a great business opportunity

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00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:28,799
for Miss Harrison. I had a chance to be
at the grand opening or excuse me at

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00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:33,360
open house and it was beautiful.
Classrooms were structured well. They

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had some students there. Um the teachers
were on point. Uh the environment was a

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loving, nurturing environment. a win-win
situation because, you know, daycare is

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very essential for the working class. We
need a place that we can be comfortable

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00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:55,200
and know that they are being taught,
knowing they have safety um throughout

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00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:59,440
the facility and knowing that love and
nurturing is taking place. And I'm so

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00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:07,600
grateful that she was able to partner
with Gates County Public Schools. and um

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00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:12,720
also she's providing great uh daycare
services for our citizens, for our

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00:25:09,679 --> 00:25:15,600
parents, and I applaud her on that. Uh
that uh is my final uh update for

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00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:18,962
tonight.
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner

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Citnel
[clears throat]

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Policy.
Um

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how long's this been going on, Pit?
>> A long time. I know at least three kind

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00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:37,957
at least three county managers and it
started out uh the rough draft of it was

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00:25:36,159 --> 00:25:42,400
it was rough for our employees.
[laughter]

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00:25:38,799 --> 00:25:47,360
» Uh and [clears throat] then
I want to throw a number out there. It's

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probably been going on for 10 years.
>> And and we we got it today. So that's a

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00:25:51,279 --> 00:26:00,559
big kudos to uh Mr. Perry and Mr. sour
for getting that accomplished. It's been

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going on for a long time and it's
something else we've we've put to rest.

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00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:10,960
Um water billing going back to monthly.
I know I would enjoy it. I I look at my

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00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:16,080
wife all the time like we we paid the
water bill. [laughter]

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00:26:13,279 --> 00:26:21,120
Uh getting back on that monthly cycle is
is just it's going to be better for

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00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:25,039
everybody. Um I've had a number of
citizens reach out to me over the last

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00:26:23,120 --> 00:26:29,840
couple weeks. I've talked to
Commissioner Truman or Madam Chair uh

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00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:34,400
about it some and got some information
from her. I know she did a lot of

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00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:39,760
research ran the board of education and
uh filling the UR seat uh they announced

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00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:46,080
they were not going to fill the UR seat
at this time until the election.

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00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:49,520
» Um and my constituents and you don't
feel like they have a voice at the

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00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:55,279
table. So hopefully they will not be
making any major decisions

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00:26:52,080 --> 00:27:00,799
without um
without great thought and hopefully they

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00:26:57,679 --> 00:27:06,240
can wait till they have that seat f
filled after the election. Um so I just

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00:27:03,919 --> 00:27:12,159
wanted to relay the messages that I've
been getting from my constituents and

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00:27:09,039 --> 00:27:15,279
your so that's all I have.
>> All right. Thank you, sir.

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00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,320
» Vice chair.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um

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00:27:16,863 --> 00:27:22,320
[clears throat]
looking forward to this new year as we

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00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:27,600
begin to work on the many things that uh
our county has going on. Um you wi with

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00:27:25,360 --> 00:27:32,080
the completion of some of the designs
that we've been working through over

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00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:35,840
this past year uh and putting those to
bid so that way we can uh select a

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00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:39,760
contractor and get moving with those
improvements with the border systems of

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00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:43,200
the county. It's been a long time since
they be able to do those type of

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00:27:41,120 --> 00:27:48,400
improvements. So we are looking forward
to that. We're looking forward to our

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00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:54,320
work sections uh that we have with our
uh county employees and and as we

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00:27:51,039 --> 00:27:58,240
continue to move into the new uh
budgeting season and and understanding

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00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:03,600
the needs and requirements for our
county and as we work through that. So,

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00:28:00,799 --> 00:28:07,600
um, we encourage anyone to reach out,
uh, to discuss anything that, uh, you

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00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:11,440
would like to see within the county's
budget this year. And, and because this

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00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:15,360
is our our budget season, we're going to
be having those type of, uh, discussions

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00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:19,760
over the next few months as we lead into
that. Um the the chair and I this past

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00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:26,640
I'll let her speak a little bit more
about this but uh we this past week we

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00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:32,240
uh continued our training as far as on
the leadership side with the NCAACC

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00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:35,919
and uh it's always a good time when you
can get together with a group of other

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00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:41,440
commissioners from our other 100
counties um within North Carolina and

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00:28:39,039 --> 00:28:45,919
and see how they do things. you know,
what what do we do that's working better

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00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:50,799
than what they do and what they do that
maybe working a little bit better than

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00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:56,559
than we have and and uh that free flow
of ideas is always good to be able to uh

337
00:28:53,679 --> 00:29:02,320
have that engagement with them. So, um
yeah, I I enjoyed that. I enjoyed the uh

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00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:09,760
the the teaching sessions that we had uh
as we try to uh uh further develop

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00:29:05,279 --> 00:29:15,919
ourselves as county commissioners. Um
just uh yesterday I had uh my uh

340
00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:20,000
quarterly meeting with the Gits and I I
tell you

341
00:29:17,679 --> 00:29:25,279
just to see what Mr. Patrice does and
everything that she uh works through and

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00:29:22,159 --> 00:29:29,919
accomplishes is is just outstanding with
uh you the the little bit that she has

343
00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:34,559
and she can go so far with what little
bit that she has. And so, um, I enjoy

344
00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:40,000
sitting on that board and working with
them and and listening to what needs

345
00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:44,240
that they uh have for coming and uh and
representing them to the board as well.

346
00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:48,640
And and so uh I appreciate that time
yesterday as we went through uh their

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00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:53,360
upcoming plans for this year and how
they can continue expand their services.

348
00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:57,760
And so I ask everyone that that service
is available. So if you need a ride

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00:29:55,520 --> 00:30:04,880
anywhere, uh they will be glad to give
it to you. And so um u

350
00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:08,240
that's uh that concludes my meetings for
tonight.

351
00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:11,520
» Thank you sir. Um and I just have a few
things. Yeah. I'll mention uh the

352
00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:16,720
NCAACCC. It's uh leading your governing
body. It's uh informally called chair

353
00:30:14,799 --> 00:30:20,240
vice chair training. Um just to kind of
give you go over statutes, legal issues,

354
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:24,880
just kind of make sure you're on the up
and up on what the different laws are as

355
00:30:21,919 --> 00:30:28,480
you move forward with governing. Um, and
it's always, like you said, pretty

356
00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:31,360
exciting to to get together with other
commissioners from across the state and

357
00:30:29,679 --> 00:30:34,880
kind of hear the things that they are
going through, the different things that

358
00:30:32,399 --> 00:30:38,559
they've overcome. Um,
we

359
00:30:36,559 --> 00:30:43,120
always end up talking about, you know,
public comment periods and and they

360
00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:47,360
that's a thing across the state. Most
people, you know, one comment period a

361
00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:49,760
month, three minutes. I I like that
we're a little more gracious with the

362
00:30:48,559 --> 00:30:52,399
five minutes at the beginning and the
three minutes at the end and different

363
00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:57,840
things like that. just giving the
community the opportunity to speak um is

364
00:30:55,760 --> 00:31:03,600
a pretty big deal, I think. And and so
that's something that we we appreciate

365
00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:08,399
having the opportunity to do. Um I will
reiterate what our lovely clerk was

366
00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:12,399
saying um about trying to get a location
secured for the town hall for this

367
00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:16,399
article 46. Uh that I did want to talk
about for just a minute. Um Verizon

368
00:31:14,559 --> 00:31:21,120
killed my opportunity today to try and
reach out to most people that I planned

369
00:31:18,159 --> 00:31:26,559
on calling this afternoon. um Verizon
decided I did not need to call anyone.

370
00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:31,200
So um or nor did tens of thousands of
others across the country. So um those

371
00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:34,640
calls will happen as soon as we have
that location secured. We'll have that

372
00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:39,360
information out on Facebook and on the
website. Um and then

373
00:31:37,679 --> 00:31:42,080
uh again mentioned at the next meeting.
We'll make sure we announce that there

374
00:31:40,799 --> 00:31:46,000
because we do have another commissioner
meeting before that night. Um, but I

375
00:31:44,799 --> 00:31:51,360
know there are a lot of questions about
what is this quarter cent tales sales

376
00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:56,880
tax referendum and it will be on the
ballot on March 3rd um in the primary.

377
00:31:54,960 --> 00:32:00,720
Uh during the October 15th meeting
around the 30 minute mark uh we had

378
00:31:59,279 --> 00:32:05,600
discussion under old business that
focused on what this was for and it

379
00:32:02,799 --> 00:32:12,640
would be countywide food insecurity. Um
this past year in our budget process, we

380
00:32:08,159 --> 00:32:16,000
voted to um fund the food nutrition
program, child nutrition program at the

381
00:32:14,159 --> 00:32:19,519
schools. So right now in Gates County,
all of the children in the public

382
00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:27,440
schools have free breakfast and lunch to
them. Um there have been numerous um

383
00:32:25,679 --> 00:32:32,399
positive statements come from staff at
the schools stating how hungry kids um

384
00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:36,880
made made learning more difficult and
how it's been better this year. um the

385
00:32:34,159 --> 00:32:41,519
kids are not as anxious, um not as
irritable, um and they're just they're

386
00:32:39,279 --> 00:32:44,640
fed, which is a big deal. Uh we'd love
the opportunity to continue doing that.

387
00:32:43,039 --> 00:32:50,240
And that's where this article 46 comes
in. Essentially, if you spend $10,000 on

388
00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:55,440
sales um in the county in a year, you're
going to have $25 go towards food

389
00:32:52,320 --> 00:33:00,080
insecurity. For every$10,000 you spend,
not including prescription, groceries,

390
00:32:58,399 --> 00:33:03,039
medications,
um any kind of medications, and gas,

391
00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:09,600
those don't go up because you can't for
law. So, $10,000,

392
00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:13,840
it's $25 basically. Um, that's going to
go to food insecurity and food

393
00:33:10,799 --> 00:33:17,600
insecurity is included. Um, we didn't
want any extra funds going to just

394
00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:20,320
miscellaneous things. So, we have
encompassed this is saying food

395
00:33:18,799 --> 00:33:24,480
insecurity across the whole and that
includes the food nutrition program.

396
00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:29,840
That'll be programs like gyms, the
backpack ministry. Um recently in the

397
00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:34,480
past uh few months we've had some local
initiated citizen um local church groups

398
00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:37,919
initiated those type things uh food
pantries that are there for the public

399
00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:42,480
that will give us the opportunity to be
able to contribute to those as well. Um

400
00:33:40,159 --> 00:33:46,080
the entirety of these funds would go to
food and security whatever that looks

401
00:33:44,399 --> 00:33:50,159
like. Um taking care of our children
first um and then moving into gyms and

402
00:33:48,559 --> 00:33:54,880
other opportunities. So we'll have more
coming forward on that. We have some

403
00:33:51,519 --> 00:33:58,399
videos. We'll have some Q&As's. Um, we
have the town hall. We're going to put

404
00:33:56,320 --> 00:34:01,600
more information on Facebook um, as we
have it and as we can, but it is

405
00:34:00,399 --> 00:34:06,000
something that needs to be talked about
because March 3rd is right around the

406
00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:09,119
corner. Uh, and I think lastly, I just
want to say the re-entry. I did not know

407
00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:12,399
about that. Um, if you have the
opportunity to go, I will never not push

408
00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:17,520
for people to go to the re-entry
training. It is phenomenal. It will give

409
00:34:13,919 --> 00:34:23,359
you a perspective that people need. Um,
so it is a free program. He mentioned

410
00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:27,520
January 29th at ECSU. So, if you can do
that, um I'll ask if we can have that

411
00:34:25,919 --> 00:34:33,280
put on our Facebook page as well, the
link, so that we can have um have that

412
00:34:29,919 --> 00:34:39,919
accessible. That is all I have. Um we're
going to move into the 3minut um public

413
00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:45,839
comment period um if we have anyone
signed up for that. One of the things

414
00:34:41,839 --> 00:34:49,839
that we had taken away from our time um
in the leadership training last week

415
00:34:47,919 --> 00:34:53,599
were counties stating that they have
timers or mic cuts that kind of being at

416
00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:58,960
the end of the time so that the chair,
vice chair, whoever is up here doesn't

417
00:34:55,599 --> 00:35:04,480
have to interrupt to cut um cut the
speaker. Um so those things will be

418
00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:08,480
implemented at different times um
to kind of help see how we facilitate

419
00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:12,480
and if it goes a little smoother. Um,
but right now I'm gonna defer to the

420
00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:15,280
clerk, see who we have.
>> Kelly.

421
00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:18,880
» All right.
So, if you could come up and just state

422
00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:22,160
your name and voting district for the
record.

423
00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:25,200
» First.
>> Yeah, that's fine. Thank you.

424
00:35:24,079 --> 00:35:28,320
» Thank you.
>> I have enoughbody.

425
00:35:27,119 --> 00:35:34,760
» You're [laughter]
share if you need to. Yep.

426
00:35:31,599 --> 00:35:34,760
» I've actually

427
00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:38,680
Yeah. Okay.

428
00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:45,839
My name is Kelly Turner and I am in
Gates.

429
00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:49,440
Um, I'm here tonight to follow up on an
email that I sent to the board and

430
00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:53,920
county manager regarding an incident at
our property involving deer hunting with

431
00:35:51,839 --> 00:35:58,800
dogs. While the incident itself was
unsettling, I want to be very clear that

432
00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:03,200
my goal tonight is not to ban dog
hunting in Gates County. Hunting is an

433
00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:08,720
important part of our culture and
heritage. What I am asking for is a

434
00:36:06,079 --> 00:36:13,839
thoughtful, modern restriction that
reflects how our county has changed.

435
00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:19,280
Gates County is not the same as it was
decades ago. Large tracks of lands have

436
00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:23,680
been divided into small smaller parcels.
Families live closer together. Many

437
00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:28,400
residents raise livestock, keep pets,
and are tending to the land more like a

438
00:36:25,599 --> 00:36:31,839
homestead. With these changes, the way
that we manage deer hunting, especially

439
00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:35,599
by running dogs, needs to be
re-evaluated.

440
00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:40,400
Recently, seven to eight deer dog
hunting trucks were parked along Highway

441
00:36:37,359 --> 00:36:45,040
37 beside our property while hunters
waited for their dogs to push deer out

442
00:36:42,240 --> 00:36:49,680
of the swamp behind our home. We do not
allow dog hunting on our land and have

443
00:36:47,119 --> 00:36:55,040
been clear and respectful about that for
the past 3 years. Despite this, a pack

444
00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:59,920
of dogs came out of the swamp and
approached our goat and chicken pens and

445
00:36:56,960 --> 00:37:04,640
created an unsafe situation. The law was
called and after a good while, the

446
00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:09,200
hunters were finally able to contain
their dogs after catching them by hand

447
00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:14,160
and pulling them by their collars into
their dog boxes. Thankfully, no one was

448
00:37:12,079 --> 00:37:17,280
hurt, but this situation highlights a
larger issue of safety and

449
00:37:15,599 --> 00:37:21,599
accountability.
I would like to ask the board to

450
00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:27,599
consider reasonable restrictions on dog
hunting with deer hunting with dogs such

451
00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:32,160
as requiring minimum acreage such as 500
acres of more to run deer dogs. Whether

452
00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:35,839
that's combining AC acres or individual
parcels,

453
00:37:33,839 --> 00:37:39,680
prohibiting hunting activities from
public roadways, including parking and

454
00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:45,200
waiting along highways and narrow back
roads, and requiring hunters to actively

455
00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:49,040
follow their dogs or only retrieve them
at designated points within property

456
00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:52,480
they have permission to hunt. Also
strengthening expectations that dogs

457
00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:56,640
remain within land where explicit
permission has been granted. These type

458
00:37:54,720 --> 00:38:00,480
of restrictions are not anti-hunting.
They're pro-s safety, pro property

459
00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:03,680
rights, and pro community.
I'm going to skip this part because I'm

460
00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:06,480
almost out of time. I knew this is an
issue that the board has addressed

461
00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:09,920
before. Because of that, I reached out
to members of our community to hear

462
00:38:07,839 --> 00:38:14,160
their thoughts and I was surprised by
how many people, long-term residents and

463
00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:19,359
newer families alike, shared these same
concerns. The people want change and I

464
00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:23,040
am here to help them achieve it. I am
not here to speak during public comment

465
00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:26,880
and never hear about this issue again. I
would genuinely welcome the opportunity

466
00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:31,280
to sit down with members of the board or
participate in a working group or public

467
00:38:29,119 --> 00:38:34,960
discussion to explore what next steps
would look like to update our county

468
00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:38,480
ordinances. This is not about personal
opinions for or against dog hunting. The

469
00:38:37,119 --> 00:38:42,240
board has a duty to serve the people of
Gates County and the people want to be

470
00:38:40,079 --> 00:38:47,839
heard. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you.

471
00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:51,359
» Do we have any others?
All right, Miss Saunders, if you could

472
00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:54,359
just state your name and um voting
district.

473
00:38:54,480 --> 00:39:01,119
» Good evening, commissioners. Mr. Perry,
attorney gowin. I am Crystal Saunders,

474
00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:05,680
resident of Gatesville, um probably
about a mile and a half from here. Um

475
00:39:03,839 --> 00:39:11,920
Mr. Barman, you actually touched on
something I was going to talk about. I

476
00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:18,480
was in church two Sundays ago and uh
elder older lady got sick. ambulance was

477
00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:23,440
called and I know we don't have 911 and
you know all that foolishness from

478
00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:27,920
before and all of that. However, I'm
sitting there thinking we need to get

479
00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:34,240
some other people trained in our county
because the ambulance people that were

480
00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:39,119
on duty. They were down in Edon
suffoc had to be called. Thank kudos to

481
00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:44,800
Pquimmens or whoever runs that center
now. Kudos to them. and they came

482
00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:48,960
directly. They were there. By the time
Gates County got there, she was loaded

483
00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:54,000
up getting ready to go out the parking
lot. So, there's something that has to

484
00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:59,920
be done as a community whether we do
something as a community where we have

485
00:39:56,240 --> 00:40:05,040
more volunteers, more equipment at
different places that can be utilized

486
00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:09,760
because she passed out. Oxygen is a big
thing. You know, we have this new thing

487
00:40:07,119 --> 00:40:13,680
now where you can buy the spray cans of
oxygen. I'm like, I'm investing that for

488
00:40:11,359 --> 00:40:19,280
my family. You see what I'm saying? And
so, but you think about your churches

489
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:24,240
and stuff and to the thought of she's
passed out. Every I'm a science teacher.

490
00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:27,839
I teach biology. Seconds matter when
you're talking about somebody's don't

491
00:40:25,599 --> 00:40:34,720
have a pulse, not breathing.
>> And so that that is a real concern.

492
00:40:31,359 --> 00:40:38,240
» So, if we could start conversations
around something like that.

493
00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:41,920
» All right. Thank you.
>> Thank you.

494
00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:45,160
Do we have any even further?
>> Miss Ann

495
00:40:46,453 --> 00:40:48,473
[clears throat]

496
00:40:51,359 --> 00:40:57,760
Howell Hall Township. I just have a
quick question. You mentioned that uh

497
00:40:56,000 --> 00:41:03,200
the water bill will be going back
monthly. Is that correct? Was there

498
00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:08,480
anything said about the billing going
back to Gates County instead of going to

499
00:41:06,319 --> 00:41:11,920
wherever?
Honestly,

500
00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:17,200
we can look into that, but as of right
now, no. I think we were told at the

501
00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:22,079
time that they hoped it would be coming
back to Gates County. And I know a lot

502
00:41:19,680 --> 00:41:27,359
of people I'm for one, I drive to
Gatesville and to pay it here because

503
00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:30,400
I'm stubborn. I'm just not going to mail
it,

504
00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:33,920
» especially with mail going up like it is
right now.

505
00:41:31,599 --> 00:41:37,599
» My wife does the same thing. [laughter]
>> A lot of people do. Yes, ma'am. Thank

506
00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:41,920
you. All right. Thank you.
And I'm just going to say I'm glad

507
00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:46,800
you're here because you can I don't know
it's still okay.

508
00:41:44,720 --> 00:41:51,440
All right. Is there any That's all.
Okay. All right. Um with all the

509
00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:55,920
business addressed, we will entertain a
motion to adjurnn. Madam Chair, if I

510
00:41:54,160 --> 00:42:03,200
might before we absolutely,
>> I would just like as county attorney uh

511
00:41:59,119 --> 00:42:11,200
to reiterate what uh commissioner said
in regards to thanking Warren Perry and

512
00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:16,720
uh Scott Sour for their hard work in
getting the uh personnel policy

513
00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:22,720
together. We spent many hours on it and
we spent many years on it uh before.

514
00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:26,640
It's a very important thing and uh they
need to be recognized for their work.

515
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:31,119
» That's all.
>> Yeah, I agree.

516
00:42:28,079 --> 00:42:37,520
» Yeah. Thank you. Uh Mr. Godwin, I would
want to recognize the uh the team we had

517
00:42:34,319 --> 00:42:45,440
that assisted with that was uh Patrice
Lasser, uh Willie Smith, Lisa Cherry,

518
00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:50,000
and um Christy Baron. So kudos to them
also. Thank you.

519
00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:53,920
» All right. Thank you. Yes, sir. All
right. We will now um look for a motion

520
00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:57,119
to adjurnn.
>> So move.

521
00:42:55,760 --> 00:43:00,839
» So second it.
>> All right. All in favor?

522
00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:04,440
We are ajourned.

523
00:43:11,200 --> 00:43:14,920
Yeah. It's one of the days.