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[0:02] The bat phone always works, right? Are we good? Right to call to order the Art of
[0:11] County Board of Commission, our 6 o'clock regular meeting for Tuesday, September, the first
[0:15] 2026. At this time, I'd like to ask Commissioner Stroud to give the
[0:19] indication for the Board of Commissioners, as we seek guidance and wisdom and the
[0:23] work we're about to do for the citizens of Art of County. Our gracious Heavenly
[0:28] fathers we come to you tonight Lord we just ask you to help us as individuals help us
[0:34] to become a cohesive group that openly listens and addresses the issues that this county
[0:45] faces that this residence faces. Lord we know it's difficult times difficult all over
[0:50] the world Lord but you know this group we've tried to do the right godly thing by the
[0:56] people of Ireland County help us to understand the reason you gave us two years in one mouth,
[1:02] help us to be able to continue to grow stronger and closer to each other as a board and
[1:06] stronger and closer to use individuals. Lord, we ask that each person here tonight
[1:12] leave with answers and understanding. Lord, we ask you to be those that are sick and afflicted,
[1:20] those that are in harm's way and those that don't know you and those that serve and protect us
[1:24] every day. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
[1:28] At this time, I'd like to ask Commissioner Brown to leave us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
[1:32] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which
[1:39] it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
[1:50] And do we have any adjustments to the agenda?
[1:52] No, sir. No adjustments.
[1:54] Do we have a motion to approve the agenda?
[1:55] Motion to approve the agenda as presented. Motion by Commissioner vice chair
[2:00] Neater. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed the agenda is approved. We do not have
[2:06] any special presentations or recognitions or awards tonight. We do not have an
[2:10] appointment before the board but we do have a public hearing and regarding a
[2:13] rezone and I'll turn it over to the manager to get that kicked off with Matthew Ty.
[2:17] Absolutely. Thank you. We do have one public hearing this evening and it's a
[2:21] It is a request to rezone approximately 1.06 acres along Island Board Road and Mr. Matthew Todd is here to make this presentation to the board.
[2:32] Good evening to the board.
[2:35] The rezoning we have before tonight is on Island Board Road.
[2:42] It's outlined in blue on the screen.
[2:43] Two different parcels currently zone RA.
[2:46] The landowner, property owners, asking to rezone it to general business.
[2:51] This would match some of the adjacent zoning that's out there.
[2:54] and it's for marketing purposes to potentially combine it with those other
[2:59] parcels to make it hopefully more usable than the current size would allow for
[3:05] development. Planning board did recommend unanimously 8-0 to support this request
[3:12] and there was no opposition expressed in planables. The property does match and
[3:19] in the 2045 horizon plan for commercial property and
[3:28] it would be consistent with adjacent properties.
[3:32] That's the 2045 horizon plan. There is currently a residence on the property
[3:39] a
[3:42] few pictures of the property and
[3:53] I'd be happy to answer any additional questions.
[4:11] I will then open up the public hearing and tonight, regards to consider requests from
[4:18] applicant and landowner David Bradley of Braultus Management Company LLC to resume approximately
[4:24] one point, 0-6 acres along the island of Ford Road.
[4:28] No one has signed up to speak, I'd like to ask if anybody here would like to speak on
[4:31] this matter.
[4:33] Hearing none and seeing none, I will close the public hearing, and as do we have a motion.
[4:37] Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to approve the zoning map amendment and make a finding
[4:42] that said approval is consistent with the adopted 2045 Verizon plan is reasonable in public
[4:48] interest because the property is lies entirely within the 2045 Verizon plan corridor commercial
[4:53] with designation, the properties are close proximity to other existing commercial uses,
[4:58] and their crest result in the zoning consistency among the land owners' contiguous properties.
[5:05] Motion by Commissioner Stratt, all in favor say aye.
[5:07] Aye.
[5:08] Any opposed?
[5:09] Passes 5-0.
[5:11] Thank you, sir.
[5:13] Now brings us down to our Administrator matters that we covered today to our 4 o'clock
[5:16] pre-agenda meeting and our front of the manager to go over those.
[5:19] Thank you, Chair Conley.
[5:20] As Chair Conley said, we did have our four o'clock
[5:23] pre-agent meeting and review the following matters
[5:26] to agree to place on the consent agenda.
[5:29] We had a request from the Sheriff's Office
[5:30] for approval of budget amendment number 10
[5:33] to accept the Jag Grant awarded to Ardell County Sheriff's Office
[5:38] and the City of Statesville Police Department
[5:40] in the total amount of $37,524.
[5:44] We had a request from fire services
[5:46] to remove the hydrant flow test fee
[5:48] from the fee schedule. This is removing the $100 fee where we do the test fee, and it still
[5:56] is required to be done, but it will be done by a third party and we will witness the third
[6:01] party testing for the hydrant flow test. A request from the Department of Social Services for approval
[6:07] of budget amendment number 11 to receive and expand an additional $11,700 in links foster care funds
[6:14] for one-time allowance to a eligible current
[6:18] and former foster care youth and young adults.
[6:20] They have identified about 20 potential clients
[6:23] and the deadline is in September to expend these funds.
[6:27] A request from the Department of Social Services
[6:29] for approval of Budget Amendment number 12
[6:32] to accept and recognize a donation of services
[6:35] and supplies to remodel the family visitation rooms
[6:38] for foster love adopt repeat program.
[6:41] We had a request from ICATS to present the fiscal year 28 projected funding to the general
[6:48] public and obtain board approval to submit grant applications.
[6:52] They anticipate applying for $2.38 million in total funding and that is their request.
[7:00] A request from the administration to approve the minutes from August 18th, 2026 Board of
[7:05] Commissioner Meade.
[7:06] All of these items were reviewed at the 4 o'clock
[7:09] pre-agent meeting and agreed to place in the consent agenda.
[7:13] Do we have a motion to approve the
[7:15] pre-agenda consent administrative matters?
[7:17] Thank you motion.
[7:18] Motion by Commissioner Brown, all in favor say aye.
[7:21] Aye.
[7:21] Any opposed?
[7:22] They are approved, five vote.
[7:24] Bring us down to the announcement of vacancies,
[7:26] the current on boards and commissions on
[7:27] turn over to the manager to go to those.
[7:29] Thank you.
[7:29] We do have several vacancies on boards and commissions.
[7:32] Anyone that's interested in serving on any of these,
[7:35] you can receive additional information and then we ask that you fill out an application
[7:40] and you can find that on our website or you can contact our clerk to the board Mr.
[7:44] Bass and he can certainly assist you.
[7:46] We have six appointments available on the Adult Care Home Advisory Committee, three appointments
[7:51] available on the Central Ana Aging Advisory Committee, Region F, two appointments on the
[7:58] Ardo County JCPC, six appointments on the Nursing Home Advisory Committee, one appointment
[8:04] on State's full planning board, which is an ETJ member, and then one appointment, which is an alternate member on the Troutland Planning Board, which is also an ETJ member.
[8:13] If anyone, again, is interested in serving on any of these boards and commissions, please contact us to fill out an application.
[8:20] And we do have one appointment tonight to the Moore's full board of Adjustment ETJ, and I'll turn it back to the manager to go over that one.
[8:26] Yes, so we do have one individual that does qualify that's actually in the ETJ and that is just in Anderson
[8:33] That is volunteered to serve and meets the criteria for the ETJ for Moore's World Board of Adjustment
[8:41] Here we have a motion make a motion to approve just in Anderson to the
[8:47] Moore's ETJ
[8:48] motion
[8:49] Motion by Commissioner Stroud all in favor say aye aye any opposed he is approved by the
[8:56] Any unfinished business?
[9:00] Public comment period will be September the 15th. I know with the 4 o'clock hour
[9:04] I think I said September the 5th, but I left out the one so it is September the 15th at 6 o'clock next public comment period
[9:11] Commissioner updates. Does anybody have anything?
[9:15] I have just a few brief. Where was that just?
[9:17] Go a few things. There's been a lot going on in the discussion
[9:21] Economic Development Corporation had the annual luncheon meeting
[9:24] When over a lot of local and regional economic market, we are definitely in a high demand area.
[9:30] We're all aware of that one, a variety of jobs, a lot of housing challenges going on
[9:36] with that one, but we're able to kind of get up to date and had a panel discussion with
[9:40] that one as well for a lot of our businesses.
[9:42] Mitchell Community College has kicked off their academic year with their annual dinner and
[9:47] then the American League.
[9:48] and this was something that was, I had not been to before, and Commissioner Stroud, you would have more information on this one, but it was a heartfelt, very moving event that was honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the Afghanistan battles and war and trauma that was staying there, but 65 recognized those along with conflicts in general.
[10:17] So they, I want to shout out to the folks there at post 65 for putting that one together as well done, that's all I've got.
[10:23] Anyone else?
[10:26] I was at the NCACC conference on our behalf last week or since our last meeting and still dislikes the concerns of from the counties around the state and the NCACC as to the impacts of legislative actions both federally and state as far as unfunded mandates and all those things.
[10:46] as we're well aware of, we just have to continue monitoring those very closely as to those
[10:51] impacts and stand on top of it and make sure our legislators know publicly the impacts
[10:57] of some of these potential things. Finish my fourth or fifth term on that board is the District
[11:05] 12 Director and I gave that up and I was reappointed to the board as one of the current presidents,
[11:14] kind of a large appointee for a year on that, but that was a good experience and it's been
[11:22] a good thing to be a part of. That's all I have. I just want to remind everybody. Right now,
[11:31] we're in a period in Ardell County, especially for I-40 North, we're still the leading industry's
[11:39] We're in a farm right now where harvest, making hay, and cut the silage, and everything is going on.
[11:48] And there's a lot of traffic out there, a lot of tractors, going to be sharing the roads.
[11:55] And it's a very personal issue to me.
[11:59] And please be very wise and cognizant, and don't take chances thinking around the blind corner.
[12:06] There's not something in especially in the late evenings.
[12:10] A lot of folks are hobby
[12:16] farmers, gentleman farmers that work to a farm and do their crops after business hours and you're talking there's some blinding son out there.
[12:26] So please slow down a little bit and especially if you know you're in a rural area that folks do farm, please take a little extra time.
[12:35] You know, but I have
[12:44] to do this right.
[12:47] Yeah, we're saying like the fair is coming up here next.
[12:52] First Friday, so we have a lot of traffic and travel.
[13:00] One of the things that's still been going on for 100 years here
[13:06] a little bit, there's
[13:06] hot, but it's going to cool down, I think, the next one.
[13:11] Any new business?
[13:13] Can I manage your report?
[13:15] Just a few things to report.
[13:17] One, we will be closed on Monday, September the 7th, and the servants of Labor Day.
[13:22] So we'll be close on that day and also just a reminder about the fair.
[13:27] It's the fourth through the twelfth at the fairgrounds.
[13:31] So we do have the gravel parking, we have everything graded, we have the gravel parking
[13:35] and once the fair is finished, then we'll be coming back and paving, but there's already
[13:39] curb and gutter and storm drains and all that's in.
[13:43] And then after the fair is over, we'll be coming back and paving and then starting on the
[13:47] the farmer's market building, multipurpose building that is there, so we're excited
[13:54] about that.
[13:55] And as Commissioner Brown said, we've had the fair there for many years, so be safe
[14:02] in the heat and go participate in the fair and enjoy that.
[14:06] So I do want to say one thing and I know it's been all over social media in the news, but
[14:12] But I hope we do have some people that do not believe it or not are not on social media.
[14:20] And don't necessarily watch the news, but I do want to make sure that our citizens are
[14:26] aware if they have been at any event where there were baby goats, to please be mindful
[14:34] of that. There has been a rabies.
[14:39] Some of the the goats had rabies. So if you are around
[14:44] those or your children were around those, please contact the health department. We're trying
[14:50] to get the word out. I think most people are aware of it by now. The state is working
[14:56] with us and coordinating because it's not just in Ardell County.
[15:00] It's multiple counties in the state, so the state is working with us, but I'm actually talked to someone today and they had no idea. They didn't know about it, so I just want to make sure that people are aware and that they're just, they're, they're vigilant and they know and to do their, to do their research. And if they feel like that they have been in any of those locations and interacted with them to contact the health department.
[15:23] I won't add just to that from a very personal note, do not, if you believe you've had any exposure, do not hesitate, because I will tell you that I was 100% confirmed exposed to rabies and the shots do work.
[15:44] there's a reason we call Brad Batman there's reason I'm Batman do not if you're
[15:51] child if if you believe was exposed because I will tell you if you were
[15:57] exposed and you do nothing there's a certain ending if you leave there was
[16:06] exposure and you take action there's a controlled ending it will it will do
[16:14] I just wanted to acknowledge that the mayor of Doug Hendricks is here, and I wanted to publicly acknowledge that he's been really working hard since he's taken the mayor's job of building relationship with our other municipalities, the public and us, and it's a pleasure to work with the mayor because he realizes the vision of a rising tide will raise all boats.
[16:38] And I think sometimes our jobs go unnoticed and unappreciated for the most part, but I wanted to publicly say thank you because I know of lots of meetings he's had to try to work things out and resolve issues that were problems before he got there. And I want to say thank you for that.
[16:54] Okay, we did have a couple of session items this afternoon that we covered.
[17:00] The first one was Attorney Klonton, Court in Snorcon, General Sachee 143-31311-A3,
[17:06] Ardell County versus Miller, and I think we have a motion out of that.
[17:09] Mr. Chairman, I have a motion to formally approve a settlement of the Ardell County Superior Court
[17:14] matter, 24 CVS, 1238.
[17:17] Ardell County versus John Ardell Miller, Susan E. Miller, EL with the following terms.
[17:22] and additional sum of $25,000 to be paid to defendants provided if no agreement is reached between the defendants of the division of proceeds.
[17:31] The sum will be deposited with the Arville County Court of Superior Court.
[17:36] The Arville County will reduce the easement width from 30 feet to 20 feet.
[17:41] The county will receive the easement area one additional time prior to December 31st, 2026.
[17:47] and the county agrees to and has removed the remaining trash, tree stumps, and other debris from the easement area.
[17:54] And authorize the county manager, Ms. Maul, Milton, to execute the settlement agreement.
[18:00] Motion by commission or help, I'll be in favor of say aye.
[18:03] Aye.
[18:04] Any opposed?
[18:05] Sorry.
[18:05] Has this by do?
[18:06] We also had economic development in accordance with the North Carolina General Statute 143, 313, 118, 4, and I think we have a motion out of that as well.
[18:14] Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to call for a public hearing on October 6th, 2026, for the possible economic development incentives for Project Firework.
[18:25] Motion by Commissioner Straun, all in favor say aye.
[18:28] Aye.
[18:28] Any opposed, motion passes five o'clock.
[18:31] Anybody got anything else?
[18:33] Is that good?
[18:34] It brings us down to the end of the night's meeting.
[18:36] Do we have a motion to adjourn?
[18:37] Make a motion to adjourn.
[18:38] Motion by Commissioner Brown, all in favor say aye.
[18:41] Aye.
[18:42] Any opposed, we are adjourned.