[3:46] We're going to call our meeting to order at this time
[3:49] for our September the 8th meeting of the Jones County Board of Commissioners.
[3:52] Thank you for being here.
[3:54] At this time, I would ask Vice Chair Dunn if he'd do the invocation for us.
[3:59] Thanks, Frank. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you again, Lord, for blessing
[4:03] us to assemble here. We ask for your guidance, your
[4:07] wisdom in carrying out the business for this county.
[4:10] We ask that you bless this nation, Lord, and just keep us in your will and in your
[4:14] way. We ask all things in Jesus' name. Amen.
[4:17] Amen.
[4:18] If you'll stand for the pledge.
[4:22] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
[4:25] States of America, and to the republic for which it
[4:29] stands, one nation under God,
[4:33] indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[4:37] Thank you.
[4:39] Do we have any public comment?
[4:43] No public comment.
[4:44] Thank you again. At this time, I'd entertain a motion on the approval of
[4:48] the agenda.
[4:50] I move.
[4:51] Second.
[4:52] Have a motion and a second. Any discussion, any changes? Nothing.
[4:56] All in favor?
[4:58] Aye.
[4:59] Motion carries.
[5:01] Okay. Dennis Register, are you here?
[5:05] How you doing tonight?
[5:08] You're going to give us something on the forest lands.
[5:11] Appreciate you being here.
[5:13] Thank you for having me this
[5:14] evening.
[5:22] As you all know,
[5:27] I've
[5:39] been
[6:07] Some negotiations with Senator Berger and Esther
[6:11] Oliver from staff
[6:15] Was, in fact, forestry firefighters.
[6:17] The staff you have on station here at Jones County, they received, in
[6:20] addition to the 3%, another 10% raise,
[6:24] which impacts the county budget significantly.
[6:27] So we've been asked to come back to Henry County commissioners to
[6:32] ask if we can re-amend the budget to reflect the increase in the salaries
[6:36] for these individuals.
[6:39] What it's looking like for Jones County is just a
[6:42] $11,132 increase in the salary on the county
[6:46] side. State side would be
[6:48] $20,674.
[6:51] And so we're respectively asking to increase your budget
[6:55] by $11,000.
[6:59] Okay. So we need to entertain a motion on that.
[7:04] So moved.
[7:05] Second.
[7:06] Got a motion and a second. Is there any discussion as to why increase
[7:10] instead of decrease?
[7:13] We know why.
[7:15] Hearing none, all in favor?
[7:18] Aye.
[7:18] Motion carried. We appreciate what you guys do.
[7:20] Thank you, sir.
[7:21] Thank you very much.
[7:23] How many other
[7:25] things did they slip in on us, Kyle, besides this?
[7:31] Other one I've heard of, several.
[7:33] We had the 177,000, didn't we? That came in
[7:37] on us.
[7:37] Yeah.
[7:38] Yeah.
[7:38] This is going to be 80.
[7:39] Yeah.
[7:41] Okay. National
[7:43] Senior...
[7:48] Laura? How are you doing?
[7:50] I'm good. I hope you all are. Thank you all for having me.
[7:54] For anybody that doesn't know me, I'm Laura Andrews.
[7:56] I am the nutrition program administrator with Jones County Senior
[8:00] Services,
[8:01] here to talk about the National Senior Center Month.
[8:06] We have 170 senior centers in 96
[8:10] counties.
[8:12] Governor Josh Stein officially proclaimed on September
[8:16] 1st, 2026,
[8:19] that September will be National Senior Center
[8:23] Month,
[8:25] which is awesome.
[8:27] I am pleased to have the opportunity to recognize National Senior Center Month and
[8:31] to share why this month is so important to our community.
[8:36] National Senior Center Month is a time to recognize the important role senior
[8:40] centers play in helping other adults live healthier, more
[8:43] connected, and more meaningful lives.
[8:47] Senior centers are much more than buildings where
[8:50] programs and activities take place.
[8:52] They are places where relationships are built, where people find support,
[8:56] where new friendships begin, and where older adults can remain active and
[9:00] engaged in their communities.
[9:03] In many ways, senior centers are where happier,
[9:06] healthier birthdays happen.
[9:09] Every day, senior centers provide opportunities for connection and community.
[9:13] They offer programs that support physical and mental well-being, provide
[9:17] opportunities for learning and creativity, connect
[9:21] individuals with important benefits and resources, and
[9:25] help people remain engaged in an increasingly digital
[9:28] world.
[9:30] They also provide support for caregivers and families,
[9:33] and perhaps most importantly, they create a welcoming place where people know they
[9:37] belong.
[9:39] The impact of that work reaches far beyond the doors
[9:43] of a senior center. When older adults have opportunities to
[9:47] participate and connect, they are less likely to experience
[9:51] isolation. They are more likely to stay active, build
[9:54] relationships, maintain their independence, and have access to resources
[9:58] that can help them navigate life's challenges.
[10:02] And when older adults are supported, our entire community benefits.
[10:07] Families have stronger support systems, communities
[10:10] become more connected, people are able to remain active and
[10:14] involved, and older adults have more opportunities to
[10:17] continue contributing their experience, knowledge, talents,
[10:21] and time to the community they call home.
[10:24] Across the country, more than 10,000 senior centers are helping make healthier
[10:28] and more connected lives possible every day.
[10:31] National Senior Center Month gives us an opportunity to make that work
[10:35] visible and help our community better understand what senior centers
[10:39] really provide.
[10:40] It also is an opportunity to recognize that partnerships that make
[10:44] this work possible are volunteers, staff, community
[10:48] organizations, service providers, families, and local leaders.
[10:52] As commissioners, you have an important role in recognizing and supporting
[10:55] services that strengthen our community.
[10:58] Senior centers are one of those services.
[11:01] They help people age with dignity, purpose, independence, and
[11:05] connection. So this month, I hope we take a moment
[11:09] not only to celebrate our senior center and the people who walk through those
[11:13] doors, but also to recognize the value that older adults bring to
[11:17] our community every single day. National Senior Center Month is
[11:21] about more than celebrating a place.
[11:24] It is about celebrating people, relationships, independence, and the
[11:27] opportunity to continue living a healthy and meaningful life at
[11:31] every age. Senior centers help turn everyday support into
[11:35] healthier, more connected, and happier years.
[11:38] Thank you for allowing me to recognize National Senior Center Month
[11:42] today, and thank you for your continued support of our older
[11:46] adults in our community.
[11:49] Appreciate it.
[11:50] Thank you, guys.
[11:52] Thank you.
[11:54] Yeah, we all are part of that group.
[12:01] Okay, we have National Environmental Health Day. Can I have Ms.
[12:05] Yarborough, is that correct?
[12:06] Yes.
[12:08] How are you, Deborah?
[12:12] Perfect. So this is actually World Environmental Health Day.
[12:16] It's a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about the
[12:20] critical connection between human health and the environment.
[12:23] Just like the rest of public health, our main purpose is prevention of disease,
[12:27] and this year's theme of standing with science to protect
[12:32] communities
[12:34] does reflect our goals.
[12:40] So there are key messages that aren't very
[12:44] clear,
[12:45] but they are key.
[12:47] I'm sorry about that. But the-
[12:50] It's not.
[12:52] All right. Well, the key messages are environmental health practice is
[12:56] evidence-based public health action, and that
[13:00] science protects communities from environmental risks.
[13:03] And then, there it is, the environmental health professionals are that
[13:07] bridge between science and implementation.
[13:11] Most of our implementation does involve the laws and rules associated with the
[13:15] programs we enforce or are otherwise involved with, but the rules are
[13:19] almost always based on science.
[13:23] So
[13:24] our
[13:25] programs in North Carolina and Jones County in environmental health
[13:29] includes our food, lodging, and institutions.
[13:32] There's actually-- And as well as our on-site wastewater treatment and disposal,
[13:36] private drinking water wells, childcare and school
[13:39] sanitation, public swimming pools, childhood lead poisoning
[13:43] prevention, and tattoos. We do all of these in
[13:47] Jones County, except for tattoos. But we're ready.
[13:49] If anybody wants to have a tattoo parlor, they can come see me.
[13:57] Between the three environmental health staff members, we are authorized in all of
[14:00] the programs, but I am working on an additional swimming pool authorization, and we
[14:04] have an associate, which is different than a specialist, that's working toward
[14:08] authorizations, and I'll talk about that in just a moment.
[14:11] Of course, our busiest programs are on-site wastewater treatment and disposal and
[14:15] our retail food, childcare, and school inspections.
[14:17] But we do have public swimming pool in Maysville now that has to have
[14:21] a permit and at least annual inspections.
[14:24] And we also have had children with elevated lead
[14:28] levels that we go and try to find the sources of lead in that child's environment.
[14:34] As far as environmental health professionals in North Carolina and Jones
[14:38] County,
[14:39] environmental health professionals get authorized to work in specific programs in
[14:43] environmental health, and uphold the associated laws and
[14:47] rules. The health director actually has the obligation to enforce these
[14:51] environmental health laws and
[14:54] working with the North Carolina Environmental Health Section regional environmental
[14:58] health consultants,
[15:00] that authority is delegated to local staff after we've proven that we're
[15:03] knowledgeable in the different program areas.
[15:07] We have an environmental health specialist.
[15:10] We have to have at least a four-year degree with 30 hours of science
[15:14] before we can become an intern. Then we're an intern for one to four years
[15:18] before becoming a registered environmental health specialist.
[15:21] We take at least 15 hours of approved continuing education yearly,
[15:25] mostly on environmental health or public health topics.
[15:27] But we also have the-- Oh, and we have a part-time supervisor.
[15:31] That's me. We have a part-time employee who, unfortunately, Chris's
[15:35] last day was this past Friday, so that's an open position at this moment.
[15:39] But we do have a contractor who works full-time in Onslow County, Erin,
[15:43] and she comes here,
[15:45] when she's not there.
[15:47] So we've been able to keep up, but we
[15:51] fear we might get a little bit behind, but we have something in the works
[15:55] coming along. We have an associate.
[15:59] It's another track for people that
[16:03] aren't able to become a full REHS. They will be able
[16:07] to enforce environmental health programs, but they are restricted
[16:11] from doing everything an environmental health specialist can do.
[16:14] But for on-site wastewater, I do believe Michael Benfield will be able to do
[16:18] a lot of the applications that come in.
[16:21] So hopefully, once he's authorized, which hopefully will be at the end of
[16:25] this month, we've turned in all the paperwork, and we have a date for the regional
[16:28] environmental health-- Nope, the regional soil scientist to come work with him to
[16:32] make sure he is knowledgeable enough to be able to work independently.
[16:36] Then, again, I'm hoping a lot, but I hope that
[16:40] our backlog does not build up too much.
[16:46] And then, so we have our professionalism
[16:50] before we even get out there to do any of the work, and
[16:54] then we work hard to maintain our professionalism.
[16:56] Right now, that's coming from a few different
[16:59] ways
[17:01] to maintain our high level of professionalism. It does start with our staff.
[17:05] One member of our staff I didn't mention is our permits technician.
[17:08] I think we've all had to learn a lot about what this position does for
[17:11] environmental health. Jessica Kennedy is great,
[17:15] but there's a lot on her plate to learn a lot of the ins and outs
[17:19] of environmental health. And, we've all been working as a team
[17:23] so that she learns, and she's doing well,
[17:27] but that she learns and that our public get consistent, correct
[17:30] information on how they can develop their land or do other
[17:34] aspects involving the on-site wastewater program especially.
[17:40] But it is an ongoing project. Another aspect to
[17:44] promote professionalism in Jones County is our quality assurance.
[17:48] All of our environmental health programs, those seven programs that I talked about,
[17:52] we all have our individual quality assurance programs now.
[17:55] The state
[17:57] required us to develop these programs, I
[18:00] think partly because of Tort Claims Act, in order
[18:04] to defend counties if there's a tort
[18:07] claim. The state wanted to at least have some
[18:11] kind of report that shows the county is doing what they're supposed to be
[18:15] doing.
[18:17] And on-site wastewater definitely was ...
[18:19] a big program where they were having to pay out to different areas.
[18:24] So,
[18:26] it became quite expensive for the state to cover, so they wanted some oversight.
[18:30] We've developed plans before the beginning of this year, and then in
[18:34] January, we'll start turning in that annual report, and then annually ever
[18:38] after that. So, that gives us a time to stand back and look at
[18:42] what's going on in our program, and we have some oversight over each
[18:46] other's work to make sure that we're in agreement.
[18:50] In addition, the Retail Food Protection program has received grant funding from the
[18:53] FDA since '22 to improve our program and reduce
[18:58] the risk of foodborne illnesses in restaurants and other food establishments.
[19:01] That's the main goal of the Food and Drug Administration, but they've given us
[19:05] quite a bit of money to be able to help just with our less than
[19:09] 40 restaurants and other establishments that we
[19:12] regulate. And then lastly, the local health department
[19:16] goes through an accreditation program.
[19:19] We are going to be getting reaccredited this
[19:23] January or February. And
[19:27] before that happens, the state comes and does a four-year
[19:31] review of our program to see if we are in
[19:34] compliance with the regulations.
[19:36] So, that makes us look at our program too.
[19:40] So, it helps with that consistency and that
[19:42] professionalism.
[19:45] And for environmental health, not only do we have our programs, but we,
[19:49] because of our grants and our outside activities, we're actually able to
[19:53] provide some evidence to meet some requirements
[19:57] for other activities that aren't necessarily just associated with environmental
[20:01] health. So, I really do appreciate the opportunity to talk about
[20:04] professionalism. That's not something that we always get the time to talk about, so
[20:08] thank you very much.
[20:10] Do you have any questions?
[20:11] Gentlemen?
[20:13] No.
[20:13] We're good. All right. Thank you.
[20:15] Thank you.
[20:16] Thank you.
[20:17] Thank you, Ms. Overall.
[20:20] Now we have Mr. Meadows with our Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
[20:24] funding.
[20:26] Is that decrease?
[20:27] Increase.
[20:28] Okay, that's what I thought.
[20:30] Just by a few.
[20:32] Go ahead.
[20:32] Hope everybody's doing well tonight.
[20:34] Very.
[20:35] So, what we're going to ask is for you to consider a resolution supporting
[20:39] an increase in state funding allocated to counties for Juvenile Crime
[20:43] Prevention Council programs. JCPC allocations,
[20:47] they have not received a legislative increase since fiscal year
[20:51] 2020/21. But there's been significant increases in staffing,
[20:55] transportation, supplies, and other
[20:57] delivery costs.
[20:59] The resolution urges the North Carolina Department of Public Safety
[21:02] Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to provide an
[21:06] adequate and timely funding increase so counties can
[21:10] continue delivering essential prevention, intervention, and diversion services
[21:13] to juveniles and their families.
[21:17] You all have the resolution?
[21:20] Yes.
[21:20] Yeah. So, if we could get your support with that, we'd really
[21:23] appreciate it. JCPC, we do some really good things,
[21:27] and hopefully have your support to continue to move forward.
[21:31] And the next thing was board appointments.
[21:34] In an effort to fill remaining vacancies and strengthen the membership of JCPC,
[21:38] we're requesting the approval of the following appointments.
[21:41] We'd like to move Chris Henderson to the district attorney or designee position.
[21:45] This would open the commissioner appointee position currently held by Mr.
[21:48] Henderson,
[21:49] which should provide greater flexibility in filling the remaining vacancies.
[21:53] And then we'd also like to appoint Beverly Hines, she's a pillar of the community,
[21:56] as a nonprofit representative, replacing Doris Harris.
[22:00] Following these changes, the JCPC will have four remaining vacancies only: juvenile
[22:04] defense attorney, business community representative, and two commissioner
[22:07] appointees.
[22:10] So, with your permission, we'd like to make those changes.
[22:14] Okay. We need a motion on that.
[22:16] Yes. So moved.
[22:18] Second.
[22:19] So, a motion on the resolution here-
[22:20] Both. Yeah, both
[22:23] Yeah. So, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
[22:28] Hearing none, all in favor?
[22:30] Aye.
[22:31] Aye.
[22:31] Motion carries. Congratulations.
[22:33] All right. Thank you.
[22:34] Have a good night.
[22:35] Mm-hmm.
[22:36] You too.
[22:39] Now we have our soil and water conservation update with Blair King.
[22:42] How you doing, Blair?
[22:43] Good. How are y'all?
[22:44] Good.
[22:46] I wanted to give an update for soil and water for 2025 to
[22:50] 2026.
[22:57] Second one.
[23:02] We received six cover crop
[23:05] contracts,
[23:07] or applications, and we only received
[23:10] $47,491 in cost share funds from the
[23:14] state last year, which was not enough to cover the six
[23:17] applications. So, I requested and secured an additional
[23:21] $18,940 for those applications, so we
[23:25] were able to fund those applications for a total of
[23:28] $66,431.
[23:33] How'd it farm with your tractor?
[23:34] Skip
[23:35] that one.
[23:37] They didn't even know how that went.
[23:40] I also attained job approval authority for nutrient management, which
[23:43] expanded the district's ability to provide technical assistance to local
[23:47] farmers. And it also gives the district more local capacity to
[23:51] assist farmers with planning and conservation implementation without
[23:55] waiting on outside technical
[23:58] support.
[23:59] And a supervisor and myself also spot checked 10-year
[24:03] contracts to make sure that they were in compliance with the program
[24:07] rules.
[24:11] I secured funding through the North Carolina Foundation of Soil and Water
[24:14] Conservation for a no-till drill.
[24:17] With that grant, I hosted a demonstration day at the civic center for
[24:20] producers in the community. We have rented the drill
[24:24] out to three local producers since then, and I also
[24:28] used the drill for the Jones County Heritage Festival
[24:34] Education and community outreach.
[24:36] We had 127 students last year participate in the Soil and Water
[24:40] Conservation Education Contest.
[24:43] Myself, along with NRCS, participated in the high school
[24:47] career day event at Jones Senior, and I also continue my
[24:51] participation in the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation annual
[24:54] meeting and the conservation employees training activities, which I will
[24:58] also be attending again in October.
[25:05] District funding has increased over the past five years, this year being the most
[25:09] we've ever received, $64,957
[25:13] in cost share funds. Each year, I've continued to request additional
[25:17] funding when program needs and opportunities arise.
[25:20] Additional funding has allowed the district to put more money into conservation
[25:24] practices, expand services to local producers, obtain
[25:28] equipment, increase education outreach, and build stronger
[25:32] community partnerships.
[25:36] This slide has actually changed. We actually got a
[25:40] $1,000 sponsorship just the other day.
[25:42] So, I did get
[25:45] $17,200 in sponsorships for the Heritage
[25:49] Festival this year, which exceeded my goal of $10,000.
[25:53] Awesome. Mm-hmm.
[25:55] And moving forward, I will continue pursuing additional funding and grant
[25:59] opportunities, continue expanding services available to Jones County
[26:03] producers, continue investing in conservation
[26:06] education and community outreach, and I'll make every dollar
[26:10] allocated to the district work towards measurable results for Jones County.
[26:15] Awesome.
[26:15] Thank y'all.
[26:16] You're getting the money, girl. That's good.
[26:17] Did y'all hear that, guys?
[26:19] Thank you.
[26:19] What did you plant with the drill?
[26:21] Sunflowers that are dead.
[26:26] That's what I figured.
[26:26] It's been a rain too.
[26:28] Yeah. Thank y'all.
[26:29] Got to have a little help, had you?
[26:31] That's right.
[26:32] Thank you so much.
[26:33] Very good. Good job.
[26:34] Okay. Jones County water system update, Public Works
[26:38] Director Garrett Harvard. How you doing, Garrett?
[26:42] Good, good.
[26:42] How are you?
[26:42] All right.
[26:43] Good.
[26:44] Glad y'all could have me down here tonight.
[26:46] I'd like to start off by saying,
[26:48] in August, we sent two of our operators to the North Carolina Water
[26:52] Treatment Facility Operator Certification Board.
[26:55] It's a mouthful, but that's what they're called.
[26:58] Noah Mercer went and took his B well exam, passed it.
[27:02] Clayton Rich went and took his C distribution exam. He passed it.
[27:05] So we've gotten two more certified operators on staff.
[27:07] Oh, good.
[27:09] We know that we have had some concerns about our sampling of our water,
[27:13] so I wanted to come down tonight and just give a brief overview of what we do.
[27:16] So daily, we're out in the Jones County Water System.
[27:20] We're not only sampling at the eight wells that we have and the one water treatment
[27:24] plant. We're going out. We've got a distribution
[27:27] sampling plan, which includes various businesses,
[27:31] churches, and residences scattered all the way across Jones County.
[27:35] So every day, there's a sample taken somewhere in the
[27:39] system, and we're sampling chlorine.
[27:41] On a monthly basis, we're going out to these same sites.
[27:44] We're pulling bacteriological samples to make sure nothing is growing in the
[27:47] distribution system itself. At the same time, we're still sampling the wells
[27:51] and the treatment plant every single day.
[27:54] Then on a course of
[27:57] guidance from the state,
[27:59] we are sampling over three-year periods for inorganics
[28:03] and secondaries. These two items are what you see when people complain
[28:07] about staining on their fixtures. You see the iron stains.
[28:10] You see the manganese stains. You see the stains from the sodium.
[28:13] We do have some staining from sodium from the treatment process we do at our water
[28:17] treatment plant. Our treatment plant removes
[28:21] hardness from the raw water that we pull out of the wells.
[28:24] So after we've removed the hardness, it exchanges it for some free sodium that we
[28:28] use just like a standard household water softener does if you installed one at your
[28:32] home. So these levels are well within safe limits
[28:35] given to us by the state and by the EPA.
[28:40] We sample for nitrates. We do those annually.
[28:43] That is something, nitrates are very dangerous.
[28:45] We've never had an exceedance for a nitrate.
[28:48] We've never had an exceedance for a radionuclide, which are radioactive
[28:52] materials which can occur in groundwater.
[28:54] We've never had an exceedance for SOCs, which are your pesticides and manmade
[28:58] chemicals, agricultural products, things like that.
[29:01] And we also test for VOCs, which are your fuels, your
[29:05] chemical solvents, and things like that, of that nature.
[29:08] The state and the EPA has us on a very stringent testing
[29:12] schedule, and I'm proud to say that our Jones County water is safe according
[29:16] to national and state drinking water standards.
[29:21] Good job.
[29:22] That's it.
[29:23] Mm-hmm.
[29:24] If anybody's got any questions, I'll be glad to answer them.
[29:26] Keep the water flowing for us.
[29:28] Keep the water flowing.
[29:29] Keep us safe.
[29:30] Yes, sir. Will do.
[29:31] Thank you.
[29:32] Thank you. Good job.
[29:33] Yes, sir. Thank y'all.
[29:34] Thanks, Garrett.
[29:36] Awesome.
[29:36] You haven't seen any boats coming loose anywhere down the road, have you?
[29:40] Just in the past few minutes.
[29:45] So,
[29:46] we have Clement Jeffries, our tax administrator, who's going to give us some good
[29:50] news.
[29:52] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good evening, everyone.
[29:54] Good evening.
[29:55] I'm here tonight to present the resolution that we discussed at the last
[29:59] public meeting,
[30:01] which is a resolution revising Jones
[30:05] County's schedule for reappraisal of real
[30:07] property. The resolution
[30:12] authorizes the advancement of the 2030
[30:15] reappraisal by one year to January the 1st,
[30:19] 2029, in accordance with the provisions
[30:23] of North Carolina General Statute
[30:26] 105-286A3,
[30:32] and that after the 2029 reappraisal, the
[30:36] county will assume a schedule of reappraising
[30:40] real property every four years
[30:43] With the next reappraisal occurring in
[30:46] 2033, and every four years
[30:50] thereafter.
[30:53] The county manager,
[30:55] clerk,
[30:57] tax administrator, and county attorney are
[31:00] authorized to take all the actions necessary to accomplish
[31:05] the purposes of this resolution, including the
[31:09] forwarding of the resolution to the local government division
[31:13] of the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
[31:16] So, I present this resolution to you for you to vote on
[31:20] tonight. If you got any questions, I'd be glad to answer.
[31:23] Okay. Entertain a motion.
[31:26] So moved. Second.
[31:27] Have a motion and a second. Any more discussion, questions?
[31:32] Hearing none, all in favor?
[31:33] Aye.
[31:34] Aye.
[31:34] Motion carries.
[31:36] That's all I had tonight.
[31:37] Thank you.
[31:38] Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
[31:40] No problem.
[31:42] Jennifer King on administrative update. How are you doing, Ms.
[31:46] King?
[31:47] Good evening. I'm good. How are y'all?
[31:48] Good.
[31:49] Good.
[31:50] All right. Got a few updates for you guys tonight.
[31:52] The Urgent Repair Program, we've started accepting applications for that
[31:56] program on September the 1st.
[31:59] All applications and the requested materials that go with them
[32:03] are due back at the county manager's office September the 30th.
[32:06] We've already received back 11 applications already,
[32:10] this early into September.
[32:13] Applications can be picked up here from the county manager's office.
[32:16] They can be printed from the website under the Urgent Repair Program, or
[32:20] they can be picked up at DSS or the senior center.
[32:24] No applications will be accepted after the deadline, so 5:00 p.m.,
[32:28] September 30th.
[32:30] The DOT Pedestrian Safety Project, Jones County has sponsored and
[32:34] submitted this project request through North Carolina DOT's Pedestrian
[32:38] Safety Project for funding at both the Brock Mill Pond
[32:42] and the new accessible park location.
[32:45] So, this would be for additional pedestrian safety equipment at
[32:49] those two locations.
[32:52] We didn't actually request a specific thing.
[32:56] There was an option to have the DOT evaluate
[33:00] to see what would work best at those locations, so that's what we did.
[33:04] Project selection is expected to be in
[33:06] November. And then the Harold H. Bate
[33:10] funding request, we plan to put in a grant
[33:14] application to Harold H. Bate Foundation for a basketball
[33:18] court at the accessible park location.
[33:21] The awards for that will be after their November meeting.
[33:25] So hopefully, in November, we'll be having a basketball court
[33:29] grant approved so we can put that out there for our
[33:32] citizens. I did attend the Part F Selection
[33:35] Committee meeting in Raleigh on August the 28th.
[33:38] So we had put in for a half a million dollar grant for the
[33:41] accessible park, and unfortunately we were not funded.
[33:45] We were tied for last place.
[33:48] We were tied for partial funding for last place, so- How
[33:51] many applications were submitted?
[33:55] What? There was 40-something out of- Oh, yes ...
[33:58] so you're not tied for last overall No, yeah.
[34:01] We were tied for the last funding spot. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Smith.
[34:06] We were tied for the last position that would be funded.
[34:09] Oh, I was talking to the
[34:10] That wasn't very nice.
[34:11] Yeah, no. So we didn't come in last. They had 45 applications.
[34:15] We didn't come in last, though.
[34:16] He's used to using that scenario in his fishing tournaments.
[34:20] There you go. He's like, "Hold up."
[34:24] I wasn't last
[34:24] I was like, "What did I say?"
[34:26] But I did attend in person so that I could hear
[34:29] specific information on what they use, what criteria they're looking for,
[34:35] what maps they like the best even. So I think we've got
[34:38] information to move forward with the next round,
[34:42] to put it together an even more attractive application.
[34:45] And I think we can get funded. I
[34:47] shook some hands and met some really intelligent people while we were down there,
[34:51] and had a couple of folks that were really rooting for us.
[34:54] I had one lady come to me and say, "We know Jones County.
[34:57] There ain't nothing in Jones..." I said, "There is."
[35:01] "We want more."
[35:02] So we were encouraged to apply again for the next round, and
[35:06] we will do that.
[35:09] If we get funded for the next cycle, then this would be our third major parks
[35:13] grant that we've received through the Parks and Rec Trust Fund program
[35:17] in recent years for a total of $1.4 million through them.
[35:21] So we are very
[35:23] blessed and thankful for them.
[35:26] NCACC, a couple of you guys were at the
[35:30] NCACC conference where our consolidated team...
[35:33] I wanted to show y'all our award. We've talked about the Community
[35:37] Closet Civic Excellence in Innovation award.
[35:40] The state had 55 applications for that program.
[35:44] They chose 11, and Jones County was one of them.
[35:46] So, wanted to show that off and get a picture maybe after the meeting with you guys
[35:51] with that award. So that
[35:53] award represents over 800 hours of volunteer service
[35:57] throughout the last year for that Community Closet, and thousands upon
[36:01] thousands of pieces of clothing that have been donated.
[36:04] So, we're proud of that.
[36:06] Yeah.
[36:07] The health department will hold a rabies vaccine clinic on Saturday,
[36:11] October 3rd, from 9:00 to noon.
[36:14] We do have a
[36:17] link that we'll share again tonight for people to click and tell us how
[36:20] many doses that they're expecting to come.
[36:23] You don't have to have your name on that list in order to come get your vaccine,
[36:27] but it does give us an opportunity to make sure we've got enough doses, hopefully,
[36:31] for everybody that shows up. I think we've got about... What's the number, Inga?
[36:34] We got about 60 doses that have
[36:38] been requested so far for that rabies clinic.
[36:42] Now, as you guys know, we've had a couple of raccoons that have tested
[36:46] positive for rabies, and then there was another county in the state that had the
[36:50] rabid baby goats. So,
[36:52] definitely, if you have animals, make sure they're vaccinated.
[36:55] You said baby goats?
[36:56] Baby goats.
[36:57] Mm-hmm.
[36:58] Mm-hmm. I think there was two baby goats.
[37:00] No, never heard anything like that
[37:04] Okay. And then if anybody wants to call
[37:08] him and get more information about that, they can call the health department.
[37:12] Jones County DSS and Senior Services recently closed out our digital inclusion
[37:16] grant, and we have already begun offering technology classes for
[37:19] seniors at the senior center, and we will offer those classes
[37:23] monthly. And after the meeting, we offer one-on-one
[37:27] tech support for the seniors. Seniors have really seemed to like this.
[37:32] We've been able to help some folks block some spam callers.
[37:37] We had one senior who wanted to block all the calls, but-
[37:41] We have had some seniors that have really been...
[37:44] People get your number, and my mama had 25 phone calls in
[37:48] one day. I was like: "Let me see your phone." So now she looks at it and says, "I
[37:51] would've had 31 calls if you hadn't have fixed my phone." So, we
[37:55] do plan to work with them every month on a different topic.
[37:59] This past topic was
[38:01] cell phones. So,
[38:04] a special thank you to the Eastern Carolina Council of Governments for partnering
[38:07] with Jones County to provide that service through the BAND NC
[38:11] Digital Inclusion Program.
[38:13] Mm-hmm.
[38:14] And does anybody have any questions about any of that? I know it was a lot.
[38:18] No, I have just a quick comment about the senior center.
[38:22] I think it's
[38:24] has really been elevated
[38:27] in the activity and what I see out there from the time I joined
[38:31] three, four, five years ago till to current day.
[38:34] So, my hat's off to all those that play the role in that.
[38:39] And secondly, you said when you went to the party thing, you met a lot of smart
[38:42] people.
[38:44] I submit that they also met a smart person.
[38:48] Well, thank you.
[38:48] And lastly, I'd like to applaud Kyle for...
[38:51] I think it's important and smart to go to these grants
[38:55] sessions
[38:57] that's being administered and learn what the criteria is and
[39:01] what the judges are really looking for.
[39:03] I think that gives you a leg up in the process.
[39:06] So I applaud the county manager for even thinking along those lines.
[39:09] So job well done.
[39:10] Thank you. We knew it was going to be a long shot with that one,
[39:14] because Western North Carolina got 10 extra points, I think,
[39:19] in their application for obviously Helene and all the things
[39:23] that they've been through. So we knew it was going to be a long shot, but we went
[39:26] for it anyway.
[39:27] And we
[39:29] about topped our points out, so we were grateful for that. Ms.
[39:32] Ellen is doing a great job with the senior center.
[39:35] She's good leadership there. And I don't know if you all have seen the commercial.
[39:39] I'll send it to you in an email. We've got a commercial for the senior center-
[39:42] For the senior center
[39:43] ... Ms. Ellen did.
[39:44] Hell yeah. Wow.
[39:45] Yeah. So I'll make sure you guys get that in an email.
[39:48] It's on our website, too, under the senior center if y'all want to go look at that.
[39:51] Ms. Ellen did a really good job.
[39:54] Anything else?
[39:54] I saw it.
[39:55] Did you?
[39:55] It's nice, yeah.
[39:57] I just didn't see Harper out there dancing.
[40:01] Mr. Harper-
[40:01] I saw a lot of familiar faces, though
[40:03] ... Mr. Harper was the one trying to get all his calls cut off.
[40:09] All right. Anything else?
[40:11] We appreciate what you did. Thank you for getting-
[40:13] Thank you
[40:13] ... that crowd to go up to
[40:15] Greensboro or Durham. We were in Durham over there.
[40:18] Yeah, Durham.
[40:19] Yeah. Appreciate you getting them all up there. Good job. Thank you again.
[40:22] Mm-hmm.
[40:24] Okay, now we got approval of items on the consent agenda.
[40:28] I would ask the county manager to run over these real quick, and then we'll
[40:31] get a motion on that.
[40:33] Mr. Chairman, 7.1 is the approval of the meeting minutes from
[40:37] the August 3rd work session, August 17th meeting,
[40:41] July 28th meeting, the May 4th meeting, May 18th, June 1,
[40:45] June 15th, and June 13th, and closed session minutes
[40:49] there. 7.2, ordinance approving the annual
[40:53] festival parade and road closure. The Heritage Festival's coming up.
[40:57] I have more details noted in my manager comments report.
[41:01] But, we do need the board to approve an ordinance
[41:05] to shut down a portion of Highway 58 and Lakeview Drive during the
[41:08] morning of that parade. It's going to be on a Saturday, September 26th in
[41:12] September.
[41:13] 7.3 is a health services agreement for nurse aid
[41:17] towards inmates at our jail for another annual renewal.
[41:22] 7.4 is an annual lot lease renewal for a previously
[41:25] leased lot off of Oak Grove Road that the county owns.
[41:29] 7.5, budget amendments 10, 11, and 12.
[41:33] Motion to approve.
[41:35] Second.
[41:36] Have a motion and a second. Any more discussion?
[41:39] Hearing none, all in favor?
[41:41] Aye.
[41:41] Motion carries on the consent agenda. Thank you.
[41:44] This time we have our emergency service director, Ryan Mills.
[41:47] How are you doing tonight?
[41:49] I'm good. How are you?
[41:50] Good.
[41:51] All right. So first, for 8.1, I am before you tonight to try to
[41:55] expand the emergency management services in Jones County.
[41:59] If you remember back after Florence, we had these FEMA trailers that we sold, and
[42:03] that money had to be utilized for emergency management purposes.
[42:06] Currently, that available budget is $16,364.
[42:10] The first request out of that money is for a drone.
[42:13] Over the last six months, we've called Lenoir County and other mutual aid to help
[42:16] with search and rescue, and other incidents along the river and in the
[42:20] wooded areas, and we've utilized their drones four times.
[42:23] And I would like to see Emergency Management Jones County have that capability.
[42:27] So tonight, I'm requesting to expend
[42:29] $11,508.19 of that
[42:32] $16,000 for a drone.
[42:34] We'll entertain a motion on that.
[42:36] So moved. Second.
[42:37] Any discussion?
[42:39] Hearing none, all in favor?
[42:41] Aye.
[42:41] Motion carries.
[42:43] Using that same remainder of money, which the balance at that point would be
[42:47] $4,855.81,
[42:50] we received a medical UTV under a grant back in
[42:53] 2023. At that time, that grant paid for all of it except
[42:57] for the lighting and the emergency equipment that needed to go onto that
[43:00] UTV, such as lights and the wiring, and of course, the siren
[43:04] and all of that. So utilizing that funding, looking to expend
[43:08] $2,400.92 to upfit that UTV
[43:12] So moved.
[43:13] Second.
[43:13] I have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
[43:16] Hearing none, all in favor?
[43:18] Aye.
[43:18] Aye.
[43:18] Motion carries. Pretty good, huh?
[43:20] Thank you. Have a good night.
[43:21] Spend it when you get it.
[43:24] Is that drone thermal?
[43:27] Yes, sir.
[43:28] Can I borrow it?
[43:31] If you want to last a little bit, the vendor we're getting it from is Drone Dealer
[43:34] Recovery.
[43:35] There you go.
[43:36] There you go.
[43:36] Saw that.
[43:38] Okay. County manager's going to give us some information on the
[43:43] public works building.
[43:44] Mr. Chairman,
[43:46] after the second bid opening, if you recall, we revised
[43:50] this project a little bit to meet the county budget.
[43:53] The lowest responsive bid was submitted by Farrier and Sons
[43:57] in the amount of $1,077,000. Staff would
[44:01] recommend moving forward with Farrier and Sons for construction of the public works
[44:04] building at the price reflected in the bid tab, which is in your packet.
[44:09] Construction will be contingent
[44:12] upon, of course, approval of an owner contract or agreement,
[44:17] reviewed by the county attorney, and would ask the board to consider giving the
[44:20] authority to the county manager to execute that contract.
[44:24] Motion to approve.
[44:26] Second.
[44:27] Have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
[44:31] Hearing none, all in favor?
[44:33] Aye.
[44:33] Aye.
[44:33] All right, you got it. Manager comments.
[44:36] Garrus will be happy with that.
[44:38] We'll take the tip.
[44:42] Next scheduled Board of Commissioners work session meeting will be on Monday,
[44:46] September the 21st at 7:00. Next Board of Commissioners regular
[44:49] meeting will be on October the 5th at 7:00.
[44:52] Both of those are Monday meetings.
[44:54] Water Summit, hosted by Congressman Murphy and Rouzer, will be in Greenville this
[44:58] year on October the 21st. If you'd like to attend, please let me
[45:02] know. Brockmill Pond Recreational Enhancement Project is underway.
[45:06] You've likely seen construction and a sign posted across the street from
[45:10] the pond itself. But construction is in progress.
[45:13] The county-owned parking lot across the street is temporarily closed for safety
[45:17] purposes.
[45:18] NCDOT has performed a site visit on Hawthorne Lane and has provided a
[45:22] punch list of items that would need to be addressed in order for the road
[45:26] to become a state-maintained secondary road. We got that.
[45:30] They did the site visit on September 3rd. They sent me the report late last week.
[45:34] So working through that punch list.
[45:35] It does seem like it could be obtainable.
[45:38] I'll work with the residents on that road to provide the punch list to them,
[45:42] and explain the necessary steps for that road to be adopted.
[45:47] The Jones County Heritage Festival will be Friday, September the
[45:51] 25th. We'll have a movie night. Going to have "Toy Story
[45:55] 5" as the movie that night. So a good family movie if you
[45:59] like "Toy Story."
[46:01] Not going to give any spoilers, but I've seen it, and it really humbles you in
[46:05] terms of age when you watch that movie compared to the other "Toy
[46:09] Stories."
[46:12] Saturday, September 26th, is going to be filled with a parade, vendors, games, and
[46:16] more. Certainly would invite the Board of Commissioners to participate in that
[46:18] parade. Parade lineup this year is going to be at the government complex.
[46:22] NCACC will host a legislative goals conference in Wake County in
[46:26] November. It's our time to let our voices be heard
[46:30] with the NCACC as they advocate on behalf of the
[46:34] counties across the state of North Carolina.
[46:38] If you'd like to attend that, please let me know.
[46:40] That'll be the evening of the 19th running into the day of the 20th of November.
[46:44] Committee 100 annual meeting is going to be on,
[46:48] it says Tuesday here, sorry. Thursday, September the 17th.
[46:52] Committee 100 annual meeting Thursday, September the 17th, beginning at 6:00
[46:56] PM. I do know that a few of you have already RSVP'd, but if you haven't
[47:00] and you'd like to attend that,
[47:02] please let me know. You're certainly welcome and invited to attend that.
[47:06] I know they have on the agenda some businesses that are local to Jones County
[47:09] that'll showcase their team and what they do from a
[47:13] manufacturing standpoint and offering to the public.
[47:15] So, happy to hear from some resources that we actually have here locally
[47:19] that maybe we don't see and talk to all the time.
[47:23] Board of Transportation for North Carolina at its meeting on September the
[47:27] 3rd, did approve an honorary designation of US
[47:30] 258 from NC 41 to Tuckahoe Swamp in Jones
[47:34] County as Senator Cecil Hargett Highway.
[47:37] So, I'll be working with NCDOT on next
[47:41] steps. We'll have a dedication ceremony and more of an unveiling-type ceremony
[47:44] related to that signage along 258 near Hargett's
[47:47] Crossroads. Another thing I wanted to mention was,
[47:51] I've copied the chair and the vice chair on a few emails I've been sending, but
[47:55] certainly not all related to some CDBG applications the
[47:59] county submitted. We actually did these back in February.
[48:04] We're not sure that the applications were ranked properly, so we've really been
[48:08] going after this coronavirus and rehabilitation funding.
[48:12] We've gotten as far as involving some legislative offices with
[48:16] our poke at the Department of Commerce related to
[48:20] how these grant awards were nominated and ranked.
[48:24] Most recently, had a conversation with Congressman Murphy late last week.
[48:27] He's going to offer his aid towards this.
[48:30] But just to put in perspective what we asked for.
[48:32] One was NR funding, which is how we rehab homes through the
[48:36] CDBG program. Certainly, a very important resource for our constituents in
[48:40] the county. The other was
[48:42] radios. We budgeted for these radios, but if we can certainly get these
[48:45] $1.2 million worth of radios the county invested in paid for in grant
[48:49] funding, that would be substantial toward the county budget.
[48:51] So,
[48:52] I may be at a point to ask a lending hand with your voice
[48:56] as a local political figure as we get there.
[49:00] But we had a pretty spontaneous meeting with Senator Jackson and
[49:04] Senator Budd last week. I've talked to Senator Jackson about this.
[49:07] So he's working and offering his help towards this too,
[49:11] but we're in this process probably four or five months now.
[49:15] We're
[49:16] But we're starting to move the needle a little bit in terms of getting some
[49:20] answers. So we beat the bush a little bit, and it's not just us.
[49:23] This is more of a regional approach.
[49:25] There's some other counties that have questions related to how their applications
[49:28] were ranked as well, and just trying to pull those resources back to their
[49:32] counties. So keep you in the loop on that, but wanted to let you know that we are
[49:36] working towards that. I think that's all I
[49:40] have, Mr. Chairman.
[49:42] Good.
[49:43] County attorney.
[49:45] Chairman, well, you were there. I will tell the rest of the board we had a good
[49:49] planning board meeting before tonight's meeting.
[49:52] I think as we see continued growth in the area, Kyle
[49:56] tasked that board with
[49:58] reviewing the subdivision ordinance and continuing to give feedback on how we
[50:02] might improve that ordinance and land regulation
[50:06] in general moving forward. So there's some positive, good feedback and
[50:10] engagement tonight.
[50:12] And then just wanted to add, Mr. Chairman, I attended the
[50:16] plaque dedication for the Revolutionary War
[50:20] history plaques in front of the courthouse the other day.
[50:22] I thought that was very well done by all involved.
[50:25] It was a very hot day, and yet there was a good
[50:29] crowd, so testament to all involved there.
[50:32] Thank you.
[50:33] Thank you. Yes, sir.
[50:35] I did want to introduce the board to Ms.
[50:37] Jessica Taylor as the county's new finance officer.
[50:39] I was going to do it, but I'll let you go ahead and do it. You go ahead.
[50:42] So welcome, Jessica, to the
[50:44] team as the finance officer.
[50:47] Was it Section 82, Subsection 4-282?
[50:50] What was the total balance on that?
[50:53] I can talk about that.
[50:53] Okay, I thought you'd have it.
[50:57] Commissioner comments. Vice Chair Dunn.
[50:59] I'd just like to comment on the
[51:02] new shell building.
[51:05] Passed by that the other day. Actually, I was coming into Trenton, and
[51:08] I said to myself, "Trenton's looking good."
[51:13] So if you guys haven't looked at it, even though it may be
[51:17] situated
[51:18] a little off-center, whatever, it's a good-looking building,
[51:22] and I can't wait to get somebody
[51:26] leasing it or whatever we're going to do with it. That's all.
[51:30] Thank you.
[51:31] I don't have anything.
[51:32] Commissioner Haddock, Commissioner Halford.
[51:33] No comment.
[51:35] Commissioner Gray.
[51:36] No, that's right.
[51:38] Chairman. Okay, public comment.
[51:41] These guys are ready tonight.
[51:46] No public comment, Mr. Chairman.
[51:48] Okay, hearing none, we'll entertain a motion now, then.
[51:51] Motion to adjourn.
[51:52] All in favor?
[51:53] Aye.
[51:54] Thank you all for coming. Appreciate it.
[51:56] Yes, sir.
[52:02] Thank you