[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[4:18] All the Yonzo County Board of Commissioners meeting for Monday, August 18, 2025, to order
[4:23] at this time. We'll first ask our county attorney, Mr. Brett DeSams, to provide the invocation.
[4:30] Mr. DeSams.
[4:31] Thank you, Chairman. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, be with the commissioners in their
[4:37] deliberations and bless them with wisdom and guidance as they address the items on
[4:42] tonight's agenda. We pray for our military and first responders who continue to serve
[4:47] our country with tremendous courage, commitment, and sacrifice. May all we do this day bring you honor
[4:54] and glory. Amen. Now with deep respect and reverence for the faiths, beliefs, and traditions of those
[5:01] gathered here tonight, join me in a moment of silence.
[5:12] Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
[5:26] with liberty and justice for all.
[5:33] Thank you this time.
[5:34] I'd like to recognize the elected officials that are with us tonight.
[5:38] We'll start first with the North Carolina representative,
[5:41] Mr. Wyatt Gable is here this evening,
[5:44] Sheriff Chris Thomas,
[5:46] Town Alderman, Mr. Rick Grant from North Dobson Beach,
[5:50] Town Council from Holly Ridge,
[5:52] Mr. Walter Zabicki,
[5:53] and the mayor of Holly Ridge, Mr. Pete Parnin.
[5:56] We appreciate you being here tonight.
[5:58] With that being said, we ask all in attendance please set your cell phones to silent or vibrate mode at this time.
[6:06] And we'll start with the first item on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda.
[6:12] But before that, we need a motion to amend the agenda to remove item 4A, P-R-E-Z, 20-25, 0-0-0-1-6.
[6:22] So moved.
[6:23] Second.
[6:24] So we have a motion and a second.
[6:26] Any discussion?
[6:28] Hearing none, that as motion passes, we'll need to also need a motion to amend the consent
[6:34] agenda to remove item 2B, Mr. Beast.
[6:37] So we have a motion and a second.
[6:39] Any discussion?
[6:41] Hearing none, we now need a motion to adopt the agenda as amended.
[6:46] We have a motion and a second.
[6:48] Any discussion?
[6:50] Hearing none, motion carries.
[6:52] Now with the approval of items on the consent agenda any board members has
[6:56] questions or concerns like one of those items removed now is the time to make
[7:01] that request if not we need a motion to approve agenda motion and a second any
[7:07] discussion none all in favor signify by saying aye those opposed hearing none
[7:13] motion carries so we are now mr. Smitherman I believe to the public
[7:21] comments and right now the let everyone know that the board offers the public
[7:25] one opportunity to speak during the meeting comments should be limited to
[7:29] no more than five minutes and maybe on any issue upon which the board of
[7:32] commissioners has control in accordance with the board's adopted rules of
[7:36] procedure commissioners shall reserve responses if any for the
[7:40] commissioner comment period on the agenda mr. Smitherman yes sir we
[7:45] have two people that have spoke signed up to speak this evening the first
[7:48] First one is Ari Rakowitz.
[8:02] Again, commissioners, I hope you will demonstrate
[8:04] more understanding and respect in your responses this time.
[8:08] Conducting this meeting is a political act
[8:10] as is speaking during it or attending it.
[8:12] The board is violating its own policies
[8:14] in addition to the law and our rights
[8:16] by ignoring the establishment clause.
[8:18] Again, when I reference people, places, things, or ideas,
[8:21] I provide examples from interconnected issues
[8:23] to broaden your perspective
[8:24] so that you can better support members of your community
[8:27] with whom you disagree or about whom you care least.
[8:29] As I mentioned last time, the purpose of studying history is to avoid repeating mistakes.
[8:34] We did not need a repeat of the Holocaust, but we are experiencing one.
[8:37] And since marginalizing can compound, people of color who are also members of more than
[8:43] one marginalized group are still disproportionately affected by silence and persecution, not
[8:48] directly tied to their skin color.
[8:50] Make choices with unity, sustainability, kindness, inclusion, equity, empathy, diversity,
[8:54] critical thinking, and compulsion in mind.
[8:56] Saturday night was the most recent general meeting for the local NAACP chapter.
[9:01] The next meeting is September 20th at 6 p.m. For details or to donate, visit onslaughtNAACP.org.
[9:07] Next time I will read to you from the PFLAG material I introduced at the Board of Education meeting
[9:11] once I finish reading the Freedom from Religion Foundation letter.
[9:20] You can find the resources I am reading from PFLAG at PFLAG.com
[9:25] And you do have local allies who lead with love instead of fear religious hypocrisy and bullying a chant
[9:31] I learned here in Jacksonville straight gay black white one struggle one fight
[9:35] Find some like-minded allies at the second annual like-minded alliance community block party also September 20th
[9:42] Join us for family fun at the downtown Riverwalk from 2 to 6 p.m
[9:46] For more details or to donate email like-minded alliance comm at G
[9:51] like-mindedallianceatgmail.com.
[9:55] I have four questions left instead of my original six
[9:57] and residents of Anzala County deserve answers to all eight.
[10:01] Of the four questions I asked last time,
[10:03] only one was answered appropriately
[10:04] by a commissioner during the meeting.
[10:06] Thank you.
[10:07] And the results of the BOE budget meeting
[10:09] demonstrate that the Board of Commissioners
[10:11] is still contributing to voter suppression
[10:13] through underfunding and understaffing
[10:15] a dedicated Board of Elections staff
[10:16] in addition to violating our First Amendment rights.
[10:19] I was disappointed to arrive at the established location
[10:21] for the Board of Elections Workshop
[10:23] to learn that the meeting had been canceled
[10:24] or at least relocated.
[10:26] I'm still confused because they were in closed session
[10:29] by the time I got there.
[10:30] By the time I biked up to the follow-up meeting
[10:33] at the BOE office, they were in closed session
[10:35] and I had to wait until the meeting concluded,
[10:38] which I didn't because I was trying
[10:40] to get here in time tonight.
[10:43] I understand the BOE's choice to begin
[10:46] again, once the board member from whom I learned that the BOE meeting was rescheduled, was
[10:53] waiting here with me, I learned it from her. Why was the workshop canceled? How has the
[10:58] Board of Commissioners improved support since the initial budget passed? I was also disappointed
[11:06] to learn none of the municipalities are willing to fund early voting sites within
[11:11] their precincts, so the only early voting site at the Board of Election is at the
[11:15] Board of Elections in Georgetown,
[11:17] sharing that tiny parking lot with animal control,
[11:19] and that once again, only representative options
[11:22] and not issues have been entrusted to the people for a vote.
[11:25] I have provided additional contests regarding the concerns
[11:29] about voting and this historic area before
[11:31] and we'll return to that.
[11:33] Thankfully all municipalities approved absentee
[11:35] by mail voting and all voters are eligible
[11:38] request your ballot as early as now
[11:41] to be mailed October 3rd and returned by mail
[11:43] or hand deliver it to the BOE any time during early voting.
[11:47] The deadline to request an absentee ballot
[11:49] is the second Tuesday before the election day,
[11:52] and it must be received by the BOE by 7.30 on election day,
[11:56] but you cannot hand deliver it then.
[11:59] If only we had 24-hour ballot drop boxes
[12:02] strategically placed throughout the county
[12:03] or enough staff and resources
[12:05] to perform the existing duties of the BOE.
[12:08] Voters can hope for information on your voting options.
[12:11] visit ncsbe.gov slash voting to what extent have long-term or short-term
[12:16] projects proposed by the Georgetown Renaissance Association been funded
[12:21] have the county or city provided support to address poor lighting access to
[12:26] electric outlets and maintenance of the cemetery at Georgetown Park these are
[12:30] the short-term things I can't remember all of the long-term and it's not
[12:35] in my script remember y'all should be working together on this I may
[12:39] I will skip for time.
[12:44] The infrastructure issues will require more resources to address than ending the unconstitutional
[12:49] religious invocation, but it is your responsibility as the county commission to protect and serve
[12:53] all of the people of Anso County.
[12:55] Please do better.
[12:58] Thank you.
[12:59] Mr. Midland.
[13:00] Yes, sir.
[13:01] Mr. Elliott Jarman is next.
[13:11] Good evening, commissioners.
[13:13] Public speaking is not really my strong point.
[13:15] I don't really enjoy it.
[13:16] But here I am.
[13:18] My name is Elliott Jarman, and I come before you tonight, not just as a resident of Enzo
[13:22] County, but as a voice for the many concerned citizens who feel overlooked, frustrated, and
[13:27] frankly disappointed.
[13:29] Over the past few months, we've seen the county allocate substantial funding, millions
[13:34] of dollars for the development of a new county fire department.
[13:37] And while public safety is a priority, we all share.
[13:40] I'm here to say that the people of Enzo County are deeply upset about what was
[13:44] left out of that funding plan.
[13:45] our volunteer fire departments. The very departments that have served our
[13:50] communities for decades, long before this initiative ever existed. Volunteer
[13:54] departments have been here through hurricanes, wildfires, wrecks, and
[13:59] structure fires without fanfare and without the full support they deserve.
[14:03] Yet they receive no capital improvement funding in this plan, not for trucks,
[14:07] not for stations, not even for equipment updates. That's not just an
[14:11] oversight, it's a statement. A statement that the boots on the ground
[14:15] heroes who've shown up time and time again are now being sidelined. This is not just about
[14:20] dollars, it's about fairness and it's about respect.
[14:24] The community is watching. I've spoken to residents, fire chiefs, volunteers and taxpayers
[14:29] and the message is clear. We want to see our long-standing departments treated as partners
[14:34] not as afterthoughts. The men and women who volunteer their time to protect our families
[14:39] deserve the same level of investment as a new department being built from the
[14:43] ground up. We are not against progress. We are not against
[14:47] improving fire protection, but we are against imbalance. We are
[14:51] against funneling resources into one department while ignoring
[14:54] the vital needs of others who already serve with pride, skill,
[14:57] and honor. So tonight I ask
[15:00] I ask you, on behalf of the people of this county, to take a hard look at your budget priorities.
[15:04] Can you find room to fund capital improvements for the volunteer departments? Can you make
[15:08] this right before we push forward with a new model that risks eroding community trust?
[15:14] Let's not forget, volunteer fire departments are not just filling the gap. They are the
[15:18] foundation of fire protection in many parts of this county. They need your support, not
[15:23] just in words, but in your budget. Thank you for your time, and I sincerely hope
[15:27] you will listen to the public voices growing louder every day and God bless
[15:31] each and every one of you. Mr. Jarman,
[15:37] we have no further speakers signed up, sir.
[15:39] All right, we'll go ahead and start with item four public hearings and Mr. Carter
[15:46] Metcalfe, are you the first one here for this? That's been put off. Never mind, we
[15:50] took that one off. Yeah, so, well, there you go. We are moving on to the
[15:56] Mr. Kevin Patterson with the quarterly financial report. That's
[16:03] the truth.
[16:05] All right. With this, I will try to be brief on this. I do plan on presenting at
[16:12] the October meeting. We will have a draft financial statement for the audit
[16:16] report for you by that presentation, as well as we will have, of course,
[16:21] have final numbers for the year-end. We are still going through the close-out now.
[16:26] With this, of course, breaking down the revenues for year, we have collected $143 million in
[16:36] property taxes. That is an excess of the sales tax. That has been a continual increase year
[16:44] over year. Sales taxes at June 30th are actually through July 31st. We have collected 67 million.
[16:51] That does include our Medicaid hold harmless.
[16:55] We do expect to receive approximately another $13 million, which will put us right on target.
[17:03] Our Intergovernmental Revenues are under budget right now, but then again those are always
[17:08] on estimates.
[17:08] A number of our Intergovernmental Revenues depend entirely on our reimbursements and
[17:13] our spend rates and they are traditionally under, our actual revenues are traditionally
[17:19] under where we spend because they are based on estimates primarily through DHHS.
[17:27] But so far we are on, again, looking on our revenue budgets, our own target for it.
[17:36] Property tax collections are staying on approximate trend.
[17:41] Our actual collections for the last three years are on top of each other.
[17:44] we have seen an increase over year-over-year of about $4 million for the last two years.
[17:50] That is just the natural growth in the property tax base.
[17:57] Sales taxes also received. Fortunately, we have gone off and I was worried that we would
[18:04] have a softening in our sales tax. We have not seen that right now. Like I said,
[18:08] for the month of May, we did receive $6.1 million, which is $200,000 over last year.
[18:15] If you compare this number to the previous revenue, this $63 million includes the sales taxes that 6.1 is the amount that we actually received in July, which was not in the report.
[18:31] We received it after the report was generated, but the Medicaid hold harmless was in the previous number.
[18:38] it is not listed in here. So that's the discrepancy between the $63 million on this side and
[18:44] the $67 million on the previous side. When you count that in plus the additional collection
[18:50] that we expect to receive next month, that will be approximately, that should be at
[18:57] the $81 million mark within one and a half percent of that number.
[19:06] And again, sales
[19:07] Sales tax is not quite as clean but our sales tax collections are continuing and fortunately
[19:13] we have gotten back where we are slightly above previous years but of course that is
[19:17] subject to the overall economy.
[19:22] General fund expenditures by function we can go over any detail you want but our total
[19:28] expenditures are traveling are well under budget and with this we do have some other items
[19:37] that we are going to be putting in. We are going to be now that we have all of our payables
[19:41] in for the end of the year, we are going to be looking to transfer any lapse health insurance
[19:47] premiums into our health reserve. So those calculations have not been met, but we are
[19:54] significantly under budget this year in the 10 fund. And again, also just breaking
[20:01] out the expenditures. There's no significant change in the general function of the expenditures
[20:08] that we have and the pattern of expenses.
[20:13] And again, also just breaking out the numbers
[20:16] that we have with the expenditure by type going up, of course, by salaries, operations
[20:23] and capital.
[20:29] Now, in solid waste revenues, I did go off and notice just before I got
[20:33] here that the total numbers are wrong. The total revenue for June 30th, 25 is
[20:39] 9,544,000, and the total revenue for 24 is $9.3 million. So, but we are on
[20:47] obviously above target for those revenue numbers. The expenditures we do show a
[20:55] significant increase in operations, operational cost on this report over
[21:00] expenditures but that is because in this report the landfill closure post closure
[21:07] and depreciation were keyed into those numbers those are non-budgetary items
[21:12] it's a different level of accounting so we are still actually under budget in
[21:17] the expenditures in the landfill as of last Thursday it's Thursday of
[21:21] approximately six hundred thirty eight thousand dollars so we are there but
[21:26] But the increase in operating from just under $4.8 million to $7.9 million with the restatement
[21:34] in our landfill post-closure costs, we went from $1 million of closure, post-closure cost
[21:41] accruals to $3.3 million of accruals in the current year, or in 2025.
[21:53] And, of course, airport revenues are running consistent year-over-year.
[22:00] And the restricted intergovernmental, those are some of the federal fees that we're receiving.
[22:05] That will be just a timing difference on when those reimbursements are made.
[22:10] And expenditures are, of course, running as expected.
[22:17] For the grants as the updates, we do have the resiliency grant, which we have applied
[22:24] for in coordination with Camp Lejeune as well as the city of Jacksonville.
[22:31] We should have the final determination in September, but I have done the follow-up internal
[22:38] control meeting with the agency, and we should have a – we're expecting a favorable
[22:45] determination to come with this report, and that could be a grant in excess of
[22:52] million dollars when that comes in and that we will be using consultants for the majority
[22:59] of those services.
[23:02] Also just as an additional note, we have made an offer for grant manager position and it
[23:10] has been accepted so the tentative start date for our next grant manager is September
[23:15] 2nd.
[23:18] Are there any questions?
[23:28] I don't know if it was two minutes, but I'll try it.
[23:31] Thank you, Mr. Patterson.
[23:33] So now we move to item six, the quarterly commissioners committee reports.
[23:39] Does anyone want to volunteer to share?
[23:42] If you've had any.
[23:42] Well, I'm sure I'd go first.
[23:45] So I just got on the hospital board.
[23:47] So I've only been to one meeting,
[23:48] but I don't know if it was two minutes.
[23:48] I think there are some exciting things coming down the pipe.
[23:52] So I can't say anything, unfortunately,
[23:55] but I think we've got some good things to hospitals
[23:58] making some good decisions.
[24:00] I'm excited to be a part of it.
[24:02] Anyone else?
[24:04] Yes, sir.
[24:05] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[24:06] I'd like to speak on Ombosa real quick.
[24:10] Ombosa has a project to build a force main from Swansborough
[24:15] to Piney Green. Down Highway 24, it'll serve the needs of the Swansborough
[24:22] community in the future. That project is approximately 30 to 40 percent completed.
[24:30] Unwasa is in the process of expanding the Pluris plant and the North Topso Beach
[24:37] plant from one and a half million gallons a day to three million gallons a
[24:43] That is a sewer plant that will serve the Holly Ridge and Sneed Fairy areas in the future.
[24:51] There's also, we're working on a connection between Holly Ridge and Summer House that
[24:56] will be able to direct sewer flow between those two locations so that we can use whatever
[25:04] treatment options are available.
[25:07] We're working on two new wells in the Wachovia track doubt in Camp Davis Industrial Park,
[25:14] and we're working to expand water treatment at our Dixon water treatment plant from four
[25:22] to six million gallons a day.
[25:24] We're also installing what's called AMI meters.
[25:28] Those are meters that are connected by cellular service to our main office so that
[25:36] We don't have to drive trucks around all over the county
[25:39] in order to read your meters.
[25:45] On Wasa has over 60,000 water customers now,
[25:50] so water meters out there,
[25:51] and we've replaced about 1,000 of those meters
[25:54] with AMI meters, so that is a multi-year project
[25:59] that we'll be working on for some time in the future.
[26:02] And finally, on Wasa Board of Directors
[26:05] has asked that in our towns and this counts this committee commissioners approve
[26:15] a resolution that would allow you to appoint non-elected officials to the
[26:21] UNWASA Board of Directors. I've said in several town meetings the UNWASA
[26:29] Board of Directors is made up of all elected officials at this time and six
[26:34] six of our elected officials out of eight are currently up for re-election or not running
[26:41] for re-election.
[26:43] So the unwassable board has the potential of losing 75% of our board members in one year.
[26:50] And that is not a good way to run a multi-million-dollar corporation, which unwassable currently
[26:56] is with over $63 million budget.
[26:59] it and so I'm asking this you commissioners and I'm asking the towns and
[27:07] Honza County Holly Ridge and Swanborough have already approved our
[27:11] resolution but we need to make this change and get our board of directors on
[27:17] three-year rotating schedules so that we don't have the potential in the
[27:22] future of losing 75% of our board all at one time so that's what's happening
[27:27] it on Worcester as chairman. Anyone else?
[27:36] This is a report. I had a juvenile
[27:39] crime prevention committee meeting that I was not able to attend so we'll have
[27:44] more information for you at the next committee updates. I have been working
[27:48] with the topsoil and shoreline protection that I've heard a lot about
[27:52] what's going on with legislation and our coastlines in particular oyster
[27:57] leases and the impact that that's having and in particular Anzol and
[28:00] County. The oyster leases are growing rapidly, where the surrounding counties
[28:06] have moratoriums on those oyster leases, so everyone's coming to Pender and
[28:10] Oslo County waters. I know our beach inlet and sound committee, we got by
[28:18] September, I think, it's coming up that time frame for that one. A lot of
[28:23] beach renursment going on there, North Topso Beach, so I'll keep you
[28:26] appraised of what's going on there as they're trying to continue to keep
[28:30] our coastline looking great and a great tourist destination for everyone in
[28:35] Oslo County. So with that being said we'll go to our manager for his comments.
[28:42] Thank you Mr. Chairman. Speaking of our beach and our beaches and our island, we
[28:50] have noticed that we'll be closing beach access number two and four effective
[28:55] immediately in anticipation of the storm, high surf warnings, we encourage people to be very
[29:02] careful and avoid those dangerous currents.
[29:08] We are, we, we see above you we had the in God,
[29:12] we trust signs installed both here and on the exterior of the courthouse. Those were
[29:20] installed last week, I believe.
[29:23] And we are also working to, and the board's aware of this,
[29:26] but for the public's consumption,
[29:28] we are working to build a couple of EMS stations.
[29:31] We are behind the curve in bringing our EMS facilities
[29:36] to where they need to be and are beginning
[29:39] with two new stations, most likely just
[29:41] on the outskirts of Jacksonville
[29:43] and also one in the Stump Sound area.
[29:45] And finally, the Fire Service Master Plan Steering Committee had its second meeting today and is interviewing consulting firms that will begin to...
[30:00] Work on that project with extended public engagement effort, which will include going into all of
[30:08] our fire departments, volunteer, paid, federal DOD, city, towns, as well as public forums where
[30:16] the public can express their opinions on the future of how we manage fire service globally
[30:23] as a single service in Onsland County instead of different services based upon jurisdiction.
[30:28] And that's all I have, Mr. Chairman.
[30:31] All right.
[30:32] Mr. Comments, we'll go back around the circuit.
[30:35] Anyone have anything they'd like to share?
[30:38] You want me to start again?
[30:40] If you want to.
[30:41] We can go to Tony.
[30:42] I don't matter. Go ahead.
[30:43] All right.
[30:44] Wait, please.
[30:47] You know, I got to say, I've always been one that I like to hear differing opinions
[30:53] and sit down and talk to people who don't agree with exactly the way that I feel.
[30:59] and believe and I'm willing to sit down and talk to anybody who wants to
[31:06] discuss issues whether we agree or not but we've been lectured for months and
[31:13] months about issues here in this building and because I like to talk
[31:22] talk one-on-one with people who may agree or not with me. I actually had a one-on-one
[31:31] meeting with Ms. Ari who has now stormed out of the room again for the third time
[31:37] and when I listened to her rant and rave at me which was basically the same
[31:44] rant that she's done with us every month for the last several months and I
[31:51] I tried to express some of my opinions.
[31:54] She got up and stormed out of the room,
[31:57] just like she has done here today.
[32:00] Again, you can't see that on the camera, I don't suppose,
[32:03] because she's going out the back door.
[32:06] But I know that I personally have tried
[32:11] to have a conversation with her
[32:13] and tried to relay to her what my opinions are
[32:17] on some of the issues that she has.
[32:19] Today she brought in an issue to the board and said that we weren't funding the Board
[32:25] of Elections.
[32:28] I talked to her about that personally, one-on-one, and we have funded the Board of Elections
[32:37] every year that I know of at almost exactly the amount that they asked for.
[32:43] We don't give away money to people that don't need it, and if they don't ask for it,
[32:49] we don't give it to them. And in election years, when we've had shortages in the Board
[32:56] of Elections, we have increased their budget so they had enough money to do what they need
[33:03] to do. I certainly believe that we fund the Board of Elections adequately and we will
[33:09] continue to do that. As far as election rules, those are made by the General Assembly
[33:16] and we don't have any control over whether we have drop boxes or any other kind of scam
[33:23] for our elections. That is up to the legislature. And she also mentioned the Georgetown Park,
[33:30] which is not even a county park. It belongs to the city of Jacksonville and has nothing
[33:35] to do with these county commissioners. So I
[33:41] appreciate her passion for her issues.
[33:46] but she doesn't understand and she doesn't wait around long enough and she
[33:53] won't listen when somebody tries to explain to her that there are other
[33:58] opinions beside hers.
[34:01] And Mr. Jarman, I appreciate you coming tonight. I heard
[34:06] some misinformation there. There are only two volunteer fire departments that
[34:12] aren't getting funding for their capital needs and they're not getting funding for
[34:17] the capital needs because they don't want to agree to a contract with Anzlo
[34:22] County and the commissioners have worked for a year to get contracts with all
[34:31] of our volunteer fire departments to make sure that our taxpayers are
[34:36] protected when these volunteer fire departments take taxpayer money, which
[34:44] this year will be over ten million dollars that we'll fund our volunteer
[34:49] fire departments with. And all those two fire departments have to do is agree to
[34:55] a very simple contract and they can get money for their capital expenses just
[34:59] like the other 12, 11, 12 volunteer fire departments are getting funded for their capital expenses.
[35:09] So I appreciate your concern, but I'm happy to talk to you about the facts if you're interested.
[35:19] That's all I have to say, Mr. Chairman.
[35:21] Thank you.
[35:22] Thank you, Mr. Bennett.
[35:24] Mr. McCann.
[35:25] Good.
[35:26] Mr. Davis.
[35:27] too
[35:31] much to say tonight thank you Wyatt for being here today thank you for what
[35:36] you've done in Raleigh Forest I know you've worked hard I think your
[35:40] reputation up there has preceded your youth and good job man just thank you
[35:45] for what you're doing Carter always man workshop today thank you you're so I
[35:53] think what it's you have a job to do like any of us but you were so well
[35:58] prepared for the questions today. That's the impressive part, is you thought ahead, not
[36:02] just of the topic, but what might be asked of you. And I really appreciate that. It shows
[36:07] us that you value our time. So thank you for that.
[36:13] Mr. Jarman, I think it will be good
[36:16] for you and Mr. Bennett to discuss things, because I don't think Mr. Bennett knows
[36:21] everything either. So perhaps you can share with him some of the other issues that
[36:28] that I'm at least I'm aware of, that what you have maybe a little more factual than what
[36:34] he realizes. But I do appreciate you coming today. And again, it's my hope that we will
[36:40] work with Piney. I know at least Piney Green wants to work with us, that we will reach
[36:45] out and solve that one. I'm not aware of the situation yet with the other department
[36:49] Department, but just thankful for everyone here today. Thank you, Ms. Kerry, for giving
[36:57] me homework to do. So we'll get that done and being willing to work with the churches
[37:01] in the local area, I'm excited about that as well. So and for all the people watching,
[37:05] thank you for taking time out to watch. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[37:09] Sir, Mr. Pageant, I'll just thank you. Bye for coming tonight. Thank you.
[37:14] Mr. Chairman?
[37:16] I've got a lot to say, but I'm not going to say it.
[37:18] A lot of opinions.
[37:18] I'm not going to voice them.
[37:20] I'm not even going to touch on what the commissioners talked about, because I have a very different
[37:24] opinion, and I'm pretty boisterous about that, but I want to thank everybody for coming
[37:28] tonight.
[37:29] If you want to know my opinion, how I feel, ask me.
[37:32] I'll be more than happy to tell you.
[37:33] Have a great week.
[37:36] I'm speechless.
[37:39] Let's see if you keep it speechless.
[37:41] I can't.
[37:43] I'm pushing the time.
[37:44] I'm pushing the time.
[37:46] I'm pushing the time.
[37:47] I'm pushing the time.
[37:47] That way I just appreciate everybody coming in tonight.
[37:52] This is what it is for.
[37:54] That's what the five minutes of public comment is for, to come up and share your thoughts,
[37:57] your opinions, your concerns, and what you feel is necessary to share with us.
[38:01] And we'll continue to work and do what we believe is in the best interest of everyone.
[38:06] And we appreciate Mr. Jarman coming in and the work he does there, I believe in Richlands,
[38:12] the work that's going on there.
[38:14] and I know Mr. Smitherman that the strategic planning team will be coming
[38:19] to Richlands to get the input from, matter of fact, it's going to be all of our
[38:24] volunteer fire departments in that plan to really dig down what
[38:28] everybody needs and what's going to benefit everyone as we continue to move
[38:33] forward with that. So number one, we appreciate the professionalism of the
[38:37] volunteers. We appreciate what you do because if you didn't have you, we
[38:41] would have a very highly increased ISO rating, so we appreciate that effort and we look forward
[38:49] to as this continues to grow to getting that input and build the best fire departments
[38:55] across Donzalo County, all the volunteers, the municipalities, Camp Lejeune, and just
[39:00] really turn into what it is that you want, not just necessarily that but all the citizens
[39:06] as well.
[39:06] So collectively, we'll be able to turn this into everything that we need and really work
[39:11] together in building that from strategic fire to strategic with our EMS stations and working
[39:18] together to build those because at the end of the day, it's all about Oslo County.
[39:22] And that's the one thing that I want everyone to understand is this is about Oslo County.
[39:27] From Oslo County schools, to Oslo County government, to Oslo County volunteer fire,
[39:32] EMS.
[39:32] is just this is what makes us go and we are a great example of what what
[39:38] government is about representative and being able to come to the microphone and
[39:42] share those share those thoughts whether we agree or disagree this is
[39:47] your this is your forum as well so as we continue to work together we'll
[39:51] continue to make Honza County a great place to live work learn and raise a
[39:56] family. Motion to adjourn. So moved. We're adjourned.