[0:21] We arms the county board of commissioners, regular meeting from Monday, August 17, 2026 to order at this time.

[0:27] And we'll ask our county attorney Mr. Brett to sound to provide the invocation of the students.

[0:32] Yes, Mr. Chairman, let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to come before you can conduct the business of odds of a county.

[0:42] Please guide our board as they address the matters on today's agenda.

[0:46] We pray for your blessing and favor of our teachers and students as they return to the classroom for the upcoming school year.

[0:54] Now we do this day, bring you honor and glory on that.

[0:59] Now with the respect and reverence for the face, beliefs and traditions of those gathered here tonight, please join me in a moment of silence.

[1:10] Please stand and join us in the pledge of allegiance.

[1:12] I

[1:15] pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, which

[1:21] stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[1:31] I can take a minute to recognize all the elected officials with us this evening.

[1:35] We have a few, like the welcome Richlands Town Allerman, Ms. Maryland Buns.

[1:41] She's here with us tonight, Town of North Top, so Beach Mayor, Rick Grant, and newly appointed

[1:48] town, Alderman, Fred Fontana, welcome, Mayor Pete Arnien from Holly Ridge, and we have

[1:54] Vice Chair from the Board of Education, Mr. Bradley Williams, and Board of Education member,

[2:00] Ms. Michelle Halley.

[2:01] So we appreciate everyone being here tonight, including Register of Deeds of Mega-German,

[2:07] as well as Sheriff Chris Thomas.

[2:09] So I think we've got everybody here in the house, so we appreciate everyone being here this evening and we'll move on to asking everyone to

[2:19] of silent your cell phones or place in vibrate mode.

[2:24] And now we need an adoption of the agenda for tonight.

[2:31] We need to, we've got a motion to.

[2:33] How about that, that's consent consent consent.

[2:36] Okay, that's not enough.

[2:37] So we have a motion in a second.

[2:41] Any discussion?

[2:43] All in favor?

[2:45] I, I, I was opposed.

[2:48] Motion carries.

[2:49] So now we'll move to approval items on the consent agenda, Mr. Chair.

[2:54] Motion to amend the agenda to add item 2E agree agreement between

[2:57] Azza County Board of Education.

[2:59] Azza County Sheriff for the school resource services program.

[3:03] We have a motion to move.

[3:05] And a second, any discussion on the amendment?

[3:09] Hearing none all in favor of the motion signify by saying aye.

[3:13] Those opposed.

[3:14] Those opposed.

[3:15] Hearing none.

[3:17] Mr. Beacon, motion to adopt the agenda as amended.

[3:20] So motion in a second to approve the consent agenda as amended in all in favor?

[3:28] Those opposed.

[3:30] We are there.

[3:32] So the consent agenda has been adopted.

[3:35] So the Board offers the public one opportunity to speak during the meeting comments should be limited

[3:40] to no more than five minutes and maybe on any issue in which the Board of Commissioners has control.

[3:45] and accordance with the Board's adopted roles

[3:47] of procedure of citizen shall address all comments

[3:50] to the Board as a whole and not one individual commissioner.

[3:53] Commissioner shall reserve responses in fitting

[3:55] for the commissioner period on the agenda.

[3:58] So we are at item three public comment, Mr. Eaton,

[4:01] do we have anyone signed up this evening?

[4:03] Yes, sir. We have three individuals.

[4:04] First one is Wesley Hart.

[4:18] Good afternoon, gentlemen.

[4:20] Hey, I really appreciate you guys' service.

[4:22] I really do.

[4:24] When I retired in 2005, I could have retired anywhere in the United States, anywhere.

[4:32] Marine Corps would have moved me anywhere I wanted to do it.

[4:35] And I weighed my different options.

[4:37] And even though the jobs weren't here, housing was affordable and taxes were good.

[4:43] However, that has drastically changed, not just for me, but for everybody.

[4:50] And 2022, my real estate tax is 1.27.3%.

[5:00] Without this year, without this Senate bill, it would have went up another 7.6 percent.

[5:09] So, in five years, that went up 36.9 percent. Now, I'm a very fortunate individual.

[5:17] I can afford to pay the additional property tax. But I talk to a lot of people that can't.

[5:24] is the difference between putting food on the table

[5:27] or keeping their property.

[5:29] And it's just wrong.

[5:31] And how did we get there?

[5:33] I was looking at the at the different audits in a 2022,

[5:37] the fund balance available was 115,544,811.

[5:45] It was 50.6% of our budget, which comes out,

[5:52] And they compare it to the equivalence to onswell county, and we're about 6% higher than the average.

[6:01] And 2025, it's ballooned up to 187,666,969 million dollars, or 63.67% of that budget. The average there was 47%.

[6:21] So where the tax increase, the property tax increase, we collected 110,000, and 2022.

[6:30] Without a millerate increase in 2025, we collected 143,743,000, or almost 33 million dollars

[6:42] more in money,

[6:46] sales tax, 72,969, 2025, 81,683,534, over 9 million. So, we increased

[6:59] at 42 million, 42 million dollars. With that fun balance of doing what happened is that

[7:08] that we've been over charging people for taxes for to look at the three priorities that you

[7:15] guys, three priorities, you guys have a $75 million hub, a $40 million indoor recreation

[7:24] center, and a $30 to $50 million of park improvement. And I looked at the park improvement plan

[7:33] And I read that and it was based off a study in 2020 during COVID.

[7:39] They got 400, their goal was to get 400 surveys back.

[7:44] They got 426.

[7:46] And out of the people that they were surveyed, 24% said an indoor recreation center, 24% that's 102 people.

[7:56] So out of the whole county, we're talking 102 people, said it was a good idea to build it.

[8:01] and then we're going to build it right up the road here in the middle of nowhere and I wonder

[8:07] on the people that live at Popsell and Holly Ridge, how many people are actually going to use that?

[8:13] That's $40 million. If we were to do, if we were to do finance with general obligation bonds,

[8:22] you would have to get and put it on a referendum to the voters. The talks that I talked to people

[8:29] about these three initiatives, three of the top six initiatives

[8:32] of the county, I haven't met one person in favor of it.

[8:37] Not one, and it's absolutely crazy.

[8:41] I've been asking you guys to put this stuff for a referendum.

[8:45] Before we spend money on an indoor recreation

[8:48] feelers, take it to the voters.

[8:50] That's $40 million.

[8:53] That's absolutely crazy.

[8:57] I have more stuff in here on past spendings.

[9:03] We have not done a good job as a county.

[9:07] The public doesn't really understand, but that's, that's my thing, take these initiatives

[9:11] to the, to the voter on whether or not they really, really want it.

[9:16] Thank you.

[9:20] Next person is Danielle Cornell.

[9:23] Daniel Cornell.

[9:27] Daniel.

[9:30] How you doing, Mr. Chairman?

[9:31] of the Commissioners. Thank you very much for your service to this community and for allowing me to speak.

[9:38] Tonight, I want to talk about what happens when an ordinary citizen tries to get a very ordinary answer from his government.

[9:44] For the past several weeks, I have been trying to answer one basic question about the automated license plate readers being operated by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.

[9:53] Where did the money come from?

[9:54] I have been told that these cameras were paid for with grant funding.

[9:58] Okay, then I would like to see the grant.

[9:59] You

[10:00] Have been simple. Instead, I now have two public records request concerning this program denied and closed. My first request

[10:08] sought administrative records concerning the program, including contracts funding records, policies, training

[10:13] materials, agreements, audits, and other administrative information. I was denied. The sheriff's office

[10:18] cited North Carolina law protecting captured license plate data. There was one problem. I wasn't asking

[10:24] for capture license plate data. So I went back and tried again. This time I made the distinction

[10:29] unmistakable. I specifically excluded captured plate data. I excluded individual vehicle

[10:35] information, investigative queries and other protected information. I wanted administrative records.

[10:40] Evaluation records funding records policies audit oversight. And that request was closed and denied

[10:47] The explanation I received was that onslow county does not contract with flock.

[10:53] Cool.

[10:53] I didn't say a word about flock.

[10:56] So after two attempts, I still don't have the records, and I still don't have the answer

[10:59] to the simplest question of all.

[11:01] Where did the money come from?

[11:03] Commissioners, this should not be this difficult.

[11:06] That's when this became even harder for me to understand.

[11:10] In October 2024, First Baptist Church of Swans were adunated $5,000

[11:15] to the sheriff's office for drone equipment, 5,000.

[11:19] The sheriff's office publicly announced it and the sheriff publicly thanked the church and its congregation.

[11:25] When marine federal unit or when marine federal credit union contributed $30,000 towards the sheriff's office drone program,

[11:32] that received public attention too.

[11:35] Previous funding for body camera technology was also publicly discussed and I think it's great.

[11:40] When an outside organization or grant helps our sheriff office obtain equipment, tell us all about it.

[11:47] That's something a law enforcement agency can be proud of.

[11:50] But here's what I can't reconcile.

[11:52] I've been unable to locate a comparable public announcement identifying the grant that supposedly paid for these license plate readers.

[11:59] And after two public records request, I still haven't been provided documentation identifying it.

[12:04] I'm not standing here accusing the sheriff or anyone in the sheriff's department about lying about this grant.

[12:10] I'm not accusing anyone of deliberately concealing it.

[12:13] I don't have evidence to make either accusation and that would be foolish.

[12:18] I'm asking for the paperwork.

[12:19] What grant paid for these cameras, who awarded it, how much was awarded, who applied

[12:23] for it, who accepted it, when was it accepted, was there a county match, where is the award

[12:30] letter, where is the grant agreement, where is the accounting trail showing how these

[12:34] cameras were paid for.

[12:35] Those are questions about license plate or questions about an investigation.

[12:40] They're not questions about where somebody drove last Tuesday.

[12:43] Their questions about government administration and money.

[12:46] And that's why I'm bringing this to you tonight.

[12:48] I've tried the ordinary process.

[12:50] I've submitted the request.

[12:52] I've clarified what I was seeking.

[12:54] And I've specifically excluded the protected information that I was told I cannot have.

[12:59] And I still don't have an answer.

[13:01] So I'm asking this board for something very simple.

[13:03] find the grant. Find out what was purchased and how it was paid for and make the non-confidential administrative records available to the public because I shouldn't have to become a forensic account and just to find out who paid for 12 cameras.

[13:18] $5,000 for drone equipment was worth telling the public about.

[13:21] 30,000 dollars for drone program is absolutely necessary to tell the public.

[13:28] Federal funding for body cameras was worth shouting at the rooftops.

[13:32] So if grant money paid for these license plate readers, tell us.

[13:35] Tell us who provided it, tell us how much, show us the grant.

[13:38] Because if there is a perfectly ordinary explanation for all of this, transparency ends

[13:43] this controversy, secrecy only feeds it.

[13:46] After two denied and closed public records request, I think the citizens of Oncelo County

[13:51] They have earned something remarkably simple and answered.

[13:54] Thank you.

[13:56] Thank you.

[13:56] You as Cornell, Mr. Eden?

[13:58] Rebecca Cooper?

[14:15] Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

[14:17] I do want to be clear that I understand the automated license plate cameras were purchased

[14:22] and installed by the Oslo County Sheriff's Office, not directly by this board.

[14:26] But you are the people that residents look to when they have a serious concern about transparency

[14:31] the use of taxpayer money and the direction of our county.

[14:35] $38,000 is not a small amount of money to the people of Onslow County.

[14:39] For many families, it's the cost of a dependable new car.

[14:42] For this county, it could have funded specialized training for law enforcement officers,

[14:46] protective equipment, such as ballistic plates, the initial training of a K-9, or increased

[14:50] support for organizations like one place that serve children who have been victimized.

[14:55] Instead, the money was used to install 12 automated license plate reader cameras through

[15:00] These cameras were installed without meaningful public notice and without people of this county having an opportunity to decide whether they wanted this form of surveillance in their communities.

[15:09] This isn't about a camera catching someone who committed a crime. These systems collect and store information on the vehicles of ordinary people.

[15:16] People going to work, taking their children to school, going to church, visiting family, attending medical appointments or simply driving through their own county.

[15:24] Just because technology makes this possible does not mean the government should use it.

[15:28] The lack of transparency is just as concerning. When public records are difficult to obtain,

[15:33] residents are naturally going to ask what's being hidden, who has access to this information,

[15:37] how long is it kept, and who reviews the audit logs. And these concerns are not hypothetical.

[15:42] Law enforcement officers in our very own state have already been arrested for misusing these

[15:46] camera systems for personal and non-law enforcement purposes. I'm not here tonight to assign

[15:51] responsibility for the purpose. I'm here because residents deserve transparency, answers,

[15:56] and a public conversation that should have happened before these cameras went up.

[15:59] The people of Anso County should not have to accept mass surveillance simply because it has

[16:03] already been installed. The cameras should come down. The people of Anso County deserve safety,

[16:08] but they also deserve privacy, freedom of movement, and accounting government that does not

[16:12] treat every resident as someone who must be tracked. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Cooper.

[16:20] I'm

[16:21] So we'll move to item four. We have two public hearings that are scheduled this evening and the first one is the Sunset Sands Conditional Resonning and Mr. Carter Metcalf will present this item.

[16:40] Good evening, Chairman and Board of Commissioners.

[16:43] So the first item for the rezoning section of tonight's meeting will be the Sunset Sands Conditional Resonning Series Z-2026-3.

[16:52] The applicant is Thomas engineering, and the owner is a size construction incorporated.

[16:59] An overview of the conditional reasoning request number three is a requested zoning change from

[17:05] highway business or HB and residential five or R5 to conditional zoning, highway business or

[17:12] HB, CZ, 767-9.2.

[17:17] two tax map numbers in question, 767-9.2, and 767-9.12.

[17:25] So located off of NC Highway 210 and in the Stump Sound Township, the rezoning area is not the total

[17:32] area of both parcels. Rather it is a split zoning request and therefore the rezoning area is

[17:39] 20.15 acres of the total of the two parcels and we look at the existing use is vacant and forested.

[17:50] There is a 10 inch on a water main along Highway 210, as well as also a sewer force main.

[17:58] The fire service for the property is Turkey Creek with an IOSO rating of 4.

[18:03] Our most recent traffic count, that's closest to this property, comes from 2024 with a

[18:09] trip count of 10,500 staff estimated capacity at 14,000, as well as also when we look

[18:20] at the state prioritization cycle, there is a proposed widening of in C210, that will widen

[18:26] from the intersection with the US-17, just south of the intersection of folks in road.

[18:31] the project is funded with an estimated construction date of 2034.

[18:37] When we look at these schools, serving the property,

[18:40] it's coastal elementary, Dixon, middle school, and Dixon high school.

[18:44] All the schools are currently over capacity,

[18:46] but with this proposed rezoning being commercial in nature,

[18:49] we would not estimate any new students for the school system,

[18:53] unless it was a multi-family development.

[18:57] Here when we look at the rezoning area,

[18:59] You can see the property there is currently in the purple designation or R5 and then also a portion in the HB designation.

[19:10] And the area with the black cross hatching or the 20 acres of the partial for the property.

[19:19] If you compare the two zoning districts HB, there is no minimum lot size.

[19:23] Does allow multi-family at 20 units per acre and its purpose is to accommodate regional scale commercial uses.

[19:29] And foster economic development, along our major highway corridors, there's a variety of uses for this and a variety of non-residential uses.

[19:39] So we compare residential five, it has a 5,000 minimum lot size, as well as the same density for multi-family as highway business.

[19:49] Here, its purpose is to combat moderate to high density, single-family residential developments.

[19:54] And when we look at multi-family, it would be up to 20 to 20 units.

[20:02] Here, this proposed conditional zoning district or HBCZ 767-9.2. Its purpose is to provide for a compatible

[20:11] commercial development by modifying the standard highway business zoning district and by prohibiting

[20:17] certain land uses and while selecting certain uses by right. It continues to, for the residential

[20:24] uses, continues to allow multi-family, multi-family is already allowed and it will continue to

[20:29] Now that, as well as also has a variety of non-residential uses, included in your packet

[20:35] as a touch number.

[20:36] One, it goes through the table permitted uses, in which one's would change designations,

[20:41] in which one would not.

[20:43] There's a variety of uses that have been removed, such as some that relates to both storage

[20:49] or dry stacks, as well as also to back up shops that have been removed, and there's some

[20:54] that have been changed from a special use permit over towards permitted by right, and there's

[20:59] variety of uses there, but to include some manufacturing uses, bed and breakfast, breweries,

[21:06] and stillaries, and bars have also been changed.

[21:11] Take a look at the comprehensive plan that is designated water side community, and its intent

[21:17] is to identify those areas of the unincorporated county that have that nexus between the land

[21:22] and the water, and our heritage as a working waterfront community, and honoring that legacy and

[21:28] voting uses, that certainly advance both residential and commercial development.

[21:36] To look at the non-residential section of our land use and development summary, we would

[21:41] want a certainly zoning that would promote small commercial and service uses that would

[21:45] serve those coastal neighborhoods and support tourism, and again, honor that heritage of

[21:51] having working waterfronts.

[21:55] here we can look at our comprehensive plan on so horizon 2040 and you can see this whole section

[22:00] there south of old folks in road, especially along our two-ten corridor, they're given that

[22:05] water side community designation. The property there above us is conservation and that is

[22:12] also county own property and then as we go to Mortes North that orange designation is the village

[22:18] category where we want to see again a town center for the seems very area. When we look at environmental

[22:23] conditions we can see here. There are blue line streams on the property as well as

[22:30] also regulated flood zones. There's no wetlands have been submitted to counting

[22:34] at this time, but there certainly would be a part of the development review

[22:38] process.

[22:42] When we look at reasonableness in the public interest, it is an important

[22:45] factor in the way all resoundings. Here we can see that it is certainly

[22:49] We potentially reasonable because highway business does align with the non-residential

[22:56] land use and development summary.

[22:58] Therefore, it could be considered appropriate for our future land use map.

[23:03] We want to proactively manage growth and guide new development.

[23:06] There are some aspects of the infrastructure in this area of St. Spherry that would be able to

[23:10] support the new development.

[23:13] We look, as well, objective 6.2, we want to promote a wide range of commercial activity throughout

[23:17] County at appropriate locations and having highway business along a major highway

[23:22] corridor, we're certainly be one of those locations. And also objectives 6.3

[23:27] want to encourage industrial and economic development and in general have a

[23:31] pro-growth attitude.

[23:34] Objective 2.4 was certainly being non-supporting objective. All schools in this area

[23:40] currently over-compaciting and there certainly is the potential for a multi-family

[23:44] development. But that potential currently already exists on the property. This

[23:49] rezoning would not change that fact. And objective 6.1 we want to promote a

[23:54] broad range of housing types. There would be a limited or more limited allowed

[23:58] residential types with their proposed rezoning. Then what is currently allowed

[24:01] in our five. I'm going to go planning board met on June 4th and recommended you

[24:08] to see approval of the request. You know citizens spoke at the meeting. We did

[24:14] have one email sent in expressing concerns of multi-family development from a nearby owner.

[24:21] No military impacts though were presented during the planning board meeting and our remarks

[24:25] of from our chairman of planning board, as follows, there is a 20.15 acre parcel, which

[24:31] is part of an over 600 acre parcel located on Highway 210 in the Stump Sound Township.

[24:37] It's currently zoned HP in our five and is proposed to be rezoned to conditional HP.

[24:42] This request will result in split zoning.

[24:46] The property is currently owned by a size construction, and the petitioners represent a

[24:49] spoke and explain the only specific uses would be permitted on the rezoning, which would include

[24:54] multi-family and various retail on-service businesses.

[24:58] There was a neighborhood meeting held in six.

[25:00] Citizens attend, attended, at which concerns and questions about the type of development, its road

[25:06] access, existing wetlands and required buffering. There's one letter opposing the inclusion of

[25:11] multi-family housing, otherwise there were no other public comments. The reasoning was to be consistent

[25:16] with the comprehensive plan and the future land use map.

[25:22] Here, you can see an aerial of the surrounding

[25:24] area and see the proposed 20 acre frontage that's proposed to be

[25:30] rezoned. You can see it's proximity there to other commercial

[25:33] development. They're just north of a utility sub station and as

[25:38] well north of north shore and right across from an apartment

[25:41] complex.

[25:46] You can see where we posted the sign for tonight's meeting.

[25:51] A little bit of a wider view of what the property looks like if you're

[25:53] driving by on highway 210 headed towards north

[26:00] This is the additional site plane that was submitted that shows the proposed split zoning and shows the area there and the darker red is, again, what aligns with what has been submitted so far of the 20 acres being proposed would be resumed.

[26:19] And we'll go through the conditions. So the first condition is staff recommends any proposed future subdivision that would be reviewed through the appropriate subdivision or a view process to include concept preliminary plan and final plan.

[26:30] as outlined and non-so-counting subdivision ordinance.

[26:33] So there certainly could be proposed subdivisions,

[26:35] such as a commercial subdivision or residential one.

[26:38] And we want to make sure that they follow the appropriate processes.

[26:42] Staff also recommends any proposed non-residential development.

[26:46] Be reviewed under the appropriate cycling review process

[26:49] as outlined and non-so-counting zoning ordinance,

[26:51] whether it be major, minor, or basic.

[26:55] Again, ensuring any sort of commercial development

[26:57] is being held to the standards and non-so-counting zoning ordinance.

[27:02] staff recommends that any proposed use within the conditional zoning district be subject to the

[27:07] additional required standards for suit an article nine of the also county zoning

[27:11] ordinance therefore any sort of use would have to adhere to the same standards as in the

[27:16] rest of the county

[27:20] condition for the planning development director may allow minor amendments

[27:23] to the application without some middle of the entire package as long as it is not altered

[27:27] that basic relationship or any of the conditions that are there included for tonight such

[27:33] as would allow a decrease in density or intensity, but we would not allow an amendment that

[27:39] would, for example, eliminate a buffer.

[27:43] Get this number five.

[27:44] The applicant proposes to restrict the table permitted uses to those specifically identified

[27:49] in the table permitted uses for the conditional highway business owning district, as been

[27:54] submitted with the application, and has been provided as a touchment one.

[27:59] So, as a respectfully requested, the Board of Commissioners consider the proposed zoning

[28:03] additional, to me, consider the proposed conditional zoning map amendment of

[28:07] its series the 2020-26 number three, and consider the condition resolution for the

[28:12] amendment, adopt a statement, a consistency for the amendment, and authorize the

[28:16] chairman to sign the necessary documents on behalf of the county.

[28:18] Let's include the staff presentation chairman.

[28:21] Thank you, Mr. Medkath.

[28:22] We'll now open the public hearing street.

[28:25] Do we have anyone that has signed up to speak?

[28:27] Yes, sir.

[28:27] We have one individual, Mr. John Thomas.

[28:35] John Thomas, and we're Thomas Engineering, out of Newbrough.

[28:38] My address is 1316B, Commerce Drive, Newbrough in 1856 too.

[28:44] That's my office, not where I live.

[28:47] I don't really have anything to add.

[28:49] I represent the owner of this property, a size, and I guess we were the applicant on this

[28:55] Thomas Engineering.

[28:57] Again, I don't have anything to add, but be glad to answer any of the questions as far as

[29:01] conditions that were listed out in front of y'all we're all in agreement with those.

[29:06] We accept that.

[29:08] Okay.

[29:08] Thank you.

[29:09] Thanks, Thomas.

[29:11] No other sound up.

[29:12] Yes, sir.

[29:12] Okay.

[29:12] So we'll close the public hearing and bring the matter to the commissioners at just

[29:16] time.

[29:16] Close to a group.

[29:18] Second.

[29:18] We have a motion.

[29:19] And a second.

[29:20] Any discussion?

[29:23] Hearing none.

[29:23] All in favor of the motion.

[29:24] Signify by saying aye.

[29:27] Those opposed.

[29:28] Hearing none.

[29:29] Motion.

[29:33] Mr. Metcalf, we'll bring you back for the next one for the hearing on Richlands Heights

[29:38] to Conditional Reasoning.

[29:43] Thank you, Chairman.

[29:44] So, we have before you to the Richlands Heights to Conditional Reasoning, our series Z-2026

[29:50] number four.

[29:51] The applicant is work construction incorporated, and the owner is a Richlands Jackson's

[29:56] work LLC.

[29:57] So, we'll be taking an overview of Condition Request number.

[30:00] 4, the requested change is from roll agricultural RA and residential aid manufactured R-8M-2, a conditional

[30:08] zoning residential 10, or R-10-C-Z30-108. Tax map number of questions 30-108, located off of

[30:17] Kingston Highway and a rich lands loop road, and is located in the rich lands township. The total

[30:23] Resoning area is 117.19 acres or the total parcel.

[30:28] The existing use of the property is that is vacant.

[30:32] We take an overview of the service area for the subject rezoning.

[30:38] Water is provided by Northwest Onslow, at least generally provided in that area of the county.

[30:46] Property properties in that general area are served by individual septic systems.

[30:51] However, the applicant is proposing for the subject property to be served by Onwasa

[30:56] Souver.

[30:57] When we look at the fire service for that area, North West Ons alone, also known as

[31:02] Richlands, there, the Icer rating is four.

[31:06] Look at our most recent traffic count comes from Kingston Highway and is close to the property,

[31:13] comes from around 2023 with a trip count of 17,000 staff estimates the capacity to over 35,000.

[31:20] Schools serving the property of Richland's elementary treks on middle school and Richland's

[31:25] high school.

[31:26] So we look at the proposed capacity for those schools.

[31:29] Richland's elementary treks on middle have capacity while this time Richland's high school

[31:34] would be projected the over capacity.

[31:39] Here, you can see the proposed area as well as also these only districts.

[31:44] Are they in that line?

[31:46] Green color makes up a majority of the property.

[31:48] There you can see in the light red is the R-8M sections of the property.

[31:53] It splits in this way because this property was a series of properties that were recombined.

[31:59] When you move a property line though, it does not move a zoning line.

[32:02] That can only be done through this process.

[32:06] We compare our zoning districts here.

[32:10] One of the current zoning districts is rural agriculture.

[32:12] And its purpose is to maintain that rural development pattern that preserves the agricultural character of the county.

[32:17] minimum law size is 20,000 square feet and allows for single-family residential

[32:22] development, as well as also a variety of non-residential uses.

[32:27] Comparatively, the second zoning district that is on the property is residential

[32:32] eight manufactured and it allows for moderate to hide-in city single-family and

[32:37] multi-family residential developments with a specific emphasis on manufactured

[32:41] housing. It's minimum law size is 8,000 square feet,

[32:45] allows multi-family at a density of 10-dolling

[32:49] and sprayaker by special use permit.

[32:52] Well, as well, also allows for manufactured home parks

[32:55] by special use permit as well.

[32:59] Proposed zoning district is a conditional zoning district

[33:02] residential 10 or R10, CZ30-108.

[33:05] And its purpose is to accommodate a moderate density

[33:08] single-family residential development of 259 units.

[33:12] Minimum miles size would be 10,000 square feet.

[33:14] And again, that density would cap out at 259 units.

[33:19] The residential uses would be single family, as well as also some non-residential uses

[33:24] that would be corresponding with the residential 10 designation.

[33:28] You can see there that multi-family would not be one of the allowed uses.

[33:34] Look at the comprehensive plan.

[33:36] The properties designated as suburban growth and suburban growth intent is to provide

[33:40] from moderate density of residential development and supporting non-residential

[33:44] development as we continue to grow out from our urban growth areas and our municipalities.

[33:51] We look at the language and development summary in the residential category, see that

[33:56] single-family residential development, specifically when we look at major subdivisions,

[34:02] we want to see a density of four to five dwelling units per acre or multi-family

[34:07] at a density of 8 to 10.

[34:09] The base zoning district of residential 10 is a corresponding zoning

[34:12] district to our comprehensive plan of suburban growth.

[34:17] Here you can see the property is given that suburban growth

[34:20] designation.

[34:21] While as we start to transition away from rich lands,

[34:24] you start transitioning to that rural residential category

[34:27] or the agricultural and forestry category.

[34:35] You can see the property as it relates

[34:36] to the environmental conditions.

[34:38] There are no blue line streams on the property, as well as also no regulated flood zones and any sort of wetlands are submitted and they are on the cyclan for review.

[34:55] Look at the property is within a half mile of a property within the voluntary agriculture district.

[35:00] Rotated on the final platt, as well as our subdivision reviews, and therefore provided to any future

[35:07] honours as it be on the platt of record.

[35:11] We look at reasonableness and in the public interest,

[35:14] could be considered reasonable because our future land use map, designates the property as

[35:20] suburban growth, and residential 10 is a supporting district to that category. Objective 1.2,

[35:27] We want to proactively manage growth and guide new development.

[35:30] There are several aspects of infrastructure in this area that would be able to support that

[35:35] growth.

[35:36] Objective 6.1, we want to promote a broad range of housing types.

[35:39] This would add certainly additional single family in that area of the county.

[35:45] And we'll look at non-supporting objectives.

[35:47] Objective 1.3, we want to preserve our rural landscape, transitioning, zoning from rural

[35:53] our culture are too residential. It does not necessarily preserve our rural landscape. And then

[35:59] as well, objective 2.4, we want to coordinate with also county schools. The high school is

[36:03] over capacity. So that would be our limiting infrastructure in this area of the county.

[36:11] Planning board met on June of 4th and voting unanimously to recommend approval of the request.

[36:17] Excuse me, this is June 4th. It should have been March 5th. I'm sorry. There's a typo there.

[36:20] and noticed that it's in spoke on the request.

[36:24] And no military impacts were presented.

[36:26] The remarks of the Chairman of Planning Board is as follows.

[36:30] This rezoning request was previously submitted

[36:32] and was previously unanimously recommended for approval.

[36:35] It is a 117.19 acre property in the Richland's Township,

[36:39] currently zoned RA and R-D-A-M,

[36:42] proposed to be conditional 10 and unbied ward construction.

[36:45] An amendment to the conviction for sidewalks to specify

[36:48] that the sidewalks would be constructed in accordance with the Alzo County subdivision ordinance.

[36:53] Section 615 was agreed to by the pedestrian.

[36:56] The rezoning was found to be consistent with the comprehensive plan and the future land use map.

[37:03] Here you can see the overall area.

[37:06] This broader area will look.

[37:07] You can see it's proximity to other nearby neighborhoods such as the way for the place there just to the south,

[37:12] as well as other existing residential homes.

[37:17] So we take a closer look there.

[37:18] You can see the properties currently vacant and forced it as well as its proximity to some other existing residential development.

[37:29] You can see where we posted for tonight's meeting.

[37:34] A little bit of water look, and this again, this was our required posting along Kingston Highway,

[37:39] but in an effort of, again, making sure the public is extra aware.

[37:43] We also posted where the property will have its secondary access, off of Richland's Loop Road.

[37:50] There's a wider look at where the property meets on Richland's Loop Road.

[37:55] Next, we'll take a look at the proposed subdivision, you can see there again, they'll have

[38:00] an access on Kingston Highway, as well as an access on Richland's Loop Road, as well as

[38:07] also the layout of the homes in relation to also the existing wetlands and the stormwater

[38:12] ponds.

[38:18] I'll take a look now at the proposed condition, so condition number 1 staff recommends that

[38:22] a conditional zoning site plan be submitted and reviewed through the major subdivision process

[38:26] to include concept plan, pre-liminary plan, and a final plan.

[38:30] This is again standard for all subdivisions to make sure that it hears to the Anzo County

[38:34] subdivision ordinance.

[38:37] Proposed condition number two that we allow for minor amendments without resiminal of the entire

[38:42] application.

[38:43] And again, only those amendments do not alter that basic relationship,

[38:49] such as as going through

[38:51] engineering in the event that they had to decrease by one lot that would not come back

[38:55] for this board, but they certainly could not add any additional lots.

[39:01] Look at condition number three, Vanzo County Planning Board recommended that sidewalk should

[39:04] be required to be installed as shown on the conditional site plan and planning board, as mentioned

[39:09] in the chairman's comments, insured that condition is added that it's going to reflect the

[39:14] standards and non-so County subdivision coordinates.

[39:19] condition number four, the applicant proposes to remove the two-family residential and

[39:23] The multi-family residential uses that would be typically permitted by right in the residential

[39:29] 10 districts and restrict the scope of development to 259 at single-family dwellings.

[39:38] The R10 CZ30-108 zoning district is proposed to require a recreational playground that would

[39:45] be installed to be served to serve the residents of the development and in condition

[39:52] number six that the proposed zoning district shall utilize infiltration basins as the

[40:00] Group stormwater control measures throughout the development, unless NCDEQ determined that an infiltration

[40:06] basin is not necessarily appropriate, but ensuring that as well, all stormwater would

[40:12] be retained on a site, thereby if DEQs stated that a stormwater permit could be obtained by

[40:19] using other best management practices and other stormwater control measures, thereby maybe

[40:26] infiltration basin cannot be required. But, as we do not do, stormwater permitting, we want

[40:32] to make sure that we defer to an expert in that.

[40:38] So, there's a respectfully requested

[40:39] the Board of Commissioners consider the proposed conditional zoning map amendment of

[40:43] Series Z-26, number four. Consider the conditional resolution for the amendment, adopt a statement

[40:48] of consistency for the amendment, and authorize the Chairman to sign the necessary documents

[40:52] on behalf of the county. So, conclude the staff presentation, Chairman.

[40:56] Thank you Mr. Medcap. At this time, we will open the public hearing. Mr. Newton, do we have anyone signed up to speak?

[41:03] Mr. We have four individuals. The first one is Roberto Linker.

[41:16] Thank you. I hope you got the petitions that we brought in last month.

[41:23] One was a hand-careed petition and signed, and one was a non-line petition and signed.

[41:30] We don't feel like we have enough answer infrastructure to support 2509 houses.

[41:39] I thought it was going to be about 220.

[41:44] Do the math. Two cars per house. Two cars per house with no children.

[41:51] All that flow is going to go two ways.

[41:53] Kingston Highway, British Lands Loop.

[41:57] The roads already need repair.

[42:00] We're going to need two more traffic lights

[42:02] and probably extra flocks.

[42:07] So the schools are overcrowded and talking

[42:10] to the teachers, talking to the people in the area.

[42:16] We can't afford to have that many more houses.

[42:19] We don't need that subdivision.

[42:22] And I'm not sure a water table can handle it either.

[42:26] I know our wildlife can't.

[42:29] We need that wooded area for the wildlife who got bare and deer and skunks and fox and every other thing out there.

[42:38] I was coming home last week and a flock of turkeys suddenly just come across the street.

[42:44] I've lived there for 25 years. I see turkeys on the backside of my property, not on the road.

[42:50] So that means people are getting too close.

[42:55] More bear have been hit on highway and on gum branch.

[42:59] They're running out of territory.

[43:01] What are we going to do?

[43:04] But people build more before we're ready for it.

[43:10] We're not developing the infrastructure before we continue the building.

[43:16] Think about it.

[43:17] 600 more cars, 400 minimum.

[43:23] Thank you.

[43:25] Thank you, Ms. Lincoln.

[43:26] Mr. Eden?

[43:27] Yes, Mr. Jonathan Gossnell.

[43:39] Good evening.

[43:40] I know this has been brought before you all before multiple times.

[43:43] So it's not much to add, same concerns.

[43:48] Very again, not much to add.

[43:50] I don't know.

[43:53] It early on when this was proposed.

[43:55] It was brought up.

[43:56] How much it was designed to benefit the community.

[43:59] but I believe the community has spoken on so county has denied it multiple times so it is

[44:05] abundantly clear that this is in the best interest of the developer and not the community

[44:10] and again you guys know the concerns they've been voiced multiple times. So I'll leave it at that.

[44:18] Thank you, sir. Street. Avery Washington.

[44:32] Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Avery Washington.

[44:40] I want to speak positively about the project I'm familiar with Mr. Ward and from knowing him,

[44:50] I've had an opportunity to see him and the effort he's put into creating this community nearly from the beginning.

[45:00] And so I just in part, because I know too much for my own good, I wanted to help create some awareness around some of the things that maybe folks don't know or don't see.

[45:13] Right, they mentioned briefly one of the conditions about stormwater control measures and stormwater ponds.

[45:20] One of the things that weren't mentioned is that in addition to all of those measures, there are thousands of linear feet of ditching across this community,

[45:30] that are going to stay in place that also will assist in stormwater run-off, and that's

[45:37] a part of why I imagine some folks feel like there are wetlands getting impacted, but after

[45:46] being there for decades, the ground composition is not what they assume it is because it's

[45:52] a forested area, and there are concerns about infrastructure but many times folks don't realize

[46:00] that developers are a huge part of who

[46:03] puts the bill to create new infrastructure faster than

[46:08] the municipalities, otherwise capable of budgeting

[46:11] for and voting on and getting approved for.

[46:15] So the traffic impacts are accounted for in a traffic

[46:18] impact analysis that DOT dictates whether

[46:22] deceleration lanes are needed, how many egresses are required,

[46:27] traffic light improvements, stop signs,

[46:29] and that's going to be paid for by the developer unless he manages to negotiate otherwise.

[46:36] Something else that wasn't mentioned or was mentioned briefly is, with regard, excuse

[46:42] me, with regard to concerns about infrastructure, is that this would be on sewer.

[46:49] But what wasn't highlighted is that there is a list station that's currently significantly

[46:55] in poor condition or in degraded condition that the developer would be subsidizing the cost

[47:02] of upgrading one in order to ensure it's not failing into creating additional capacity that would

[47:10] allow connection throughout the commercial corridor that that lift station is in close proximity

[47:17] to. Lastly, just being familiar with the developer and the builder that intends to

[47:25] be a part of creating a community there, there are a lot of folks who are coming into this market and not to name any of them but we've seen a few where they'll throw up the cheapest thing they can get away with and sell it for the highest price people can qualify for and

[47:43] The builder who's interested in being a part of Bill Nalthus community, right, we've seen

[47:49] waverly place.

[47:51] They're offering some of the highest quality homes in that price point that I'm seeing

[47:56] get built in this market.

[47:58] And I understand that folks are resistant to change, but this is one of the better sides

[48:05] of change that we're going to see from folks who are trying to be a part of the communities

[48:11] growth.

[48:12] I don't have any additional marks.

[48:14] I appreciate you all the time.

[48:17] Thank you, Mr. Washington.

[48:18] Mr. Eden?

[48:19] Yes, last person is a Ricky Ward.

[48:30] About five minutes and nine.

[48:32] I appreciate being able to speak on behalf of Richland Heights again.

[48:36] I appreciate everybody's concerns and comments.

[48:39] I'm sorry I didn't explain this.

[48:40] Maybe a little bit better to first go around.

[48:44] I also want to thank you for praying before we have a meeting.

[48:46] That really means a lot.

[48:47] and I appreciate that. Again, we're not doing, we're not maximizing the density of what I can do by

[48:54] right after talking to the public, county plan and department. We're actually scaling this thing very

[48:59] way back from what I could do by right versus what they suggested I do, which is R10 zoning.

[49:06] They've also asked me again, which has already been highlighted. If I would put sidewalks in,

[49:09] I'd reach that as well. This project is special to me because this is my hometown. This is where I

[49:16] I remember when Officer Burns was the only cop in town, so I've been here in my whole entire life and I want to do something nice for my community, nice for on the county and for the city of Richlands where I grew up at.

[49:31] We're doing some single family starter homes, which I think is a great idea.

[49:36] A lot of these developers right now and I'm not kicking on these developers, but they're doing four to five hundred six hundred thousand dollar homes and people can't afford it.

[49:44] So our young military folks and our first time hung by our Z8 needs and we're to go and I think

[49:48] Richlands is a great place to grow up.

[49:51] I've already got my stormwater permit in hand.

[49:53] I'm not trying to get it.

[49:55] That's been identified.

[49:55] I have my roach control plan.

[49:58] The water is going to be contained on site.

[50:02] I think pretty much as far as permitting, as far as what I think we should do according to the plan and department. We're working together, trying to get this thing passed. I don't mind working with the city. I don't mind working with the county of Angelo, but every subdivision goes through the same counter or the deal. Your stormwater is one of the hardest permits to get. And we now achieve that. So what does that mean? That means that the stormwater division, North Carolina, has looked at this plan, the grading plan.

[50:30] And recognize that we have met all their criteria to maximize where this water is going

[50:38] to go and ask them to infiltrate the ground, step permit is in hand.

[50:42] I've got like 25 notes, I'm not even reading of my paper, that's ridiculous.

[50:47] So that thing is check it off, again, the road is in control, check it off.

[50:51] We have our DOT permit by the end of this week, and I'm ready to go, so my hopes are that

[50:56] We can kind of work together as a community, as a county, and get this thing done.

[51:04] Thank you so much.

[51:05] Thank you.

[51:06] I think Mr. Ward was that industry, and I guess they're not real close to the public hearing

[51:10] and bring this matter to the commissioners.

[51:13] Motion to approve.

[51:14] Thanks.

[51:15] Second.

[51:15] Motion and a second.

[51:17] Any discussion?

[51:18] Yes, sir.

[51:18] I did.

[51:19] Go ahead.

[51:20] I just wanted to thank Mr. Ward for working so much with our planning board.

[51:24] I mean, you went through a lot of hoops with this board of commissioners and putting all these

[51:29] other particular sidewalks, a playgrounds, and this board of staying on premises which

[51:34] is legal or whatever field, I guess whatever you're told to do, basically by the dinner,

[51:40] I guess, is the one that can basically do what they need to do.

[51:43] But I want to thank you for all the what you've done and what you're trying to do for the

[51:47] community, and you've done a lot, and I want to thank you for that.

[51:53] I appreciate everyone's concern, you know, when I look at one of these controversial

[51:59] resumes, I have to look at the table of uses and think about what he could do with this

[52:08] property in the current zones, mobile homes,

[52:18] complexes, multifamily,

[52:22] there are a lot of

[52:24] He could take advantage of, I don't know, there are a whole lot worse than some nice houses.

[52:37] And like Mr. Buchanan just said, he's jumped through a lot of hoops to make sure that he has met all the conditions that the commissioners and the planning staff had a concern about.

[52:54] Mr. Washington was correct, they will, are negotiating with

[52:59] on Washington to upgrade the pump station, which will be a benefit for all of the community.

[53:07] So, I think that I am certainly in favor of this rezoning.

[53:15] I mean, Dave's.

[53:19] What did I do to you?

[53:24] Mr. Ward, I just want to confirm, so sidewalks, playground, or recreational space,

[53:33] and all the water's going to be contained on site.

[53:36] Because those are the three criticals, because I have friends over in that area,

[53:40] and I had to call one to date to say that I'm probably going to vote for this.

[53:44] And I explained to what to your point by right what you could do.

[53:51] And so I want to, as Paul said, thank you for going to extra mile to make it a very nice

[53:59] development for your community.

[54:01] And I think the, and Brett correct me if I'm wrong, but the community, I want it.

[54:09] We are not allowed to just stop development.

[54:13] I can't look at Mr. Ward or we as a board can't look at Mr. Ward and say you can't develop your land.

[54:19] We do not have that right. I mean, so we're in a way stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[54:30] But with Mr. Ward's willing to do for the community to make this palatable, I just think it's fantastic.

[54:37] And I think we didn't understand on the last presentation a lot of what you were doing.

[54:42] So thank you, and thank you for being willing to go through the extra hoops, and thank you for being willing to be a blessing to your hometown.

[54:52] Anyone else?

[54:53] I just want to say thank you so much for wanting to do the right thing.

[54:57] Thank you.

[54:58] Mr. Carter.

[54:59] Just to make it you.

[55:02] Thank you for your patience with us. I don't think that we really took it all in the first time either, and I do appreciate your sharing that you're from here and that you want to give back. That means a lot to me. My favorite thing however that I just learned from you tonight was that you're going to put starter homes in there, and I do agree with you. There are a bunch of people in this community who could not afford a home otherwise, so I really do appreciate that so much.

[55:27] Mr. Metcalf, did you want to say something before I take this to the vote?

[55:32] Yes, sir. Thank you so much.

[55:34] So the sixth condition that we had on the record was a requirement for infiltration basins.

[55:39] So learning from Mr. Award that he already has, a strong water permit issued by the Department of Environmental Quality,

[55:44] that will contain all sort of water on site.

[55:47] We'd like to revise that condition that simply a strong water permit from DEQ that it hears to that standard of all

[55:54] So RRB and I can taint on site.

[55:57] I didn't see the playground on there.

[56:00] Since you came up to the...

[56:01] It was in the presentation.

[56:03] It was in the presentation.

[56:05] We'll make sure that gets added to the site one.

[56:07] All right. Thank you.

[56:08] We expect to see Mr. Davis at the playground.

[56:11] I love it.

[56:12] Good to see you.

[56:13] I'm just closing out with this before we vote.

[56:18] I mentioned last time that the current zoning is RA

[56:21] in our eight, which means whether this rezoning was approved or not, by right as this has been stated.

[56:30] Mr. Mr. Ward could go ahead and build R.A., build whatever he wanted to in there, R.A., a lot more

[56:39] of what he wanted to in there and now moving the whole area, the R.T.N., he's just and he's scaled it back.

[56:46] He's agreed to the conditional part of it and he's wanting to put in and I think the biggest point

[56:51] these folks have made is the starter homes is huge, that is huge because you are right.

[56:56] When you look at the re-evalves that have happened, you see there's a whole lot of $400,500,000

[57:03] homes here and not a lot of $200,250,000 homes that are here, so that's great that we're

[57:10] doing that and we people need homes.

[57:13] So with all that being said, we'll ask this to cast our votes now and all in favor of the

[57:20] Aye. Aye. Those opposed hearing none, motion carries.

[57:27] Move to item five, the Quarterly Commissioner Committee reports.

[57:33] Do we have any commissioners that have any reports tonight?

[57:37] And if we don't, that's okay, because we got a lot to go after this.

[57:40] So anyone want to share? Aye.

[57:41] Those were the Corbiners ready.

[57:43] Always, always have to talk about the airport, because they're greatest asset.

[57:46] One of our greatest assets, Mitch is smiling back there.

[57:49] So we had our meeting last week and the biggest thing that I love to share about is the runway

[57:55] extension and highway 1-11 relocation project is steadily moving along and I think everyone

[58:01] will be excited to know this because it's going to bring larger planes into our airport here

[58:06] should be completed by spring of 2027 which is I think fast really fast. Now does I mean they're going to be

[58:15] The NCDOT ever sees the operation of when 11 and of course the FAA will say when it's okay to bless a plane coming in there. However, I just think that's fantastic.

[58:27] There's some really fun. We got to do a tour last week to see how it's all going to look or generally how it's going to look and I just think it's fantastic that we are going to have.

[58:44] They're really not cutting down as many trees out there as you might expect so it's just going to be a really beautiful and to a long project here.

[58:53] Fun facts, they are going to in this project move 160,000 cubic yards of total soil.

[59:01] They're going to add 1.43 miles of water and sewer lines and 9.2 miles of electrical cabling installed for the project too.

[59:11] So those are some huge numbers just to,

[59:14] well, not just to, but to add on to this runway.

[59:17] And I think it's fantastic.

[59:19] The other thing I love about this airport

[59:21] that we have, which is so wonderful.

[59:23] Sandra, Sandra Johnson, who is kind of behind the scenes,

[59:26] which shows us a really great report

[59:27] about what's going on at the airport.

[59:29] And one of the things that she brought up

[59:30] at the meeting was the fact that we have,

[59:33] we're such a friendly airport

[59:34] that there's two different organizations,

[59:37] pause of war training and canines for service

[59:39] who are both going to be bringing their projects to OHJ to work on training dogs that we can use in service.

[59:48] And I think that's fantastic from other regional airports here,

[59:51] who are not quite as friendly as we are. So yay for us.

[59:54] Thank you, Albert J. Ellis, Airport and staff.

[1:00:00] Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. I've got the talk about on washington. Always has water.

[1:00:07] I'm always looking on the microphone. Yeah, on washington, tending to grow, we're over 60,000.

[1:00:16] Seven. That's not coming up. I don't think it here me here. They won't hit me on the TV, right?

[1:00:24] But there were over 60,000, 7,7,9,2.

[1:00:31] Come this way.

[1:00:36] Thank you.

[1:00:38] All right, technical difficulties.

[1:00:42] So on Washington, then he's to grow with over 60,792 water customers over 15,000 sewer

[1:00:50] customers. We have a 10-year capital plan and excess of $500 million and just real quick.

[1:00:59] The Highway 24 Pipeline Project has been completed. It's in the final testing stages and

[1:01:07] should be operational very soon within a month. They tell me the base letter that we all

[1:01:15] approved has been approved by almost all of our local governments and will be transmitted

[1:01:21] to the base. This southeast wastewater treatment plant expansion is in process to serve

[1:01:29] the Holly Ridge and it needs ferry areas. The summer house wastewater treatment expansion

[1:01:37] is completed and should be operational soon. It's a serve Holly Ridge. We're working on

[1:01:45] in Camp Davis Industrial Park and a state grant to build a water tower in Holly Ridge and the expansion

[1:01:53] of the Dixon Water Treatment Plant from 4 to 6 million gallons a day treatment capacity is

[1:02:01] in the process. So that's just a part of what's going on there on Wassa trying to keep up with

[1:02:08] wonderful growth that we have and we certainly don't want water and sewer to be a detriment

[1:02:15] to our growth.

[1:02:19] That is, yeah, the swans were a pipeline is expected to go online in the next 30 days

[1:02:27] as soon as all the testing is done and they'll actually be waste water flowing from swans

[1:02:34] were up to Petty Green, could you get the thing?

[1:02:38] Could you expound on the letter?

[1:02:41] On the letter?

[1:02:42] Yes.

[1:02:43] All of the municipalities except, I think, Jacksonville, and I just checked this morning, and

[1:02:51] the best I could tell, Jacksonville has not signed on.

[1:02:55] What's the purpose of the letter?

[1:02:57] Oh, I'm sorry.

[1:02:58] the purpose of the letter to the purpose of the letter is to get the three and a half million gallons per day of wastewater treatment to the Legion plant that was promised to us ten years ago or more.

[1:03:17] It also asks for if we can't get that capacity for federal funding for a new wastewater

[1:03:26] treatment plant somewhere in the human area.

[1:03:30] Or also the approval of the pipeline from Sneeds Ferry to French Creek Dimmering Corps

[1:03:39] base that was approved years ago, and then rejected after that to get that re-applied

[1:03:47] proved, because we've already spent about $200,000 in

[1:03:52] engineering that pipeline before they pulled it out from

[1:03:55] under us.

[1:03:56] How much was the pipeline from Swan's Bird,

[1:03:58] Piny Green?

[1:04:00] Oh, that ran about $30, $35 million now, I think.

[1:04:04] I don't have the final numbers, but yeah.

[1:04:06] And we spent that money very specifically because we

[1:04:10] thought we would be able to have that, that's not treated

[1:04:13] on the base, so.

[1:04:16] Thank you for the questions.

[1:04:18] First, thank you.

[1:04:19] I just gave you more questions.

[1:04:21] I just will have the public be near what we're fighting for.

[1:04:24] Right.

[1:04:24] Because you, you are the head of that being the chairman and being a commissioner.

[1:04:30] You're fighting on our behalf to have a contract fulfilled that the base is not fulfilling.

[1:04:36] Absolutely.

[1:04:37] Do we thank you for your help?

[1:04:40] Any others?

[1:04:42] I'm sorry, I just want to say the Fisher Commission, we're still active moving forward.

[1:04:50] Our Chairman Bob Woodard will be in Raleigh, Thursday and Friday, fight for our rights to fish, continue to fish for our community.

[1:05:00] And we'll meet again next month, back in Mori. It's just that everyone that we're fighting hard

[1:05:07] with can to be able to protect the industry. It's been here long, long, long. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[1:05:14] Thanks, Chairman. Mr. Davis?

[1:05:16] Yeah, and I just want to, on the level, Morgan Hospital Board, just make sure if you haven't heard

[1:05:23] that the partnership with UNC Chapel Hill is in place.

[1:05:27] It's a three-phase process.

[1:05:30] So we look forward to that growth and that relationship

[1:05:32] with Chapel Hill.

[1:05:34] Brett, please stop me if I start to go off on something confidential.

[1:05:37] I think I'm good here.

[1:05:39] But I'm excited and we're excited to see Chapel Hill medicine.

[1:05:45] UNC medicine being a part of our community hospital

[1:05:49] and with a long-term vision of it being a UNC hospital.

[1:05:53] So that's exciting opportunity for Oslo County and thankful for this board that worked hard

[1:06:01] to make that happen as well as Oslo Hospital Board.

[1:06:05] Thank you.

[1:06:06] Thank you, Mr. Davis.

[1:06:09] Sit there with the Beach Inlet Sound Committee with Mayor Grant.

[1:06:16] A lot of work going on down on North Opsville Beach and down in Surf City as well.

[1:06:20] because we serve city side to big contract today, historical, the take care of our hour, 11 and

[1:06:28] half miles of beach and then there's the other 14 miles or 15 miles there of top so

[1:06:36] island.

[1:06:36] Then we know how important that is to two onslaught counties.

[1:06:40] We consider that onslaught counties beach and we are appreciating the work we're doing with

[1:06:45] Northopso Beach town, Alderman, and their mayor.

[1:06:50] Also worked down on the Topso Island shoreline protection.

[1:06:55] Doing a lot of work on the oyster leases that are going on, that seems to all come to

[1:06:59] onslow and Pender County because we're the only ones without a moratorium.

[1:07:03] We believe everyone should be able to go out and get their oysters, but we don't think everybody

[1:07:09] in the Eastern North Carolina should come to our waterways.

[1:07:12] We need to share the, share the oyster love throughout Eastern North Carolina.

[1:07:18] Now there is, we meet quarterly county manager myself along with the municipal mayors

[1:07:26] and their city managers or town managers.

[1:07:30] And we are have extended the invitation.

[1:07:33] We also have the on loss of chairman and the CEO of on loss of joins us as well.

[1:07:38] and we have extended the invitation to the superintendent and the Chairman of the Board of Education

[1:07:44] to join us in those conversations and discussions as well because all of those entities

[1:07:49] are so integral to the success of onslaught counting on to bring everybody to that table

[1:07:54] as we continue to work and address the needs of onslaught counting as a whole.

[1:07:59] So with that being said, I would say we're going to move into item 6 to quarterly financial

[1:08:04] report, but I've had a request for about a eight-minute recess or break and we'll be

[1:08:10] backing about eight minutes and I just chose eight minutes because it sounds good.

[1:18:20] Resume the commissioners meeting for this evening and we'll move to item 6 and our chief finance officer, Mr.

[1:18:27] Kevin Patterson will provide the board with a brief presentation on our quarterly financial report and it says, brief in the agenda here, so the entire 97 slide deck.

[1:18:49] I'm not sure where my slides are.

[1:18:58] Well, I'll go with the slide because you do have access to them.

[1:19:07] I'll get to it in a second.

[1:19:10] But with these, we did prepare the numbers for the June 30th,

[1:19:15] but they are as of.

[1:19:18] They are as of August 5th.

[1:19:22] So we do have a councilabler still open for a cruel

[1:19:27] through the end of August.

[1:19:29] most of those are already in. We do have sales tax revenues that are not in yet.

[1:19:37] We will receive the, we will receive notification. Actually, we just received, we

[1:19:44] should have received notification on how much sales tax will receive in this month

[1:19:48] this week. But we still have August and September sales tax to a crew as well.

[1:19:58] So, with that,

[1:20:00] Had the only modified cash basis in the general fund, we have brought in $331 million, we have $348 million of expenditures on a $408 million total budget.

[1:20:20] That is a negative by $16 million.

[1:20:24] We do expect to accrue approximately $13 million in sales taxes that are not that we have

[1:20:31] not received yet that that will be in August and September.

[1:20:35] We also have transfers that we have not made because we are waiting for the final accruals

[1:20:41] for payables.

[1:20:43] So, as I said, backering workshops, we will use fund balance right now.

[1:20:50] Our appropriated fund balance is in excess of $20 million, but we will reuse fund balance

[1:20:57] and under $5 million.

[1:21:00] But again, this is part of a multi-year strategy.

[1:21:02] So next year, we should be adopting a budget that would add two fund balance.

[1:21:08] this year, the 27 fiscal year isn't anomaly, but next year we will back into a four-year pattern.

[1:21:22] And again, just short-pointing these in numbers, we are showing that water actual utilization

[1:21:26] is as far as revenues. You will see our finance, our tax revenue is not quite where it was,

[1:21:35] because that is sales tax that will get them not accrued. Right now we will be within a million

[1:21:42] of our budgeted sales tax depending on where those final numbers come in, which will be actually

[1:21:48] putting us on par with where we were last year. Our financing sources, we have a significant

[1:21:54] increase in budget over actual financing sources. A lot of that came with the refinancing that we did

[1:22:00] this past year because we refinanced and existing bond, which really shows up as a budgetary item

[1:22:10] only because that is an income that is a transfer end and that transfer out which we never

[1:22:16] receive. So it is not an actual, it is a financial transaction but it is not a cash transaction.

[1:22:24] So that shows up only on a full approval method. So that's the big reason for the major difference

[1:22:30] in the financial services sources. Again, also looking at our property taxes that you can

[1:22:37] we did exceed our budget collections, where property tax collections increased by $5 million

[1:22:43] over 2025, and we did budget $155 million in revenues and collected 148 million.

[1:22:53] And again, we are right at an $86 million budget.

[1:22:58] We will be probably around $85 million in total collections.

[1:23:08] And again, just following that demographic, we are still going,

[1:23:10] We are probably on past from marking very close proximity to where we were last year.

[1:23:16] The tax revenue and some of that is probably more built to changes in the tonal economy.

[1:23:26] And again, just showing in where the category by functions and where most of our money goes.

[1:23:33] Of course, the largest single area is, of course, education followed by public safety.

[1:23:43] And with that, when you look at functional codes, 81% of our total budget goes to education,

[1:23:52] followed by public safety and human services.

[1:24:00] Looking at solid waste, of course, again, these numbers are as of 825.

[1:24:06] These also do not have the accruals in here.

[1:24:10] This is still in a modified cash basis.

[1:24:12] But we will have depreciation and post-closure calls to be accrued into this so that $3.4 million.

[1:24:21] Current positive operation is going to drop significantly.

[1:24:26] But the operations are showing a very positive trend.

[1:24:31] The airport, the current numbers actually do put them in an operational deficit,

[1:24:37] but then again, that is because we have not made the accruals.

[1:24:40] They have a large amount of grant dollars that we have received, but they show us, unhurned.

[1:24:47] We have not the book, those has earned revenues.

[1:24:50] So we do expect this to be pushed back to a neutral position in the water, as it was

[1:24:56] last year.

[1:24:58] So it is a matter that they're poor.

[1:25:00] Without support from the general fund or property taxes.

[1:25:10] For the grant report, of course the county has accepted

[1:25:14] $11 million in total grand funding through fiscal year to $26. Right now we have just in the

[1:25:28] of grants for solid-way shares airport.

[1:25:35] We do have five grants that are still outstanding for $25 million.

[1:25:40] One of those is primarily for public safety.

[1:25:45] It is for a new M.S. nation and back at 911 Center.

[1:25:51] This is an extremely competitive grant

[1:25:55] And this will most likely be our first of multiple applications for this current process.

[1:26:04] Also, the one thing that is that I do want to brag about a little bit for the county is that we did actually close out Hurricane Francis and Hurricane Matthew's FEMA reports.

[1:26:20] Yeah, and that was only that was $73,000 that we were finally

[1:26:27] able to get close-out with FEMA on in under a decade, nine years.

[1:26:35] Have any questions?

[1:26:41] No questions, but we'll let you stick around.

[1:26:46] Okay,

[1:26:48] the next item, and does not have the slides to it, is the budget amendments.

[1:26:54] You have two budget amendments before you tonight, budget amendment nine and ten.

[1:26:59] The first nine is for this is the dead service payment for a half moon, they were not, we did not give them the money of last year because they did not have, they did not sign their contract, they have signed both an extension and a full years contract.

[1:27:21] So this first amendment budget, amendment 9, budget amendment 9 would be for $57,272,

[1:27:30] which is the debt service for the 26 fiscal year for a debt payment for a fire truck

[1:27:40] that they have.

[1:27:43] The second budget amendment budget amendment 10 is for a tiny green and this is similar

[1:27:49] situation. We do have a signed one year contract with Pliny Green. So we're requesting the

[1:27:56] carry forward a 304,615 dollars for the debt service payment on their new fire station,

[1:28:04] as well as for a fire truck. These are just for debt service payments. These do not all set

[1:28:10] any operational costs that may or may not have been covered under the temporary funding from

[1:28:15] here.

[1:28:18] So we request the board approve those budget amendments.

[1:28:25] Motion in a second. Any discussion?

[1:28:28] Yes, since I didn't get the motion in a second, I was too slow, but I do want to defend this board.

[1:28:38] This debt service payments, this board had originally requested that those be made and

[1:28:44] And personnel that are no longer here made some unilateral decisions that that didn't happen.

[1:28:54] So this board made sure that that was rectified.

[1:28:57] And I also want to thank all the fire departments and Brett and Paul.

[1:29:03] And I'm probably leaving out Lisa and Tony for their hard work and Tom just amount of time.

[1:29:12] It's probably not, it can't be counted how much many hours help it in to work with the fire departments.

[1:29:18] And so I want to say thank you to this board for going that extra mile to make sure all this worked out and got the water smooth.

[1:29:26] And we have complete fire service to this county and the fire departments are all working.

[1:29:31] And I think if I remember right, they're all going to get more money than was originally even expected by any of this.

[1:29:38] because of the formulas that which would be complimented back to you, Kevin, where are you in?

[1:29:45] I would remember.

[1:29:46] Thank you.

[1:29:47] Bradley, thank you.

[1:29:49] So anyway, I just wanted to put some praise out to this board and to the staff for making it a very difficult situation.

[1:29:56] Really come together and I think everybody was pleased on both sides.

[1:30:00] Well, John, one other add to that, too, Kevin, is that we thought there was three million dollars, and now we found out we got six million dollars sitting there, that we can take care of our talking about apparatus and engines, and all we found out out here recently. We thought there was three, but there was still three, from last year that was being put aside. Correct, Kevin? Thank you, sir.

[1:30:23] That's good news that we need to vote of that.

[1:30:26] Yeah, we got the vote and it's always good because when they call 911 and the house is on fire,

[1:30:31] you want somebody there and we are sure that the volunteer of fireman and women of uns

[1:30:35] like County are adequately funded to take care of the citizens.

[1:30:38] So with that being said, all in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.

[1:30:42] I was opposed hearing none, motion carries, Mr. Patterson, the keep on keeping on.

[1:30:48] The next item has changed order number one for the Bear Creek Fire Station.

[1:30:53] These are changes due to inflationary costs of the delay from last.

[1:31:01] From when the contract was executed to when we finally got clearance through the EQ,

[1:31:07] and we're able to get a notice to proceed on the project.

[1:31:11] Also, a large part of these go back to A vendor.

[1:31:15] But this was not that vendors change order, but these are issues that are changed significantly

[1:31:23] because of adjustments had to be made to the ground, the erosion control plans and the discharge

[1:31:31] permits through DEQ as well as there is an additional paving the DOT has upgrading what the intersection

[1:31:40] that we would originally been able to tap onto the line and patch, now since they have upgraded

[1:31:46] that intersection, we would have to tap onto the line and then repave the intersection itself.

[1:31:54] So we would request that the approval of the change order. We are also currently working on

[1:32:01] change order number two, which is going to be a credit backed off, so a reduction in the price.

[1:32:07] And these are modifications led by a county, and that will offset or that will also significantly

[1:32:17] if not all of these costs.

[1:32:20] So moved.

[1:32:21] Second.

[1:32:22] Motion in a second.

[1:32:23] Any discussion?

[1:32:24] Yeah.

[1:32:24] I wanted to preach out to Janelle Aaron and to staff for, because this was a nightmare to start

[1:32:31] with.

[1:32:32] We didn't know the commissars were brought up to speed.

[1:32:35] I don't know months ago when there was problems with this project.

[1:32:39] And we had no idea what was wrong with the project until the Janellan staff and the attorney

[1:32:43] all got involved and we got it squared away and now we're moving forward.

[1:32:47] I want to thank you, Janellan, and staff and Britt for getting on that thing pretty tight

[1:32:52] because it was kind of a mess there for a while.

[1:32:55] Thank you.

[1:32:57] Any other discussion?

[1:32:58] Hearing none all in favor of the motion signify by saying aye.

[1:33:02] Aye.

[1:33:03] Those opposed.

[1:33:04] Hearing none.

[1:33:05] Motion carries.

[1:33:06] Strasson.

[1:33:07] The next item is the project ordinance for the EMS construction.

[1:33:13] These would be the construction for the EMS stations at Homslow Pines and Midway Park.

[1:33:21] We had last meeting.

[1:33:24] You did approve the contract.

[1:33:26] to design the projects, to design these stations, this would be to actually allow us to move forward with the ultimately the construction.

[1:33:39] Before any of that happens, the construction contract will come back to the board with a maximum price guarantee.

[1:33:47] We are also working on a third sign, which is we are working in the

[1:33:52] State's area with on wassa, they have actually identified another

[1:33:55] piece of property that is not a there, a treatment facility, which we think

[1:34:00] may be a better location and we will do, we are going to do the

[1:34:05] environmental on that property to make sure it is amenable. Once that

[1:34:11] site has determined we would go back and bring another amendment to this

[1:34:16] that's allowing for that third station.

[1:34:20] It will be the same design for each of the three stations.

[1:34:24] The only difference will be the civil engineering

[1:34:26] and the actual location of the property itself.

[1:34:37] Motion to approve second motion in a second.

[1:34:40] Any discussion?

[1:34:43] Hearing none all in favor of the motion signify by saying aye.

[1:34:46] Aye. Aye.

[1:34:46] Those opposed. Hearing none.

[1:34:48] Motion carries.

[1:34:50] The last project ordnance is for the Southern Elementary School as would be an elementary school that will be built in knowledge.

[1:34:58] Harriet, property has been it.

[1:35:00] Identified in his own negotiations, which have been extremely complicated, but we do believe that they are coming to an end with a positive outcome.

[1:35:12] This project ordinance would allow for the construction of a new elementary school for $49 million, $18,000.

[1:35:19] the goal hit this project is to go out to bid in early or in late winter, January, so we can start and it was brought out that it would to go out to bid so we can issue a contract by April of 27, so it would be available for the August 29 school year.

[1:35:48] My fingers were overly optimistic when typing it, because it is a two year construction window for schools.

[1:35:56] But this object would allow us the ability to move forward with that project.

[1:36:02] As we get closer, I've already worked with our pond attorney that we will be drafting a refunding resolution.

[1:36:09] So we will bring a free funding resolution back to the board.

[1:36:15] By the time the final contract is for the purchase of the land is required for quest approval of the project ordinance for the schools.

[1:36:28] So my second motion in a second, any discussion?

[1:36:32] Yeah, I got some.

[1:36:34] Before I had the workshop today, I was going to vote against this.

[1:36:39] And I have a lot of questions and you answered my questions when we came in at a workshop.

[1:36:44] I won't go in any of those, because I still have a little bit of concern being that I sat in some meetings back in 2025, but I'm going to go ahead and vote for this, and I just hope it all comes to fruition, because I have some concerns.

[1:37:00] I just want the board to know then, but I'm going ahead and we'll vote for it today.

[1:37:05] But earlier, if you had an answer to my question, that would have voted for it.

[1:37:10] I'm going to agree with Paul, I have reservations and more of how it all happened, but I think

[1:37:19] it's the right thing to do to move forward.

[1:37:21] My other request would be, I think last year and it was maybe about this time, we had done

[1:37:28] a plan of what the school system was looking to build and when I think it would be appropriate

[1:37:35] to see that again, because I think we're definitely getting some public concern about how

[1:37:39] that were moving forward in building schools and getting that done in meeting capacity.

[1:37:47] So that would be my request is that we get that scheduled again as well.

[1:37:51] Great. Thank you, John.

[1:37:54] Any other discussion?

[1:37:56] Hearing none all in favor of the motion signal five by saying aye.

[1:38:00] I suppose hearing none motion carries.

[1:38:03] I hope that was quick enough.

[1:38:05] Thank you Mr. Bass.

[1:38:07] Now Mr. Sprunger is going to come up and he's going to stay up here for a few minutes

[1:38:11] with us.

[1:38:12] So he's got quite a few and catch your breath and take off there.

[1:38:17] Try to make it as quick as possible.

[1:38:19] I mean, we could actually give him grief for what?

[1:38:21] See, he was an easy and the negative.

[1:38:22] We never get to give mid-Street for nothing.

[1:38:26] Nice.

[1:38:27] First item for your consideration is the A-Rink lease.

[1:38:31] What this is, it's an inflight communication system that the airlines use out of OHA.

[1:38:40] It's a computer and the IT clause.

[1:38:42] It's an executive terminal with a small antenna in the roof.

[1:38:46] It's been out there for the last two decades.

[1:38:49] Both airlines use it, and it's just a simple five year lease for no one.

[1:38:54] So it is respectfully requested that the Board of Commissioners approved the five year lease agreement

[1:38:58] and authorize the chairman to execute the A-Rain Police Agreement on behalf of the county.

[1:39:04] Sounded.

[1:39:04] Okay.

[1:39:05] Motioned in a second.

[1:39:07] Any discussion?

[1:39:09] Hearing none at all in favor of the motion of signify by saying aye.

[1:39:12] Those opposed.

[1:39:13] Hearing none.

[1:39:14] Motion carries.

[1:39:15] All right.

[1:39:16] The next is for the snow removal equipment facility.

[1:39:20] This is a deductive change order for the project.

[1:39:25] It is now completed.

[1:39:27] We had owners contingency for the project that was over $100,000, which we did not have to use.

[1:39:35] So we're looking to reconcile that.

[1:39:38] That was with NCAIP state grant dollars.

[1:39:44] So we're going to bring it back in and hopefully use it for the entry road design in the parking lot that's coming up.

[1:39:50] So, with that, it is respectfully requested that the Board of Commissioners approved the Bobbit Construction

[1:39:55] to deduct a change order of 9 in the amount of 125,000.

[1:40:00] 277 dollars in 11 cents, and authorize the chairman to sign the change order, none, on behalf of the county.

[1:40:08] Second, motion in a second, any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion, sign the five bus, aye, nay, aye, those opposed. Hearing none, motion carries.

[1:40:20] Next two items are related.

[1:40:23] This is for the airport entrance road that leads to describe for the phase three design of that road for our airport runway expansion project.

[1:40:34] So phase one is the runway extension phase two highway relocation and this will be for the entry road design.

[1:40:41] So, full design documents, erosion control permits, storm water permitting, as well as bidding.

[1:40:50] And then there are some countries, excuse me, construction components for this.

[1:40:54] It's also going to include the monument sign, the intersection of the highway and the entry road.

[1:41:04] There's a building out there right now that needs to be removed the entry road and also some site grading for the entry road itself.

[1:41:14] And the other thing in notes, the runaway and highway that was primarily funded by state funds.

[1:41:20] This will be with federal grand dollars for this project, which I'll bring that to the next Board of Commissioners meeting.

[1:41:27] So with that it's respectfully requested that the board commissioners approve the airport entrance

[1:41:33] road project ordinance and authorize the chairman to sign the necessary documents on behalf of the county.

[1:41:38] Second motion in the second and you discussion here you know and all in favor of the motion signify by saying aye aye and

[1:41:45] those opposed hearing none motion carries and the last piece is task order number five with RS and age so this is the task order that will

[1:41:56] design that entry roadway for us.

[1:42:00] We have a five-year contract in place with ours in

[1:42:02] H. We're on your four-year contract.

[1:42:06] So they've designed the runway in the highway and now

[1:42:08] they're doing this.

[1:42:11] Think of notes for this price point.

[1:42:14] You have to do an independent fee review.

[1:42:18] Converments a good value on the project.

[1:42:21] And it wasn't that confirmed.

[1:42:24] So with that, it is respectfully requested

[1:42:26] at the Board of Commissioners to prove the R.S. and age.

[1:42:29] That's where to number five in the amount of $413,229.

[1:42:34] And all the rest of the chairman to sign the necessary documents

[1:42:37] on behalf of the county.

[1:42:38] Tell them.

[1:42:39] Sorry, I can motion that a second.

[1:42:41] I need a discussion.

[1:42:43] Hearing none all of the favor, the motion to speak of Papa Say and I.

[1:42:46] Hi, I'm both opposed.

[1:42:48] Hearing none, motion carries.

[1:42:51] Thank you.

[1:42:51] Thank you, sir.

[1:42:52] Catch you, breath, and we'll let Bradley

[1:42:54] I can't at all come up for the next two and we don't have as many for him so he won't be as tired as Kevin and Mitch

[1:43:01] Or like a motion, then we'll just do it all right here

[1:43:08] But even we'll start with I don't

[1:43:14] K3 Community College I've written before you tonight educational affiliation agreement between us

[1:43:20] our U.S. system in the Capeford Community College.

[1:43:22] I tend your agreement that allows their students to write on our trucks to get their

[1:43:26] clinical time to finish their medical programs, paramedic program, or basic program.

[1:43:32] We do this with all the colleges around us for the most part, and it's just time for this

[1:43:39] to be renewed, no financial strings attached to it.

[1:43:43] I respectfully request that you prove this educational affiliation agreement between the county,

[1:43:52] EMS system and the Cape for Community College and authorize the Chairman to sign the necessary documents

[1:43:57] by health accounting.

[1:43:58] So a second.

[1:43:59] Motion and a second.

[1:44:01] Any discussion?

[1:44:02] Three health.

[1:44:03] Go ahead, sir.

[1:44:05] Three health.

[1:44:08] They do.

[1:44:09] Yes, sir.

[1:44:10] They get on our truck and they do procedures and we train.

[1:44:13] You know, help finish their training, and they do provide me a power and assistance when they did.

[1:44:19] What's the retention recruiting retention when we have students writing with us?

[1:44:26] Wonderful. And it's positive. It gives us the, the amount of chance to see our system in and out.

[1:44:31] So there's no surprises if they do want to join us full time and just create opportunity to get people in.

[1:44:37] So the more trucks we get on the road, the more availability we have, the more slots we have available on each year for these students.

[1:44:42] all these areas to come in. So we've just been just been a great recruitment program

[1:44:47] so far.

[1:44:49] Thank you. That was pain.

[1:44:52] The further discussion, all in favor of the motion signal file, I'll say hi.

[1:44:55] Hi.

[1:44:56] Those opposed hearing none.

[1:44:58] Motion carries.

[1:45:00] Secondly, out of jay, I bring before you tonight a reciprocal reach light agreement with Kenna EMS and Western Carterett, Farney EMS, Chief Kane and their chief has spent a lot of time over the last couple months, refining a very old agreement, most of which was verbal, into something substantial. We made a lot of improvements in this version listed in this agreement are the type of calls that we both agreed we will help each other.

[1:45:29] the more serious calls with the option of reaching out and asking for additional calls

[1:45:35] that are not on the list but they would not take a high priority. They did a

[1:45:41] degree to expand their coverage in non-Slow County. I think all the way up to

[1:45:45] I was 172. So we're very thankful for that and we reciprocated that and I'm

[1:45:52] not sure where that boundary is in Carter yet but we try to make it a very

[1:45:55] fair agreement or that you used to do it when they were negotiating, and very, very proud

[1:46:00] of this and the work they've done to formalize our partnership and help each other out

[1:46:08] in a more professional and organized way.

[1:46:13] Now, I ask, excuse me, it's required, I respectfully request the board to approve the

[1:46:18] reciprocal future letter agreement between Hothlick and EMS and Wichita Carter at Firon EMS

[1:46:22] and authorize the chairman to sign on the necessary documents on my off the county.

[1:46:25] to the second motion in a second.

[1:46:28] Any discussion?

[1:46:30] Hearing none, all in favor of the motion,

[1:46:32] second to five, I'll say, and aye, aye.

[1:46:34] Those opposed.

[1:46:35] Hearing none, motion carries.

[1:46:37] Thank you very much.

[1:46:37] I'll appreciate it.

[1:46:39] We'll move right to item TN Manager comments, Mr. Eaton.

[1:46:44] Yes, I'll be brief, but I would like to express my appreciation

[1:46:49] to the volunteer fire department as well.

[1:46:51] the chiefs that came together, provided feedback, very open and honest, a great dialogue,

[1:47:00] specifically I'd like to highlight Chief Ricky Hardison, Chief J.R. Marks and Chief

[1:47:06] Joe Williams. They welcome me into their stations, sat with them, heard from them during

[1:47:13] this process and really look forward to some more great dialogue moving throughout the

[1:47:18] year as we meet much more regularly and all of us have the desire for better communication

[1:47:25] is where we want to start and so I'm really excited about where things are and moving

[1:47:30] forward.

[1:47:31] I want to thank those guys as well as all the chiefs and then also obviously Bradley,

[1:47:37] Janelle, the Cicacone Manager and Kevin Patterson and Chief Financial Officer all the work

[1:47:42] that they've done.

[1:47:43] Lastly, August 28, 10 a.m. is the flag raising ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of

[1:47:50] onset of Pines Park and Parks and Recreation Apartments, certainly welcome every that

[1:47:55] to come out and celebrate with us.

[1:47:57] Thank you.

[1:47:58] Thanks, Mr. Eden.

[1:47:59] We'll start.

[1:48:00] Mr. Page, you want to start us tonight?

[1:48:02] We'll work our way to the other end.

[1:48:04] I'll be brief.

[1:48:05] Yes, sir.

[1:48:05] We're all for coming.

[1:48:06] Have a good night.

[1:48:09] Mr. Dave?

[1:48:10] Just be that.

[1:48:10] And I don't know that I'm going to be that in the night.

[1:48:14] I believe that in greatly of Rome, Steve, it's Mr. Hart that spoke earlier,

[1:48:18] H.A.R.T. is that correct?

[1:48:20] And I appreciate he's come like the last two or three times and spoken about our priorities.

[1:48:27] I feel, and I think the rest of the board agrees with me that although he

[1:48:32] to his defense, he's reading the priorities as they are listed in our document.

[1:48:37] But I think if you talk to anybody in on this board, the three things that happen to be

[1:48:44] the one, two, and three on this priority list are not our one, two, and three.

[1:48:50] And we had a meeting not too long after he said that the first time, and I would argue

[1:48:57] and the board can correct me, but I think I'm going to be pretty accurate here.

[1:49:02] This board is focused on the EMS, it's been focused on our sheriff's department, it's been

[1:49:07] focused on managing growth and keeping lower taxes, and I made a missed a couple, but I think

[1:49:12] that's been our overall apparatus in our meetings and how do we meet those priorities?

[1:49:20] These things that come out of strategic documents, or yes, their priorities, but their priorities

[1:49:26] and strategic documents, there's things that we want to do, but they're not what we focus on in every

[1:49:32] meeting. We are very focused and and Mr. Ken Law that I failed or remember your name

[1:49:38] a few minutes ago is evidence of what we've been all working very hard on and improving

[1:49:44] our EMS and we got two buildings getting ready to get started. He's hired 44 people in the

[1:49:51] last two months, three months. Yeah, but he is working hard to get people hired and trained.

[1:50:00] And bringing innovative ideas to our emergency services side. And so those are the type things that we are focused on, priority, where I say, now, with all that said, Mr. Hart, I agree with you on the taxes. We need to stay focused on what can we do to lower our taxes and keep them. For me, I'm a net zero. I drive Kevin crazy, because I like net zero. I want it to be, I want natural growth from this, you know, from the net zero.

[1:50:30] where we are, because I think we have plenty of money, plenty of revenue coming in.

[1:50:36] Daniel, who he is the ring leader for a YouTuber united with the cameras, I, you know,

[1:50:45] I hesitate to say that I agree with him, but I, I definitely, and I agree with him

[1:50:50] and understanding these cameras.

[1:50:53] I want to understand, and I may have even voted for him, I'm not even going into a hide

[1:50:58] But I want to understand what we voted for, and maybe there were some things that we didn't understand at the time when we voted for them.

[1:51:07] So I'm definitely putting that back to you and Brett with understanding that because I'm definitely not liking what I'm reading and hearing about these cameras and the things that they can do and how they can be abused.

[1:51:19] And, and I do compliment my fellow commissioner, Mr. Scarbender, for keeping me on my toes with that because I tend to lean on the side of the police.

[1:51:32] I like the blue, but at the same time, you know, we have a constitution, so you have to find that, find balance.

[1:51:40] Ms. Cooper, I think I saw you in the hallway, but again, well spoken and thank you.

[1:51:44] And that's my brief.

[1:51:52] Just echo a little bit about the John said with Mr. Cornell and Ms. Cooper, I thank you for

[1:51:57] coming and talking about the flood cameras. I don't think any of us here do not appreciate

[1:52:02] and respect the blue. We definitely do. And when it's in the right hands, you know, tools

[1:52:08] can be used for good. And when it's not in the right hands, they can be used for ill as we've

[1:52:14] And so the possibility of that is what is scary to me and I will continue as John was saying we're going to continue to find out more about what is involved here locally in our community with them and do what we can to affect

[1:52:30] You know the proper usage of them if that's what we need to do. So anyway, have a great week. Thank you for coming to a long meeting and staying

[1:52:39] I think Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Brigadier, wasn't going to say anything, but they're not

[1:52:45] flocked cameras.

[1:52:47] You need to understand that they're not flocked cameras, they're a different type of a

[1:52:51] camera to be made by a different company, they're not flocked cameras, and it seems like

[1:52:55] everybody in here wants to say they're flocked cameras, they're not.

[1:52:58] So what you need to do is get edge of them one more time, that's a lot of the past, but

[1:53:02] you need to get educated on it.

[1:53:04] I'm serious thinking, they're not that.

[1:53:06] And what they do is they just read the license tag and that's all they're doing.

[1:53:08] You can't blue-tooth them.

[1:53:10] You can say what you want, but you can't.

[1:53:13] There's a lot of things you need to learn about these cameras

[1:53:15] at the sheriff's use, and then he said he would come to us

[1:53:17] in a meeting and tell us all about these cameras.

[1:53:20] And they're made by a different company, but they're not the ones

[1:53:22] that everybody's claiming all over the country.

[1:53:24] They're not those.

[1:53:25] They're totally different.

[1:53:26] On the second hand, I want to thank Lisa and Tony and this board

[1:53:30] for a round of three of us to work with the fire people,

[1:53:33] all the following to your firefighters.

[1:53:34] I mean, it took us a long time to get to we are today.

[1:53:37] I want to thank Steve, you met with us with a three of us and J.R.

[1:53:43] And Ricky, and we had a meeting over it.

[1:53:46] In fact, we were over there at the station.

[1:53:49] J.R. station over there at Roads Town.

[1:53:51] And we had a really good meeting.

[1:53:52] A lot of things came out of that Kevin was there also

[1:53:55] and Kevin gave us some information that we didn't know.

[1:53:58] We know it now.

[1:53:59] We're going to move forward on that.

[1:54:01] But the second thing is Steve, which you did,

[1:54:03] was to, we had this first meeting with the three of us with all of you, but we won't be there next time.

[1:54:10] This is all with you and staff, Ricky and MS for us to be at the first meeting, but now you're going to meet with them once a month.

[1:54:16] The transparency with our firefighters, it means so much to me.

[1:54:20] I mean, we work so hard to three of us and to board allow one of us to do that.

[1:54:24] And I want to thank the board for that.

[1:54:25] I want to thank you guys that are working hard to keep it going because it's working.

[1:54:31] Right now is working. I can tell you two years ago and both of the two members on the board

[1:54:35] can tell you it was a nightmare for us. It was pretty tough trying to get these contracts

[1:54:40] signed and we are on a better place and we're going to get better. We're going to get more transparency

[1:54:44] with the volunteer firefighters. Thank you for being here.

[1:54:47] Thank you, Mr. Becany. Commissioner Ben. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah, I want to thank our volunteer

[1:54:54] Fire Department's too. I appreciate all the efforts that you all have made.

[1:54:58] I love us and made too.

[1:55:00] To get these contracts in place, the contracts that protect our taxpayers and support our volunteer

[1:55:10] fire departments. And I appreciate y'all for your work on all of that.

[1:55:18] Commission Davis kind of stole my thunder there

[1:55:20] because I was going to say tonight's meeting demonstrates that our priorities are fire service and

[1:55:29] CMS and schools and other things besides the few recreation issues that people keep wanting

[1:55:40] to bring up.

[1:55:41] And I would note that none of these issues that we spent any money on at this point.

[1:55:49] And the process of spending money is quite arduous.

[1:55:55] And we'll have project ordinances and contracts, and it'll go through this board several

[1:56:02] times before we actually spend any money on these projects.

[1:56:06] But there are things that have been on our priority list for several years.

[1:56:10] And I think many of us would like to see some of these projects come to fruition.

[1:56:16] And for those who are concerned about the increase in our budget, and that concerns all of us, I think,

[1:56:29] but I have to note that we just passed a budget ordinance to build a $49,8,000,000 elementary school

[1:56:41] that in 2020 cost us $19 million, $19 million, that's over twice over double.

[1:56:49] And I would argue that all of our expenses in the county have doubled or more over the last

[1:56:57] eight years. So while we weren't very hard to keep our costs down and to not over tax anybody,

[1:57:09] We can't help the costs that go up constantly and we struggle everybody here to make the limited funds that we have work for everybody and also county.

[1:57:26] So I appreciate everybody's concern and I too have those concerns.

[1:57:31] often say every time somebody comes to me and says why don't we do this? Why don't we do that?

[1:57:37] The first thing that goes through my head is how much is going to cost the taxpayers. I have

[1:57:44] in the 22 values that we're using now, a penny of taxes generates about $2.1 million dollars.

[1:57:54] And so my first thought is if we do this, who's willing to pay one penny of their property taxes to do it?

[1:58:00] Are you willing to pay two pennies?

[1:58:04] I pay property taxes just like everybody else out there.

[1:58:07] And I don't want to pay any more than I have to.

[1:58:11] But I have to weigh whether or not these projects are worth it

[1:58:15] to the 218,000 citizens that we serve in

[1:58:18] Ontario County.

[1:58:20] And I'll continue to do that for as long as you let me.

[1:58:23] Thank you.

[1:58:24] You'll have a good night.

[1:58:25] Thank you, Mr. Bennett.

[1:58:27] First, I want to reiterate the August 28th, 50th Anniversary of Onzler Pines Park.

[1:58:33] That should be a great morning.

[1:58:36] I might even get to see some pictures of a 12 or 13-year-old Tim Foster in a baseball

[1:58:41] uniform at Onzler Pines Park.

[1:58:44] Probably not very recognizable.

[1:58:46] It's probably about 100 pounds smaller than what it is now, but it's a great celebration

[1:58:51] of Parks and Rec, and how important it is to communities and they open there over that

[1:58:57] park in 1976 and then the parks that have come since. Parks and Rec is a huge resource

[1:59:05] for the community. As not one is built to make money, it's built to build quality of life,

[1:59:12] and that's what's so important about Parks and Rec creation. The other part is we talk about

[1:59:16] budget and our budget, 18-19 percent of that budget is where it's not mandated and parks

[1:59:25] and wreck falls underneath that.

[1:59:26] There's other services and things that falls underneath that 18-19 percent of our budget.

[1:59:32] The 81 percent of our budget, 81 percent of our budget goes to, as Mr. Patterson mentioned,

[1:59:39] it's our health and human resources, public safety and education.

[1:59:43] And I'm just, you know, just going to take the help and human services out of it and talk

[1:59:48] about Costa Carolina community college and owns the county schools.

[1:59:52] Those two things are the one item in our budget that creates opportunity for everyone.

[2:00:00] County. Every kid that's born here, moves here, goes through our educational system, K-12. Then they have the opportunity

[2:00:07] to attend one of the strongest community colleges in North Carolina at a very reduced rate as

[2:00:14] compared to starting off at a four-year university. So those establishments, those entities provide

[2:00:21] the opportunity for everyone to get an education and give them the opportunity in life, whether it's

[2:00:29] continue to stay here. And those two things also fall into the next part is that we have

[2:00:35] 215,000 people in Ones Look County. And having been a history teacher for many years, I have

[2:00:41] you you teach history, what happens when growth in the area continues as unprecedented rate,

[2:00:50] what increases, fires and emergencies and crime. So what are the things that we have to do to address

[2:00:57] that our service, share, office, and EMS.

[2:01:03] So those are things that make up the budget for

[2:01:05] Oneslow County from education to public safety to

[2:01:08] health and human services.

[2:01:10] And the one thing that I'm sure of, there's no one sitting in

[2:01:13] the room tonight whenever you dial those three numbers, 911.

[2:01:17] How important it is for someone to answer and for someone to respond.

[2:01:22] And for someone to answer and for someone to respond, it is

[2:01:25] necessary for them to complete their education.

[2:01:29] It is a cycle and it has to be completed and completed together.

[2:01:33] When you invest in your community, you invest in your future.

[2:01:36] With that being said, never apologize for your faith or your patriotism.

[2:01:40] We're adjourned.

Onslow County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Agenda

Transcript