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

[11:32] Good afternoon, everyone. I want to call this April 22nd regular meeting of the Pinter County Commission to order.
[11:40] If everyone will please rise for the invocation and the pledge allegiance, please.
[11:48] Good evening, Father. We thank you for this day. God, we thank you for your great blessings. We thank you for this county.
[11:53] Father, remind us it's not about us, but it's about you and the people's business.
[11:56] his prayer we asked in Christ Jesus name in it.
[12:13] Those that are first responders or veterans please remain standing for just a moment
[12:19] what we recognize your service.
[12:25] Thank you.
[12:35] fellow commissioners is everyone had a chance to review the agenda and are there any amendments
[12:42] or motions for the agenda.
[12:53] All right.
[12:53] Here and none.
[12:55] And I get a motion to adopt tonight's agenda.
[13:02] Motion's on the floor in a second.
[13:03] Those in favor of adopt in the agenda.
[13:05] Raise your hand.
[13:06] Say five.
[13:06] Say five.
[13:08] All right.
[13:13] Public hearing.
[13:14] Number five.
[13:15] Any.
[13:16] We have anything for public hearing.
[13:19] All right.
[13:19] Thank you, Michael.
[13:22] Number six, public information, 6.1, Mr. Adams, update only Imagine, Pender 2050 Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
[13:35] Mr. Adams, well.
[13:37] Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman, Members of the Board, good afternoon.
[13:42] I have a few slides prepared for you.
[13:47] There we go.
[13:48] This afternoon, but thank you all for giving me an opportunity to provide an update to the Board on the Imagine Pender 2050 Comprehensive Land Use.
[13:55] plan. This project that we've been working on for a little while now and we're sort of
[14:01] coming to the final stages. So I'm excited to provide you with this update. We're going
[14:06] to be coming back to this board requesting review and approval of this plan in the coming months.
[14:12] But until then, I do want to continue to provide regular updates as we move through the process.
[14:18] So again, just to catch the board up on where we are, we had a lot of public engagement in the
[14:23] And we use that public engagement and public feedback as the foundation for this plan and then we put our heads down and started working on the content of the plan
[14:32] And we have drafts of that document now that we've shared with the steering committee and have been reviewed by staff
[14:40] We have a second round of public engagement scheduled to kick off next week
[14:45] So again, like I said, we use the first round of public engagement to help us inform the content of the plan and now we're going back out to the public saying
[14:53] How did we understand your information correctly, how did we do, are there things that you want to see change did we get?
[15:00] At this right, does this need to be modified? That's the goal with our community engagement window number two.
[15:07] We're going to have five meetings actually. So one in Hamstead, Bergall, Pinder Lee, Curry, and then one in Rocky Point.
[15:13] I had not finalized the Rocky Point meeting when I submitted these slides. So there actually be five in person meetings.
[15:19] And then we're also going to have an online survey where folks can provide feedback via survey online.
[15:24] Then of course we'll take feedback in person over the phone and via email as well.
[15:31] So in any form that folks are willing to be able to give us feedback, we will certainly
[15:34] take it.
[15:36] So I want to talk about the framework of the plan a little bit.
[15:40] So this funnel gives a good demonstration of how the plan is organized.
[15:44] So it starts with high-level vision statements, vision themes, and then it narrows down
[15:49] to goals, policies, and actions.
[15:52] so the actions are specific things, you know, actions, statements, staff will do these things
[15:58] to achieve this as a way to achieve this policy which is informed by this goal.
[16:04] So I'm going to go through a few examples of these things, so a vision theme is an aspirational
[16:09] and guiding direction for the future of the county and there are three vision themes in the plan.
[16:15] The first is coordinate growth, preservation and infrastructure. The second is support the county's
[16:21] and then the third is maintained a high quality of life and again those were informed from the public feedback that we received in the fall.
[16:31] And then the goals are desired outcomes related to each planning topics,
[16:34] so they are non-planning topics, and an example of a goal is safe and efficient transportation.
[16:40] So that's a goal that the county has described in this plan, safe and efficient transportation.
[16:46] And then policies are statements of commitment and direction for achieving those goals, right?
[16:53] So they're nine goals and we have policies that are statements of how we're going to achieve those goals.
[16:58] So an example of a policy would be connectivity and multimodal transportation systems.
[17:04] The county shall require, or excuse me, the county shall enforce connectivity requirements,
[17:08] that require vehicular and pedestrian interconnectivity, right? So that's a policy statement.
[17:13] And then the last thing are actions, so these are specific implementation tasks.
[17:20] So for example, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure require the installation of bicycle
[17:24] and pedestrian infrastructure, new development, that's a task, that's something that
[17:28] staff can take direction, and then we can provide a text amendment and say here's how
[17:33] we're going to do this.
[17:35] So it all goes back to actions, policies, goals, and vision themes.
[17:38] Each of them is informed by the vision theme, and the goal is to achieve those themes through the actions.
[17:47] That sort of wraps up my presentation, I always like to end with this slide where folks can learn more.
[17:52] They can visit us online pindercounty and c.gov slash and imagine and give us a call or shoot us an email.
[18:00] I'm happy to answer any questions.
[18:02] That second community engagement window is going to be open for a little over a month starting Monday next week.
[18:08] So we'll be doing some broadcasting of that information online as well as through Brandy Cobb, our communications manager.
[18:17] Is this the second part from the ones you held in the fall, community meetings?
[18:21] Yes, that's right.
[18:23] That's right.
[18:25] Any other questions of Mr. Adams?
[18:28] Chairman, I have one.
[18:31] And looking at your plan, Mr. Adams, what are we doing to ensure that developers are held
[18:35] accountable to make sure that we are having to pedestrian right away as well as the
[18:41] bike path.
[18:42] It's an incorporate here.
[18:44] Great question.
[18:45] So I'll give you a little bit of a long-winded answer.
[18:49] So we had a bicycle and pedestrian plan.
[18:51] We worked with the WMPO, the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization a couple of years
[18:55] to go and had a bicycle and pedestrian plan done,
[18:58] which identified areas of high priority
[19:00] for that type of infrastructure.
[19:03] And then we are now looking to move forward
[19:06] with implementing the regulations into our code
[19:10] that will require that type of infrastructure to be built.
[19:14] What we've been doing from this,
[19:16] well, for the past year or so is any time we are able,
[19:20] often through the conditional zoning process,
[19:23] Where the board can place conditions of approval on a project,
[19:27] often one of those conditions is related to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
[19:31] In fact, you'll, in a case later this evening, you'll see that type of condition that will come before you for consideration.
[19:40] And then, of course, when the project gets site plan approval, they have to show that on their site plan,
[19:45] and then before we give the final thumbs up, they have to demonstrate how they've met the requirements,
[19:50] whether it's installed on a sidewalk or multi-use path
[19:53] or dedicating an easement.
[19:57] Follow up on our question and your community meetings
[19:59] you had regarding this plan,
[20:00] how are we going to incorporate this strange structure
[20:04] into existing communities for them to have
[20:06] bike path as well as pedestrian ride away?
[20:10] Great question to you, a great follow-up.
[20:12] So part of it is working closely with WMPO and the DOT.
[20:16] One of the challenges that we have
[20:18] that the Department of Transportation controls the road, so that's out of our hands.
[20:23] If we were a municipal government, we'd have a little bit more of a control of the right
[20:26] away in North Carolina County governments aren't able to control street right of way.
[20:33] Often those facilities are within that right of way, so working closely with DOT to make
[20:38] sure that what the county has identified are priority areas for bicycle and pedestrian
[20:43] infrastructure are also priority areas for DOT.
[20:49] have your, I don't see where the plan addressed the budgetary constraints. Can you speak to
[20:54] all we apply for state, federal grant, funding to support his type of development such
[20:59] as portals and other things? Yes, yes, absolutely. Any time, any chance that we get to apply for
[21:05] grant funding to cover some of the costs for anything that's informed by these plans, we do that.
[21:10] In fact, we have a grand application approved through the WMPO for multi-use path that runs from
[21:18] country club or runs a long country club, basically from Kuanus Park all the way to 17 and then
[21:23] across to top-sold schools.
[21:28] Yes, sir.
[21:30] And lastly, can you speak to what we can do as a governing body to hold developers and others
[21:36] accountable in lieu for you for me with that?
[21:39] Yes, sir.
[21:40] and can you speak to that for the board?
[21:42] Do you mean providing financial requirements
[21:46] in lieu of meeting the standard?
[21:49] Yeah, yes sir, that's an option that the board has.
[21:52] It would have to be codified in most cases.
[21:56] So rather than say, building the sidewalk to know
[21:59] where that folks often talk about,
[22:01] we could have a financial obligation that says,
[22:04] per foot of sidewalk you must contribute X number of dollars
[22:08] and we hold that money in a fund until we have, you know,
[22:13] hundred yards or however long we decide
[22:15] that we're ready to actually install that sidewalk.
[22:18] So that is certainly an option.
[22:21] I think that's not the first of the boy members
[22:22] to really think about.
[22:24] It says the tax pay has a lot of money.
[22:25] If you look at counties that do that and Lou versus is,
[22:29] you can really see that.
[22:30] That really fills that to the developers and hold them really responsible, making sure our communities have provided a quality of life.
[22:36] Yes, sir. That's right.
[22:40] Any other questions or Mr. Adams?
[22:43] Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you.
[22:48] Item 6.2, minutes, minutes.
[22:52] 2025, Pender County Employee Survey results. Welcome. Good afternoon, commissioners.
[23:05] So, we conducted an employee survey in January this year.
[23:09] It consisted of 15 multiple choice questions and two open feedback questions.
[23:17] I told the 199 employees participated in this survey.
[23:21] We had some key workplace factors, including compensation, benefits, career development,
[23:27] employee resources, communication, and retention.
[23:34] So, sorry.
[23:37] There we go.
[23:38] The first question we ask is, what are your top concerns regarding your role in 2025?
[23:45] Compensation-bending benefits, career development, and work-life balance were the top three concerns for employees.
[23:52] On this thing, you'll notice that there's other entries that included diversity and inclusion and health and wellness.
[23:59] And then the second question was the top three focus points employees would like to see is
[24:05] a countywide salary survey, flexible work schedules, including telecommuting and a recognition
[24:12] program.
[24:15] And with that question,
[24:18] it was sorry, I'm so sorry, this pollen has gotten me all messed
[24:22] up in the head today.
[24:24] That question of what employee initiatives would you like to see Pinter County continue to pursue in the future?
[24:30] And it was countywide salaries that are very flexible work schedules, including telecommunications and recognition program.
[24:38] For compensation and benefits, how well do you feel your pay reflects your responsibilities and contributions to the county?
[24:45] Nearly 50% of the survey responses felt that they were compensated well or very well for the work they do within the county.
[24:51] And then how satisfied are you with the benefits package, health care, retirement plans provided by the county, 88% of responses are satisfied with the benefits Pender County offers to its employees.
[25:07] With career development, do you feel that you're provided accurate training to effectively perform your job duties, 44% of employees feel that they have consistent and effective training on a regular basis and 42% felt that way.
[25:23] sometimes and 15% bills that they don't get enough training opportunities.
[25:30] Does your supervisor provide clear and regular feedback on your performance?
[25:35] 90% of the submissions state that they received clear and regular feedback on their performance
[25:40] either sometimes are always.
[25:47] For employee resources, do you feel comfortable going to your supervisor and or department head with an issue or concern?
[25:54] 61% of submissions always still comfortable going to their direct supervisors or department heads.
[26:00] Another 28% feel comfortable sometimes.
[26:04] What additional help and resources would most help you succeed in 2025?
[26:09] The top additional resources were training and skill development programs and better work-life balance initiatives.
[26:17] For communication, do you feel the information that information is provided to you in a timely and effective manner?
[26:24] 90% of the submissions felt that the information is sometimes are always provided in a timely and effective manner.
[26:32] What is your preferred way to receive information from human resources in county administration?
[26:39] 76% of employee submissions prefer email as the primary source of communication.
[26:45] 17% would like to see as explore a text message option.
[26:51] For employee support, how satisfied are you with the level of support and guidance you receive from your direct supervisor?
[26:59] 92% of employee submissions are satisfied or better with support and guidance perceived from their direct supervisors.
[27:08] How effectively does the county foster a collaborative and supportive work environment?
[27:13] 83% of employee submissions feel that the county fosters an overall collaborative and supportive work environment.
[27:21] For retention, do you feel that your work is valued by the Pinder County Administration?
[27:28] 80% of employee submissions feel that sometimes are always supported by Pinder County Administration.
[27:35] How likely are you to recommend Pinder County as a great place to work?
[27:39] 88% of submissions would recommend Pinder County as a great place to work.
[27:45] And do you feel comfortable going to human resources with any issues or concerns?
[27:48] 71% of employee submissions feel comfortable going to HR with an issue or concern.
[27:56] For the open feedback questions, I did a summary and I'm more than happy to send you
[28:03] guys the full list of the answers, but they basically have issues or concerns about their
[28:09] salaries. They want to feel like they are valued as part-time employees as well as full-time
[28:16] employees. There were some concerns about Comptum, Salary
[28:21] Compression, 401K, Employer Construutions, Child
[28:25] Care and Synaves, Financial Coaching Programs, telecommunic
[28:29] or hybrid work options. There was basically we gave the
[28:32] employees a way to express themselves as individuals, and
[28:36] here exactly what their concerns were.
[28:42] And then, how are we, as an HR department, working on all of
[28:46] things. For our compensation and benefits, we just kicked off our employee wellness incentive
[28:53] last year. It's turned out fantastic. We had over 200 employees participate in the HRAs,
[29:00] which was phenomenal for the first year doing it. We did propose an enhanced longevity program
[29:07] for this coming fiscal year where you can get longevity earlier in your career. A revised
[29:13] bereavement policy to support employees when they really do need that extra support.
[29:18] A 360 compensation review plan, which involves internal salary studies on certain positions
[29:27] that we see are affected with a lot of high tone or so we really pay attention to those positions
[29:31] and focus on making sure they're compensated right. For career development, we have career development
[29:42] or supervisors can come in and sit down with us in small group settings.
[29:47] We go over certain things.
[29:48] Like, I do one.
[29:49] It's a written warning class where they learn all about the process of written warnings
[29:53] and how to have those positive instead of negative conversations with their employees.
[29:58] Please.
[29:59] We are...
[30:00] Are having training seminars more than ever before. We've got one coming up for May, where we're
[30:06] doing our increments and it's training on all different topics throughout the county, everything
[30:12] from employees need help with their time sheets. Finance is going to come in and do an hour
[30:16] on time sheets. If employees want to know more about what the fire marshal says is a good
[30:21] idea for workplace safety, the fire marshal is going to come in and sit down with employees for an
[30:25] or in any employees welcome to go to those.
[30:29] We also are working on an executive leadership program,
[30:32] wherever your current employees can apply
[30:36] and they can take this executive leadership program.
[30:40] It's one class of month for nine months,
[30:44] and they just learn different resources
[30:45] about management and supervisor skills that way
[30:48] they can grow, especially if they're not already
[30:51] in a supervisor position.
[30:53] For employee resources,
[30:54] we have had a lot of lunch and learn events. They have been fantastic. We have really
[31:03] tried to make these events where all employees feel welcome, and they also are funded by our,
[31:13] I guess, vendors. Gallagher just hosted our PIDA celebration. It was great. Civics hosted
[31:20] a informational session on the bank and the switch over to from LGFCU to civics.
[31:28] The employee health fair is something we just started last year.
[31:31] We had a great turnout.
[31:33] A lot of employees came out.
[31:35] They got their cards punched.
[31:37] They learned about the different vendors.
[31:40] Pender perks is something we're working on.
[31:42] This is a discount program for employees.
[31:45] Different discounts from throughout Bergall and the local area of where they can get.
[31:50] cheaper prices on certain items. We also offer EAP. We are looking at additional EAP resources
[31:57] because that is something mental health is clearly a high priority right now. Communication.
[32:08] I started sending out HR highlights because employees felt that they couldn't ever find the
[32:13] information they were looking for. So every month at the beginning of the month we send out an email
[32:17] of stating all the different things that are going on throughout the month and just outline
[32:23] every detail and special links that they might need here and stuff like that.
[32:28] We also have tried to, or we plan to start incorporating a continuous feedback evaluation
[32:34] program, where instead of the normal annual evaluation that's connected to mirror increases,
[32:41] we do a more communication based evaluation system, where we get employees talking to
[32:47] their super-risage on more regular basis.
[32:50] For employee support, we have an HR Open Door Policy.
[32:54] Our door is open all of the time.
[32:58] Any employees welcome to stop by at any point in time
[33:00] when we're always there to help them.
[33:02] We have the voice of integrity, foam line,
[33:05] where they can call anonymously, give their little input
[33:09] on any concerns they have,
[33:11] and we will deal with them as we get them.
[33:13] We have a leadership in full bloom,
[33:16] supervisor training event coming up. This is to give the supervisors the resources they need to really
[33:25] coach and lead their employees in a positive light. And then recruitment and retention,
[33:32] we have more employee engagement events. If you don't have engaged in employees, we don't have
[33:38] anything. We really need to work on getting our employees more engaged. So employee engagement events,
[33:44] Fletch's work schedules that allows them to flex four days a week or 830 to 530 or whatever it may be.
[33:52] And then career connections and job fairs, we've started attending more job fairs.
[33:57] And we planned a career connections event at the Bergau Library where members of the public can come in and sit down
[34:04] and fill in an application see what jobs are available, see if they're interested in applying for any of the jobs we have available.
[34:11] And then we have our future leaders internship program.
[34:15] This program is actually for Pender County High School students.
[34:20] It's just a summer internship where they had to fill in an application.
[34:24] We did interviews for them and we picked three interns for this coming summer.
[34:30] And they're going to get to learn about all the different county options we have available.
[34:38] Any questions?
[34:40] Thank you, Ms. Ben. Any questions in the spirit?
[34:44] Yes,
[34:47] sir.
[34:47] Ms. Ben, how many people did you say to the survey 181?
[34:53] 199, sorry. Excuse me.
[34:55] How many of those employees were from Department of Social Services?
[34:59] I do not know.
[35:01] We did not ask specifics about who was taking them,
[35:04] because we wanted them to know that it was anonymous,
[35:06] and they could feel free to talk about their issues.
[35:10] Okay, so what I'm going to ask is I'm not going to say anything out of confidentiality, but what
[35:17] I'm going to ask is, can we do a survey for that particular part of the government?
[35:23] We can.
[35:23] Yes, yes.
[35:24] We absolutely can.
[35:26] Further, I would like to add or ask, I guess you would call it, to take away the telecommuting
[35:33] or flexible work schedules because I don't know about the rest of the board, but I'm not
[35:36] in favor of people working from home.
[35:38] And so what I would ask you is how many people across the county government are working
[35:45] from home and have a second job?
[35:47] Well they aren't working from home.
[35:48] It's a flex schedule where they can come in later and leave later or come in earlier
[35:53] and leave earlier.
[35:54] They're not necessarily working from home.
[35:56] They're just flexing their hours to where it accommodates their home life but also accommodates
[36:01] with the county needs.
[36:02] The county has actually been able to keep certain doors open longer because of it.
[36:13] DSS does work, telecommuting, their IMC case workers because of space availability at the time.
[36:19] And I will to take that as a excuse right now, but when the new building is built,
[36:23] I'm not in favor of them working from home.
[36:27] And Commissioner Springer, that has been relayed to the Central Services Director and Health
[36:31] Director as well, that once the new building has been everyone is required to be in that building.
[36:36] Thanks, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.
[36:38] It's been at what? So out of the 199. As of right now, how many employees does Pender County employ?
[36:44] A little over 500 full-time employees and about under 300 part-time employees.
[36:53] So we didn't even get 50% of our employees to fill the survey out.
[36:57] And I expressed the need as in and out to all of the employees. I also had to part my head, send it out to them.
[37:04] I'd pretty much a big people to fill it out for me.
[37:08] That's somewhat troubling.
[37:09] I mean, you got some good numbers, but that's somewhat troubling
[37:11] to when we had less than 50%, yeah.
[37:16] Thank you.
[37:16] Thank you.
[37:17] Chairman, may I ask the question?
[37:18] Yes, absolutely.
[37:19] You said 29% of the employees indicated.
[37:22] I'm sorry, 71%, I believe, indicated.
[37:25] High-level satisfaction would come into the HR department, correct?
[37:28] I believe that's 29%.
[37:30] That's the, that's the 29% were worried about. Okay. What mechanisms do we have in place to help those 29%? That's a high number. And is that number increase in our zone of decline based on the previous year results?
[37:43] So last year there was not an employee full survey done. I would like to do one next year based off of these same questions. So we can get a true, I guess, meter of how we're going and how we're improving.
[37:55] I don't like the 71% of the, as an HR representative, I don't like that.
[38:01] I would rather employees know that they can come to us at any point in time.
[38:04] And that's where we've been trying to host more.
[38:07] We did a coffee and kudos event where employees came in, they got free cups of coffee,
[38:14] they've got cupcakes, and they were able to write kudos cards to their co-workers and encourage
[38:21] their co-workers.
[38:22] And we did that in our HR department where they could come in and meet us face-to-face.
[38:27] And we had really good feedback from that event.
[38:29] And that's what we're trying to do.
[38:30] We're trying to get more employees into CS.
[38:33] And then also, it's a stretch right now because we haven't.
[38:39] We don't have the resources to do it right now.
[38:41] But I would love for HR to be able to go out to departments and speak to employees.
[38:47] Because if we can't get them to come to CS, we should be going to see them.
[38:51] What kind of resources do you need to do that?
[38:53] More people.
[38:55] More people.
[38:56] More people.
[38:59] So is it possible to split the office up for one day a week?
[39:03] Maybe.
[39:04] It's possible.
[39:06] All of our employees have their workload and it's a very high workload for every single one of us.
[39:12] We all have different tasks we handle.
[39:14] It's not everybody does the same thing.
[39:15] We have an employee that's specifically for HR payroll and FMLA in Workers' Comp.
[39:21] And she's very good at her duty, so when an employee comes in and wants to ask questions
[39:26] about FMLA, we know we can send them to Lisa and she can answer all of their questions.
[39:33] But we do cross-trained, so it is possibility.
[39:37] Would it be fair to say you're operating pretty lean right now?
[39:43] Yeah, we are, we are all passionate about the work we do in our department, every single one
[39:51] of us are there because we want to be there, we want to support the employees of Interkemmy.
[39:56] So we all push ourselves above and beyond, no matter how many people we have.
[40:02] Well, thanks for the work you're doing so far, but I know we as a board, we value each and
[40:06] employee in this county. From the minimum level entry person right up to department directors,
[40:12] we value every employee. They're what makes things happen. It's not us. It's the employees.
[40:21] Any other questions? Chairman, how many employees do we have in HR now?
[40:25] There are five. We have Ian Crawford. He is our benefits. And then we have Lisa Miller. She is our
[40:35] workers comp, FMLA and HR payroll.
[40:40] We have Marco Hamis.
[40:44] He is over recruitment and orientation new hire or
[40:49] morning.
[40:50] Then we have myself and Pam and we handle anything and
[40:54] everything that comes her way.
[40:56] How many positions have you all grown in the last five years?
[40:59] In the last five years?
[41:02] I.
[41:09] We had one part time go to full time and I think there was a
[41:13] class. At some point. And lastly, what measures? I didn't hear the measures that we have
[41:19] in place to address to 29%. So that is basically us getting employees comfortable in speaking
[41:27] to us, us going out and talking to them, us letting them know we're an open door policy,
[41:32] basically communication is what it all boils down to. We want them to feel comfortable coming
[41:38] us. We are a resource, not just for you guys, but for the employees. That's exactly what we are.
[41:46] In every way, if an employee struggles with the day, I want them to feel comfortable coming
[41:50] sitting in my office and be like, Kim, I need help with this. And we don't, we've done little
[42:00] things to try to improve employment, because I think that's where it falls short. They don't
[42:06] recognize that they can come to HR so we've really tried to push
[42:11] employee engagement when it comes to that.
[42:17] I would just miss Mr. Chair of again. I would just challenge one person a week
[42:22] if you got five people, one person a week. I don't care who it is to go to East
[42:28] Department. And I don't care if he's been an hour, I don't care if he's been eight
[42:32] hours. But just to try to meet with the people because you're not going to
[42:36] build trust in the people unless you get down and communicate with them.
[42:38] Right, and I understand you're running a lean system over there and I got it, but in order to retain employees
[42:47] Bam could go you could go some of your other look I don't know about you, but I didn't like sitting in office
[42:52] I would rather be out with people and and I'm sure I don't know that the rest of you wouldn't either
[42:58] Start by winning is to get you something either on the way. I don't care what you do. I would like Mr. County Manager if you can make this happen
[43:04] and with the board signing off on this to make sure human resources gets out and
[43:11] visits with the people and see what kind of feedback we can truly get versus half
[43:16] of the county.
[43:17] I don't know what employees contributed to this survey but I would ask for a better feedback
[43:24] than less than 50%.
[43:26] Yes, sir.
[43:27] Vice Chair Springer, I can meet with Pam and Kim and talk about potential options moving forward
[43:31] for engagement.
[43:32] Thanks,
[43:36] sir. Any other questions from Ms. Bennett?
[43:41] All right. Thank you.
[43:41] Thank you, Ms. Bennett.
[43:49] Moving on to public comment, Mr. Thurmond, or Mr. Hogan.
[43:52] I think Mr. Hogan may have the sign-ups, Mr. Thurmond.
[43:55] I think Mr. Chega, I have the sign.
[43:57] How many of you have, sir?
[43:59] Sir.
[43:59] OK.
[44:01] So before you call those, I'm going to read a disclaimer here
[44:04] for every public comment section that we have.
[44:07] So speakers will be acknowledged by the board,
[44:10] chairperson and order, in which the names appear on the sheet.
[44:13] the speakers shall address the board from the podium and begin comments by stating their name and their address.
[44:21] Speaker shall be courteous and respectful in their remarks.
[44:24] And shall refrain from personal attacks and the use of profanity and the discussion of personnel or other matters deemed confidential by law.
[44:34] We'll limit this to 30 minutes.
[44:36] I think we've got six speakers so we should be good there and you'll each be allowed three minutes to speak.
[44:41] So, with that, Mr. Togan?
[44:44] Yes, sir. Thank you.
[44:45] First person is Kenneth Ramsey?
[44:48] Mr. Ramsey?
[44:50] Well,
[44:52] Commissioner.
[44:52] Kenneth Ramsey.
[44:54] Live at 840 Murray Town Road, here in Burgo.
[45:00] Most of y'all know me, I've been around a long time. I've been friends with several of you.
[45:05] But right now I came to speak on something that's actually only a agenda called legal advertisements,
[45:09] which is we all know as a hidden way of bringing up the pinder post and voice issue.
[45:19] I'm gonna say that only in a communist country, like Russia or China, does the government try to destroy media that it doesn't agree with?
[45:30] Some of it might say that this is going to be some kind of a fiscal issue.
[45:35] However, I do know that there has been talk of censure in the post ever since the last maybe a couple years.
[45:45] Right now, it's hidden, it's only a agenda in a weird way.
[45:49] Not even by the one that proposed it with another name under it.
[45:54] I'm going to read a post that I read online or somebody sent me that was a social media
[45:59] post that might put some light on it.
[46:03] The Pender Post is hit rock bottom, just a reminder, no matter what pays the Pender Post
[46:09] puts me on, I will never stop fighting for the citizens of Pender County.
[46:15] We are 300 million in debt in climbing.
[46:18] You're heading for the highest tax increases in the history of Pender County if something isn't done.
[46:24] The Pender Post will do anything to stop me from helping you, God bless Pender and the citizens.
[46:30] That right there should prove that anything to do with moving the legal advertisements from the post is nothing but a malicious act in a vindictive manner.
[46:42] And that particular Commissioner I hadn't seen him do anything on this tax issue or
[46:47] big debt in the last couple of years that he's been here.
[46:52] I'm going to skip on now.
[46:54] I want to congratulate Commissioner Dr. Tate over there for coming back.
[47:00] And I applaud you for bringing your many years of experience back to the board.
[47:04] I know it was a big decision for you.
[47:08] I supported you when you ran for office last time, I was out there, owned the poles, and I remember when it was a candidate running for a different office, different district, same office, stated, in front of several people, if that gosh darn black man gets elected, there's no way I'm working for him.
[47:31] Of course, he didn't use the words gosh darn or black man. I'm not I can't am this for him say that actual words he used
[47:40] She can figure it out
[47:42] You got into office, and I know you were belittled and
[47:47] harassed until he got
[47:48] Almost unbearable and you had to leave
[47:51] But I do apologize you for coming back friends and facing everything again. I know it's tough
[47:59] But I know you're the right man for the job, and we'll be praying that you can stay right here. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
[48:08] The next one is Rosal White Side.
[48:15] Ms. White Side, it's welcome.
[48:20] My name is Rosal White Side. I live at 315 West Bridger Street in Berga.
[48:25] And I'm asking that the Pinder Post Voice remained the paper of record in Pinder County.
[48:31] And that you, not seek personal revenge or retribution for a colleague whose political aims were thwarted and who appears to be lashing out by writing the following in the top so times.
[48:46] And I quote, surely if Mr. Publisher continues his moral bankruptcy, his newspaper will equally, will be equally so before long.
[48:58] It appears that our county commissioners aim to bankrupt our local paper of record for editorial differences of opinion.
[49:06] This flies in the face of the first amendment of our Constitution which guarantees the right to free speech without political retaliation.
[49:15] It is also worth noting that switching to the star news will pass on a major financial burden to the residents of Pindor County.
[49:22] A subscription to the star news cost $44441 for the first year.
[49:30] The Pinterposed Voice costs $35 per year.
[49:35] And everyone should understand it is vastly more expensive for our county to publish with
[49:44] the star the Wilmington Star News than in the Pinterposed Voice.
[49:49] I hope that our county commissioners will show themselves to be responsible stewards of our tax payers money.
[49:59] Thank you.
[50:00] Thank you, Madam.
[50:03] The next person is Charlie Schumacher.
[50:15] Mr. Michael Welp.
[50:20] And commissioners, thank you for the privilege of speaking for you.
[50:25] I noticed on this contract I read the program for tonight's activities that will be discussing
[50:30] Union Rescue and Pindor EMS also so I'm not going to go there right now. I just want to encourage
[50:36] you to do diligence and come up with a very good plan for the county. That's the best that I can
[50:43] ask. And also to let you know that last Tuesday night, out at the Watha Town Hall, we had a
[50:50] meeting degree, Dr. Tate came and spoke to about 20 of our citizens. Some of who were here tonight
[50:56] which is good to see. And we're going to have one this coming Tuesday, the 29th coming up at the
[51:05] Pindor Lee Volunteer Fire Department. And if any people would like us to come to the east side of the
[51:11] county, Scott Sill, Tom Sill, you know, Holly over in the Holy Ridge area anywhere, Bergau, Rocky
[51:17] Point. We'll make arrangements to come there also so that we can get input from the county. So
[51:23] Dr. Tate and the commissioners can do a better job of serving the county, so I'm done.
[51:29] Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak.
[51:32] Thank you, sir.
[51:37] The next person is Diane Gettings.
[51:46] Chief Gettings.
[51:47] Welcome.
[51:48] Thank you, gentlemen.
[51:49] I am Diane Gettings and I live in Willard.
[51:53] I'm speaking today on behalf of Union Rescue Squad,
[51:56] it's membership and Board of Directors at large
[51:59] and reference to the item on your agenda for writing a new contract for Union Rescue Squad.
[52:06] This is placed on the agenda by Commissioner Tade, who has done quite a bit of research on this
[52:13] and has also been involved in the operations at Union Rescue.
[52:21] We are asking for a lot of reasons that you vote favorably.
[52:26] I'm not going to delineate those.
[52:28] However...
[52:30] I teach my students at the college, you can't treat what you can't see. So I encourage you to come see what union has, experience what we have, and you will want it to remain in the county. I just have one further comment.
[52:47] I know that the county is weary of this battle that has been unnecessary.
[52:57] I ask, can we all, and I am really including our first responders, can we lay aside any
[53:05] ambiguity, any ill will, can we move forward in peace and harmony, which is what God has
[53:12] called us to do as first responders?
[53:16] Thank you, ma
[53:21] 'am.
[53:22] Next person is Martha Daniel.
[53:29] Okay, yes, ma'am.
[53:32] Beth Butler.
[53:39] Yes, butler.
[53:44] Good evening, Thomas.
[53:45] There's my name is Beth Butler.
[53:47] I reside at 113 Cooch Trail in Handstand, North Carolina.
[53:52] I'm here on behalf of the legal ads.
[53:55] I would like to know what these cartoon character pictures of you all mean.
[54:03] in the Pender Post and Voice because this is very disrespectful to have commissioners in a drawing
[54:15] the famed like this, elected officials that people elected to follow the law in our county.
[54:25] And by on while we're on that track, I would like to talk about the law in North Carolina
[54:30] because, you know, that's the only way you get changed is by following the law and other
[54:35] elected officials, I know that you all intend to follow the law.
[54:39] North Carolina statute law, specifically North Carolina statute, 1-596, requires that
[54:47] legal notices be published in a newspaper that is published in the county and has general
[54:53] circulation within that county.
[54:55] The purpose of the general circulation requirement is to ensure that public notices
[55:00] reach a wide audience, keeping residents like me on the east side and formed about important
[55:08] community matters. The post-invoice does not meet the standard due to its extremely limited
[55:17] circulation. I also, Pinter County currently under our last resident number estimate was
[55:27] 70,000. The post-employees ran out of Mr. Petagrew's home. I doubt is reaching one percent of
[55:34] those voters. I mean, excuse me, citizens, tax-paying citizens, actually. The star news
[55:42] which serves entire Southeast or North Carolina has over 10,000 paid subscribers. So for someone
[55:51] On the east side of the county, I very few people on the east part know this is being circulated
[55:58] in our county, the circus or soap opera, or I don't know what it is to be, if you guys
[56:05] could tell me why you're a cartoon character in the paper.
[56:09] But the North Carolina, let me, let me, law changes everything.
[56:13] The North Carolina Court of Appeals has emphasized the importance of meeting all statutory criteria
[56:19] for legal notices, including general circulation.
[56:27] You know, I just, this disqualifies the pinder post and voice to be our county paper.
[56:34] This paper received over $100,000 for legal ads.
[56:40] As a resident, especially on the east side of the county,
[56:43] I'm asking commissioners to follow the law.
[56:47] Thank you.
[56:48] And remember the east side of the county has no news.
[56:52] Thank you.
[56:53] And so if anybody would like to look
[56:59] for me.
[56:59] Thank you.
[57:01] Ms. Butler.
[57:03] Thank you.
[57:11] Teddy.
[57:12] Okay.
[57:14] All right.
[57:18] Automate the consent agenda.
[57:22] Any motions or amendments to the consent agenda?
[57:26] Sure, but I don't have any amendments.
[57:28] I like the pool agenda items 8.18.6 if I could.
[57:33] as well as 8.10 and I was going to pull 8.13, but I've already had that question answer
[57:38] this afternoon.
[57:38] Thank you.
[57:40] So, items 8.18, 8.18, all right, yes, sir.
[57:44] Anybody else?
[57:58] Is there a motion on the amended consent agenda?
[58:01] So, mobile on the motion.
[58:03] All right.
[58:03] Motion is on the table.
[58:04] Is there a second?
[58:06] A second?
[58:07] All those in favor of the consent agenda.
[58:09] As amended, I think if I'm saying aye, raise your hand, aye.
[58:14] Okay.
[58:16] So, okay.
[58:21] Do you want to address this item's first amendment?
[58:23] Let's just go in order.
[58:24] Yeah, that will.
[58:25] Yes, sir.
[58:26] So we'll go to number nine and start with 8.1 correct.
[58:30] Yes, sir.
[58:33] Yes.
[58:34] So, 8.1 is just a approval of the minutes from 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006,
[58:41] for our executive sessions. As I had stated in previous emails, which I'm not sure Dr. Tadef you
[58:48] if you had received that email, but these minutes are all available in my office. They're printed
[58:55] out. The missioners just have to come and treat them if they would like. I can't attest that
[59:01] these minutes are very bare-bones minutes. Most of the time, just state these commissioners were here.
[59:09] No action was taken, but they are always available for any of you to come in and review.
[59:19] Again, this is, like our last meeting, this is just a housekeeping one.
[59:24] I don't have a record of these getting approved.
[59:26] This is just my way of establishing a concrete evidence that they were approved and that
[59:34] these are the minutes.
[59:35] I do realize that you guys were not on the board at the time when these minutes took place.
[59:39] But I would much rather have the board approve them officially than somebody come and ask for them and I'd be required to give them without anybody on our board or the board, having at least acknowledge them as their minutes.
[59:56] Let's thank you for doing your due diligence and that.
[1:00:00] I suppose my dilemma is that we're proven a minutes again, it's 20 years old. We're going to let us for all of the board at that time.
[1:00:07] Don't think. And so, how are we attestant that the information that we're proven as accurate?
[1:00:13] I mean, what I can tell you of the minutes is they have been passed from each clerk.
[1:00:20] I know myself and I know the clerks prior to me were very passionate about their jobs.
[1:00:26] So it is me trusting my predecessors that they also did their job in maintaining these minutes,
[1:00:34] which I do believe they have.
[1:00:37] Ms. Pregn was phenomenal, Ms. Long, Ms. Klein.
[1:00:41] They did their jobs and so I'm just hoping to, you know,
[1:00:47] for my purposes specifically that make sure these have been.
[1:00:51] I can't attest, again, that 20 years ago, these were exactly what they said.
[1:00:56] I can just trust that the minute it's happened, held the way they're supposed to be held,
[1:01:03] cared for, and looked after, and just trying to wrap it up, but I'll go at this point.
[1:01:08] Good job.
[1:01:08] You call three names, I highly respect, you must have never called those three names, right?
[1:01:13] I yield my questions and say that at the next meeting, can you just bring all of the minutes
[1:01:17] that need to be approved so we can prove all those at one time versus keep going back?
[1:01:20] Um, I can, but that will be probably like a hundred minutes, um, because I mean, as the years go by,
[1:01:33] as each year goes by, I have more thorough records like, um, when we prior to you being on the board,
[1:01:40] the board adopted minutes from the 1990s, um, those minutes I didn't have every single minute for the year,
[1:01:46] which again, those could have been adopted and put into our regular session minutes and the
[1:01:52] ones that I don't have that I have in front of me at the 1990s, 90s minutes. Those could
[1:01:59] have very well just not been put in because they were still at that time. I'm not available
[1:02:04] for public record.
[1:02:07] So I can, I can definitely do that, but if you're wanting to come
[1:02:11] and read them, that will be over.
[1:02:13] That's why I had kind of broken them up
[1:02:15] just because, like, you know, Commissioner Springer,
[1:02:18] he's coming and he's reviewed the minutes before,
[1:02:21] which they're pretty bare-bone,
[1:02:23] but, you know, as the time has gone on,
[1:02:26] the minutes have become more detailed,
[1:02:28] they've become longer, I have more of the minutes
[1:02:31] than I did say from 1990,
[1:02:34] and that year, I think I had maybe six sets of minutes,
[1:02:37] But you know, like 2004 or six, two or three, four or five and six, I have the full year.
[1:02:43] So now you're talking every close session that we have for special meetings, emergency meetings, regular meetings.
[1:02:50] So we can add up, I'm, but again, I'm more than happy to do that.
[1:02:55] Just know, it'll be a pretty solid block of documents if you come in to read it.
[1:03:03] But I can definitely do that. If you, if the board would prefer that.
[1:03:06] Thank you.
[1:03:08] Have a wrap.
[1:03:09] Any other questions from the staff on the side?
[1:03:12] If none, one of the wishes of the board?
[1:03:16] Move for approval, Mr. Chairman.
[1:03:18] All right.
[1:03:18] Motion on the table.
[1:03:19] Is there second?
[1:03:20] I like my amendment to the motion if I don't rotate would.
[1:03:23] Certainly.
[1:03:24] Motion to approve 8.1 through 8.5.
[1:03:32] I do believe 8.234 and 5 were approved when you made a motion to approve the consent agenda
[1:03:38] We just pulled off item 8.1, 8.6 and 8.10.
[1:03:42] Okay, I understand.
[1:03:44] So you're gonna go back to the original motion
[1:03:45] that Dr. Take, but don't look like you were.
[1:03:48] And you're in second.
[1:03:49] Say, all right, there's a fever sick five saying,
[1:03:52] I raise your hand, thank you.
[1:03:55] So now we're gonna go to 8.6.
[1:03:59] Mr. Bloom, Mr. Bloom, welcome.
[1:04:07] Yes, we had a county wreck, one of our vehicles,
[1:04:11] not on our fault, and the insurance company sent us over check to care of it, and actually we
[1:04:19] have to vehicle back in our hands. That's just a reimbursement so that we can put the money back
[1:04:26] in our fund.
[1:04:29] I'll pull that item today because to say to our county employees that when you drive
[1:04:34] safe, I believe this accident could have been much worse, but I think the employees safe, I believe.
[1:04:41] I've heard about this and when it happened, as well as it brings money back to the county.
[1:04:47] How else is that to do additional things that we need to accomplish here?
[1:04:50] So, good job of you and your team for safe drop-in and to the employee.
[1:04:55] Thank you.
[1:04:57] Any other questions, Mr. Blin?
[1:05:00] If none, I'll entertain a motion.
[1:05:04] Second.
[1:05:04] Motion in a second.
[1:05:05] So, on the table.
[1:05:07] So, all those in favor of sick and thumps in, I raise your hand.
[1:05:09] Hi.
[1:05:10] All right.
[1:05:10] Moving on to 8.10. Mr. Terry, welcome.
[1:05:21] Good evening commissioners. So this request is for an increase in an existing purchase order for our uniforms that we have through the
[1:05:34] the first company. It's just an increase. The money's already allocated in the FY25 budget process.
[1:05:43] So that's just a request for an increase.
[1:05:49] Is it for additional uniform?
[1:05:51] Yeah. No, it's not additional. It's we have a contract that was signed prior to our arrival
[1:05:57] that the guys have reflective shirts and stuff.
[1:06:02] And basically this was done before we ever got here.
[1:06:08] And so now we just need to increase the budget
[1:06:10] for the remainder of the year.
[1:06:12] Or this purchase order for the remainder of the year.
[1:06:17] It's Jim, why are we running and not buying the uniforms?
[1:06:20] It's a call savings to the county.
[1:06:22] Those are some of the options that I would like to look at
[1:06:26] But we are already under a contract until 2028.
[1:06:30] And I know I think multiple departments utilize
[1:06:33] universe and again, it was something that
[1:06:37] was signed prior to arrival.
[1:06:40] Mr. Terry, how long is it contract good for?
[1:06:43] Again, I think don't quote me too much,
[1:06:46] but I think it's until 2028, if I'm not mistaken.
[1:06:51] But they also provide the matte services and stuff
[1:06:53] maybe why it can help me out with this as well too, but they also provide the formats, cleaning
[1:07:00] of the floor mats throughout all of the county buildings and stuff.
[1:07:04] Mr. County Mayor, can you send us to contract?
[1:07:07] Yes sir.
[1:07:09] Thank you sir.
[1:07:10] Thank you sir.
[1:07:12] You know, without the increase, you know, the current contract is and how many employees
[1:07:17] it out fits.
[1:07:18] So for, I do not know about other departments, but this is specifically for my department, it's around 24 employees.
[1:07:30] Our year is what we budget for. And that's what I put into budget. This current year is for the money. This just goes over to $30,000 threshold for you guys approval.
[1:07:43] And I would thank you and allow them to have four or five uniforms of peace or maybe it's a total of seven.
[1:07:49] seven yeah okay because because we're to you know 24 hours
[1:07:53] yeah operation and your guys are yeah so they can
[1:07:56] end the dirt of a lot yes they are okay
[1:07:59] mister how long have you been with the guy 18 months 18 months uh I would
[1:08:03] ask some of the commissioner been here before me had any uh of the
[1:08:08] fund as it ever been thought about to give a clothing allowance
[1:08:11] kind of like the dinner service I think commissioner George
[1:08:14] come in. Maybe he can help.
[1:08:17] Yeah, I was not asked. Is this what you have performed for system watch, shirt band, possibly
[1:08:22] jacket for one?
[1:08:23] Yes, so they have, they have a four and one bomber jacket, obviously dealing with water. When
[1:08:30] they're in the hole and stuff, it's cold. It's rain, rain proof. It does have the reflective
[1:08:36] on it. They do have t-shirts for the summer that was sent for approval, but they also have
[1:08:43] reflective vest and the pants that are required for DOT.
[1:08:49] This is for 24 employees, 7 sets of uniforms?
[1:08:54] Yes, sir.
[1:08:55] They're not if-arrated or anything, they're just-
[1:08:58] No, they're just standard NCDOT uniforms with reflective vest.
[1:09:02] Basically what you saw at the last meeting, where they were standing up here and they had
[1:09:06] the reflective on it, and then the gray pants and stuff, that's exactly what they were
[1:09:12] wearing in the field.
[1:09:15] Does universe handle the cleaning or does that look?
[1:09:17] So they handle the cleaning also.
[1:09:19] They handle the cleaning.
[1:09:20] So the employees bring them in every single week.
[1:09:23] They handle the cleaning and then they bring them back.
[1:09:27] And then they also, if any of the reflective,
[1:09:30] because if any of the reflective actually wears down,
[1:09:35] you're actually supposed to replace it
[1:09:37] by NCDOT standards.
[1:09:39] So they will replace that piece of a payroll.
[1:09:43] The reason I asked God, not source our uniforms at work, and first was our supplier, and
[1:09:50] with seven sets of uniforms that over $30,000, that's kind of really excessive.
[1:09:56] Yes.
[1:09:57] Our uniforms is, if our rate it, and I outfit 13 pairs of total of 24 people for $13,000 a year.
[1:10:11] And these prices, like I said, were set before I ever came here, the uniforms were already set before I came.
[1:10:19] And also, if you think when a employee resigns, that employee turns their uniforms back in,
[1:10:27] and then when we hire another person, they have to get their sizes and purchase the pants and the shirts and stuff as well too.
[1:10:36] So there is a cost incurred with that as well.
[1:10:40] That should be part of the contract, calls to the end.
[1:10:44] And so what I found out when I first got here and started looking at the uniform prices,
[1:10:47] I went line item by line item through each employee and it was crazy.
[1:10:53] There were some employees that had four or five jackets.
[1:10:57] And there were some employees that had 20 different shirts or 20 different pants.
[1:11:03] And so I actually worked with the uniform company met with regional manager and set down and went through each employee.
[1:11:13] You'd a line item by line item and said, no, this is our standard, this is what each employee has to have and so we were weeded down the cost a lot from what we were before.
[1:11:27] So, I'm sure you don't know the answer, but what other departments does facilities
[1:11:32] are they informed, fleet, is it informed?
[1:11:40] That is correct, facilities, fleet services, which includes custodial fleet and the
[1:11:45] facilities staff.
[1:11:47] It is operating under separate PO, same contract, I believe Mr. Terry is correct, at
[1:11:53] year 28 is when the contract is set to expire. We can certainly provide that to the commissioners and look into that further.
[1:12:00] As Mr. Cherry pointed out, additionally, we do get some custodial services, supplies from the department.
[1:12:06] Things like soaps, gels, dispensers, hand sanitizer and like.
[1:12:10] So those come out of a different department fund or coded to our or code for our department specifically.
[1:12:19] Any further questions?
[1:12:20] So we're going to be running maps and these clothing for three years.
[1:12:24] Yes, sir, that is my understanding.
[1:12:32] Mr. Terry, has a uniform allowance ever been discussed or brought up, investigated?
[1:12:36] No, sir.
[1:12:38] Mr. Silverman, Mr. Chairman, I would ask that we could table this and they have the county manager
[1:12:42] investigate how much the cost difference between written this, these uniforms and mats out,
[1:12:49] versus providing uniform allowance to our employees.
[1:12:54] Is that considerable, maybe for like the main meeting?
[1:12:58] we can do that, yes sir. And maybe tag team and have Mr. Hogan sort of look over that
[1:13:02] contract with you and see if there's any negotiation room left in it.
[1:13:07] Just make the correct. That's what I'd like to have.
[1:13:10] Fifteen? Is that good? May 5th?
[1:13:12] Yes. Is that okay next meeting?
[1:13:14] Okay.
[1:13:16] Mr. Chairman, let me ask Mr. Manager question. Did you do any calls to analysis before you put
[1:13:20] this item on agenda today?
[1:13:21] I did not do any calls to analysis on this item.
[1:13:24] You'll comment. Mr. Thurman is that require a voter we're just going to table it
[1:13:32] till next week.
[1:13:35] All right, so I'll entertain that motion then.
[1:13:38] So move.
[1:13:39] Second. All right, motion on table. And second, those in favor of table until May 5th.
[1:13:44] I think if I'm saying hi, raise your hand. All right. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
[1:13:51] All right.
[1:13:51] Item 9.1.
[1:13:57] Mr. White, well-conserved.
[1:14:01] Chairman Burton and commissioners, good evening.
[1:14:05] So, coming tonight before you up to approval to accept a $4,239 grant from the NRA foundation
[1:14:15] and the attached budget ordinance amendment.
[1:14:19] So, this is for programming for the Holy Sheldon Shudon Range.
[1:14:23] The grant includes $1,000 and $24 monetary funding, as well as $3,215 in supplies that
[1:14:33] can be used for programming.
[1:14:35] This grant has helped us in the past and will help us in the future, all for the program,
[1:14:40] such as women on target with the share of support and introduction to five stand, which
[1:14:45] our shotgun range and various other competitions and programs so if there's any questions
[1:14:53] I'll take them now and questions Mr. White I do want to make a comment thanks for you and
[1:14:57] your staff for always looking into grant up.
[1:15:00] Or, tending to just bring money back to our county. Thank you for that.
[1:15:02] We're always looking. Most of us have.
[1:15:06] Motion is on the table of set with a second. There's a favor signify of saying, I'm not a raise your hand.
[1:15:12] Thank you, Miss Michael. Move around along. I'm a nine point two, Mr. Proctor. Welcome, sir.
[1:15:22] and then just ran the board to get even a changed broader but with
[1:15:27] bitter county utilities. Bring for you tonight a approval of a budget
[1:15:32] ordinance amendment with the Cape Fair Water and sewer authority for our
[1:15:37] part of the 54-inch Lyon Project for Dr. Tate and others who don't know how we
[1:15:43] got here. This is our second payment of
[1:15:52] excuse me of 581,975
[1:15:56] dollars and the history of this is the Lower Cape Fair Water and sewer authority began
[1:16:03] pump and roll water from lock and dam one in 1984 to Brunswick County. In 2012,
[1:16:09] Pender County became receiving water from the Cape Fair River. Prior to 2022, Lower Cape
[1:16:14] Fair Water and sewer authority had only one singular 48-inch water transmission line.
[1:16:19] The ran 24 miles and served Brunswick CFPway Pender and two industries on 421.
[1:16:25] In 2019, the authority embarked on a project to parallel the first 14 miles of the line with a 54-inch transmission line.
[1:16:33] Project was funded by CFPway Brunswick and Pender County in exchange for guaranteed allocations of water.
[1:16:39] Lime was completed in operational May of 22.
[1:16:42] And 23, the authority and its partners embarked on securing funding and moving forward with
[1:16:48] the next 10 miles of 54-inch line to be paralleled.
[1:16:53] For this project funding, we'll secure it through ARPA, state appropriations, match by CFPUA,
[1:16:59] and Pender to make the project happen.
[1:17:01] Construction started in late February of this year and is currently underway.
[1:17:05] the entire project is slated to be in operation 2627.
[1:17:09] This will ensure redundancy and reliability
[1:17:12] of the supply of water from lock and damn one
[1:17:14] from lower-cate fear.
[1:17:17] This is again, like I said, the total on this
[1:17:19] is 1.7 million dollars and some change.
[1:17:24] And this is our second payment.
[1:17:25] We'll have another re-occurring payment next year.
[1:17:29] Thank you, Mr. Proctor.
[1:17:30] Any questions, Mr. Proctor on the side?
[1:17:32] with no no intertain emotion.
[1:17:36] Motion for Prusa on table is there second.
[1:17:39] Thank you.
[1:17:40] Board of second.
[1:17:41] Those in favor, sing from St.
[1:17:43] High, Regine.
[1:17:44] Thank you, sir.
[1:17:47] Item 9.3.
[1:17:49] Yes, sir.
[1:17:50] Chairman Mr. Manager.
[1:17:52] I'd like to have Ryan Vincent come up with
[1:17:53] Vincent valuations.
[1:17:55] But before any questions are addressed,
[1:17:57] want to walk the county through and the board
[1:17:59] where we're at right now in regards to Vincent valuations
[1:18:02] and Pender County Tax Department,
[1:18:05] currently Pender County's utilizing
[1:18:07] Vincent valuations for new construction
[1:18:09] appraisals.
[1:18:11] The request before the board tonight
[1:18:13] is to determine if a new contract will be funded
[1:18:17] in addition to that addressing a
[1:18:19] purchase order for $50,000 for the remainder of the year.
[1:18:23] Where we're at right now, Melissa Radke,
[1:18:26] is no longer the tax administrator.
[1:18:28] This item was brought before the board on March 10th
[1:18:32] And one of the questions that was raised because the contract was for three years wanting to see if a one-year contract would be feasible to decrease the duration.
[1:18:42] Where we are at currently, we are having a backlog of building permits.
[1:18:47] And if we do not address that backlog that does impact our capabilities to track growth and that can impact taxes in the future.
[1:18:56] So what we're trying to do is get a contract in place to address the staffing for addressing
[1:19:03] appeals for equalization and review, completing appeals, performing field work, handling
[1:19:09] permit and revisiting work, and supporting county staff through the transition without
[1:19:16] misrat fee and working on finding a new tax administrator.
[1:19:19] and what we have before you tonight are two different versions of agreements.
[1:19:25] One is the three year that was presented to the board on March 10th for 300,000
[1:19:32] for year one, and then it would go from 300 to year two for $332,000
[1:19:41] and year three 346, 112 dollars. Year one is for $400,000.
[1:19:49] And we would just like feedback from the board on whether there'd be willingness to enter into the agreement with Vincent valuations to address these appraisal services and address the PA for the remainder of this year.
[1:20:01] Mr. Soman, how far was the backlog look like for plan and permit?
[1:20:07] Mr. Vincent, would you be able to address that question?
[1:20:10] So, right now, the numbers we've been working off of is there's about 7,500 permits
[1:20:17] that come through across every year in Pender County.
[1:20:21] So, those go through planning and inspections, but they also have to come to the tax office.
[1:20:26] So we go out and visit these properties and put them on the tax records for that year, for
[1:20:32] effective January 1st of that year.
[1:20:35] So that's what we do in the tax office.
[1:20:38] So, when we started in 2023, there was a backlog, I don't remember the exact number I know it was thousands.
[1:20:48] We get in at least 500 a month.
[1:20:52] So every month that we don't do this, there's 500 more, 500 more, and again, that is your new construction growth.
[1:20:59] That is the growth within the county budget.
[1:21:03] And that's how we, that's how it gets picked up and put on the tax records every year.
[1:21:09] So let me ask you, how much change would that be to the number that's popular here?
[1:21:15] The 330,000, if we hired a couple of people to take care of the backlog.
[1:21:20] What would that number look like then?
[1:21:22] Yes, so I think there was a cost comparison.
[1:21:25] Yes, there's a cost breakdown.
[1:21:26] If we, there would be a hundred thousand dollars savings if we went with a three-year contract as opposed to doing the in-house contract.
[1:21:36] As opposed to doing in-house services, which would be comprised of an appraisal manager position in three real estate praises.
[1:21:44] Well, we're also creating two new jobs, right, for the in-house, though, which is there.
[1:21:48] No, no, no, there would be a cost savings of $100,000 if we went with a three-year contract as opposed to going to completely in-house with foreign-ish staff positions.
[1:22:01] But long-term, wouldn't that save us money, so we won't be locked in a contract?
[1:22:05] I mean, we're paying $330,000 in a contract.
[1:22:08] That, once the contract over, is there any continuity with training other staffs, so we won't be in a situation five years from today?
[1:22:16] We're trying to be visionary planners, and as we save money here for the county.
[1:22:22] So, can you speak to that issue for me?
[1:22:24] That there would be benefits to that, because part of the reason for having this contract
[1:22:28] would be able to train new employees.
[1:22:30] Future. Because right now, if we were to go with the four proposed positions, they would not have that appraisal experience.
[1:22:39] Did the former tax administrator have that experience?
[1:22:42] Yes, she did.
[1:22:43] Okay, so who's cross-training her department and have that experience now? Do the deputy have that experience?
[1:22:48] No one does.
[1:22:49] So why haven't we cross-trained someone? So we wouldn't be in this situation now paying $330,000.
[1:22:53] She had, I do know she had her deputy left right before she did, that was the second
[1:23:03] prisoner.
[1:23:05] I do remember when I first came on board that there was a backlog of several thousand
[1:23:09] willing to almost, I think, four million dollars total of unclean money that was laying
[1:23:14] there because the permits have been stacked up for several years.
[1:23:19] Mr. Racky did work very hard to get that along with the contractors to get that brought down
[1:23:26] To zero at one time. I'm assuming since she's gone because when she left
[1:23:31] She was the only a praiser and she was having to do
[1:23:35] all the appraisers and
[1:23:37] one of the things that was she stressed about was the upcoming
[1:23:42] Hearings and there's well-ever at that time there was 75 she was expecting well over 200
[1:23:48] that's going to have to be done before the equalization and review committee meets, and we
[1:23:53] have no one to do them right now.
[1:23:59] So the body equalization and reviewer still can
[1:24:01] that in here is correct? May 1st, they will convene.
[1:24:04] They will have no appraisals, there is no appraisers, appraisals that have been done on those
[1:24:09] appealed properties because we have no one to do their appraisers, appraisals.
[1:24:15] Mr. Vincent, how long have you been to county, contracted for the county?
[1:24:18] uh... since twenty twenty three by the middle of twenty three
[1:24:22] that is correct
[1:24:24] commissioner doors when do you come on board
[1:24:26] February of twenty twenty three
[1:24:29] uh... misraki came in i think in may
[1:24:32] of that year and that
[1:24:33] that's what she realized that this efficiency in the
[1:24:36] in the office
[1:24:36] and it was shortly thereafter
[1:24:39] that they came in and started working down the
[1:24:42] the bike low
[1:24:45] if i
[1:24:45] if i could
[1:24:46] And if this is inappropriate, please tell me to stop.
[1:24:50] We do this work all across the state.
[1:24:53] And as of a few months ago, there was 10 open tax administrator positions in the state.
[1:25:01] So be at Pender County or be at other counties larger or smaller.
[1:25:05] Finding the experiences is really difficult to find folks to come in and do this work.
[1:25:12] It's difficult for counties, it's difficult for us as a company to find and train and retain folks.
[1:25:20] And I agree, and I do know Miss Racky when she was here, she tried to fill those positions
[1:25:25] on several times and then you know she had Miss Fortune that happened to her family,
[1:25:29] she was out for a while. But while she was here and when she came back, she tried to fill
[1:25:36] those positions that she had opened with qualified candidates and to my understanding from her
[1:25:41] that they're just not there. They'd rather work in the private sector where the
[1:25:46] pace better and the benefits sometimes are better.
[1:25:51] How long, sir? Do you think it's going to take you to the back load down?
[1:25:55] Because Commissioner Jordan just said he'd been here since 2023.
[1:25:58] You said you'd been here since 2023 and we're still
[1:26:00] several thousand as you said, what are we going to do to continue moving forward?
[1:26:04] Yeah, so we're going to go out.
[1:26:06] So right now, I think we have a backlog of about 1400.
[1:26:09] You did catch up there, right?
[1:26:10] Yeah, we did catch up.
[1:26:11] So as of the first, as of the first of the year we caught up, when we came here at the previous
[1:26:17] meeting, we stopped working after the previous meeting.
[1:26:23] And so the backlog builds every day, every day there's more and more permits.
[1:26:28] So this is an ongoing thing, as long as people are taking out permits in Pender County,
[1:26:35] this is an ongoing thing, and someone needs to stay on it, continually.
[1:26:40] So, as of now, we have a backlog of what would probably be a few months for us to tackle
[1:26:47] that and get that back down, but again, every week, every month, there's hundreds and
[1:26:53] hundreds more permits coming in.
[1:26:55] So, our challenge is keep in Mr. Vincent's company employed to help us keep up with this
[1:27:01] until we find some permanent folks with the tax office or letting it sit till we find some
[1:27:06] folks for the best way I'm seeing it.
[1:27:08] No, we've got to do something.
[1:27:13] We'll do something.
[1:27:14] Got to imagine.
[1:27:15] I would say the recommendation was for positions in a
[1:27:18] praise or manager and three real estate
[1:27:21] appraisers.
[1:27:22] It took five positions.
[1:27:23] Four positions.
[1:27:25] So if we, if we got you to hire two people, and we put him
[1:27:30] over one year, let his people train our people for a year.
[1:27:35] And then the following year, those people would be able to train
[1:27:38] what they know. I mean, that's not a lot of training in the year. I don't think I think that's
[1:27:42] still pretty fresh, but I think it cuts down the cuts down the price from understanding.
[1:27:50] I don't think it's broken out that way for the year. I think it's just you would pay the 400,000
[1:27:57] and it's not factoring in the two county employees, but we could hire two county employees,
[1:28:02] but I think that would increase the price, and having the year rate, that having the year with
[1:28:09] Vincent valuations, we can do that. You're going wrong away as far as 330 right now, right?
[1:28:15] No, no, if you're doing one year for a year.
[1:28:21] So if you do one year, and then you hire the employees,
[1:28:25] you're paying well over 400,000 because you've got salaries and benefits for two people, three people.
[1:28:31] Yes. And the contracts, right?
[1:28:32] But they're locked in for almost a million dollars over three years.
[1:28:36] You seem like we can hire someone a lot cheaper than a longer period.
[1:28:40] The only concern would be finding those people as Mr. Vincent said.
[1:28:45] It's a very difficult market right now to find qualified people.
[1:28:49] Even people that wouldn't be qualified and trainable.
[1:28:52] It still is very difficult to locate those people.
[1:28:54] That's the only concern that we have is that we spend $400,000 an
[1:28:58] aren't able to locate those people quickly enough.
[1:29:01] How many tax administrative jobs do you say is open to North Carolina right now?
[1:29:05] So, as of a couple of months ago there was 10 open tax administrative positions and I've given up.
[1:29:12] There's 10 open tax administrative positions in North Carolina right now.
[1:29:15] That's how forward it is.
[1:29:16] Some of these positions are paying upwards of $175,000 a year and people can't find it.
[1:29:26] The people in our industry, they're just not there.
[1:29:31] What's the reason behind it?
[1:29:32] What's the hold-up?
[1:29:36] Beaton, just be honest.
[1:29:39] It's a thankless job.
[1:29:41] Property taxes and dealing with property taxes are a thankless, no wind job.
[1:29:46] That's the honest truth.
[1:29:49] We can do the best job that we can, get the most accurate values, follow the law and follow
[1:29:54] the state statutes and because it's property taxes, it's...
[1:30:00] It's very contentious.
[1:30:02] Thank you.
[1:30:08] How long was HR search previously for these positions?
[1:30:36] that is correct. And how long has she been there? She was gone. She left last week.
[1:30:42] And we already got two applicants?
[1:30:45] Yes, but we advertised, I believe, two weeks ago for that position.
[1:30:56] So we are getting the applications.
[1:30:58] We're getting the app.
[1:31:00] We are getting the applicants, but they're not quality applicants.
[1:31:05] I can understand that.
[1:31:11] So in regards to open tax administrator positions, there's a stop counting how many open
[1:31:19] that are in the state.
[1:31:22] If I had to venture, I guess, I'd probably venture 30 or 40 or more open, counting a
[1:31:29] prasal level positions within the state, depending on where you're at, throughout the
[1:31:33] 100.
[1:31:33] So during your, when you came on board, your company contract, and first from some of
[1:31:40] us, it wasn't here, let us give us a little history on how many pressures you have, how many
[1:31:46] folks you had in the field working on your behalf on this contract.
[1:31:50] Yes, so we have, so we're currently, there's there's two pieces to this, we're currently
[1:31:55] working on the 2026 property tax reappraisal four-pender counting.
[1:31:59] So that's that's separate.
[1:32:02] When it comes to the new construction work, when we initially started here to get through
[1:32:07] the backlog, I think we put, I want to say we put four people on it, I'd have to go back
[1:32:14] look, I want to say we put four or five on it to work through that backlog and then what
[1:32:20] we do is we fluctuate people in and out based on the needs of the county. So that number
[1:32:27] that you're seeing for a three-year contract of 320,000, that's a not-to exceed number unless
[1:32:35] the county gets more than 7,500 permits and there's a bunch more work. But if we're under that number,
[1:32:41] The number is not going to be 320.
[1:32:44] It's not a flat fee number if there's less permits than that.
[1:32:47] It's per permit, right?
[1:32:48] It's per permit and it's based on the work that needs to be done, but that's not to exceed
[1:32:53] unless the permits exceed 7,500 permits in the year.
[1:32:58] And this also goes, this is also for support at the Board of Equalsation Review, working
[1:33:04] the appeals, communicating with the property owners, answering any appraisal questions that
[1:33:10] come into the office. So it's for more than just doing the permit work itself.
[1:33:17] Thank you. I think that answered a lot of doubt.
[1:33:26] How are we going to get the
[1:33:27] appraisal position to be a long time? Well, our plan is we would work with
[1:33:33] human resources in terms of recruiting and trying to find the best candidates
[1:33:37] possible. But in addition to that, having those appraisers present to help train
[1:33:43] employees that do come in because as I said you're not going to be it's going to be very unlikely
[1:33:48] that you're going to be getting somebody from a tax administration department but somebody that
[1:33:52] might have a finance background or might have some familiarity in allowing Vincent valuations
[1:33:57] to train those employees so they are capable to transition into that role so we can have in-house
[1:34:03] staff long-term. Are we reaching out to colleges and universities almost
[1:34:08] commencement time coming up in May.
[1:34:10] All we're reaching out to those graduate programs
[1:34:12] that have programs of specialized and tax evaluations
[1:34:15] and so forth.
[1:34:17] You know, in my concern is if we get the right candidate,
[1:34:19] you might want to stay here.
[1:34:20] I think the last person up position was here
[1:34:21] almost 40 years, but I'm a barber.
[1:34:24] Well, even on the other side, collection size.
[1:34:26] Yeah, they've ever pushed for it at the time.
[1:34:33] I met with her recently.
[1:34:34] How long was she here in the county?
[1:34:39] How did 35, 40 years?
[1:34:43] So I think if we look at our recruitment
[1:34:44] and advertising processes, and if we reach out
[1:34:47] colleges and universities. There might be an candidate that want to go great with us here in
[1:35:27] Is it the salary need to be increased for these positions?
[1:35:31] As we look at competitive hiring, as you do, your analysis have you identified or we own the low, the high, the medium, the salary range of our offering.
[1:35:41] We would be on the lower end.
[1:35:42] As Ryan said, there are a lot of places now in recognizing the tax administrator positions are a very challenging and want to make it more competitive so they are increasing salaries for tax administrators.
[1:35:56] But maybe we need to look at a just in that salary to be able to have someone internally versus
[1:36:01] continuously looking at, I'm hearing today we're proving rental of a clip of clothing.
[1:36:07] We're looking at contractors.
[1:36:10] I want to look for some stability in the county as we move forward.
[1:36:23] Have a vision and then we may present
[1:36:31] it to the police.
[1:36:33] We can let it be.
[1:36:35] As bonus has been offered.
[1:36:42] And do we all for contingency plan when I employ you say here two years five years when
[1:36:46] I reach search and benchmark do we give an incentive bonus to the up to the top of the
[1:36:51] longevity?
[1:36:52] Uh-huh.
[1:37:00] Would we treat on
[1:37:07] the two brain and the emphasis on the top of the top of the top of the
[1:37:10] bottom of the top of the top of the top of the top of the top of the top of the top of
[1:37:13] the top of the top of the top of the top of the top of the top of the top of the top.
[1:37:17] Can we sell some of the car's misdemeanors and not fleet to hire some people?
[1:37:23] Yes.
[1:37:24] We would have to take a closer look, I think most of the vehicles are being utilized, but I'm happy to speak with our facilities.
[1:37:31] And the reason I asked, I was just at Solid Waste of the Day at the Transportation and Willard. And I noticed everyone there was robbing a relatively new car, almost at the trash station, not in understand why that was so needed. But I'm here in the day that we got positions that we need to feel. I think we invest in our people, then the resources we can look at long time. Is there
[1:37:53] all the good discussion? So any further questions of Mr. Vincent? If not, we need to, this needs to be addressed. This is moved from another meeting to tonight.
[1:38:02] to the longer it sits, the higher the stack gets.
[1:38:08] However, in the tax office.
[1:38:14] I assume the question is the three year or one year.
[1:38:17] It would be the purchase order and the one year or three year, both of those items.
[1:38:26] If you're one of the wishes,
[1:38:32] I'd like to make a motion to improve the purchase order
[1:38:35] and increase the $50,000 for a Parasal Services,
[1:38:38] We've been sent validations LLC and enter into a one-year contract at the cost of $400,000
[1:38:46] up to $7,500 per month per year.
[1:38:50] Have a motion on the table?
[1:38:52] Do we have a second?
[1:38:58] Do we have a second?
[1:39:01] Just for a question asking for the question.
[1:39:04] So the majority of the permits that you're currently
[1:39:09] And the reason are back and up, they're on the eastern side of Pindor County where the
[1:39:13] tire value is right.
[1:39:14] So in actuality, we're losing tax revenue.
[1:39:18] Yeah, if this work, I mean, if your growth is not captured in your property taxes annually,
[1:39:27] that ultimately affects the budget, which ultimately affects the tax rate.
[1:39:36] All right, we have a motion on the table.
[1:39:42] I can't second it.
[1:39:51] So, failure of a second, we're moving on.
[1:40:01] Item 9.4.
[1:40:06] Miss Fulton. Welcome.
[1:40:13] Good evening. So we have two items for the new law enforcement center tonight.
[1:40:20] The first one is for the new detention center radio system.
[1:40:25] So the new law enforcement center includes a new larger detention center.
[1:40:29] And the current radio array that we use in the detention center is not going to allow for communications within the new facility.
[1:40:35] So this purchase order includes a base station equipment, installation and 30 radios.
[1:40:40] The radio system is needed within the facility.
[1:40:43] First to have to communicate with each other when coordinating movement, other activities
[1:40:47] and to ensure safety.
[1:40:49] So the radios are capable of functioning on the detention center system and also switching
[1:40:53] over to the countywide system so that they can speak to other law enforcement and the event
[1:40:58] of an emergency.
[1:41:00] The purchase is being requested now due to long lead times in installation needs prior to
[1:41:05] opening the new facility in the fall of next year and the purchase order is covered under
[1:41:09] the law enforcement center project budget out of the capital outlay line. So we are seeking
[1:41:14] approval of the purchase order for the detention center radio system to motorola solutions in
[1:41:20] the amount of $128,388 in 18 cents.
[1:41:27] Any questions miss Fulton on this item? Miss Fulton I
[1:41:31] have one question on this one and it's going to follow up and be on 9.52 so you might as well
[1:41:37] help me with both. This 128,000 for the radio and the 644,000 for the next item coming up.
[1:41:44] Is that in the current $68 million budget?
[1:41:47] Yes. It is covered under the budget for the law enforcement center.
[1:41:51] That's all I need in that. Thank you. Any other questions?
[1:41:55] Mr. Fulton on this item? How we did competitive bid in our was a cell of source?
[1:42:01] So we went with Motorola. There is state contract pricing. So we were not required to
[1:42:05] out we did a vet some other vendors communication specialists and communications
[1:42:10] international. This was the best quality product for this application and it
[1:42:16] does come with the basic warranty everything is covered five years full replacement
[1:42:19] of anything that doesn't work.
[1:42:22] I don't think you as a required to, but anyone take the initiative to do it is
[1:42:25] to see if we save the taxpayer money and how do we measure if this is the best.
[1:42:30] So yes we did look at other vendors communication specialists and communications
[1:42:33] international, our public safety communications person that's in the sheriff's office, did
[1:42:39] that vetting, he is our radio person, so I don't know if Andy could provide a little bit
[1:42:45] more information as to why this was the best product, but we do use Motorola throughout
[1:42:52] the county and it is important for interoperability for some items.
[1:43:00] Mr. Devon, welcome sir.
[1:43:01] Good evening, fellow commissioners.
[1:43:04] Yes, we did that other vendors.
[1:43:08] The Motorola product is something we're currently using.
[1:43:11] We're comfortable with that for public safety.
[1:43:14] We're currently using those that vendor now for the current system.
[1:43:21] Yes, sir.
[1:43:25] Any other questions for Ms. Fulton?
[1:43:29] If not, no, 9.4 entertain a motion.
[1:43:45] All right, so this item is for the 911 center, so the new law enforcement center, also includes a new 911 center.
[1:43:57] With the growth of the county, the number of physicians required by the state 911 board has increased.
[1:44:02] This purchase order includes seven new dispatch consoles for the new 911 center, and then also moving
[1:44:08] some dispatch consoles from the current center to the new one and some from the current center to the backup center.
[1:44:14] So the new center will have a total of 10 seats.
[1:44:18] We anticipate that that required number will increase to 8 by the time that the law enforcement center is constructed and open.
[1:44:27] And so having the 10 seats allows for having those additional dispatchers during hurricanes and those types of things and also just goes ahead and has those two extra position sitting there waiting for growth.
[1:44:40] So this includes the consoles themselves and then also all of the labor installation and programming necessary to be fully operational.
[1:44:48] Again, due to the lead times on radio equipment, it's important to get this order placed to ensure equipment has time to arrive.
[1:44:54] be programmed, and have troubleshooting conducted prior to staff transitioning into the news.
[1:45:00] Senator, obviously, we want that to be a very smooth transition. So these consoles are the same model as the existing consoles, so we can ensure interoperability and uniformity within the 911 center, so no matter which seat it dispatcher is sitting at it is the exact same console.
[1:45:15] The cost of the new consoles is covered under the project budget as well. It is within that $68 million.
[1:45:20] And we will be partially reimbursed with ETF funds and emergency telephone funds.
[1:45:26] We do not know the exact amount that we will be reimbursed for that at this time.
[1:45:30] We should find that out in the next couple of weeks, but we didn't want to wait to place
[1:45:34] the order.
[1:45:36] And we will get that reimbursement at the end of the fiscal year, the next fiscal year.
[1:45:41] So tonight we're looking for approval of a purchase order to Motorola Solutions for
[1:45:44] nine-one-one consoles in the amount of $644,262, and $25, and in case you have the same
[1:45:53] question about why we went with Motorola and wanting to be responsible with taxpayer dollars.
[1:45:58] Because we were adding the exact same equipment, Motorola was the cheapest option to stay
[1:46:04] with those app-tech consoles, and again, it's under state contract pricing,
[1:46:11] and the same thing
[1:46:12] basic warranty under service agreement with the full five-year replacement.
[1:46:17] Thank you, Ms. Foam.
[1:46:18] Ms. Foam, why do we need 10 consoles?
[1:46:21] So I will let this badge answer another back here somewhere.
[1:46:26] Yeah, I'll let them answer why we need 10.
[1:46:33] Mr. Ease, I welcome.
[1:46:35] Thank you.
[1:46:36] In the new center for growth and for further adding positions, we went with the 10 console positions
[1:46:42] because when we get the new furniture it's going to be as a state-sister, state-of-the-art
[1:46:48] furniture. The console furniture we have now holding these radios was manufactured in
[1:46:53] installed in 1999. That's how the furniture is now that we got. This would be the first time we've
[1:46:58] got new furniture since we've been into the non-one center. So all the furniture is ordered to match
[1:47:04] so we want to get it all furnished at one time. During hurricanes we'll have extra positions
[1:47:09] and also during current, it begins like the far stride of the night.
[1:47:14] We record in off-channels.
[1:47:16] We don't have the people now and the positions available to record them channels.
[1:47:20] What I have in two channels was running at one time.
[1:47:23] Excuse me.
[1:47:24] So it's hard to record stuff.
[1:47:26] So we're trying to get 10 for growth and for,
[1:47:30] make it correct.
[1:47:33] Just on a little, since you're here,
[1:47:37] I've got one question.
[1:47:37] kind of off topic, but hopefully you can help me. Just last year, in 2024, just off the
[1:47:44] top of your head, how many 911 calls did you receive in the 911 center? Just give me a
[1:47:50] close. That's hard.
[1:47:57] Over a hundred thousand. Yeah. Yeah. And they're in Florence.
[1:48:07] It was
[1:48:07] thinkless jobs and you have one to say. Any other questions of Miss Fulton on this item?
[1:48:14] If not, I'll entertain a motion.
[1:48:19] Motion for approval on the table a second?
[1:48:21] So, I have a second. There's a favor to say if I was here and I raise your hand.
[1:48:25] Thank you all so much. Miss Fulton, you can stay there for 9.6 and Mr. Silverman.
[1:48:56] My apologies. Let me start from the beginning. March 10, 25.
[1:49:00] the Board Approved Resolution to have the County Assume Control Fire and EMS Services.
[1:49:06] This resolution set deadline to present a plan on assuming control of fire and EMS services
[1:49:11] to the Board.
[1:49:12] No later than June 1, 2025.
[1:49:15] We are planning on submitting a presenting a plan to the Board at the June 2, 2025 meeting.
[1:49:21] We are five weeks away and just want to find an update to the Board on where we're at.
[1:49:26] So the board understands the current state of the plan that we've been working on.
[1:49:31] Thank you.
[1:49:32] This fool.
[1:49:34] All right.
[1:49:36] So a plan of this undertaking in this magnitude requires a lot of information and clear goals.
[1:49:42] So we've gathered a lot of our needed information and we're currently working with that data to create our plan.
[1:49:49] So we started back in February.
[1:49:51] We held a kickoff meeting with Pender, EMS and Fire and County staff that included finance
[1:49:56] facilities, IT, HR, to acquaint staff with the scope of the project, a lot of our county
[1:50:01] staff for not familiar with emergency services.
[1:50:05] From there we requested quite a bit of information, which I will get to on the next slide.
[1:50:10] We established a steering committee, which includes 13 members, five county staff, six Pender
[1:50:15] EMS and Fire staff and two outside personnel from surrounding counties, one with a background
[1:50:20] on a fire at one with a background in EMS.
[1:50:23] At the last board meeting, we requested
[1:50:24] some clarifications and feedback from you guys
[1:50:27] to ensure that we were on the right path
[1:50:29] and that the plan we present to you aligns with your directives.
[1:50:34] We've established work groups for each area of focus.
[1:50:37] Those include HR, finance, facilities, and fleet, IT,
[1:50:41] training and special operations, fire operations,
[1:50:43] and EMS operations.
[1:50:45] So those work groups include over 40 different personnel
[1:50:47] from different organizations, and I'll get into each one of those focus areas a little bit more in depth.
[1:50:56] So as I said, we requested quite a bit of information after that first meeting.
[1:51:00] Things like the number of positions, debts, leases, contracts, building and fleet lists, IT devices and management,
[1:51:07] organizational structure, as well as fire and EMS requirements from NCOS FM, the Office of the State Fire Martial and NCOEMS, the Office of EMS.
[1:51:17] There's a number of hoops that we have to jump through through this merger and we're organizing that timeline and the steps to ensure that we need each one of those requirements.
[1:51:31] So human resources and finance are probably the most complex items in this merger on the county side.
[1:51:38] So onboarding over 200 staff involves figuring out how we're going to do background checks, benefits and rollments, and incorporating new positions, pay scales, schedules, those types of things into our existing policies.
[1:51:49] And in some cases having to revise our policies, currently we don't have staff that work 24
[1:51:55] hour shifts, for example.
[1:51:58] Things like approval rates, 401K contributions and insurance might seem like minor things,
[1:52:03] but they're crucial to ensuring staff retention and the continued operation of emergency
[1:52:08] services and they make a big cost difference.
[1:52:11] In some of these things, we can't just completely copy and paste over from what Pender
[1:52:15] of mass and fires currently doing because local governments have a little bit different requirements.
[1:52:22] So one of the things that we are also looking at for human resources is incorporating volunteers.
[1:52:27] It's a must. Although the volunteer base isn't a...
[1:52:30] Enough to run fire departments anymore. They're a vital part of the community and they're very important for tanker task forces and areas without fire hydrants, especially on the west side of the county.
[1:52:40] So we're working through setting a standard process for volunteer onboarding and incentives. Currently, each department kind of does their own thing.
[1:52:47] And we need to make sure that things are going to be the same across the board and across the county.
[1:52:55] On the finance side, we're looking at things like debts and leases, existing contracts, any open grants, tax districts,
[1:53:02] and if full cost analysis, both as a whole county and as from the perspective of an employee,
[1:53:08] things like EMS billing and fire apparatus on order cannot stop. We want to ensure that everything keeps moving.
[1:53:15] So we have done a breakdown of employee benefits so far, which is preliminary.
[1:53:20] And I think the employees will be happy with the difference of what they're going to get for what they're paying for benefits.
[1:53:29] So emergency services comes with a lot of buildings, a lot of vehicles and a lot of equipment all of which are required for response.
[1:53:37] So a new fleet garage was already discussed as part of the facilities master plan and it's absolutely necessary really both now but also for part of the merger.
[1:53:47] This work group met to discuss specifications for a building that can handle both the emergency vehicles and our regular fleet.
[1:53:53] We're currently evaluating land that we already own to determine an appropriate location.
[1:53:59] We've also discussed the fleet replacement schedule and equipment replacement schedule.
[1:54:03] We want to ensure that there's no gaps in service with fleet reaching end of life or equipment reaching at shelf life.
[1:54:08] There's a lot of safety issues, a lot of liability issues if we don't stay on top of that replacement schedule.
[1:54:15] And as with everything else in public safety, there's also a lot of technology involved in this process.
[1:54:20] So aside from just supporting over 200 more staff, the radios and emergency communications equipment is critical to emergency response.
[1:54:27] We're currently working on the best way to integrate everything that we have to make sure we meet all the appropriate security protocols and ensure functionality and interoperability.
[1:54:39] So, these last three groups work groups, the fire, EMS and special operations. We have not met yet. We're waiting to have some meetings between leadership prior to having these meetings.
[1:54:51] So on the operation side, the main goal is to ensure the continuation of services.
[1:54:56] So for fire, we're working through setting a standard staffing and equipment for each
[1:55:00] station, so everyone gets the same minimum response from the east side to the west side.
[1:55:05] There may also be some public hearings required, related to fire districts, there'll be some
[1:55:09] state inspections required for all equipment after this becomes county operated.
[1:55:14] In this group includes fire personnel from each department and we're making sure to check
[1:55:18] all of the necessary boxes so that we can keep operating.
[1:55:22] For EMS, we will need to rewrite the EMS system plan with training, certification, staffing,
[1:55:29] all those types of things, as well as designate a medical director, and so we're working
[1:55:32] through those check boxes as well.
[1:55:35] For training, we're working through how to incorporate training standards, continuing education,
[1:55:39] and the academies that Pender EMS and Fire runs into our current policies and procedures.
[1:55:44] Pentering a mess and fire does a really fantastic job in their training.
[1:55:48] We want to ensure that that high-level continues and that we can onboard new certified staff.
[1:55:54] Special operations include Swiftwater Rescue and Pensar, the Search and Rescue team, and both
[1:55:59] are critical to protecting the public, and include a mix of volunteers and paid staff.
[1:56:03] So we're working on where they will fall within the organization to ensure that they can
[1:56:07] continue to serve.
[1:56:12] So as we work through all of these things, we're going to be setting objectives and timelines based on what it takes to achieve success in each area.
[1:56:20] For the most part, we have the what we have to do and we're working through the how we're going to do it and how much it's going to cost.
[1:56:26] So some of the exact costs, the exact pennies are not going to be in a plan that we provide you in June, it will be based on estimates.
[1:56:34] Things like the fleet garage, right? We're not going to have exact costs on that until we go out for bid.
[1:56:39] But we're doing our best to work through each facet of this very complex project in a thorough and
[1:56:45] methodical way to ensure the safety of the public and to ensure we take care of all employees.
[1:56:50] And even after the plan is written and approved, we'll need to make sure that we monitor,
[1:56:54] we have performance measures in place and that we can evaluate our progress.
[1:56:59] This isn't going to end the day that it becomes county operated.
[1:57:02] So we're going to need to sit down and make a long-term plan for emergency services as a whole
[1:57:07] to set a vision for where we are now and where we want to be in the future.
[1:57:14] And that is all the update I have, and I'm open to any questions.
[1:57:17] Thank you, Ms. Fulton. Any questions, Ms. Fulton? So far,
[1:57:24] I just asked them for legal.
[1:57:29] Is this board protected by civil immunity since we have a risk for
[1:57:36] it depends? Are you talking
[1:57:39] about individual board members? Are you talking about individual board members?
[1:57:43] So if we were to do some malice vengeance,
[1:57:49] not in the best interest of the citizens of
[1:57:51] Pindor County, ethics, stuff like that.
[1:57:57] In general, you have immunity in your official capacity for actions and votes taken.
[1:58:06] Again, could you be sued, absolute,
[1:58:10] but they're, and again, the county would provide a defense.
[1:58:17] But in, and yes, there is the risk pool, but the risk pool has some exclusions for certain activities to avoid creating a potential claim.
[1:58:32] But the duty to defend is much broader than the duty to indemnify, but typically, for an official act, you are not going to be personal and liable.
[1:58:43] There are some exceptions. There's a pending bill, which I mentioned briefly to the board about.
[1:58:49] I think we may want to look at how we do some of our land use issues because of that, because it applies to elected officials.
[1:58:57] but at least in its most recent iteration there's not applied to a point in the
[1:59:02] officials. So we would want to look at that. But at any end it would depend on
[1:59:09] what somebody could show but in general know you are immune for your vote.
[1:59:17] And I'm not trying to avoid the question but it's just I don't know what
[1:59:21] That's your answer. If we have an insurance or we're covered by a risk pool, civil immunity,
[1:59:26] we weigh that and we can each be held. Well, but it has to be a covered claim.
[1:59:34] And there is there are exclusions in the risk pool for official act because they don't know
[1:59:42] for instance. So if you as you as an attorney give us advice and we fail to follow that advice,
[1:59:50] that's that's not a cover claim I would assume that would well depend on what it
[1:59:58] what advice you didn't follow
[2:00:00] But again, in general, and there also is a separate defense of, if I give you advice and you follow it, and it's wrong, you have a defense based on you follow the advice of council.
[2:00:15] that everybody has in a situation, both civil and criminal.
[2:00:22] For those things, if you can say, we followed the, you know, we had council, we just,
[2:00:27] you know, we followed that advice, but there are exclusions, and it would depend on the nature
[2:00:32] of it and what the whisper would and cover.
[2:00:37] For instance, there are defences that are expressly not covered by the risk pool, one that involves law enforcement.
[2:00:49] It's called the public duty doctrine.
[2:00:51] That is, if I get mugged, walking down the, you know, walking to the Courthouse Square in Murgole,
[2:00:59] I can't sue the Murgole police for failure to protect me from the mother.
[2:01:06] I'm absolutely them having made a specific promise, saying we'll meet you at nine in the morning
[2:01:12] and walk you to the courthouse and they don't show up.
[2:01:14] Then I might have a claim otherwise the police, in all enforcement in general, in North Carolina
[2:01:20] are protected because they owe a duty to the public at large, not to an individual person.
[2:01:27] and so that would and the the risk pool doesn't cover things that would be protected by
[2:01:37] the public duty doctor and intentional. The same with contributed to an negligent.
[2:01:44] So to expand that question to county employees, county employees have no protections.
[2:01:49] Not even I was told to do something. Is that correct?
[2:01:55] And we need to distinguish.
[2:01:58] Michael is protected because he is a public official.
[2:02:03] As a public employee, you are not.
[2:02:08] And typically that involves whether you actually are appointed as a
[2:02:12] it's just hired, do you take an oath, for instance? Again, Meg is a public official. Members
[2:02:21] of her staff would be public employees, and so they would not have that immunity. That,
[2:02:28] again, Michael, Meg in ER, our appointed people would have, for instance, if there's something
[2:02:35] involving the M.S. and fire situation, Michael would have immunity, Sarah would not,
[2:02:45] love you, Sarah. That is because, again, he's a public official. He's appointed by the board,
[2:02:54] and so he is protected. But employees are not, and in general, I was just, I was, you know,
[2:03:04] just following orders is not a defendant.
[2:03:06] All my questions, thank you.
[2:03:08] Yes, sir.
[2:03:08] I hope I'm sure I've been long-winded, but it's not a straight yes and no.
[2:03:14] Pardon?
[2:03:15] I said, I don't have to go.
[2:03:19] I'll take you where you're in attorney.
[2:03:24] Let me reframe that question in another way to you.
[2:03:30] A firefighter on a fire truck goes on the call, or a paramedic goes on the call.
[2:03:35] And a citizen wants to see them. What happens?
[2:03:41] If they are alleging a breach of standard of care or lack of, you know, especially going
[2:03:48] with the paramedic, can they be sued? Yes. Now there would be, you know, insurance to cover
[2:03:58] that. But again, you have to show that they're not just, it was a bad outcome.
[2:04:05] there has to be something, you know, that was done improperly, but their employer, the county, would defend them.
[2:04:14] Yes. And you would also, we would be named as part of that as well.
[2:04:20] Because it's all right. No different than when the sheriff has sued in the deputy sued.
[2:04:24] Well, there's a little difference.
[2:04:25] Except for law enforcement, it's a little different.
[2:04:29] But yes, if a county employee is driving a county car,
[2:04:33] on county business then yes we you know have liability for that okay do we have
[2:04:41] professional liability for legal advice that we receive in case some of the legal team
[2:04:46] give us advice as bad advice um well that again there's there's a defense and if it's
[2:04:56] again if you if you follow the that then there would be liability you know
[2:05:03] potentially, for me, you know, on something, but not for, again, not generally for you.
[2:05:11] And unless we say, you know, let's inspire to come up with a way to do something that's
[2:05:17] against the law.
[2:05:18] You know, obviously we're not doing it, but I'm just saying that would be an exception.
[2:05:22] But otherwise, no, you have, again, in general, you have immunity for your official act,
[2:05:29] such as making a vote.
[2:05:32] Thank you, Mr. Darman.
[2:05:35] Asked to present our question tonight, Mr. Chairman.
[2:05:37] Will, how we, you have an estimate of the cost of analysis
[2:05:40] of all I've been asking for you since I joined the board.
[2:05:43] In regards to what this is going to cost of it laying in,
[2:05:46] is it going to cost us with fleet, it's an estimate of cost of that.
[2:05:51] Do you have that to present to us as well as retirement
[2:05:54] cost of the cost that we need to, our critical decision.
[2:05:58] And we need to have that information soon
[2:06:01] to be able to make a good decision moving forward.
[2:06:03] I do, it is one person.
[2:06:05] Our finance director, Meg Blue,
[2:06:07] is working on that as part of this plan.
[2:06:11] So like I said, with it in June, it probably will be estimates.
[2:06:15] As close as we can get, obviously,
[2:06:17] but it won't be an exact dollar and sent
[2:06:19] things like the flea garage acquiring that and such.
[2:06:23] But our finance director is working on that
[2:06:25] and plans to have that as part of this plan.
[2:06:29] You mentioned medical director.
[2:06:30] So I got a call for the medical director just out the new one way here to the meeting.
[2:06:34] I current medical director with the county.
[2:06:38] Are we looking at changing the medical directors at what I heard you say or are we going to put out of the bid?
[2:06:44] And what is the current medical director contract?
[2:06:46] Is it two years, is it four years, would that transfer over, or would that be null and void at that time?
[2:06:52] If we move forward, what's the process of asking those questions for me?
[2:06:56] So when we rewrite the EMS system plan, we will have to designate a medical director.
[2:07:01] It could be the exact same one that it is now.
[2:07:03] That is one of the things that we would be discussing in that EMS operations work group, which we have not held yet.
[2:07:11] June is getting pretty close.
[2:07:13] Yes sir.
[2:07:13] We just love acquisition.
[2:07:14] And I keep hearing that we haven't made.
[2:07:16] You're going to meet.
[2:07:18] But we have less than 90 days.
[2:07:23] Yes.
[2:07:23] We have started and stopped a few times.
[2:07:26] and we are currently waiting for leadership on both sides to meet before we can continue.
[2:07:30] Our work group meetings. When leadership on both sides, what are you seeing specifically?
[2:07:36] Michael, did you want to clarify?
[2:07:38] Sure. We received letter from Fox and Roth's child to the informing us that the Pendry MS and Fire staff will not be allowed to meet with county staff until we meet as a group and establish the terms of the agreement.
[2:07:59] for a merger, and so that would impair us from having meetings with Pender EMS and Fire
[2:08:05] because of the instructions to not make the county staff.
[2:08:09] So Pender EMS and Fire has hired a second attorney with taxpayer funds that they had
[2:08:16] hired special counsel.
[2:08:17] Yes sir.
[2:08:18] That's...
[2:08:18] At a rally, that is separate from their general counsel, Mr. Merchantson.
[2:08:23] Okay.
[2:08:23] So have two attorneys now?
[2:08:26] Yes sir.
[2:08:28] with taxpayer funds and they've put a roadblock in front of us in the last day or two to
[2:08:35] install this process I'm just trying to work through this but I want to make a comment for the
[2:08:41] employees of the MS and Fire. I will not stop in protecting you and trying to follow through
[2:08:50] what I've made a promise to those employees to do in a respectful,
[2:08:57] transparent, professional way.
[2:09:00] Every EMS and fire employee that's there now deserves this.
[2:09:07] And I'm just one, but that's where I'm standing publicly.
[2:09:12] Thank you.
[2:09:17] The boss law firm is not a new attorney.
[2:09:20] Yes, that is new legal representation for Pender EMS and fire.
[2:09:24] is sir. Is that their level of specialty? Is it for him? I am not certain because I have not
[2:09:30] worked with the firm. This is the first time I've heard about them is when I received an email yesterday
[2:09:35] evening and I have not had the opportunity to speak with them yet other than saying we perceived
[2:09:40] your letter. So we have members of this board is on that board, right?
[2:09:46] Currently that's correct,
[2:09:47] and to my knowledge and you have won't board member an audience. To my knowledge, I knew nothing
[2:09:52] of this until the communication from the county manager that someone had taken it on their
[2:09:59] part for EMS and fired to hire this law firm. And I don't know if they're board of directors
[2:10:05] net or not. That's what you all know. I would think I am, along with Vice Chair Springer.
[2:10:13] So audience members in the audience. Yeah, so I'm not sure.
[2:10:18] But I have no knowledge because I would have definitely not wanted to spend taxpayer money on an additional attorney.
[2:10:25] So, how much is this attorney charging?
[2:10:29] I am not certain on that.
[2:10:31] I've not had the opportunity to obtain that information.
[2:10:35] I do think they cost more than probably local counsel.
[2:10:38] I think that would be a fair assessment, but I do not have an hourly rate.
[2:10:42] Sir, did you know anything about this? Did you know anything about hiring a council?
[2:10:50] Nothing was brought to you as a board member to say that we did hire an additional council
[2:10:57] Okay, thanks sir. Any other questions from this forum?
[2:11:02] Oh, nice. Thank you so much for your diligent work so far and we look forward to to June
[2:11:09] Thank you.
[2:11:15] I want you 9.7 Mr. Hogan
[2:11:20] Yeah, Mr. Chair
[2:11:22] Commissioner's I was tasked with
[2:11:25] doing the legal analysis of legal advertisement for Pender County and seeing other options
[2:11:40] and while Madam Clerk is giving me the corner,
[2:11:46] I will just let the commissioners know
[2:11:49] that my analysis is strictly legal, how much is going to cause any, I do not, I do not
[2:11:58] have that information?
[2:12:04] Why me, you'll be able to talk, OK.
[2:12:07] Thank you.
[2:12:09] So
[2:12:12] perfect.
[2:12:15] So we got two issues here.
[2:12:17] One is dealing with things that this county does,
[2:12:21] as far as given information out to the public.
[2:12:23] That's not required by law, but to keep the public informed
[2:12:26] of what the county is doing.
[2:12:27] And those things are such as positions for boards and commissions,
[2:12:33] community events, board meeting and genders.
[2:12:36] Those things were not too worried about the commissioners
[2:12:41] decide to go with the different newspaper and want
[2:12:44] to do something concerning that.
[2:12:46] No one can stop you there because there's no legal requirement
[2:12:48] that you have to advertise it all for those things.
[2:12:51] What we're talking really about is what is required
[2:12:54] by law, public hearing notices, notices,
[2:12:58] of quasi-judicial hearings, or even judicial hearings.
[2:13:02] Notice the sales of negotiated offers upset
[2:13:05] be it's for surplus property.
[2:13:07] Those things are required by state law
[2:13:10] and we are required to follow that.
[2:13:12] The statute that we're looking at is NCGS-1-597-9899.
[2:13:20] And you look at all those along with case law,
[2:13:23] to see what is the role concerning our obligation to get that information out.
[2:13:31] And one of the big things is on GS157, it talks about
[2:13:40] it has to be with general circulation
[2:13:43] and to actual pace of subscribers, admitted to the Postal Service Periodical Class in the
[2:13:51] County and which the newspaper shall have in regularly and continuously issue in this
[2:13:57] Now, the real question that has been brought up is published, where the newspaper's published.
[2:14:08] That's never been defined by the courts.
[2:14:12] So you have to look at other things.
[2:14:14] And one of the case laws that the North Carolina Supreme Court, great Southern Media,
[2:14:19] ink versus the Dow County, they kind of just talk about general circulation.
[2:14:23] So they focus more on that as far as publication.
[2:14:26] So, when we're looking at two newspapers that kind of qualify for that would be the
[2:14:34] pentatopsal post-invoice because they circulate through the pentatopsal and also the
[2:14:40] women's and star news, they also meet these qualifications.
[2:14:48] One of the issues that I thought came up was I was made aware that we couldn't use the women's
[2:14:56] we were always stuck with the poet.
[2:15:00] Post-in voice and I will have to disagree that that's not true. One of the stats you use if we look at, they both are circulated through the county. You can clearly choose either one.
[2:15:13] But then the other thing that one argues that, well, the post-in voice are published here in the county, will then there will be the only newspaper in the county.
[2:15:21] And there's a statute that definitely deals with that.
[2:15:24] And that's 1-599, which states that
[2:15:31] the provisions of 1-597 and 598 shall not apply in counties
[2:15:36] where one newspaper is published.
[2:15:39] So you can use another newspaper if there's only one newspaper.
[2:15:42] If you're going to make that argument and say,
[2:15:44] they're the only publisher in the county, this county does have the right to go to another
[2:15:49] county.
[2:15:50] So you have two arguments, one not argue that because the star news is circulated through the county,
[2:15:57] we can argue that is published.
[2:15:59] They can also follow that up using 1-598 and do an affidavit to certify their publication.
[2:16:06] They can do an affidavit to that and I'm sure they will be allowed to do that and they will be willing to do that.
[2:16:11] So legally, this county of the county chooses to, in the commission is choose to use a different newspaper.
[2:16:17] You can't. There's nothing on the legal doing it now concerning the cost and what it will cost the taxpayer
[2:16:24] That's a different story now. I'll have may have come up to talk about that
[2:16:28] And if you got any questions
[2:16:30] Concerned the legalities of it. I'll answer those questions now
[2:16:34] Thank you Mr. Tugging anybody again questions. Oh from the start
[2:16:47] I understand the definition of published is not where it was printed,
[2:16:51] but I think people could get that confused as where it is not all of us is at,
[2:16:57] where it's put into the periodical mail system.
[2:17:01] John's first person was dealing with legal ads for foreclosure,
[2:17:07] and then became known and bullied because it was not advertised in the county.
[2:17:13] The newspaper was published now.
[2:17:15] the issue was, it was not, it was not sent to the other county.
[2:17:20] There weren't, it wasn't the periodocals weren't circulated in that county.
[2:17:24] It was only circulated in the county where they paid for it.
[2:17:29] So, because it wasn't circulated in the other county, you're correct.
[2:17:31] It was known in the war, but the star news is published in this county.
[2:17:36] And they have thousands of subscribers.
[2:17:39] So, and if I'm not mistaken, I think it's about 10,000 subscribers.
[2:17:42] So they can have that great Southern media case there they determine in that case that the number of
[2:17:50] circulations that matter and I don't disagree with you with that when I'm saying is the
[2:17:56] star news is circulated in the county because they have so many subscribers here want to make
[2:18:01] the argument that is they will meet the definition of the publication and the other case you're
[2:18:07] talking about, the paper wasn't being circulated in the other county.
[2:18:11] It was only circulated in the county in which they paper.
[2:18:14] So yes, no one in this other county would have ever known that there was a foreclosure
[2:18:18] because the paper wasn't circulated to those subscribers.
[2:18:23] Ms. Blue, I got a question.
[2:18:26] And thank you for being able to hopefully help us navigate through some of these questions.
[2:18:33] I do recall,
[2:18:36] and I don't know, maybe you'll know,
[2:18:41] let's just take the vast majority of legal ads in newspapers and publications.
[2:18:47] Are they pretty, would you say that they're the foreclosures and stuff like that? Is that the vast majority?
[2:18:52] So every month we have, I'd say, maybe like a whole page of legal ads, right, and a lot of
[2:19:00] those come from the Clerk of Courts Office and from our tax attorney.
[2:19:06] What we paid directly for is the government news section and any other advertisements that
[2:19:15] we may do throughout the year.
[2:19:17] And those, I would say they range, depending on how much is going on and how many RFPs we have or those kinds of things.
[2:19:30] For instance, the year that there were school bond notifications that had to go out, those would cost additional.
[2:19:37] In the past we had used the sarnage before when we had to make an exception for time.
[2:19:45] I know a lot of the school bond stuff is specifically 10 days from this date to this date.
[2:19:51] And with a weekly publication, that's more difficult.
[2:19:54] But we've used both, both count.
[2:19:59] But we typically use the possibility.
[2:20:01] I mean, I think I have, we've given this presentation before,
[2:20:09] so I have, so this is the numbers here.
[2:20:12] Just to help on the foreclosure, you've come from the tax attorney.
[2:20:18] So whatever is paid from the tax attorney, when that property is sold or mitigated, that comes back to the tax payer, right?
[2:20:27] So in essence, they get that money back.
[2:20:29] Yeah, it is tax it is attached to the attached to the leaning of the foreclosure. Okay, that was my question
[2:20:43] As far as what it would cost in the future
[2:20:45] I really couldn't tell you and answered to that
[2:20:47] I know that you know the pinnare process pretty consistent with their with what they charge us
[2:20:54] I know that the star news when we have used them and you can see one
[2:20:58] publication, and 2024 was over a thousand dollars. It is more expensive, but it does depend
[2:21:05] on what day and all of that kind of thing. How big your ad is. They don't typically give
[2:21:12] out pricing until they basically, they tell you to send them your ad and they'll tell you
[2:21:16] how much it costs. So I really couldn't tell you how much it would cost in the future. I could
[2:21:21] just tell you historical information and what that looks like for us.
[2:21:29] Any other questions for Ms. Blue or Mr. Hogan?
[2:21:34] I've got a question.
[2:21:39] The second meeting.
[2:21:42] So, like I imagine the items I have my name beside them.
[2:21:45] Who's bringing this up? You, Mr. Hogan?
[2:21:48] I'm sorry, sir.
[2:21:49] You are the person bringing this item up on the agenda.
[2:21:52] Your name is beside it.
[2:21:53] Are you the one.
[2:21:54] Did this research and recommend it is?
[2:21:56] I was tasked with giving the...
[2:21:58] By home.
[2:22:00] By the county manager.
[2:22:01] Um,
[2:22:07] so I've had put your name beside these just because I figured you would be the one presenting it.
[2:22:13] Yeah, that's correct.
[2:22:14] Um, but for items that are Commissioner brought forward, but aren't necessarily going to be presented by
[2:22:22] uh, said Commissioner or multiple commissioners if it's a, you know, multi commissioner requested item.
[2:22:30] If staff like how Michael had asked Andre and Meg to kind of tag team this item, for situations
[2:22:39] like that, I usually do put the staff down since it would be the staff presenting. It's part of just
[2:22:46] the way our agenda process works, staff put a presenter and typically I advertise because we do advertise
[2:22:52] the agendas with whoever is presenting his name, just because sometimes people are
[2:23:00] interested in seeing who's presenting the item, especially for having something like taxes,
[2:23:04] and they want to know that it's Vincent Valuations coming, they know to come or like for
[2:23:08] focus broadband, people are more inclined to come if they see Mr. Chris Ward coming rather than
[2:23:14] say like Mr. Van, just because they'll be able to ask questions specifically to that person.
[2:23:20] So that's why I typically advertise it that way, but for the items on your name for this agenda
[2:23:25] I figured you would be the one
[2:23:28] Steering the car. Yeah, if I put it up there, I want to own it
[2:23:31] And I want to put it there and take good battery and different my question is who's specifically task you did
[2:23:36] But decide I'm up here tonight. You're asking who task this input item. I believe it was a multi-commissioner
[2:23:43] Well, it says commissioners. I want to recognize it wasn't me. Okay. So who was
[2:23:51] this was addressed at the board workshop meeting
[2:23:55] March 20th, and this was a live streamed event, and it was requested by a county commissioner,
[2:24:05] and it was requested by a commissioner of gross that was on the online live streamed event.
[2:24:16] The board workshop meeting.
[2:24:18] I remember that, and I think I did have some conversation in that that it needs to be brought in an open meeting forum to be done the right way.
[2:24:29] Yeah, I do concur with that.
[2:24:31] So Ms. Blue, you're saying the calls with the Star News is what an average in what is the calls for the pinnipose voice?
[2:24:38] I'm sorry, I grew up with it being the pinnipose voice.
[2:24:40] Sure.
[2:24:42] Neither have provided a specific fee per line or word or inch or anything like that.
[2:24:52] We have asked for those things in the past.
[2:24:54] It's just not typical because I think it changes depending on availability and demand
[2:25:00] and what day of the week it is for instance the Sarnoose the Sunday Papers more expensive.
[2:25:05] So they can't give you something that says, oh, well, and into the Sunday paper costs $X dollars when they don't even know that they can fit you in the Sunday paper.
[2:25:15] So they basically, and the start news has told us to send them the advertisement, and they will send us back a quote.
[2:25:24] We have kind of built-in space in the Piner Post and Voice, and they're pretty consistent with their pricing.
[2:25:31] And if it's below the fold, it's a certain dollar amount, if it goes above and takes
[2:25:35] that more of their space slightly more, but not nothing unreasonable.
[2:25:41] Reason why I asked that.
[2:25:42] One of my concerns is, I reckon, do you all need to communicate?
[2:25:49] How you all do you, too?
[2:25:57] OK, they sent Lexia some rate information for per column inches is 27.46, ROP legal BCI is 16.77,
[2:26:14] affidavits $5, and per line day rates $2.86.
[2:26:21] We request this for an appendipose voice so we could have equal information to compare fairly.
[2:26:31] So I did not.
[2:26:33] I was just looking, I had the twenty twenty four one legal ad, the one thousand fifty
[2:26:39] dollars. That was my legal ad that I had to post.
[2:26:44] Because there was a typo in the one we originally posted in the Pender Post.
[2:26:49] So that's how I have this information.
[2:26:52] I was just trying to get a gauge on what their costs were.
[2:26:55] These are still their same costs.
[2:26:58] I'm not entirely sure what the PenderPosts cost per section.
[2:27:03] I can vouch for the county managers.
[2:27:06] I know our last bill was 1300.
[2:27:09] It was, I think it was 1320 for the month of March.
[2:27:14] So I can only vouch for my department.
[2:27:16] Meg had would have a much better understanding if like the overview of the whole county.
[2:27:20] Yeah, there's, as you can see, it's, you know, there's 200 demoises from last year, 300 from
[2:27:25] the year before 68 from this year, but it's not directly divisible because like Lexi said the, the government
[2:27:32] news section is more because it's larger.
[2:27:37] So, I can provide you as much as you feel as you'd like.
[2:27:40] I'm happy to do that.
[2:27:41] the government newsport is not regulated by statute, right? That's just something we
[2:27:46] inform citizens on. Unless it includes public hearing notices or upset bits, yes.
[2:27:54] I remember being on this board, I think it was in 2007 to 2008 when we started a government news and
[2:28:00] it was called a group of citizens over an open-point area came to us in the community and I met with
[2:28:05] them. I remember meeting with them in their home and they were concerned about agenda items being passed
[2:28:10] to gender without the public have a notice. At that time, it was a number of items passed,
[2:28:14] and the public was not notified. And so those citizens asked us to reach out to the
[2:28:19] P into Post and Voice and started advertising that information and it newsed the agenda.
[2:28:23] I remember that. I started. And to my, I suppose I'm sitting here thinking, these folks are
[2:28:30] doing free advertising with us for the county to keep the citizens employed for almost over a decade.
[2:28:37] to clarify your point, they do not charge us to put our agendas in the post-employee to
[2:28:42] just the government news section.
[2:28:44] So we would be dismissing someone who did all of this free work for us to keep the public
[2:28:47] in form.
[2:28:50] Twenty years of telling them, they think, say, getting out for twenty years of keeping us
[2:28:53] in form free of charge, I represent a district that a lot of my citizens struggle to pay
[2:28:58] their light bill.
[2:28:59] And I asked them to pay $441, many of them and I'm not trying to be bragging, many of them
[2:29:05] I've been a college president like myself and so forth.
[2:29:07] These are grassroots citizens, and a lot of them cannot afford $441.
[2:29:15] And so, in saying that what will happen to my citizen if that's their neighbor?
[2:29:20] We've had problems in this county when people property taxed.
[2:29:23] I was on this board when I got a phone call about someone property was sold and it even
[2:29:28] was up for be it.
[2:29:30] To clarify, I'm not asking anyone to do anything differently.
[2:29:34] I'm just presenting.
[2:29:43] I don't like asking someone to do something free. And then when we get up means we can look at you and tell you, no thanks and I'll need you no more. That's not me.
[2:29:53] What is the cost of what is the cost of a newspaper from the Star News?
[2:29:59] I don't know the answer.
[2:30:00] To that question. $2 or $2 or $2.50.
[2:30:05] Okay. Mr. Hogan, you said how many subscribers they have store news?
[2:30:11] I was just given an estimate, just a few days ago.
[2:30:15] Vice chair.
[2:30:16] Okay, I know what was that?
[2:30:18] 10,000.
[2:30:19] Okay, Mr. Blue, do you know how many subscribers,
[2:30:22] Pinter, boy's house, Pinter postboy?
[2:30:24] I have no idea.
[2:30:26] Would you like to?
[2:30:27] Yes, sir.
[2:30:41] Okay, that's why I'm asking you sir, what
[2:30:47] so my question sir was how many subscribers do you have in Pinter County?
[2:31:01] Okay, thanks sir.
[2:31:03] Mr. Chair, let me jump in.
[2:31:06] Yes sir.
[2:31:08] It's time to cut through the chase.
[2:31:12] Watch where he puts the camera, it'll be straight to me.
[2:31:16] And that's fine, he's been doing it for 27 months.
[2:31:20] Mr. Greg?
[2:31:21] No, let's just be professional.
[2:31:23] Let's just be professional.
[2:31:23] Let's just cut through the chase.
[2:31:25] Let's be professional.
[2:31:26] This is what we as three county commissioners have to put out with it.
[2:31:34] And it says money or pay him for this.
[2:31:38] And it's time for the stop.
[2:31:40] This quick.
[2:31:40] I'll call it a question.
[2:31:43] All right.
[2:31:44] So discussion is over.
[2:31:45] Do we.
[2:31:46] So I'll entertain anything from the board.
[2:31:48] Excuse me.
[2:31:49] I have someone consulted the county clerk to see what her opinion on this matter is.
[2:31:53] I asked you to do that, Mr. Tony, did we do that?
[2:31:57] There's been discussion, and I also wanted to clarify,
[2:32:00] Lexi did reach out to the school of government as part of this,
[2:32:04] and they said it was up to the commissioners as to which paper would go to,
[2:32:08] but suggested that she can so with Andre and myself and Andre,
[2:32:11] and I talked multiple times up to an including this morning,
[2:32:15] and I supported his analysis of the way it was done.
[2:32:19] Did you contact the clerk?
[2:32:21] I spoke with Lexi.
[2:32:22] You know the clerk of court.
[2:32:24] Oh, the clerk of the court.
[2:32:26] I asked him to watch out her to see what her opinion was regarding this matter.
[2:32:29] Since she's going to have to probate, right?
[2:32:30] She's going to have to accept, if we're going to accept that, he's state or whatever it is.
[2:32:34] Once the file on is done, is that right?
[2:32:36] Yes.
[2:32:37] And it's my understanding that yes, the store news is accepted as advertising for that.
[2:32:43] And they're our clients.
[2:32:44] So the clerk of the court, I did not speak with her, I spoke with one of her assistant.
[2:32:48] that's not what she told me okay then that may be but there is currently one being
[2:32:55] run that uses that so no I'm not again I'm asking that's what I was told
[2:33:00] in the States division I'm sorry I don't remember the name the lady I spoke
[2:33:05] with but that would be because you what you do you follow in the day with the
[2:33:10] court training it satisfies the requirement and there are other current and
[2:33:16] is an estate that is advertising there.
[2:33:21] But I'm not told me specifically that she would not accept it or would not be accepted.
[2:33:26] And that is her decision yet.
[2:33:28] That's why I ask you to reach out to her for legal opinion.
[2:33:31] So we would not be suspect in our speaking for her today.
[2:33:34] I want to spend it to the record.
[2:33:36] This is why she told me.
[2:33:40] I was going to call for the question.
[2:33:43] Mr. Chair, I think it's time to bring this to a vote.
[2:33:47] Would entertain you to motion of the board?
[2:33:51] We use the star news from this day out.
[2:33:55] A second.
[2:33:56] Do that motion to use the star news for legal advertisement?
[2:34:00] Legal advertisement?
[2:34:01] All advertising.
[2:34:03] Anything to do with the citizen's opinion again.
[2:34:07] That motion is on the floor.
[2:34:09] And it's been seconded.
[2:34:11] All those in favor.
[2:34:12] Signify the saying, I, raise your hand.
[2:34:14] Aye.
[2:34:15] Those opposed?
[2:34:17] Two.
[2:34:18] Three to two.
[2:34:20] Next item.
[2:34:20] 9.8.
[2:34:25] Mr. Ramirez.
[2:34:51] Madam.
[2:34:56] Thank you, Mr. Ramirez.
[2:34:58] Good evening, commissioners.
[2:35:00] My name is Doria Ramirez.
[2:35:01] I'm the Project Manager for the County.
[2:35:04] Item 9.8.
[2:35:05] 9.8.
[2:35:06] I am presenting as an approval for a budget ordinance amendment to reallocate.
[2:35:11] $91,220 and $87 from two projects, parts projects that are being closed out.
[2:35:20] One of those projects would be the Pender Memorial Park Project, and also the Penderly
[2:35:25] Community Project, the accounting folks within the Finance Department need to close those
[2:35:31] projects out, and we are requesting to re-elicate that money into the Hampstead Coannas Park
[2:35:38] project to help that throughout the project life cycle and into the close-out phase of October
[2:35:45] 2025, 2025, currently the budget for the Kiwanis Park project is sitting at estimated $5,750
[2:35:57] and $32.39, which doesn't leave us much buffer room to essentially carry out the project
[2:36:05] with any other potential contingency items that might come up until project close out.
[2:36:11] From the last spreadsheet, the potential change orders that the county manager sent to
[2:36:18] y'all last Thursday, you might have noticed that there is a pending change order for that project.
[2:36:24] It is for a Jack and Boer essentially to tap into Pender County utilities, waterline,
[2:36:29] under-slued point road and that provide water into the new picnic shelter facility.
[2:36:36] That, and I can get a little bit into the background for that specific issue, but that immediately,
[2:36:45] these 91,000 would help cover that change order and cover that cost to ensure that the picnic shelter
[2:36:52] will have running water for all the facilities. Is there water there now on the site?
[2:36:57] There is water at the concessions building and at the other restroom facility on the other side close to the country club.
[2:37:07] However,
[2:37:10] a little bit about that, and facilities can attest to this.
[2:37:14] They have issues right now with the piping and the sizing to the concessions stand where if you have all or many of the toilets function at once, they kind of run out of water real quick.
[2:37:24] So extending that line from the concessions building was visited.
[2:37:30] However, it was found to be not sufficient. That's what we are trying to tap the waterline nearest to where the picnic shelter is going to be, which is probably about 200-300 feet away from where it currently is being built to have adequately sized line to be able to feed that facility.
[2:37:51] I know when you're born to a roadway. That's expensive. Yes it is. And that just so you all know that that
[2:37:58] calls for that. Jack and Boar is $28,678 dollars which we've gotten priced out. And this issue kind
[2:38:06] of goes back to my early days as a project manager here as when we started noticing that that was
[2:38:12] going to be an issue, it was not properly designed or planned during the initial phases of
[2:38:20] the project's design.
[2:38:23] So notice instead of doing a near-site tap, it would require a Jack and Bore on their
[2:38:28] suit point, which is with that price, their reflects.
[2:38:34] So this item, the 91,000 is money saved for those other projects, right?
[2:38:41] Yes, sir.
[2:38:41] And you want to reallocate it to another part.
[2:38:45] Yes, I would hope we'd be saving money on all three projects
[2:38:47] and saving the citizens money instead of just rerouting that, but that's just me.
[2:38:54] Yes, sir.
[2:38:55] If the Jack Moore gets addressed,
[2:39:00] and no other contingencies come up until the closeout,
[2:39:04] we can potentially return 62,000 roughly 62,000 back to the general fund
[2:39:10] after Kuanus closes out.
[2:39:13] Any other questions for Mr. and there is on the item?
[2:39:16] I don't want to wish this.
[2:39:19] Make the motion for approval.
[2:39:21] Motion for approval is on the table.
[2:39:23] Do we have a second?
[2:39:24] Second.
[2:39:25] Motion on the second.
[2:39:26] So all those in favor, if you can, obviously,
[2:39:27] I raise your hand.
[2:39:29] Thank you, sir.
[2:39:31] Thank you.
[2:39:31] Item 9.9, you're still up, sir.
[2:39:41] Gentlemen, this item 9.9 was brought up
[2:39:43] at the April 7th meeting
[2:39:45] and was tabled at that point.
[2:39:47] We have gone back and discussed with the Bobbit, the construction firm.
[2:39:53] They've re-addressed some issues with the town of Bergau's planning department.
[2:39:58] So we're previously, we were planning on cutting down the trees that you see in this slide
[2:40:05] here and replenishing them along that buffer zone there, which is in line with the community.
[2:40:15] The town of Bergau approved that we wouldn't have to reply them there in that specific location.
[2:40:22] And we can replant them elsewhere along the property lines, which if you see the item or the area there identified in purple, which is the tree preservation area.
[2:40:31] So that is the area that we would target to replant these 28 trees.
[2:40:36] The species we removed the species on all those concerns about the red maples.
[2:40:40] So right now, instead of specifying exactly what we were replant, we're asking to establish the allowance for planning 28 trees, and that is going to be at Bob it's landscaping architect, a recommendation of a good tree that would fit well within that tree preservation area.
[2:41:01] So really, the price did not change, it's still $44,961 for that change order and that amendment to that contract and it would be still encompassing the removal of the 28 trees and all for the replanting of 28 new trees and again establishing allowance for the replanting of 28 trees, the survey that had it get done and the contractors mark up.
[2:41:26] Are they going to take the stops too? When they cut them trees, they're just going to cut them out.
[2:41:31] I believe there are only any things.
[2:41:34] Any questions?
[2:41:35] On non-point none for Mr. Ramirez?
[2:41:38] If not, one of the wishes?
[2:41:43] Motion to approve.
[2:41:45] On the table.
[2:41:45] Have a second.
[2:41:47] Second.
[2:41:48] There's a favor, second.
[2:41:49] I'm going to have a saying aye.
[2:41:49] Raise your hand.
[2:41:51] Aye.
[2:41:52] Opposed?
[2:41:53] All right.
[2:41:53] Thank you, sir.
[2:41:54] Thank you very much, General.
[2:41:58] Item 9.10.
[2:42:01] Dr. Commissioner Tape.
[2:42:05] No point, one zero, sir.
[2:42:08] This item is to look at a freeze of employment of hiring of county employees and spending
[2:42:13] until we as a board get a detail spending analysis for calls and look at our debt service
[2:42:20] for our county.
[2:42:21] We know that each one of these agendas, I've only been on two, and it's costing us millions
[2:42:26] and millions of dollars and these last two meetings alone.
[2:42:29] My recommendation is tonight, or to ask favorly consideration among my colleagues.
[2:42:33] If you two are concerned about a taxpayer's dollars here, is that someone has to assume the
[2:42:40] leadership to cut the spending and cut between all of these calls, we have a new budget
[2:42:46] year coming up in less than 90 days.
[2:42:49] We're almost yearing in, unless it is an emergency item deemed by the county manager that
[2:42:55] we suspend our hiring and spending as appropriate about a manager.
[2:43:01] That is my recommendation.
[2:43:02] to provide a little bit more oversight for our county dollars.
[2:43:06] I'm very concerned about our spending level.
[2:43:09] I even saw a post in the day that we are friends to spending.
[2:43:12] Even some of my colleagues I believe on this board made a comment today out there and
[2:43:17] is that there are two are concerned about it.
[2:43:21] And so, consider a page was someone sent it to me.
[2:43:24] So, I want to ask that we look at putting more oversight in place until we know more
[2:43:31] about the spending because it seems not to be only my concern but I've heard
[2:43:34] up from other colleagues that could communicate in terms of reports or details or
[2:43:41] their specific things that the board would like to see or you'd like to see
[2:43:44] Commissioner Taylor. I want to see where we at with our overall budget, where we
[2:43:50] at, all we of, over budget and any departments, any line items, how we had, all
[2:43:56] close to using all of those funds at those budget items, and maybe like a real in-depth
[2:44:04] spending down analysis report where we can see where we are.
[2:44:09] Also, if you don't mind, and how many current positions we have open right now that we
[2:44:17] don't have a field that we've been trying to find to hire, is that so?
[2:44:24] Maybe if we cut some of that cause, what we can do, Mr. Manager, is look at given a greater
[2:44:30] incentive.
[2:44:31] I'm really an advocate for employees getting higher salaries.
[2:44:33] When I was on this board before, I was really advocating to bring out salaries up.
[2:44:37] I do not like, and sure, of course, Smith is not here, but I used to sit a lot of times
[2:44:41] when he was in the meeting.
[2:44:42] I did not like every time we get deputies trained, they would leave us in two years.
[2:44:46] They'd go into another county.
[2:44:48] I remember being on a board, and we had to do big bios, which is sure of all of us because
[2:44:51] staff, it was numbers were so low.
[2:44:53] They had worked a lot of extra hours, no duties.
[2:44:56] That's a lot of ability for the county,
[2:44:58] so we did a mass payout at one time.
[2:45:00] I just want to make sure that we're in a position to offer the greatest level salaries for people to hire and attract the greatest level of talent.
[2:45:09] And I think by doing call savings measures, we'll be able to do that.
[2:45:13] Thank you for your feedback, Commissioner.
[2:45:23] And to be clear, that you're making a motion to do that on the current right now, the open positions.
[2:45:29] So, I'm making a motion that I hope you all give a consideration too, but if you don't understand,
[2:45:36] I'm given a motion is to put a hiring freeze, a moratorium for all current employees,
[2:45:43] as well as spending unless deemed critical need by the county manager.
[2:45:49] He still has the authority to grant those positions at his approval.
[2:45:53] And
[2:45:57] when you say spending, just help me there, everything currently under budget going through is.
[2:46:03] Why does this spend a limit for the partners?
[2:46:06] It's a 30,000 for approval.
[2:46:09] For the county manager provide.
[2:46:11] For a year level, right?
[2:46:12] No, for the department he has, what is it?
[2:46:14] That would be $9,000, but be $5,000.
[2:46:17] Any dollars is a bar of $5,000.
[2:46:20] It must be approved by the county manager.
[2:46:22] All right.
[2:46:23] That might be interesting.
[2:46:24] In Meg, what, thousand?
[2:46:29] You all tell me one thing and that you consistently come back and say something different.
[2:46:33] Every time.
[2:46:33] It just happens.
[2:46:34] I won't do that, I promise.
[2:46:36] I actually have prepared a presentation that does answer your questions that you asked.
[2:46:42] If you'd like me to go there, I'm happy to do that.
[2:46:44] If not, I can wait and provide it another time.
[2:46:46] I think we got budget work sessions coming up, right?
[2:46:49] Yes.
[2:46:51] And that would probably be the appropriate place.
[2:46:53] Okay.
[2:46:54] But the P.O. Thresh Hold is $1,000.
[2:46:59] Okay. So that made me think that we were going to get
[2:47:01] over 1,000. It's only required both me and the county manager
[2:47:04] to approve it. Right. Well, what would I get $5,000?
[2:47:07] $5,000 is our capital outlay. Thresh Hold basically we
[2:47:11] capitalize anything over $5,000. Which means we
[2:47:15] depreciated. I would say that anything above
[2:47:18] $5,000 has to be approval. I don't want people to
[2:47:22] back to the manager for a copy machine or they already do. But then let's do a thousand
[2:47:27] dollars. Okay. Yep. For the price of dollars. All right. So that motion is on the table
[2:47:31] is there a second? Second. Motion and a second. All those in favor of 9.10 as stated by
[2:47:38] Dr. T. SIG5 saying hi, raise your hand. Okay. Any opposed? All right. 9.11. Sir.
[2:47:48] Yes, ma'am
[2:47:48] a spray. You really should come to the podium because people in the public are really
[2:47:52] I want to hear your comments as well.
[2:47:58] My understanding is current open physicians.
[2:48:00] Yes, that was my question.
[2:48:02] So did you guys freeze recruiting positions
[2:48:05] but get positions?
[2:48:06] I don't remember that in your room.
[2:48:08] We're not current positions.
[2:48:10] I think we're at the motion set in a new position
[2:48:13] going forward as of tonight.
[2:48:14] That's why I want it my motion to say rather.
[2:48:17] OK, new positions.
[2:48:18] That's what I understood.
[2:48:19] OK.
[2:48:23] So like the tax administrator, you should be adequately
[2:48:25] continuing on that.
[2:48:31] Now point one one sir. We have been in many meetings over the last couple weeks. My
[2:48:37] self and months with the union folk and I believe all of y'all see everybody on this
[2:48:43] boy we see each other schedules everybody as public servants were very very busy
[2:48:48] which is we need to be. That's why we ask for it. But at the same time we are addressing
[2:48:54] the same issue over and over and over again and not getting any results. And so this union
[2:49:00] issue is here tonight. Now, I want to ask to board. Is that if a union can be me all local state
[2:49:12] and the medical directors requirements to be able to be a subcontractor that we enter into
[2:49:18] a subcontractor agreement with union. I'm taking all the emotions out and I'm looking at what's
[2:49:24] four of the people of the district. I have tried to meet with pending MS and my MS chief
[2:49:31] several times. I've had a report to come to my house or the morning, afternoon, about this
[2:49:37] issue, those are sport and those against it. And I think it's time for us to take some actions.
[2:49:42] I mean, we started this discussion back in September before I got on the board. And tonight,
[2:49:47] I'm very concerned that we still haven't moved to the level of camaraderie. I thought we
[2:49:53] you have at this point between the two organizations.
[2:49:56] So I've got to do what I think is in the best interest.
[2:49:58] Now, Mr. Turner, I'm going to refer to you again tonight.
[2:50:01] You and I spoke about 11 o'clock on Friday night.
[2:50:03] I think it was a late one Friday night this week
[2:50:06] or either last Friday, thank you for your time.
[2:50:08] My question to you, have you reviewed, legal advice,
[2:50:14] and stated advice to be able to assure me
[2:50:16] that whatever I'm doing tonight, first,
[2:50:18] because I want to dispel any rumors out there.
[2:50:21] Nothing that we're doing tonight will harm any way PIN or EMS. Is that correct?
[2:50:37] We are ready for the merger. It will not affect the merger in any way.
[2:50:43] It's right. That's what you share with me and that's what I want to make sure of.
[2:50:48] I don't want to be accused of shutting down any five departments in it.
[2:50:52] Union are good people. We don't want to be in the tension of this is going on.
[2:50:57] We just want people served and their community and volunteers to help people.
[2:51:01] taking all the emotion out on both sides of how we've tried to bring everybody together, which
[2:51:05] I'll continue to try to do. But when we don't have any results there, on both sides, I've got to
[2:51:11] do what we think is best for the district. And so my emotion would be tonight with the other
[2:51:16] discussion, my members of my colleagues on the board, is that we entered into, and I did talk
[2:51:21] to Donald Walls on the way here. He called me this afternoon, and I've got a follow-up meeting with
[2:51:26] Because I do want to sit down with him and hear his concerns that he have, and to see, can we address those concerns?
[2:51:34] My motion would be tonight to make sure, my motion, excuse me, is that we enter into a subcontract with the union, meet an all local state, OMS, requirements, and the medical director requirements and be in full compliance.
[2:51:55] We enter in a contract more on May 22nd to make sure that happens.
[2:52:02] Is there a motion on the table?
[2:52:04] Is there any more discussion?
[2:52:06] I'm sorry.
[2:52:08] No.
[2:52:08] No, Dr. Tate.
[2:52:09] I'm not questioning you.
[2:52:10] I know you've probably had some meetings, but what I would ask is if Dr.
[2:52:14] Walls would specify he wants X, Y, and Z done, and this is going to run over that
[2:52:20] May date.
[2:52:21] Do you want to come back or revise that or what does that look like?
[2:52:25] Well, what we can do that, that involves main concern that he's pressured me was to make sure that we have these.
[2:52:30] Just a while, training going on. Among all of there, there's one training entity, a name that he didn't mention, that his license is one is often not authority.
[2:52:42] He wants to make sure that we have one system level training. I don't foresee that being a big problem. I really don't.
[2:52:50] But we want to be, you know, you want to be in pork appliance.
[2:52:56] They don't want to operate and show up without being in compliance with somebody's house.
[2:53:00] We don't want that to happen.
[2:53:01] So we want to make sure that just we have communication that them know what they need to do.
[2:53:06] And what needs to happen, make this happen.
[2:53:08] Is that right, Chief?
[2:53:10] If there's any requirements, if you notify of that, you will meet those requirements.
[2:53:13] Is it right?
[2:53:15] I have full support in the full level of competence, so in saying that, that's my motion.
[2:53:23] Any further discussion?
[2:53:25] I do have a question.
[2:53:27] What is it going to be a district or is it going to be counting what is the subcontractor,
[2:53:34] where are they going to be located?
[2:53:36] Just in a union district.
[2:53:38] Only in a union district.
[2:53:38] So we have to draw a district for them.
[2:53:42] that will trigger the public hearing thing if we. I don't know how this works. I'm asking.
[2:53:49] Do they have a district now? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
[2:53:56] Chief, can you come up here to the podium? Can you come up to the podium, Chief?
[2:54:01] Do we have the MS districts? I know we have fire districts. We have the, I thought the county was a county wide EMS district.
[2:54:08] Union Rescue Squad has a district that's outlined in the tax office and within the county,
[2:54:16] and within the county system plan, it is outlined road by road.
[2:54:21] It's been in place since 1981.
[2:54:26] Okay.
[2:54:26] You currently serve in April and a lot of more areas, and so this would affect the union district.
[2:54:31] It would, but it would not eliminate our reason to do mutual aid.
[2:54:38] We would continue mutual aid, just like we do for Dukeland County, Saps and County, or
[2:54:42] wherever.
[2:54:43] We would continue that.
[2:54:45] This would just allow union to operate as a subcontractor, how about our own district,
[2:54:50] to be able to provide M.S. services as allow by the state.
[2:54:55] So, all we doing, it would be the same.
[2:54:57] It would be the same thing that we did when we,
[2:55:01] We're first chartered in 1981, and we were independent at the advanced level, and then in 2003, June
[2:55:10] the 13th, actually, is when the county commissioners at that time chose not to allow us
[2:55:17] to be a provider as we are, licensed by the government.
[2:55:20] We need to tax dollars ago along with the revenue from the area.
[2:55:25] We currently receive a payment, a portion of tax funding, which does not represent the tax revenue of our district.
[2:55:38] I'm sure we can work with management on that to address that issue.
[2:55:41] Right, Mr. Manager, make sure the allocation is properly addressed.
[2:55:45] We're going to work with that finance director, and I can
[2:55:49] misbehave.
[2:55:50] really
[2:55:57] in our tax system we only have one EMS district that is countywide. There's no
[2:56:03] distinction between what's in union rescue district and what's in the rest of the county.
[2:56:08] There may be lines and if that's the case we can figure out what the legal side of that
[2:56:13] looks like. But as far as our tax collection system goes, no one has a union rescue line on
[2:56:21] tax bill. But you're able to just see a map. But you are able to take those tax
[2:56:26] records that Miss Gidians just spoke about. She'd get into just spoke about
[2:56:29] and do a comparative analysis and come back and analyze those calls and pull them
[2:56:33] out for you and is that correct? If GIS still has the layer built-in that
[2:56:39] shows the line, we can do that. I just don't know what that looks like legally as
[2:56:44] far as basically we're creating another charge code on our tax bill that we
[2:56:48] don't currently have.
[2:56:53] Well, we can go about an hour and one
[2:56:55] one district is that right?
[2:56:56] Yeah, no, I'm saying the area is fine.
[2:56:58] It's just the fact that it's not a district in our tax system.
[2:57:03] I don't know how that works.
[2:57:05] Maybe tray has a better idea.
[2:57:07] Or maybe Melissa is saying is all of the tax.
[2:57:10] All of the EMS tax that is taxed on your tax form
[2:57:14] goes directly to Pender EMS and they give us a portion
[2:57:20] of our service district tax revenue, a portion of this group.
[2:57:27] I understand all the revenue coming into the county.
[2:57:30] What I'm asking is the separation of those funds.
[2:57:32] Can you run a analysis in some way and with legal counsel's advice to see what those
[2:57:37] dollars are and let's give them the union?
[2:57:39] They can't have the service without the money to go along with it.
[2:57:43] That's certain about the failure.
[2:57:45] I understand.
[2:57:45] I can figure out what the dollar amount is and split that up how we would like me to, but it just won't change the actual tax bills.
[2:57:57] Okay.
[2:57:57] What can you let the legal council do that in anything if we need to come back in and do clean this up?
[2:58:01] We can do that.
[2:58:02] Thank you.
[2:58:03] I do have one question if I made Dr. Tate.
[2:58:06] Sure.
[2:58:07] You said to have it by May 22nd.
[2:58:11] Are you referring to the next board meeting?
[2:58:13] for me the second board meeting for me because that is May 19th.
[2:58:18] The reason was the 22nd was for a reason that we identified.
[2:58:22] Okay, okay, yeah, that's really fine. I just wanted to make sure that my minute to have
[2:58:28] run. That gives you two days after the board meeting in case you have to get your minutes prepared
[2:58:32] in technical things that we need to do in order to submit. Because I know they have this
[2:58:36] to plan to OEMS. I think it is. If I'm saying that right office right now.
[2:58:41] Yes, yes. Technically the county will be our plan when you admit. And I do want to say that that we
[2:58:50] we would need that approved by the state before we could implement.
[2:58:54] This is contingent upon the state's approval and meeting all local state and
[2:59:00] And government entities that have any jurisdiction over this item, now that it's established
[2:59:07] that it's legal proof to do this by you is that we meet all requirements, I'm not asking
[2:59:14] when do anything illegal, I want to make sure we meet all legal requirements.
[2:59:20] And I think the good people who you want to do that, is that right?
[2:59:23] We just want to start with people.
[2:59:26] Any further discussion?
[2:59:29] If none.
[2:59:31] But I don't want to hurt Mr. Chairman.
[2:59:33] And I say this, I am not doing not want to hurt
[2:59:36] P into M.S. and the services they provide in any way by
[2:59:39] this motion here.
[2:59:40] That is separate.
[2:59:40] Some people have said that this motion is going to affect that.
[2:59:45] There's all sorts of information out there as follows right now.
[2:59:47] I'm hearing from Council.
[2:59:50] So I want to record reflect what advice that I've received
[2:59:52] the night is it will not affect Pender EMS current operations or the merger.
[3:00:01] Well, I want to be clear. I mean, it may affect their operations. I'm sorry. Besides the tax dollars, it's a tax operations.
[3:00:09] Okay. Yes. And it, my understanding is they provide the paid parameters to union current.
[3:00:19] So if that is no longer the case, then that will require some shifting of things, but that
[3:00:25] can be addressed as part of the budget, because again, the commissioners have subsidized
[3:00:34] Pender EMS and file.
[3:00:35] We still need it, and I'm not saying that dollars can be shifted from that subsidy,
[3:00:46] because
[3:00:46] depending on what the numbers are, but we can work on that as part of the process and part
[3:00:52] of discussion with Nina.
[3:00:55] We're not going to answer every question here tonight, but I want the motion to proceed.
[3:00:59] All right.
[3:00:59] The motion on the table is a second.
[3:01:01] Second.
[3:01:02] Motion in seconded.
[3:01:03] So there's a favor of signify of the saying, aye, raise your hand.
[3:01:07] He opposed.
[3:01:08] Thank you.
[3:01:10] So, thank you, gentlemen.
[3:01:10] 10.1 deciding for discussion tonight, Dr. Take, Commission Take?
[3:01:17] Oh, I've got very interested in that.
[3:01:18] All right, county policy for allowing county employees to drive county owned vehicles,
[3:01:24] to inform a sign office place award in department here's residency.
[3:01:28] I do realize that we can't tell people where to stay.
[3:01:31] Okay, that's another thing I want to clarify.
[3:01:35] However, Mr. Thurman, I look at you because you have institutional knowledge here.
[3:01:40] I remember working with the other colleagues on this board and we came up with a policy
[3:01:45] that allowed Department of Health to part out of the county.
[3:01:49] It seemed like they parted their cars on Highway 421 that way at that time that they were coming
[3:01:53] out of counties and whatever was near as the county line is what I want us to be able to do
[3:01:59] is to, the bird drive in a county vehicle, for example, I have been told there's an county
[3:02:08] employee that drives almost 100 miles a day to carry a beach of somewhere, somewhere,
[3:02:12] in front of the county somewhere. You know, that's almost 100 miles a day, 100 miles a day.
[3:02:17] That's 70 cents. If you look at ours rate per week, that's a large amount of money to the
[3:02:25] county as well as if you look on a month in a yearly basis, not including the maintenance
[3:02:30] calls for the vehicle and not just any of that employee out is several here. I mean
[3:02:34] out here in Dupling County there's employees that drive Dupling. I hear there's employees
[3:02:38] that drive to New Handover County and we need to make sure that all of these employees
[3:02:45] if they're driving county vehicles, if it's not a job that's being critically necessarily
[3:02:50] early in the state of emergency that they're part of vehicle on the county line.
[3:02:55] We have to look no different than what our national government doing, every way that we can
[3:02:59] save money for the taxpayers.
[3:03:01] Again, this saving is going to allow us to get those that remain with us to greatest increases.
[3:03:06] For Ms. HR to be able to go back and recruit the talent that we need.
[3:03:17] I think Commissioner Tate makes some good points there.
[3:03:21] I do.
[3:03:22] I can remember as a county employee when you weren't even allowed to have a take home car.
[3:03:29] I can remember when you were made to live in the county you worked in, but those days are gone.
[3:03:34] But you do have some valid points, but there is also some benefits and some employees that are able
[3:03:40] to have that added benefit of a take home vehicle because of that recruitment and retention.
[3:03:45] There is some added benefit on both sides and I think it might need to be looked at like you see on the case by case basis.
[3:03:51] And those that get this benefit of driving a car home, are we reporting out with areas?
[3:03:55] That's an added benefit as you know we're required to report.
[3:03:59] You know, it's not fair to me.
[3:04:00] I'm just going to be honest with you.
[3:04:02] I've had this happen in other places across the state.
[3:04:05] I have a concern where it looks like we're giving corporate America benefits to certain employees.
[3:04:12] Those that serve and manages office and certain other areas.
[3:04:16] And then others are not just managers office,
[3:04:18] but just served to report to management and across the board, across the state, many places.
[3:04:22] But the end of people who work as clerks, who works as other important jobs, is not
[3:04:29] to partner here, who are making a diminutive salary much lower than a department here, they're
[3:04:34] having to buy gas to come to work and struggling to put a lower pay in salary when those who
[3:04:39] have fancy titles getting a big salary, and they're going to be helpful in front of those
[3:04:44] And you went along a row, right as low, in some areas, how would you feel you're not employing
[3:04:52] you making $30,000, your supervisor is driving up making $125,000 and then they're getting
[3:04:58] a vehicle in free gas.
[3:05:00] It may not be popular, but it's my opinion.
[3:05:08] It's a good discussion.
[3:05:10] I would say Michigan manager, if you could, I don't know if the board would agree this
[3:05:14] is to look at revising the policy to include maybe center point of the station here, not to go or
[3:05:28] exceed 20 miles would that be okay with you, don't you think? 20 miles? 20 miles, whereas if they
[3:05:34] exceed the 20 miles, they had to pay a portion out of their paycheck for their gas and
[3:05:38] and maintenance whatever it comes out to be. Obviously you had to get it to fleet manager to figure
[3:05:43] out, which vehicle was calls to and all that kind of thing.
[3:05:47] In Vice Chair, Springer and Commissioner Tate, if you'd like us to do this, we can work
[3:05:51] on some revisions and send the draft to the board to get feedback, then after we receive
[3:05:56] feedback, we can bring it to the board for a official review and approval.
[3:06:00] Thanks, sir.
[3:06:01] I need it before, didn't like you did, did not you gave me this package when I sat down
[3:06:05] tonight.
[3:06:05] I need it before, so I can analyze and review it, okay?
[3:06:07] Yes, sir.
[3:06:08] One of the things is we did need to get the total cost for the vehicles and that was the reason
[3:06:12] for the submission today.
[3:06:21] Any further discussion?
[3:06:23] So we'll get that in the near future.
[3:06:26] Coming back, I think it's some good discussions.
[3:06:28] Moving into the budget work sessions
[3:06:30] starting next month on that.
[3:06:31] We've got several them lined up,
[3:06:33] looking at next year's budget.
[3:06:34] So hopefully we can hold the line where we need to.
[3:06:38] And all
[3:06:51] right, so moving on to item 11,
[3:06:55] Mr. Stanfield, appointments?
[3:06:58] Yes, sir.
[3:06:59] We are, we've got a little bit of a list for you tonight.
[3:07:03] We're going to start off with the appointment to the Cholium Health Resource Board.
[3:07:08] This board, it typically has one commissioner on it and one citizen representative.
[3:07:13] Cholium was here earlier.
[3:07:16] I think it was our last meeting.
[3:07:18] That appointment that is on there.
[3:07:20] She has been serving in lieu of a new appointment.
[3:07:23] That position is up for a new person to be appointed.
[3:07:28] I have advertised for
[3:07:30] All right, and I have received two applicants. The first applicant is Ms. Carolyn Carr Green. She's applied for the board, she resides in Berkha, and she's been a resident of Pender County for 50 years.
[3:07:41] She owns and direct priority care at home LLC, prior to owning her own business. She worked at various health-based companies as a certified nursing assistant.
[3:07:53] Ms. Carr Green has been in the Rotary Club, the Order of Eastern Star and Social Club.
[3:07:58] Should the board choose to appoint her, she would fill the remainder of the term that is currently going on, which began on July 1st, 2024, and expires student 30 of 2027.
[3:08:11] For our second applicant, we have Ms. Roxanne Devane. She has also applied for the board and resides in Berga. She has been a resident for 36 years. She has employed at Pender Adult Services as the CAPRN and is a trans past driver.
[3:08:29] Prior to her employment at Pendertal Services, she worked for various health-based companies as well as a registered nurse and a physician extender.
[3:08:38] She's been a member of the Pendert County in WACP.
[3:08:44] I'm so sorry.
[3:08:46] I'm sorry.
[3:08:46] I'm sorry.
[3:08:47] I'm sorry.
[3:08:48] I'm sorry.
[3:08:57] I'm sorry.
[3:08:58] I'm sorry.
[3:08:58] memberships. Again, she had the board choose to appoint her her term would be July 1, 2024 through June 30,
[3:09:06] 2027. So she would also be filling. You can only appoint one, but she would also be filling the
[3:09:15] remainder
[3:09:16] of a term.
[3:09:18] I'm trying to get one of these two, right. Correct. I want to get one. Okay. So one of the wishes
[3:09:24] of the board for whoever on these applications?
[3:09:36] Does resource board have a recommendation
[3:09:39] as far as who they would like?
[3:09:41] No, and honestly, typically I do try to give
[3:09:45] some kind of recommendation, but for both of these applicants,
[3:09:49] I found they were both well-versed in the category.
[3:09:52] They were both very passionate when they were talking
[3:09:55] to me about these boards.
[3:09:56] So honestly, I feel that either applicant
[3:10:00] would be a tremendous help to the Trilion Resource Board. I don't think that there is a better option.
[3:10:08] Per person, I think they're both very qualified. Very passionate. They've both got very well
[3:10:15] grounded roots in the county. So I think whichever one you choose would be a good candidate.
[3:10:24] I entertain a motion for whichever applicant in the board, so chooses.
[3:10:30] I will say prior to we have been appointing, I did not read this part, but at the bottom of the summary sheet.
[3:10:41] In the past, we have been appointing our DSS director.
[3:10:44] It was previously, we have done that in the past, and so that is also an option to appoint the DSS director.
[3:10:54] or the commissioner appointancy. For the commissioner appointancy. Miss Stampio, what does that
[3:10:59] what does that board look like or how much what's it made up? How's it made up? So this is not our board.
[3:11:05] It is there board. We just get the two seats. We get a commissioner seat. It's a regional board.
[3:11:12] So I'm not in touch or. Yeah, it's not small. As I said before, we get a commissioner seat,
[3:11:18] which in the past, the board has had the DSS director sit in the commissioner point of
[3:11:26] seat and then they have a citizen representative seat as well. So the two candidates that I
[3:11:31] read aloud before they would be for the citizen seat and if the board would prefer to put a
[3:11:37] commissioner on the Trailium Health Resource Board, you're more than welcome to and the past we
[3:11:41] have done the director. So either option is on the table so I will need two motions.
[3:11:48] or one combined motion of a point, but it is a large board. It's done by each region.
[3:11:56] Is it possible to put both the applicants that are so passionate on it?
[3:12:01] You can. Can one be not? Possibly. So we only get one citizen representative seat.
[3:12:10] The commissioner seat that we have typically, like I've said in the past, we've put the
[3:12:16] on there because it's in lieu of a commissioner who is part of this right it's not a commissioner
[3:12:27] but it's kind of like they're representing for you guys because they they work at the county
[3:12:33] they are well within the realm of trillion resources because really as she said when she was here
[3:12:38] she does a lot of things a lot of things that overlap with DSS and so in the past I believe that's why
[3:12:44] the board has appointed DSS directors in lieu of appointing a commissioner just because they
[3:12:49] have such direct access.
[3:12:52] So, two motions are required.
[3:12:55] Two are one really long-blank.
[3:13:00] Are you talking about miscar green?
[3:13:02] Are you talking about miscar green?
[3:13:03] Are you talking about miscar green?
[3:13:04] Okay.
[3:13:04] Thank you.
[3:13:05] All right.
[3:13:06] National on table from miscar green.
[3:13:08] I'm sorry.
[3:13:09] And the second.
[3:13:09] There's a favor.
[3:13:10] I'm seeing.
[3:13:11] All right.
[3:13:12] All right. Now we need the public deserves our starting at seven. Okay. Let's just
[3:13:19] let's take care of the commit. Is there a commissioner willing that wants to sit only
[3:13:25] Trillium forward? I'm very not think Dr. Tates interested. That's fine. And that's fine.
[3:13:32] If you want to do the motion for the DSS director, I'm feeling that.
[3:13:41] Okay.
[3:13:42] motion on the table. Is there a second?
[3:13:45] I'll second. There's a second. There's a second if I'm saying that.
[3:13:48] All right, thank you.
[3:13:52] Do you want to jump to that?
[3:13:53] Yes.
[3:13:54] The schedule for seven week.
[3:13:55] Yes.
[3:13:56] Let's do that.
[3:13:57] Okay.
[3:13:57] Okay.
[3:14:02] Let's take a five minute recess please.
[3:14:05] And we'll be right back for the public hearing.
[3:14:11] We're going to have probably food.
[3:29:11] Make sure you're signed up or either come up and sign up, please.
[3:31:06] Item, on the public hearing, item 21.1, petition of road names. Mr. Dixon, welcome sir.
[3:31:19] Thank you. Commissioner Burton and the board.
[3:31:30] We have a resolution to name private roads within the Kingbird exempt subdivision.
[3:31:35] This is in district 2 in the top-sealed district.
[3:31:41] The good people from Logan Homes have submitted three road names that were approved by staff because they were not considered to not be.
[3:31:51] Two similar to existing road names.
[3:31:54] And the road names are, as you can see on the map here,
[3:31:56] and the green cattle drive, and the purple silver rado drive, and the orange cinch road.
[3:32:04] This is an exempt subdivision, so it is not under our UDO article regarding road naming when it comes to subdivisions and therefore we felt it was necessary to have a public meeting on this issue and my knowledge nobody has signed up to speak on it
[3:32:30] So, all 35 lots are greater than 10 acres, which makes an an exempt subdivision, regarding safety
[3:32:41] to avoid conflicts and delays with emergency and public safety responders, and to provide
[3:32:46] for the conformance with the county's addressing and road naming ordinances, the request is
[3:32:50] made to assign road names. This will not require any addresses to be changed, as the lots
[3:32:56] will be sold in the coming months.
[3:33:01] All families,
[3:33:04] I apologize, scratch that last part.
[3:33:06] Public hearing was, public hearing notice has
[3:33:10] been run in the Pender Topso Voice and has been placed
[3:33:12] in the county courthouse and in the Rocky Point Post Office.
[3:33:16] And a public hearing sign has been posted
[3:33:18] at the entrance to the neighborhood.
[3:33:23] So when a public or private road access is accessible
[3:33:26] to more than three structures, accommodations, zero, regardless of length, such road, a road
[3:33:31] name shall be assigned. Or if it is greater than 200 feet in length, the affected property
[3:33:36] owners may petition the address coordinator to name the road. As stated earlier, the road
[3:33:42] names suggested are cattle drive, centroad, and silverado drive. And I asked this, I asked the
[3:33:50] board at this time to consider this request. Is that sort of vision out near a question
[3:33:56] in a state, some two-tian?
[3:33:57] Yes, sir.
[3:33:58] Okay, just to make sure.
[3:34:00] They're in a sauna.
[3:34:01] They're in a sauna?
[3:34:04] Any discussion?
[3:34:06] Yeah, sir, where did this come from?
[3:34:11] Currently, all the lots are owned by Logan Holmes.
[3:34:14] So these road names were requested by Logan Holmes.
[3:34:18] Were any of the residents contacted about this,
[3:34:21] about this, normal?
[3:34:23] Yes.
[3:34:26] So public notices were placed and this in a sign out where the neighborhood is going to be built was but letting people know of the request.
[3:34:36] But currently there are no residents that are affected by these road names. They're going to sell the lots later.
[3:34:42] So we have one petitioner.
[3:34:45] Okay. I got a question in general, Coliseus, where I leave.
[3:34:50] I hope they're planning for a large turn in line to get in and out of there.
[3:34:57] Can you further all of that?
[3:34:59] To my knowledge, I don't recall them speaking about that at the Technical Review Committee.
[3:35:05] I don't want to, I'm not sure, so I don't want to speak on that.
[3:35:17] I don't have to get a driveway permit through the DOT and that's when any of those improvements
[3:35:22] would be analyzed and required as part of the driveway permit, so that would be through
[3:35:27] DOT, yes, sir.
[3:35:30] But ten acre lots is pretty much in the state community, right?
[3:35:34] It's right.
[3:35:35] It's a large lot, so what Mike or Mr. Dixon was referring to is it's an exempt subdivision,
[3:35:41] So the state has some exemptions to subdivision regulations.
[3:35:45] If you create lots that are larger than 10 acres,
[3:35:48] they're exempt from our subdivision regulations.
[3:35:52] I wish a lot of people would do that.
[3:35:58] Any further questions for Mr. Dixon?
[3:36:01] If none, I'll entertain a motion.
[3:36:05] Motion.
[3:36:06] Motion in a second.
[3:36:07] There's a favor, so if I was saying aye, raise your hand.
[3:36:10] Thanks, sir.
[3:36:10] Thank you.
[3:36:11] 21.2, all right, Mr. Adams, Resign requests for approximately 30.93 acres from RAs owning district
[3:36:19] conditionals on any district.
[3:36:21] To allow new hangers to be installed at the existing Stag Park Air Facility Emergo.
[3:36:26] Yes, sir.
[3:36:27] Mr. Chairman board members, the first land use case on the agenda this evening is a conditional
[3:36:32] rezoning application, so the folks, the applicant is Mr. Kin McGee, and he's making this
[3:36:39] on behalf of Stag Air Park to rezone approximately 30.93 acres from the rural agricultural
[3:36:46] zone industry to a conditional zone industry. The site is operating as an existing airport
[3:36:52] facility and the request is to add hangers. I'm going to get into why they're having to go
[3:36:57] through this process here momentarily. A little bit of background on Stag Air Park. It's been
[3:37:02] in operation. Per the applicant for 38 years. And there was a special use permit issued
[3:37:09] On April 21st of 2003, and then revised on June 2nd of 2003, which allowed for hangers to be placed at this site.
[3:37:18] Now, this site is what's considered an existing non-conformity.
[3:37:22] So, what that means is if that was a blank slate, if that was an undeveloped site, and they wanted to permit an airport, they...
[3:37:30] Now, it would not be permitted through a special use permit, the way it was originally approved or the way this revision was had taken place.
[3:37:38] So what that means is, our regulations have changed since this was initially approved. So we can't revise that special use permit. We have to go through the conditional zoning process to allow them to expand this existing use.
[3:37:54] To orient the board a little bit, the site is highlighted in that pinkish color.
[3:37:58] It's about a mile and a half south of the intersection of white stocking road and Stag Park Road.
[3:38:05] As you can see on the zoning map, the property in the area is also owned rural agricultural.
[3:38:11] And then on the aerial map, you can see the vast majority of the property around the site is used for agricultural purposes.
[3:38:18] there are some single family homes out there. A neat component of this project is when it was initially
[3:38:25] developed, there are dozen houses adjacent to the runway that have garages that appear to be,
[3:38:30] sort of your traditional single family home garage, but they're actually airport hangers or
[3:38:35] their hangers for folks with their planes and they can just taxi out to the runway and fly off.
[3:38:43] Again, for the board's purposes door into all to this side, I've taken a couple of photos.
[3:38:47] So this is an existing hanger on the site and then this photo was taken with my back to
[3:38:53] stack park road looking west down the runway.
[3:38:59] So as you can see on the site plan I've called out with red arrows a couple areas where
[3:39:03] future hangers are proposed
[3:39:07] and then I want to bring one thing to the board's attention
[3:39:10] regarding buffers.
[3:39:11] That's often something that we discuss when there are non-residential uses adjacent
[3:39:16] residential uses are is buffer requirements. In this case there are there is existing
[3:39:21] vegetations surrounding the property. So the applicant requested that we maintain that
[3:39:26] vegetation and staff found that to be in compliance with the UDO. There is a condition of
[3:39:32] approval that states if that vegetation is removed, it should be re-established. One other
[3:39:38] thing to note is that for airports in particular it's important not to have tall vegetation
[3:39:43] for takeoff and landing purposes.
[3:39:45] Obviously, that's right.
[3:39:48] And don't let me overstate my knowledge.
[3:39:50] Most of what I've learned is from Mr. McGee this evening.
[3:39:53] And he's very passionate, and I think he can do a much better job than I can about telling you more about the airport facility.
[3:40:01] Just some dimensional standards, because this is a conditional rezoning.
[3:40:05] The board sets the dimensional standards through this hearing.
[3:40:08] These standards are consistent with the rural agricultural zoning district or exceed them.
[3:40:13] So there's an effort there to maintain the rural character of the area.
[3:40:19] Again, the future land use map calls this area or identifies this area as a rural agriculture.
[3:40:25] And what that means is that it identifies desirable uses and uses that don't necessarily fit in with the rural agricultural categories.
[3:40:34] So some of those desired uses are single-family dwellings, manufactured homes, or parks recreation, and open space.
[3:40:40] Some of those inappropriate uses would be attached single family homes like town homes or
[3:40:45] dueplexes, along with multifamily units, like apartments, and then things like industrial
[3:40:50] development or office and commercial uses.
[3:40:54] So staff is recommending approval of this proposal, right, and I want to call out a couple
[3:40:58] reasons why.
[3:40:59] So this is an existing facility.
[3:41:01] This is not a new facility, it's an existing facility, and they're requesting to add hangers
[3:41:06] to that facility. And as I mentioned earlier, because it's no longer permitted via special
[3:41:12] use permit, they have to go through this conditional rezoning process.
[3:41:17] And it maintains the rural character of the area. I don't know if the board has had an opportunity
[3:41:21] to visit the site at any point, but it does maintain the rural character of the area.
[3:41:26] And lastly, it's consistent with two policies in the comprehensive plan. It's 5.1F and 5.1FF.
[3:41:35] Again, as it is a conditional rezoning, the board has an opportunity to place conditions
[3:41:39] of approval, as long as the applicant agrees with those conditions.
[3:41:43] There are five conditions of approval being proposed.
[3:41:46] The first two of which are standard must comply with all state county, state and federal regulations,
[3:41:54] and then comply with the unified development ordinance.
[3:41:56] And then the third is the existing special use permit should be dissolved via written statements
[3:42:03] submitted by the owner of the property.
[3:42:05] This conditional resounding will be in place of that special use permit.
[3:42:10] And then there are actually several parcels on the site, so recombining those parcels is one
[3:42:14] of the conditions of approval that will alleviate any issues with setbacks and things like that.
[3:42:19] And then lastly, that condition related to the buffer,
[3:42:24] so maintaining that vegetated buffer.
[3:42:28] At their March 4th meeting,
[3:42:29] the planning board unanimously recommended
[3:42:31] approval of the proposal in a five-of vote.
[3:42:36] And the last side is a plan consistency statement.
[3:42:40] So the board can use this statement
[3:42:41] when making a motion if they so choose.
[3:42:43] I do want to point out Mr. McGee is in the audience.
[3:42:46] He's the applicant in owner and he happy.
[3:42:48] I'm sure to answer any questions, should you have them as am I?
[3:42:52] Any questions for Mr. Adams or the applicant?
[3:42:58] Is there any opposition sign up?
[3:42:59] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, okay.
[3:43:03] So with that, I'll entertain the motion.
[3:43:09] It's a great statistic.
[3:43:11] Most of the previous initials on a map, a movement, and to make a finding that the proposals
[3:43:16] consistent with the plan policies with the Pender 2.0 Conference of Land Use Plan 5.1.f
[3:43:25] Conditional Resonant 5.1.ff, rural, non-residential uses.
[3:43:31] The motion is on the table, is there a second?
[3:43:34] Second.
[3:43:35] All those in favour?
[3:43:35] Second, if I was saying hi.
[3:43:37] Raise your hand.
[3:43:37] Aye.
[3:43:38] Does it pose?
[3:43:39] All right.
[3:43:40] Thank you, Mr. Adams.
[3:43:41] Thank you.
[3:43:42] It's 21.3.
[3:43:45] Resonant request, Resonant Hawthorne Hampstead Development,
[3:43:47] Add 84 apartments and unify adjacent developments under one zoning district.
[3:43:56] Yes, sir.
[3:43:57] I spoke with the applicant prior to the meeting.
[3:44:01] I believe they're going to request the continuous.
[3:44:03] I certainly don't want to speak on there behalf.
[3:44:04] I'm happy to go through my presentation.
[3:44:07] I don't know if the applicant would,
[3:44:09] or the board would prefer to consider that request prior to my presentation.
[3:44:14] and I'll certainly leave that up to the board.
[3:44:18] I'll entertain wishes at the board.
[3:44:21] I want to accept the continuance for whatever reason they might have.
[3:44:26] I think I can not just make a comment.
[3:44:30] Yeah, this seems to be a pattern.
[3:44:32] At least people call, every time these people come we do this.
[3:44:37] So if we're going to continue it, at least let the ones that's here speak,
[3:44:42] the public hearing part, but does this have any problem with that at all?
[3:44:49] Yeah, I would encourage you to come back, but if you want to speak tonight, I think you should have the opportunity
[3:44:54] since you had to come through the traffic to get out of Washington acres in Deerfield, which takes forever now to come here.
[3:45:01] Yeah, I concur with you, Mr. George.
[3:45:05] All right, so there's a motion, there's a motion in a second to continue, and I will, I don't have any problem with what residents that wish to speak tonight.
[3:45:15] We can hear them
[3:45:21] continue it whenever.
[3:45:28] Are we allowed to offer a date, certain?
[3:45:30] I would encourage the Board to continue to a date, certain that will save us from having to,
[3:45:36] The May 16th meeting is in Hampstead.
[3:45:39] I mean May 19th meeting is in Hampstead.
[3:45:47] Is that commensurate with the applicant?
[3:45:52] I believe so.
[3:45:55] All right.
[3:45:55] So there's a motion on that to continue to the motion.
[3:45:59] May 19th in a second.
[3:46:02] The motion continues to May 19th.
[3:46:04] Okay.
[3:46:05] All right.
[3:46:05] All right.
[3:46:05] All right.
[3:46:05] All right.
[3:46:06] And if I'm saying I raise your hand, all right, thank you, how many do we have signed up?
[3:46:14] All right, so there's 12 and by the rules, I think you would get less than three minutes.
[3:46:20] So do all 12 want to speak?
[3:46:22] I mean, or do you want to get less than 10, where you can have three minutes?
[3:46:30] Okay, because you will have time to speak next time.
[3:46:32] That's the process, you will do that, okay?
[3:46:34] So just can that
[3:46:41] that's up to you sir it'll be a burger you can speak to my
[3:46:45] question is we have a limit now 30 minutes so if if if you want to speak to
[3:46:50] night and not take a chance our ticket chance are not getting to speak at the
[3:46:54] hamster I would I was speak tonight and possible you could be able to speak it
[3:47:00] both here tonight and the next the next meeting is May 19th for the ones that
[3:47:06] there. So we'll just have the Mr. Turner call them out in the names that we're signed up and
[3:47:12] we'll be glad to hear your comments. Charles Whittaker?
[3:47:19] You're up Mr. Whittaker? Welcome. Yes, sir.
[3:47:25] Will be careful. Come on.
[3:47:32] I gave Mr. Speaker,
[3:47:38] there's only board. Yes, sir. All right, sir. Thank you.
[3:47:44] where
[3:47:50] you see there is male creek, where everything from it's subdivision drains into
[3:47:55] the male creek, right behind four or five of them, they have boats, and that used to
[3:47:59] be a deep spot where people could turn around.
[3:48:02] It was always three and a half to four feet deep and low tide.
[3:48:06] And you can see it now.
[3:48:09] Most of us boat houses on the water because we wanted to put her boats in and out.
[3:48:13] Don't have no deep water now.
[3:48:15] I paid the last week, I paid Dave Gardner $1,000 to clean out.
[3:48:18] But how am I boat so I get my right now let my boat out, the Caleb Jones across the creek from me,
[3:48:25] he was out two grand so he could get his boat around and you can see the fella there at the end,
[3:48:30] he can't get his boat out. How to slide out a man and that's the way they look at it.
[3:48:37] And there we're stuck with all his goot and it's a mess. The creek used to be have a solid bottom
[3:48:45] with all those orchard shells that you can see,
[3:48:48] but there are a water shelter, there is no orchard shells,
[3:48:51] so ever been a water that hits on this,
[3:48:53] all this black top up here, 30 acres probably,
[3:48:56] comes down that creek, and it makes a monsoon deluge,
[3:48:58] it just keeps washing, more mud,
[3:49:00] because there's no hard bottom in the creek,
[3:49:01] the creek went through a four or five hurricanes,
[3:49:05] but it couldn't stand this water out
[3:49:06] that they have here, and so I like to make a proposal,
[3:49:09] if you would please, that they put in a better retention
[3:49:14] basis with a baffle in it to catch a lot of this stuff that you put a retention base in it,
[3:49:19] but still flows out to put a baffle in it and get that big and I would like to suggest
[3:49:24] that they put the bill to come in there and clean up this mess that they have created.
[3:49:29] Yeah, thank you very much sir.
[3:49:34] Hold the steam.
[3:49:41] Let's toast in welcome.
[3:49:45] Even in my name's Doug Holstein.
[3:49:48] I live at 313 Creek View Drive, Hampstead.
[3:49:52] I don't know about the timing here, I understand we've got 30 minutes, but I'm the head of the old deer field community association.
[3:49:59] I'd normally be asking for five minutes rather than the three.
[3:50:02] But I'm asking that the Board of Commissioners deny this request for rezoning.
[3:50:09] I've got one underlying question.
[3:50:11] His hamps said going to be better if you guys prove this rezoning request.
[3:50:15] I don't think so. For three reasons. One is that one that Ron Whittaker just expressed.
[3:50:22] We had two rain events occur in 2024. One with a five inch rain event, one with a 12 inch rain event.
[3:50:29] Both rain events cause flooding. The 12 inch cause destructive flooding to the intersection of deer field and creek view.
[3:50:36] While during a hurricane Florence, we had 29 inches hit the area and we didn't have nearly half the flooding that we had then.
[3:50:44] It's a result of their incomplete or their improper planning stormwater runoff planning.
[3:50:56] And their engineer gave us a description and said that they had surveyed the area, taken their measurements,
[3:51:03] studied the the thesis from all the subject matter experts, applied those, and we've got what we've got
[3:51:11] learned to live with it. Well now they want to add three more buildings. Probably 30,000 square feet
[3:51:19] more that won't absorb the water, and so in the future when we get these rain events, we're going to worry about
[3:51:27] the mud and debris and the silt going down into middle creek.
[3:51:31] We're going worry about the fresh water running off of the parking lots, the paved over
[3:51:38] area, the roofs, and changing the salinity of the water going into the salt marsh,
[3:51:43] killing the grass in the salt marsh and everybody knows that the salt marsh is our nursery
[3:51:47] for all our mollit, for our crabs, and all the rest of the seafood that we generate.
[3:51:54] They don't care, they don't care, they'll walk away, they'll go on to it in the next project.
[3:52:00] The second thing is the impact of the vehicles, 84 apartments, so we're going to get 84
[3:52:07] to 168 additional vehicles in the middle of Hampstead when the bypass is finished, it's
[3:52:15] going to take care of all that through traffic from Jacksonville down in Wilmington.
[3:52:18] We're still going to have the additional vehicles
[3:52:23] congesting the highway 17 through Hamstead.
[3:52:27] We're still going to have the problem that we have today.
[3:52:30] Maybe a little bit less because of that through traffic. The third one is the probably the most interesting
[3:52:35] one is the impact on school system. Now, I've been attending a lot of these planning board meetings
[3:52:41] and the, and these meetings, and you're right. There has been a pattern. This is, okay. Thank you. Thank you.
[3:52:48] Thank you.
[3:52:57] Thank you.
[3:52:57] Thank you.
[3:52:58] Thank you.
[3:52:58] Mr. Benford.
[3:53:06] Thank you Chairman and Board. I'm Hans Benford from 308 Headquarters Drive.
[3:53:11] I'm a civil engineer by trade, but I guess there aren't all the complaints that we heard
[3:53:20] at the March meeting yet, but this developer has not been a good neighbor.
[3:53:27] And that's the question you could ask any of the residents in the dear field community
[3:53:31] is, have they been a good neighbor?
[3:53:34] And I think the answer to that is, no,
[3:53:37] if you ask anybody in this room.
[3:53:41] The site design, it was clear cut, the whole thing.
[3:53:44] This was two years ago.
[3:53:45] I haven't been here from the beginning,
[3:53:48] but I presume that their original site plan was approved
[3:53:53] and included certain stormwater controls,
[3:53:57] three mitigation efforts and now they want to
[3:54:03] rezone that area that was assuming required
[3:54:06] three mitigation and they want to plan individual
[3:54:09] trees I guess but I don't know the answers to this
[3:54:14] because I haven't seen it the revisions but I don't
[3:54:18] see how they can take that originally approved plan
[3:54:22] and get approval for that.
[3:54:27] The documented flooding showed that their stormwater controls were not accomplishing.
[3:54:32] What they needed to, what they said they were meeting state requirements are not during
[3:54:37] construction.
[3:54:38] They showed no mind of the impacts that were leaving their site.
[3:54:46] perimeter controls still just leaving everywhere and it was I forget the exact
[3:54:52] acreage but sixty acres clear cut and that rain hit on it and took it all
[3:54:59] into the stream and if you go out there today and drive through where this
[3:55:06] mitigation site is, it's still barren land. The EQ requires any destabilized ground to be
[3:55:18] stabilized within 14 days, and it's been that way for two years, and they don't care,
[3:55:24] and they're clearly not planning to plant those trees and they're going for this rezoning.
[3:55:29] And there's no intention of, oh, we messed up last time and let all that silk go down the stream.
[3:55:35] We can at least stabilize those areas that are not yet developed.
[3:55:39] There's nothing.
[3:55:40] They just have their excavators sitting there.
[3:55:42] We're ready to go for the day that you all are.
[3:55:45] We lose and they get what they want and get their money grab and walk away.
[3:55:52] That's just my thought.
[3:55:55] My other part of it is, is there a signal proposed for the TMP from Dot?
[3:56:08] Thank you,
[3:56:12] sir.
[3:56:13] I'm going to have a call.
[3:56:15] I'm going to have a call.
[3:56:23] Is that a call?
[3:56:28] Commissioner Burton and members of the Council.
[3:56:30] Well, my name is Valerie A. Corn, I live at 506 Center Drive in Hampstead, and the reason
[3:56:36] I'm talking to you tonight in the dead of waiting is because there's such horrible traffic
[3:56:42] in Hampstead, and not only is there one way out, there's only one way in, but the new neighbors
[3:56:49] are not good neighbors.
[3:56:51] We have a transient community that has now gone into that, and yesterday a little boy was hit
[3:56:59] by somebody, two doors down from me on center drive and if you don't know that, look it up.
[3:57:05] It was required police ambulance, it required the share of department and it was a renter
[3:57:11] from the new apartment complex who was drunk racing through our neighborhood. This is not safe.
[3:57:19] This is completely unacceptable due to the greed of people trying to put it in apartments.
[3:57:26] So, you can't turn left onto Washington Acres Road coming south on 17 at night.
[3:57:34] If you, I challenge you to start at the food lion and turn left on Washington Acres Road
[3:57:40] between five and six o'clock at night.
[3:57:42] It will take you between 10 and 15 minutes to turn left at that arrow.
[3:57:48] That's the only way in.
[3:57:50] There is no other way in.
[3:57:52] It's crazy.
[3:57:53] So it's not safe, and it is completely unacceptable to have
[3:57:58] transient people now in our beautiful neighborhood, hitting our little boys.
[3:58:10] Thank you.
[3:58:15] It's packed with welcome.
[3:58:19] My name is Milk Packard.
[3:58:20] I live at 518 Hughes Road.
[3:58:22] I've lived here since 2001.
[3:58:24] I don't think it's a good idea for these apartments to be having
[3:58:28] order three buildings, put up near the road.
[3:58:30] We're all above reasons.
[3:58:32] runoff is one anybody that clear cuts land. I have it lived here all my life. I was a farmer. I grew up on a farm.
[3:58:40] When you clear cut land, you had runoff. You mitigated on a farm. Here I don't see that happen.
[3:58:48] The idea of traffic. We don't need a more traffic. I have to go to work five days a week. I'm not looking forward to 16 more cars coming out of there every day.
[3:58:57] traffic with the bypass.
[3:59:00] Hopefully, it alleviates what it should, but I don't think any more apartments are going to help anybody out.
[3:59:08] If anybody would like to come by my house, stop and see my commute every morning.
[3:59:13] I invite you. I'll give you a ride to work with me, and then I'll take you to wherever you need to go.
[3:59:18] And you can see what we have to put up with.
[3:59:21] Anybody have any more questions for me? Give me a call.
[3:59:25] Thank you, sir.
[3:59:25] Lord.
[3:59:30] Lou and Cindy Zackman,
[3:59:36] Tom and Patty Zackman,
[3:59:41] John Redlick.
[3:59:49] Welcome sir.
[3:59:52] Hi, my name is John Redlick.
[3:59:53] I live at 501 Hughes Road since the year 2000.
[4:00:00] It's 25 years now. I've seen the creek feeling up so much right now that last week I couldn't even put the boat down on high tide. The runoff is so bad. I don't have to talk about the traffic, what's going on, because everybody knows how tremendous is the traffic. It's not just a rush hour, but a normal circumstances.
[4:00:30] adding additional 81 apartment, it's really not visible.
[4:00:38] I also like to know if there is any environment or study,
[4:00:43] before it was built the entire complex,
[4:00:47] because the damage to our environment is tremendous.
[4:00:51] I've seen the decline of the fish, the crab,
[4:00:55] what's going on in a creek.
[4:00:56] I am on the creek side, and I see the decline of the fishing, what we have.
[4:01:06] I have a question beside the whole thing.
[4:01:09] Why are we here? We were just a few weeks ago.
[4:01:14] We went through the whole thing, and the plan was already rejected.
[4:01:18] It is like, I mean, again and again, for the same thing.
[4:01:25] I mean, if this,
[4:01:30] I don't know how long we have to do a continuance again, and then we
[4:01:34] going to have another meeting when we, when we, nobody can show up.
[4:01:39] The original plan was approved during COVID time.
[4:01:44] It was really wise when nobody could show up, so the plan was, was approved.
[4:01:51] That's all I want to say.
[4:01:53] Thank you, sir.
[4:01:57] Can't make out the first name I think the last name is Lima.
[4:02:07] Welcome, sir
[4:02:08] Thanks for having me and I think it's important even even though
[4:02:16] The other neighbors I would have mentioned the the situation of traffic and the this safety
[4:02:23] I think it's important we'd be redot on this because
[4:02:29] The commissioners not necessarily transit through their area and not necessarily you are required to be familiar with the dynamic.
[4:02:43] But it is a long discussion, but basically,
[4:02:45] Society who lose time on traffic is not being productive, is not being protected, is not being valid.
[4:02:58] And I know it can sound really tempting.
[4:03:03] The new photoation of taxpayer money with this new unit units, but that is going to change completely.
[4:03:13] the face of this area and the quality of life for the families, for the people who works
[4:03:22] or transit on this. I'm sorry about the English. It is not my first language, but just a couple
[4:03:30] of years ago I moved here. I had the opportunity to purchase a property with my wife and
[4:03:36] starting our family, and we especially loved by talking to the neighbors, which is for decades
[4:03:45] living here already, but the safety and the friendly environment is going to be ripped off.
[4:03:52] The case of the kid, which was hit on my road, I completely agree besides other charges.
[4:04:04] that was a teneter of murder.
[4:04:06] The people who necessarily are living in rental properties,
[4:04:11] they do not have the same passion and compassion
[4:04:14] about the community.
[4:04:16] And I'm so grateful because this is the first time
[4:04:19] that I'm here and I could see the passion
[4:04:21] on some of your gentlemen about this community.
[4:04:25] And I really hope that this shiny idea
[4:04:28] of the increase of that collection around this area
[4:04:32] does not, uh,
[4:04:37] uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh,
[4:04:38] it cannot be seen like as cheap, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh,
[4:04:42] uh, chips uh, changing between the life and the life quality
[4:04:45] of the community. So thank you. Thank you, sir.
[4:04:52] Rachel Gaines.
[4:04:57] This game is welcome.
[4:05:01] I'm Rachel Gaines, and I've
[4:05:02] lived in Washington, acres probably 40 years. I also had a business
[4:05:06] and in hamstead for over 35 years. So I'm very familiar with
[4:05:10] with traffic and everything that has come in the progress
[4:05:14] that we're having in Hamstead.
[4:05:17] And right now, our neighborhood is in turmoil,
[4:05:20] because you can't even get out there in the mornings,
[4:05:22] it takes you three rotations at least in the morning
[4:05:26] to get out of Washington acres at that stop light.
[4:05:29] We're not only getting dear fuel people trying to get out
[4:05:32] because they can't get out of their street
[4:05:33] because they do not have a light.
[4:05:35] We have all the people that's coming
[4:05:37] in those apartment complexes.
[4:05:38] They're coming through our neighborhood and most of them don't go by the speed limit. Believe me. They're trying to get out, trying to get to work.
[4:05:47] Do we need more apartments on that part of that corner? Absolutely not. Not only is all the environmental things that's going down the creek, killing everything that is stopping up,
[4:06:00] The property values will go down because they can't get their boats out.
[4:06:06] It costs a ton of money to dredge it, which we have done that over and over.
[4:06:11] Out of our pockets trying to get where we can use our properties that we pay, waterfront
[4:06:18] taxes on, and it's time for it to stop absolutely and everything these people have said
[4:06:25] is absolutely true.
[4:06:26] They do not care how it looks, they do not care that we've got a big hole right at
[4:06:31] when the driveway is there that if you don't slow down, you will flat mess up your car
[4:06:36] suspension right there where that apartment complex is and they dug up that road, they've
[4:06:42] dug up the ditch, they've tried to do everything to try to get that water to drain off of their
[4:06:47] property and where do they do it? They send it right over to our side. So what they're saying
[4:06:52] not good neighbors absolutely they're not good neighbors and that's how they
[4:06:57] drain that property that even get it to where they could use it. So no we do
[4:07:02] not need any more apartments and I know there's a housing problem but it has to
[4:07:07] be more regulated or whatever where they put these apartments than just letting
[4:07:11] them go anywhere they want. Thank you. Thank you.
[4:07:18] Those are all the signs Mr.
[4:07:20] Chairman. Thank you, sir.
[4:07:24] All right. So I would like to make a comment. I do travel that route every day.
[4:07:30] Several times a day, usually out my hours or six to two, luckily, but that doesn't even matter any more going through
[4:07:37] hands did. This past two weeks were on the outage at the plant, so I'm working seven to five. So what
[4:07:45] used to take me 20 minutes to go 21 miles on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of last week,
[4:07:52] from the time I got the Brown town, if you all know where Brown town is, if you've been here long enough
[4:07:55] around town is to my house which is on sleep point loot road, it took me an hour and 10 minutes
[4:08:01] all three days. The majority of that was just getting past the food line stop light.
[4:08:08] So I sympathize with you
[4:08:18] and then they decided to tear up the turn lane at 7 o'clock in the morning.
[4:08:25] And heaven forbid someone just get a flat tire and pull over on the side of the road because
[4:08:29] everybody behind I'm going to stop.
[4:08:33] I can tell you too. I live over the
[4:08:35] I live in Scottsio and I'm there every day. If you don't get toward Wilmington
[4:08:39] before 7 a.m., you can just pack a lunch.
[4:08:44] Okay. So we're going to go back to
[4:08:47] appointments and we're under 11.2.
[4:08:52] Yes sir.
[4:08:53] How is the little board that was hit the lady mentioned that that just touched my
[4:08:56] I was like, how's he doing?
[4:08:59] How's he doing?
[4:09:05] Um, I'm trying
[4:09:20] to promote Broadway.
[4:09:22] To wait for that particular voice to go live.
[4:09:25] And then that is real stuff.
[4:09:28] People think you don't like to march from the front of the phone.
[4:09:33] Because it seems that I'm like trying to catch up to that point.
[4:09:36] So you want to be single and I'm interested in it.
[4:09:41] So, again, start with that, but I'd love to ask you that I'm also looking at a lot of our communities in the
[4:09:50] through this morning's sense, we'd find through a self-solution.
[4:09:54] Good morning.
[4:09:56] I'd like to thank you very much, and I'm proud of all of this.
[4:10:01] Thank you very much.
[4:10:03] Absolutely.
[4:10:05] We're good.
[4:10:08] All right, 11.2.
[4:10:10] Thank you everybody for coming out.
[4:10:13] 11.2.
[4:10:14] If it's okay Mr. Charam, let them clear out for a moment.
[4:10:17] Yeah sure.
[4:10:25] When you step down?
[4:10:27] When you step out?
[4:11:53] So next on the agenda is the appointments to the tourism development authority.
[4:11:58] I do want to apologize.
[4:12:00] We actually need to skip over Ms. Kristen Freeman.
[4:12:02] She was appointed at the March 10th meetings on not so why.
[4:12:05] This one made it on there.
[4:12:07] Which one was that?
[4:12:08] Ms. Kristen Freeman, she is our second applicant for the tourism development authority.
[4:12:12] Okay. She was appointed March 10th. I think maybe I had copied the item and forgot to delete her area.
[4:12:24] He's named right. I almost never know if I am. He is being, he is asked to be reappointed as the
[4:12:31] out large member for the TDA board. He's currently retired but was once employed as the
[4:12:37] manager for USA parking and as a director for the SAS Institute Incorporated. He's lived in
[4:12:46] He served one term on the TDA board and has been an asset during that time.
[4:12:51] Our tourism director, Miss Olivia Dawson, has given him great remarks.
[4:12:58] He does make attendance.
[4:13:01] And he hasn't been an asset to the board.
[4:13:04] So myself and Miss Dawson have...
[4:13:08] So he's sort of in the rules as far as we point in the right.
[4:13:11] right this was his he's only had one term and I believe he only filled the remainder of a term so he
[4:13:16] hasn't even first served like a full term yet so he's definitely within the realms of a reappointment
[4:13:23] okay what are wishes you need to discuss motion to approve there's second all right all the
[4:13:27] favorite signal i was saying all right lem three all right i'm very excited about this one because we
[4:13:36] just reactivated it during the consent agenda. This is our Pender Housing Initiative. I have two
[4:13:44] applicants. I will go over really quick how this board is set up. So typically there are three
[4:13:50] applicants or three, three people appointed from either lower income housing or representative
[4:13:56] for lower income housing. There are three members who are appointed from the private sector. So just
[4:14:05] business owners, employees, etc., etc., and then we have three people from the county itself.
[4:14:14] Typically in the past this has been a, we've had the planning, somebody from planning somebody from health and maybe like a manager or so on and so forth.
[4:14:25] Right now before you I have one person from the private sector and one from the county offices.
[4:14:30] First, on this appointment request, I have to Quasian Murray.
[4:14:37] She's applied for the Pender Housing Initiative as a private sector member.
[4:14:41] She's been a resident of Pender County for 27 years and she resides in Burma.
[4:14:45] She's employed at Excel Early Learning Center as the lead teacher and has worked as a social
[4:14:50] worker in the past for no-vont health, you may have a regional medical center and Pender
[4:14:54] County Department of Social Services.
[4:14:56] Additionally, she based her master's capstone.
[4:15:00] On addressing housing instability, among single African American mothers, should the board vote to appoint her, her term would begin June 1, 2025, and expire my 31st, 2028. She does come recommended by myself for appointment with her educational background and her employment background.
[4:15:23] Okay, she is the only applicant for that.
[4:15:25] Do you only want to had on time? I do have more applicants coming. I'm hoping to get this board
[4:15:30] Philadelphia as soon as possible. So you have several right openings for the board? Yes last week. It was my board spotlight, which is a new thing
[4:15:36] I'm doing on our social media accounts. So what is the wishes of the board on this 11.3
[4:15:42] Yeah, I can go first. Second one. You know all too well as Ms. Fulton
[4:15:47] She is currently on the housing coalition board
[4:15:50] So it kind of makes sense for her to also be on this board so she can keep it within the
[4:15:55] know. She would be a county representative. So, but she is on the Cape Fear Housing Coalition,
[4:16:04] the Cape Fear Homeless Continuum of Care. She resides in Berga as well and has been so for 12 years.
[4:16:12] I do recommend her for appointment. Her term would be the same June 1st, 2025 to May 31st,
[4:16:19] 228. Motion for both the applicants.
[4:16:22] Yes.
[4:16:24] So there's a motion on table for both. Is there a second?
[4:16:28] Second. All right. All those figures sigma I've saved.
[4:16:31] All right.
[4:16:36] Next up, I have the appointment for the lower keep your water and sewer authority.
[4:16:42] I do want to profess this item.
[4:16:46] We do have Mr. Norwood Blanchard serving on that board.
[4:16:50] He was appointed to that board after the board by passed rule 32's section C, which is
[4:16:58] when we don't have any applicants.
[4:17:00] We can appoint somebody who has served more than our rules procedure allow.
[4:17:09] So I did speak with a couple of commissioners about him and I did speak to Mr. Norwood himself.
[4:17:14] There is the option to not vote to appoint the applicant presented if you don't want to take Mr.
[4:17:21] Blanchard off, but the way the rule is written, I do still need to continue
[4:17:26] advertising for the position until an applicant who meets the criteria which would be, in
[4:17:31] this case, not serving more than 10 years or three terms.
[4:17:35] I do have to continue advertising for any applicants I get.
[4:17:39] So just profiting, in case you have questions about that.
[4:17:42] Yeah, I have a question. So you have Mr. Blanchard currently in the role. Correct.
[4:17:48] Because because we had received no applications. But now we have an applicant. Right. So I continue to
[4:17:54] advertising as the rules state and I did receive an application. So I'm just bringing that to the board.
[4:18:02] If the board would prefer Mr. Norwood continue to serve, you're more than welcome to do so by just
[4:18:07] not voting to a point this person, but, you know, it is my duty as the keeper of the
[4:18:13] boards, if you're well, to at least present his application to you and have you guys make
[4:18:19] a decision on your own.
[4:18:20] No, no, discussion, motion for Mr. Buchan.
[4:18:25] Okay.
[4:18:25] Okay.
[4:18:26] Do you, do you guys want me to review him or you read it and you're good?
[4:18:30] Okay.
[4:18:31] Side of the motion on table.
[4:18:32] Thank you.
[4:18:33] Motion in the second.
[4:18:34] All right.
[4:18:35] Discussion?
[4:18:37] All right.
[4:18:37] All those in favor, I'm saying, Regent.
[4:18:40] Uh, post, post, post, all right, one of those.
[4:18:47] 11, five.
[4:18:48] I know you guys are really stuck with me tonight.
[4:18:51] Motion for, I mean, I guess we got, I think it's that,
[4:18:54] is it just that under?
[4:18:55] It's just him.
[4:18:56] They had reached out, asking the board.
[4:18:59] They resouth specifically to have the board reappoint him.
[4:19:02] I believe he's been very, very good fit for this board.
[4:19:09] Commissioner George could probably speak a lot to this because he serves on it with him and long as he's within the rules
[4:19:13] Yeah, he's good.
[4:19:17] Okay
[4:19:18] Motion and second on the table those in five or six five say an eye. All right. All right last we have for Dr. Tate
[4:19:27] So this is the appointment
[4:19:31] Oh, I do need someone who wants to serve a lot of
[4:19:34] Infusion or springer said absolutely not
[4:19:39] Right now, I have the Priority One Workforce, the Animal Seltur advisory committee, the Wallace
[4:19:43] Airport Board, and the Pender Housing Initiative.
[4:19:46] I think I wrote authority, but it's an issue of such a significant authority, and pretend
[4:19:50] it says an issue of, so if anyone wants to, I'll point him.
[4:19:57] Make a motion.
[4:19:58] I'll second-brown.
[4:19:59] Motion in second.
[4:20:01] Those in favor, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma, sigma.
[4:20:07] So, that leads us to all the water and sewer districts.
[4:20:12] Mr. Colone, everything good, there you need to open up a board.
[4:20:16] All right, isn't this Moser in the audience?
[4:20:19] Okay, everything good with health department.
[4:20:20] Ms. Watson Green, I think she's left too.
[4:20:24] All right, items from the county manager, Mr. Silverman.
[4:20:48] What services would this evaluate?
[4:20:49] Mr. Silver, what was that memory in?
[4:20:51] It's 9.33.
[4:20:52] 9.33.
[4:20:53] Make a motion.
[4:20:54] The
[4:20:57] Minister of George May was for a one year approval with approval also for FY-2425
[4:21:04] for a major that year for $50,000.
[4:21:09] I would try to correct me if I'm wrong.
[4:21:12] Do we need to bring the motion back since at the time it did?
[4:21:15] I wouldn't say it would be best procedurally to have.
[4:21:19] I'll remove motion because the chair did declare it had failed for like a second.
[4:21:24] All right, so I'll entertain that new motion make a motion to extend the P.O. in the middle of this year with a $5.00 and then into the one year
[4:21:36] I'll second motion in second and on the table so all there's a favor sigma to see an eye
[4:21:42] E post all right, thank you now the tax office can move forward and get some work done
[4:21:49] All right, so any items from Mr. Attorney, Mr. Thurman
[4:21:53] just items for closed session, mischerement, item three, attorney client, item four, economic development, item five, potential acquisition of real property, and item six personnel.
[4:22:09] All right.
[4:22:18] I do not have any personal items listed on this current executive session.
[4:22:26] I was talking about the manner we discussed Friday.
[4:22:30] All right.
[4:22:36] Okay.
[4:22:39] Deputy County manager, Mr. Allen.
[4:22:44] County attorney, Mr. Hogan. Good sir. All right. Madam clerk, you good? Any additional commissioner?
[4:22:56] If you want I can go over the training.
[4:22:59] We're good.
[4:23:00] We're good.
[4:23:01] Mr. Groves.
[4:23:02] Only is set the fact of this lower, um,
[4:23:06] Cape for Water Authority.
[4:23:09] Um, I want you to know that a knowledge that Mr.
[4:23:12] Blanchard has surpasses a lot of the people on there.
[4:23:20] And to lose him is going to be tough.
[4:23:23] I'm just throwing that out there.
[4:23:26] He's got two more years on the term that is all now.
[4:23:30] And I'm just asking you to reconsider and let him serve
[4:23:35] that two years if you would reconsider.
[4:23:38] Because his knowledge and the money that he's trying
[4:23:42] to save Pinter County is unbelievable.
[4:23:46] I mean, he is really knowledgeable of what
[4:23:51] he's doing on that water authority.
[4:23:54] I think that I think Commissioner Gross,
[4:23:56] I think I would have to be a motion to reconsider,
[4:23:58] but what I would ask you before,
[4:24:00] if you decide to do that is,
[4:24:03] how many years has he served on that board?
[4:24:06] How many years has he served in that board
[4:24:09] or did that capacitor?
[4:24:10] That's terrible.
[4:24:10] That's why I had to pass the law.
[4:24:13] I believe in my, so when I got my position,
[4:24:16] I inherited a spreadsheet, they kept track of the terms,
[4:24:19] and I believe his just says a lot.
[4:24:21] He would won't come off this half of the year.
[4:24:25] So I'm assuming that he served more than four years.
[4:24:29] Otherwise, they probably want to put that.
[4:24:32] Okay.
[4:24:32] Well, that means, yeah.
[4:24:34] All right.
[4:24:35] Oh, is that moving him out?
[4:24:37] So right now, he's kind of serving in lieu in lieu of is kind of way.
[4:24:43] When you bypass rule 32, you're basically saying
[4:24:47] in lieu of having any applicants,
[4:24:48] We're going to continue letting this person serve or in lieu of having any applicants that fit this board or would work well for this board
[4:24:58] Yeah, right
[4:25:00] Commissioner George
[4:25:03] All right, of us your spring
[4:25:08] Well, what I would like to say is I
[4:25:11] I would like to apologize for the family that had their child run over by a car
[4:25:18] That's pretty bad. I don't know the facts in case I'm going to speak on it, but if it was done with Malice to a 14-year-old child, I think I think it will be appropriate to call for his resignation for the town board there in Bergau, but there again it's not my deal, but other than that, I hope everyone had a happy Easter and I don't have anything else. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[4:25:39] All right, Commissioner Dr. Tate and I don't have anything and we'll get ready to I'll entertain a motion to go into closed session
[4:25:52] The motion on table is there second second motion in second all the favor say if I'm Santa alright we're in closed session thank you everyone