[1:36] The County Board of

[1:36] Commissioners meeting. We are

[1:37] happy to have you tonight. I'll

[1:39] call our meeting to order and

[1:40] let's have roll call. Please.

[1:45] Okay. Thank you. If you would

[1:46] stand with me. Commissioner

[1:47] Brown's going to do an

[1:48] invocation, and then we're

[1:49] going to invite Kiley Ward up

[1:51] to lead us in the pledge.

[1:54] Dear heavenly Lord, thank you

[1:55] so much for this day. Thank you

[1:57] for gathering us into this room

[1:59] and all of Pitt County. Lord,

[2:01] we ask that you lay your hands

[2:02] on all of us, on our families,

[2:05] for any of us that have

[2:06] grievances or challenges or

[2:08] health issues. Lord, we ask

[2:10] that you we boldly ask that you

[2:12] take all of those away and

[2:13] replace those with joy. Your

[2:16] peace, and all of your wisdom.

[2:18] Lord, we love you. We give you

[2:20] your business tonight. Ask that

[2:22] we serve your people first. Uh,

[2:25] bless this evening. In your

[2:26] name we pray. Amen. Amen.

[2:28] Thank you. Commissioner Brown

[2:29] will invite Kiley Ward from

[2:30] Eden Griffin up to introduce

[2:32] herself and lead us in the

[2:33] pledge.

[2:38] Good evening, ladies and

[2:39] gentlemen. My name is Kiley

[2:41] Ward. I attend Aiden Girton

[2:43] High School as a junior with a

[2:44] 4.1 GPA. I am currently a

[2:47] member into the Health Science

[2:49] Academy program. Thank you for

[2:50] having me this evening. At this

[2:52] time, would y'all please join

[2:53] me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

[2:55] I pledge allegiance to the flag

[2:58] of the United States of America,

[3:00] and to the Republic for which

[3:02] it stands. One nation under

[3:05] God, indivisible, with liberty

[3:08] and justice for all. You may be

[3:10] seated. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

[3:13] If she.

[3:16] I'll entertain a motion to

[3:17] approve the agenda. So move.

[3:19] Yeah. We got a motion and a

[3:20] second. Please vote. Okay.

[3:25] Thank you. Madam manager, we

[3:26] have any public addresses to

[3:28] the board?

[3:28] Yes. Mr. chairman, you have one

[3:30] person signed up to speak.

[3:31] Marianne Swinger. If the

[3:33] attorney would read the

[3:33] statement as she's coming

[3:35] forward.

[3:35] Thank you, madam manager. Pitt

[3:36] County welcomes all comments on

[3:37] matters of public concern. Each

[3:39] speaker will be allowed up to

[3:40] three minutes to speak. A total

[3:41] of 30 minutes is set aside for

[3:43] public addresses to the board.

[3:44] Please state your name and

[3:45] address prior to speaking.

[3:47] Good evening. I'm Marianne

[3:49] Swinger, I live at 3874

[3:52] Dunnigan Road in Greenville and

[3:55] I wanted to speak this evening

[3:57] about data centers and my

[3:59] concerns about these

[4:00] developments. Um, these

[4:03] operations are much, much

[4:05] bigger than the cryptocurrency

[4:07] operations of the past years

[4:09] and have impacts that affect,

[4:12] uh, a large area, not just the

[4:15] people who live next door. Um,

[4:17] they use a lot of energy. Um,

[4:20] some as much as Greenville

[4:23] Utilities delivers in a year.

[4:25] Um, and in some places,

[4:27] residents are paying more to

[4:29] accommodate these requirements.

[4:32] In addition, they require water

[4:34] for cooling and they can take

[4:36] water out of circulation and in

[4:39] some cases return it with

[4:42] pollutants, chemicals,

[4:44] antifreeze and such. They also

[4:47] are very noisy. They have fans

[4:49] that operate 24 over seven. And

[4:52] so, um, strong noise

[4:54] regulations are needed that

[4:56] recognize that there's a

[4:58] difference between continuous

[5:00] noise and one time short term

[5:03] noise. At present, North

[5:05] Carolina as a state does not

[5:08] have any regulations for data

[5:10] centers. Um, in addition, these

[5:15] operations have been free of

[5:18] sales and use tax in this

[5:19] state. Now, this spring, the

[5:22] legislature lifted that

[5:24] exemption on their utility

[5:26] bills. So they will start

[5:28] paying tax on their utility

[5:30] bills. But other business

[5:32] operations, construction costs,

[5:34] um, no sales and use tax. So

[5:37] for all these reasons, as

[5:39] planning is done for the

[5:41] Unified Development Ordinance,

[5:43] I believe that special

[5:44] attention should be paid to

[5:46] data centers. The large data

[5:48] centers that that can be

[5:50] introduced. Such challenges.

[5:53] And actually in North Carolina,

[5:56] there are more than a dozen

[5:57] counties and cities that have

[5:59] declared moratoria on allowing

[6:02] data centers in order to take

[6:04] time and ensure that their

[6:06] local regulations are adequate,

[6:09] so that if a data center comes

[6:11] and operates, it's without harm

[6:14] to the rest of the community.

[6:15] So I hope that you will

[6:17] consider this in the future.

[6:19] Thank you.

[6:21] ma'am. I appreciate

[6:22] you coming out tonight. Okay.

[6:23] We'll move on to public

[6:24] hearings. I'll invite Joan us

[6:26] up. We've got three public

[6:27] hearings this evening.

[6:31] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good

[6:32] evening. Um, members of the

[6:34] board and Madam Manager, we do

[6:36] have, uh, three different

[6:38] public hearings tonight, the

[6:39] first of which is, uh, a

[6:42] rezoning request by Jason Hardy

[6:44] to rezone 1.55 acres of his

[6:46] property. Parcel number 06093,

[6:51] which is located on the western

[6:52] side of black Simpson Road, um,

[6:56] south of this intersection with

[6:57] Spencer Loop Road. Road, uh,

[7:00] from rural agricultural to

[7:01] general commercial with the

[7:03] conditional district. Looking

[7:06] at the map, you'll see the, uh,

[7:08] site it's located just south

[7:10] of, uh, blackjack. Zooming in

[7:16] and looking at the existing

[7:17] land use in the area, uh,

[7:19] you'll see there are several

[7:21] churches which is outlined in

[7:23] blue. There are two convenience

[7:25] stores located in the heart of

[7:27] blackjack there. And then the,

[7:29] uh, residential is shown in

[7:31] gold with the agricultural

[7:34] shown in the green shaded area.

[7:37] Looking at the land use plan, shows this area

[7:42] as being agricultural. Um, with

[7:45] a little bit of open space

[7:46] toward the north of this, uh,

[7:48] image, as well as a commercial

[7:51] crossroads right there at

[7:52] blackjack. Uh, the agricultural

[7:57] designation includes prime

[7:59] farmlands, which are vital to

[8:01] the production, uh, of

[8:03] agriculture within the county.

[8:04] Activities include agriculture,

[8:07] forestry, uh, low density

[8:09] residential and commercial or

[8:11] institutional uses. Uh, these

[8:14] areas are, uh, found near

[8:16] strategic agricultural lands.

[8:19] Uh, again, the uses are

[8:21] agribusiness, forestry,

[8:23] limited, commercial single

[8:25] family properties, and

[8:27] occasional low density small

[8:28] scale, uh, residential

[8:30] subdivisions. Uh utilities. It

[8:33] rely on septic tanks and

[8:35] community water or private

[8:37] wells. There's limited sewer

[8:39] availability. The density is

[8:42] typically less than one

[8:43] dwelling unit per acre. Looking

[8:48] at the zoning map, uh, you'll

[8:50] see this area is, uh, rural,

[8:53] agricultural. With the

[8:54] exception of the two

[8:55] convenience stores, which are

[8:57] designated in red as commercial.

[9:02] Uh, the general commercial

[9:05] district is primarily intended

[9:07] to accommodate a wide range of

[9:09] retail service. Office limited,

[9:11] wholesale, moderate density

[9:13] multifamily residential uses,

[9:15] and areas that have access to

[9:17] major thoroughfares and the

[9:20] necessary utilities. Uh,

[9:25] tonight, this request is for a

[9:26] conditional district rezoning,

[9:28] which allows for the approval

[9:30] of a specific use, uh, with

[9:32] reasonable conditions, to

[9:34] assure the compatibility of

[9:36] that proposed use. And tonight,

[9:38] the request is for a barbershop.

[9:42] We have a site plan here. I'll

[9:44] run through that real quick.

[9:46] Uh, that boundary of the site

[9:48] is displayed in red with the

[9:50] existing structure shown in

[9:53] yellow. There's already a

[9:55] gravel lot for parking, and the

[9:58] septic system. Uh, staff finds

[10:02] that this is this request is

[10:04] consistent with the vision.

[10:05] Pitt County 2045, uh,

[10:08] comprehensive land use plan.

[10:09] The area requested for the

[10:11] rezoning is designated as

[10:12] agricultural on the future land

[10:15] use map, which allows for

[10:16] limited, uh, commercial uses

[10:19] and is directly south of the

[10:21] designated uh, commercial

[10:23] crossroads area. Additionally,

[10:26] the subject property is close

[10:28] in proximity to several

[10:29] non-residential uh land uses,

[10:32] including two churches, two

[10:34] country stores, and a volunteer

[10:36] fire department. Planning staff

[10:39] finds that this request is

[10:40] reasonable and in the best

[10:42] interest of the public. Uh,

[10:44] because of that designation,

[10:47] Planning Board reviewed this

[10:49] request at its June 1526

[10:52] meeting and voted eight oh, uh,

[10:55] to recommend approval of this

[10:58] request, stating that it was in

[10:59] compliance with the land use

[11:00] plan and reasonable. So the

[11:03] motions are to adopt the

[11:06] consistency statement. The

[11:08] reasonableness statement, which

[11:11] is included in your packet and

[11:13] approve the request based on

[11:14] the following conditions. No

[11:17] zoning compliance permit shall

[11:18] be issued until a site plan is

[11:22] prepared in accordance with the

[11:23] Zoning Ordinance and approved

[11:25] by the Planning Department. A

[11:27] landscaping plan is required

[11:29] showing a ten foot wide buffer

[11:31] yard, um, in compliance that's

[11:34] in compliance with the zoning

[11:35] ordinance. The required parking

[11:39] spaces, uh, access drives and

[11:42] loading areas, uh, shall be

[11:44] paved and maintained with

[11:47] either concrete or asphalt.

[11:49] Hours of operation that's being

[11:52] proposed is Monday through

[11:54] Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and

[11:57] Saturday by appointment. A soil

[12:01] erosion and sedimentation

[12:02] control plan, uh, is required.

[12:07] The site must comply with, uh,

[12:10] the stormwater ordinance for

[12:12] Nutrient Control. And it must

[12:17] also comply with the emergency

[12:19] management requirements. They

[12:24] must, uh, obtain all necessary

[12:27] permits from building

[12:29] inspections as well as a

[12:31] driveway permit from NCDOT. So

[12:33] with that, Mister chair, I'll

[12:34] open or turn it back to you.

[12:36] Okay. Matt, you need to read

[12:37] your statement.

[12:38] I do not if you would just

[12:39] open.

[12:40] It, please. Okay. All right. I

[12:41] will open up the public

[12:42] hearing. Is there anybody that

[12:43] would like to speak in favor?

[12:46] Anybody that would like to

[12:47] speak in favor, anybody that

[12:49] would like to speak against? I

[12:51] will close the public hearing.

[12:52] What's the pleasure of the

[12:52] board. Mr. Chair? Yes.

[12:54] I'll make a motion.

[12:55] We approve. your request. Okay.

[12:57] Thank you. Have a motion on the

[12:58] second. Please vote.

[12:59] For all three here for one.

[13:05] Okay.

[13:07] Mr. chair, if we could have

[13:08] another motion for adopting the

[13:10] consistency and reasonableness

[13:11] of the approval.

[13:13] I'll make a motion.

[13:14] Okay. We have a motion. And a

[13:15] second. Let's vote on that one

[13:16] as well.

[13:23] Mr. chair, I'll make a motion

[13:24] to. We approve the request.

[13:26] Second.

[13:27] Okay. Got a motion on a second.

[13:30] You need that. Matt. So did

[13:32] that cover it with the with the

[13:34] first two.

[13:35] So I think the first motion was

[13:37] the approval motion, if I'm

[13:38] correct, I'm sorry. And then I

[13:40] believe then we adopted the

[13:42] reasonableness and consistency

[13:43] that's listed in the packet. So

[13:44] I think we're okay.

[13:46] And then we need to well we

[13:48] approve the request upfront

[13:50] okay.

[13:52] We're good. Yes. Okay great.

[13:53] Thank you. Thank you Jonas.

[13:56] We'll move on to number two to

[13:57] Stacy Eastwood. Rezoning

[13:58] request.

[13:59] Yes. So the next request is for

[14:01] Stacy Eastwood to amend the

[14:03] zoning on his property being

[14:05] parcel 88208. It is currently

[14:08] zoned general commercial with a

[14:10] conditional district rezoning

[14:13] on that um, which currently

[14:15] allows for the sales of golf

[14:17] carts, utility trailers, metal

[14:19] carports and barbecue cookers.

[14:22] Um, he's looking to amend this

[14:24] to also include RV and boat

[14:26] storage on the property. Again,

[14:29] the property is, uh, 2.88 acres

[14:32] and is located on the northern

[14:33] side of US two, 64 east east of

[14:36] its intersection with Opac.

[14:38] Tullis road. The subject

[14:41] property was previously resumed

[14:43] by the Board of Commissioners

[14:44] on December 1st of 2008, to

[14:47] allow for the sale of the golf

[14:49] cart utility trailers, metal

[14:51] carports and barbecue cookers.

[14:54] Looking at the map on your

[14:56] screen, you'll see where the

[14:57] site is located. It's located

[14:59] just to the east of Greenville.

[15:01] Um, pretty much between

[15:03] Greenville and pack told us

[15:04] along 264 East. Looking at the

[15:08] existing land use in the area,

[15:09] you'll see, uh, the site there

[15:11] in red, uh, to the south,

[15:14] you'll notice the gray area

[15:15] that is a mining operation that

[15:17] this board approved. There's

[15:18] actually two mines to the south

[15:21] of this property. And then up

[15:23] in the very top left hand

[15:25] corner, you'll see a sliver of

[15:26] red. That is a wedding venue

[15:29] that's being operated there on

[15:31] Tripp Farm, the envision Pitt

[15:35] County 2045 Future Land use map

[15:38] shows this area is, uh,

[15:40] agricultural. You'll notice to

[15:42] your left, uh, back towards

[15:44] Greenville. That is a

[15:46] commercial crossroads area

[15:48] that's been designated, uh, in

[15:50] close proximity. The

[15:53] agricultural, much like the one

[15:54] before, uh, is designated, uh,

[15:58] as prime farmlands that are

[16:00] vital to the agricultural

[16:01] production in the county.

[16:03] Activities include

[16:04] agricultural, forestry, low

[16:06] density residential,

[16:07] commercial, and institutional

[16:09] uses. These areas are located,

[16:12] uh, in agricultural lands

[16:14] throughout the county. Uh, on

[16:17] site septic systems and

[16:18] community water service. Uh is

[16:22] on site with limited uh sewer

[16:25] availability. The density is

[16:28] generally less than one

[16:29] dwelling unit per acre. Looking

[16:32] at the zoning map, you'll see

[16:35] again, this property is already

[16:36] zoned commercial with a

[16:38] conditional district on it. And

[16:41] then just to the south, the

[16:43] darker green is the rural

[16:44] agricultural area. For those

[16:45] two mines. The general

[16:49] commercial district is intended

[16:52] to accommodate a large range of

[16:55] retail service, limited,

[16:57] wholesale, moderate density

[16:59] multi-family uses in the areas

[17:01] uh have access to major

[17:03] thoroughfares and utilities to

[17:05] support such development.

[17:08] Again, uh, this is a

[17:09] conditional district rezoning

[17:11] which allows for the approval

[17:13] of a specific use in this case,

[17:16] uh, he's looking to add the RV

[17:18] and boat storage to the

[17:20] existing, uh, uses. Wanted to

[17:24] point out that section, uh,

[17:26] eight of the zoning ordinance,

[17:28] uh, uh, has standards for

[17:33] oversized vehicle parking. Um,

[17:36] those standards are all

[17:37] oversized vehicles must be

[17:39] parked a minimum of 50ft from

[17:41] any adjoining residential

[17:42] residentially zoned property,

[17:45] and shall be a minimum of 100

[17:47] foot from any residence,

[17:49] church, school or public

[17:50] institution. Uh, the entire

[17:53] perimeter of the facility must

[17:55] be screened from the adjoining

[17:57] properties, with the buffer

[17:58] yard that complies with section

[17:59] ten of the ordinance. Security

[18:02] fencing at a minimum of six

[18:04] foot in height shall be

[18:05] provided along the perimeter

[18:07] and residential district. Uh,

[18:11] park vehicles shall not be, uh,

[18:14] remaining idle or generate

[18:16] noise while parked. Uh that

[18:18] disrupts activities of the

[18:20] adjacent uses. Between the

[18:21] hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.,

[18:25] uh, parking spaces are not

[18:26] required to be paved, but shall

[18:28] be graded properly, drained,

[18:30] stabilized, and construction or

[18:32] constructed with all weather

[18:35] surface. Uh, to minimize the

[18:37] dust and erosion. There are

[18:43] some prohibited activities.

[18:45] Mary's gonna fix her phone in

[18:46] just a second.

[18:47] Sorry.

[18:48] It won't go on.

[18:53] Um, there are some prohibited

[18:55] activities, uh, in this section

[18:57] as well. Storage of keeping or

[18:59] accumulation of wreck. Scrapped

[19:01] or dismantled vehicles, um,

[19:03] machinery or equipment are not

[19:05] allowed. Uh, the storage or

[19:07] accumulation of junk materials,

[19:09] such as scrap metal, materials,

[19:10] debris, waste paper, rags,

[19:13] battery waste, or use building

[19:15] materials are not allowed. It

[19:17] also prohibits fuel cell fuel

[19:20] cells and automotive repair

[19:22] services. They have submitted a

[19:25] sketch plan, as you'll see

[19:27] here, outlining the area to be

[19:31] rezoned. Um, with the existing

[19:34] structures as a metal shop and

[19:36] a shelter on the property with

[19:38] an existing driveway. And then

[19:41] there showing the proposed

[19:42] vehicle parking in the blue.

[19:46] Pitt County planning staff

[19:48] finds that this request is

[19:50] consistent with the Pitt County

[19:52] 2045 uh Comprehensive Land Use

[19:54] Plan. The area requested for

[19:56] this reason is designated as

[19:59] agricultural, which allows

[20:01] limited commercial uses. The

[20:03] property is currently zoned uh

[20:05] General Commercial, and they're

[20:07] just looking at adding those

[20:08] two, uh, new uses. Uh, for RV

[20:14] and boat storage. Planning

[20:17] staff also finds that is

[20:19] reasonable and in the public's

[20:21] interest, because the subject

[20:22] property is located within

[20:24] close proximity to several

[20:26] non-residential uses, as well

[20:29] as being located on a major

[20:31] thoroughfare, there's limited

[20:33] residential development, uh,

[20:35] directly adjacent to the site,

[20:37] and the proposed use will be

[20:39] screened from any residentially

[20:40] zoned properties. The Planning

[20:43] Board reviewed this rezoning

[20:45] request at its June 15th

[20:46] meeting and voted unanimously

[20:48] for approval. The request, um,

[20:51] and said it was consistent, uh,

[20:54] and reasonable. So with your

[20:57] three motions, the first one

[20:58] being adopt the consistency

[21:01] statement stating that it is

[21:03] consistent with the 2045 land

[21:05] use plan. Um, adopt the

[21:08] reasonable, um, that the

[21:12] request is reasonable in the

[21:13] public's best interest, given

[21:15] that it's, uh, in close

[21:17] proximity to several other

[21:18] nonresidential uses along US

[21:21] 264 and it will be screened,

[21:24] uh, from the adjacent

[21:25] properties. And then third

[21:28] motion will be to approve, uh,

[21:30] the request. Um, with the

[21:33] following conditions to allow

[21:36] boat and RV storage. Um, the

[21:40] previously approved uses the

[21:42] sales of golf carts, utility

[21:44] trailers, metal carports and

[21:46] barbecue cookers are still

[21:48] permitted in accordance with

[21:50] the previous action by this

[21:51] board. On December 1st of 2008,

[21:55] uh, a zoning no zoning

[21:57] compliance permit will be

[21:59] issued until a proper site plan

[22:01] has been prepared. Uh,

[22:02] according to the ordinance and

[22:04] submitted for review and

[22:05] approval. A landscaping plan is

[22:07] required, uh, showing that ten

[22:09] foot wide buffer, um, in

[22:12] accordance with the in

[22:14] accordance with the zoning

[22:15] ordinance, a soil erosion and

[22:17] sedimentation control plan

[22:18] prepared by an engineer must be

[22:20] submitted. Um, as well as a

[22:24] stormwater plan. Uh, if they

[22:27] disturb more than one half

[22:28] acre, uh, the site must also

[22:30] comply with emergency

[22:31] management requirements for

[22:33] fire protection, as well as

[22:35] any, uh, necessary building

[22:39] permits and environmental

[22:41] health permits for the waste

[22:42] disposal. They must also, uh,

[22:45] obtain a commercial driveway

[22:46] permit from NCDOT. With that,

[22:50] I'll turn it back to you, Mr.

[22:51] Chairman.

[22:51] Hey. Thank you. Jonas, any

[22:53] questions for Jonas? I know

[22:54] that was a lot. Okay.

[22:56] How close is it to the city?

[22:58] It's in. How close is it to the

[23:02] city line, or is it. It.

[23:06] Uh, it is fairly close. Uh, I

[23:10] think the Greenville itj

[23:11] extends out to the, um, ECU

[23:13] property. Uh, the north campus

[23:16] Carlson property is the extent

[23:18] and that's probably a mile to

[23:19] two miles east or west from

[23:22] this property.

[23:25] I was just curious.

[23:26] For miles.

[23:27] Four miles.

[23:28] Oh, okay. Okay. Are we ready.

[23:31] For any other questions? All

[23:33] right. We'll open the public

[23:34] hearing. Yes. I'm sorry.

[23:35] Motion to approve all three.

[23:36] What? We got to open up the

[23:38] public hearing first.

[23:39] Commissioner. One second. We'll

[23:41] open up the public hearing.

[23:42] Anybody here to speak in favor?

[23:44] Anybody speak against? Okay,

[23:46] we'll close the public hearing.

[23:48] What's the pleasure to board.

[23:49] A motion to approve?

[23:50] Okay, second.

[23:51] Can we put all three of those

[23:52] together? Um, yes. Matt.

[23:56] So technically, you can, if

[23:57] you're adopting, um, but. Yes,

[24:00] technically, you can put all

[24:02] three of them together as long

[24:02] as we have the reasonableness

[24:04] and consistency and you're

[24:05] adopting the reasons and

[24:07] consistency that is listed in

[24:09] his presentation.

[24:10] Okay. So we have a motion to

[24:12] adopt all three motions.

[24:15] And a second.

[24:16] Okay. Got a motion on a second.

[24:17] Please vote. Okay. Thank you.

[24:23] We'll move on to the third one

[24:24] Jonas.

[24:25] All right. And last for me, uh,

[24:27] is the community development

[24:28] block grant, uh, River

[24:30] neighborhood revitalization,

[24:32] uh, public hearing. Uh, this is

[24:34] the first of two public

[24:35] hearings, uh, together.

[24:37] Community input. Explain. We're

[24:39] going to explain the county's

[24:41] intent to submit a grant

[24:42] application, identify the

[24:44] eligibility, eligible

[24:46] activities, and receive

[24:47] comments from the community.

[24:49] Uh, regarding community

[24:52] development and housing needs

[24:53] within Pitt County. Uh, program

[24:56] overview. The uh Community

[24:57] Development Block Grant

[24:59] Neighborhood Revitalization

[25:00] Program is administered by the

[25:02] North Carolina Department of

[25:03] Commerce. This grant, uh, the

[25:06] maximum award is $950,000, and

[25:09] there is no local match

[25:11] required. It's 100% grant

[25:13] funded. The application

[25:15] deadline is October the 13th of

[25:17] this year, and the grant period

[25:19] runs for 36 months. Eligible

[25:23] activities include housing,

[25:25] rehabilitation and

[25:26] reconstruction. Uh public

[25:28] infrastructure improvements

[25:30] such as streets, sidewalks and

[25:31] water and sewer, and public

[25:33] facilities such as shelters,

[25:35] community centers and

[25:36] recreation centers. In order to

[25:40] qualify for this grant, it must

[25:41] meet one of three objectives.

[25:43] It must benefit low and

[25:45] moderate income persons.

[25:46] Prevent or eliminate slums or

[25:48] bright blight, or meet other

[25:52] urgent needs, uh, which are

[25:53] often storm or disaster

[25:55] related. Pitt County intends to

[25:58] apply for the Community

[26:00] Development Block Grant, uh,

[26:02] funding to support the

[26:03] reconstruction of owner

[26:04] occupied homes for income

[26:06] qualified households located

[26:09] throughout the county.

[26:11] Recipients. In order to, uh

[26:15] qualify must be low or moderate

[26:17] income. The homes must be owner

[26:20] occupied and the homes must be

[26:22] real property. They cannot be

[26:24] personal property, which you

[26:26] will find a lot of times with

[26:27] manufactured homes, staff

[26:30] recommends, uh, continue

[26:33] authorizing staff to continue

[26:35] preparing the Community

[26:37] Development Block grant

[26:38] neighborhood revitalization

[26:40] application. So with that,

[26:43] Mister Chairman, we do have to

[26:44] open a public hearing to

[26:45] receive comment, uh, regarding

[26:48] this grant.

[26:49] Okay. Thank you. Jonas will

[26:50] open up the public hearing.

[26:52] Anyone that would like to speak

[26:53] in favor or against. Okay,

[26:56] we'll close the public hearing.

[26:57] What's the pleasure? Ward up.

[26:58] I'm sorry. Come on up. Please

[27:05] give us your name and address,

[27:06] sir.

[27:08] And, Mr. Chair, may I read the

[27:09] statement? The way he's coming

[27:10] up here with this public

[27:11] hearing. Now, open County,

[27:12] welcome to all comments on the

[27:13] Community Development Block

[27:15] Grant. Please state your name,

[27:16] address in the name of any

[27:17] organization you may be

[27:18] representing. Each speaker will

[27:19] be allowed up to three minutes

[27:20] to speak.

[27:21] Okay.

[27:22] My comments are very brief. My

[27:23] name is Steven Whitestone. I

[27:25] live at 364 Vernon White Road

[27:27] in Winterville. I'm also the

[27:29] secretary of the Mount Hermon

[27:31] Masonic Lodge. That's over in

[27:33] 1109 West fifth Street in

[27:35] Greenville. And, uh, just

[27:38] making a comment, uh, I know a

[27:40] lot of the block grants focus,

[27:42] especially with all the

[27:43] revitalization since the two

[27:44] hurricanes, Matthew and

[27:45] Florence, have gone to

[27:48] redeveloping of housing. Uh,

[27:50] but very little has gone to

[27:52] resilience or other community

[27:54] activities or community

[27:55] organizations. So I would like

[27:57] to make sure that that's

[28:00] considered in this particular

[28:01] block grant application. Uh, we

[28:04] have suffered, um, a complete,

[28:07] almost complete, uh,

[28:08] devastation of our building,

[28:10] uh, on West Fifth Street. And

[28:12] we have been out of it for six

[28:13] years, hoping to see if there

[28:15] was some block grant money

[28:16] available or some kind of, um,

[28:19] recovery funds available for us

[28:21] to replace the roof, which is

[28:23] partially going out of the

[28:24] building. Um, and we're working

[28:26] towards that. So we would like

[28:28] to make sure that there is some

[28:29] money set aside for resilience.

[28:32] And these are non homeowner

[28:35] redevelopment money, but also

[28:36] for those community

[28:37] organizations. So that's my

[28:40] comment. And hopefully that

[28:41] will be included in this

[28:43] particular block grant

[28:44] application.

[28:45] Thank you. Thank you sir I

[28:46] appreciate you coming out.

[28:48] Anybody else that would like to

[28:49] speak okay. We'll close the

[28:52] public hearing. What's the

[28:53] pleasure of the board.?

[28:55] A motion to approve.

[28:56] Second.

[28:57] I got a motion on a second.

[28:58] Please vote. Okay. Thank you.

[29:05] We'll move on to items for

[29:07] report. I'll invite, uh,

[29:08] Michael Hardy up for the

[29:09] financial report.

[29:12] Good evening to the board.

[29:16] Tonight in front of you have

[29:17] the July monthly report. It's

[29:19] currently at right at 8.33%.

[29:21] You'll see the general fund,

[29:23] uh, is uniformly spread right

[29:25] at the 8.3. So it's at 8.5% in

[29:27] total spending. You see the

[29:29] solid waste is at 7%. The 1.377

[29:32] million, uh, take into account

[29:34] backing off some capital items.

[29:36] Um, they were in amount of

[29:37] 578,000. You can see that

[29:39] operating, uh, will be our

[29:41] operating expenditures to be

[29:43] decreased along with EMS fund.

[29:45] Uh, 2.166 million, 14.6%. If

[29:50] you back off, we have right at

[29:51] 979,000 and, uh, ambulances,

[29:54] uh, towards those expenditures,

[29:56] you can see the operating is

[29:57] more in line with the revenues

[29:59] versus the expenditures for the

[30:00] EMS fund. Are there any

[30:02] questions with this report?

[30:04] Any questions? Okay. I have a

[30:08] motion to approve that. I hear

[30:12] a second motion and a second.

[30:14] Please vote. Thank you Michael.

[30:19] Thank you.

[30:20] I'll invite Russell Luck for

[30:21] the tax collection report. Good

[30:28] evening,

[30:28] Chairman Smith, commissioners

[30:29] manager Gallagher, this evening

[30:31] I present to you the July tax

[30:33] collection report. The fiscal

[30:34] year combined tax collection

[30:36] rate through July 31st for real

[30:38] and personal property was

[30:40] 5.90%. The combined rate one

[30:43] year ago for real and personal

[30:45] property was 9.19%. Um, July's

[30:48] collection rate it was a little

[30:50] lower due to the tax bills

[30:52] being mailed out about a week

[30:53] later than what they typically

[30:55] would be. However, I do expect

[30:57] those percentages to catch back

[30:59] up by the end of this month.

[31:01] Uh, tax Pitt County Tax

[31:02] Administration continues to

[31:03] pursue all outstanding taxes

[31:05] using the necessary remedies

[31:07] available through the North

[31:08] Carolina General Statutes. If

[31:10] there are any questions, I'm

[31:11] happy to answer them. If not,

[31:12] it's my recommendation to

[31:13] approve the July tax collection

[31:15] report as presented.

[31:18] A motion and a second. Please

[31:19] vote. Thank you. Russell. Madam

[31:22] manager, manager's report is

[31:24] next.

[31:25] Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[31:26] Members of the board. Um, your

[31:27] next meeting is in this room at

[31:29] 6 p.m., September 14th. And

[31:31] that is your only meeting for

[31:32] the month of September. We only

[31:34] meet once next month. Um,

[31:36] reminder for those attending

[31:37] the North Carolina Association

[31:39] of County Commissioners annual

[31:40] conference will be this

[31:42] Thursday through Saturday,

[31:43] August 20th to the 22nd in

[31:45] Durham, North Carolina. Also a

[31:47] reminder that on September 7th,

[31:50] um county offices will be

[31:51] closed in observance of Labor

[31:53] Day and then a save the date

[31:55] item for January 20th of 2027

[31:58] at 6 p.m.. Um, we are planning

[32:00] an ag Appreciation and

[32:02] awareness dinner through our

[32:03] Soil and Water office during

[32:05] your last um, commissioner

[32:07] comments, you also heard

[32:08] Commissioner Mary Perkins

[32:09] Williams, um, and Commissioner

[32:11] Weaver talk about some, um,

[32:13] products that they wanted to

[32:15] make, uh, raise awareness for

[32:17] our farmers and ag participants

[32:21] and in particular, one product

[32:24] that, um, was sponsored by a

[32:26] NATO partner nationwide that

[32:29] allows for legacy planning of

[32:31] farmland. Um, there are other

[32:33] companies who also provide that

[32:34] service. And so those companies

[32:37] would be invited to this ag

[32:39] appreciation and awareness

[32:41] dinner. We may invite them to

[32:42] sponsor if they so wish to

[32:44] sponsor part of the event, um,

[32:46] and then provide an opportunity

[32:48] for them to share information,

[32:50] um, about, um, preserving

[32:53] farmland into the future. At

[32:55] that event, I also want to make

[32:58] the board aware. I know you've

[32:59] heard a lot of conversation

[33:00] about property tax concerns

[33:04] and, um, constitutional

[33:06] amendments and steps that the

[33:07] General Assembly is going to

[33:08] take moving forward as it

[33:10] relates to property taxes and

[33:12] county's authority to levy the

[33:15] same. And so our North Carolina

[33:17] Association of County

[33:18] Commissioners are lobbying,

[33:19] organization, advocacy

[33:21] organization, has prepared a

[33:23] committee of 16 members for

[33:25] county managers, for tax

[33:27] administrators, for chief

[33:29] financial officers, and for

[33:31] county commissioners. Almost

[33:32] similar, if you recall, during

[33:34] the opioid settlement, they had

[33:35] the 555 committee, which was

[33:38] five attorneys, five managers

[33:39] and five commissioners. I just

[33:41] wanted to let you know that committee has been set up

[33:44] of the selected four managers

[33:45] from across the state to serve

[33:47] on that committee, and they

[33:48] asked that I participate. And

[33:50] so I'll be part of that. 4444

[33:53] committee. We will meet on

[33:55] Wednesdays, um, almost weekly

[33:58] until we reach a final

[33:59] presentation that will be made

[34:01] to the board of directors in

[34:03] October. And then the work of

[34:05] that committee will end. Um, so

[34:07] I wanted to let you know that will happen, and that I am

[34:11] glad to participate on it. Um,

[34:13] also from our North Carolina

[34:15] Association of County

[34:16] Commissioners, the director,

[34:18] Kevin Leonard, had prepared a

[34:20] very short video that I'd like

[34:22] to play for you now, um, making

[34:25] a legislative request regarding

[34:27] Snap benefits, if the Public

[34:30] Information Office would play

[34:31] that video.

[34:31] Hey, commissioners, let's talk

[34:33] about Snap. So right now

[34:35] Congress is finishing up their

[34:37] work before their summer

[34:38] recess. And if you haven't

[34:39] scheduled an appointment with

[34:41] your senator or your House

[34:42] member, be a great time to do

[34:43] that. And I would ask you to

[34:45] talk to them about snap. So in

[34:49] short, snap means Supplemental

[34:51] Nutrition Assistance programs

[34:53] and simply does two things.

[34:55] One, it helps people who need

[34:57] food assistance, and two, it

[35:00] helps American farmers and

[35:01] local grocery stores and and

[35:03] our economy. So why do I want

[35:06] you to talk about Snap with

[35:08] your member of Congress? So

[35:09] that's a little bit more

[35:10] complex. So the new H.R. one

[35:12] law that Congress passed last

[35:14] year. Well, it requires

[35:15] counties, our counties to meet

[35:17] new error rate standards in

[35:19] your DSS offices by the end of

[35:21] 2026. And if we don't, it means

[35:23] financial penalties on our

[35:25] counties. And honestly, it's

[35:27] going to be kind of hard to

[35:28] achieve. Don't get me wrong, we

[35:30] want to achieve them, but we

[35:32] need more time to do it. So

[35:34] here's the ask. When you meet

[35:36] with your member of Congress,

[35:38] please ask them to delay the

[35:40] implementation of the Snap

[35:42] error rate provisions. It will

[35:44] be helpful to counties. They're

[35:46] talking about it right now in

[35:48] the farm bill. So the timing is

[35:51] really important. There's a lot

[35:52] more detail that we can share

[35:54] with you about this. Hey. Hey,

[35:55] Kevin, why don't you tell them

[35:56] to check out the weekly and,

[35:58] uh, the information in the link

[36:00] below? Great idea. Kevin. Hey,

[36:03] thanks for your leadership.

[36:05] Thanks for your public service.

[36:07] And thanks for listening. Can

[36:09] we can we show our logo now?

[36:15] Um, so that's just a very brief

[36:17] overview of snap benefits and

[36:19] the ask from our association is

[36:21] that this board approve the

[36:23] chairman to sign a advocacy

[36:26] letter going to our

[36:27] congressional delegation asking

[36:29] them to delay H.R. one and

[36:31] implementation of that error

[36:34] rate penalty. Um, if the board

[36:36] is so inclined to do that, you

[36:38] can move now to direct that to

[36:41] happen. And we can have a

[36:41] letter prepared for you. Um,

[36:43] for the chairman's signature

[36:44] this week.

[36:46] Second.

[36:48] We got a motion and a second,

[36:49] please vote.

[36:58] Thank you. And then the last

[37:00] thing I have on your report is,

[37:02] um, after when we last met on

[37:05] this board authorized, um,

[37:07] county staff to move forward

[37:08] with the application of a FEMA

[37:11] grant to support the cost of

[37:13] repairs at Lake Glenwood Dam.

[37:16] Um, through, um, FEMA, um,

[37:21] mitigation funds, uh,

[37:23] administered through North

[37:25] Carolina's Department of Public

[37:26] Safety. Um, since then, I

[37:29] received an email from Jordan

[37:31] Pappas, um, who is with the

[37:34] North Carolina Department of

[37:35] Environmental Quality, making

[37:37] me aware that they have just

[37:39] opened another grant

[37:41] opportunity through FEMA funds.

[37:44] But through the North Carolina

[37:45] Department of Environmental

[37:47] Quality. Um, and this is

[37:49] specifically for repairs to

[37:51] high hazard dams. And so

[37:54] tonight, I'm seeking your

[37:55] approval. Um, to go ahead and

[37:57] apply for this in addition to

[37:59] the other FEMA grant that we

[38:01] have applied for. Michael

[38:03] Hardee has been leading the

[38:04] charge on completing those

[38:05] applications. He did reach out

[38:08] to both entities and confirmed

[38:09] that we can apply for both at

[38:10] the same time. He also learned,

[38:13] um, that for this most recent

[38:16] one, under NC Dec, there's

[38:19] $11.4 million available for the

[38:22] entire country. Um, and so we

[38:25] are probably more likely to

[38:27] receive funds under the first

[38:29] grant opportunity, but you

[38:31] never know. And we don't want

[38:33] to leave anything unasked. So

[38:36] if the board is so inclined to

[38:38] direct that we apply for this

[38:40] grant, we can go ahead and do

[38:42] so.

[38:43] From.

[38:44] We've got a motion and a

[38:45] second. Please vote. Okay.

[38:55] Thank you. That's all that I

[38:56] have.

[38:56] Thank you, Madam Manager. We'll

[38:57] move the items for consent.

[38:59] Uh, second.

[39:00] Okay. We got a motion and a

[39:02] second. For items with consent,

[39:03] please vote. Okay. Thank you.

[39:09] And we'll move on to items for

[39:12] decision. I can get back to

[39:15] where I was at. Uh, Florida.

[39:17] Come on up. You got the first

[39:19] one. Personnel ordinance.

[39:22] Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And

[39:23] good evening to all of you. In

[39:25] your package, you have a copy

[39:27] of the county's personnel

[39:28] ordinance that shows some edits

[39:30] that we need to make with the

[39:32] independent consolidation of

[39:33] social services and the public

[39:35] health department, effective

[39:37] October 1st, uh, the personnel

[39:39] ordinance has to be updated to

[39:40] remove language that references

[39:42] the Office of State Human

[39:43] Resources and its governance

[39:45] over the employees in both of

[39:46] those agencies. If you accept

[39:48] that the amendments would be

[39:50] effective, like I said on

[39:51] October 1st of this year. Um,

[39:53] once the consolidation is set,

[39:55] I've given you a list of the

[39:56] sections that we need to make

[39:57] the updates in. Hopefully

[39:59] you've had a chance to see it.

[40:00] Uh, section three. Section

[40:02] nine, 23, 68, 74, 161 and 171.

[40:06] So those are the sections with

[40:08] the edits. If you have any

[40:09] questions, if not, I would ask

[40:12] that you. Thank you very much.

[40:15] Thank any questions. We got a

[40:16] motion and a second. Any

[40:17] questions for Florida? Okay.

[40:20] All right. Let's vote. Thank

[40:27] you. Okay. Thank you.

[40:29] Mr. Chairman. Since this is an

[40:31] ordinance and since you do not

[40:33] have a full board, we'll bring

[40:34] it back as an item for consent

[40:36] for its second reading at your

[40:37] next meeting.

[40:38] Okay, great.

[40:39] Thank you. All right. Final

[40:40] design of the EMS station. Can.

[40:47] Good evening, Mr. Chairman.

[40:48] Commissioners, County manager

[40:50] here tonight to request

[40:52] approval to move forward with

[40:53] the site specific designs and

[40:54] bidding for a new Pitt County

[40:56] EMS station at the county

[40:57] office park as part of the 2020

[41:01] 627 fiscal year capital

[41:03] Improvement Plan. The Board of

[41:04] Commissioners approved funding

[41:06] for new new EMS station in

[41:09] 2024. Uh, the board approved

[41:14] for us to go out with an RFQ

[41:16] for design for a new EMS

[41:18] station. Uh, in 2024, we

[41:21] selected BW architecture to

[41:24] develop an EMS station designed

[41:25] to meet the operational needs

[41:27] of the Pitt County EMS

[41:28] Department. This, uh, this

[41:32] prototype design is not site

[41:34] specific. We had them build a

[41:36] basic generic plan so we could

[41:38] adopt it to any site in the

[41:40] county of wherever we decided

[41:41] to build one, uh, emergency

[41:44] management continually reviews

[41:46] data related to the EMS system

[41:47] to identify trends and

[41:49] determine where additional

[41:50] resources may be needed. Data

[41:52] has shown a steady over year increase in the EMS

[41:56] call volume, and Government

[41:58] Circle area, including the

[41:59] industrial park, the airport

[42:01] area, NC 33 old River road

[42:04] corridor and surrounding areas.

[42:06] The increased call volume has

[42:08] placed additional strain on the

[42:09] two ambulances currently

[42:10] stationed north of the river.

[42:12] When these units are dispatched

[42:13] to the Government Circle area,

[42:15] the geographical distance and

[42:17] limited coverage options can

[42:19] leave areas such as Bethel,

[42:20] Clarks Neck and Stokes without

[42:22] ambulance coverage for extended

[42:24] periods of time. The increased,

[42:27] uh, the continued increase in

[42:29] call volume and the Government

[42:30] Circle area has highlighted the

[42:32] need to evaluate EMS coverage

[42:34] in this region to ensure

[42:36] adequate response times and

[42:38] maintain reliable ambulance

[42:39] coverage throughout the

[42:40] northern portion of the county.

[42:43] So the proposed contract with

[42:46] BW architecture will include

[42:47] finalizing the building plans

[42:49] based on the site selected,

[42:52] completing the necessary site

[42:54] designs, providing contract

[42:55] administration services

[42:57] throughout the construction

[42:58] process. These services will

[43:00] include bidding, responding to

[43:01] RFI, conducting monthly

[43:03] progress meetings, reviewing

[43:05] payment applications, and

[43:07] completing the final punch

[43:08] list, and overseeing the

[43:10] project. Closeout. Tonight, I'm

[43:12] asking the board to authorize

[43:14] the county manager to execute a

[43:15] contract with BW architect not

[43:17] to exceed $97,000 to finalize

[43:21] the site specific plans and

[43:22] proceed with the bidding for

[43:23] the new county EMS station.

[43:27] Okay. Thank you. It's a

[43:28] pleasure to board.

[43:28] Motion.

[43:30] Okay. We got a motion on a

[43:32] second. Please vote. Okay.

[43:38] Thank you. Thank you, Madam

[43:39] Manager. Do you have the next

[43:40] one to reappointment?

[43:41] Yes. It is being suggested that

[43:43] this board reappoint Clayton

[43:45] South to the Greenville

[43:46] Planning and Zoning Commission.

[43:49] What's the pleasure? Got a

[43:50] motion on here a second. Okay.

[43:52] Please vote. All right. I will

[44:00] start from my left.

[44:01] Commissioner. Man. Do you have

[44:02] any comments? We do have a

[44:03] closed session.

[44:04] Yes, sir. Uh, just one thing on

[44:07] the plate with, uh, Dan, when

[44:11] we have an opinion from DQ or

[44:14] whatever of what direction you

[44:16] should go, there. I mean, I

[44:20] think that's, you know, we're

[44:22] talking about getting funds to

[44:25] build a damn good conversation

[44:27] about returning it to without,

[44:31] you know, decommissioning,

[44:32] delay. Uh, I feel in need of

[44:36] some expert opinion from a

[44:39] hydrologist or whatever they

[44:41] call the folks that study that

[44:42] kind of thing about water and, uh, a the watershed to

[44:47] make a recommendation of what

[44:49] we should do regardless of the

[44:51] cost. I just wanted to mention

[44:54] that and see if we can. But

[44:56] that's not actually being done

[44:58] at this point.

[44:59] It is not. Should I answer it?

[45:02] Yes. Yes. It is not actually

[45:04] being done at this point. Um,

[45:05] when we consider the various

[45:07] alternatives, one of the

[45:08] alternatives would have been,

[45:10] um, to secure an engineer's

[45:13] design of a decommission for

[45:15] submission to DEQ for

[45:17] consideration and approval. Um,

[45:19] the board instead voted to move

[45:22] forward with um seeking the

[45:24] grant funding to pursue the

[45:25] repair pursuant to the design

[45:28] that already exists. But we do

[45:30] not have, um, nor have we

[45:32] brought to you a presentation

[45:34] from DEQ. If they would do one.

[45:37] Um, about what they think the

[45:40] you should do in terms of

[45:42] repairing or decommissioning.

[45:44] Um, we have heard, um, some

[45:47] conversation from LGB, our

[45:51] architect, that there is a

[45:53] chance that DEQ might not

[45:55] approve a decommission at all.

[45:58] Then there was some

[45:59] conversation that DEQ would

[46:01] approve a decommission, but it

[46:03] would have to be pursuant to a

[46:05] design that may or may not have

[46:07] a different, um, cost impact.

[46:10] Right. It was unknown as to

[46:12] what the parameters of that

[46:13] cost would be. But no, we do

[46:15] not have pending, nor have we

[46:16] brought for you an opinion from

[46:19] DEQ about whether it should be

[46:21] decommissioned or repaired.

[46:23] What we do know is that we are

[46:25] under a notice of violation

[46:27] with a directive to repair.

[46:31] , and I understand all that.

[46:34] I'm just saying from my point

[46:35] of view, I don't have enough

[46:38] information to actually decide

[46:40] whether a dam and a maintaining

[46:43] the lake is the best choice,

[46:45] because there's going to be

[46:46] more development. I've talked

[46:47] to people, you know, in the

[46:50] area out there, and there's

[46:52] pros and cons about the whole

[46:53] thing. And, uh, so, um, I just

[46:58] would like to have some

[47:01] information from the expert who

[47:04] studies the whole watershed

[47:05] issue. I mean, we have a

[47:06] southeastern drainage district.

[47:08] I don't know if they have

[47:10] contact with somebody that can

[47:11] give us just a, you know, to

[47:14] help guide that decision,

[47:16] whether to replace a dam

[47:18] because you're still talking

[47:19] about having to release water.

[47:21] And we've in since we actually

[47:24] met. I think, you know, have

[47:26] we've had information about,

[47:28] uh, how they, when hurricanes

[47:30] are coming, they drained they

[47:32] drained the lake. Well, you

[47:35] know, as, as there's no

[47:36] pressure put on that waterway,

[47:39] uh, is that going to be

[47:40] sufficient? Because I think

[47:42] this dam is designed to release

[47:43] water to maintain a certain

[47:45] level, but is that really the

[47:49] safest thing to do?

[47:50] So what I might so what I might

[47:52] suggest, if it's the desire of

[47:54] the board, would be to bring,

[47:56] um, our engineer from LG be

[47:59] present to answer those types

[48:01] of questions. So, um, Ken,

[48:03] please remind me his name.

[48:05] Sherab sir. And his last name.

[48:09] Not sure. Um, Sarab with L. JB

[48:13] has been working with us for

[48:15] the over the last several

[48:16] months. He has been our point

[48:17] of contact. Um, when we reached

[48:20] out about, um, decommissioning,

[48:22] and he's been. LGB has been

[48:25] part of the lake Glenwood dam.

[48:28] Uh, evolution for a large

[48:30] number of years. I think they

[48:32] would, given their expertise,

[48:35] um, be in the best position to

[48:37] answer the questions you're

[48:38] asking. Um, if it's the will of

[48:40] the board for me to schedule

[48:42] them to come to a future

[48:43] meeting.

[48:44] And I would appreciate that for

[48:46] myself, because I think we've

[48:47] had a lot of conversation about

[48:48] the cost of this or that, but

[48:50] we haven't talked about what's

[48:52] really the best thing to do,

[48:53] regardless of the cost. That's

[48:55] kind of I'd like to hear. I

[48:56] would like to hear from some

[48:58] experts that can give some

[48:59] recommendations to or something.

[49:02] Uh, I'm fine with that. My

[49:03] question is, Will, do you even

[49:06] give an opinion? I don't know,

[49:08] something like that.

[49:09] I don't believe so, but I think

[49:12] you could hear from LGB and

[49:14] they know exactly what DEQ will

[49:16] and won't do because they are

[49:17] so familiar with working with

[49:19] dam repairs. I don't think, um,

[49:22] DEQ.

[49:23] Is an engineer that has some

[49:24] expertise and can actually give

[49:27] us an opinion of is it better

[49:29] to build a dam or better to

[49:30] restore the old creek bed

[49:32] there?

[49:33] Yes. Engineers with specific

[49:35] expertise in dams and this

[49:38] particular problem.

[49:39] I would appreciate that because

[49:40] I just feel like that's a piece

[49:42] that I haven't got to to make

[49:45] it decision. Yes, to try to do

[49:47] the right thing.

[49:48] Yes. And we remain under

[49:49] contract with LGB. Um, as they

[49:52] continue to monitor this and,

[49:55] um, do the design and then they

[49:57] have to do the if we were to

[49:59] repair it, they would have to

[50:01] put the final engineer's seal

[50:02] that it was, um, constructed

[50:04] according to the engineered

[50:06] plans. And so we remain under

[50:08] contract with LGB, and I'm sure

[50:09] that we could ask them to come

[50:12] to a future meeting. Um, and

[50:15] present an item for report

[50:16] about what? Their design, um,

[50:19] is, why they designed it that

[50:21] way. And answer any questions

[50:23] the board may have about their

[50:25] design to repair or the

[50:26] alternative of decommissioning.

[50:29] Everybody good with that? Yeah.

[50:31] Okay.

[50:31] That would be good. Thank you,

[50:32] Mr. Chairman. I just.

[50:34] Yes.

[50:34] Sir.

[50:36] Commissioner Nunnally,

[50:39] Commissioner Floyd Huggins, Mr.

[50:41] McLaughlin.

[50:42] Yeah.

[50:42] I do have one. Uh, I've been

[50:45] reading a lot in the newspaper,

[50:47] and also I've had a couple of

[50:48] people called to my house a

[50:50] reference to the data data

[50:52] center. Uh, you you may have

[50:55] heard about that and then talk

[50:57] about the use of, uh, a lot of

[51:00] water and electricity and

[51:02] taking them away from the

[51:03] citizens of the county. Uh,

[51:05] what, uh, what is it? Uh, I was standing on that with

[51:10] Madam Manager in terms of, uh,

[51:12] what are you hearing about? If

[51:14] I could.

[51:15] Um, sure. So we actually had a

[51:17] good bit of discussion, um,

[51:19] about data centers and

[51:20] regulations at the Naco

[51:22] conference. Um, last month. And

[51:25] we are at the same time going

[51:27] through a process of developing

[51:29] a unified development

[51:30] ordinance. Um, you may recall a

[51:32] presentation from Jonas Hill,

[51:34] um, two meetings ago where we

[51:35] talked about what that would

[51:36] involve. Um, and part of that

[51:39] unified development ordinance

[51:41] would include, um, seeking

[51:45] input from community

[51:47] stakeholders, including members

[51:49] of the public and experts on

[51:51] areas that this board found to

[51:54] be of particular interest or

[51:56] concern, including data

[51:57] centers, solar farms, um, sand

[52:01] mines and the other areas that

[52:03] the board raised. When we had

[52:04] that discussion. And so we do

[52:07] not have any pending

[52:09] applications or any interest

[52:11] that's been brought to my

[52:12] attention directly. Um, for a

[52:15] data center, um, we are moving

[52:18] forward through the Unified

[52:19] Development Ordinance process,

[52:22] and expect to bring back, with

[52:24] the assistance of a consultant,

[52:26] um, feedback from a stakeholder

[52:29] group and recommendations on

[52:33] the best regulations for data

[52:35] centers, um, to address all of

[52:37] those issues that have been

[52:39] raised, noise, location, um,

[52:43] utility consumption and all of

[52:45] those things that have raised

[52:46] concerns. I think, um, where,

[52:49] um, there might be a pickle.

[52:52] Could be if you do receive an

[52:54] application before we complete

[52:56] that process. And that's within

[52:59] the purview of this board to

[53:01] apply your existing ordinance

[53:03] for, um, it's not called data

[53:06] centers. It's called it's

[53:08] Jonas. Still here? No, um, it

[53:10] is called, um, large scale data

[53:13] processing is what our

[53:15] ordinance calls it right now.

[53:16] So you would be, um, bound by

[53:19] your current ordinance and

[53:20] considering an application now?

[53:22] Um, but we, in the absence of

[53:25] any interest, it would be up to

[53:26] this board whether you wanted

[53:28] to consider a moratorium until

[53:29] the Unified Development

[53:30] Ordinance that was complete in

[53:32] the absence of an application,

[53:34] um, and with the existence of

[53:36] your current ordinance, I'm not

[53:38] sure that that's necessary, but

[53:40] certainly if it's something the

[53:41] board wanted to consider, we

[53:42] could look at a moratorium.

[53:45] Otherwise we would seek robust

[53:48] feedback and then incorporate

[53:50] that into the ordinance that's

[53:52] brought back through the

[53:53] planning department.

[53:56] One that I would like to say

[53:58] that the one concern that I've

[54:00] heard from farmers in my area

[54:03] is that the loss of farmland is

[54:06] concerning, and the fact that

[54:09] he County is a food study, I

[54:13] won't say desert because we

[54:15] still can't make a little crop

[54:17] somewhere, but we need to. We

[54:20] need to be a bit cognizant of

[54:23] how we and what we do with

[54:25] land, farmland and and the

[54:28] farmers are concerned about

[54:30] that. So, um, I, I am willing

[54:36] to hear any discussion, but,

[54:39] uh, they are pushing me about

[54:41] supporting, taking away

[54:43] farmland.

[54:47] Okay, give me a small one.

[54:49] Yeah, I would like to make a

[54:50] motion that we we tabled, uh,

[54:52] any concerns about the data

[54:53] center right now until we get

[54:55] more information, uh, uh,

[54:57] concerns about that.

[54:58] I second that, mister.

[55:01] Madam chairman.

[55:02] Is that a or are you.

[55:03] Asking to.

[55:03] Put a moratorium on it until we

[55:05] get the plan right? I.

[55:09] So I think there are procedural

[55:11] requirements that we'll have to

[55:12] comply with in order to enact

[55:14] the moratorium. But I think if

[55:16] we read that to bring back the

[55:19] procedural requirements

[55:21] necessary to invoke a

[55:23] moratorium, we can certainly

[55:25] take that as direction and

[55:26] bring that back to the board

[55:28] for formal consideration after

[55:29] we follow the process without

[55:31] looking at it. Matt, do you

[55:32] know, off the top of your head,

[55:32] do we need I think there's

[55:33] formal notice that's required

[55:35] before you can, um, effectuate

[55:37] a moratorium. Um, and certain

[55:39] language and resolutions that

[55:40] would need to be adopted.

[55:42] Mr. chair, maybe a friendly

[55:45] modification and just a motion

[55:47] to request that staff prepare a

[55:49] report of our current

[55:50] ordinance. And also what the

[55:52] options are pending, the

[55:54] unified. And maybe we do that

[55:55] at our next meeting. Um, so

[55:58] that we're in order

[55:59] procedurally. Would you be okay

[56:03] with that, Commissioner? Just a

[56:05] friendly amendment to the to

[56:07] the motion.

[56:09] What would you accept? The

[56:10] friendly amendment?

[56:12] Yes.

[56:12] sir.

[56:13] Okay.

[56:14] So just so I understand, bring

[56:15] back the current ordinance.

[56:16] and, um, and

[56:19] then and then consider whatever

[56:22] procedural posture we need to

[56:24] be in to consider such a, such

[56:26] a move, if that's what the

[56:27] board would like to.

[56:29] Do, you need to vote on that or

[56:31] just need a consensus to on

[56:33] that.

[56:33] Consensus to bring it back is

[56:35] fine.

[56:35] I don't think we need a vote on

[56:37] that.

[56:37] And I can bring that back for

[56:38] your next meeting. Okay.

[56:40] All right. That's good. Mr.

[56:43] McLaughlin. Anything else?

[56:44] No, sir.

[56:45] Okay, Commissioner Weaver.

[56:46] No, sir.

[56:47] Commissioner Brown.

[56:49] Yes? I just want to say

[56:50] congratulations to Madam

[56:51] Manager for being selected on

[56:52] the property tax Committee. And

[56:54] since we will not meet until

[56:56] after Labor Day, happy Labor

[56:57] Day to everyone.

[57:00] Doing.

[57:01] Anything else.

[57:01] Commission motion to adjourn.

[57:03] We got a closed session. Okay,

[57:08] we'll make the motion to go

[57:09] into closed session.

[57:10] And I may read the bass

[57:12] briefly. It's been suggested

[57:13] that this body go into closed

[57:14] session under the following

[57:15] grounds one to consult with an

[57:16] attorney employee to retain by

[57:17] the public body in order to

[57:19] preserve attorney client

[57:20] privilege under control.

[57:21] Statute 143 through 1883, which

[57:24] privilege is hereby

[57:25] acknowledged to to establish or

[57:27] instruct the public body staff

[57:28] concerning the position to be

[57:29] taken by or on behalf of the

[57:30] public body, for the

[57:31] acquisition of rural property

[57:32] under North Carolina Statute

[57:34] 143 through 181185, and three,

[57:36] to prevent the disclosure of

[57:37] information that is not

[57:38] considered a public record

[57:40] under North Carolina General

[57:41] Statute 1433 1810. And now the.

[57:43] Motion okay, we want to make

[57:46] that motion again, go in closed

[57:47] session.

[57:48] Yes. Motion to go into closed

[57:50] session.

[57:50] Okay. Go here a second. Got a

[57:51] second? Let's vote please.

[57:53] Okay. We'll tell her.

[57:54] Thank you.

[57:57] We'll need the reporter to step

[57:59] outside.

[2:00:03] We're coming back in the open.

[2:00:07] Yeah. Raise your.

[2:00:08] Hand.

[2:00:24] Okay. Welcome back. I have a

[2:00:28] motion.

[2:00:28] I'd like to make a motion to

[2:00:29] approve the closed session

[2:00:31] minutes for August 3rd.

[2:00:33] Second.

[2:00:33] We got a motion on a second.

[2:00:34] Please vote. And I'll entertain

[2:00:41] a motion to adjourn. I've got a

[2:00:45] motion on a second to adjourn.

[2:00:50] All right. Thank you.

Pitt County Board of Commissioners Meeting 08/17/2026

Transcript