[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.]

[0:00] Good evening. It is my honor to welcome you to the February 17th, 2026 meeting of the Sanford City Council. As a quick reminder, I would just ask you to check that your cell phones are on silent. And I will, at this time, invite councilmember Chris Petty to lead us in our invocation. Please, by your ear. Father God, name of Jesus, we thank you for your excellence, your mercy and your grace. We thank you for the stars, the sun, the sun, and the moon, and everything that you call.
[0:30] life. Bless the ones who are here. Bless the ones. Bless the ears of the folks here in this
[0:36] and bless the ones who are not here with us. We ask you to, we ask you to bless us, bless this
[0:47] board with your, your excellence, your guidance, and let us make the best decisions for this,
[0:52] and the residents of Sanford, Carolina, Jesus' name, amen. Amen. At this time, I invite you to join me
[0:59] in the Pledge of Allegiance.
[1:05] To the flag of the United States of America.
[1:09] And to the Republic of the United States of America made it
[1:14] difficult with the liberty and justice for all.
[1:21] All right, at this time, that brings us to item number four,
[1:24] which is the approval of the agenda.
[1:26] And I would seek a motion.
[1:27] Madam Mayor.
[1:28] Mr. Buffalo.
[1:29] Motion to move.
[1:30] Thank you for that.
[1:30] Is there a second?
[1:31] Second.
[1:31] Seconded by Mr. Petty, any discussion?
[1:34] On favor say aye.
[1:35] Aye.
[1:35] Any opposed?
[1:37] All right, our agenda carries.
[1:38] our next item is our consent agenda you see the item there before you I would
[1:44] seek a motion. Madam Mayor Ms. Rhodes. I'm a way for the consent agenda. Thank
[1:49] you for that motion is that a second Mr. Persons? Yes Madam Mayor. Seconded by
[1:52] Mr. Ferguson any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Our consent
[1:57] agenda carries. That brings us to item number six which is our special agenda and
[2:02] it is such a pleasure to be able to see so many folks we're here to join us in this
[2:08] moment to honor a member of our community.
[2:11] It's Black History Month and it's a wonderful time for us to really take stock at the wonderful
[2:17] things that are happening in our community, but most importantly, the amazing champions
[2:21] that work tirelessly to make sure that our community continues to get better and better and that
[2:26] all of our folks are looked after.
[2:28] And at this time, I would like to invite Bishop Charles Millett to come join with me up here
[2:34] on the stage as we present the special proclamation.
[2:52] We're ask Bishop Charles Millett has demonstrated a long standing and unwavering commitment to
[2:58] community service, dedicating time, leadership and expertise across diverse sectors to address
[3:04] complex challenges and help remove barriers that prevent individuals and families from reaching
[3:10] their full potential.
[3:12] And we're ask Bishop Charles Millett is the founder and senior pastor of Christian provision
[3:16] ministries where he and his wife, Patty, have created a welcoming, vibrant, and family-oriented
[3:21] church focused on spiritual growth and community outreach. And whereas Bishop Charles Millett
[3:26] served as president of the Let's Do It Together Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded to
[3:31] strengthen the community by promoting opportunities for everyone through education, advocacy, civic engagement,
[3:38] and collaboration, and which provides opportunities for leadership development, crisis intervention
[3:43] training and more and more to uplift our community. And whereas Bishop Charles
[3:48] Millett is a member of the Sanford Area Growth Alliance Board of Directors and
[3:52] Economic Development Subcommittee where he helps to align Saga's economic
[3:56] development strategy with the community's needs through targeted recruitment
[4:00] incentivized participation and recommendations for the city and counties
[4:03] governing boards. And whereas Bishop Charles Millett is an advocate for small and
[4:08] emerging businesses shown by his commitment to the real investment in Sanford
[4:12] entrepreneurs, the Rise Program, for nine cohorts during which time he has helped to
[4:17] select participants and award reimbursable grants to build and sustain successful new businesses
[4:22] in downtown Sanford and historic Jonesboro. And whereas Bishop Charles Millett has a heart
[4:28] for youth, serving as the chair of Positive Direction for Youth, an innovative youth conference
[4:33] designed to encourage and inspire, which serves nearly 8,000 youth, youth leaders and pastors
[4:39] years each year. And whereas Bishop Charles Millett serves as president of providing academic
[4:45] yield, a 21st century community learning center that provides free academic, cultural,
[4:51] artistic, and social support to students in kindergarten for 10th grade, through a collaborative
[4:56] partnership with parents, schools, and the community, with 100 youth currently enrolled
[5:01] and 2,000 having been served through the program. And whereas Bishop Charles Millett has
[5:07] the deep commitment to community health and well-being,
[5:09] serving on the Central Carolina Hospital Governing Board,
[5:12] the Sanford Equity Task Force, the Sanford Housing Authority,
[5:16] the Sanford Planning Board, and the Kellogg Foundation Board,
[5:19] and as past President of the Lee County and WACP.
[5:23] Now by the virtue of the authority vested in me
[5:26] is Mayor of the City of Sanford.
[5:27] I, Rebecca Whitehoff-Salman,
[5:29] do hereby recognize Bishop Charles Millett
[5:31] for a sustained commitment to community engagement
[5:33] and leadership and for dedicated efforts
[5:35] to address challenges, remove barriers, and create pathways for individuals and families
[5:40] throughout the community to thrive.
[5:43] Thank you so much.
[5:51] Thank you all so very much, Madam Mayor, Brother Pro Tem, and the Councilman.
[5:58] It is this board and previous board's vision and leadership for Sanford that calls all of
[6:05] us to be in such unique places to actually serve.
[6:08] We appreciate the path that you paid for us.
[6:12] We look forward to continuing to work together to help improve the quality of life for all of the people that live in Sanford and also in Lee County.
[6:21] Thank you to my family and my friends and some of our church members that came with us on this evening.
[6:27] Thank you all so very much. We look forward to what we can do because we're always better when we do it together.
[7:14] We'd
[7:28] like to invite Bayline friends to come up for a photo up here if you'd like.
[7:32] Yeah, let's come quickly if you want to go.
[7:36] Run.
[7:38] I'm just kidding.
[7:51] That's all right.
[7:53] Hey, you're boring.
[8:46] Come on.
[8:52] I want to give you a big hug.
[9:01] First lady's house.
[9:04] Lane, are you going to take your picture from back here?
[9:07] Okay.
[9:15] Whisley, you guys will come forward
[9:17] and fill in this space and then the sky backstage.
[9:20] This thing, I would say…
[9:21] They're bombing me.
[9:23] You're one of the babies from the market.
[9:26] It was like 1 or 2.
[9:28] Busy, you can live in peace,
[9:30] or have short on the day and red,
[9:31] you've been working out from this year.
[9:33] I don't want it.
[9:34] I want it right around here.
[9:36] Is this kind of a lump of a queen hat?
[9:39] Yeah.
[9:39] And then I can just take a look.
[9:40] No, take a look.
[9:42] Mine away.
[9:43] Yeah.
[9:44] I cannot see.
[9:45] I cannot see.
[9:47] Bring.
[9:47] Come on.
[9:48] Come on in there.
[9:48] There.
[9:50] In and out.
[9:51] I cannot see.
[9:53] And there.
[9:54] There.
[9:55] There.
[9:56] There.
[9:58] And this is not.
[9:59] I cannot see.
[10:00] Yeah.
[10:00] You should follow.
[10:01] This is how to be there. You need to come all the way back.
[10:05] Oh, that's how you interact with your friends.
[10:07] There's all that I have. There. That's it.
[10:11] In so many, you still need your window.
[10:15] Here we go.
[10:17] I was looking at her.
[10:20] Don't look at her.
[10:21] Don't look at her.
[10:22] Don't look at her.
[10:23] Don't look at her.
[10:23] Don't look at her.
[10:24] Don't look at
[10:33] her.
[10:37] Don't look at her.
[10:39] Don't look at
[11:05] her.
[11:42] I got a thing
[11:45] We do.
[12:13] I did see you coming.
[12:21] All right, I will go ahead and call our meeting back to order.
[12:27] Our next item on our agenda is item number seven, which is our regular agenda.
[12:31] We have no regular agenda items this evening.
[12:34] Our next item is eight, which is new business.
[12:37] We have no new business this evening.
[12:39] and item 9 which is our decisions on public hearing and we have none this evening.
[12:43] Item number 10 is our cases for public hearing.
[12:46] We do have two cases for public hearing and they will be held at 6 p.m.
[12:50] And so I would like to go ahead and move forward with our closed session.
[12:54] If our attorney will go ahead and read the statutes, please.
[12:57] Thank you mayor.
[12:58] We need a motion to go in a closed session in accordance with North Carolina and
[13:01] on statute 143,
[13:02] dash 318.11, A3 and 4 to consult with an attorney employed
[13:10] by the public body in order to preserve the attorney
[13:12] client privilege and to discuss matters relating
[13:15] to the location or expansion of industries
[13:17] or the businesses in the area certified by the public body.
[13:20] Thank you, Ms. Patterson.
[13:21] You've heard the statutes is their motion.
[13:23] So moved.
[13:23] Thank you, Ms. Dabs.
[13:24] Is there a second?
[13:25] Seconded by Mr. Petty.
[13:26] Any discussion?
[13:28] All in favor say aye.
[13:29] Aye.
[13:29] Any opposed?
[13:30] all right we are in close session and we will reconvene at 6 p.m. for our
[13:34] public hearings. All right I'd like to go ahead and call our meeting back to
[13:38] order. Thank you so much for our planning board for being here for our
[13:42] public hearing portion of our meeting. Our first public hearing this evening is 10 a
[13:47] which is a flood hazard area regulations update and floodplain map update. I will
[13:53] go ahead and open the public hearing. Public hearing is now open and this
[13:57] We have the floor to lead us to this item.
[14:01] Good evening, everyone.
[14:02] I've provided a paper printout copy of this PowerPoint presentation to each of the
[14:07] council members at your seat.
[14:09] We will discuss replacing Article 13, flood hazard area regulations of the UDO with the latest
[14:15] model flood damage prevention ordinance provided by the North Carolina floodplain mapping
[14:19] program, also updating the FEMA national flood insurance program map for Lee County,
[14:24] We'll put the latest map panels provided by the North Carolina flood plain mapping program.
[14:30] These matters go hand in hand and we'll be discussed together, but we'll require two separate
[14:34] recommendations by the planning board and two separate votes by the City Council.
[14:43] Once again, we're proposing to update our current flood hazard area regulations to ensure that
[14:48] Olli County citizens who like to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program are
[14:52] able to do so.
[14:53] This information was reviewed by the Director of the Lee County Office of Emergency Management
[14:58] of it to the right here.
[14:59] Matt Britt.
[15:00] And he was supportive of adopting the new model ordinance. One thing that I would like to point out that it's important is it should be noted that no additional structures are mapped as being within the 100-year floodplain, all the new FEMA National Flood Insurance Program map for Lee County. That means no structures are in the floodplain as per the new maps that weren't in the floodplain before. Floodplain regulations are routinely updated per model ordinance provided by the North Carolina Department of Crime Control.
[15:29] control, and public safety, division of emergency management
[15:32] floodplain management branch.
[15:35] Several objectives of this ordinance are to protect human
[15:38] life safety and health, minimize expenditure of public
[15:41] money for costly flood control projects, and minimize the
[15:44] need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding
[15:47] and generally undertaking at the expense of the general
[15:50] public.
[15:52] The language within the proposed model ordinance is generally
[15:55] the same as our current ordinance, which was also a model
[15:58] ordinance. With more clarification and detail provided, the most
[16:02] noteworthy changes are as follows. The required elevation for the first
[16:06] finish floor of a house in Sanford would increase from 2 feet above the
[16:11] base flood elevation to 4 feet above the base flood elevation.
[16:16] And that's what is proposed. Now to clarify, there's a level of the 100 year flood
[16:21] and there's a level of your first finish floor of your home. Right now in
[16:25] Sanford there's two feet required we call that free board between the level
[16:30] the 100 year flood and the first finish floor of your home. The new model
[16:35] template ordinance is proposing the state would like for you to increase that
[16:39] to four feet to provide more room for the flood waters to go in and out through
[16:43] your flood events. Now the minimum they would like for you to have is what we
[16:47] currently have two feet that's in place. So you have the option of choosing do you
[16:52] stay with two, or do you go with four?
[16:56] Another one thing I would like to mention is, since I presented this information to
[17:02] the City Council, I completed some research regarding what other counties and cities
[17:06] around us have.
[17:08] And even though two feet is the state recommended minimum elevation based on my research, two
[17:13] feet above the base flood elevation appears to be the most common regulatory flood protection
[17:19] So, quite a few municipalities and counties did not up to go up to go with the four feet, they chose to go with the two.
[17:29] Moving on, another notable change is accessory structures that are 150 square feet or less or $3,000 or less are exempt from the elevation, blood proofing certification requirements.
[17:42] Previously, there was only an exemption for size, not cost.
[17:46] So currently in our regulations, the 150 square feet exist.
[17:50] But adding the minimal investment option does appear to be citizen friendly.
[17:54] And we'll probably not be applicable in many situations because with the cost of building materials,
[17:59] your building out back is probably going to cost you $3,000 or more.
[18:02] But it is kind of citizen friendly to throw that option in there.
[18:06] Also, floodplain development applications must include a plot plan drawn to scale that
[18:11] includes specific details, and that's in our current rigs.
[18:15] The model ordinance proposes the plot plan includes specific details and be certified
[18:19] by a registered land surfer or professional engineer.
[18:23] Staff recommends to include this language to ensure accuracy, to ensure compliance with
[18:28] the local floodplain regulations, and to protect the current and future property owners from
[18:32] and accurate or incorrect information being provided to staff by review or approval.
[18:38] As it is right now, you simply submit a site plan to me as the floodplain administrator
[18:42] and using the information I have on hand, recorded plots, GIS, the FEMA firm maps, and so forth,
[18:49] I determine whether or not is reasonably accurate. This would require a surveyor engineer to certify
[18:55] that it is indeed accurate, and therefore it kind of protects us, we ensure that everything
[19:02] is compliant, and it assures future homeowners that everything is compliant.
[19:10] That is our update for the REGs.
[19:14] So now we'd like to talk about updating the flood maps.
[19:18] Staff is also proposing to update the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program map for Lee County.
[19:22] For the latest map panels provided by the North Carolina floodplain mapping program,
[19:27] to ensure that everyone, Lee County citizens, surveyors, engineers, insurance agents,
[19:31] et cetera, have access to the most up-to-date floodplain mapping information.
[19:37] Each time the North Carolina flood mapping program provides a community with a new or
[19:41] revised flood hazard map and study, the data must be adopted or the community will be at risk of
[19:46] being suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program, which means, among other things,
[19:51] that property owners will not be able to purchase new NFIP or national flood insurance
[19:56] program, flood insurance policies, existing policies will not be renewed, and no federal
[20:01] grants or loans for development in flood hazard areas may be approved.
[20:05] At this time, we're proposing to update 22 of the 74 panels, which are illustrated on the
[20:15] screen behind you, the ones indicated in orange.
[20:18] The maps are in digital format now and are available for viewing or downloading on the
[20:23] North Carolina Flood Risk Information System website.
[20:26] So many years ago you would have to come to my office and roll these plans and we'd have
[20:30] to find your map and we'd have to go through everything and figure out what the elevation
[20:34] was.
[20:35] Now all this information is readily available to anyone who's interested on this North Carolina
[20:41] Floodplain mapping program website.
[20:43] There is also the North Carolina Flood Risk Information Systems website and the Flood
[20:49] Inundation Mapping and Alert Network website, so there's lots of information out there
[20:53] that didn't used to be out there available to everyone.
[20:59] The effective day of the map update will be determined by FEMA for our letter of final determination,
[21:04] which is tentatively scheduled to be mailed to the city and Lee County this summer, moving
[21:09] forward with the public hearing for the map review and the planning board recommendation
[21:12] at this time will allow the governing boards for all three jurisdictions to officially adopt
[21:17] the update of map panels as soon as the letter is received.
[21:24] And we'll just flip through the PowerPoint just to point out to everyone the current effect
[21:29] of adoptive map is on your left.
[21:30] The preliminary proposed map is on your right.
[21:33] You'll see there's some cross sections that have been studied.
[21:36] It's a little bit different.
[21:37] A lot of the streams were re-studied and re-evaluated and new information was provided with regard
[21:43] to the level of the 100-year flood plain and the width of nonencroachment agreements, things
[21:49] like that.
[21:49] This is another area you may be familiar with, Carolina Trace, Lake Trace.
[21:54] The effective panel is on your left, the preliminary is on your right.
[21:58] You'll see that the cross sections are a little bit different because this area has been studied
[22:01] more.
[22:03] Also, this is the Kiwanis Park area.
[22:05] You can see where Park E was noted on the map.
[22:08] We have the effective panel on your left, the new panel on your right.
[22:11] You can see that the flood way that's mapped in this area has been studied and it's actually a bit narrower than it was in the past.
[22:19] This is the website North Carolina Flood Risk Information System, or NC Fris, that I refer to almost every other day.
[22:28] You can put in your location, your address, to get started. It's very easy. There's information on your left.
[22:34] And as I, this is information that you scroll down and you'll see you can check the preliminary and effective dates.
[22:39] You can see tables and reports, things that are very interesting to engineers and
[22:43] surveyors working on projects that has floodplain on site.
[22:47] You can see floodway data.
[22:48] You can see creeks that actually access the site and you can move on to actually see
[22:53] non-incroachment width or this is the width that will measure left to right looking downstream
[22:57] of the area that is in the floodway or the non-incroachment area.
[23:01] And this is where the high velocity of floodwaters are if you have floodplain on your site.
[23:06] So just all the scientific information is available at your fingertips, whether you're just a curious citizen, someone with a floodplain on your property or an engineer or a survey or this actually working on a project that involves floodplain.
[23:19] Does anyone have any questions?
[23:21] Are there any questions from council for Ms McNeil?
[23:25] No questions, but just to be clear, I think we need to go to this for a lot of work job as well.
[23:30] and I just reached over and asked Linda if I heard it right that you did say that most
[23:35] of the other counties are staying with the two fee elevation.
[23:38] Yes sir my research determined that most counties and municipalities around us have stayed
[23:45] with the two fee of free board as opposed to choosing the state recommended for.
[23:50] Thank you. Are there any other questions?
[23:53] I have one young.
[23:54] Mr. Hersen.
[23:55] If they don't go with the four men said flood does happen is there any
[24:00] Any backlash to that?
[24:01] So one of the reasons that we're presenting these regulations to you at this time is this particular model ordinance has a lot of options for you to choose from in the past they didn't have so many options.
[24:13] So once we get the language that the City Council has agreed to, the next step for me is to forward that ordinance in draft form to our national flood insurance program planner who is going to review it and provide these comments to me and he'll also forward it on to FEMA.
[24:29] So we will know what if any impacts are the option that we have chosen will have on the
[24:36] area residents before we even adopt it.
[24:38] So I just need firmly in place the language that we agree to, then I'm going to get feedback
[24:43] and then we'll see if it can impact the residents negatively or positively before you adopt
[24:49] it.
[24:49] You will know that.
[24:51] But my other question is, I'm not in real estate business, I know we have some right here
[24:55] Mr. Malloy for one. Is that well if they go to the for if you guys go to four
[25:00] feet instead of two with that raise the prices of the homes or if he can
[25:05] answer this you come answer that Mr. Malloy.
[25:09] It's a reversed public hearing
[25:10] this evening. Mr. Malloy if you're willing to answer that I don't know if you know
[25:13] the answer that but please say your name. I'm serious. Steven I can answer it
[25:16] together. I think theoretically if it costs more to build a home that home will
[25:20] the cost will be passed on to the buyer. Pretty much and it would
[25:26] would cause the price to go up a little bit, it might be considered by buyers more valuable
[25:32] because it is hot and four feet versus two as well.
[25:36] So it might go up simply because of demand.
[25:40] It would be interesting as long as I'm here, if I might mention.
[25:45] If the GIS does, I wonder when that will show the new flood planes and it would be interesting
[25:50] if it would show where the fourth-foot elevation was too.
[25:53] That would make it very easy.
[25:54] And could you just state your name and address just as well?
[25:56] Oh, I'm sorry.
[25:57] Steve Maloy, 2615 Belair Drive, Sanford.
[26:01] Thank you, sir.
[26:01] Thank you.
[26:02] So GIS will change only after the effect, after we adopt the maps, and they're effective.
[26:08] But if you look on this website right now, you can toggle between effective and preliminary,
[26:13] and you can see what's existing and proposed.
[26:15] One thing that's very important for the City of Sanford that I should point out,
[26:19] is most development in the City of Sanford, new residential development,
[26:23] that is a major residential subdivision.
[26:26] The new subdivision regulations you just adopted not too long ago require all flood
[26:30] plain to be dedicated in common open space, and it could not be included on an individual
[26:36] private lot.
[26:37] So new homes within the city and major subdivisions will not be within a flood plain.
[26:42] That will be within the common open area where they walk their dog or they have their park.
[26:48] Are there any other questions or comments from Council?
[26:52] Okay, we have no one signed up from the public to speak of this public hearing.
[26:57] So without any other comments from you all, I will close the public hearing.
[27:02] Public hearing on this item is now closed.
[27:04] Our planning board will go to the West End Conference room to do their deliberations and
[27:09] again we thank you very much for your service on these public hearings.
[27:14] Good evening.
[27:14] Our
[27:24] second public hearing this evening is item 10b, which is to consider a development
[27:31] agreement between the city of Sanford and Matamie Homes and I believe that Mr.
[27:34] Fortune is here to lead us through this item. I will open the public hearing. Public
[27:38] hearing is now open. Welcome Mr. Fortune. Good evening Bayer, members of Council. In front
[27:43] of you this evening is proposed development agreement for million by Matamie Homes. This
[27:50] This particular project is outside an existing sewer basin for the city of Sanford,
[27:54] Tribal Water.
[27:55] They will need to connect into an existing sewer basin.
[27:59] So even though the current sewer basin that they are connecting into has capacity with
[28:06] the current development along with the million that sewer basin will reach capacity.
[28:11] So Tribal River has already done some preliminary work to determine that they're the existing
[28:16] 18-inch interceptor needs to be a 24-inch that will help support the growth of the existing
[28:23] base and the Vermilion project. So the agreement before you this evening lays out those
[28:28] details along with timelines that madamee homes will need to meet. So we promote the building
[28:35] of the homes in that subdivision. The agreement also states that madamee homes will pay their
[28:41] proportionate share of that upgrade that will support their neighborhood and I'll pause
[28:47] there for any questions which may have. Are there any questions from council on this item?
[28:55] We have no sign-ups from the public for this public hearing so there's anything else that needs
[29:04] to come before us on this please wait it if not I will close the public hearing public hearing on
[29:11] this item is now closed and you have before you the developers agreement and I would seek
[29:18] a motion regarding the consideration of the adoption of the developers agreement.
[29:22] Madam Mayor.
[29:23] Ms. Rhodes.
[29:24] I made that we approve the adoption of the development agreement with Madam E. Holmes.
[29:28] Thank you for that motion.
[29:29] Is there a second?
[29:29] Seconded by Mr. Petty.
[29:31] Any discussion?
[29:32] All in favor say aye.
[29:34] Aye.
[29:34] Any opposed?
[29:36] All right.
[29:36] That passes.
[29:37] Thank you very much, Mr. Fortune.
[29:38] Thank you for our partners at Maddening Homes and for our staff at Tribe River for working through a long process to get to this point.
[29:45] But we're happy that we are able to move forward on this project. So thank you all very much. And thank you for being here.
[29:52] We do have an additional close session. We need to return back to. So at this time, I will go around the room.
[30:00] To see if anybody has any additional business they'd like to bring before the body, before we go back into close session, and then at that time, there will be no other business. Mr. Petty.
[30:10] I don't have much, though. Thank you, Mr.
[30:14] Mr. Ferguson. Yes, Madam Mayor. Just want to say thank you for the city of Sanford and to all people that have been celebrating our black history month. We've had two good people that we've celebrated, you know, this month, and you know,
[30:27] We celebrate them every month and just want to say thank you guys for being part of a
[30:32] diverse city that loves everyone and doesn't look at color but looks at you know the creed
[30:36] and the character of the people that you serve here and as I look out in the audience
[30:40] I just want to say thank you all staff and everyone else for what you do, how you make us as
[30:45] an African-American black man, how you make us feel welcome and proud to be in this city.
[30:51] So I just want to say thank you, thank you to Mayor, thank you to Attorney, thank you to
[30:54] Hall over there and just thank you everyone and just have a great day.
[30:57] Thank you, Mr. President.
[30:59] Ms. Devs.
[30:59] No, Ms. Rhodes.
[31:01] Yes, ma'am.
[31:02] Two things.
[31:03] Want to acknowledge and send our sympathies to the family of Reverend Jesse Jackson, who
[31:10] passed away.
[31:12] And I'll say Mr. Ferguson, he would follow in line with being a great civil rights leader,
[31:17] just like we had here tonight with Bishop Malayet.
[31:21] So, we have our own local example, and I think it's important to recognize those folks.
[31:29] Another thing, just an observation, I was at a United Way board meeting this morning,
[31:34] and we were reviewing the different agencies in town that provide services to our residents.
[31:41] Food, shelter, clothing, still-toed boots, eyeglasses, the necessary things that we take from
[31:51] granted and we should be proud of all the folks that we have in our town, our
[31:57] organizations that take these challenges and do the best they can. So I just
[32:03] want to give those folks a shout out. They deserve it because they work hard
[32:07] and they make a difference in a lot of lives. Thanks. Thank you, Mr. Rose. Mr. Buckles.
[32:12] Don't remember that. Mr. Patterson. No, Mr. Hagway. I'll just be real quick.
[32:17] from 9 to everybody to come out if you all want to have a fun,
[32:20] filled adventure weekend at Kiwanis Park.
[32:23] We're having the big rig adventure,
[32:25] so bring all the little ones in your life
[32:28] to come, touch a truck at Kiwanis Park,
[32:30] that'll be Saturday.
[32:31] And then one of my favorite events all year,
[32:34] the International Culture Night is coming up.
[32:37] So that'll be February 26, which is a Thursday evening,
[32:40] but there's just so many opportunities
[32:42] as we move into spring and into summer to come together
[32:45] and to echo what Mr. Ferguson said, just come together
[32:48] and celebrate the full diversity and joy
[32:52] of being together in community.
[32:54] And these are the moments that make Sanford truly shine.
[32:56] So hope to see you all out at these events.
[33:00] And with that, Ms. Patterson,
[33:01] I would ask for our closed session statutes.
[33:03] Thank you, Mayor.
[33:04] We need a motion to go in a closed session
[33:05] in accordance with the North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11A3 and 4.
[33:12] to consult with the attorney employees by the public body to preserve the attorney client privilege
[33:16] and to discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the public body.
[33:23] Thank you for those statutes. You've heard them. I would seek a motion.
[33:26] Madam, ma'am.
[33:27] Mr. Buffalo.
[33:28] Motion to move.
[33:29] Thank you for that motion.
[33:30] Seconded by Mr. Petty. Any discussion?
[33:32] On favor say aye.
[33:33] Aye.
[33:34] Any opposed?
[33:35] All right. We are in close session.