[0:20] First, we do have to look at the agenda
because there is an adjustment to be
[0:24] made. Um, we are just going to be
rescheduling that public hearing on
[0:29] four. So, that'll be a rescheduling of
that public hearing on four. We're going
[0:35] to move it back to make sure that all
the proper notices are given out and we
[0:39] We have more time to look over to
ourselves just in case there is any tees
[0:43] to cross and eyes to dot. Okay. Are we
doing the first meeting or second? Well,
[0:50] we we will talk about that when we get
down to it. Okay. Rock and roll. Rock
[0:53] and roll. All right. So, with that uh
amendment to the agenda. Do I have a
[0:59] motion to approve the agenda we have
before us? So, move. Second. Second.
[1:03] Councilman. All those in favor? I. We
have ourselves a fantastic agenda.
[1:09] business items. Budget amendment number
eight. Good afternoon, council and
[1:14] mayor. Um before you is budget amendment
number eight, which is the final budget
[1:19] amendment for this current fiscal year.
Um it is coming to you right before the
[1:24] close, which is June 30th to give you
the most accurate numbers we can. Um
[1:28] final budget amendment comes with close
out. um getting those final numbers for
[1:32] each line item and then balancing it
pretty much to get your revenues and
[1:36] expenses out to zero for the fiscal
year. Um and that's what you'll see
[1:39] before you where you see increases and
decreases in order to balance the budget
[1:43] in each department. This is to give you
the most accurate number we could before
[1:47] June 30th. Obviously, we're still
conducting business between today and
[1:51] June 30th. There will be some final
numbers to give you in August. However,
[1:55] this is as close as we can get it to you
so you are up to date and can approve
[1:58] that final budget amendment.
And just to make folks aware of how that
[2:03] works as far as what we're looking at,
these are very basic transactional
[2:08] functions that we're looking at in this
budget amendment. Nothing of any
[2:11] surprise except for daily business that
needs to be closed up before the end of
[2:16] the year so that all of the accurate
reporting can be done to our beautiful
[2:21] state of North Carolina.
All right. Do I have a motion to approve
[2:27] budget amendment number eight? Some
moved. Second. Any discussion?
[2:33] All those in favor?
[2:38] Is that a Is that a nay? I was that I I.
So, we've got unanimously approving
[2:43] budget number eight as we close out our
fiscal year. And then next, we got to
[2:50] talk a little bit about wave funding.
Good afternoon, council. Um, we've been
[2:57] talking about way finding for what about
three years now? Um, sir, we've been
[3:02] talking longer, but actually been been
moving forward. I think the original
[3:06] signs went up two years ago. So, um, I'm
calling this
[3:11] uh update two slash3, I guess you say.
Um
[3:17] did a good job finding how how much we
could spend um of our reserve funds. Um
[3:23] and we've took that budget and looked at
priorities. Um and we can get about one
[3:28] and a half of the entire project in um
this year. So what we're looking at is a
[3:35] uh to relocate the norolic sign to the
100 block of North Pollock. That sign
[3:41] continue to get hit over and over and
over and over.
[3:44] It was just a bad positioning to start
with. Um, and that'll also be refaced.
[3:49] One thing I learned through this process
is we can't advertise a
[3:56] a business. We can't say the root. We
can say entertainment. And how that got
[4:00] through DOT approval, I'm not sure. We
can't say from the ashes, but we can say
[4:05] dining. We can't even say. That's right.
We won't even say that would be meeting
[4:10] gathering type things. So, we'll be
refacing some of those. Um, We're
[4:13] looking at a new small um gateway sign
at the corner of Rford and Wel, what I
[4:19] call what most calls auto parks or red
and white um parking lot. Um
[4:26] that'll be the exact same sign we have.
It's just on a a slower street, they
[4:30] shrink a little bit. So, um that'll be
really good. We're looking at a new
[4:34] gateway sign.
I am so sorry. They should say way
[4:39] finding, not gateway.
road in South P and the new small
[4:44] gateway sign at Rford. I'm sorry that
was my fault. Okay. Um you can proofread
[4:49] three times and you'll still mess it up.
Yeah, that's those are those those are
[4:51] wayinding signs. Okay. So, new
wayfinding sign at Rick and South
[4:55] Pollock. Three new way finding signs at
70 and 78. And basically that is the
[5:01] Eastfield entrance. When you're there or
you're leaving, how can we get to your
[5:05] downtown?
um reface some signs that were in uh
[5:11] advertising exact locations uh and
businesses at 70 and Ricks in that area.
[5:16] There's three signs right there. Um a
gateway sign, which I did write that one
[5:20] right at exit 98. When you get off, you
when you come to the bottom of that exit
[5:25] ramp, you'll be looking at our gateway
sign, our beautiful gateway sign, and uh
[5:30] then a gateway sign at South Pollock
entering town. And then the vinyl that
[5:35] is down print shop right here at
Anderson redoing that that
[5:40] um dog can you get the next one.
This is a uh some cool dude made this
[5:47] that wasn't me made this map and we
zoomed it in a little bit but and I know
[5:52] it's kind of hard to see but your orange
circles are what we said were first
[5:56] priority and we're going to be able to
get through first all of first and a
[6:00] little bit of second priority. So we
probably got about
[6:06] two more years to finish this project. I
say we, you know, we got to build
[6:09] reserves back up. Um,
so that's where we're at. Bear in mind,
[6:16] I think mentioning finishing the
project, particularly when it comes to
[6:19] areas like Buffalo Road. Um, there's
significant work that will be done to
[6:23] Buffalo Road before we can upgrade
signage. And I think those really most
[6:30] probably the most important ones
first.
[6:35] I think staff and with is it ACSM ACSM
and and DOT they they kind of looked at
[6:41] the areas that would be most
advantageous based on
[6:46] what what what you're you're looking at
now is the entire plan and obviously we
[6:52] start we what can we do for you know
this this amount of money um we're
[6:57] looking now at the entire plan we'll
know when we got a dollar where we send
[7:01] a
[7:05] Do we have any questions about
[7:09] rock and roll? Thank you. I do want to
add just for transparency um not fear
[7:14] that we are depleting our general fund
reserves for this project. We are not
[7:18] when we say reserve balance we're
talking about tourism dollars that have
[7:21] been saved years and years that we are
finally able to use just
[7:26] very cool tourism.
Anybody ask you what the Johnson County
[7:31] Wizard does? Tell them about those
tourism dollars.
[7:36] All right.
Public hearings and appeals. We are
[7:40] going to reschedule that hearing related
to what chapter is that 12. Mayor, I
[7:45] apologize. Do we need a motion to
approve that way finding project? It
[7:48] would probably be better for the record.
No, because I don't want us locked into
[7:52] it until we get going. We need to
actually look at some signage. Make sure
[7:56] we have some eyes on some more details.
This is the first step. Maybe uh next
[8:00] month through August we have some deeper
conversation. I don't think necessary.
[8:05] Um chapter 12, we need to reschedu that
public hearing again to cross the tees
[8:11] and dot the eyes for what day is that in
August? That will be August 12th, 2025
[8:17] at 6 p.m. in the summer building. August
12th, 2025 at 6 pm in this journ
[8:24] building. Uh that will be council
meeting two for the southern town
[8:28] council. So we're just going to go that
right everybody good there. All right.
[8:34] And once a year over the last three
years I have uh given a state of the
[8:40] town address to just kind of give
everybody an overview of where we've
[8:44] come from and and where we are. Um and
and this year doing a little different
[8:49] doing it as part of a a public meeting.
make sure we have it on the record that
[8:53] this is happening. And then what we'll
do is we'll actually make a video with
[8:57] this state of the town address as well.
It'll have, you know, your images of the
[9:03] town, some some viewing of things that
are actually happening in real time here
[9:07] and have this narrative with it as well.
So after a civil war,
[9:16] the state of the town address 2025.
[9:23] The town of Selma has changed. We are
realizing the vision laid out by the
[9:29] Selma Town Council in early 2023.
As we move into uncharted territory in
[9:36] Johnston County, our community is
getting better every year, and we are
[9:42] not looking back.
The standards for our community have
[9:46] gone up. Raising the bar requires effort
from every stakeholder, town staff,
[9:51] residents, and business owners alike to
maintain a vibrant and thriving
[9:56] community.
and improved culture and high
[10:00] expectations have taken our sum
operations to a higher level.
[10:04] With success
comes increased and welcomed attention
[10:13] to someone North Carolina.
As we become a center of commerce and
[10:18] industry,
our focus now is on maintaining a rural
[10:22] life and urban amenity balance rarely
achieved in growing communities.
[10:29] I am honored to report this to you. The
town of Selma is flourishing.
[10:37] Selma is ready and able to face the
challenges of growth while not only
[10:41] meeting but exceeding the needs of our
taxpayers.
[10:47] We have built a culture of excellence.
Our vision, the town of S pursues a
[10:55] first class quality of life.
an innovative, proactive, and inviting
[11:00] community that is building on our
tradition as a transportation crossroads
[11:05] and railroad town.
Approaching our vision would not be
[11:09] possible without the support of our
United States Congressional
[11:12] Representatives, our North Carolina
General Assembly representatives, and
[11:17] our Johnston County Commissioners.
Former Congressman Wally Nickel gave our
[11:22] s police department significant support
through federal funing to vastly
[11:27] improved our safety operations.
Our county has proved
[11:32] provided significant infrastructure and
technical support as we work to grow
[11:38] into a central commercial and industrial
hub of our region.
[11:43] The North Carolina State General
Assembly, Senator Venton S,
[11:47] Representative Larry Strickland really
moved the needle for the town of S by
[11:54] providing community changing investment
from the state of North Carolina.
[12:02] As we work with our community partners
and neighbors, we will continue to make
[12:06] the best of those investments to
maintain a community that all who visit
[12:11] and all who stay can enjoy.
The financial report from our federal
[12:18] and state stakeholders reminds us of our
obligation to make financial
[12:22] responsibility a top priority
in the town's home.
[12:28] Over the last four and a half fiscal
years, we have made significant strides
[12:33] to improve our town's financial health.
Our town regularly spent more money than
[12:38] it took in from FY16
to FY19.
[12:43] Between FY19 and FY24,
the town of Selma's general fund balance
[12:48] has increased by $2.8 million.
Our fund balance continues to increase
[12:57] every year since 2019.
An even more important financial
[13:01] indicator is our town of Selma net
position.
[13:07] The net position of a government is a
statement of assets and liabilities that
[13:11] shows the financial health of a
community at a specific point in time
[13:15] over a period of time.
From FY15 to FY19,
[13:21] our net position in dollars decreased
steadily from 19.2 million to 13
[13:28] million.
From FY19 to FY24, our net position
[13:35] increased from 13 million to
approximately 36
[13:41] million.
That is a $23 million increase in net
[13:47] position over five fiscal years.
This result shows the town of Selma
[13:55] Finance operations continued commitment
to financial stewardship.
[14:01] Our financial well-being is crit
critical to meet the challenges and
[14:05] opportunities that will continue to
arrive in our community.
[14:10] We are all clearly witnessing the
regeneration and expansion of Selma,
[14:17] North Carolina.
Town services must develop and improve
[14:22] constantly to keep up with an
everchanging environment.
[14:26] The new reality at exit 97, exit 98 on
I95, and exit 333, and exit 334 on I42
[14:38] includes a revitalized historic downtown
offering authentic and new businesses,
[14:44] burgeoning shopping locations along
US301,
[14:48] an ever improving US70 outlet center
drive corridor,
[14:54] restored and new homes throughout our
neighborhoods and a firstofits-kind
[14:59] shopping in Johnston County called
Eastville.
[15:05] To support the awesome steadily coming
to this community, we still have a
[15:09] significant amount of infrastructure
work to do. The expansion of our water
[15:14] system is underway. The repair of our
sewer system is happening as I speak.
[15:20] We are taking steps to manage one of our
toughest challenges, town road repair.
[15:25] almost daily.
We continue significant road work this
[15:29] year with our water, sewer, and storm
water pipe improvement.
[15:34] We must continue to upgrade our aging
road system going forward beyond what
[15:39] power bill funding provides the town of
Selma.
[15:44] Overcoming smaller operational
challenges like timely paper utility
[15:48] billing are just as important to our
well-being.
[15:54] To support the awesome steadily coming
to this community. Our operations must
[15:59] be amazing.
Our government must be agile and
[16:03] responsive to navigate this new
environment.
[16:07] Our public services, including water,
sewer, public works, and electric are
[16:11] becoming more reliable and more
efficient every day.
[16:16] We have a sanitation operation that
makes it so you can almost now set your
[16:22] watch to your trash pickup.
We still have the greatest fire
[16:27] department in Johnston County.
And I am willing to put our folks up
[16:31] against any fire department.
Parks and Recreation is planning and
[16:37] executing bigger, better, and more
events each year while giving our folks,
[16:42] young, old, and in between opportunities
to active all year.
[16:48] Code enforcement is really happening in
the town of Zel.
[16:52] I know it is happening because I hear
quite a bit from those who have been
[16:55] fined for code enforcement violations.
You can see cleaner streets
[17:02] and cleaner properties because of the
combined efforts of our town
[17:07] departments.
As we improve our facilities and
[17:11] procedures for all of these operations,
we will continue to more polish
[17:16] performance from our town staff.
[17:21] I must highlight our summer police
department in the talk about our
[17:25] impressive staff.
To feel safe in one's own town, own
[17:31] neighborhood, own home is paramount.
It is a luxury that not every community
[17:38] is afforded
and it is one that we can never again
[17:42] take for granted. Our
investment in improved police equipment
[17:47] and take a take-home car program for our
officers is paying off. While our police
[17:53] call volume has gone up, our overall
sense of peace and safety throughout
[17:58] this community has increased as well.
Of course, our financial investment is a
[18:03] small piece of the success pie when
compared to the effort our Selma Police
[18:08] Department has put into increased patrol
and enforcement.
[18:13] Beyond that, we have a police department
that cares.
[18:18] Passing out ice pops to kids around
Selma on a hot day. Venturing into
[18:23] Smithville to unlock a car with the keys
locked inside for a Selma resident.
[18:31] Following up on criminals that have
negatively affected our citizens to give
[18:35] some peace of mind are not things that
the average police department does.
[18:43] One of our police officers took it upon
himself to push a wheelchairbound
[18:47] resident carrying groceries for several
blocks from the store to their home in
[18:54] this year's summer heat.
That is top-notch care in the community.
[19:02] We are serious in Selma, North Carolina.
Safety comes first and we will invest in
[19:09] our safety.
With our endeavors in safety,
[19:13] infrastructure, and culture, we have
gone beyond the improving stage.
[19:18] We are now excelling in the town of Zel.
Our community is on a mission.
[19:26] Our mission, the town of Zelma, strives
to provide an outstanding small town
[19:32] experience coupled with the amenities of
an economic hub for industry,
[19:36] technology, and commerce by delivering
exceptional services to our citizens and
[19:43] community stakeholders.
Achieving that mission is creating an
[19:48] atmosphere that will drive the economic
engine of Selma, North Carolina to
[19:51] unite.
The energy and excitement at the
[19:54] crossroads of tradition and innovation
right now is undeniable.
[20:00] We must stay on this hard road of
success. We are realizing our unlimited
[20:06] potential.
The town of Selma is flourishing.
[20:11] Let's keep going.
Thank you all. Thank you council for
[20:16] your support. Thank you staff for the
hard work. Thank you citizens for all
[20:21] that you do to maintain a beautiful
community. God bless Selma, North
[20:26] Carolina, Johnston County, the state of
North Carolina, and the United States of
[20:31] America. Thank you.
[20:36] With that,
do I have a motion to adjurnn? So move.
[20:41] Second. All those in favor?