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Good evening. I will call the meeting to
order at this time. If you will please

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rise for the invocation and remain
standing for the pledge of allegiance.

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This time I'll call upon Dr. Cohen if he
will please lead us in the invocation

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this evening.
>> I take it. I'm doing it.

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» Let us bow our heads.
Heavenly Father, we come before you this

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evening with grateful hearts for the
privilege of serving our community.

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We thank you for the blessings
you have poured upon Smithfield,

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its peoples,
its history, and its future. Lord, grant

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us wisdom. Wisdom
that is study and clear so that every

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decision we make tonight reflects
fairness, compassion, and integrity.

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Help us to listen to each other. Help us
to hear

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your will.
Let us speak with kindness

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and let us work together in unity for
the good of all who come to this town

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who makes this town our homes.
This I pray in Jesus's name.

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Let the church say amen.
>> Amen. [clears throat]

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» I pledge allegiance
>> to the flag of the United States of

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America and to the republic for which it
stands, one nation under God,

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indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.

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[clears throat]

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» [snorts]

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» All right. Uh, we have the agenda. We do
have a couple of known additions to the

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agenda. One is to remove consent agenda
item number two. Um this is at the

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request of the applicant.
And then to add to consent agenda item

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number eight, which is consideration and
request for approval of a temporary use

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permit to allow the closure of South
Third Street and a portion of East

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Johnston Street on Saturday, September
5th, 2026 from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We

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Does everybody have this information?
>> They should. Yeah.

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» Okay. Yep.
>> All right. All right. Any other

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additions or corrections to the agenda?
>> If not, I'll entertain a motion. I just

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» I would like to ask uh for an amendment
to the agenda.

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» Okay.
>> I would like to ask that consent items

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number
three and four be moved down to

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business. So that would be business two
and three.

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And uh also, mayor, can you have the
clerk

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tell us
the statues for the close session?

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Is that personnel in a contract?
>> Yes.

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» Okay.
[cough and laughter]

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Okay. Any other
thoughts, comments, conditions? Not I'll

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entertain a motion to approve the agenda
as amended.

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» So move.
>> Motion. Do I have a second?

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» Second.
>> Motion a second. All in favor?

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Any opposed? Motion carries. All right.
Now move on to our presentations. Our

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first presentation this evening is a
proclamation acknowledging September the

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17th through the 23rd, 2026 as
Constitution Week in the town of

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Smithfield. So Dedra, I'll ask you to
come forward.

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behind.

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How are you?
>> Everything doing well. If you will just

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uh please bear with me as I read this
proclamation. It is my honor uh to do

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this once again this year um and to be
able to read this proclamation for

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Constitution Week, which is going to be
September the 17th through the 23rd uh

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of this year in the town of Smithfield.
Whereas September the 17th, 2026

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marks the 239th anniversary of drafting
the Constitution of the United States of

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America by the Constitutional
Convention. And whereas it is fitting

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and proper to accord official
recognition to this magnificent document

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and to and and its memorable anniversary
and to the patriotic celebrations which

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will commemorate the occasion. And
whereas public wall 915 guarantees the

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issuing of a proclamation each year by
the president of the United States of

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America designating September the 17th
through the 23rd as Constitution Week.

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Now therefore, I, Andy Moore, mayor of
the town of Smithfield, do hereby

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proclaim September the 17th through the
23rd, 2026

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to be Constitution Week in the town of
Smithfield. And I ask our citizens to

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reaffirm the ideals the framers of the
Constitution in 1787 by vigilantly

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protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us
through this guardian of our liberties,

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remembering that lost rights may never
be regained.

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» Thank you so much. I will present this
to you. All right.

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» Couple of posters and could you mic?
Absolutely. I just wanted to say that

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you are all invited on September 17th at
3:45 in the afternoon to the Market

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Street steps of the courthouse where we
will have a brief ceremony marking the

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time and at 4:00 we will ring bells and
make noise which is what um the framers

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of the constitution requested should be
done every year to not only mark the

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occasion but to make the general public
aware of this as Andy said this

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magnificent document that we still claim
that guarantees our freedoms. So, if

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you're available, please come. September
17th, 3:45.

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» Thank you very much.
>> Thank you so much.

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» Thank you for the proclamation.
>> Absolutely. Good to see you again.

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» All right. Good to see you.
>> I'll see you in the October.

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» Okay. Thank you.

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All right, we will now move to our next
presentation which was is the electric

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rate study. Ted
>> Council, good evening. Tonight staff has

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asked Mr. Mike Johnson of Utility
Financial Solutions, otherwise known as

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UFS, to present his preliminary analysis
of the electric rate cost of service

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study that UFS performed for the town.
As you may be aware, having a cost of

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service study performed every five years
is a financial best practice, and it's

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been about five years since we had our
last one. Also, as many many of you may

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know, UFS is a trusted firm with a long,
successful track record in Smithfield.

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They have helped guide our utility rates
to maintain a healthy and strong

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financial position in both the electric
fund and the water fund. So, uh, I'll

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stop talking and let Mike uh, go ahead.
Uh, Mr. Mike Johnson, if you're ready.

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» I'm ready. Thank you, Ted. And thank you
everyone for allowing me to come here

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today to present the results. Um, I'm
Lee Johnson, the project manager, as Ted

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just mentioned. Can you all Can you hear
me, Ted? Everybody can hear me there.

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» We can hear you, but there's a lot of
echo in it.

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That may not be your issue. That may be
our issue. So,

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» let me just try that. Is that any
better?

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» Is that any better or not?

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Not much better.
>> That's a little better.

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» Okay, I I'll go ahead and then if we we
run into problems, we'll figure out a

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way to deal with them.

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So, the purpose of today is to review
the electric cost of service study

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results and the financial projection
results. Um there's two questions that

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are driving today. Uh that's is the
utility financially sustainable and are

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the correct customers paying their fair
share.

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» I'm going to turn my camera off and then
just go through a brief presentation.

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» I cannot hear him either.
>> Can you ask them to turn monitor

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speakers?
>> Okay.

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» And not the other one.
Um,

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» that I don't know.
>> Mute one of them. I got you.

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» Now that works.
>> Let's see if that works. Mike.

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» Okay. Any better testing? One, two,
three. Is that better?

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» It's a little
>> Maybe if you just increase the volume so

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I can
>> now turn that one up so they can

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» Are they the same?
>> That's the That one muted.

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» He's on the computer.

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Move your mouse.

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» Yeah.

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» All right, Mike. Try that again.
>> Okay. Testing one, two, three. Is this

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any better? That's
>> better.

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» That's much better.
Oh, I can't hear you now, Ted. You must

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have switched that one off.
>> Okay, great. Um, the road map for what

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we're doing today, um, the first half of
this this presentation is going to be on

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the financial projection. I'm going to
look at the debt coverage ratio, uh, the

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minimum cash reserves, target operating
income, and then the resulting rate

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adjustment plan. So, basically, we're
going to identify how much revenue is

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needed. The second half of the cost of
service study is the cost of service

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study results
uh which is going to identify who should

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pay for the revenue that's needed.

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So with any
>> [clears throat]

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» um with any projection there there's a
need to have assumptions um and these

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are the assumptions that are going into
the into the into our model for the uh

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for the electric utility. So inflation I
have steady at 3% throughout the period

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from 2027 through 2031
I have very little growth um you know 1%

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maybe half a percent towards the end
the purchase power uh at 20 through 31 I

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have somewhere between 3 and 4% and
that's being provided to me by

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electricities
the 3.7% reduction in 27 7. Um it's a

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bit of an anomaly. Um the only reason
it's going down is because you have

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what's called a rider one in your tariff
and and the 22 and the 23 rider one

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portions will be going away. So you your
demand and energy costs are actually

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going up, but those rider costs are
coming down. So you're going to see a

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3.7% reduction in purchase power, but
it's just from those riders. It's not

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the fact that energy prices are going
down.

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Um, investment income I've got at 2.5%
for 2027 and then I've got it going down

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to more normal levels that we're used
to, but uh, it's it's conservative. You

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know, it could be anywhere three to
three three down to 0.5%.

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Capital funded projects. I got a couple
of big projects that are going on. Um,

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we got a unit the this is substation on
the access point one. that's getting

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refurbished. Um, and the total for that
is 7 million over two years. And then

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there's another couple of projects that
make up the rest of it. Uh, in 29

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through 31, we've got some uh
reconductoring of of some lines about a

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million dollars through that period.
Does anybody have any questions or

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anything any looks off on the
assumptions?

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Okay.

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This is the uh the summary results. This
is basically the the the baseline. This

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is what happens if you did nothing. If
you didn't change anything,

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um this is what your finances would look
like at a high level.

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We look at three different um three
different

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um metrics or
targets that that we want to achieve and

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we try and balance those out when we go
a rate design. Those three are um let's

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see if I can get a P here.
Those three are the debt coverage ratio

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which you're in really good shape. uh
you don't have much debt and it falls

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off in fiscal year 2027.
The next one is the recommended minimum

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cash and this is the big one. We want
this one always to be good uh because

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cash is king.
And then there's the adjusted operating

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income
which we want to be this is an upper

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boundary this this this uh target. Um,
and you can see from here these red bits

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are where we're falling below. So, we
need to do something to try and move

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them. The uh the debt coverage ratio,
like I said, is

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is is good. Um, even if you were to take
out a small loan in 2028, it it would

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still still be good with the amount of
income you're going to be generating

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uh later. The the recommended minimum
cash though is is an issue. Um we we

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only come up with a recommended minimum
and and that's based on um we're

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accounting for risks in in this in in in
running the utility and we want to make

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sure that you have enough working
capital to cover 45 days of O and M

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expenses less depreciation. We want to
make sure you have enough funds to start

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uh start funding where a catastrophe to
occur, maybe a storm come through,

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something like that. We want to be able
to pay your highest debt service payment

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and pay your capital that's going to be
starting in that year.

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The adjusted operating income that I've
got there, that's that's the the optimal

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is made up of of two things.

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It's made up of um interest expenses on
debt which as I said you know you don't

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have any and it's also a rate of return
which is kind of strange for nonprofit

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um municipal utilities that we have to
make a rate of return but we do have to

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make a rate of return in order to
recover the inflationary costs on the

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assets. So for you guys, we're
calculating the optimal operating income

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that we don't want to exceed is
somewhere between a million and 1.2

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million. That's not a target. It's just
a it's just, you know, we we don't

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really want it. It's an upper boundary.
So we've got our lower boundary is our

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cash and our upper boundary is is our
optimal operating income. So somehow we

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want to get the rates to go just between
those two.

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So

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this is the [clears throat] I have to
cut off.

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Okay, this is the rate track that we've
come up with. Um there's here there's

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32%
in the first three years and then two

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3%s.
debt coverage ratio is the same, but

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here we've got rid of the red ones that
were down here and they're all positive

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now. So, this is this is good. And then
our cash is still good as well. We've

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we've got it above the minimum. Bear in
mind, this is a minimum. So, we want to

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we want to exceed it. And we want to
make sure that we're prudently

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collecting money for future construction
costs.

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00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:54,960
So, with this rate track, we we
basically check all the boxes. There

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might be a timing concern when I looked
at this this morning on the the the two

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$4 million payments in um 27 and 28, but
I I calculated out and the rate track

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would would remain the same if you took
out a $2.5 million bond issuance in

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2028.
That's assuming that the the 4 millions

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both hit in 2027 and 28. You would be
short on cash and you may need to bond

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something, but that would the rate track
would stay the same, but the the the

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00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:32,559
cash would be higher at the end is
basically what would happen. You'd have

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00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:36,120
an extra couple of million dollars of
cash at the end.

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00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:45,120
Now, this is the results of the cost of
service. So this this here is the actual

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00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:52,720
cost of service. This is what it costs
to serve those customers

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00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:58,000
and here is the projected revenues for
your customers and then this is

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basically the overall change. So in
order to get to cost of service you need

212
00:18:59,679 --> 00:19:08,000
to raise your rates 3.7%.
However, residentials

213
00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:12,880
they have a cost of service of 5.4 4
million, but you're only collecting 4.9

214
00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:16,480
from them. So, they would need in order
to get to cost of service, I'm not

215
00:19:14,559 --> 00:19:22,400
recommending this, they would need a
9.6% rate increase.

216
00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:27,440
Um, for general service, they need a
4.8%.

217
00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:33,760
Municipal general service at 29% area
lighting and they would need a decrease.

218
00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:37,760
Um, the municipal light municipal
lighting you don't actually charge for.

219
00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:45,919
It's a it's a benefit of being an APA
utility. That's about a $230,000

220
00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:50,799
value to the town. Um residential time
of use that would need to see an

221
00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:55,919
increase um 29%
below cost of service, above cost of

222
00:19:53,360 --> 00:20:02,480
service.
Um general service is is sort of close

223
00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:08,559
to cost of service 2.8 8 to 3.7
commercial turning uses

224
00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:13,840
is uh slightly over. They're overpaying
at the moment and the same for the CP2

225
00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:21,520
customer. Uh they're overpaying a little
bit and the CP3 customer is underpaying.

226
00:20:18,799 --> 00:20:25,600
So we need to move these customers
toward cost of service. We don't want to

227
00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:30,759
jump to it because it's really just a
snapshot in time we're looking at. Um so

228
00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:36,400
we we like to do gradual moves
[clears throat] toward cost of service

229
00:20:32,159 --> 00:20:42,520
maybe at 1 or 2% uh bandwidth from
whatever whatever rate track we agree

230
00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,520
on.

231
00:20:42,559 --> 00:20:50,880
This is um the monthly customer charge.
Um there's a lot of emphasis on this in

232
00:20:49,754 --> 00:20:56,480
[clears throat and snorts]
in in the market today for for all

233
00:20:53,919 --> 00:21:02,720
electric utilities. Um, with the advent
of solar and um, renewables, uh, we want

234
00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:07,200
to make sure people are paying for the
the fixed charges that don't change on a

235
00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:12,640
monthly basis.
The the cost of service you see here for

236
00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:17,440
residential is 19.54.
That's what it actually costs to provide

237
00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:24,159
energy to that customer on a monthly
basis before any kilowatt hours are

238
00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:29,120
provided to them. That's basically for
the service drop, the meter meter

239
00:21:26,559 --> 00:21:34,960
reading, billing and collection, uh
customer service and and a small portion

240
00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:39,360
of the distribution system. Um you need
a wire basically to get from the

241
00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:42,880
substation to the service drop. And we
look at the smallest size wire that

242
00:21:41,039 --> 00:21:48,799
could carry
uh a kilowatt out there. And we do

243
00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:53,039
what's called a minimum system analysis.
And that cost goes into the customer

244
00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:57,919
charge for the minimum part of it and
then anything over that becomes part of

245
00:21:55,039 --> 00:22:04,159
the demand cost.
So these are these are these are charges

246
00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:08,640
that occur regardless of whether you use
any energy. So you're currently charging

247
00:22:06,799 --> 00:22:14,240
$13
and it actually cost $1954 to provide

248
00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:19,039
that service. So we're collecting the
rest of that money from the energy or

249
00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:23,440
the demand charge. And if we're getting
it from the energy charge, it means that

250
00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:29,520
people are overpaying for their energy.
So people like solar solar providers,

251
00:22:27,039 --> 00:22:33,200
they're they're actually benefiting from
not paying the full amount that they

252
00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:38,240
should be paying here for the for the
customer charge

253
00:22:35,679 --> 00:22:43,919
because they should be paying 1954, but
they're only paying the $13.

254
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:48,559
Over [clears throat]
on the right hand side is a breakdown of

255
00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:54,159
what that 1954
cost is.

256
00:22:51,760 --> 00:23:01,440
It's made up of some distribution costs,
transformer costs, substation costs, and

257
00:22:57,919 --> 00:23:07,919
that's probably about $10.50.
Then we got meter O&M $4. So meter

258
00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:12,640
reading a buck 90 billion a dollar
services $132. that's service drops and

259
00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:18,159
things like that and then the customer
service of 70 cents.

260
00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:27,440
So we really want to move fairly quickly
to get to the 1954. Um so

261
00:23:23,919 --> 00:23:32,851
we've uh we looking at when we look at
the next steps

262
00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:39,520
um before I identified a a
[clears throat] revenue change of 2%.

263
00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:45,679
Um and so as to move toward that as I
mentioned before we we typically look

264
00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:49,440
for a bandwidth um in your case when
when I when I looked at it I thought a

265
00:23:47,039 --> 00:23:54,240
2% bandwidth would be good which means
the maximum increase for anybody would

266
00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:59,440
be the 2% that the rates are going to
change plus 2% so that would be 4%. And

267
00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:05,120
the minimum
increase is going to be the 2% rate

268
00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:12,000
change uh less than 2%. So there would
be zero. So then so some people would

269
00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:15,600
see zero and some people might see 4%.
The other thing is the customer charges.

270
00:24:13,679 --> 00:24:20,480
We'd like to move those towards cost of
service. And I put together a rate

271
00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:26,240
design and and there's there's there's
more detail in everything that I've gone

272
00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:30,400
through tonight in in your package. Um,
but there is a full-blown rate design.

273
00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:35,600
I'm if [laughter] if if we need to
change that, that's fine. I' I've put it

274
00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:42,720
in there just as a reference point. This
is the the sample residential rate, and

275
00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:47,679
this is in your in in your packet. Um,
and what what we're proposing is the

276
00:24:44,799 --> 00:24:54,720
singlephase customer going from the 13
to $16. So, that's a $3 increase. And

277
00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:59,760
then after that, a couple of 150s to get
us close to that 90 that $19 that we

278
00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:03,440
wanted to be at.
And then we've offset it with a change

279
00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:07,440
in the energy to get our revenue
requirement, which here we're saying we

280
00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:13,120
wanted 2.5%.
And that 2.5% is when when when we

281
00:25:10,559 --> 00:25:17,840
looked back at the cost of service, they
needed to have a higher increase than um

282
00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:22,320
than other people cuz they were they
were remember they were about 9% from

283
00:25:19,919 --> 00:25:25,440
cost of service. and overall it was
3.5%.

284
00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:32,062
So they're going to need slightly higher
than 2% and we figure that they need a

285
00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:36,159
2.5% rate change in order to in order
[clears throat] to start moving toward

286
00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:39,760
cost of service. Um and that's offset
with other people getting a decrease.

287
00:25:37,919 --> 00:25:45,360
And you can see all of those in in the
packet. So the effect of that on an

288
00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:51,520
annual basis, this this chart shows you
that the people at 450 kilowatt hours,

289
00:25:49,039 --> 00:25:57,600
they're probably going to see a 5% rate
change in the first year and then 3.3

290
00:25:54,400 --> 00:26:03,600
3.5 in the second year. And then once
you get to 1050, which is basically your

291
00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:08,000
average usage, people start seeing less
of an increase. It starts going the

292
00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:12,640
other way once you get past that. And
that's because we're we're going to

293
00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:17,200
we're putting more less emphasis on the
energy.

294
00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:22,320
The right hand side here shows the
effect of it. And basically it's the

295
00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:26,880
customer charge. It's $3 in the first
year

296
00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:29,760
and $3 here there. And then the second
year uh it's [clears throat] not so much

297
00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:33,840
the customer charge cuz the customer
charge has only gone up to 150. So it's

298
00:26:32,159 --> 00:26:39,600
the it's the change in energy that's
going to drive the second year. But you

299
00:26:35,679 --> 00:26:43,159
can see the average is $3 and then 305
and then 313

300
00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:48,679
and that's it

301
00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:55,440
for the presentation. So I don't know if
there's any questions there. Ted, you

302
00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:59,000
may have to use sign language. I'll put
the mic back on.

303
00:27:00,159 --> 00:27:06,159
» Any I know it's very difficult. Any any
questions?

304
00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:10,559
» Not we may have to.
>> Mayor, I do have one question. Um maybe

305
00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:15,760
I really struggle here and I've looked
at the material. Can you ask him uh

306
00:27:13,279 --> 00:27:21,520
based on his rate model the change for
the time of use for residential versus u

307
00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:25,120
the standard? It almost seems like it's
cost prohibitive. At what point do we

308
00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:30,080
eliminate
um because based off this it was like a

309
00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:36,080
30% change and would that even be worth
it to the customer? I guess it depends

310
00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:38,000
on how much they use off peak, but um I
don't understand why.

311
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,960
» Mike, did you happen to hear that
question?

312
00:27:39,120 --> 00:27:46,960
» I I did hear the question. I looked at
it this morning and I

313
00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:50,919
um I didn't see
I can get to the design.

314
00:27:53,360 --> 00:28:06,080
So, it's basically the [clears throat]
it's the what's what's driving it is the

315
00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:13,600
cost of service for that customer is $34
and they'll be paying $19. That's that's

316
00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:18,799
really the big driver. Um because
then then they're further away from that

317
00:28:15,919 --> 00:28:23,840
charge. But there is also the demand. We
we we we're getting the energy pretty

318
00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:28,320
close to where we should. um you know
the the demand should be higher and then

319
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:33,840
the energy should be lower. This is this
is an oil energy price which is what

320
00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:40,720
Duke's energy price is to you guys. Uh
it's not it's not on an off peak but

321
00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:46,080
they still we're we're overcharging here
especially here and then we're we're

322
00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:51,760
undercharging here.
So we need to really

323
00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:56,480
in increase here and then decrease here,
but it is still the 29 the 29%

324
00:28:54,880 --> 00:29:02,720
differential.
Um but it still it would still work for

325
00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:08,880
them as a rate. Um it's just we need to
get it balanced out for them.

326
00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:12,760
They would still save money on rate if
they used it efficiently.

327
00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:22,080
Did you hear that, Councilman Scott?
[laughter]

328
00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:26,240
» Mayor, I did not.
>> I did. I found um Yeah,

329
00:29:25,039 --> 00:29:31,360
» it [clears throat] I'm sorry, Mr. John.
It's it's it's very difficult to

330
00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:36,480
» Yeah, they're not hearing uh your
explanation. I think the heart of the

331
00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:41,279
question, if I can rephrase it, and
Travis, please correct me if I'm wrong.

332
00:29:38,399 --> 00:29:46,960
Um the residential toou looked like
there's a big

333
00:29:43,679 --> 00:29:51,600
uh overcharge based on the and that was
just kind of a question slash concern.

334
00:29:49,919 --> 00:29:56,399
Is that right Travis?
>> Yeah.

335
00:29:53,600 --> 00:30:02,240
Um I believe and Mike please correct me
if I'm wrong. Um it was a general that

336
00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:05,919
certain charges are over certain classes
have been overcharged and certain are

337
00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:10,640
under but I didn't quite get the
conclusion on that. mic.

338
00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:14,720
» Um, yeah, it's I don't know you can hear
me, but the the maybe if you switch your

339
00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:20,720
mic off, you can hear me a little bit
better, Ted. That seemed to be the issue

340
00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:27,679
before. Um, but it it's it's driven by
us under we're charging not enough for

341
00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:31,760
the actual demand. Um,
we're overcharging on the energy. Um,

342
00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:37,679
the the big one is the customer charge.
We should be charging the $34.

343
00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:45,120
um around China in 1946. These meters
are they're more complex to to read and

344
00:30:41,039 --> 00:30:50,000
to to the billing is more complex. So
it's it's a higher cost to have the

345
00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:55,840
meter for these customers. But even even
at cost of service, they would they

346
00:30:51,840 --> 00:31:03,720
would be cheaper um on on this than on
the residential rate.

347
00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:03,720
Was that better for sound?

348
00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:12,720
I think I understood your
>> I'm gonna see if Brian can come.

349
00:31:09,679 --> 00:31:18,880
» I heard Did you understand that answer?
>> Pattern actually we put them currently

350
00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:25,120
residentials are 12.3 cents is sort of
the cost of service and for

351
00:31:23,039 --> 00:31:29,679
the residential based on their load it's
12.62.

352
00:31:26,799 --> 00:31:34,240
So this the cost of service is slightly
more for them based on how they're using

353
00:31:31,679 --> 00:31:38,679
the system. Um
>> yeah, sorry.

354
00:31:42,799 --> 00:31:54,000
» Let me let me basically what he's saying
is we need to be doing a 2.5 2% 1.5 1%

355
00:31:50,559 --> 00:31:56,606
and.5 increase every year to stay
positive. [clears throat]

356
00:31:56,640 --> 00:32:04,159
Is that right, Ted?
>> Yeah. He's he's looking for rate

357
00:32:01,039 --> 00:32:08,320
increases wash like between the various
uh category various

358
00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:11,519
» an average increase.5 for the next three
years

359
00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:16,000
» between commercial and residential
>> all across all

360
00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:20,000
» across all our rate which is a lot will
be a lot less but it'll wash out as a

361
00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:24,720
2.5% increase.
>> Gotcha. 2%.

362
00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:28,000
» 2%. I'm sorry.
>> These are the individual rates how they

363
00:32:27,039 --> 00:32:30,399
would go up.
>> If at least Ted can hear and then he can

364
00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:32,000
relay.
>> Yeah.

365
00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:37,080
» Yeah.
>> Trying to figure out if I can crank it

366
00:32:33,279 --> 00:32:37,080
up just a little bit more.

367
00:32:37,519 --> 00:32:45,480
» He's not working.
>> Where is this big right here?

368
00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:45,480
Close. Okay.

369
00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:57,760
Any other questions
for right now?

370
00:32:56,399 --> 00:33:01,519
» Do we think time of use is still
beneficial

371
00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:06,080
to the customers?
>> Mike, the question was, do we think time

372
00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:10,640
of use is still a bene is still
beneficial to the customers?

373
00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:15,200
» I I think it is, but I think it needs to
get tweaked. Um, it's a different study

374
00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:20,159
to actually do a time of use study. I'm
just looking at the overall picture. Um,

375
00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:26,159
but your your your buckets for the
energy and demand need to be tweaked.

376
00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:32,559
You your your your um your on- peak
demand should really go up. Um, and the

377
00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:37,919
off peak sorry, the on- peak energy
should go up and the off peak energy

378
00:33:35,519 --> 00:33:44,000
should go down. That off- peak energy
that you're charging should be closer to

379
00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:47,640
3 3 4 cents. Um, I don't think I
designed this, right?

380
00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:53,120
» Perhaps not. I'm not going to hold you
to it, but [laughter] but that that was

381
00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:58,240
the general question.
>> Yeah, but I I can I can put together a

382
00:33:55,919 --> 00:34:02,880
range for you, Ted. Um, that that would
that would show where it should be. the

383
00:34:00,399 --> 00:34:08,240
the the power supply demand cost that
that big number from Duke the $23 that

384
00:34:06,159 --> 00:34:13,760
should really go into the on peak which
is going to make that on peak closer to

385
00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:18,639
probably 20 cents and then they can save
on the they can they can then save money

386
00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:25,200
by the 3 cents using the three or 4
cents for for the uh

387
00:34:22,240 --> 00:34:30,639
for the for the energy off peak and then
the distribution costs are picked up in

388
00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:37,280
that what what's uh your demand charge
picks up the distribution costs here. So

389
00:34:33,599 --> 00:34:41,320
there there is there is good reasons to
review this rate.

390
00:34:41,359 --> 00:34:44,599
» Thank you.

391
00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:53,800
» Any other questions,
comments at this time?

392
00:34:56,720 --> 00:35:02,320
I I would like to offer that if you I
know there was a lot of information,

393
00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:06,480
some of it may not have transmitted
well. Um, but if you do have further

394
00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:11,040
questions, please send an email to Kim
and myself both and we'll get them to

395
00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:13,680
Mike and he can answer them via email.
Uh, I'm not asking, this is a

396
00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:18,160
presentation. I'm not asking for action
to be taken tonight. Uh, just that you

397
00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:21,200
guys hear it and hopefully understand
some of it and then we'll get you to

398
00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:24,400
understand the rest as soon as we can
and just kind of consume it, if you

399
00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:25,599
will. We have to have a public hearing,
too.

400
00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:30,079
» Yeah, we're going to have to have a
public hearing to adopt the any

401
00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:33,359
recommended rate plan or over three
years or whatnot.

402
00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:37,440
» Okay.
>> All right. And during that public

403
00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:45,839
hearing, is it the intent to have
somebody from UFS here at the site at

404
00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:52,079
the meeting? I think it's advisable.
I I will ask if UFS can attend uh on

405
00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:56,960
site during that public hearing and that
would be October the 6th I think is the

406
00:35:55,359 --> 00:36:00,560
» it's the first the 1st
>> the first Tuesday in October which I

407
00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:04,200
believe is the 6th.
Let me

408
00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:04,200
» yeah

409
00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:10,079
see if
>> M I think was we talked about this

410
00:36:07,359 --> 00:36:13,200
during budgets budget and we did nothing
to electrical rates because we knew this

411
00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:15,119
study was coming and now here's our
study now we need to

412
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:18,000
» correct
>> digest it and in October we need to make

413
00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:18,880
your decision
>> correct

414
00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:21,200
» correct
>> got you thank you

415
00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:26,160
» we have an adjustment
>> that is possible it probably be Mark but

416
00:36:23,599 --> 00:36:29,440
Mark's Mark's good at teaching
he'd be good at that

417
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:33,760
» that's okay thank you that would be
wonderful

418
00:36:31,599 --> 00:36:38,160
Okay. All right. Thank you. And then
also I think during budget nonrelated to

419
00:36:36,079 --> 00:36:41,839
electric but we talked about we would do
electric first and then afterwards we

420
00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:44,000
would do a water
>> water's next

421
00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:45,920
» and that's that's
>> Yep.

422
00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:49,599
» We're starting that process as well.
>> We will start that as Yes.

423
00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:53,839
» soon. Correct.
>> Okay. All right. Any other questions

424
00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:56,800
this time?
>> No. Thank you, sir.

425
00:36:55,359 --> 00:37:00,320
» Thank you, Mike. I'm going to um
disconnect you now. So, thank you for

426
00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:02,800
your time this evening.
>> Okay. Thanks. Thanks, everybody.

427
00:37:02,240 --> 00:37:05,960
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

428
00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:13,119
» All right. We'll now move on. Uh we
don't have any public hearings this

429
00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:17,680
evening. We'll now move to citizens
comments. If anyone wishing to speak

430
00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:21,359
dear during citizens comments, you will
please come forward, state your name and

431
00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:26,240
address for the record. I will ask that
you hold your comments to three minutes

432
00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:31,040
or less. and I will ask the clerk if she
will um uh time the the speakers,

433
00:37:29,119 --> 00:37:36,000
please.
>> Good evening, Stephanie Avery

434
00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:41,040
Smithfield. I have more of a more
questions than I do comments. I want to

435
00:37:39,119 --> 00:37:47,839
know when do you plan to do a
presentation to the town for the new

436
00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:54,160
baseball stadium, showing the drawings,
the budget, and what is coming.

437
00:37:51,280 --> 00:38:00,480
especially for the people who live close
to the stadium. I think it would be a

438
00:37:56,320 --> 00:38:07,839
good idea to do it um so that everybody
has an opportunity to see where our tax

439
00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:14,640
dollars are going. the um also regarding
the stadium I hope you have factored in

440
00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:23,280
cons contingency reserves with capital
projects there's always overrun and with

441
00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:27,680
inflation and also tariffs everything
you never know what's going to cost

442
00:38:25,839 --> 00:38:33,920
tomorrow what you have budgeted for
today

443
00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:39,520
and last item is could you put a no
entry on Front Street. I have met two

444
00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:44,640
people on that one-way street coming
down front and I'm like, "Uh, excuse me.

445
00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:51,280
This is a one-way street." And it's
usually during the day when the court is

446
00:38:48,640 --> 00:38:56,800
in session and people are trying to find
a parking space and they don't realize

447
00:38:53,359 --> 00:39:02,000
that's a one-way street. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Anthony.

448
00:38:59,839 --> 00:39:08,240
» And anyone else wishing to speak, please
come forward if Tom. Good evening.

449
00:39:06,079 --> 00:39:15,599
» Uh hello. My name is Jonathan Bell. I
live on 205 West Steven Street in

450
00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:20,720
Smithfield. Um hello Mr. Mayor, uh board
members, uh Attorney Spence, interim

451
00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:24,880
manager Picket. Thank you for having me
here. Um as well as all of you, the

452
00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:29,680
concerned citizens here in Smithfield,
North Carolina.

453
00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:33,680
I was born and grew up in this town. My
grandfather's name is on a plaque

454
00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:38,640
outside of this building. I love this
town. I enjoy living a quiet life here.

455
00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:41,839
You usually wouldn't see me here today.
I used to tell my friends and family

456
00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:46,880
that I didn't care what the town board
did as long as the trash was picked up

457
00:39:43,839 --> 00:39:51,200
and the lights stayed on. And boy, do I
still wish that was true. In the last

458
00:39:49,599 --> 00:39:55,359
year, I've seen the trash not get picked
up. Not just in front of my house, but

459
00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:59,599
I've seen debris sit on curb the curb or
streets all over town. In the last year,

460
00:39:57,599 --> 00:40:03,839
I've seen tax revenues go up while
quality of service has gone down. In the

461
00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:07,280
last year, I've seen businesses downtown
shut their doors for good because new

462
00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:11,040
zoning and traffic rules are
incompatible with keeping a business

463
00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:14,880
open on the very block where this
building sits.

464
00:40:13,119 --> 00:40:19,520
I've seen town employees who worked here
for years abruptly quit because their

465
00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:23,119
bosses made working conditions
unlivable.

466
00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:27,359
Tonight we all learned that about a
staggered utility rate hike that the

467
00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:33,119
board doesn't even understand and could
not hear, but undoubtedly will obviously

468
00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:38,320
approve.
Some will pay more, some will pay less,

469
00:40:35,839 --> 00:40:42,880
but how will will the tax players know
what we're going to pay? I guess there

470
00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:47,359
will be a public hearing in the future.
Undoubtedly, too late for us to change

471
00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:50,960
it. I've seen the town break ground in a
ballpark that no one wanted. And just

472
00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:55,440
last month, we were told the budget
would be increased by $10 million. $10

473
00:40:53,760 --> 00:41:01,440
million, the burden of which will
ultimately fall upon you, us, the

474
00:40:58,720 --> 00:41:08,240
taxpayer, no matter what this board and
the interim town manager have to say.

475
00:41:05,760 --> 00:41:11,680
We will have to shoulder this burden.
And we're to believe that the Wilson

476
00:41:09,599 --> 00:41:15,839
Hobbs are going to make it worth worth
it when they couldn't even draw the

477
00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:20,079
revenue revenue in Wilson. I'm sure that
someone will make $10 million off of

478
00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:24,079
that money. But the question is who?
Whomever it is, I'd rather they didn't.

479
00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:28,160
I'd rather they didn't profit from my
tax dollars. Jesus told us that it's

480
00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:32,480
easier for a camel to pass through the
eye of a needle than it is to enter the

481
00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:36,800
kingdom of heaven. Please forgive me for
my language, but as Judge Judy used to

482
00:41:34,720 --> 00:41:40,880
say, "Don't piss down my leg and tell me
it's raining."

483
00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:46,560
And let's mention our interim town
manager who makes 160 thou plus th,000 a

484
00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:50,880
year when the average salary for a
full-time town manager in North Carolina

485
00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:55,359
is 108,000.
Now I'm sure in Kerry and Chapel Hill

486
00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:58,480
and Durham, they may need a manager that
makes that much, but we're not Carrie.

487
00:41:57,040 --> 00:42:02,640
We're not Chapel Hill and we're not
Durham. We're Smithfield.

488
00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:06,560
That's more than a vice president at
First Citizens Banks makes. More than

489
00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:10,480
the county engineer, more than the chief
deputy sheriff, and almost as much as

490
00:42:08,240 --> 00:42:14,800
the sheriff Bizzle himself. And for
what? She ran down the town of Benson

491
00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:18,240
into the ground. Left when people
started asking where the money went and

492
00:42:16,560 --> 00:42:22,560
now refuses to pay back the money she
borrowed from them. I came here today to

493
00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:27,359
tell the board that we, the citizens of
Smithfield, are watching. You can spend

494
00:42:25,119 --> 00:42:31,359
this however you want, but I promise you
I wouldn't be here if these issues

495
00:42:29,119 --> 00:42:33,760
hadn't upset not just me, but hundreds
of others.

496
00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:38,240
» Thank you, Mr. Bale.
>> We don't just ask. We demand that you

497
00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:41,119
spend our tax dollars wisely. You have a
choice to make since the general

498
00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:46,240
election is not this year, but next
year. You've got just over a year. Make

499
00:42:43,839 --> 00:42:49,839
the right decisions. Otherwise, you'll
hear the words that have been echoed

500
00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:56,079
throughout the annals of history. Six
simper Tyrannis.

501
00:42:52,319 --> 00:43:00,319
Thus always to tyrants.
Remember your job is to never see me

502
00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:04,000
here.
Thank you.

503
00:43:01,119 --> 00:43:07,440
» Thank you, Mr. Bill. Anyone else wishing
to speak?

504
00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:11,440
Come forward at this time. If you will,
please state your name and address for

505
00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:14,400
the record, please. And I'll ask you uh
hold your comments to three minutes or

506
00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:19,599
less, please. Cool.
>> Brett Reno, uh Eden Drive, Smithfield.

507
00:43:17,599 --> 00:43:24,720
Mayor, council members, thank you. Uh
thank you for what you do. Thank you for

508
00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:30,400
uh allowing me to speak. Um I guess
maybe two things. Uh real brief. Um the

509
00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:35,359
last council meeting I asked a question
to the council

510
00:43:32,319 --> 00:43:40,319
about what number would be the magic
number that makes this stadium project

511
00:43:38,319 --> 00:43:44,319
nonviable.
And I didn't ask you to give me an

512
00:43:42,079 --> 00:43:48,960
answer.
I thought I might get at least a phone

513
00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:55,880
call from somebody up here.
Didn't get one.

514
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:55,880
» Didn't get one.

515
00:43:56,480 --> 00:44:05,680
» I'm asking this time. I want to know
what that number is. I'm curious to know

516
00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:10,800
what that number is. And Dr. Cohen,
Scott, Miss Dar, I don't want it from

517
00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:15,359
y'all because y'all didn't vote for it.
I want it from one of the other four up

518
00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:19,839
here. The mayor broke the tie. I'm just
stating facts. I'm not I'm not pointing

519
00:44:16,720 --> 00:44:25,680
the finger. I want to ask correctly. So,
I want it from the other four.

520
00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:30,640
I know all I know all four of you very
well. Councilman Wood's not here.

521
00:44:27,599 --> 00:44:36,319
Illness. Totally get it. You are all
businessmen. I know you for a fact.

522
00:44:33,119 --> 00:44:40,640
You're all businessmen.
When we started out this venture at 6

523
00:44:38,079 --> 00:44:46,880
million and now we're at 16269, I think
is the number.

524
00:44:43,599 --> 00:44:51,920
If Stevens, if your business was looking
at a piece of equipment

525
00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:56,480
and all of a sudden, Brett, how much is
$6 million, Sloan? It's what it's going

526
00:44:54,079 --> 00:45:01,119
to cost.
3 months later, I come back, Sloan, it's

527
00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:04,480
gone up 170%.
Would you still buy that piece of

528
00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:09,520
equipment? I'll answer it for you. You
absolutely would not. Not from me.

529
00:45:07,680 --> 00:45:13,920
I have a I have a problem with it. I
still have a problem with it. I'm just

530
00:45:11,680 --> 00:45:19,680
asking you to please, please do your due
diligence. Something's not right.

531
00:45:17,119 --> 00:45:27,200
Something is absolutely, incredibly not
right. Second thing, Project 70 across

532
00:45:23,839 --> 00:45:32,640
from my neighborhood.
It doesn't look right. I'm not an

533
00:45:29,359 --> 00:45:36,240
engineer. I don't claim to be one.
The grading looks off. It is

534
00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:39,839
approximately, and I'm just going by
eyeball. I have not measured it. There

535
00:45:38,240 --> 00:45:45,280
are parts of it that look like it's 3
feet above the normal graded height of

536
00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:51,040
Book of Dairy Road. It does not look
right. It's going to be a water problem

537
00:45:47,920 --> 00:45:56,000
when it's all said and done.
Also, if you'll stand at Eden Drive and

538
00:45:53,440 --> 00:46:00,560
look into local 70, the driveway that's
going into the old Howell property

539
00:45:57,680 --> 00:46:05,520
there, look at the curb and gutter. Look
at the street. That is a graded piece of

540
00:46:03,440 --> 00:46:10,960
property. It should in all seriousness
be flat just like this floor is. It

541
00:46:08,720 --> 00:46:14,880
could have some swell in it. I got it.
But within 300 ft, it shouldn't look

542
00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:18,880
like a
washboard going down through there. It's

543
00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:22,960
going to look horrible. If it's going to
be next to me or next to anybody in the

544
00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:27,359
town of Smithfield, I think we have the
right for it to look good and to look

545
00:46:25,040 --> 00:46:31,440
decent. They're already got the curb and
gutter poured. They're pouring every

546
00:46:29,119 --> 00:46:33,760
day. if they don't take a look at it, if
somebody's not going to go out there and

547
00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:38,079
take a look at it and hold them
accountable to it, it's going to be

548
00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:41,839
beyond the point of fixing. They're not
going to want to fix it. Thank you.

549
00:46:39,760 --> 00:46:46,760
» Thank you, Mr. Pride.
>> Anyone else wishing to speak?

550
00:46:48,319 --> 00:46:51,920
» Hello.
>> Good evening.

551
00:46:50,319 --> 00:46:56,560
» Hello, Kam.
>> So, I am Kam. I work at your local

552
00:46:54,960 --> 00:47:01,040
Johnston County Public Health
Department. Again, this is just quick

553
00:46:58,480 --> 00:47:05,520
quarterly update. I just want to remind
everyone that September is suicide

554
00:47:03,280 --> 00:47:10,880
awareness month. So, I have packets
available for everyone that has um

555
00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:15,680
warning signs for both youth and adults
regarding suicide. It's also time for

556
00:47:13,599 --> 00:47:20,160
our back to school vaccines. We have
that available at the health department.

557
00:47:17,680 --> 00:47:25,119
We also have Narcan available for free
for anybody in Johnston County. So, if

558
00:47:22,480 --> 00:47:30,000
anyone needs Narcan, please let us know.
And we're also starting a diabetes

559
00:47:27,359 --> 00:47:34,960
prevention program this week. So if
anyone is interested in preventing

560
00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:38,000
diabetes in our county, please join us
for free. Thank you.

561
00:47:36,560 --> 00:47:41,960
» Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.

562
00:47:43,040 --> 00:47:46,920
All right. Anyone else?

563
00:47:48,240 --> 00:47:55,680
All right. Not seeing any. We'll now
move on to our consent agenda. I have a

564
00:47:54,000 --> 00:48:00,400
motion to approve the consent agenda as
amended.

565
00:47:58,640 --> 00:48:05,040
» I make a motion to approve the consent
agenda as amended.

566
00:48:02,400 --> 00:48:06,960
» Second motion and a second. All in
favor?

567
00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:12,839
» I.
>> Any opposed? Motion carries. All right.

568
00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:20,240
All right. We'll now move on to our
business items.

569
00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:26,800
First business item this evening is
consideration and request for approval

570
00:48:22,400 --> 00:48:33,920
to adopt ordinance number 530-2026
electric connection policy. Ted, thank

571
00:48:30,720 --> 00:48:37,839
you council. Good evening. Thank you for
uh thank you for allowing me to speak

572
00:48:35,599 --> 00:48:43,119
tonight. I'm here to request the town
council consider a change to the town

573
00:48:39,760 --> 00:48:47,359
code and of ordinances specifically as
the ordinance pertain to the electric

574
00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:51,520
system.
Staff is proposing to help clarify

575
00:48:49,200 --> 00:48:58,079
section 18 of the code of ordinances by
adding electricity as a named and

576
00:48:54,160 --> 00:49:03,200
specified utility beyond the mention in
section 184. To accomplish this, staff

577
00:49:01,119 --> 00:49:10,480
is proposing an amendment to section
18.4 to point to a proposed article 7 of

578
00:49:07,760 --> 00:49:15,359
section 18. Further, staff proposes to
add article 7 which provides guidance in

579
00:49:13,200 --> 00:49:20,559
how new development will connect to the
town's electric system.

580
00:49:18,160 --> 00:49:25,680
So the first proposed amendment is the
addition

581
00:49:22,480 --> 00:49:30,800
uh of the phrase
to the ordinance in section 184 which

582
00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:35,040
allows for the addition of article 7 and
begins the establishment within the code

583
00:49:32,720 --> 00:49:40,720
of ordinances of electricity as a
utility and mi maintains the guiding

584
00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:44,400
document customer service guidelines for
all general matters. Here you can see

585
00:49:42,800 --> 00:49:51,400
the highlighted phrase that draws
attention to article 7. This is the only

586
00:49:46,880 --> 00:49:51,400
proposed edit for section 184.

587
00:49:51,599 --> 00:49:59,920
The second amendment to add uh artic is
to add is to add article 7 as the

588
00:49:58,400 --> 00:50:04,800
current code of ordinances stops at
article six. Article 7 will provide

589
00:50:02,400 --> 00:50:10,160
guidance on connecting to the electrical
system beginning with the town policy on

590
00:50:07,520 --> 00:50:14,000
extending electric main lines. Staff is
asking to codify this policy so

591
00:50:12,559 --> 00:50:19,359
interested parties will have a
reference. This policy proposes to put

592
00:50:16,400 --> 00:50:26,000
the financial burden of development uh
electrically on the project similar to

593
00:50:22,079 --> 00:50:30,160
how water and sewer are now constructed.
That is the only goal of this and I

594
00:50:28,160 --> 00:50:35,599
appreciate your time and I'll leave that
up and I can answer any questions you

595
00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:43,040
may have.
>> Any questions for for Ted?

596
00:50:39,680 --> 00:50:47,520
tell you on this article 7, we
effectively have been doing that,

597
00:50:44,880 --> 00:50:50,880
haven't we? It just wasn't in their
code,

598
00:50:48,079 --> 00:50:55,599
» right? So section 184, that's what it
talks about. Uh when we look through the

599
00:50:53,520 --> 00:51:00,640
code of ordinances, there is no explicit
determination of electricity as a

600
00:50:58,240 --> 00:51:05,920
utility. So that was the first step. We
need to make sure it's there. It is in

601
00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:11,280
section 184 because it speaks to the
customer service guidelines manual which

602
00:51:09,119 --> 00:51:16,000
is currently being updated and has been
being updated. It's kind of a living

603
00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:20,720
document but and that speaks to you know
cut off policies and metering the whole

604
00:51:18,079 --> 00:51:25,359
nine yards. Electricity is in there but
it's not in the code of ordinances. So

605
00:51:22,880 --> 00:51:31,599
what we're adding is an article 7 which
actually specifies electrical system as

606
00:51:28,160 --> 00:51:36,640
a utility. Um, and that's really the the
change to 184 is as we develop these

607
00:51:34,559 --> 00:51:42,319
ordinances, I still want to maintain
that book as a guideline because we've

608
00:51:38,720 --> 00:51:47,119
used it as you're saying for uh well
well since the 90s maybe even before

609
00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:50,559
then. Um so then we move into section
seven which that's what we start talking

610
00:51:49,280 --> 00:51:56,240
about the connection of the electrical
system. The very first

611
00:51:52,960 --> 00:52:01,359
uh proposed section deals with that
extension of of main lines into like new

612
00:51:58,480 --> 00:52:06,960
development. But to to answer that was a
long answer to answer the question that

613
00:52:02,880 --> 00:52:10,200
yes we have been using it all along.
>> Thank you.

614
00:52:10,319 --> 00:52:15,720
» Any other questions,
comments?

615
00:52:21,040 --> 00:52:28,400
Need a motion?
>> Motion to approve ordinance number 530

616
00:52:26,800 --> 00:52:31,520
2006
>> 26. Have a motion. I have a second.

617
00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:34,960
» Sorry.
>> 2026.

618
00:52:32,079 --> 00:52:36,160
» 5:30 2026. Have a motion. I have a
second.

619
00:52:35,520 --> 00:52:41,520
» Second.
>> Motion. A second. All in favor?

620
00:52:39,440 --> 00:52:46,680
» Any opposed?
>> Thank you. Carries. Thank you, sir.

621
00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:46,680
Appreciate it.

622
00:52:50,960 --> 00:53:00,640
Okay, we'll move now to our second
business item, which is

623
00:52:56,079 --> 00:53:02,400
» um the bid award for power up
that

624
00:53:00,960 --> 00:53:04,720
» it's the travel policy.
>> Travel policy. Sorry. Yep.

625
00:53:04,079 --> 00:53:06,720
» Sorry.
>> I noticed that too.

626
00:53:05,760 --> 00:53:11,119
» Y
>> um so we briefly t um talked about this

627
00:53:08,880 --> 00:53:16,559
at the last meeting. This is just a a
simple revision of the travel policy. Um

628
00:53:13,920 --> 00:53:22,000
the the note the changes are in your
policy um highlighted in yellow and have

629
00:53:19,440 --> 00:53:27,359
strikethroughs. Um we changed credit
cards to PC cards, purchase cards and

630
00:53:24,640 --> 00:53:33,520
then um we changed
um in the table of approvals. Um the

631
00:53:31,520 --> 00:53:37,520
town manager would be their travel would
be approved by the mayor as opposed to

632
00:53:35,280 --> 00:53:41,440
the finance director. Elected and
appointed officials would be approved by

633
00:53:39,280 --> 00:53:49,119
vote of council as opposed to the town
manager. Um we also changed the um

634
00:53:46,319 --> 00:53:57,760
reimbursement submitt to from 5 days to
14 days

635
00:53:51,119 --> 00:54:02,880
and um those are and the um actual perdm
we went with federal rate um for

636
00:54:00,559 --> 00:54:08,720
breakfast, lunch and dinner and those
are the only changes.

637
00:54:05,839 --> 00:54:13,040
» Thank you. Any any questions on the
policy as drafted? Mayor, I did have one

638
00:54:11,680 --> 00:54:16,559
question, but Miss Picket, thank you
answered it. I was going to ask you

639
00:54:14,000 --> 00:54:20,000
about the days for the submitt. I saw
where it was changed, so

640
00:54:18,319 --> 00:54:24,079
» you actually gave a little more time. I
was thought that that was kind of a

641
00:54:22,480 --> 00:54:27,760
» Mhm.
>> I I thought it was uh longer than that

642
00:54:26,400 --> 00:54:29,520
actually, but I'm I appreciate you
clarifying that.

643
00:54:28,480 --> 00:54:38,680
» Yeah, no problem.
>> Okay. All right. Any other questions?

644
00:54:34,240 --> 00:54:38,680
If not, I'll entertain a motion.

645
00:54:40,240 --> 00:54:43,240
Adopt

646
00:54:45,040 --> 00:54:51,359
a motion to adopt the policy.
>> Motion to adopt this travel policy as

647
00:54:49,839 --> 00:54:55,440
written.
>> Second motion and a second. All in

648
00:54:53,920 --> 00:55:00,200
favor? I
>> opposed. Motion carries.

649
00:55:00,559 --> 00:55:08,559
Thank you. All right. We'll move on now
to our next item which was uh moved from

650
00:55:06,240 --> 00:55:11,880
the consent agenda and that was the uh
budget amendment.

651
00:55:14,800 --> 00:55:22,559
» Evening mayor and council. Uh my name is
Tracy Stubblefield. I'm the finance

652
00:55:19,040 --> 00:55:27,920
director. Um so tonight I have um before
you consideration and request for

653
00:55:25,119 --> 00:55:34,000
approval to adopt budget amendment to
appropriate general fund fund balance

654
00:55:30,480 --> 00:55:40,559
for the Smithfield baseball stadium. Uh
so this um budget amendment shows where

655
00:55:37,119 --> 00:55:46,079
the money is coming from and this was um
it's an accounting um

656
00:55:43,599 --> 00:55:54,000
request that we have to uh appropriate
the fund balance that was approved in

657
00:55:48,400 --> 00:55:59,119
the August 18th 2026 meeting. Um the
budget amendment updates the baseball

658
00:55:56,240 --> 00:56:05,920
stadium project budget to reflect the
appropriated um funds. And so you'll see

659
00:56:02,880 --> 00:56:11,040
on page 78
um the revenue accounts, the expense

660
00:56:08,160 --> 00:56:18,079
accounts, and uh where we're moving the
money. Um and as I said, this is um for

661
00:56:15,200 --> 00:56:21,440
the just for the movement of the the
funds that you appropriated

662
00:56:19,838 --> 00:56:24,880
[clears throat] in the last meeting
>> as well as the state budget.

663
00:56:23,280 --> 00:56:30,839
» That's right. And that's right. Thank
you so much. Um as well as the state

664
00:56:27,440 --> 00:56:30,839
budget funds.

665
00:56:31,839 --> 00:56:37,520
So, can I um Does anyone have any
questions?

666
00:56:35,760 --> 00:56:42,400
» Any questions?
>> I do have a few questions. Miss Stfield,

667
00:56:39,520 --> 00:56:48,004
thank you for your presentation. Um I
I'm a little bit um concerned about the

668
00:56:45,520 --> 00:56:52,880
um can you help me understand where
[laughter] this money is going to be

669
00:56:49,119 --> 00:56:55,520
moved? Because in the budget we have, we
talked about this during the budget,

670
00:56:54,240 --> 00:57:03,040
there's no money in here for the
baseball stadium or project. Um, and I

671
00:56:59,440 --> 00:57:06,799
just wonder why we don't have a budget
besides the PowerPoint slide we were

672
00:57:04,720 --> 00:57:09,799
given last meeting to reflect these
numbers.

673
00:57:11,599 --> 00:57:21,680
» So, um, so we do have um the project
fund and I I apologize I do not have um

674
00:57:19,040 --> 00:57:26,640
the the amounts pulled up. I don't have
my computer with me in here, but um so

675
00:57:24,480 --> 00:57:32,720
we did already have that project fund
set up from a previous meeting. Uh and

676
00:57:29,839 --> 00:57:39,599
then the fund balance that we discussed
at the August 18th meeting that is um

677
00:57:37,040 --> 00:57:46,240
that is shown the appropriated fund
balance uh that was voted on uh in the

678
00:57:43,280 --> 00:57:50,839
amount of 3,272
um I mean sorry 3 million272752.

679
00:57:55,440 --> 00:58:00,319
that that will be moved into that
project fund.

680
00:57:58,640 --> 00:58:04,640
» Into the project fund.
>> That's right.

681
00:58:01,040 --> 00:58:10,160
» And where will those numbers be kept
>> the expenses and all that stuff?

682
00:58:07,119 --> 00:58:16,960
» Right. So all of that will be kept in uh
if you look on uh page 78. So the we set

683
00:58:14,400 --> 00:58:22,000
up an expense line item for this
baseball stadium uh so that we could

684
00:58:19,280 --> 00:58:28,319
track all of those funds separately. And
um so that is the expense fund which is

685
00:58:24,400 --> 00:58:31,319
uh fund 46606200
57007413

686
00:58:31,520 --> 00:58:39,200
entitled um it just says on here BB so
baseball stadium expense

687
00:58:37,200 --> 00:58:42,319
» just so we can track those separately.
>> Missfield, where can I find that in this

688
00:58:40,880 --> 00:58:49,520
book?
>> Um so uh Kim, correct me if I'm wrong.

689
00:58:45,920 --> 00:58:55,040
Did I'm trying to recall. So this um the
budget book does not show the project

690
00:58:52,160 --> 00:59:01,920
line items. So our budget, our approved
budget has general fund um water, sewer

691
00:58:58,640 --> 00:59:07,359
and electric. So these funds are tracked
in uh fund 46 for all of our projects.

692
00:59:05,599 --> 00:59:09,200
» So your capital funds are separate,
>> right?

693
00:59:08,640 --> 00:59:11,520
» Okay.
>> Get you your capital funds anytime you

694
00:59:10,880 --> 00:59:14,319
want them.
>> Yes.

695
00:59:12,079 --> 00:59:17,760
» So but would it be on our website? I
mean,

696
00:59:15,680 --> 00:59:23,599
» um I don't know that we usually keep any
of our um funds on there. Um

697
00:59:21,359 --> 00:59:28,960
» to my knowledge, we don't we don't have
any of our funds on the website.

698
00:59:26,960 --> 00:59:32,319
» Well, we do have our budget on there.
And I I just think it's important that

699
00:59:30,400 --> 00:59:36,160
we're transparent about this. And
>> I remember bringing this to the

700
00:59:34,400 --> 00:59:40,799
council's attention during budget that
there was no zero dollars in this book.

701
00:59:39,119 --> 00:59:43,680
Our current adopted budget was adopted
in June. We've been in it 2 months for

702
00:59:42,720 --> 00:59:45,119
this ballpark.
>> There is.

703
00:59:44,559 --> 00:59:49,599
» Mhm.
>> If I could finish, um there is a page

704
00:59:47,680 --> 00:59:51,280
that was added in here for maintenance.
Is that what you're referring to, Miss

705
00:59:50,720 --> 00:59:54,559
Picket?
>> Mhm.

706
00:59:51,680 --> 01:00:00,799
» Uh but at the end of the day, we we were
given some numbers and a gentleman come

707
00:59:57,200 --> 01:00:05,359
in here that represented a a a
contractor

708
01:00:02,000 --> 01:00:10,240
» and they said no more than $6 million.
>> And now I appreciate staff's due

709
01:00:07,599 --> 01:00:16,079
diligent. we come back and now we're at
16 million. Now, I realize there's some

710
01:00:13,200 --> 01:00:19,680
money that come from other areas, but at
the end of the day,

711
01:00:17,920 --> 01:00:25,200
» we've got to be able to track these
numbers. And I do not feel like that

712
01:00:23,359 --> 01:00:29,440
them just being on some computer
somewhere, it it needs to be noted. And

713
01:00:27,680 --> 01:00:34,400
the other thing, Tracy, I I've done some
research and I'm very concerned. I mean,

714
01:00:31,839 --> 01:00:40,240
we were reprimanded by the auditor and
by the LGC for our last audit in regards

715
01:00:37,760 --> 01:00:44,799
to some of this exact mess.
>> And when I say mess, I'm talking about

716
01:00:42,640 --> 01:00:50,000
poor financial recordkeeping. And I'm
not picking on you because in fact,

717
01:00:48,000 --> 01:00:54,000
you've made a lot of changes to help us
get there. And I'm not picking on Miss

718
01:00:51,920 --> 01:01:00,160
Picket either. But my point is there's
some problems. And if we cannot

719
01:00:57,920 --> 01:01:06,160
adequately manage this, we don't get to
make this mistake. at one time with this

720
01:01:03,280 --> 01:01:09,520
much money. I've done some math and if
we did not have the I'm not going to ask

721
01:01:08,319 --> 01:01:14,480
you the question. I'm going to make a
statement. If we did not have the extra

722
01:01:12,000 --> 01:01:18,240
money in the bank, what would it take to
raise it in the taxes for this physical

723
01:01:16,240 --> 01:01:24,559
year? And that's just for the $4
million. I I'll do it for you. One penny

724
01:01:21,119 --> 01:01:30,240
generates about $240,000.
So essentially we'd be around 18 cents.

725
01:01:28,400 --> 01:01:34,640
Now, that depends if the visitor bureau
gives us the 500,000 or what, but at the

726
01:01:32,880 --> 01:01:42,000
end of the day, we still don't have a
complete project budget. You

727
01:01:38,079 --> 01:01:47,280
» you if you look at page 81,
that's the next agenda item. That's the

728
01:01:44,880 --> 01:01:52,720
amendment to that's amendment number one
to the original project ordinance that

729
01:01:49,680 --> 01:01:58,319
we approved earlier in the year. So,
that was the original 6 million that was

730
01:01:54,880 --> 01:02:01,760
the capital project. So you had um an
original project that was approved and

731
01:01:59,760 --> 01:02:06,079
this is amendment number one and that
all ties back to the general ledger in

732
01:02:03,680 --> 01:02:11,359
fund 46.
So you have already approved a capital

733
01:02:08,240 --> 01:02:14,599
project for this and this next one is is
the amendment.

734
01:02:14,720 --> 01:02:21,200
» That's for this this right here is an
amendment to an amendment.

735
01:02:18,400 --> 01:02:23,359
» No, it's an amendment one to an an
original capital project.

736
01:02:22,880 --> 01:02:27,040
» Okay.
>> For the stadium.

737
01:02:24,400 --> 01:02:32,079
» Thank Thank you. uh you you know I
actually think I brought those documents

738
01:02:28,720 --> 01:02:36,799
on the June 2nd meeting. We we we in
fact I actually wasn't here and I looked

739
01:02:34,240 --> 01:02:43,520
it up and that's when that thing was
done on June 2nd. But again to my point

740
01:02:42,240 --> 01:02:47,680
there was a whole bunch of budget
amendments done that night but it had

741
01:02:45,359 --> 01:02:54,000
nothing to do with the ballpark but
there was a ballpark one adopted but

742
01:02:50,559 --> 01:03:00,319
there's no itemization of anything.
It's got to be transparent. All our

743
01:02:56,319 --> 01:03:04,319
projects should be. Um, but anyhow, I
just want this council to really think

744
01:03:01,839 --> 01:03:12,000
about this. We got hurricane season on
us and this money that is in the bank is

745
01:03:09,040 --> 01:03:15,039
the taxpayers's money. It is a healthy
fund,

746
01:03:13,520 --> 01:03:18,880
but
we're going to be collecting this money

747
01:03:16,799 --> 01:03:24,559
again. So, we may have to change our tax
rate if this project don't go well. And

748
01:03:21,440 --> 01:03:31,039
I think there should be it also be known
that there's still $5.5 million that's

749
01:03:27,280 --> 01:03:38,000
unaccounted for of an increased expense.
I I just don't it doesn't make it it

750
01:03:33,039 --> 01:03:46,240
doesn't make sense to me. Not for for uh
what we're responsible for in this town.

751
01:03:42,480 --> 01:03:52,880
» Nobody ever suggested taking 18 cents of
normal fund general fund money to to pay

752
01:03:50,160 --> 01:03:56,400
for this. That was never the case. I
know you weren't you missed a lot of

753
01:03:54,000 --> 01:04:00,160
those early meetings, but that was never
discussed. We knew we could do this

754
01:03:58,160 --> 01:04:04,319
without raising taxes. We can still do
it. And you would talk about the cost.

755
01:04:02,799 --> 01:04:09,440
We need to take three millions off the
top and because we moved it for a

756
01:04:07,359 --> 01:04:12,799
council member who said, "I'm willing to
work with y'all. I just we just need to

757
01:04:10,960 --> 01:04:17,119
move the location." So, there's three
million right there.

758
01:04:15,440 --> 01:04:22,319
I mean, this is why do you have to argue
about every little thing? I mean, this

759
01:04:18,640 --> 01:04:25,039
is a this gets
they're doing their job and you get

760
01:04:24,000 --> 01:04:28,720
ahead of them before they have it.
They're presenting us how they're going

761
01:04:26,319 --> 01:04:33,760
to manage it and account for it and you
just want to take them down every second

762
01:04:30,799 --> 01:04:37,680
you get. I appreciate the questions and
give them a chance to be transparent.

763
01:04:35,280 --> 01:04:41,200
They're just getting into it. But they
made the suggestion that we're going to

764
01:04:38,880 --> 01:04:48,000
spend 18 cents of our general fund,
which would be what? 20%.

765
01:04:44,720 --> 01:04:53,599
No, excuse me, 40%. that that was never
suggested. So that that is does not that

766
01:04:50,640 --> 01:04:56,559
has not ever been suggested. And we can
do this. We can do this. We have the

767
01:04:55,039 --> 01:04:59,839
funds. We we have the money. We've
already been through this. So if we want

768
01:04:58,160 --> 01:05:03,400
to rehash it every week, let's let's do
it. So whatever

769
01:05:05,599 --> 01:05:10,319
» any [clears throat] other
>> Let staff do let staff do the job that

770
01:05:09,119 --> 01:05:13,599
we assign them to do.
>> Mayor, I'd like to have the floor again.

771
01:05:11,920 --> 01:05:18,720
» Yes, sir. Uh, and just to address
council's concerns, you know, I want to

772
01:05:16,480 --> 01:05:25,440
be clear that I didn't say that in fact
that 18 cents would go from for taxes.

773
01:05:22,880 --> 01:05:27,039
This simple math, that's how we generate
our our funds.

774
01:05:26,640 --> 01:05:32,000
» Yeah.
>> And and the other the other part of that

775
01:05:29,680 --> 01:05:36,799
is really important to think about is we
have a revenue neutral rate and we

776
01:05:34,559 --> 01:05:39,920
discussed it in a budget workshop and a
few of us got out of character because

777
01:05:38,400 --> 01:05:44,000
said we never change our tax rate, but
we have to to manage the budget. And I

778
01:05:42,160 --> 01:05:48,880
asked at that time, what would a revenue
neutral rate look like? And uh council

779
01:05:46,640 --> 01:05:55,119
did not agree with me on that sum of
them. But anyhow, that was only a couple

780
01:05:53,280 --> 01:06:01,359
cents. My point with saying this that I
didn't say nothing about the 18 cents of

781
01:05:58,720 --> 01:06:04,319
increase in it. But if you had to raise
the money this year to pay it, if we

782
01:06:02,960 --> 01:06:06,559
didn't have it in the bank, that's what
about what it would cost.

783
01:06:05,200 --> 01:06:10,720
» But we don't have to.
>> I still have the floor, sir. And to and

784
01:06:09,039 --> 01:06:15,280
to further address the council's
concern, mayor, in regards to the $3

785
01:06:12,640 --> 01:06:19,839
million increase, that is exactly not
factual. I've got the record right here

786
01:06:17,760 --> 01:06:25,039
where where I have the floor, sir.
>> Good. Thank you.

787
01:06:20,960 --> 01:06:27,839
» Uh it's was $88,000. And the reason for
that discussion was because of potential

788
01:06:27,039 --> 01:06:30,640
litigation
>> that you were threatening.

789
01:06:29,359 --> 01:06:35,280
» I have the floor.
>> Hey, hey, nothing from the audience. see

790
01:06:34,079 --> 01:06:40,559
that.
>> So, just before this gets out of hand,

791
01:06:38,480 --> 01:06:44,640
anything any other outbursts in the
audience, I'll ask you to leave. Okay.

792
01:06:42,400 --> 01:06:48,240
I'm sorry, but we got to conduct the
business and these are the ones that are

793
01:06:46,160 --> 01:06:51,440
conducting the business right now. Okay.
My apologies. I'm I'm giving him the

794
01:06:50,720 --> 01:06:55,200
floor back.
>> My apologies. I apologize.

795
01:06:53,280 --> 01:06:59,520
» Yeah. But, you know, we were discussing
about the the the move. Well, quite

796
01:06:57,440 --> 01:07:03,680
frankly, there was grant money that this
council was never told about that was

797
01:07:01,760 --> 01:07:09,039
going to be wasted. And there were
setbacks that could not be met. There

798
01:07:05,680 --> 01:07:14,079
were neighbors and that were very upset
about this project. And yes, there were

799
01:07:12,559 --> 01:07:18,960
there has been some changes and I have
been supportive and I I continue to

800
01:07:15,920 --> 01:07:23,839
support economic development and I also
continue to support recreation. But at

801
01:07:21,839 --> 01:07:29,280
the end of the day, we going to have to
say enough is enough. And we said 6

802
01:07:27,440 --> 01:07:34,559
million.
This board approved it. we moved on and

803
01:07:32,640 --> 01:07:40,480
we haven't had time to process it. We we
we spent, you know, we were told, you

804
01:07:37,440 --> 01:07:46,400
know, last meeting the additional money
and I I I'm thankful for that. But at

805
01:07:43,839 --> 01:07:51,680
the end of the day,
this is not a good idea in my opinion

806
01:07:49,760 --> 01:07:58,640
and I'm sorry that I disagree with
council or some council, but mayor, I

807
01:07:55,359 --> 01:08:03,960
make a motion we decline this financial
move.

808
01:08:00,559 --> 01:08:03,960
both of them.

809
01:08:05,359 --> 01:08:12,720
We need to renegotiate the contract.
We're building a private entity, a

810
01:08:09,520 --> 01:08:20,560
restaurant or not really a restaurant, a
fast service type restaurant. Um, we

811
01:08:16,799 --> 01:08:26,080
have a contract to play ball. And at the
end of the day,

812
01:08:23,359 --> 01:08:33,199
I still think we can make that work. But
this thing has just gotten to the point

813
01:08:27,679 --> 01:08:36,520
now where it is abs absolutely
too expensive.

814
01:08:40,880 --> 01:08:49,920
Right. Any other further discussion?
>> Could you ask him to recite his motion

815
01:08:47,120 --> 01:08:54,159
again, please?
>> Yes, mayor. I'll be glad to recite a

816
01:08:52,000 --> 01:08:59,520
motion to make it clear for the clerk. I
will make a motion that we deny the fund

817
01:08:56,480 --> 01:09:06,400
move in this budget amendment.
It starts on page 75

818
01:09:03,199 --> 01:09:14,600
and the second part of that is on starts
on page 83. No, excuse me

819
01:09:11,600 --> 01:09:14,600
79.

820
01:09:18,560 --> 01:09:25,199
For clarity, is that the 3 million that
he's asking? I just want clarification

821
01:09:22,880 --> 01:09:30,799
what he's asking.
>> Yes,

822
01:09:27,120 --> 01:09:33,440
» that's that's the the budget amendment.
>> Yeah,

823
01:09:31,199 --> 01:09:37,359
» I second.
>> Got a bud a motion and a second. Any

824
01:09:35,600 --> 01:09:41,520
further discussion?
>> Yeah,

825
01:09:37,920 --> 01:09:48,159
» I would like to say um first of all, I
think had this gone through I think we

826
01:09:45,839 --> 01:09:53,199
do need a a regular accounting of what
we've been in that account at this

827
01:09:49,839 --> 01:10:00,080
point. It is important transport. One
thing we haven't discussed though is

828
01:09:56,480 --> 01:10:06,239
there are multiple contracts out there.
And to one point that Mr. Renfro brought

829
01:10:03,199 --> 01:10:11,520
up, what cost is too much?
There's a financial cost that has not

830
01:10:09,520 --> 01:10:15,280
been
uh calculated at this point. Can't be

831
01:10:13,520 --> 01:10:21,199
calculated at this point. We have
contracts with three separate entities

832
01:10:17,760 --> 01:10:28,400
right now. And if for some reason
this does not happen as a contract that

833
01:10:23,760 --> 01:10:33,360
we all as a board agreed to enter into,
there's potential for lawsuit from all

834
01:10:30,400 --> 01:10:40,080
of these entities individually against
the town. And should that happen,

835
01:10:37,679 --> 01:10:44,960
uh I'm pretty sure the county and
visitors bureau will not be willing to

836
01:10:43,199 --> 01:10:49,600
pony up for the settlement in that and
that will rest solely on the town. So

837
01:10:47,679 --> 01:10:55,360
there is another cost there that we need
to consider as well

838
01:10:53,120 --> 01:11:00,880
that could be fairly substantial
considering if this doesn't happen the

839
01:10:59,040 --> 01:11:04,640
TOBS will have missed two seasons of
baseball and they could have

840
01:11:03,460 --> 01:11:09,440
[clears throat] made other arrangements.
So just something to consider uh when

841
01:11:07,920 --> 01:11:14,320
people talk about the cost of the
project. There's also a cost for not

842
01:11:12,080 --> 01:11:20,000
completing the project that we just
can't walk away with what we've got in

843
01:11:16,159 --> 01:11:22,640
it right now. So,
>> okay.

844
01:11:20,400 --> 01:11:25,840
» Well,
well, what about the fundraising? Let's

845
01:11:24,320 --> 01:11:28,800
say that we're going to do raise it
fundraising.

846
01:11:27,040 --> 01:11:32,800
» I had two people text me today asked if
we had that ready. They were extremely

847
01:11:30,640 --> 01:11:36,080
» I have the floor according to RU's
order.

848
01:11:35,280 --> 01:11:42,089
» Thank you.
>> Okay, Miss Wolf. Uh, what about

849
01:11:39,040 --> 01:11:44,109
fundraising the $3 million
[clears throat]

850
01:11:44,239 --> 01:11:47,920
» the
>> I'm asking the question and I don't get

851
01:11:47,600 --> 01:11:52,000
I'm
>> so So hold on a minute. So are you

852
01:11:50,400 --> 01:11:54,960
asking the question? I am asking
question from staff.

853
01:11:53,520 --> 01:11:57,280
» Okay.
>> You get an update on the

854
01:11:56,000 --> 01:11:59,920
» it's supposed to come at the next
meeting.

855
01:11:58,640 --> 01:12:04,159
» I think that's what was told.
>> But that Yeah, that was I mean this was

856
01:12:02,320 --> 01:12:07,760
agreed upon at the last meeting. So, we
were trying to do the paperwork so we

857
01:12:05,679 --> 01:12:12,000
could continue pushing forward. We still
have 5.5 million we have to

858
01:12:09,920 --> 01:12:17,239
» collect. And if we collect more than
that, then obviously that would go back

859
01:12:13,679 --> 01:12:17,239
into fund balance.

860
01:12:17,600 --> 01:12:25,760
» Wait, the fundraising will be part of
it. Yes, Miss Wallace.

861
01:12:22,080 --> 01:12:31,360
» Okay. So, uh, a lot of, uh, people in
the community is saying we got our

862
01:12:28,560 --> 01:12:35,920
property taxes and we see how much money
is being taken out.

863
01:12:33,520 --> 01:12:40,320
probably take everything lined out and
then if this doesn't fan out right then

864
01:12:38,560 --> 01:12:45,440
I property tax is going to go up because
we already paying county tax and we you

865
01:12:43,679 --> 01:12:50,800
shaking your head Kim we I I have my
bill what what I'm what they taking out

866
01:12:49,920 --> 01:12:55,679
» I have it
>> yes

867
01:12:52,239 --> 01:13:00,960
» and they're taking out 41% if that's go
higher how a lot of the elderly is going

868
01:12:59,199 --> 01:13:04,480
to be able to afford to pay their
poverty taxes they're not going to be

869
01:13:02,400 --> 01:13:11,040
able to do it that a lot of them going
to become homeless, unhoused as you call

870
01:13:07,600 --> 01:13:15,679
it. Cuz if we don't stop spending all
this money,

871
01:13:12,800 --> 01:13:19,120
everybody's one check, miss one check,
then you going to be unhoused. And

872
01:13:17,679 --> 01:13:22,120
that's what a lot of people's going to
be.

873
01:13:24,080 --> 01:13:29,440
» Thank you. [clears throat]
>> Any other questions, comments?

874
01:13:27,840 --> 01:13:34,640
» Mayor, I I'd like to make one other
comment. Um, council raised a concern

875
01:13:33,040 --> 01:13:40,000
about potential lawsuit due to the
contracts and um, Miss Picket has

876
01:13:36,239 --> 01:13:46,520
informed us of that and uh, I think
that's an honest uh, risk with this.

877
01:13:43,520 --> 01:13:46,520
However,

878
01:13:47,280 --> 01:13:53,760
based on the fact that we never held a
public hearing, all those contracts are

879
01:13:51,760 --> 01:13:57,760
null and void per the general statute
the way it reads to me. I'll let others

880
01:13:56,239 --> 01:14:01,679
determine that for theirel, but I think
that would protect the town in some way.

881
01:14:00,000 --> 01:14:06,640
And the other thing is is a price
increase. I mean, if we had a contractor

882
01:14:04,719 --> 01:14:10,320
quote to build you a house for 500,000
and he come and says it's going to be a

883
01:14:08,080 --> 01:14:13,280
hundred, you know, a million and
500,000,

884
01:14:11,840 --> 01:14:17,840
what's the person going to do? They're
going to say, "I can't afford it." At

885
01:14:15,520 --> 01:14:21,440
some point, we have to acknowledge that.
You know,

886
01:14:19,600 --> 01:14:26,640
I think that this contract can be
renegotiated, but the motion's on the

887
01:14:24,320 --> 01:14:32,560
floor. Any
further? Yes. Sorry, Dr. C.

888
01:14:29,760 --> 01:14:37,760
» I do have a concern from the very
beginning, we

889
01:14:34,719 --> 01:14:42,400
I assume I assume that we had a cap for
the financial responsibility that the

890
01:14:39,760 --> 01:14:47,840
town would incur.
However, recently

891
01:14:44,719 --> 01:14:51,920
there was increase of $6,000 above what
we initially what I thought would be the

892
01:14:50,400 --> 01:14:56,560
total
cost.

893
01:14:53,600 --> 01:15:02,400
Now, that's concerning.
And this is an amendment to the original

894
01:14:59,199 --> 01:15:07,920
contract. What where's what's to say
that we won't have an amendment two

895
01:15:05,040 --> 01:15:12,640
weeks from now? Where does the cost
stop?

896
01:15:10,000 --> 01:15:18,640
This is a concern.
And I think since we not had a public

897
01:15:16,800 --> 01:15:20,800
uh
uh

898
01:15:19,120 --> 01:15:27,840
» hearing,
>> a public hearing, I think that's in

899
01:15:23,679 --> 01:15:31,920
order. I think to get over or get around
this, maybe that may be something we

900
01:15:30,080 --> 01:15:37,239
need to consider.
And and when we talk about somebody

901
01:15:33,920 --> 01:15:37,239
being sued,

902
01:15:37,840 --> 01:15:46,159
that's the least concern.
$6 million over what we initially

903
01:15:44,080 --> 01:15:51,520
started with.
What's to say that two months it'll be

904
01:15:48,480 --> 01:15:54,520
five more million dollars? That's my C
question.

905
01:15:58,400 --> 01:16:11,600
So, I would like to just point out that
the the the

906
01:16:06,560 --> 01:16:18,000
vote to approve the 3 million uh dollars
uh three 3,272,752

907
01:16:15,360 --> 01:16:24,000
was voted on and approved that the last
meeting. So, this is just what we're

908
01:16:21,120 --> 01:16:28,640
voting on this evening is just the
accounting, right? just for the books.

909
01:16:26,640 --> 01:16:34,719
So, I want to be clear on that. And yes,
I did break that tie. Um, and I stand

910
01:16:31,679 --> 01:16:40,080
behind it and I'll stand behind it uh
today. I understand the concerns.

911
01:16:38,000 --> 01:16:45,280
There's been a lot that's gone on into
this and I certainly hope that we

912
01:16:42,239 --> 01:16:53,520
haven't come this far to to all of a
sudden squash this project, right? Um

913
01:16:51,040 --> 01:17:01,280
we we we've looked at several different
locations and those locations didn't pan

914
01:16:56,400 --> 01:17:06,000
out for for various reasons, right? Um
but this location provided an

915
01:17:03,520 --> 01:17:13,440
opportunity for the town not only build
the stadium but to also put in

916
01:17:09,199 --> 01:17:18,640
potentially for for a a facility as well
as for the expansion of other parks and

917
01:17:15,760 --> 01:17:24,560
recre facilities. Right. So there's
things that are in this project.

918
01:17:21,679 --> 01:17:31,360
Uh the overrun. Now again, I I don't
disagree. That's uh quite quite a bit of

919
01:17:28,400 --> 01:17:35,760
a of an increase, but there are things
that are included in there like the road

920
01:17:33,440 --> 01:17:41,360
that we would put in that would need to
be put in regardless if we were going to

921
01:17:39,120 --> 01:17:46,640
utilize that property, which is was
discussed for for potential recreation

922
01:17:43,679 --> 01:17:50,880
other recreation facilities.
um you know parking as well. Yes, it

923
01:17:49,440 --> 01:17:56,080
would be used for the stadium, but it
would also be utilized, you know, for

924
01:17:53,440 --> 01:17:59,120
for other recreation uses and so forth.
Some of the infrastructure, the

925
01:17:57,360 --> 01:18:05,520
electric, the water, the sewer, and so
forth that goes into that also would be

926
01:18:02,640 --> 01:18:10,239
able to be used for other park
expansions. So, I just want the council

927
01:18:07,920 --> 01:18:16,640
to think about that. We we have funding
we have received funding from the state

928
01:18:13,280 --> 01:18:25,679
um uh specifically to be utilized
towards this if my my fear is is and I

929
01:18:21,520 --> 01:18:30,800
is if we don't move forward um and I
again understand the concerns I don't I

930
01:18:28,000 --> 01:18:36,159
don't disagree with those concerns but
my fear is is that funding is gone and

931
01:18:33,120 --> 01:18:41,360
we will lose that funding and potential
future funding for parks and wreck that

932
01:18:38,560 --> 01:18:48,080
we may need to expand. So that that's
that is one of my my fears. Now does

933
01:18:44,320 --> 01:18:52,239
that as does that answer all the
questions and so forth and the concerns?

934
01:18:49,920 --> 01:18:57,120
No, absolutely not. But it's also
something that we do need to consider

935
01:18:54,159 --> 01:19:04,400
and we do need to think about. Um we do
have contracts in place. Um, and it

936
01:19:01,360 --> 01:19:10,560
would be my fear that we would get sued.
And if we get sued and we lose, we don't

937
01:19:08,960 --> 01:19:17,760
have a ballpark and we don't have
anything to show. And we could be more

938
01:19:13,440 --> 01:19:22,239
than what's done. Okay? So, you got to
think about that. The decisions that you

939
01:19:19,760 --> 01:19:27,040
make are not easy. They're not hard. I I
mean, they're hard, right?

940
01:19:25,040 --> 01:19:29,760
But you have to think about it from that
standpoint as well. And that's not a,

941
01:19:28,560 --> 01:19:36,400
you know, it's not a threat. It's just
things to think about. If we get sued,

942
01:19:33,280 --> 01:19:43,360
if we more than likely we will get sued.
Okay, not if it is more than likely we

943
01:19:39,280 --> 01:19:47,679
will. It will cost us I I would imagine
much more than this and legal fees or

944
01:19:45,600 --> 01:19:53,440
not at least not much more, probably the
same amount and legal fees and so forth.

945
01:19:51,120 --> 01:19:58,960
And we don't have anything to show for
it. Nothing.

946
01:19:55,840 --> 01:20:05,440
Okay, that is that is a real concern of
mine. Okay, I again I understand what

947
01:20:02,560 --> 01:20:07,760
Mr. Renfro was saying. I I understand
what you're saying and I'll tell you

948
01:20:06,560 --> 01:20:12,560
right now, I don't know what that number
is right now, sir. Um I'll tell you

949
01:20:10,159 --> 01:20:16,000
without having to call you. Um I'm not
sure what that number is, right?

950
01:20:14,560 --> 01:20:18,320
Hopefully it's not any more than what
we've already discussed. Right.

951
01:20:17,580 --> 01:20:26,080
[clears throat]
But but I but but that [clears throat]

952
01:20:22,960 --> 01:20:31,040
would be my concern at this at this
point. Um I get it that members on the

953
01:20:28,560 --> 01:20:35,920
board do not agree and that and that's
and that's fine. But we did make a

954
01:20:32,719 --> 01:20:41,520
decision at the last me meeting um to
move forward with moving that money.

955
01:20:38,400 --> 01:20:47,679
This is the accounting process of that.
That's all that is is is the accounting

956
01:20:44,560 --> 01:20:51,760
portion of it. Um, I would just ask that
uh you you take that in into

957
01:20:49,440 --> 01:20:58,080
consideration as uh from a business
standpoint. Is it worth that risk?

958
01:20:56,080 --> 01:21:01,760
» That would be my only uh thoughts and
comments.

959
01:21:00,000 --> 01:21:07,120
you're going you're going to have a a
closed session tonight and if um

960
01:21:05,280 --> 01:21:11,440
you want to add to that closed session
to discuss

961
01:21:09,120 --> 01:21:16,159
what what it means to breach a contract
or three contracts and what are the

962
01:21:14,000 --> 01:21:21,040
consequences of that we we could do it
in close session. I would rather do it

963
01:21:17,440 --> 01:21:27,199
in close session than out here. Um and
um but contracts would be meaningless if

964
01:21:24,719 --> 01:21:31,920
you could just renegotiate them at will.
Um and we we have this constant

965
01:21:30,159 --> 01:21:36,960
reference to a public hearing. [snorts]
This is a public hearing is basically

966
01:21:34,719 --> 01:21:42,560
designed for a time during a meeting
which you discuss and have people

967
01:21:39,280 --> 01:21:45,840
discuss a particular project such as
this ballpark

968
01:21:44,320 --> 01:21:50,640
and how many times has it been in front
of this board?

969
01:21:47,679 --> 01:21:56,320
Um how many times has it been discussed?
I mean at least I would think 10.

970
01:21:54,239 --> 01:22:02,880
Um,
so but but I I don't want to discuss

971
01:21:59,520 --> 01:22:07,520
breach of contract in in the public when
whatever you say can be quoted against

972
01:22:04,480 --> 01:22:11,400
you in court. So um that would be
appropriate in closely

973
01:22:12,880 --> 01:22:23,280
and I and just one other portion it's it
to to Councilman Scott's thoughts and

974
01:22:18,560 --> 01:22:31,120
and and uh what he was asking. I don't
think anybody up here minds, you know,

975
01:22:29,040 --> 01:22:35,840
having a detailed budget and and
accounting process, right? As Councilman

976
01:22:33,920 --> 01:22:41,360
Stevens said, this was the start of that
tonight. That's what this is is to show

977
01:22:38,880 --> 01:22:45,760
that money. That is the next thing on
the agenda. People talk about

978
01:22:43,600 --> 01:22:52,159
transparency. There's nothing
Everything's been in in the public,

979
01:22:48,400 --> 01:22:57,440
right? So from a transparency standpoint
and and showing that I don't think

980
01:22:54,080 --> 01:23:02,000
anybody is saying that we don't do that.
Is it a lot of money? Is it a risk?

981
01:23:00,239 --> 01:23:07,040
Absolutely.
It absolutely is.

982
01:23:04,800 --> 01:23:10,880
But saying that we're not trying to do
our accounting properly. And I'm not

983
01:23:09,360 --> 01:23:15,520
saying that you were saying that
Councilman Scott at all. That's not what

984
01:23:12,480 --> 01:23:20,560
I'm saying. I'm just making a statement
uh a general statement. It's simply not

985
01:23:17,920 --> 01:23:27,360
true. Right? That's what we're doing
tonight. It is right here.

986
01:23:23,600 --> 01:23:32,159
If you haven't looked at it, look at it.
But don't say that we're not being

987
01:23:29,920 --> 01:23:37,120
transparent and that we haven't had
meetings on this. I don't know how many

988
01:23:34,320 --> 01:23:44,320
we've had, but we've had a lot. And they
have been right here in this room in the

989
01:23:41,199 --> 01:23:52,880
public. And if you've chosen not to be
involved until now, that is on you.

990
01:23:48,480 --> 01:24:00,560
That is on you. Okay. It is. It
absolutely is because everything has

991
01:23:56,880 --> 01:24:09,600
been publicized, put on the agenda and
talked about. Okay. So, is it every

992
01:24:04,880 --> 01:24:15,360
single detail to the the color of the a
building? Maybe not. But the general

993
01:24:12,960 --> 01:24:21,520
accounting and what's there has been
presented, right? It was presented last

994
01:24:18,320 --> 01:24:26,960
meeting and yes, I voted to break that
tie and move the money because I believe

995
01:24:23,199 --> 01:24:31,679
in the project. All right. So, I just
want the public regardless of what

996
01:24:29,120 --> 01:24:38,800
happens, you know, here, but I want the
p the public to understand that

997
01:24:35,920 --> 01:24:43,440
just as I've had we've had two or three
speak against this, there's also people

998
01:24:41,199 --> 01:24:47,639
that are are for the ball field, believe
it or not. So

999
01:24:47,920 --> 01:24:55,840
they let it be known and they tell us
and if not, you know, I wouldn't I

1000
01:24:53,760 --> 01:25:00,960
wouldn't be in favor of it myself if
there weren't people that that also

1001
01:24:58,400 --> 01:25:06,480
believed in it.
Anyway, my point is is that regardless

1002
01:25:04,320 --> 01:25:12,880
of what happens,
it is it the notion that it's not public

1003
01:25:10,480 --> 01:25:17,040
hearing or no public hearing as as the
attorney stated. uh I don't think

1004
01:25:15,040 --> 01:25:22,560
there's any any requirement or anything
to have a public hearing in this case as

1005
01:25:20,000 --> 01:25:29,520
as from what staff has presented uh to
us and things that have occurred um from

1006
01:25:27,440 --> 01:25:35,440
voting on this and moving things forward
have occurred in open meetings. Okay? So

1007
01:25:33,040 --> 01:25:41,840
I just want to make that clear to the
public. Uh you can you can agree with it

1008
01:25:38,960 --> 01:25:48,239
or disagree with it but just tell the
facts. Okay? Don't make it look like

1009
01:25:45,120 --> 01:25:54,000
something that it's not and stand up and
be all dramatic about things uh and

1010
01:25:51,120 --> 01:26:00,400
speak online about things that are
simply not the case. Right? And I'm not

1011
01:25:57,920 --> 01:26:08,000
talking about any specific person. I'm
just talking in general because that

1012
01:26:02,719 --> 01:26:15,840
seems to be what people sometimes
tend to do these days.

1013
01:26:10,560 --> 01:26:20,960
Um, it's I have no problem with hearing
a different side of a story, uh, hearing

1014
01:26:18,880 --> 01:26:26,480
the pros and hearing the cons. And if
you disagree, then that's fine. We

1015
01:26:23,760 --> 01:26:30,880
disagree and we move on, right? And
that's what we'll do tonight. You know

1016
01:26:28,400 --> 01:26:35,040
what you no matter what happens tonight.
Uh, that's or that's what I'll do. Um,

1017
01:26:33,040 --> 01:26:40,320
you know, because it that that's what it
is. But I just I just want to uh be

1018
01:26:38,480 --> 01:26:44,560
clear from the from a board standpoint,
whether you're for or against, I don't

1019
01:26:42,320 --> 01:26:48,880
think there's anybody on this board
that's tried to hide, you know, or is

1020
01:26:46,800 --> 01:26:53,600
trying to hide anything when it comes to
this. I mean, good gracious, it's a, you

1021
01:26:51,120 --> 01:27:00,800
know, it's a it's a huge expense, right?
and we need to be open and and certainly

1022
01:26:56,639 --> 01:27:04,880
if this were to move forward uh 100%
agree with with Councilman Scott and and

1023
01:27:03,280 --> 01:27:09,520
everybody else and I think we all agree
with that. Um yes, we would want a

1024
01:27:07,440 --> 01:27:14,560
detailed accounting and that's what the
the very next item on the agenda would

1025
01:27:11,600 --> 01:27:19,360
be for uh is the start of that process.
So that's all that's all I'm going to

1026
01:27:16,719 --> 01:27:23,920
say. I know that's a lot, but um things
have gotten a little tense this evening

1027
01:27:22,239 --> 01:27:29,679
and so forth. And I just thought it was
good just to to put it out there. And

1028
01:27:26,159 --> 01:27:34,080
again, you don't have to agree. Um
that's that's that's [snorts] that's,

1029
01:27:31,760 --> 01:27:39,760
you know, that's that's up to you. But
um to make it look like something is uh

1030
01:27:37,360 --> 01:27:43,840
being done underhanded and so forth is
simply not true. And I'm not saying

1031
01:27:42,000 --> 01:27:49,040
anybody in this room or anybody tonight
or anybody on this council has said

1032
01:27:45,199 --> 01:27:53,600
that. That's just a general statement uh
about the whole process. Okay. So

1033
01:27:52,000 --> 01:27:57,120
anyway, that's all I have. Sorry that
was a long-winded and I know we got a

1034
01:27:55,440 --> 01:27:58,719
motion on the table in a second.
>> May I like to make a couple more

1035
01:27:58,320 --> 01:28:02,960
comments?
>> Yes, sir. Go ahead.

1036
01:28:00,000 --> 01:28:07,520
» Um first of all, u thank you for the
opportunity to speak again. Uh I think

1037
01:28:05,600 --> 01:28:13,040
we need to really reflect on what a
public hearing is.

1038
01:28:10,080 --> 01:28:17,679
Yes, we've had public meetings, but a
public hearing, the law says you

1039
01:28:14,880 --> 01:28:22,400
announce it 10 days to the public and
then you open the floor and let them

1040
01:28:18,880 --> 01:28:26,239
speak. We've not let them do that yet.
Talking about it in a public meeting is

1041
01:28:24,000 --> 01:28:31,600
not a public hearing.
And the other thing that was mentioned

1042
01:28:29,360 --> 01:28:35,840
is about the lawsuit. I [clears throat]
think we have to look at what risks we

1043
01:28:33,360 --> 01:28:41,840
have versus
where does it stop at. And

1044
01:28:39,120 --> 01:28:46,719
if somebody's been
eluding that this was not up and

1045
01:28:44,560 --> 01:28:53,040
transparent, I understand this is a
change tonight. But reality is there has

1046
01:28:50,239 --> 01:28:57,199
been money spent on this already and
that should be reflected. We should have

1047
01:28:54,880 --> 01:29:02,000
that in front of us right now besides a
PowerPoint slide that says it's probably

1048
01:28:58,719 --> 01:29:06,320
going to be $5.5 million next year, 3.27
this year. We need,

1049
01:29:04,800 --> 01:29:10,000
you've got to have the checks and
balances and and we don't have that. If

1050
01:29:08,320 --> 01:29:15,360
it moves forward, I hope we can obtain
that

1051
01:29:12,239 --> 01:29:22,159
about the contract.
There's two contracts. There's a design

1052
01:29:18,080 --> 01:29:26,320
build and we talked about that and the
gentleman stood right there. I don't

1053
01:29:23,760 --> 01:29:29,600
know how he can sue us when it's on the
record that it was going to be $6

1054
01:29:27,600 --> 01:29:35,199
million.
And then few last meeting we had here we

1055
01:29:33,600 --> 01:29:41,560
found out it was going to be $16
million. Yeah, that's right. And

1056
01:29:42,880 --> 01:29:46,480
Travis would
ask you a question.

1057
01:29:46,080 --> 01:29:54,000
» Sure.
>> Uh would you want to get a

1058
01:29:50,800 --> 01:29:57,280
more detailed
accounting

1059
01:29:55,520 --> 01:30:02,159
uh set out just on this particular
issue?

1060
01:29:58,800 --> 01:30:06,880
uh printed on the agenda and put into
the next meeting. I don't know if you

1061
01:30:04,320 --> 01:30:12,239
object to that, mayor, but I mean, so
it's very clear and you have chance to

1062
01:30:10,639 --> 01:30:15,760
comment in advance and get more if you
don't think it's there.

1063
01:30:13,360 --> 01:30:18,800
» Put it on the agenda and and it could be
if you want an advertised meeting, it

1064
01:30:17,280 --> 01:30:22,560
could be an advertised meeting, but
there've been a lot of meetings on this.

1065
01:30:20,480 --> 01:30:25,600
Now, I don't know how many advertised.
That's the only difference.

1066
01:30:23,760 --> 01:30:30,239
» You'd have to advertise it for the
October meeting if you you want to

1067
01:30:27,920 --> 01:30:35,600
advert, but if if you're worried about
every technicality, you could advertise

1068
01:30:31,920 --> 01:30:40,560
it. Um, every one of these state laws
that affect this budget stuff, and we

1069
01:30:37,520 --> 01:30:46,560
got rode up by say you're supposed to
have a public hearing. I mean, we

1070
01:30:42,639 --> 01:30:50,080
shouldn't be doing uh budget amendments
in the consent agenda. I mean, this is a

1071
01:30:48,800 --> 01:30:56,560
real item.
>> U, that's what concerns me. I, you know,

1072
01:30:53,520 --> 01:31:02,639
Mr. suspense. With all due respect,
this council is going to do what they

1073
01:30:58,639 --> 01:31:06,400
want to do. But I do have a concern with
the motion that I've got on the floor

1074
01:31:04,800 --> 01:31:11,679
that two of my fellow council members
are not here and I feel like they should

1075
01:31:08,480 --> 01:31:16,120
have a right to weigh in on this.
I would be willing to uh

1076
01:31:16,880 --> 01:31:23,360
amend my motion.
We need to have a further discussion in

1077
01:31:21,520 --> 01:31:28,880
close session before we call for a vote
on this mayor if it's so appropriate

1078
01:31:26,320 --> 01:31:36,840
because there is some things that we
need to talk about with this contract.

1079
01:31:32,400 --> 01:31:36,840
There's a major risk for our town.

1080
01:31:37,840 --> 01:31:44,800
I'm fine with that. MP is that fun?
>> Yeah.

1081
01:31:41,600 --> 01:31:46,480
» So, Miss Wallace, do you you would you
agree with that? You seconded the

1082
01:31:46,080 --> 01:31:52,560
motion.
>> Yeah, second. But also I want to say to

1083
01:31:49,280 --> 01:31:57,199
this uh if we would get the financial
report

1084
01:31:54,320 --> 01:32:04,159
days before because I had to thumb
through all this here at the meeting. So

1085
01:32:00,960 --> 01:32:08,719
uh a lot of decisions that you're asking
us to make we don't even have the back

1086
01:32:06,880 --> 01:32:13,040
of the finance state until today and you
can't look at it. And I've been asking

1087
01:32:11,440 --> 01:32:17,920
and asking and all the training that
I've had in the finance they said you

1088
01:32:15,120 --> 01:32:22,719
are supposed to have these
way before your meeting. We got the our

1089
01:32:20,800 --> 01:32:28,639
agenda.
No, no education.

1090
01:32:26,080 --> 01:32:34,639
They said that you should have the
financial statement when you get your

1091
01:32:31,360 --> 01:32:39,440
agenda. And we get it every time since
I've been on the board the day of the

1092
01:32:36,960 --> 01:32:44,560
meeting. And that needs to stop. It
really needs to stop. If you want us to

1093
01:32:41,920 --> 01:32:48,520
vote effective, you need to give us
something to work with

1094
01:32:53,440 --> 01:32:57,000
» financial report.

1095
01:32:58,159 --> 01:33:02,800
» Think that's something that could be
worked on.

1096
01:33:01,199 --> 01:33:08,120
» So all that money I've been spending on
training, this is what I'm learning that

1097
01:33:04,560 --> 01:33:08,120
you need to have.

1098
01:33:09,679 --> 01:33:17,679
All right. So, Miss Wallace, for your
points, are you you're in agreement with

1099
01:33:16,400 --> 01:33:20,000
we'll we'll um
>> Yes.

1100
01:33:18,000 --> 01:33:25,440
» I guess
Councilman Scott, you'll

1101
01:33:22,800 --> 01:33:27,679
» um withdraw your motion till we go into
close session. Is that what I'm hearing?

1102
01:33:27,199 --> 01:33:31,760
» Yes, sir.
>> Okay.

1103
01:33:28,639 --> 01:33:35,280
» All right. All right.
Do we we good? We don't need anything on

1104
01:33:33,760 --> 01:33:38,719
that, right? There's no vote or
anything. I mean, do we need

1105
01:33:37,280 --> 01:33:40,320
So we need a vote.
>> Yeah.

1106
01:33:39,280 --> 01:33:43,679
» Okay. All right.
>> Vote to to put it in close. I mean he's

1107
01:33:42,400 --> 01:33:46,320
already made the motion to put it in
close session.

1108
01:33:44,400 --> 01:33:48,880
» Okay. So we just need a mo we just need
a

1109
01:33:47,520 --> 01:33:51,280
» say to you a second
>> to go into close session and discuss

1110
01:33:50,480 --> 01:33:54,000
that further.
>> Yes.

1111
01:33:51,600 --> 01:33:55,760
» Okay. So I have a motion and a second.
All in favor?

1112
01:33:55,120 --> 01:34:02,239
» I.
>> Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. All right.

1113
01:33:59,199 --> 01:34:09,840
Now, um there's then probably no reason
for us to do the next one [laughter]

1114
01:34:05,760 --> 01:34:13,760
as well. So, um we will now move on then
to

1115
01:34:11,440 --> 01:34:19,600
Councilman's comments. Thank you.
>> All right. Anything from council this

1116
01:34:18,080 --> 01:34:24,639
like we probably got a lot for close
session.

1117
01:34:22,000 --> 01:34:26,960
» All right. All right. I'm not seeing
anything.

1118
01:34:26,320 --> 01:34:31,840
» Quick question.
>> Yes, sir. uh the close session to

1119
01:34:29,040 --> 01:34:35,679
discuss that is that already covered by
A5 and A6. Is that

1120
01:34:33,760 --> 01:34:37,840
» No,
>> we need to have

1121
01:34:36,159 --> 01:34:43,040
» we got to have the the additional one
involves I'm going to have to site

1122
01:34:39,600 --> 01:34:46,040
subsection but it it involves possible
litigation

1123
01:34:49,600 --> 01:34:53,679
» three
need to add three

1124
01:34:52,800 --> 01:34:57,080
» section three
>> section three.

1125
01:34:58,239 --> 01:35:04,960
All right. Um [laughter]
Miss Manager, I'll turn it over to you.

1126
01:35:02,719 --> 01:35:11,520
Yeah. All right. So, town offices will
be closed on Monday for Labor Day. Um,

1127
01:35:08,800 --> 01:35:18,080
we have a lot of activities coming up in
the coming month um that are at the top

1128
01:35:15,199 --> 01:35:25,679
most uh most recent will be September
11th, our fall Friday concert um on the

1129
01:35:21,360 --> 01:35:31,679
on the front. Um the Ava Gardner
Festival is October 1st and 2nd and then

1130
01:35:28,560 --> 01:35:34,719
October Fest October 10th. Um, I would
like to say that street resurfacing

1131
01:35:33,280 --> 01:35:40,080
should be wrapping up in the next couple
weeks and then, um, Lawrence will be

1132
01:35:38,159 --> 01:35:44,880
gearing up to get the list out for the
next set of street resurfacing.

1133
01:35:42,880 --> 01:35:49,760
Um,
our fire department is 100% uh, staffed.

1134
01:35:49,001 --> 01:35:54,560
[clears throat]
So, that's exciting. Our police

1135
01:35:51,679 --> 01:36:00,000
department is also uh they're doing
their last um enrollment of an employee

1136
01:35:57,679 --> 01:36:04,320
and they will also be 100% staffed which
is the I think that's been quite a while

1137
01:36:02,080 --> 01:36:10,239
since they have been 100% staffed. So
it's good to hear. Um

1138
01:36:08,000 --> 01:36:15,520
we are in the process of doing
interviews right now for the assistant

1139
01:36:12,560 --> 01:36:20,800
finance director, the CSR position as
well as a payroll technician. Um and

1140
01:36:18,960 --> 01:36:24,159
that assistant finance director will be
taking over the roles of Greg who has

1141
01:36:23,199 --> 01:36:28,960
been working on our bank
reconciliations. As we all know, he is

1142
01:36:26,480 --> 01:36:34,400
um sick and so that's why it's late this
month. Um we talked to him today and we

1143
01:36:32,000 --> 01:36:39,760
should have that by the next meeting. Um
and that is all I have.

1144
01:36:37,040 --> 01:36:45,760
» Oh, that just just reminded me I don't
think this is really necessary, but you

1145
01:36:42,800 --> 01:36:50,400
we spoke of Greg being sick. Obviously,
everybody knows that Councilman Wood is

1146
01:36:49,760 --> 01:36:54,719
» I'm sorry.
>> I said it's personal about Greg. We said

1147
01:36:52,719 --> 01:36:56,719
that's violating HIPPA law.
>> Everybody knows he's sick.

1148
01:36:55,920 --> 01:37:04,480
» Yeah.
>> So, anyway, um sorry. Um so, everybody

1149
01:37:01,199 --> 01:37:09,119
knows about Councilman Wood um as sick.
So, I would entertain a motion that we

1150
01:37:07,040 --> 01:37:12,320
excuse him.
>> We did we do the resolution? We did that

1151
01:37:10,880 --> 01:37:15,600
full time. We did a resolution. Sorry.
Sorry. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All

1152
01:37:13,840 --> 01:37:18,239
right. Appreciate it.
>> I do have one more thing. If

1153
01:37:17,280 --> 01:37:18,960
» she's finished, now I'll make a
statement.

1154
01:37:18,560 --> 01:37:21,040
» Absolutely.
>> I got one more thing. I'm sorry if

1155
01:37:20,560 --> 01:37:24,560
that's okay.
>> Yeah. Yeah.

1156
01:37:21,840 --> 01:37:30,639
» Um I did send out an email yesterday for
a doodle poll for a retreat um for when

1157
01:37:28,719 --> 01:37:34,000
uh Councilman Wood comes back. He should
be back in November, but that's rolling

1158
01:37:32,239 --> 01:37:37,679
into the holidays. So the doodle poll is
for January, February time frame. It

1159
01:37:35,760 --> 01:37:41,440
would be a Friday and a Saturday. if you
could all go in and fill out the doodle

1160
01:37:39,199 --> 01:37:46,800
poll so we can get a consensus on a
weekend for that retreat, I'd appreciate

1161
01:37:44,000 --> 01:37:49,800
it. Um, but I sent that out yesterday to
everybody.

1162
01:37:50,880 --> 01:38:00,159
» I would like to uh announce that uh this
be my fifth year just recognizing the

1163
01:37:57,600 --> 01:38:04,320
the first responders. I know this is not
on the information here. I think it's

1164
01:38:01,760 --> 01:38:09,280
very important. I was doing this before
I was a town council woman. So, I have

1165
01:38:07,199 --> 01:38:13,600
continued to do that. So, we will be
representing the firefighters, the first

1166
01:38:11,040 --> 01:38:17,440
responder EMS, and that will be this
coming Saturday.

1167
01:38:15,920 --> 01:38:21,119
» And what time is that, Miss?
>> It will be from uh 12 to 2.

1168
01:38:19,920 --> 01:38:24,560
» And location?
>> It's going to be at Gertru um Johnson

1169
01:38:24,159 --> 01:38:29,280
Park.
>> Okay. All right.

1170
01:38:27,280 --> 01:38:33,440
» I see this announced on the kiosk, but I
I don't see it here announced here.

1171
01:38:31,199 --> 01:38:40,080
» Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> You're welcome. Um, and then also, um,

1172
01:38:37,520 --> 01:38:46,480
did want to mention I I see Mr. Cowwell
in the back, Adam.

1173
01:38:43,679 --> 01:38:52,639
I guess, uh, Commissioner Elect, as long
as there's not a lot of writins. Is that

1174
01:38:49,440 --> 01:38:55,920
is that correct, sir? Welcome. Uh,
pleased pleased to have you here. Uh,

1175
01:38:54,320 --> 01:38:58,719
sorry I didn't see you at the beginning
of meeting, but now some folks have

1176
01:38:57,360 --> 01:39:04,560
moved away. I see you sitting back
there. So, so, welcome. Glad you're

1177
01:39:00,880 --> 01:39:08,880
you're I came to Smithfield and um
appreciate you. Yeah, appreciate you

1178
01:39:06,719 --> 01:39:14,800
coming. Look look look look forward to
to working with you uh uh in a few

1179
01:39:11,440 --> 01:39:21,119
months. Congratulations, sir. All right.
If there's nothing else, um I entertain

1180
01:39:17,440 --> 01:39:25,760
a motion to go into close session. Uh
pursuant to North Carolina General

1181
01:39:22,960 --> 01:39:32,400
Statute 143
uh-318.11

1182
01:39:27,760 --> 01:39:34,719
section A5 A6 and section three. Have a
motion.

1183
01:39:33,119 --> 01:39:36,960
» Move.
>> Motion a second. All in favor?

1184
01:39:36,560 --> 01:39:41,880
» I.
>> All right. We'll go into close session

1185
01:39:38,239 --> 01:39:41,880
at this time. Thank you.