[0:09] Good evening. I will call the meeting to order at this time. If you will please

[0:13] rise for the invocation and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.

[0:17] This time I'll call upon Dr. Cohen if he will please lead us in the invocation

[0:21] this evening. >> I take it. I'm doing it.

[0:24] » Let us bow our heads. Heavenly Father, we come before you this

[0:29] evening with grateful hearts for the privilege of serving our community.

[0:36] We thank you for the blessings you have poured upon Smithfield,

[0:41] its peoples, its history, and its future. Lord, grant

[0:48] us wisdom. Wisdom that is study and clear so that every

[0:55] decision we make tonight reflects fairness, compassion, and integrity.

[1:03] Help us to listen to each other. Help us to hear

[1:09] your will. Let us speak with kindness

[1:14] and let us work together in unity for the good of all who come to this town

[1:20] who makes this town our homes. This I pray in Jesus's name.

[1:27] Let the church say amen. >> Amen. [clears throat]

[1:31] » I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of

[1:35] America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God,

[1:42] indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[1:48] [clears throat]

[2:00] » [snorts]

[2:05] » All right. Uh, we have the agenda. We do have a couple of known additions to the

[2:10] agenda. One is to remove consent agenda item number two. Um this is at the

[2:16] request of the applicant. And then to add to consent agenda item

[2:23] number eight, which is consideration and request for approval of a temporary use

[2:28] permit to allow the closure of South Third Street and a portion of East

[2:33] Johnston Street on Saturday, September 5th, 2026 from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We

[2:40] Does everybody have this information? >> They should. Yeah.

[2:44] » Okay. Yep. >> All right. All right. Any other

[2:48] additions or corrections to the agenda? >> If not, I'll entertain a motion. I just

[2:53] » I would like to ask uh for an amendment to the agenda.

[2:57] » Okay. >> I would like to ask that consent items

[3:00] number three and four be moved down to

[3:04] business. So that would be business two and three.

[3:24] And uh also, mayor, can you have the clerk

[3:28] tell us the statues for the close session?

[3:36] Is that personnel in a contract? >> Yes.

[3:40] » Okay. [cough and laughter]

[3:42] Okay. Any other thoughts, comments, conditions? Not I'll

[3:48] entertain a motion to approve the agenda as amended.

[3:51] » So move. >> Motion. Do I have a second?

[3:55] » Second. >> Motion a second. All in favor?

[3:58] Any opposed? Motion carries. All right. Now move on to our presentations. Our

[4:06] first presentation this evening is a proclamation acknowledging September the

[4:10] 17th through the 23rd, 2026 as Constitution Week in the town of

[4:16] Smithfield. So Dedra, I'll ask you to come forward.

[4:31] behind.

[4:37] How are you? >> Everything doing well. If you will just

[4:41] uh please bear with me as I read this proclamation. It is my honor uh to do

[4:46] this once again this year um and to be able to read this proclamation for

[4:51] Constitution Week, which is going to be September the 17th through the 23rd uh

[4:57] of this year in the town of Smithfield. Whereas September the 17th, 2026

[5:03] marks the 239th anniversary of drafting the Constitution of the United States of

[5:09] America by the Constitutional Convention. And whereas it is fitting

[5:13] and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document

[5:18] and to and and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which

[5:24] will commemorate the occasion. And whereas public wall 915 guarantees the

[5:31] issuing of a proclamation each year by the president of the United States of

[5:36] America designating September the 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week.

[5:42] Now therefore, I, Andy Moore, mayor of the town of Smithfield, do hereby

[5:46] proclaim September the 17th through the 23rd, 2026

[5:51] to be Constitution Week in the town of Smithfield. And I ask our citizens to

[5:56] reaffirm the ideals the framers of the Constitution in 1787 by vigilantly

[6:02] protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties,

[6:07] remembering that lost rights may never be regained.

[6:12] » Thank you so much. I will present this to you. All right.

[6:15] » Couple of posters and could you mic? Absolutely. I just wanted to say that

[6:20] you are all invited on September 17th at 3:45 in the afternoon to the Market

[6:26] Street steps of the courthouse where we will have a brief ceremony marking the

[6:31] time and at 4:00 we will ring bells and make noise which is what um the framers

[6:37] of the constitution requested should be done every year to not only mark the

[6:42] occasion but to make the general public aware of this as Andy said this

[6:47] magnificent document that we still claim that guarantees our freedoms. So, if

[6:51] you're available, please come. September 17th, 3:45.

[6:55] » Thank you very much. >> Thank you so much.

[6:56] » Thank you for the proclamation. >> Absolutely. Good to see you again.

[6:59] » All right. Good to see you. >> I'll see you in the October.

[7:01] » Okay. Thank you.

[7:21] All right, we will now move to our next presentation which was is the electric

[7:25] rate study. Ted >> Council, good evening. Tonight staff has

[7:31] asked Mr. Mike Johnson of Utility Financial Solutions, otherwise known as

[7:35] UFS, to present his preliminary analysis of the electric rate cost of service

[7:39] study that UFS performed for the town. As you may be aware, having a cost of

[7:45] service study performed every five years is a financial best practice, and it's

[7:50] been about five years since we had our last one. Also, as many many of you may

[7:54] know, UFS is a trusted firm with a long, successful track record in Smithfield.

[8:00] They have helped guide our utility rates to maintain a healthy and strong

[8:03] financial position in both the electric fund and the water fund. So, uh, I'll

[8:09] stop talking and let Mike uh, go ahead. Uh, Mr. Mike Johnson, if you're ready.

[8:14] » I'm ready. Thank you, Ted. And thank you everyone for allowing me to come here

[8:20] today to present the results. Um, I'm Lee Johnson, the project manager, as Ted

[8:25] just mentioned. Can you all Can you hear me, Ted? Everybody can hear me there.

[8:29] » We can hear you, but there's a lot of echo in it.

[8:33] That may not be your issue. That may be our issue. So,

[8:36] » let me just try that. Is that any better?

[8:39] » Is that any better or not?

[8:44] Not much better. >> That's a little better.

[8:48] » Okay, I I'll go ahead and then if we we run into problems, we'll figure out a

[8:52] way to deal with them.

[8:56] So, the purpose of today is to review the electric cost of service study

[9:00] results and the financial projection results. Um there's two questions that

[9:06] are driving today. Uh that's is the utility financially sustainable and are

[9:13] the correct customers paying their fair share.

[9:17] » I'm going to turn my camera off and then just go through a brief presentation.

[9:23] » I cannot hear him either. >> Can you ask them to turn monitor

[9:27] speakers? >> Okay.

[9:29] » And not the other one. Um,

[9:35] » that I don't know. >> Mute one of them. I got you.

[9:52] » Now that works. >> Let's see if that works. Mike.

[9:56] » Okay. Any better testing? One, two, three. Is that better?

[10:03] » It's a little >> Maybe if you just increase the volume so

[10:06] I can >> now turn that one up so they can

[10:09] » Are they the same? >> That's the That one muted.

[10:16] » He's on the computer.

[10:29] Move your mouse.

[10:34] » Yeah.

[10:40] » All right, Mike. Try that again. >> Okay. Testing one, two, three. Is this

[10:45] any better? That's >> better.

[10:47] » That's much better. Oh, I can't hear you now, Ted. You must

[10:51] have switched that one off. >> Okay, great. Um, the road map for what

[10:56] we're doing today, um, the first half of this this presentation is going to be on

[11:02] the financial projection. I'm going to look at the debt coverage ratio, uh, the

[11:06] minimum cash reserves, target operating income, and then the resulting rate

[11:11] adjustment plan. So, basically, we're going to identify how much revenue is

[11:15] needed. The second half of the cost of service study is the cost of service

[11:19] study results uh which is going to identify who should

[11:23] pay for the revenue that's needed.

[11:29] So with any >> [clears throat]

[11:33] » um with any projection there there's a need to have assumptions um and these

[11:39] are the assumptions that are going into the into the into our model for the uh

[11:43] for the electric utility. So inflation I have steady at 3% throughout the period

[11:50] from 2027 through 2031 I have very little growth um you know 1%

[11:58] maybe half a percent towards the end the purchase power uh at 20 through 31 I

[12:05] have somewhere between 3 and 4% and that's being provided to me by

[12:09] electricities the 3.7% reduction in 27 7. Um it's a

[12:16] bit of an anomaly. Um the only reason it's going down is because you have

[12:20] what's called a rider one in your tariff and and the 22 and the 23 rider one

[12:26] portions will be going away. So you your demand and energy costs are actually

[12:31] going up, but those rider costs are coming down. So you're going to see a

[12:36] 3.7% reduction in purchase power, but it's just from those riders. It's not

[12:40] the fact that energy prices are going down.

[12:44] Um, investment income I've got at 2.5% for 2027 and then I've got it going down

[12:50] to more normal levels that we're used to, but uh, it's it's conservative. You

[12:55] know, it could be anywhere three to three three down to 0.5%.

[13:01] Capital funded projects. I got a couple of big projects that are going on. Um,

[13:08] we got a unit the this is substation on the access point one. that's getting

[13:13] refurbished. Um, and the total for that is 7 million over two years. And then

[13:19] there's another couple of projects that make up the rest of it. Uh, in 29

[13:24] through 31, we've got some uh reconductoring of of some lines about a

[13:30] million dollars through that period. Does anybody have any questions or

[13:35] anything any looks off on the assumptions?

[13:40] Okay.

[13:45] This is the uh the summary results. This is basically the the the baseline. This

[13:51] is what happens if you did nothing. If you didn't change anything,

[13:55] um this is what your finances would look like at a high level.

[13:59] We look at three different um three different

[14:05] um metrics or targets that that we want to achieve and

[14:12] we try and balance those out when we go a rate design. Those three are um let's

[14:17] see if I can get a P here. Those three are the debt coverage ratio

[14:23] which you're in really good shape. uh you don't have much debt and it falls

[14:27] off in fiscal year 2027. The next one is the recommended minimum

[14:32] cash and this is the big one. We want this one always to be good uh because

[14:37] cash is king. And then there's the adjusted operating

[14:42] income which we want to be this is an upper

[14:47] boundary this this this uh target. Um, and you can see from here these red bits

[14:53] are where we're falling below. So, we need to do something to try and move

[14:57] them. The uh the debt coverage ratio, like I said, is

[15:03] is is good. Um, even if you were to take out a small loan in 2028, it it would

[15:08] still still be good with the amount of income you're going to be generating

[15:13] uh later. The the recommended minimum cash though is is an issue. Um we we

[15:20] only come up with a recommended minimum and and that's based on um we're

[15:24] accounting for risks in in this in in in running the utility and we want to make

[15:29] sure that you have enough working capital to cover 45 days of O and M

[15:36] expenses less depreciation. We want to make sure you have enough funds to start

[15:42] uh start funding where a catastrophe to occur, maybe a storm come through,

[15:47] something like that. We want to be able to pay your highest debt service payment

[15:53] and pay your capital that's going to be starting in that year.

[16:00] The adjusted operating income that I've got there, that's that's the the optimal

[16:04] is made up of of two things.

[16:09] It's made up of um interest expenses on debt which as I said you know you don't

[16:14] have any and it's also a rate of return which is kind of strange for nonprofit

[16:20] um municipal utilities that we have to make a rate of return but we do have to

[16:25] make a rate of return in order to recover the inflationary costs on the

[16:29] assets. So for you guys, we're calculating the optimal operating income

[16:34] that we don't want to exceed is somewhere between a million and 1.2

[16:38] million. That's not a target. It's just a it's just, you know, we we don't

[16:42] really want it. It's an upper boundary. So we've got our lower boundary is our

[16:46] cash and our upper boundary is is our optimal operating income. So somehow we

[16:52] want to get the rates to go just between those two.

[16:57] So

[17:02] this is the [clears throat] I have to cut off.

[17:08] Okay, this is the rate track that we've come up with. Um there's here there's

[17:14] 32% in the first three years and then two

[17:19] 3%s. debt coverage ratio is the same, but

[17:24] here we've got rid of the red ones that were down here and they're all positive

[17:30] now. So, this is this is good. And then our cash is still good as well. We've

[17:35] we've got it above the minimum. Bear in mind, this is a minimum. So, we want to

[17:39] we want to exceed it. And we want to make sure that we're prudently

[17:42] collecting money for future construction costs.

[17:48] So, with this rate track, we we basically check all the boxes. There

[17:53] might be a timing concern when I looked at this this morning on the the the two

[17:58] $4 million payments in um 27 and 28, but I I calculated out and the rate track

[18:05] would would remain the same if you took out a $2.5 million bond issuance in

[18:10] 2028. That's assuming that the the 4 millions

[18:16] both hit in 2027 and 28. You would be short on cash and you may need to bond

[18:21] something, but that would the rate track would stay the same, but the the the

[18:27] cash would be higher at the end is basically what would happen. You'd have

[18:31] an extra couple of million dollars of cash at the end.

[18:37] Now, this is the results of the cost of service. So this this here is the actual

[18:42] cost of service. This is what it costs to serve those customers

[18:49] and here is the projected revenues for your customers and then this is

[18:55] basically the overall change. So in order to get to cost of service you need

[18:59] to raise your rates 3.7%. However, residentials

[19:04] they have a cost of service of 5.4 4 million, but you're only collecting 4.9

[19:10] from them. So, they would need in order to get to cost of service, I'm not

[19:14] recommending this, they would need a 9.6% rate increase.

[19:20] Um, for general service, they need a 4.8%.

[19:24] Municipal general service at 29% area lighting and they would need a decrease.

[19:31] Um, the municipal light municipal lighting you don't actually charge for.

[19:35] It's a it's a benefit of being an APA utility. That's about a $230,000

[19:41] value to the town. Um residential time of use that would need to see an

[19:47] increase um 29% below cost of service, above cost of

[19:53] service. Um general service is is sort of close

[19:58] to cost of service 2.8 8 to 3.7 commercial turning uses

[20:05] is uh slightly over. They're overpaying at the moment and the same for the CP2

[20:11] customer. Uh they're overpaying a little bit and the CP3 customer is underpaying.

[20:18] So we need to move these customers toward cost of service. We don't want to

[20:23] jump to it because it's really just a snapshot in time we're looking at. Um so

[20:29] we we like to do gradual moves [clears throat] toward cost of service

[20:32] maybe at 1 or 2% uh bandwidth from whatever whatever rate track we agree

[20:39] on.

[20:42] This is um the monthly customer charge. Um there's a lot of emphasis on this in

[20:49] [clears throat and snorts] in in the market today for for all

[20:53] electric utilities. Um, with the advent of solar and um, renewables, uh, we want

[21:00] to make sure people are paying for the the fixed charges that don't change on a

[21:05] monthly basis. The the cost of service you see here for

[21:09] residential is 19.54. That's what it actually costs to provide

[21:15] energy to that customer on a monthly basis before any kilowatt hours are

[21:21] provided to them. That's basically for the service drop, the meter meter

[21:26] reading, billing and collection, uh customer service and and a small portion

[21:32] of the distribution system. Um you need a wire basically to get from the

[21:36] substation to the service drop. And we look at the smallest size wire that

[21:41] could carry uh a kilowatt out there. And we do

[21:46] what's called a minimum system analysis. And that cost goes into the customer

[21:51] charge for the minimum part of it and then anything over that becomes part of

[21:55] the demand cost. So these are these are these are charges

[22:01] that occur regardless of whether you use any energy. So you're currently charging

[22:06] $13 and it actually cost $1954 to provide

[22:12] that service. So we're collecting the rest of that money from the energy or

[22:16] the demand charge. And if we're getting it from the energy charge, it means that

[22:20] people are overpaying for their energy. So people like solar solar providers,

[22:27] they're they're actually benefiting from not paying the full amount that they

[22:31] should be paying here for the for the customer charge

[22:35] because they should be paying 1954, but they're only paying the $13.

[22:41] Over [clears throat] on the right hand side is a breakdown of

[22:46] what that 1954 cost is.

[22:51] It's made up of some distribution costs, transformer costs, substation costs, and

[22:57] that's probably about $10.50. Then we got meter O&M $4. So meter

[23:04] reading a buck 90 billion a dollar services $132. that's service drops and

[23:10] things like that and then the customer service of 70 cents.

[23:15] So we really want to move fairly quickly to get to the 1954. Um so

[23:23] we've uh we looking at when we look at the next steps

[23:29] um before I identified a a [clears throat] revenue change of 2%.

[23:35] Um and so as to move toward that as I mentioned before we we typically look

[23:42] for a bandwidth um in your case when when I when I looked at it I thought a

[23:47] 2% bandwidth would be good which means the maximum increase for anybody would

[23:51] be the 2% that the rates are going to change plus 2% so that would be 4%. And

[23:57] the minimum increase is going to be the 2% rate

[24:01] change uh less than 2%. So there would be zero. So then so some people would

[24:07] see zero and some people might see 4%. The other thing is the customer charges.

[24:13] We'd like to move those towards cost of service. And I put together a rate

[24:18] design and and there's there's there's more detail in everything that I've gone

[24:22] through tonight in in your package. Um, but there is a full-blown rate design.

[24:28] I'm if [laughter] if if we need to change that, that's fine. I' I've put it

[24:32] in there just as a reference point. This is the the sample residential rate, and

[24:38] this is in your in in your packet. Um, and what what we're proposing is the

[24:44] singlephase customer going from the 13 to $16. So, that's a $3 increase. And

[24:52] then after that, a couple of 150s to get us close to that 90 that $19 that we

[24:57] wanted to be at. And then we've offset it with a change

[25:01] in the energy to get our revenue requirement, which here we're saying we

[25:05] wanted 2.5%. And that 2.5% is when when when we

[25:10] looked back at the cost of service, they needed to have a higher increase than um

[25:16] than other people cuz they were they were remember they were about 9% from

[25:19] cost of service. and overall it was 3.5%.

[25:23] So they're going to need slightly higher than 2% and we figure that they need a

[25:28] 2.5% rate change in order to in order [clears throat] to start moving toward

[25:33] cost of service. Um and that's offset with other people getting a decrease.

[25:37] And you can see all of those in in the packet. So the effect of that on an

[25:42] annual basis, this this chart shows you that the people at 450 kilowatt hours,

[25:49] they're probably going to see a 5% rate change in the first year and then 3.3

[25:54] 3.5 in the second year. And then once you get to 1050, which is basically your

[26:01] average usage, people start seeing less of an increase. It starts going the

[26:06] other way once you get past that. And that's because we're we're going to

[26:10] we're putting more less emphasis on the energy.

[26:14] The right hand side here shows the effect of it. And basically it's the

[26:19] customer charge. It's $3 in the first year

[26:24] and $3 here there. And then the second year uh it's [clears throat] not so much

[26:28] the customer charge cuz the customer charge has only gone up to 150. So it's

[26:32] the it's the change in energy that's going to drive the second year. But you

[26:35] can see the average is $3 and then 305 and then 313

[26:44] and that's it

[26:48] for the presentation. So I don't know if there's any questions there. Ted, you

[26:52] may have to use sign language. I'll put the mic back on.

[27:00] » Any I know it's very difficult. Any any questions?

[27:04] » Not we may have to. >> Mayor, I do have one question. Um maybe

[27:08] I really struggle here and I've looked at the material. Can you ask him uh

[27:13] based on his rate model the change for the time of use for residential versus u

[27:19] the standard? It almost seems like it's cost prohibitive. At what point do we

[27:23] eliminate um because based off this it was like a

[27:27] 30% change and would that even be worth it to the customer? I guess it depends

[27:32] on how much they use off peak, but um I don't understand why.

[27:36] » Mike, did you happen to hear that question?

[27:39] » I I did hear the question. I looked at it this morning and I

[27:43] um I didn't see I can get to the design.

[27:53] So, it's basically the [clears throat] it's the what's what's driving it is the

[28:01] cost of service for that customer is $34 and they'll be paying $19. That's that's

[28:08] really the big driver. Um because then then they're further away from that

[28:15] charge. But there is also the demand. We we we we're getting the energy pretty

[28:20] close to where we should. um you know the the demand should be higher and then

[28:26] the energy should be lower. This is this is an oil energy price which is what

[28:30] Duke's energy price is to you guys. Uh it's not it's not on an off peak but

[28:37] they still we're we're overcharging here especially here and then we're we're

[28:43] undercharging here. So we need to really

[28:49] in increase here and then decrease here, but it is still the 29 the 29%

[28:54] differential. Um but it still it would still work for

[28:59] them as a rate. Um it's just we need to get it balanced out for them.

[29:06] They would still save money on rate if they used it efficiently.

[29:18] Did you hear that, Councilman Scott? [laughter]

[29:20] » Mayor, I did not. >> I did. I found um Yeah,

[29:25] » it [clears throat] I'm sorry, Mr. John. It's it's it's very difficult to

[29:28] » Yeah, they're not hearing uh your explanation. I think the heart of the

[29:34] question, if I can rephrase it, and Travis, please correct me if I'm wrong.

[29:38] Um the residential toou looked like there's a big

[29:43] uh overcharge based on the and that was just kind of a question slash concern.

[29:49] Is that right Travis? >> Yeah.

[29:53] Um I believe and Mike please correct me if I'm wrong. Um it was a general that

[29:59] certain charges are over certain classes have been overcharged and certain are

[30:03] under but I didn't quite get the conclusion on that. mic.

[30:08] » Um, yeah, it's I don't know you can hear me, but the the maybe if you switch your

[30:13] mic off, you can hear me a little bit better, Ted. That seemed to be the issue

[30:16] before. Um, but it it's it's driven by us under we're charging not enough for

[30:24] the actual demand. Um, we're overcharging on the energy. Um,

[30:30] the the big one is the customer charge. We should be charging the $34.

[30:34] um around China in 1946. These meters are they're more complex to to read and

[30:41] to to the billing is more complex. So it's it's a higher cost to have the

[30:46] meter for these customers. But even even at cost of service, they would they

[30:51] would be cheaper um on on this than on the residential rate.

[30:59] Was that better for sound?

[31:04] I think I understood your >> I'm gonna see if Brian can come.

[31:09] » I heard Did you understand that answer? >> Pattern actually we put them currently

[31:15] residentials are 12.3 cents is sort of the cost of service and for

[31:23] the residential based on their load it's 12.62.

[31:26] So this the cost of service is slightly more for them based on how they're using

[31:31] the system. Um >> yeah, sorry.

[31:42] » Let me let me basically what he's saying is we need to be doing a 2.5 2% 1.5 1%

[31:50] and.5 increase every year to stay positive. [clears throat]

[31:56] Is that right, Ted? >> Yeah. He's he's looking for rate

[32:01] increases wash like between the various uh category various

[32:05] » an average increase.5 for the next three years

[32:08] » between commercial and residential >> all across all

[32:12] » across all our rate which is a lot will be a lot less but it'll wash out as a

[32:17] 2.5% increase. >> Gotcha. 2%.

[32:21] » 2%. I'm sorry. >> These are the individual rates how they

[32:27] would go up. >> If at least Ted can hear and then he can

[32:29] relay. >> Yeah.

[32:31] » Yeah. >> Trying to figure out if I can crank it

[32:33] up just a little bit more.

[32:37] » He's not working. >> Where is this big right here?

[32:41] Close. Okay.

[32:52] Any other questions for right now?

[32:56] » Do we think time of use is still beneficial

[32:59] to the customers? >> Mike, the question was, do we think time

[33:03] of use is still a bene is still beneficial to the customers?

[33:08] » I I think it is, but I think it needs to get tweaked. Um, it's a different study

[33:13] to actually do a time of use study. I'm just looking at the overall picture. Um,

[33:17] but your your your buckets for the energy and demand need to be tweaked.

[33:23] You your your your um your on- peak demand should really go up. Um, and the

[33:30] off peak sorry, the on- peak energy should go up and the off peak energy

[33:35] should go down. That off- peak energy that you're charging should be closer to

[33:40] 3 3 4 cents. Um, I don't think I designed this, right?

[33:47] » Perhaps not. I'm not going to hold you to it, but [laughter] but that that was

[33:51] the general question. >> Yeah, but I I can I can put together a

[33:55] range for you, Ted. Um, that that would that would show where it should be. the

[34:00] the the power supply demand cost that that big number from Duke the $23 that

[34:06] should really go into the on peak which is going to make that on peak closer to

[34:10] probably 20 cents and then they can save on the they can they can then save money

[34:16] by the 3 cents using the three or 4 cents for for the uh

[34:22] for the for the energy off peak and then the distribution costs are picked up in

[34:27] that what what's uh your demand charge picks up the distribution costs here. So

[34:33] there there is there is good reasons to review this rate.

[34:41] » Thank you.

[34:47] » Any other questions, comments at this time?

[34:56] I I would like to offer that if you I know there was a lot of information,

[35:00] some of it may not have transmitted well. Um, but if you do have further

[35:04] questions, please send an email to Kim and myself both and we'll get them to

[35:08] Mike and he can answer them via email. Uh, I'm not asking, this is a

[35:12] presentation. I'm not asking for action to be taken tonight. Uh, just that you

[35:15] guys hear it and hopefully understand some of it and then we'll get you to

[35:19] understand the rest as soon as we can and just kind of consume it, if you

[35:22] will. We have to have a public hearing, too.

[35:24] » Yeah, we're going to have to have a public hearing to adopt the any

[35:27] recommended rate plan or over three years or whatnot.

[35:31] » Okay. >> All right. And during that public

[35:35] hearing, is it the intent to have somebody from UFS here at the site at

[35:42] the meeting? I think it's advisable. I I will ask if UFS can attend uh on

[35:50] site during that public hearing and that would be October the 6th I think is the

[35:55] » it's the first the 1st >> the first Tuesday in October which I

[35:58] believe is the 6th. Let me

[36:01] » yeah

[36:04] see if >> M I think was we talked about this

[36:07] during budgets budget and we did nothing to electrical rates because we knew this

[36:11] study was coming and now here's our study now we need to

[36:14] » correct >> digest it and in October we need to make

[36:17] your decision >> correct

[36:18] » correct >> got you thank you

[36:19] » we have an adjustment >> that is possible it probably be Mark but

[36:23] Mark's Mark's good at teaching he'd be good at that

[36:26] » that's okay thank you that would be wonderful

[36:31] Okay. All right. Thank you. And then also I think during budget nonrelated to

[36:36] electric but we talked about we would do electric first and then afterwards we

[36:41] would do a water >> water's next

[36:42] » and that's that's >> Yep.

[36:44] » We're starting that process as well. >> We will start that as Yes.

[36:48] » soon. Correct. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions

[36:52] this time? >> No. Thank you, sir.

[36:55] » Thank you, Mike. I'm going to um disconnect you now. So, thank you for

[36:58] your time this evening. >> Okay. Thanks. Thanks, everybody.

[37:02] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[37:06] » All right. We'll now move on. Uh we don't have any public hearings this

[37:11] evening. We'll now move to citizens comments. If anyone wishing to speak

[37:15] dear during citizens comments, you will please come forward, state your name and

[37:19] address for the record. I will ask that you hold your comments to three minutes

[37:23] or less. and I will ask the clerk if she will um uh time the the speakers,

[37:29] please. >> Good evening, Stephanie Avery

[37:32] Smithfield. I have more of a more questions than I do comments. I want to

[37:39] know when do you plan to do a presentation to the town for the new

[37:44] baseball stadium, showing the drawings, the budget, and what is coming.

[37:51] especially for the people who live close to the stadium. I think it would be a

[37:56] good idea to do it um so that everybody has an opportunity to see where our tax

[38:03] dollars are going. the um also regarding the stadium I hope you have factored in

[38:10] cons contingency reserves with capital projects there's always overrun and with

[38:18] inflation and also tariffs everything you never know what's going to cost

[38:25] tomorrow what you have budgeted for today

[38:29] and last item is could you put a no entry on Front Street. I have met two

[38:37] people on that one-way street coming down front and I'm like, "Uh, excuse me.

[38:42] This is a one-way street." And it's usually during the day when the court is

[38:48] in session and people are trying to find a parking space and they don't realize

[38:53] that's a one-way street. Thank you. >> Thank you, Anthony.

[38:59] » And anyone else wishing to speak, please come forward if Tom. Good evening.

[39:06] » Uh hello. My name is Jonathan Bell. I live on 205 West Steven Street in

[39:10] Smithfield. Um hello Mr. Mayor, uh board members, uh Attorney Spence, interim

[39:19] manager Picket. Thank you for having me here. Um as well as all of you, the

[39:23] concerned citizens here in Smithfield, North Carolina.

[39:27] I was born and grew up in this town. My grandfather's name is on a plaque

[39:31] outside of this building. I love this town. I enjoy living a quiet life here.

[39:36] You usually wouldn't see me here today. I used to tell my friends and family

[39:40] that I didn't care what the town board did as long as the trash was picked up

[39:43] and the lights stayed on. And boy, do I still wish that was true. In the last

[39:49] year, I've seen the trash not get picked up. Not just in front of my house, but

[39:53] I've seen debris sit on curb the curb or streets all over town. In the last year,

[39:57] I've seen tax revenues go up while quality of service has gone down. In the

[40:02] last year, I've seen businesses downtown shut their doors for good because new

[40:06] zoning and traffic rules are incompatible with keeping a business

[40:09] open on the very block where this building sits.

[40:13] I've seen town employees who worked here for years abruptly quit because their

[40:17] bosses made working conditions unlivable.

[40:21] Tonight we all learned that about a staggered utility rate hike that the

[40:25] board doesn't even understand and could not hear, but undoubtedly will obviously

[40:30] approve. Some will pay more, some will pay less,

[40:35] but how will will the tax players know what we're going to pay? I guess there

[40:40] will be a public hearing in the future. Undoubtedly, too late for us to change

[40:44] it. I've seen the town break ground in a ballpark that no one wanted. And just

[40:49] last month, we were told the budget would be increased by $10 million. $10

[40:53] million, the burden of which will ultimately fall upon you, us, the

[40:58] taxpayer, no matter what this board and the interim town manager have to say.

[41:05] We will have to shoulder this burden. And we're to believe that the Wilson

[41:09] Hobbs are going to make it worth worth it when they couldn't even draw the

[41:12] revenue revenue in Wilson. I'm sure that someone will make $10 million off of

[41:18] that money. But the question is who? Whomever it is, I'd rather they didn't.

[41:22] I'd rather they didn't profit from my tax dollars. Jesus told us that it's

[41:26] easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is to enter the

[41:29] kingdom of heaven. Please forgive me for my language, but as Judge Judy used to

[41:34] say, "Don't piss down my leg and tell me it's raining."

[41:39] And let's mention our interim town manager who makes 160 thou plus th,000 a

[41:44] year when the average salary for a full-time town manager in North Carolina

[41:48] is 108,000. Now I'm sure in Kerry and Chapel Hill

[41:53] and Durham, they may need a manager that makes that much, but we're not Carrie.

[41:57] We're not Chapel Hill and we're not Durham. We're Smithfield.

[42:01] That's more than a vice president at First Citizens Banks makes. More than

[42:04] the county engineer, more than the chief deputy sheriff, and almost as much as

[42:08] the sheriff Bizzle himself. And for what? She ran down the town of Benson

[42:12] into the ground. Left when people started asking where the money went and

[42:16] now refuses to pay back the money she borrowed from them. I came here today to

[42:20] tell the board that we, the citizens of Smithfield, are watching. You can spend

[42:25] this however you want, but I promise you I wouldn't be here if these issues

[42:29] hadn't upset not just me, but hundreds of others.

[42:32] » Thank you, Mr. Bale. >> We don't just ask. We demand that you

[42:35] spend our tax dollars wisely. You have a choice to make since the general

[42:39] election is not this year, but next year. You've got just over a year. Make

[42:43] the right decisions. Otherwise, you'll hear the words that have been echoed

[42:47] throughout the annals of history. Six simper Tyrannis.

[42:52] Thus always to tyrants. Remember your job is to never see me

[42:58] here. Thank you.

[43:01] » Thank you, Mr. Bill. Anyone else wishing to speak?

[43:05] Come forward at this time. If you will, please state your name and address for

[43:09] the record, please. And I'll ask you uh hold your comments to three minutes or

[43:12] less, please. Cool. >> Brett Reno, uh Eden Drive, Smithfield.

[43:17] Mayor, council members, thank you. Uh thank you for what you do. Thank you for

[43:21] uh allowing me to speak. Um I guess maybe two things. Uh real brief. Um the

[43:28] last council meeting I asked a question to the council

[43:32] about what number would be the magic number that makes this stadium project

[43:38] nonviable. And I didn't ask you to give me an

[43:42] answer. I thought I might get at least a phone

[43:46] call from somebody up here. Didn't get one.

[43:52] » Didn't get one.

[43:56] » I'm asking this time. I want to know what that number is. I'm curious to know

[44:01] what that number is. And Dr. Cohen, Scott, Miss Dar, I don't want it from

[44:08] y'all because y'all didn't vote for it. I want it from one of the other four up

[44:12] here. The mayor broke the tie. I'm just stating facts. I'm not I'm not pointing

[44:16] the finger. I want to ask correctly. So, I want it from the other four.

[44:22] I know all I know all four of you very well. Councilman Wood's not here.

[44:27] Illness. Totally get it. You are all businessmen. I know you for a fact.

[44:33] You're all businessmen. When we started out this venture at 6

[44:38] million and now we're at 16269, I think is the number.

[44:43] If Stevens, if your business was looking at a piece of equipment

[44:49] and all of a sudden, Brett, how much is $6 million, Sloan? It's what it's going

[44:54] to cost. 3 months later, I come back, Sloan, it's

[44:58] gone up 170%. Would you still buy that piece of

[45:02] equipment? I'll answer it for you. You absolutely would not. Not from me.

[45:07] I have a I have a problem with it. I still have a problem with it. I'm just

[45:11] asking you to please, please do your due diligence. Something's not right.

[45:17] Something is absolutely, incredibly not right. Second thing, Project 70 across

[45:23] from my neighborhood. It doesn't look right. I'm not an

[45:29] engineer. I don't claim to be one. The grading looks off. It is

[45:34] approximately, and I'm just going by eyeball. I have not measured it. There

[45:38] are parts of it that look like it's 3 feet above the normal graded height of

[45:42] Book of Dairy Road. It does not look right. It's going to be a water problem

[45:47] when it's all said and done. Also, if you'll stand at Eden Drive and

[45:53] look into local 70, the driveway that's going into the old Howell property

[45:57] there, look at the curb and gutter. Look at the street. That is a graded piece of

[46:03] property. It should in all seriousness be flat just like this floor is. It

[46:08] could have some swell in it. I got it. But within 300 ft, it shouldn't look

[46:13] like a washboard going down through there. It's

[46:16] going to look horrible. If it's going to be next to me or next to anybody in the

[46:21] town of Smithfield, I think we have the right for it to look good and to look

[46:25] decent. They're already got the curb and gutter poured. They're pouring every

[46:29] day. if they don't take a look at it, if somebody's not going to go out there and

[46:32] take a look at it and hold them accountable to it, it's going to be

[46:36] beyond the point of fixing. They're not going to want to fix it. Thank you.

[46:39] » Thank you, Mr. Pride. >> Anyone else wishing to speak?

[46:48] » Hello. >> Good evening.

[46:50] » Hello, Kam. >> So, I am Kam. I work at your local

[46:54] Johnston County Public Health Department. Again, this is just quick

[46:58] quarterly update. I just want to remind everyone that September is suicide

[47:03] awareness month. So, I have packets available for everyone that has um

[47:08] warning signs for both youth and adults regarding suicide. It's also time for

[47:13] our back to school vaccines. We have that available at the health department.

[47:17] We also have Narcan available for free for anybody in Johnston County. So, if

[47:22] anyone needs Narcan, please let us know. And we're also starting a diabetes

[47:27] prevention program this week. So if anyone is interested in preventing

[47:32] diabetes in our county, please join us for free. Thank you.

[47:36] » Thank you. >> Thank you very much.

[47:43] All right. Anyone else?

[47:48] All right. Not seeing any. We'll now move on to our consent agenda. I have a

[47:54] motion to approve the consent agenda as amended.

[47:58] » I make a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended.

[48:02] » Second motion and a second. All in favor?

[48:06] » I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. All right.

[48:13] All right. We'll now move on to our business items.

[48:18] First business item this evening is consideration and request for approval

[48:22] to adopt ordinance number 530-2026 electric connection policy. Ted, thank

[48:30] you council. Good evening. Thank you for uh thank you for allowing me to speak

[48:35] tonight. I'm here to request the town council consider a change to the town

[48:39] code and of ordinances specifically as the ordinance pertain to the electric

[48:44] system. Staff is proposing to help clarify

[48:49] section 18 of the code of ordinances by adding electricity as a named and

[48:54] specified utility beyond the mention in section 184. To accomplish this, staff

[49:01] is proposing an amendment to section 18.4 to point to a proposed article 7 of

[49:07] section 18. Further, staff proposes to add article 7 which provides guidance in

[49:13] how new development will connect to the town's electric system.

[49:18] So the first proposed amendment is the addition

[49:22] uh of the phrase to the ordinance in section 184 which

[49:28] allows for the addition of article 7 and begins the establishment within the code

[49:32] of ordinances of electricity as a utility and mi maintains the guiding

[49:38] document customer service guidelines for all general matters. Here you can see

[49:42] the highlighted phrase that draws attention to article 7. This is the only

[49:46] proposed edit for section 184.

[49:51] The second amendment to add uh artic is to add is to add article 7 as the

[49:58] current code of ordinances stops at article six. Article 7 will provide

[50:02] guidance on connecting to the electrical system beginning with the town policy on

[50:07] extending electric main lines. Staff is asking to codify this policy so

[50:12] interested parties will have a reference. This policy proposes to put

[50:16] the financial burden of development uh electrically on the project similar to

[50:22] how water and sewer are now constructed. That is the only goal of this and I

[50:28] appreciate your time and I'll leave that up and I can answer any questions you

[50:33] may have. >> Any questions for for Ted?

[50:39] tell you on this article 7, we effectively have been doing that,

[50:44] haven't we? It just wasn't in their code,

[50:48] » right? So section 184, that's what it talks about. Uh when we look through the

[50:53] code of ordinances, there is no explicit determination of electricity as a

[50:58] utility. So that was the first step. We need to make sure it's there. It is in

[51:02] section 184 because it speaks to the customer service guidelines manual which

[51:09] is currently being updated and has been being updated. It's kind of a living

[51:12] document but and that speaks to you know cut off policies and metering the whole

[51:18] nine yards. Electricity is in there but it's not in the code of ordinances. So

[51:22] what we're adding is an article 7 which actually specifies electrical system as

[51:28] a utility. Um, and that's really the the change to 184 is as we develop these

[51:34] ordinances, I still want to maintain that book as a guideline because we've

[51:38] used it as you're saying for uh well well since the 90s maybe even before

[51:44] then. Um so then we move into section seven which that's what we start talking

[51:49] about the connection of the electrical system. The very first

[51:52] uh proposed section deals with that extension of of main lines into like new

[51:58] development. But to to answer that was a long answer to answer the question that

[52:02] yes we have been using it all along. >> Thank you.

[52:10] » Any other questions, comments?

[52:21] Need a motion? >> Motion to approve ordinance number 530

[52:26] 2006 >> 26. Have a motion. I have a second.

[52:30] » Sorry. >> 2026.

[52:32] » 5:30 2026. Have a motion. I have a second.

[52:35] » Second. >> Motion. A second. All in favor?

[52:39] » Any opposed? >> Thank you. Carries. Thank you, sir.

[52:43] Appreciate it.

[52:50] Okay, we'll move now to our second business item, which is

[52:56] » um the bid award for power up that

[53:00] » it's the travel policy. >> Travel policy. Sorry. Yep.

[53:04] » Sorry. >> I noticed that too.

[53:05] » Y >> um so we briefly t um talked about this

[53:08] at the last meeting. This is just a a simple revision of the travel policy. Um

[53:13] the the note the changes are in your policy um highlighted in yellow and have

[53:19] strikethroughs. Um we changed credit cards to PC cards, purchase cards and

[53:24] then um we changed um in the table of approvals. Um the

[53:31] town manager would be their travel would be approved by the mayor as opposed to

[53:35] the finance director. Elected and appointed officials would be approved by

[53:39] vote of council as opposed to the town manager. Um we also changed the um

[53:46] reimbursement submitt to from 5 days to 14 days

[53:51] and um those are and the um actual perdm we went with federal rate um for

[54:00] breakfast, lunch and dinner and those are the only changes.

[54:05] » Thank you. Any any questions on the policy as drafted? Mayor, I did have one

[54:11] question, but Miss Picket, thank you answered it. I was going to ask you

[54:14] about the days for the submitt. I saw where it was changed, so

[54:18] » you actually gave a little more time. I was thought that that was kind of a

[54:22] » Mhm. >> I I thought it was uh longer than that

[54:26] actually, but I'm I appreciate you clarifying that.

[54:28] » Yeah, no problem. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions?

[54:34] If not, I'll entertain a motion.

[54:40] Adopt

[54:45] a motion to adopt the policy. >> Motion to adopt this travel policy as

[54:49] written. >> Second motion and a second. All in

[54:53] favor? I >> opposed. Motion carries.

[55:00] Thank you. All right. We'll move on now to our next item which was uh moved from

[55:06] the consent agenda and that was the uh budget amendment.

[55:14] » Evening mayor and council. Uh my name is Tracy Stubblefield. I'm the finance

[55:19] director. Um so tonight I have um before you consideration and request for

[55:25] approval to adopt budget amendment to appropriate general fund fund balance

[55:30] for the Smithfield baseball stadium. Uh so this um budget amendment shows where

[55:37] the money is coming from and this was um it's an accounting um

[55:43] request that we have to uh appropriate the fund balance that was approved in

[55:48] the August 18th 2026 meeting. Um the budget amendment updates the baseball

[55:56] stadium project budget to reflect the appropriated um funds. And so you'll see

[56:02] on page 78 um the revenue accounts, the expense

[56:08] accounts, and uh where we're moving the money. Um and as I said, this is um for

[56:15] the just for the movement of the the funds that you appropriated

[56:19] [clears throat] in the last meeting >> as well as the state budget.

[56:23] » That's right. And that's right. Thank you so much. Um as well as the state

[56:27] budget funds.

[56:31] So, can I um Does anyone have any questions?

[56:35] » Any questions? >> I do have a few questions. Miss Stfield,

[56:39] thank you for your presentation. Um I I'm a little bit um concerned about the

[56:45] um can you help me understand where [laughter] this money is going to be

[56:49] moved? Because in the budget we have, we talked about this during the budget,

[56:54] there's no money in here for the baseball stadium or project. Um, and I

[56:59] just wonder why we don't have a budget besides the PowerPoint slide we were

[57:04] given last meeting to reflect these numbers.

[57:11] » So, um, so we do have um the project fund and I I apologize I do not have um

[57:19] the the amounts pulled up. I don't have my computer with me in here, but um so

[57:24] we did already have that project fund set up from a previous meeting. Uh and

[57:29] then the fund balance that we discussed at the August 18th meeting that is um

[57:37] that is shown the appropriated fund balance uh that was voted on uh in the

[57:43] amount of 3,272 um I mean sorry 3 million272752.

[57:55] that that will be moved into that project fund.

[57:58] » Into the project fund. >> That's right.

[58:01] » And where will those numbers be kept >> the expenses and all that stuff?

[58:07] » Right. So all of that will be kept in uh if you look on uh page 78. So the we set

[58:14] up an expense line item for this baseball stadium uh so that we could

[58:19] track all of those funds separately. And um so that is the expense fund which is

[58:24] uh fund 46606200 57007413

[58:31] entitled um it just says on here BB so baseball stadium expense

[58:37] » just so we can track those separately. >> Missfield, where can I find that in this

[58:40] book? >> Um so uh Kim, correct me if I'm wrong.

[58:45] Did I'm trying to recall. So this um the budget book does not show the project

[58:52] line items. So our budget, our approved budget has general fund um water, sewer

[58:58] and electric. So these funds are tracked in uh fund 46 for all of our projects.

[59:05] » So your capital funds are separate, >> right?

[59:08] » Okay. >> Get you your capital funds anytime you

[59:10] want them. >> Yes.

[59:12] » So but would it be on our website? I mean,

[59:15] » um I don't know that we usually keep any of our um funds on there. Um

[59:21] » to my knowledge, we don't we don't have any of our funds on the website.

[59:26] » Well, we do have our budget on there. And I I just think it's important that

[59:30] we're transparent about this. And >> I remember bringing this to the

[59:34] council's attention during budget that there was no zero dollars in this book.

[59:39] Our current adopted budget was adopted in June. We've been in it 2 months for

[59:42] this ballpark. >> There is.

[59:44] » Mhm. >> If I could finish, um there is a page

[59:47] that was added in here for maintenance. Is that what you're referring to, Miss

[59:50] Picket? >> Mhm.

[59:51] » Uh but at the end of the day, we we were given some numbers and a gentleman come

[59:57] in here that represented a a a contractor

[1:00:02] » and they said no more than $6 million. >> And now I appreciate staff's due

[1:00:07] diligent. we come back and now we're at 16 million. Now, I realize there's some

[1:00:13] money that come from other areas, but at the end of the day,

[1:00:17] » we've got to be able to track these numbers. And I do not feel like that

[1:00:23] them just being on some computer somewhere, it it needs to be noted. And

[1:00:27] the other thing, Tracy, I I've done some research and I'm very concerned. I mean,

[1:00:31] we were reprimanded by the auditor and by the LGC for our last audit in regards

[1:00:37] to some of this exact mess. >> And when I say mess, I'm talking about

[1:00:42] poor financial recordkeeping. And I'm not picking on you because in fact,

[1:00:48] you've made a lot of changes to help us get there. And I'm not picking on Miss

[1:00:51] Picket either. But my point is there's some problems. And if we cannot

[1:00:57] adequately manage this, we don't get to make this mistake. at one time with this

[1:01:03] much money. I've done some math and if we did not have the I'm not going to ask

[1:01:08] you the question. I'm going to make a statement. If we did not have the extra

[1:01:12] money in the bank, what would it take to raise it in the taxes for this physical

[1:01:16] year? And that's just for the $4 million. I I'll do it for you. One penny

[1:01:21] generates about $240,000. So essentially we'd be around 18 cents.

[1:01:28] Now, that depends if the visitor bureau gives us the 500,000 or what, but at the

[1:01:32] end of the day, we still don't have a complete project budget. You

[1:01:38] » you if you look at page 81, that's the next agenda item. That's the

[1:01:44] amendment to that's amendment number one to the original project ordinance that

[1:01:49] we approved earlier in the year. So, that was the original 6 million that was

[1:01:54] the capital project. So you had um an original project that was approved and

[1:01:59] this is amendment number one and that all ties back to the general ledger in

[1:02:03] fund 46. So you have already approved a capital

[1:02:08] project for this and this next one is is the amendment.

[1:02:14] » That's for this this right here is an amendment to an amendment.

[1:02:18] » No, it's an amendment one to an an original capital project.

[1:02:22] » Okay. >> For the stadium.

[1:02:24] » Thank Thank you. uh you you know I actually think I brought those documents

[1:02:28] on the June 2nd meeting. We we we in fact I actually wasn't here and I looked

[1:02:34] it up and that's when that thing was done on June 2nd. But again to my point

[1:02:42] there was a whole bunch of budget amendments done that night but it had

[1:02:45] nothing to do with the ballpark but there was a ballpark one adopted but

[1:02:50] there's no itemization of anything. It's got to be transparent. All our

[1:02:56] projects should be. Um, but anyhow, I just want this council to really think

[1:03:01] about this. We got hurricane season on us and this money that is in the bank is

[1:03:09] the taxpayers's money. It is a healthy fund,

[1:03:13] but we're going to be collecting this money

[1:03:16] again. So, we may have to change our tax rate if this project don't go well. And

[1:03:21] I think there should be it also be known that there's still $5.5 million that's

[1:03:27] unaccounted for of an increased expense. I I just don't it doesn't make it it

[1:03:33] doesn't make sense to me. Not for for uh what we're responsible for in this town.

[1:03:42] » Nobody ever suggested taking 18 cents of normal fund general fund money to to pay

[1:03:50] for this. That was never the case. I know you weren't you missed a lot of

[1:03:54] those early meetings, but that was never discussed. We knew we could do this

[1:03:58] without raising taxes. We can still do it. And you would talk about the cost.

[1:04:02] We need to take three millions off the top and because we moved it for a

[1:04:07] council member who said, "I'm willing to work with y'all. I just we just need to

[1:04:10] move the location." So, there's three million right there.

[1:04:15] I mean, this is why do you have to argue about every little thing? I mean, this

[1:04:18] is a this gets they're doing their job and you get

[1:04:24] ahead of them before they have it. They're presenting us how they're going

[1:04:26] to manage it and account for it and you just want to take them down every second

[1:04:30] you get. I appreciate the questions and give them a chance to be transparent.

[1:04:35] They're just getting into it. But they made the suggestion that we're going to

[1:04:38] spend 18 cents of our general fund, which would be what? 20%.

[1:04:44] No, excuse me, 40%. that that was never suggested. So that that is does not that

[1:04:50] has not ever been suggested. And we can do this. We can do this. We have the

[1:04:55] funds. We we have the money. We've already been through this. So if we want

[1:04:58] to rehash it every week, let's let's do it. So whatever

[1:05:05] » any [clears throat] other >> Let staff do let staff do the job that

[1:05:09] we assign them to do. >> Mayor, I'd like to have the floor again.

[1:05:11] » Yes, sir. Uh, and just to address council's concerns, you know, I want to

[1:05:16] be clear that I didn't say that in fact that 18 cents would go from for taxes.

[1:05:22] This simple math, that's how we generate our our funds.

[1:05:26] » Yeah. >> And and the other the other part of that

[1:05:29] is really important to think about is we have a revenue neutral rate and we

[1:05:34] discussed it in a budget workshop and a few of us got out of character because

[1:05:38] said we never change our tax rate, but we have to to manage the budget. And I

[1:05:42] asked at that time, what would a revenue neutral rate look like? And uh council

[1:05:46] did not agree with me on that sum of them. But anyhow, that was only a couple

[1:05:53] cents. My point with saying this that I didn't say nothing about the 18 cents of

[1:05:58] increase in it. But if you had to raise the money this year to pay it, if we

[1:06:02] didn't have it in the bank, that's what about what it would cost.

[1:06:05] » But we don't have to. >> I still have the floor, sir. And to and

[1:06:09] to further address the council's concern, mayor, in regards to the $3

[1:06:12] million increase, that is exactly not factual. I've got the record right here

[1:06:17] where where I have the floor, sir. >> Good. Thank you.

[1:06:20] » Uh it's was $88,000. And the reason for that discussion was because of potential

[1:06:27] litigation >> that you were threatening.

[1:06:29] » I have the floor. >> Hey, hey, nothing from the audience. see

[1:06:34] that. >> So, just before this gets out of hand,

[1:06:38] anything any other outbursts in the audience, I'll ask you to leave. Okay.

[1:06:42] I'm sorry, but we got to conduct the business and these are the ones that are

[1:06:46] conducting the business right now. Okay. My apologies. I'm I'm giving him the

[1:06:50] floor back. >> My apologies. I apologize.

[1:06:53] » Yeah. But, you know, we were discussing about the the the move. Well, quite

[1:06:57] frankly, there was grant money that this council was never told about that was

[1:07:01] going to be wasted. And there were setbacks that could not be met. There

[1:07:05] were neighbors and that were very upset about this project. And yes, there were

[1:07:12] there has been some changes and I have been supportive and I I continue to

[1:07:15] support economic development and I also continue to support recreation. But at

[1:07:21] the end of the day, we going to have to say enough is enough. And we said 6

[1:07:27] million. This board approved it. we moved on and

[1:07:32] we haven't had time to process it. We we we spent, you know, we were told, you

[1:07:37] know, last meeting the additional money and I I I'm thankful for that. But at

[1:07:43] the end of the day, this is not a good idea in my opinion

[1:07:49] and I'm sorry that I disagree with council or some council, but mayor, I

[1:07:55] make a motion we decline this financial move.

[1:08:00] both of them.

[1:08:05] We need to renegotiate the contract. We're building a private entity, a

[1:08:09] restaurant or not really a restaurant, a fast service type restaurant. Um, we

[1:08:16] have a contract to play ball. And at the end of the day,

[1:08:23] I still think we can make that work. But this thing has just gotten to the point

[1:08:27] now where it is abs absolutely too expensive.

[1:08:40] Right. Any other further discussion? >> Could you ask him to recite his motion

[1:08:47] again, please? >> Yes, mayor. I'll be glad to recite a

[1:08:52] motion to make it clear for the clerk. I will make a motion that we deny the fund

[1:08:56] move in this budget amendment. It starts on page 75

[1:09:03] and the second part of that is on starts on page 83. No, excuse me

[1:09:11] 79.

[1:09:18] For clarity, is that the 3 million that he's asking? I just want clarification

[1:09:22] what he's asking. >> Yes,

[1:09:27] » that's that's the the budget amendment. >> Yeah,

[1:09:31] » I second. >> Got a bud a motion and a second. Any

[1:09:35] further discussion? >> Yeah,

[1:09:37] » I would like to say um first of all, I think had this gone through I think we

[1:09:45] do need a a regular accounting of what we've been in that account at this

[1:09:49] point. It is important transport. One thing we haven't discussed though is

[1:09:56] there are multiple contracts out there. And to one point that Mr. Renfro brought

[1:10:03] up, what cost is too much? There's a financial cost that has not

[1:10:09] been uh calculated at this point. Can't be

[1:10:13] calculated at this point. We have contracts with three separate entities

[1:10:17] right now. And if for some reason this does not happen as a contract that

[1:10:23] we all as a board agreed to enter into, there's potential for lawsuit from all

[1:10:30] of these entities individually against the town. And should that happen,

[1:10:37] uh I'm pretty sure the county and visitors bureau will not be willing to

[1:10:43] pony up for the settlement in that and that will rest solely on the town. So

[1:10:47] there is another cost there that we need to consider as well

[1:10:53] that could be fairly substantial considering if this doesn't happen the

[1:10:59] TOBS will have missed two seasons of baseball and they could have

[1:11:03] [clears throat] made other arrangements. So just something to consider uh when

[1:11:07] people talk about the cost of the project. There's also a cost for not

[1:11:12] completing the project that we just can't walk away with what we've got in

[1:11:16] it right now. So, >> okay.

[1:11:20] » Well, well, what about the fundraising? Let's

[1:11:24] say that we're going to do raise it fundraising.

[1:11:27] » I had two people text me today asked if we had that ready. They were extremely

[1:11:30] » I have the floor according to RU's order.

[1:11:35] » Thank you. >> Okay, Miss Wolf. Uh, what about

[1:11:39] fundraising the $3 million [clears throat]

[1:11:44] » the >> I'm asking the question and I don't get

[1:11:47] I'm >> so So hold on a minute. So are you

[1:11:50] asking the question? I am asking question from staff.

[1:11:53] » Okay. >> You get an update on the

[1:11:56] » it's supposed to come at the next meeting.

[1:11:58] » I think that's what was told. >> But that Yeah, that was I mean this was

[1:12:02] agreed upon at the last meeting. So, we were trying to do the paperwork so we

[1:12:05] could continue pushing forward. We still have 5.5 million we have to

[1:12:09] » collect. And if we collect more than that, then obviously that would go back

[1:12:13] into fund balance.

[1:12:17] » Wait, the fundraising will be part of it. Yes, Miss Wallace.

[1:12:22] » Okay. So, uh, a lot of, uh, people in the community is saying we got our

[1:12:28] property taxes and we see how much money is being taken out.

[1:12:33] probably take everything lined out and then if this doesn't fan out right then

[1:12:38] I property tax is going to go up because we already paying county tax and we you

[1:12:43] shaking your head Kim we I I have my bill what what I'm what they taking out

[1:12:49] » I have it >> yes

[1:12:52] » and they're taking out 41% if that's go higher how a lot of the elderly is going

[1:12:59] to be able to afford to pay their poverty taxes they're not going to be

[1:13:02] able to do it that a lot of them going to become homeless, unhoused as you call

[1:13:07] it. Cuz if we don't stop spending all this money,

[1:13:12] everybody's one check, miss one check, then you going to be unhoused. And

[1:13:17] that's what a lot of people's going to be.

[1:13:24] » Thank you. [clears throat] >> Any other questions, comments?

[1:13:27] » Mayor, I I'd like to make one other comment. Um, council raised a concern

[1:13:33] about potential lawsuit due to the contracts and um, Miss Picket has

[1:13:36] informed us of that and uh, I think that's an honest uh, risk with this.

[1:13:43] However,

[1:13:47] based on the fact that we never held a public hearing, all those contracts are

[1:13:51] null and void per the general statute the way it reads to me. I'll let others

[1:13:56] determine that for theirel, but I think that would protect the town in some way.

[1:14:00] And the other thing is is a price increase. I mean, if we had a contractor

[1:14:04] quote to build you a house for 500,000 and he come and says it's going to be a

[1:14:08] hundred, you know, a million and 500,000,

[1:14:11] what's the person going to do? They're going to say, "I can't afford it." At

[1:14:15] some point, we have to acknowledge that. You know,

[1:14:19] I think that this contract can be renegotiated, but the motion's on the

[1:14:24] floor. Any further? Yes. Sorry, Dr. C.

[1:14:29] » I do have a concern from the very beginning, we

[1:14:34] I assume I assume that we had a cap for the financial responsibility that the

[1:14:39] town would incur. However, recently

[1:14:44] there was increase of $6,000 above what we initially what I thought would be the

[1:14:50] total cost.

[1:14:53] Now, that's concerning. And this is an amendment to the original

[1:14:59] contract. What where's what's to say that we won't have an amendment two

[1:15:05] weeks from now? Where does the cost stop?

[1:15:10] This is a concern. And I think since we not had a public

[1:15:16] uh uh

[1:15:19] » hearing, >> a public hearing, I think that's in

[1:15:23] order. I think to get over or get around this, maybe that may be something we

[1:15:30] need to consider. And and when we talk about somebody

[1:15:33] being sued,

[1:15:37] that's the least concern. $6 million over what we initially

[1:15:44] started with. What's to say that two months it'll be

[1:15:48] five more million dollars? That's my C question.

[1:15:58] So, I would like to just point out that the the the

[1:16:06] vote to approve the 3 million uh dollars uh three 3,272,752

[1:16:15] was voted on and approved that the last meeting. So, this is just what we're

[1:16:21] voting on this evening is just the accounting, right? just for the books.

[1:16:26] So, I want to be clear on that. And yes, I did break that tie. Um, and I stand

[1:16:31] behind it and I'll stand behind it uh today. I understand the concerns.

[1:16:38] There's been a lot that's gone on into this and I certainly hope that we

[1:16:42] haven't come this far to to all of a sudden squash this project, right? Um

[1:16:51] we we we've looked at several different locations and those locations didn't pan

[1:16:56] out for for various reasons, right? Um but this location provided an

[1:17:03] opportunity for the town not only build the stadium but to also put in

[1:17:09] potentially for for a a facility as well as for the expansion of other parks and

[1:17:15] recre facilities. Right. So there's things that are in this project.

[1:17:21] Uh the overrun. Now again, I I don't disagree. That's uh quite quite a bit of

[1:17:28] a of an increase, but there are things that are included in there like the road

[1:17:33] that we would put in that would need to be put in regardless if we were going to

[1:17:39] utilize that property, which is was discussed for for potential recreation

[1:17:43] other recreation facilities. um you know parking as well. Yes, it

[1:17:49] would be used for the stadium, but it would also be utilized, you know, for

[1:17:53] for other recreation uses and so forth. Some of the infrastructure, the

[1:17:57] electric, the water, the sewer, and so forth that goes into that also would be

[1:18:02] able to be used for other park expansions. So, I just want the council

[1:18:07] to think about that. We we have funding we have received funding from the state

[1:18:13] um uh specifically to be utilized towards this if my my fear is is and I

[1:18:21] is if we don't move forward um and I again understand the concerns I don't I

[1:18:28] don't disagree with those concerns but my fear is is that funding is gone and

[1:18:33] we will lose that funding and potential future funding for parks and wreck that

[1:18:38] we may need to expand. So that that's that is one of my my fears. Now does

[1:18:44] that as does that answer all the questions and so forth and the concerns?

[1:18:49] No, absolutely not. But it's also something that we do need to consider

[1:18:54] and we do need to think about. Um we do have contracts in place. Um, and it

[1:19:01] would be my fear that we would get sued. And if we get sued and we lose, we don't

[1:19:08] have a ballpark and we don't have anything to show. And we could be more

[1:19:13] than what's done. Okay? So, you got to think about that. The decisions that you

[1:19:19] make are not easy. They're not hard. I I mean, they're hard, right?

[1:19:25] But you have to think about it from that standpoint as well. And that's not a,

[1:19:28] you know, it's not a threat. It's just things to think about. If we get sued,

[1:19:33] if we more than likely we will get sued. Okay, not if it is more than likely we

[1:19:39] will. It will cost us I I would imagine much more than this and legal fees or

[1:19:45] not at least not much more, probably the same amount and legal fees and so forth.

[1:19:51] And we don't have anything to show for it. Nothing.

[1:19:55] Okay, that is that is a real concern of mine. Okay, I again I understand what

[1:20:02] Mr. Renfro was saying. I I understand what you're saying and I'll tell you

[1:20:06] right now, I don't know what that number is right now, sir. Um I'll tell you

[1:20:10] without having to call you. Um I'm not sure what that number is, right?

[1:20:14] Hopefully it's not any more than what we've already discussed. Right.

[1:20:17] [clears throat] But but I but but that [clears throat]

[1:20:22] would be my concern at this at this point. Um I get it that members on the

[1:20:28] board do not agree and that and that's and that's fine. But we did make a

[1:20:32] decision at the last me meeting um to move forward with moving that money.

[1:20:38] This is the accounting process of that. That's all that is is is the accounting

[1:20:44] portion of it. Um, I would just ask that uh you you take that in into

[1:20:49] consideration as uh from a business standpoint. Is it worth that risk?

[1:20:56] » That would be my only uh thoughts and comments.

[1:21:00] you're going you're going to have a a closed session tonight and if um

[1:21:05] you want to add to that closed session to discuss

[1:21:09] what what it means to breach a contract or three contracts and what are the

[1:21:14] consequences of that we we could do it in close session. I would rather do it

[1:21:17] in close session than out here. Um and um but contracts would be meaningless if

[1:21:24] you could just renegotiate them at will. Um and we we have this constant

[1:21:30] reference to a public hearing. [snorts] This is a public hearing is basically

[1:21:34] designed for a time during a meeting which you discuss and have people

[1:21:39] discuss a particular project such as this ballpark

[1:21:44] and how many times has it been in front of this board?

[1:21:47] Um how many times has it been discussed? I mean at least I would think 10.

[1:21:54] Um, so but but I I don't want to discuss

[1:21:59] breach of contract in in the public when whatever you say can be quoted against

[1:22:04] you in court. So um that would be appropriate in closely

[1:22:12] and I and just one other portion it's it to to Councilman Scott's thoughts and

[1:22:18] and and uh what he was asking. I don't think anybody up here minds, you know,

[1:22:29] having a detailed budget and and accounting process, right? As Councilman

[1:22:33] Stevens said, this was the start of that tonight. That's what this is is to show

[1:22:38] that money. That is the next thing on the agenda. People talk about

[1:22:43] transparency. There's nothing Everything's been in in the public,

[1:22:48] right? So from a transparency standpoint and and showing that I don't think

[1:22:54] anybody is saying that we don't do that. Is it a lot of money? Is it a risk?

[1:23:00] Absolutely. It absolutely is.

[1:23:04] But saying that we're not trying to do our accounting properly. And I'm not

[1:23:09] saying that you were saying that Councilman Scott at all. That's not what

[1:23:12] I'm saying. I'm just making a statement uh a general statement. It's simply not

[1:23:17] true. Right? That's what we're doing tonight. It is right here.

[1:23:23] If you haven't looked at it, look at it. But don't say that we're not being

[1:23:29] transparent and that we haven't had meetings on this. I don't know how many

[1:23:34] we've had, but we've had a lot. And they have been right here in this room in the

[1:23:41] public. And if you've chosen not to be involved until now, that is on you.

[1:23:48] That is on you. Okay. It is. It absolutely is because everything has

[1:23:56] been publicized, put on the agenda and talked about. Okay. So, is it every

[1:24:04] single detail to the the color of the a building? Maybe not. But the general

[1:24:12] accounting and what's there has been presented, right? It was presented last

[1:24:18] meeting and yes, I voted to break that tie and move the money because I believe

[1:24:23] in the project. All right. So, I just want the public regardless of what

[1:24:29] happens, you know, here, but I want the p the public to understand that

[1:24:35] just as I've had we've had two or three speak against this, there's also people

[1:24:41] that are are for the ball field, believe it or not. So

[1:24:47] they let it be known and they tell us and if not, you know, I wouldn't I

[1:24:53] wouldn't be in favor of it myself if there weren't people that that also

[1:24:58] believed in it. Anyway, my point is is that regardless

[1:25:04] of what happens, it is it the notion that it's not public

[1:25:10] hearing or no public hearing as as the attorney stated. uh I don't think

[1:25:15] there's any any requirement or anything to have a public hearing in this case as

[1:25:20] as from what staff has presented uh to us and things that have occurred um from

[1:25:27] voting on this and moving things forward have occurred in open meetings. Okay? So

[1:25:33] I just want to make that clear to the public. Uh you can you can agree with it

[1:25:38] or disagree with it but just tell the facts. Okay? Don't make it look like

[1:25:45] something that it's not and stand up and be all dramatic about things uh and

[1:25:51] speak online about things that are simply not the case. Right? And I'm not

[1:25:57] talking about any specific person. I'm just talking in general because that

[1:26:02] seems to be what people sometimes tend to do these days.

[1:26:10] Um, it's I have no problem with hearing a different side of a story, uh, hearing

[1:26:18] the pros and hearing the cons. And if you disagree, then that's fine. We

[1:26:23] disagree and we move on, right? And that's what we'll do tonight. You know

[1:26:28] what you no matter what happens tonight. Uh, that's or that's what I'll do. Um,

[1:26:33] you know, because it that that's what it is. But I just I just want to uh be

[1:26:38] clear from the from a board standpoint, whether you're for or against, I don't

[1:26:42] think there's anybody on this board that's tried to hide, you know, or is

[1:26:46] trying to hide anything when it comes to this. I mean, good gracious, it's a, you

[1:26:51] know, it's a it's a huge expense, right? and we need to be open and and certainly

[1:26:56] if this were to move forward uh 100% agree with with Councilman Scott and and

[1:27:03] everybody else and I think we all agree with that. Um yes, we would want a

[1:27:07] detailed accounting and that's what the the very next item on the agenda would

[1:27:11] be for uh is the start of that process. So that's all that's all I'm going to

[1:27:16] say. I know that's a lot, but um things have gotten a little tense this evening

[1:27:22] and so forth. And I just thought it was good just to to put it out there. And

[1:27:26] again, you don't have to agree. Um that's that's that's [snorts] that's,

[1:27:31] you know, that's that's up to you. But um to make it look like something is uh

[1:27:37] being done underhanded and so forth is simply not true. And I'm not saying

[1:27:42] anybody in this room or anybody tonight or anybody on this council has said

[1:27:45] that. That's just a general statement uh about the whole process. Okay. So

[1:27:52] anyway, that's all I have. Sorry that was a long-winded and I know we got a

[1:27:55] motion on the table in a second. >> May I like to make a couple more

[1:27:58] comments? >> Yes, sir. Go ahead.

[1:28:00] » Um first of all, u thank you for the opportunity to speak again. Uh I think

[1:28:05] we need to really reflect on what a public hearing is.

[1:28:10] Yes, we've had public meetings, but a public hearing, the law says you

[1:28:14] announce it 10 days to the public and then you open the floor and let them

[1:28:18] speak. We've not let them do that yet. Talking about it in a public meeting is

[1:28:24] not a public hearing. And the other thing that was mentioned

[1:28:29] is about the lawsuit. I [clears throat] think we have to look at what risks we

[1:28:33] have versus where does it stop at. And

[1:28:39] if somebody's been eluding that this was not up and

[1:28:44] transparent, I understand this is a change tonight. But reality is there has

[1:28:50] been money spent on this already and that should be reflected. We should have

[1:28:54] that in front of us right now besides a PowerPoint slide that says it's probably

[1:28:58] going to be $5.5 million next year, 3.27 this year. We need,

[1:29:04] you've got to have the checks and balances and and we don't have that. If

[1:29:08] it moves forward, I hope we can obtain that

[1:29:12] about the contract. There's two contracts. There's a design

[1:29:18] build and we talked about that and the gentleman stood right there. I don't

[1:29:23] know how he can sue us when it's on the record that it was going to be $6

[1:29:27] million. And then few last meeting we had here we

[1:29:33] found out it was going to be $16 million. Yeah, that's right. And

[1:29:42] Travis would ask you a question.

[1:29:46] » Sure. >> Uh would you want to get a

[1:29:50] more detailed accounting

[1:29:55] uh set out just on this particular issue?

[1:29:58] uh printed on the agenda and put into the next meeting. I don't know if you

[1:30:04] object to that, mayor, but I mean, so it's very clear and you have chance to

[1:30:10] comment in advance and get more if you don't think it's there.

[1:30:13] » Put it on the agenda and and it could be if you want an advertised meeting, it

[1:30:17] could be an advertised meeting, but there've been a lot of meetings on this.

[1:30:20] Now, I don't know how many advertised. That's the only difference.

[1:30:23] » You'd have to advertise it for the October meeting if you you want to

[1:30:27] advert, but if if you're worried about every technicality, you could advertise

[1:30:31] it. Um, every one of these state laws that affect this budget stuff, and we

[1:30:37] got rode up by say you're supposed to have a public hearing. I mean, we

[1:30:42] shouldn't be doing uh budget amendments in the consent agenda. I mean, this is a

[1:30:48] real item. >> U, that's what concerns me. I, you know,

[1:30:53] Mr. suspense. With all due respect, this council is going to do what they

[1:30:58] want to do. But I do have a concern with the motion that I've got on the floor

[1:31:04] that two of my fellow council members are not here and I feel like they should

[1:31:08] have a right to weigh in on this. I would be willing to uh

[1:31:16] amend my motion. We need to have a further discussion in

[1:31:21] close session before we call for a vote on this mayor if it's so appropriate

[1:31:26] because there is some things that we need to talk about with this contract.

[1:31:32] There's a major risk for our town.

[1:31:37] I'm fine with that. MP is that fun? >> Yeah.

[1:31:41] » So, Miss Wallace, do you you would you agree with that? You seconded the

[1:31:46] motion. >> Yeah, second. But also I want to say to

[1:31:49] this uh if we would get the financial report

[1:31:54] days before because I had to thumb through all this here at the meeting. So

[1:32:00] uh a lot of decisions that you're asking us to make we don't even have the back

[1:32:06] of the finance state until today and you can't look at it. And I've been asking

[1:32:11] and asking and all the training that I've had in the finance they said you

[1:32:15] are supposed to have these way before your meeting. We got the our

[1:32:20] agenda. No, no education.

[1:32:26] They said that you should have the financial statement when you get your

[1:32:31] agenda. And we get it every time since I've been on the board the day of the

[1:32:36] meeting. And that needs to stop. It really needs to stop. If you want us to

[1:32:41] vote effective, you need to give us something to work with

[1:32:53] » financial report.

[1:32:58] » Think that's something that could be worked on.

[1:33:01] » So all that money I've been spending on training, this is what I'm learning that

[1:33:04] you need to have.

[1:33:09] All right. So, Miss Wallace, for your points, are you you're in agreement with

[1:33:16] we'll we'll um >> Yes.

[1:33:18] » I guess Councilman Scott, you'll

[1:33:22] » um withdraw your motion till we go into close session. Is that what I'm hearing?

[1:33:27] » Yes, sir. >> Okay.

[1:33:28] » All right. All right. Do we we good? We don't need anything on

[1:33:33] that, right? There's no vote or anything. I mean, do we need

[1:33:37] So we need a vote. >> Yeah.

[1:33:39] » Okay. All right. >> Vote to to put it in close. I mean he's

[1:33:42] already made the motion to put it in close session.

[1:33:44] » Okay. So we just need a mo we just need a

[1:33:47] » say to you a second >> to go into close session and discuss

[1:33:50] that further. >> Yes.

[1:33:51] » Okay. So I have a motion and a second. All in favor?

[1:33:55] » I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. All right.

[1:33:59] Now, um there's then probably no reason for us to do the next one [laughter]

[1:34:05] as well. So, um we will now move on then to

[1:34:11] Councilman's comments. Thank you. >> All right. Anything from council this

[1:34:18] like we probably got a lot for close session.

[1:34:22] » All right. All right. I'm not seeing anything.

[1:34:26] » Quick question. >> Yes, sir. uh the close session to

[1:34:29] discuss that is that already covered by A5 and A6. Is that

[1:34:33] » No, >> we need to have

[1:34:36] » we got to have the the additional one involves I'm going to have to site

[1:34:39] subsection but it it involves possible litigation

[1:34:49] » three need to add three

[1:34:52] » section three >> section three.

[1:34:58] All right. Um [laughter] Miss Manager, I'll turn it over to you.

[1:35:02] Yeah. All right. So, town offices will be closed on Monday for Labor Day. Um,

[1:35:08] we have a lot of activities coming up in the coming month um that are at the top

[1:35:15] most uh most recent will be September 11th, our fall Friday concert um on the

[1:35:21] on the front. Um the Ava Gardner Festival is October 1st and 2nd and then

[1:35:28] October Fest October 10th. Um, I would like to say that street resurfacing

[1:35:33] should be wrapping up in the next couple weeks and then, um, Lawrence will be

[1:35:38] gearing up to get the list out for the next set of street resurfacing.

[1:35:42] Um, our fire department is 100% uh, staffed.

[1:35:49] [clears throat] So, that's exciting. Our police

[1:35:51] department is also uh they're doing their last um enrollment of an employee

[1:35:57] and they will also be 100% staffed which is the I think that's been quite a while

[1:36:02] since they have been 100% staffed. So it's good to hear. Um

[1:36:08] we are in the process of doing interviews right now for the assistant

[1:36:12] finance director, the CSR position as well as a payroll technician. Um and

[1:36:18] that assistant finance director will be taking over the roles of Greg who has

[1:36:23] been working on our bank reconciliations. As we all know, he is

[1:36:26] um sick and so that's why it's late this month. Um we talked to him today and we

[1:36:32] should have that by the next meeting. Um and that is all I have.

[1:36:37] » Oh, that just just reminded me I don't think this is really necessary, but you

[1:36:42] we spoke of Greg being sick. Obviously, everybody knows that Councilman Wood is

[1:36:49] » I'm sorry. >> I said it's personal about Greg. We said

[1:36:52] that's violating HIPPA law. >> Everybody knows he's sick.

[1:36:55] » Yeah. >> So, anyway, um sorry. Um so, everybody

[1:37:01] knows about Councilman Wood um as sick. So, I would entertain a motion that we

[1:37:07] excuse him. >> We did we do the resolution? We did that

[1:37:10] full time. We did a resolution. Sorry. Sorry. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All

[1:37:13] right. Appreciate it. >> I do have one more thing. If

[1:37:17] » she's finished, now I'll make a statement.

[1:37:18] » Absolutely. >> I got one more thing. I'm sorry if

[1:37:20] that's okay. >> Yeah. Yeah.

[1:37:21] » Um I did send out an email yesterday for a doodle poll for a retreat um for when

[1:37:28] uh Councilman Wood comes back. He should be back in November, but that's rolling

[1:37:32] into the holidays. So the doodle poll is for January, February time frame. It

[1:37:35] would be a Friday and a Saturday. if you could all go in and fill out the doodle

[1:37:39] poll so we can get a consensus on a weekend for that retreat, I'd appreciate

[1:37:44] it. Um, but I sent that out yesterday to everybody.

[1:37:50] » I would like to uh announce that uh this be my fifth year just recognizing the

[1:37:57] the first responders. I know this is not on the information here. I think it's

[1:38:01] very important. I was doing this before I was a town council woman. So, I have

[1:38:07] continued to do that. So, we will be representing the firefighters, the first

[1:38:11] responder EMS, and that will be this coming Saturday.

[1:38:15] » And what time is that, Miss? >> It will be from uh 12 to 2.

[1:38:19] » And location? >> It's going to be at Gertru um Johnson

[1:38:24] Park. >> Okay. All right.

[1:38:27] » I see this announced on the kiosk, but I I don't see it here announced here.

[1:38:31] » Okay. All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um, and then also, um,

[1:38:37] did want to mention I I see Mr. Cowwell in the back, Adam.

[1:38:43] I guess, uh, Commissioner Elect, as long as there's not a lot of writins. Is that

[1:38:49] is that correct, sir? Welcome. Uh, pleased pleased to have you here. Uh,

[1:38:54] sorry I didn't see you at the beginning of meeting, but now some folks have

[1:38:57] moved away. I see you sitting back there. So, so, welcome. Glad you're

[1:39:00] you're I came to Smithfield and um appreciate you. Yeah, appreciate you

[1:39:06] coming. Look look look look forward to to working with you uh uh in a few

[1:39:11] months. Congratulations, sir. All right. If there's nothing else, um I entertain

[1:39:17] a motion to go into close session. Uh pursuant to North Carolina General

[1:39:22] Statute 143 uh-318.11

[1:39:27] section A5 A6 and section three. Have a motion.

[1:39:33] » Move. >> Motion a second. All in favor?

[1:39:36] » I. >> All right. We'll go into close session

[1:39:38] at this time. Thank you.

Council Meeting - September 1, 2026

Transcript