[7:32] Uh, good evening everyone and welcome to

[7:35] our special Tuesday edition of our

[7:38] regular PL uh commissioners meeting. I'd

[7:40] like to welcome all that came this way

[7:42] tonight. Um, I would call our meeting to

[7:45] order. And at this time, I would ask uh

[7:48] Vice Chair Law Hung for the invocation

[7:50] and pledge of allegiance.

[7:52] >> Commissioner,

[7:53] >> if uh you all would like to join me, I

[7:56] invite you to uh heavenly father, we

[8:00] come to you today just two days away

[8:02] from the 25th anniversary of 911.

[8:08] Uh, a lot in this room may not have been

[8:10] alive

[8:12] that year or that date. I was I remember

[8:16] exactly where I was located and what I

[8:18] was doing. Lord, there's a lot of

[8:20] citizens of the United States that gave

[8:24] their life that day

[8:26] uh because of the World Trade Center

[8:29] airplanes and the Pentagon and

[8:33] Pennsylvania passengers. We just pray

[8:36] for their families. We uh pray that uh

[8:41] this type of event would never happen

[8:44] again.

[8:45] Lord, we uh ask you to cleanse our

[8:50] hearts and make sure that we're seeking

[8:52] your will

[8:54] in our lives each and every day and each

[8:57] and everything that we do as

[8:59] commissioners.

[9:01] Lord, we uh thank you for the many

[9:04] blessings that you give us all. And

[9:06] Lord, thank you for your forgiveness of

[9:08] my sin. And Lord, we know that you gave

[9:12] us your son Jesus who died on the cross

[9:15] and defeated death. Thank you for for

[9:17] that uh uh great contribution you've

[9:22] given. And Lord, if anybody in this room

[9:26] doesn't know you as the Lord and Savior,

[9:28] we pray that they would invite you into

[9:31] their hearts.

[9:33] Again, thank you again for the privilege

[9:36] to be here and just direct us in what we

[9:39] say and do. In Christ's name I pray.

[9:41] Amen.

[9:42] >> Amen.

[9:48] I aliance to the flag of the United

[9:52] States of America and to the republic

[9:55] for which it stands. One nation under

[9:58] God, indivisible, with liberty and

[10:01] justice for all.

[10:06] » Thank you, Mr. Vice Chairman.

[10:09] Uh at this time, the um you have the

[10:11] agenda in front of you. I would ask for

[10:14] approval or any adjustments to the

[10:16] agenda.

[10:19] Motion to approve the agenda. Got

[10:20] >> a motion to approve by Commissioner

[10:22] King.

[10:23] >> Second by Commissioner Hatley. Any

[10:25] discussion?

[10:27] >> All those in favor say I.

[10:29] >> I.

[10:29] >> Oppos. Motion carries. Next item is

[10:32] public comment. Got several folks that

[10:34] uh want to speak. Um, I think there's a

[10:37] couple of them that want to speak for

[10:39] the um, public hearing that we're going

[10:41] to have later on for a reasonzoning, but

[10:43] you're more than welcome to come up now.

[10:45] Uh, Jonah Morgan,

[10:52] » I'm sorry.

[10:53] >> He said he'll wait.

[10:53] >> Okay, he'll wait. Okay. All right.

[10:56] Uh, Donna Garmin.

[11:08] Good evening.

[11:09] >> Hi. Can you hear me? Okay.

[11:12] >> Mhm.

[11:13] >> My name is Donna Garmin. I would like to

[11:15] speak about the recent ethics violation

[11:17] by Trent Hatley. I grew up in this

[11:20] county, the do granddaughter of a

[11:21] wellrespected farmer. When a handshake

[11:24] was all it took to seal a deal, and when

[11:26] a man's word meant something and held

[11:28] great value. My roots go deep, so I know

[11:31] what this county used to represent. I

[11:34] chose to raise my children in this

[11:35] county because I thought it to be the

[11:37] best option to support wholesome values

[11:39] and good morals away from the more

[11:42] secular cities surrounding us. I taught

[11:45] my children to be honest, hard-working

[11:47] individuals and to respect authority. I

[11:50] taught them that they they could trust

[11:52] in the justice system.

[11:54] Now I have grandchildren and it's

[11:56] difficult for me to tell them to trust

[11:58] in these things. In fact, I try to teach

[12:01] them not to trust blindly, to question

[12:03] things before they decide where to place

[12:05] that trust. It is shameful that not

[12:08] everyone has the morals I grew up with.

[12:10] It is especially sad that some of our

[12:13] elected elected officials don't have

[12:15] those same morals. Mr. Hatley did indeed

[12:18] contact a judge and attempt to sway a

[12:20] case. Thankfully, Judge Bain is an

[12:22] honest individual. Judge Bain contacted

[12:25] alter attorneys involved and recused

[12:27] himself from the case. You can't argue

[12:30] with facts. That's what happened. Please

[12:32] tell me how Mr. Hatley is still in a

[12:34] position of authority over anything.

[12:37] What if we didn't happen to have an

[12:38] honest judge? What if the justice system

[12:41] had been compromised? What if it has

[12:44] been compromised in other cases?

[12:47] When a person in person is in an elected

[12:49] office, he or she has earned the trust

[12:51] of the people of this county and there

[12:54] are still good people in this county.

[12:56] That trust has been violated. Mr. Hatley

[12:59] does not deserve to continue to serve

[13:00] the people who elected him. My daughter

[13:04] Aaron Beth Pinkston and I have presented

[13:06] this violation of trust to several

[13:08] persons attempting to remedy the

[13:10] situation or at least prevent it from

[13:12] happening again. I spoke personally with

[13:15] Scott Ephford who thanked me for letting

[13:17] him know. He then called back to say he

[13:20] had talked to DA Lynn Claudefelter who

[13:23] said nothing could be done.

[13:25] We spoke with Sheriff Jeff Krisco who at

[13:28] first turned us away but then later

[13:30] called to say he would refer us to the

[13:32] SBI.

[13:33] Brandon Blackman with the SBI said

[13:35] nothing illegal had been done, only

[13:37] ethical, so he couldn't do anything

[13:39] about it.

[13:41] I spoke with county manager Andy Lucas

[13:44] who said, quote, "He has nothing to do

[13:46] with the commissioners and suggested I

[13:49] contact an attorney." When we got

[13:52] nowhere with any of that, my daughter

[13:53] brought it here before the board at the

[13:55] last meeting. Scott Ephford voted

[13:57] against a vote to censure Trent Hatley.

[14:00] It is to be readressed tonight.

[14:03] I would ask that Mr. Hatley do what is

[14:05] morally correct. resign from his

[14:07] position and remove his name from the

[14:09] upcoming election ballot. If he is

[14:11] unwilling to do that, I would ask for at

[14:14] minimum a formal outside investigation

[14:16] into this ethical breach. I would also

[14:20] ask the voters of this county to

[14:22] remember this ethical violation at the

[14:24] ballot box in November. We need honest,

[14:27] trustworthy people as leaders, not

[14:30] someone who is going to use an elected

[14:32] position for their own personal agenda.

[14:34] We need to bring back morals in this

[14:36] county so it is a good place to raise

[14:38] our children and grandchildren. Thank

[14:41] you for your time and consideration of

[14:42] this matter.

[14:44] >> Thank you, Miss Garmin. Um, I don't

[14:46] normally do this, but I would correct

[14:48] one thing that you said.

[14:49] >> Okay.

[14:49] >> I did not vote against or censoring

[14:52] Trent. I voted not to put it on the

[14:55] agenda that night.

[14:55] >> That's what I said. I said you voted

[14:57] against the vote. That's what I meant.

[14:59] >> Okay. All right. Thank you, ma'am.

[15:03] Um, next one is Mr. Bill Schaefer. Mr.

[15:06] Shaper.

[15:27] County commissioners, I come before you

[15:30] to speak to an issue that befell us in

[15:32] August of this year.

[15:33] Now, all you know that I've never been

[15:35] shy about expressing the positions that

[15:37] I take on every issue uh of import,

[15:40] whether it be policy, politician, or

[15:42] other topics where I express my

[15:44] positions prospicuously.

[15:46] If anyone's listened to my podcast, you

[15:49] know that's true.

[15:51] In the August County Commissioner

[15:53] meeting, during the public comment

[15:54] portion of the meeting, Miss Aaron

[15:55] Kingston levied an allegation against

[15:57] Republican board member Trent Hatley,

[16:00] alleging that Mr. Hadley had attempted

[16:02] to coersse a sitting judge into favoring

[16:05] a party uh to her court case. This

[16:08] resulted in an emergency type meeting

[16:11] held by the honorable judge Ty Vang in

[16:14] which he recused himself from the civil

[16:16] case that Miss Kingston is a party to.

[16:19] The seriousness of this allegation

[16:21] requires, if not demands, an

[16:23] investigation into the matter to

[16:25] determine the veracity of the claim and

[16:27] to take appropriate action should this

[16:29] board deem it necessary.

[16:32] This is not simply my position on the

[16:34] matter. It also happens to be the

[16:35] position of many people in this county

[16:38] and I believe it should be the position

[16:39] of this board. However, it seems to be

[16:42] the position of some that such an

[16:44] investigation would be a waste of time

[16:47] or a waste of taxpayer dollars that

[16:49] there should be no such investigation

[16:51] because all of the good things that Mr.

[16:53] Hatley has done or has attempted to do

[16:55] for the people of Stanley County. Now, I

[16:58] agree that Mr. Hatley has done some good

[17:00] things for the county, which is

[17:01] precisely why we as a people and you as

[17:03] a board of our elected representatives

[17:06] should proceed with an ethics

[17:08] investigation. and upon receiving the

[17:10] results of that investigation and what

[17:12] it may reveal, proceed with further

[17:14] appropriate action if warranted.

[17:17] Because the question here is, how can a

[17:19] search for the truth be a waste of

[17:21] taxpayer dollars or a waste of anything

[17:24] if we say we are the party of integrity

[17:27] and truth?

[17:29] Allegations like this one fuel the

[17:31] suspicion of government officials,

[17:33] especially in small towns and counties.

[17:35] We hear the assertions from young and

[17:37] old alike that both sides are just as

[17:39] bad as the other. And my instinct is

[17:41] always to counter that assertion because

[17:44] the Republican party

[17:46] is supposed to be comprised of people

[17:48] who believe in principles like fairness

[17:50] and justice and honest representation.

[17:53] We're supposed to be better than the

[17:55] other side. And something like this

[17:57] lends to the suspicion of our republican

[18:00] forms of government. It feeds doubt into

[18:02] the institutions of government. It

[18:04] causes the people to doubt the promises

[18:06] made by the political parties when they

[18:08] say one thing and do another. And should

[18:10] we fail to take action in this matter,

[18:12] the trust of the public will continue to

[18:15] erode. For all the good that a

[18:17] representative may do, it only takes one

[18:19] accusation to place doubt into the minds

[18:21] of the people who see how things are

[18:23] from where they stand. And in the minds

[18:26] of the people, many people, this is just

[18:28] one more thing that is many of them

[18:30] disgusted with politics and our local

[18:32] government. And when our younger

[18:34] generations look at the political

[18:36] parties and the people that represent

[18:38] those parties, what do they see?

[18:42] If any of these allegations are true, if

[18:44] any of this is true, how can we say as

[18:47] Republicans, as Americans, that we

[18:50] represent the party of honest and good

[18:52] governance unless we hold accountable

[18:54] our very own?

[18:56] And that's why I think it's imperative

[18:58] that we as Republicans, as honest

[19:00] Americans, take this seriously, initiate

[19:04] an investigation, get to the bottom of

[19:06] this in a thorough and forensic manner,

[19:08] and let the truth prevail, and then take

[19:11] the appropriate action to hold our

[19:12] elected officials accountable or to

[19:15] vindicate the elected representative and

[19:17] proclaim it to the people to assure them

[19:20] that justice was indeed done.

[19:23] For whatever I or others may think of

[19:25] any representative, Mr. Hatley deserves

[19:28] the opportunity to be vindicated if this

[19:31] is the truth and certainly the people of

[19:34] Stanley County deserve it and we should

[19:37] see to this as soon as possible. Thank

[19:40] you.

[19:41] >> Thank you, sir.

[19:43] Uh, next one I have is Mr. Gerald

[19:45] Honeyut.

[19:46] I think this is also a rezoning case.

[19:51] >> Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you. That's

[19:52] the only ones I had to sign up for

[19:54] public comment. Are there anyone else?

[19:59] All right. Thank y'all very much.

[20:02] All right. This time we'll go to our uh

[20:04] scheduled agenda items. The first item I

[20:08] have is a retirement award presentation

[20:09] for Mr. Robin Honeyut and Department of

[20:11] Social Services. Miss Honeyut, you here?

[20:14] Come on up. Let's go down.

[20:36] How are you?

[20:37] >> Good. Don, did you want to say anything?

[20:40] first

[20:42] after?

[20:43] >> Okay.

[20:44] >> All right. Come on up, Miss Honeyut.

[20:47] Uh, Miss Robert F. Hunico is a dedicated

[20:49] public servant who has spent over three

[20:51] decades with the Stanley County

[20:53] Department of Social Services. Three

[20:55] decades. Wow. A graduate of North

[20:58] Stanley High School. We won't hold that

[20:59] against you. U the daughter of James and

[21:02] Mary Flowers. Robin is a lifelong member

[21:04] of the community she has served so

[21:06] faithfully. She is also a proud mother

[21:09] of her son Cody. We definitely won't

[21:11] hold that against you. Um, Robin began

[21:14] her career in 1995 as the income

[21:16] maintenance case worker in the Medicaid

[21:18] unit. Her commitment to excellence led

[21:20] to steady advancement, serving as a

[21:22] Medicaid uh lead worker in 2014, a

[21:26] supervisor in 2018, and eventually a

[21:29] program administrator of economic

[21:31] services in 2024. Beyond her

[21:34] administrative role, she also has been

[21:36] very active voice on numerous community

[21:39] committees, tireless working to support

[21:41] local children and families. Her impact

[21:44] is immeasurable, having helped countless

[21:46] residents navigate critical needs,

[21:48] including health insurance, food

[21:50] securities, and essential community uh

[21:53] resources. Known for her kindness and

[21:56] steady, calm leadership, Robin has been

[21:58] a cornerstone of the social service

[22:00] department. While her presence will be

[22:02] greatly missed, we celebrate her

[22:03] remarkable career as she retires

[22:06] September 11th this morning.

[22:08] >> Congratulations.

[22:09] >> Thank you.

[22:20] » We have a little gift for you presented

[22:22] to Robin. Honey for faithful and

[22:24] dedicated service to the citizens of

[22:25] Stanley County. On this occasion of a

[22:27] retirement, we extend our sincere

[22:29] appreciation for your services and wish

[22:31] you even greater achievements and

[22:32] rewards in the future. Presented this

[22:34] eighth day of September.

[22:36] >> Thank you.

[22:36] so much.

[22:37] >> Not a warm flock. Yeah.

[22:39] >> Hallelujah.

[22:41] Looking forward to the alarm clock.

[22:44] >> So then I have an additional

[22:46] presentation. I am honored to present to

[22:48] you the order of the longleaf pine uh

[22:52] which is the one of the highest awards

[22:54] given by the governor of North Carolina

[22:56] and it's given for exemplary service to

[22:58] the state of North Carolina and its

[23:00] communities. Um Robin has a proven

[23:04] record of exemplary service and her

[23:06] lifelong commitment to service in our

[23:09] community. She's um there are a number

[23:11] of noteworthy uh recipients of this

[23:13] award including Maya Angelo, Billy

[23:16] Graham, Michael Jordan, Andy Griffin,

[23:18] Dale Nhart, and so Robin definitely

[23:21] deserves this award with her over 30

[23:23] years of service to Stanley County and

[23:24] its community.

[23:26] >> CONGRATULATIONS.

[23:34] » Would you like to say anything?

[23:36] >> NO.

[23:39] BUT THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. Thank

[23:41] you very

[24:02] » That's a remarkable achievement. So

[24:04] thank you so much, Miss Honey.

[24:09] Next item is a recognition of service.

[24:12] Our presenter is Elizabeth Kashmir, EDC

[24:14] director. Hey, Elizabeth. How are you?

[24:19] » I'm doing great. How are you?

[24:20] >> Great.

[24:22] >> Well, good evening, Mr. Chairman and

[24:24] members of the board. I've long thought

[24:26] that we need a step stool up here, and

[24:28] I'd have to continue advocating for

[24:30] that. Uh, thank you for allowing me to

[24:32] come before you tonight to honor some

[24:34] special people to Stanley County and

[24:37] friends of the economic development

[24:39] world statewide. Tonight, I have the

[24:41] honor of presenting the recognition of

[24:43] service to both Mr. Larry Balkam and Mr.

[24:45] Charles Brown for their dedication to

[24:47] the economic development efforts of this

[24:48] county for 23 years. I heard a rumor

[24:52] that these two men were appointed to the

[24:55] Economic Development Commission together

[24:57] and made a personal vow that they'd stay

[25:00] until the other decided to call it

[25:01] quits. Well, here we are 23 years later.

[25:05] Stanley County would not be where it is

[25:06] today without both Charles Brown and Mr.

[25:08] Larry Balkam. I'd like to start by

[25:11] telling you just a glimpse into Mr.

[25:12] Balkam's contributions. Um, and then

[25:14] I'll follow with Mr. Brown's and welcome

[25:17] them up together at the end. As an

[25:20] elected official, Mr. Balkam has served

[25:21] the city of Locust City Council for 26

[25:24] years. Perhaps one of the most

[25:26] significant achieve a achievements is

[25:27] that he was a founding member of Locust.

[25:30] Along with other dedicated citizens, Mr.

[25:32] Balkam collected the signatures needed

[25:34] for the official municipal incorporation

[25:36] for the city of Locust. As a volunteer,

[25:39] Mr. Balkam has served in countless

[25:40] leadership roles in Stanley County. He

[25:42] served on the Stanley County Economic

[25:44] Development Commission for 23 years and

[25:46] has been a key stakeholder in securing

[25:48] new industry and expansion in Stanley

[25:50] County, most recently where his

[25:52] relationship with company ownership was

[25:54] a contributing factor that led to the

[25:55] relocation of Charlotte Pipe out of

[25:57] Charlotte into Stanley County.

[26:00] Mr. Balkam has dedicated the better part

[26:02] of his life to service in Stanley

[26:03] County. As a business owner and a

[26:05] dedicated dedicated member of the

[26:07] community, he has made countless

[26:09] contributions to the citizens of Stanley

[26:10] County as well. Whether it's recruiting

[26:12] new companies and industries in his role

[26:14] with the EDC, supporting local

[26:16] businesses with the Chamber of Commerce,

[26:18] advocating for fiscal responsibility and

[26:20] sustainable growth in Locust, or selling

[26:23] reliable vehicles to the community. Mr.

[26:25] Balkam is always looking out for San

[26:27] County and its residents. Please join me

[26:29] in a round of applause for thanking Mr.

[26:31] Larry Balkam for his service to the

[26:32] Economic Development Commission.

[26:42] Next, Mr. Charles Brown needs no

[26:44] introduction in Stanley County or

[26:45] statewide. He probably knows everyone in

[26:48] this room, but I'd like to take a minute

[26:49] to tell you some of his impact here in

[26:51] Stanley County. Like his father,

[26:53] grandfather, and great-grandfather,

[26:55] Charles Brown is a native of Albam Marl

[26:58] in Stanley County. He attended the

[27:00] public schools in Stanley County and

[27:02] thereafter attended the University of

[27:03] North Carolina having received the

[27:05] prestigious Morehead scholarship. Long

[27:08] active in community organizations and

[27:10] affairs, Charles Brown has served as

[27:12] president of the United Way, served as

[27:14] both a member and then for six years as

[27:16] chairman of this on the Stanley County

[27:18] Board of Education. He has served both

[27:20] as a member and most recently the

[27:22] chairman of the board of the Rural

[27:23] Infrastructure Authority, RAIA, under

[27:26] the North Carolina Department of

[27:27] Commerce. Additionally, he serves as a

[27:30] member of the board of the of Golden

[27:31] Leaf Foundation. Both Raia and the

[27:34] Golden Leaf Foundation have made

[27:35] significant contributions to Stanley

[27:38] County's economic development efforts

[27:40] and have spent millions of dollars in

[27:42] the development of industry, sites, and

[27:44] infrastructure here in Stanley County.

[27:47] He enjoys golf, travel, and if you know

[27:49] anything about Charles, you know how

[27:50] much of a UNCC basketball fan he is.

[27:52] even attending games with the Secretary

[27:54] of Commerce and our governor who he is

[27:56] on a firstname basis with regularly.

[27:59] Please join me in a round of applause

[28:00] and thanking Mr. Charles Brown for his

[28:02] 23 years of service to the EDC board.

[28:10] I'd like to please invite these two

[28:12] gentlemen up to the podium to receive

[28:15] this honor.

[28:34] I keep saying that thank you really is

[28:35] not enough, but I truly mean it. We

[28:37] would not be where we are as a community

[28:39] today without both of you. So, thank you

[28:41] very much both Mr. Balkam and Mr. Brown.

[28:48] Thank you sir.

[28:49] >> Thank you.

[28:50] >> Is it appropriate to share a few?

[28:52] >> Absolutely.

[29:04] Elizabeth, board members and

[29:08] friends of economic development in

[29:11] Stanley County.

[29:15] Thank you. Thank you for letting me

[29:18] stand beside Larry Balkam

[29:23] and join you all in honoring him for the

[29:26] conspicuous service and leadership that

[29:28] he has shown to Stanley County that I

[29:32] have witnessed personally over the last

[29:34] 23 years.

[29:37] He has been my seatmate for 23 years.

[29:42] Charles, couldn't you find any better?

[29:44] Nobody else would have you along the way

[29:46] or somewhere. No, I wanted to uh stay

[29:48] right there and Larry and I were

[29:50] together. We've had many fine members on

[29:54] the economic development commission during these

[29:59] years and we have had very very solid

[30:02] leaders just as we have now. This is one

[30:05] of the most non-political boards I have

[30:08] ever served on

[30:11] appointed by a political body in the

[30:14] county.

[30:15] I hope you will be mindful of the need

[30:17] to have balanced political

[30:20] individuals serving on such important

[30:23] boards as an economic development

[30:25] commission. We need to be able to reach

[30:27] into all corners of government with

[30:30] members of the board.

[30:33] While Larry and I have served on the

[30:35] board, our goal has been

[30:38] do do what is best for Stanley County.

[30:45] We talked about it from the beginning

[30:47] that we would emphasize at least two two

[30:50] important

[30:52] parts of service. One would be

[30:55] preparation.

[30:56] The other one would be participation.

[31:01] And here we are 23 years later.

[31:06] We had a few years off of CO, but I I

[31:09] count Mr. Lawan that that's close to 210

[31:14] meetings that we have served.

[31:18] I have missed five or six meetings in 23

[31:22] years. Larry Balkan has missed fewer

[31:25] than than I have. between meetings.

[31:28] We've worked together,

[31:32] in his office, and my office early in

[31:36] the morning, late at night, many, many

[31:38] times on behalf of of Stanley County.

[31:43] So, we join together in conveying our

[31:45] thanks to the

[31:47] county commission, to our county

[31:50] manager,

[31:52] to staff, to director.

[31:55] We continued to work for the county. I

[31:58] know what he has been doing over the

[32:00] last few weeks. I've worked with him.

[32:03] I too have continued and will continue

[32:05] on several key projects working on for

[32:08] the county.

[32:13] From the beginning, neither of us has

[32:16] expected any any recognition.

[32:20] Mr. Chairman, that is that is not

[32:22] necessary.

[32:25] All we have ever wanted to do was to

[32:28] serve.

[32:32] We've done our best.

[32:34] Thank you,

[32:43] Mr. Brown and and Mr. Balkam. Uh Stanley

[32:46] County is a much better place with you

[32:48] two guys in it. And I know when Locust

[32:50] was formed in 1869, Larry wasn't there.

[32:54] But in 1974 when is incorporated, Larry

[32:57] has been a big part of Locust and he has

[32:59] and he continues to be. So thank you

[33:01] guys for from the bottom of our heart on

[33:03] what y'all have done for Stanley County.

[33:06] We certainly appreciate it. Mr. Balkan,

[33:08] would you like to say something, sir?

[33:09] >> It would be hard to follow Mr. Charles

[33:11] Brown. So, I'm not even going to try,

[33:14] but I'd just like to say that uh it's

[33:16] been a pleasure and we don't either one

[33:20] aim to quit at this particular time. We

[33:22] just might not serve on the board, but

[33:24] anytime we can be of service to anyone,

[33:28] uh just let us know. The other thing

[33:30] that makes me feel real good is when you

[33:33] hold a position for a while, who follows

[33:36] in your footsteps?

[33:38] And I'm proud to say that Mr. Rody Dow

[33:41] follows in my footsteps and so we're

[33:43] expecting bigger and better things.

[33:46] Thank you all.

[33:48] >> Thank you, Mr.

[33:48] >> Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir.

[33:53] » Uh I want to say to Charles and Larry,

[33:57] uh you know that the wages you got paid

[34:02] didn't make you a millionaire. And I

[34:04] want the citizens to understand they

[34:07] don't get paid to serve on this board.

[34:09] and they have done a tremendous job.

[34:12] I've worked with both of them during the

[34:14] tenure that I've been on the board as a

[34:17] EDC member and I appreciate the fact

[34:22] that y'all show up and y'all make things

[34:26] happen. Thank you,

[34:28] >> Mr. Long. There have been a few changes

[34:31] in the in uh the years that we've served

[34:34] together. Initially we uh after the

[34:38] board meeting went as a board to a local

[34:41] steakhouse here and had had uh had had

[34:44] dinner together. That was very nice. Uh

[34:48] coming through the years we tried to be

[34:50] good stewards of of the uh county's

[34:53] money and I want you and everyone to

[34:55] know that we don't go to the steakhouse

[34:57] anymore. We have a cold ble bottle of

[34:59] water and a bag of peanuts. Any

[35:04] anything else more?

[35:07] >> Thank y'all.

[35:07] >> Thank you.

[35:10] >> Another change.

[35:12] I was an inch taller and weighed 15 lbs

[35:16] less when we started. I've lost an inch,

[35:18] gained 15 lbs. I used to have brown

[35:21] hair. I don't anymore. That's That's

[35:23] enough. Thank you, sir. We appreciate

[35:25] you, guys.

[35:32] All right. Next item is item C, public

[35:34] hearing, adoption of the comprehensive

[35:36] uh transportation plan. And our

[35:37] presenters, Mr. Lee Snugs of the Rocky

[35:40] River Rural Planning Organization.

[35:42] Mr. Snugs. Come on up, sir. You have

[35:45] some distinguished folks with you from

[35:47] NC DOT. I see. Yes, sir.

[35:50] >> Good evening, board. Thank you for

[35:51] taking time to see it this evening.

[35:52] Hopefully, this will be a a quick

[35:54] discussion. I brought of course Roger

[35:56] Castillo and Timo I can't get your last

[35:59] name right

[36:00] >> and Michan I'm sorry both great guys but

[36:02] they're here from Raleigh for DOT. I

[36:04] think the last meeting we presented the

[36:07] results of the finalized uh

[36:10] comprehensive transportation plan for

[36:11] Stanley County and we're seeking

[36:12] adoption tonight. So we are open for

[36:15] questions and u uh the public hearing of

[36:18] course. So but that's u that's where we

[36:20] stand as of now.

[36:22] Yeah, and we don't need to go through

[36:24] the whole presentation if y'all don't

[36:26] want to. It's the same one as last time.

[36:28] So, more than anything, if you guys have

[36:30] any questions for us prior to adoption,

[36:32] please let us know. Um, you know, as we

[36:35] mentioned before, this plan has been

[36:36] going on for about 2 years or so.

[36:39] Recently, we've gotten approval from

[36:40] every municipality in Stanley County.

[36:43] So, um, and and lastly, we come here to

[36:45] the county for for adoption for this

[36:47] plan. So, um, but nothing has really

[36:50] changed since the last presentation. I

[36:51] think we just uh adopted in locus. I

[36:54] think that was our last one and they

[36:55] just had a minor um wording adjustment

[36:57] for one of their recommendations. But

[36:59] other than that, everything is the same

[37:00] as we presented last.

[37:02] >> I think we have a couple commissioners

[37:04] that have some questions. So, uh, Vice

[37:07] Chairman, if you

[37:08] >> I do have a question, and I asked this

[37:10] the last time y'all were here, and I've

[37:13] had people say, "I don't understand

[37:15] that."

[37:17] Coming up 24273

[37:20] from the river,

[37:22] there's a turn lane that goes into the

[37:23] ABC store, but there's no turn lane that

[37:27] goes into Bulks or Audi's grocery store.

[37:31] And uh one of your folks, one person

[37:34] said they'd check into it. Well, I

[37:36] hadn't heard back. Why? You know, why

[37:41] the ABC store, but not Bel and Audies?

[37:45] That's my question.

[37:47] >> I forget the gentleman's name who was

[37:49] the project manager for that. But

[37:51] believe me, we've heard that's that

[37:54] intersection has been the bane of our

[37:55] existence pretty much since since they

[37:57] but it it is a footage linear footage

[38:00] situation. It's by because you have so

[38:04] many feet that you're trying to have

[38:05] cars,

[38:07] you know, if they're trying to make a

[38:09] left turn to go back and and switch

[38:12] lanes or switch, you know, cross the

[38:14] road in cross the median. So it it just

[38:18] um nothing against the ABC store or

[38:20] those who venture in there, but it was

[38:23] just that's just the way it worked out

[38:25] in in the numbers. I mean, and I know it

[38:27] looks bad.

[38:27] >> So they chose the ABC store over Audi's

[38:30] and Bel.

[38:30] >> Well, it wasn't it wasn't a matter of

[38:32] choice really. It was just that

[38:34] regardless they they don't look at at at

[38:37] the at what businesses were there. It's

[38:39] just the number of feet and that's where

[38:41] it landed. And just it was again

[38:45] wish we'd have done it different. I can

[38:47] say that. I mean,

[38:48] >> you know, and I apologize, you know, and

[38:51] believe me, it's been brought up at

[38:53] every meeting since that since they

[38:56] first put the stakes out for the last

[38:58] several years, but it was just it was

[39:00] not intended to be that way. So, but

[39:04] that's the way it landed.

[39:05] >> So, that was the quickest that you could

[39:06] put a turn lane. That

[39:08] >> pretty much exactly kind like 300 ft or

[39:10] something.

[39:11] >> Yeah. It's kind of right. you if you

[39:12] have the from the roundabout to the

[39:14] intersection,

[39:15] >> you measures out to and it's not the

[39:19] type of businesses, it's how many

[39:20] businesses on each side of the street

[39:22] that determine those footages. There's a

[39:25] formula and and if you need to see that,

[39:27] I can bring it to you, but it is it's

[39:29] just a bunch of they plug in the numbers

[39:32] and it spits out how many feet supposed

[39:34] to be.

[39:34] >> Yeah.

[39:34] >> When you're sitting at the stoplight

[39:36] there at McDonald's.

[39:37] >> Yes, sir. and you're going to turn on

[39:39] the northeast connector after you go

[39:40] under the stoplight and

[39:42] >> you're in the right hand lane.

[39:44] >> It's almost impossible to get over and

[39:46] turn on the, you know, you know what I'm

[39:47] talking about. On the northeast

[39:49] connector, you have to get in the

[39:50] left-hand lane. A lot of times it's only

[39:52] again maybe I don't know how many feet.

[39:55] >> Yeah.

[39:55] >> But a lot of people get mad at you

[39:58] because you're trying to get over. I

[39:59] guess you could go on down and turn

[40:01] there. There is uh there's some

[40:03] interesting things going on with that

[40:04] intersection.

[40:05] >> Yeah. I mean, same situation if you're

[40:07] coming towards town right sorry to right

[40:10] there at Valley Drive like go to Baden

[40:12] you come around that curb and there's a

[40:14] little short turn lane right there I

[40:16] mean you almost have to stand on the

[40:17] brakes I mean so there's many

[40:18] intersections that that we've been

[40:21] brought to our attention as far as along that new section of road but that

[40:26] aren't doing what they hope they would

[40:28] do but yes that that's been brought up

[40:30] as well

[40:31] >> are this is for you guys when you put in

[40:33] a roundabout just a one lane just

[40:37] roughly how much what's the construction

[40:40] cost on a roundabout

[40:42] >> mostly it's it's a lot of time it's

[40:43] rightway expenses it just depend like I

[40:46] can give you for example

[40:47] >> I I know the ones we did out there going

[40:51] towards the airport not at Ridge Street

[40:53] the one

[40:53] >> pass

[40:55] we had enough rightway I think we've got

[40:58] um I think the average around a million

[41:00] depend on right away I think we got two

[41:02] of them put in for a million because you

[41:04] we already the rightway on those two. It just depends. I mean, the design of

[41:08] them doesn't is not intrinsic

[41:11] intrinsically hard because it's just a circle and pavement and

[41:14] everything, but it's if it depends on

[41:16] the right away.

[41:17] >> See, we just approved a lumber company

[41:19] or a BART company to build out at the

[41:22] airport and for their trucks and they

[41:25] were going to do like 150 a day,

[41:27] >> right?

[41:27] >> So, for those to try to squeeze in a

[41:30] roundabout, is that a problem for you

[41:32] guys? If you'll notice, the newer

[41:34] roundabouts aren't, you know, when they

[41:35] first came out with them, they had, you

[41:37] know, a lot of times they have

[41:38] vegetation in them. Now, they're the the

[41:40] edges are more are flatter. They are

[41:43] built to accommodate. Now, they're the

[41:45] trucks won't stay probably they're made

[41:48] to ride up on the curve, basically.

[41:50] >> Really? So, they're supposed to go up on

[41:52] the curve.

[41:52] >> They can. Yeah. Exactly. And if you'll

[41:54] notice in most roundabouts, they'll

[41:55] have,

[41:56] >> you know, tire marks that, you know,

[41:58] skirt over. What about when you have a

[42:00] railroad track and you the other side

[42:03] you can't so just like at Fifer, you

[42:06] know, y'all were talking about doing one

[42:07] at Greystone, correct?

[42:08] >> You've got a railroad track within 30 ft

[42:10] of Highway 52.

[42:12] >> So you're going to have to go over in

[42:14] the church's front yard, you know, there

[42:16] at Fifer is that can you move a railroad

[42:19] track?

[42:20] >> We cannot. that railroad and just just

[42:22] for Hitch and most anybody worked with

[42:24] DOT before railroads were here first and

[42:26] that's their and as they've always you

[42:28] know taken precedent but that's why that

[42:30] roundabout is not going to happen

[42:32] because it was just we were having to

[42:33] push it you know towards the campus and

[42:36] towards high you know power lines and

[42:39] everything else. So we tried to squeeze

[42:41] it in but it just wasn't feasible.

[42:43] >> I think it was changed to um a turning

[42:46] lane uh in the plan because of that.

[42:48] Yeah. And I think I last time you were

[42:50] here, I think fatalities should take

[42:53] precedence over congestion whenever

[42:56] you're thinking about, but that's just

[42:57] me. Yeah.

[42:58] >> No, and I agree. And like I mentioned

[43:00] last time, it's different pots of money

[43:02] and and the safety ones are more

[43:03] immediate changes. This is more long

[43:06] range. So this is looking at like a

[43:08] different pot of money. If there's any

[43:09] safety issues, that's something that we

[43:12] need to report immediately to be changed

[43:14] using that those safety funds. So,

[43:17] >> thank you.

[43:18] >> So, I have a question. I'm just looking.

[43:20] I just chose one of these plats,

[43:23] Norwood. Uh, that's where I'm from. And

[43:26] so, when you um I'm seeing that this

[43:28] bypass uh proposed bypass to go around

[43:31] the town. Um it's hard for me to see

[43:34] exactly um and maybe you can help me on

[43:36] the road like where is that coming in um

[43:39] and out of Norwood. There is this when

[43:44] you're going on up 52 north. I see that

[43:47] you've gotten through town and I just

[43:49] like would like to know the roads that

[43:50] are close by there.

[43:53] >> Sure. Um I think it does use some

[43:55] existing roads as well. So it goes kind

[43:57] of in and out. Um um again this

[44:00] alignment here was one that was provided

[44:02] by by the town at that point but nothing

[44:04] here is set in stone. So there's no it

[44:07] if for example new development and

[44:09] things happened if this gets funded then

[44:11] it would have to be re-evaluated to be

[44:13] adjusted and things like that.

[44:15] >> Okay, that's what I really wanted to

[44:17] know even more. So this so approving

[44:19] this plan just allows you to move

[44:21] forward in the planning process and then

[44:24] >> then you would find out if if people

[44:27] applicable to this, if they want this

[44:28] and and all the other things.

[44:30] >> Yeah. So anything that's on this plan

[44:32] does not have any money on it. It's more

[44:34] to kind of um show where there is need

[44:37] where there is uh where okay so like why

[44:40] do we need to put you know this XYZ the

[44:42] actual thing that goes on there could

[44:45] completely change by the time when it does receive funding right

[44:49] there's going to be another analysis

[44:51] okay what actually needs to go through

[44:52] here to be more public engagement to see

[44:54] does and and and talking with any

[44:56] municipality nearby in the county to say

[44:59] okay is this what you guys want is this

[45:01] what you guys need and then they would

[45:03] move forward with that. So even

[45:04] cross-sections that are listed on here,

[45:06] they can change as well. Some of these

[45:08] have um different like options, but even

[45:11] those options you could go further than

[45:12] that. A lot of this is just the main

[45:14] focus of this plan is the identified

[45:16] need. So it's like for example in a

[45:18] certain intersection be like there are

[45:21] you know 45 crashes here with x number

[45:23] of fatalities. This is why we need to do

[45:25] something here or there is congestion

[45:27] here. It's going over capacity by the

[45:30] year 2055. So something needs to be done

[45:33] here at some point. It's it and these

[45:35] are just kind of suggestions of what can

[45:37] be done. It's not necessarily what will

[45:39] happen and it's not necessarily the same

[45:40] alignment that will happen either if

[45:42] it's for example the the bypass listed

[45:45] here around Albamaro. This is not

[45:48] necessarily the alignment that it would

[45:49] happen even if it does do it and it

[45:51] might not even come to a bypass

[45:53] depending on what the analysis uh comes

[45:55] once the funding happens for said

[45:58] project.

[45:58] >> Thank you for that explanation and Mr.

[46:00] Eford said it's like a a wish list.

[46:02] >> I can appreciate I mean a wish list with

[46:04] reasons for the for the changes and that

[46:07] makes me feel better about my vote. Um

[46:09] and I want just for the record that

[46:12] people know that this is that and

[46:13] nothing is in stone.

[46:14] >> Yes. Okay. And it can be amended at any

[46:16] point. So if there's some some business

[46:18] that comes in and you guys don't feel

[46:20] comfortable with certain line or

[46:22] something, you guys can request an

[46:23] amendment. the the the process for that

[46:26] would be you would need to contact the

[46:27] RPO and it would have to go to the

[46:30] public again for a 30-day public comment

[46:32] period and then for your approval and

[46:34] then they would be changed. So as long

[46:36] as there is valid reasoning for the

[46:38] changes then it can be amended at any

[46:40] point. These are um kind of re uh I

[46:45] guess what's the correct term like

[46:46] they're redone every 10 years basically

[46:48] but it can be amended at any point

[46:50] within those 10 years. So there there's

[46:52] no it's a very fluid plan for sure.

[46:54] >> You said a comment period. Is that

[46:55] online?

[46:56] >> Um so I mean it just depends on how the

[46:58] RPO does it. You can do surveys, you can

[47:00] do online.

[47:01] >> I remember us getting together, you

[47:02] know, and you can do a public meeting.

[47:04] So I guess it's online to where people

[47:06] would call in and say, "Hey," or right

[47:09] that's the way the comment period works.

[47:10] There was a survey sent out.

[47:12] >> Yeah, we we've we've we did a survey for

[47:14] this plan. Um we also did in-person

[47:17] public comments. So, like we would

[47:19] select a location and advertise for

[47:21] people to come to said location to

[47:23] provide any comments.

[47:24] >> Do you put up signs like the planning

[47:25] and zoning does and say, "Hey, you've

[47:27] got a four-lane highway coming through

[47:29] here. You would need to contact this." I

[47:32] mean, do you all put signs out?

[47:34] >> That that would depend on how the RPO

[47:35] does. So, however each county,

[47:37] municipality, and RPO decides to

[47:39] advertise.

[47:40] >> Yeah, we don't do that. And and if you

[47:42] guys have any ideas on how to kind of

[47:44] like spread the word, it's always

[47:45] >> I would want to know if there was a

[47:46] four-lane road proposed coming through

[47:48] my front yard, I would definitely want

[47:50] to know that.

[47:51] >> Yeah.

[47:52] >> And if I was a farmer, I would want to

[47:53] know if he's coming through the middle

[47:54] of my field. Well, well, when when when

[47:57] like like I mentioned, when it when it

[47:58] does if if something like this does get

[48:00] money, right, if there's a project that

[48:01] does get money on this and that means

[48:03] that they're looking to kind of uh you

[48:06] know, move forward with it, any any uh

[48:09] any homes or any businesses that would

[48:11] be affected would immediately get some

[48:13] sort of notice by mail or or or like

[48:16] that.

[48:16] >> By that time though, it's probably too

[48:18] late, right? I mean, by the time you get

[48:19] a notice that's just coming through your

[48:21] property, it's too late to change

[48:22] anything.

[48:23] >> No.

[48:24] Uh, no. So, like they would get an

[48:27] initial notice when the before the while

[48:30] the planning process is happening. So,

[48:31] nothing would be no uh right away would

[48:34] be kind of like uh bought yet or

[48:36] anything like that. It's more of their

[48:38] planning on seeing what is meant to be

[48:40] done there. So, that's when the initial

[48:42] notice will happen. Well, I was just

[48:43] wondering, one of my main questions was

[48:45] is uh maybe several property owners and

[48:48] farmers out there and they're going to

[48:49] lose quite a bit of their property and

[48:52] uh their their homes or whatever to

[48:54] this. And uh if enough of them

[48:57] complained that want you coming through,

[48:59] would that change the whole plan,

[49:01] everything, you could do that then?

[49:03] >> That was my main concern. It looks like

[49:05] it takes a lot of farmland out and a lot

[49:07] of homes too from some of these. I went

[49:09] back and looked at it the other night

[49:10] and uh it looked like it's going to be

[49:12] do a lot of lot of changing for people

[49:15] and if they're not aware of it ahead of

[49:17] time. I mean, this is the planning

[49:19] stages, but I'd want to know right now

[49:21] if it was possibility coming through my

[49:23] property, so if I didn't like it, I

[49:25] could, you know, do something about it.

[49:26] And

[49:27] >> and like I mentioned before, like for

[49:28] example, this bypass, it doesn't

[49:30] necessarily mean that there will be one,

[49:32] right? So they it might even move to

[49:34] maybe like improving another road that

[49:36] maybe could help the congestion within

[49:38] Albamaro. So at this point that's why

[49:41] the uh we have a public uh engagement

[49:43] more for like if there is a need for

[49:46] this that's what this plan stage is for

[49:48] if when uh when it gets submitted to

[49:51] prioritization right that's when it's

[49:53] kind of being submitted to compete with

[49:55] other projects for funding then Lee will

[49:57] come to the municipalities and the

[49:59] county to make sure that they are fine

[50:01] with the um you know with any projects

[50:04] moving forward uh to apply for funding

[50:08] but Again, that doesn't mean that that

[50:10] will be the design that will be

[50:12] occurring. Then once funding is

[50:14] >> I'm just as guilty as anybody, but the

[50:16] public hearings and stuff, you know, I

[50:18] kind of brush it off and then at the

[50:19] last minute, oh, I should have went to

[50:21] that public hearing, you know. So, uh,

[50:23] but that's probably won't be many here

[50:24] to speak tonight on this, but that's why

[50:26] I wanted to bring it up ahead of time if

[50:27] this was cut in stone now or what. So,

[50:31] if it's leeway to it, that that's fine.

[50:33] >> Yeah. and and just as just my time at

[50:35] DOT and and even today there there won't

[50:38] be any surprises. Everybody, every

[50:40] property owner would be well well, you

[50:42] know, advised. But I'll say it out loud

[50:45] in every project like whe you know

[50:49] roundabouts or even you know bypasses

[50:52] unfortunately somebody's going to some

[50:54] land's going to have to be taken. I mean

[50:56] or not I say not taken I mean you know

[50:58] everybody's going to be compensated

[51:00] fairly but um there will be impacts. So

[51:03] but that's unfortunately that's the price you pay for progress.

[51:10] Thank you very much. Any more questions

[51:12] from the commissioners?

[51:16] All right. At this time, I will uh open

[51:19] up a public hearing. Anyone here to

[51:22] speak for or against the comprehensive

[51:25] uh transportation plan that's presented

[51:27] tonight

[51:32] or against?

[51:34] I wish we had a map that we could throw

[51:36] up on so people could see.

[51:39] >> Uh it's it's on the slides right now.

[51:42] Okay, there you want me to

[51:45] >> that's that's all of Stanley County.

[51:46] >> Yeah, this is all of Stanley County. And

[51:48] like I mentioned, we went through every

[51:49] municipality to get their approval and they approved these as well.

[51:55] >> All right, hearing none, I will close

[51:57] the public hearing.

[52:00] Uh what's the pleasure of the board?

[52:09] I I'm kind of skeptical and I've talked

[52:13] I would like if it'd be okay to to

[52:15] reschedule this maybe for another

[52:17] meeting just table it for a while. Um

[52:20] that's not going to put any pressure on

[52:21] you guys.

[52:22] >> Um I I think we're looking to approve uh

[52:26] on the next uh RPO meeting. So and that

[52:28] one's not until what?

[52:29] >> November.

[52:30] So if you'd have us at next

[52:32] meeting We put that on our next our

[52:34] October.

[52:35] >> Okay. Yeah, we can do that.

[52:36] >> Okay.

[52:37] >> Yeah.

[52:38] >> Our next uh meeting is October 5th.

[52:42] >> So,

[52:43] >> oh, and uh feel free to email us with

[52:45] any questions or give us a call if if

[52:47] there's anything that comes up uh

[52:48] between

[52:49] >> you got a motion. Yeah, I'd like to make

[52:51] a motion to table it to our next

[52:52] meeting.

[52:53] >> All right. I have a motion to table the

[52:54] U CTP until our October the 5th meeting.

[52:58] Do I have a second?

[52:59] >> I second that.

[52:59] >> I have a second. Any discussion?

[53:03] All those in favor say I.

[53:05] >> Oppos. Motion carries. Just want to make

[53:07] sure everybody knows.

[53:08] >> Yeah, that's fine. No problem. And like Roger said, we're available in

[53:12] person or virtual. I mean, we can meet

[53:14] individually or as with the whole board

[53:17] anytime.

[53:17] >> Yep.

[53:18] >> Thank you.

[53:19] guys. Appreciate it.

[53:21] >> Our next item is item D, Westley Middle

[53:24] School addition uh budget amendment for

[53:26] design expenses. And our presenter is

[53:27] Mr. Excuse me, Dr. Dennis.

[53:34] Welcome Dr. Dennis. Good to see you

[53:36] guys.

[53:48] » Thank you, Chairman Eron, uh, members of

[53:49] the board. Um, so you were gracious

[53:52] enough to approve funding, help us build

[53:55] an addition to Westley Middle School,

[53:57] which is severely over capacity. I have

[53:59] the most updated proposal from our

[54:01] architect. Um, these architectural fees

[54:03] are also included and um, you guys have

[54:07] to approve a budget amendment. So, the

[54:09] county manager asked me to come to

[54:10] present. Do you have any questions?

[54:13] >> All right. Any questions for Dr. Dennis?

[54:17] >> You said updated proposal. So, the

[54:19] architect has changed the floor plans.

[54:22] >> No, no, I'm sorry. The the amount you

[54:25] guys approve up to was about $72,000. It

[54:27] went down a little bit. So they updated

[54:29] all their numbers.

[54:29] >> I'm sorry. I'm Forgive me. Yeah.

[54:32] >> The 700 and what?

[54:33] >> About $72,000. I have the exact number.

[54:36] >> 700. That's for the design.

[54:38] >> Yes. For everything for the cost of

[54:39] services you see on page two

[54:41] >> for them to design a new or you said an

[54:44] updated floor plan.

[54:46] >> No sir. They just updated the they

[54:49] updated the number that I I gave you a

[54:51] number of 702 roughly.

[54:52] >> Right. So the price went up.

[54:54] >> No, the price actually went down.

[54:55] >> Came down. Well, that's good. Yeah. And

[54:57] so that the

[54:58] >> $194,000 now is what?

[55:00] >> That's correct. Yes, sir.

[55:04] » All right.

[55:05] >> We got a 1.4

[55:08] million.

[55:17] » The total cost of the additional is 12

[55:21] million. Is that right?

[55:23] >> So you guys approved up to 12.2, too.

[55:25] But on this proposal, it's 10,333,000.

[55:30] » So it went down too.

[55:31] >> Yeah.

[55:32] >> Wow. So

[55:34] >> not to exceed 12.2 million.

[55:36] >> That's correct. Yes.

[55:38] >> Yeah,

[55:38] >> that's true.

[55:39] >> Got to be built first.

[55:40] >> So the design does not come out of the

[55:42] construction money.

[55:44] >> We're get you you're saying there was

[55:46] about 1.5 million that was reimburseable

[55:49] from the state I believe on the 12.2 2

[55:51] million and about a half a million of

[55:53] contingency in the original approval

[55:55] that you had.

[55:57] >> Do y'all have a lot of change orders

[55:59] where they come in and say, "Hey, we

[56:00] found out there's something and we're

[56:02] going to have to charge you more because

[56:04] we've got to move this pipe or we've got

[56:06] problems."

[56:07] >> Well, you've got contingency money built

[56:08] into it.

[56:09] >> You do?

[56:10] >> Yes.

[56:10] >> Okay. So, you won't I'm not saying you

[56:12] don't you know, so you won't be coming

[56:14] back and say, "Oh, man. We we forgot

[56:15] something."

[56:15] >> We didn't the last project, so we hope

[56:17] not to.

[56:18] >> Great. That's great. Any

[56:22] more questions?

[56:24] You know, I'm not

[56:27] Please understand that it's not our

[56:30] money. The money what we represent the

[56:34] people and the money that is presented,

[56:39] they're going to hold us accountable.

[56:41] >> Mhm.

[56:42] >> And they're going to hold you

[56:42] accountable,

[56:43] >> but they'll hold us accountable first.

[56:45] They say, "Well, you know, you you

[56:46] appropriated this money and I know you

[56:48] know all that."

[56:48] >> Yeah. if you know we try to study or

[56:52] research something I just want to you

[56:55] know see if somebody there's a lot of

[56:57] things going on there's a lot of times

[56:58] people can come in and I've seen this

[57:00] you know I I teach you know construction

[57:03] I teach architecture and floor plans and

[57:05] stuff and there's a lot and I'm not

[57:06] saying people's dishonest but I just

[57:08] want the reason that we try to

[57:12] have time say a month to look at

[57:15] something and know uh it just helps

[57:19] to to be able to say, "Okay, this is

[57:21] good. This is a good company. This is

[57:22] good." I know you not got that far, but

[57:24] that's if you if we struggle, it's I

[57:26] just I just want you to know it's not

[57:28] our money.

[57:28] >> Mhm.

[57:29] >> Okay,

[57:29] >> I understand. Thank you.

[57:33] >> Any other questions?

[57:36] >> Hearing none. What's the approval? I

[57:37] mean, what's the uh pleasure of the

[57:40] board?

[57:40] >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion uh

[57:43] that we approve the proposed budget

[57:45] amendment for the addition at Westley

[57:47] Middle School. All right. Thank you,

[57:48] Commissioner Crump. I have a motion. Do

[57:50] I have a second?

[57:52] >> Second. I'm sorry.

[57:55] Commissioner King. Any other questions

[57:58] or discussion?

[58:01] » Hearing none. All those in favor say I.

[58:03] >> I.

[58:03] >> Oppos. Motion carries. Seven.

[58:05] >> Thank you.

[58:06] >> Thanks, sir. Uh don't go nowhere. You're

[58:08] up again. School system needsbased uh

[58:11] school capital fund grant application.

[58:13] >> Yeah, we've uh

[58:14] >> match.

[58:14] >> Yeah. Thank you. We've applied for these

[58:16] before. This is just the Oakbra project.

[58:18] Uh very similar to the project that was

[58:20] on the last one. And um of course

[58:22] there's a match from the county of about

[58:24] 2.1 million uh on 42 million. So that

[58:28] puts it at 441.

[58:30] Um again much the same really updated a

[58:33] couple things and updated the pictures

[58:35] because we did fix that wall on the

[58:36] front. So any questions on that?

[58:40] >> Shows here that your application

[58:41] deadline is October 2nd. Is that

[58:43] >> Yeah, it's coming that fast.

[58:44] >> Yeah, it is. Mr. Chairman, I do have a

[58:46] question.

[58:46] >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

[58:47] >> The uh per square foot price went up.

[58:51] >> That's correct.

[58:52] >> Is this uh I think it's like $450 a

[58:57] square foot.

[58:58] >> I have to go back.

[58:58] >> I believe it was driven by concrete

[59:00] prices, Mr. Law. That's the architect

[59:02] reference.

[59:03] >> Is Is that a

[59:07] Is that just a budget price or could it

[59:11] possibly come in less than 450? a square

[59:15] foot.

[59:15] >> I guess it could really come either way

[59:17] depending on a lot of stuff, especially

[59:18] with the prices of steel, concrete like

[59:22] Mr. Liss mentioned, you know, of course

[59:24] it but it looks like the price of

[59:26] building just keeps going up too.

[59:28] >> The architect did reference to the board

[59:30] uh recently on the price of concrete

[59:32] that there is some risk out there of

[59:34] that price escalating. I can't recall

[59:37] exactly right off the top of my head

[59:38] what that risk was. Uh but in within

[59:41] that construction industry there is some risk for escalation there

[59:45] and there's substantial concrete within

[59:47] the building.

[59:49] >> The deadline is October 2nd. When do you

[59:51] look to hear something yes or no on

[59:53] that?

[59:54] >> Usually you'll hear by November. So yeah

[59:56] it's it's it's fairly quick

[59:58] >> but you're probably looking at 2028

[1:00:01] before

[1:00:02] >> so on the application there's a if it

[1:00:05] were approved today the commissioners

[1:00:06] approved it. We went to bid in May,

[1:00:09] started construction I think next

[1:00:10] August. We're in 2030. So, we're three

[1:00:12] and a half years out from today.

[1:00:14] >> Okay. All right. Thank you.

[1:00:16] >> Any more questions?

[1:00:17] >> Yeah. One. Go ahead.

[1:00:19] >> Um, is the $44 million is that a real

[1:00:21] number or, you know, we're going to get

[1:00:23] in this thing and it's going to be $65

[1:00:24] million and who covers that difference?

[1:00:26] I mean, understand the county's got a 5%

[1:00:28] match, but who's going to be on the hook

[1:00:30] for the the remainder of that's what

[1:00:31] worries me. Well, the numbers going to

[1:00:33] really um that'll be the depending

[1:00:37] variable on what you're looking how

[1:00:39] you're looking to build it. So, that

[1:00:40] would constrain and of course there

[1:00:42] could be talk with the county if we

[1:00:43] wanted to build a certain way. Would you

[1:00:44] want to put in money? But, you know,

[1:00:47] it's a lot of money and you know, it'll

[1:00:49] get you it'll get you far.

[1:00:53] » And we again, we won't know until we

[1:00:55] really start getting numbers. You get

[1:00:57] into the design phase, that's when you

[1:00:58] start learning price. Like, what do you

[1:01:00] want your building to look like? you

[1:01:01] want a Taj Mahal, you want this kind of

[1:01:04] building. Do

[1:01:04] >> you get to the design phase though

[1:01:06] before you commit to the money or how

[1:01:09] does that work? I mean, will we get to

[1:01:10] say, "Yay, we don't want to do that or

[1:01:12] >> Yeah, you you'll get into design and

[1:01:14] then yeah,

[1:01:17] >> yes.

[1:01:17] >> Yeah, there have been counties who

[1:01:20] reverted the money before for whatever

[1:01:21] reason. Um, it doesn't look good, of

[1:01:23] course, as you would know, but

[1:01:25] >> I think this, you know, going back to

[1:01:27] last year, uh, Mr. King uh the 44

[1:01:30] million which I think was 43 last year

[1:01:33] roughly uh is gets the classrooms that are needed there um to accommodate

[1:01:39] it kept the old gym uh and renovated

[1:01:42] that. So there's some there were some

[1:01:44] versus the original application proposal

[1:01:46] that came to the commissioner board. Uh

[1:01:48] this is more of a bare bones facility

[1:01:50] than you know previous but the county

[1:01:54] would have the the option at any time to

[1:01:58] uh add or take away any features of the

[1:02:01] school but uh to our understanding the

[1:02:04] this project cost as presented two years

[1:02:06] in a row is is very feasible.

[1:02:13] » It'll be a new Oakboro school under

[1:02:14] renovation onto the existing gym for

[1:02:16] community use.

[1:02:18] We looking to tear the whole the old

[1:02:19] school down completely and then

[1:02:21] >> be a replacement.

[1:02:22] >> Replace it.

[1:02:25] >> Demolition cost included.

[1:02:27] >> She's supposed to have all this cost in

[1:02:28] there. Yeah.

[1:02:29] >> Yeah. Demolition, uh, furniture,

[1:02:31] contingencies,

[1:02:33] uh, a lot of the planning cost, the

[1:02:34] surveying, a lot of the everything was

[1:02:37] built in. So unlike Anson County that

[1:02:40] built a school and forgot to furnish it,

[1:02:42] um, those types of forethought are put

[1:02:44] into the proposal.

[1:02:47] You said 3.5 years that

[1:02:50] >> Yes, sir.

[1:02:51] >> stuff will be more expensive then if it

[1:02:52] keeps going. I hope it goes down but you

[1:02:55] know maybe gas will go down. Uh the

[1:02:57] previous request on a needsbased grant

[1:02:59] in the past three years. So we don't

[1:03:02] have another meeting. We we have to

[1:03:04] decide tonight. So we really don't we're

[1:03:07] going to have to give you a decision

[1:03:09] tonight. And if if there it's like my

[1:03:12] students I try and I'm not fussing at

[1:03:14] you. Please don't think I'm fussing. It

[1:03:16] would help me if I had just a little bit

[1:03:18] of more time and you know to come in and

[1:03:21] not and just look and say okay this is

[1:03:23] good just like we tabled that last

[1:03:24] thing. If y if there's any way possible

[1:03:26] way that you think that and I we need

[1:03:28] this money no question if there's any

[1:03:31] possible way that you can make a

[1:03:33] presentation say two months earlier so

[1:03:36] that we can get you know you know what

[1:03:37] I'm saying the problem is the

[1:03:39] application doesn't come out it it does

[1:03:40] not give you much time

[1:03:41] >> it it opened August 17th

[1:03:43] >> you know what's going by the time they

[1:03:44] prepared the application

[1:03:45] >> that's going to happen next year right

[1:03:47] >> yeah but they ch they tweaked something

[1:03:48] like this year they tweaked it to where

[1:03:50] if you're if you focus on CTE that's

[1:03:52] another thing that can help you like if

[1:03:54] you make one of CTE type

[1:03:56] >> state has changed it every year.

[1:03:57] >> So they give you two weeks to come up

[1:03:59] with a

[1:04:00] >> they'll give you a heads up toward the

[1:04:02] end end of July that it's coming

[1:04:03] >> end of July

[1:04:04] >> and then they'll release it.

[1:04:05] >> By the time this application come out,

[1:04:07] it would not have been feasible to have

[1:04:08] the application at your announce

[1:04:10] meeting. We'd had to call a special call

[1:04:11] meeting. Y'all have the August meeting.

[1:04:13] >> Y'all have called spe special call

[1:04:14] meetings in the past.

[1:04:15] >> All I'm saying is it would really help

[1:04:17] us if we could just see it just a little

[1:04:18] bit earlier instead of, you know, right

[1:04:20] now we got to decide. Uh oh.

[1:04:24] >> Go ahead, Mark.

[1:04:24] >> I I got a question. I think it was last

[1:04:26] year we applied for the needsbased

[1:04:28] grant. Is that correct?

[1:04:29] >> And I think you came at about the same

[1:04:30] amount, 44

[1:04:32] >> for the Oak facility. Yes.

[1:04:34] >> And I thought that was also including uh

[1:04:36] additions to Weston Middle School.

[1:04:39] >> And and so now now that's completely

[1:04:43] separate. That's another 12 million. But

[1:04:46] um

[1:04:47] >> what I'm concerned about is

[1:04:48] >> $2 million grant, sir.

[1:04:50] >> I'm sorry.

[1:04:51] Last year, the commissioner board

[1:04:53] approved a $54.6 million project uh

[1:04:57] which was applying for a $42 million

[1:04:59] grant for Oakboro.

[1:05:01] >> Uh and the remaining 12.6 I believe it

[1:05:04] was for um West Middle.

[1:05:06] >> West West Middle and that included 2.6

[1:05:09] allocated a 5% match by the

[1:05:10] >> We only approved I think made off.

[1:05:15] >> And um of course it didn't matter

[1:05:17] because you didn't get the grand.

[1:05:18] >> It was 54.6. I pulled it before the

[1:05:20] meeting. That was what was approved by

[1:05:22] the commissioner board for the grant

[1:05:23] application

[1:05:24] >> because you able to loop in.

[1:05:25] >> I think Mr. Lahan made the motion to

[1:05:27] drop it to 25 million and

[1:05:30] >> is a $52 million grant. What we were

[1:05:33] trying to do last year um was take

[1:05:35] advantage uh to pocket for the taxpayer

[1:05:37] an extra $10 million by combining two

[1:05:40] projects. So each year the state comes

[1:05:43] up with their stipulation such as this

[1:05:45] year it's around CTE. So, we're we're

[1:05:47] taking the approach with the STEM school

[1:05:50] and the application to wrap that in

[1:05:52] there amongst all the other needs. Uh,

[1:05:54] but last year with the West Middle

[1:05:56] edition and the Oak Elementary School,

[1:06:00] because we were combining two, we could

[1:06:02] go for the middle school grant uh at 52

[1:06:05] million. Uh, and that's why your board

[1:06:08] approved 54.6. So, it's 52 plus 2.6 from

[1:06:12] the local taxpayer. That's a 5% match.

[1:06:15] Uh this year we since commissioner board

[1:06:18] approved 12.2 million I believe it was

[1:06:20] in June for the middle school uh we

[1:06:22] don't have that option. So we go down to

[1:06:25] um the the lower of the three which is

[1:06:28] the elementary school grant at 42

[1:06:30] million. If we were going for a high

[1:06:31] school uh that would be 62 million.

[1:06:37] » This is basically what we approved of to last year.

[1:06:40] >> Yes ma'am. But it's taking the the

[1:06:42] Westland Middle School out of the

[1:06:43] equation because we're already funding

[1:06:45] that.

[1:06:45] >> Yes, ma'am.

[1:06:46] >> And it drop it drops you down 10

[1:06:47] million.

[1:06:48] >> Drops you down to the small to the

[1:06:49] lesser of the grants.

[1:06:50] >> That's correct.

[1:06:50] >> Okay.

[1:06:51] >> Mr. Law Hunt, uh could I ask you a

[1:06:53] question? Didn't last year you make a

[1:06:55] proposal for a maximum of 25 million

[1:06:57] maximum grant on that.

[1:07:00] >> I don't recall that.

[1:07:02] >> I like

[1:07:02] >> you. You might you might be recalling

[1:07:06] something that I did, but

[1:07:07] >> we had a special call meeting in here.

[1:07:09] >> 25 million. I think it was instead of

[1:07:11] the 52.

[1:07:12] >> Uh-uh.

[1:07:13] >> That's two years ago.

[1:07:14] >> No,

[1:07:15] >> that was last year reduced, but it

[1:07:17] wasn't. It was still

[1:07:20] >> the full amount for the middle school

[1:07:21] and it was a lesser amount for the

[1:07:23] Westland because initially the Westley

[1:07:25] Middle was going to be like 25 million

[1:07:27] and we we had that reduce that amount um

[1:07:31] to really scale back the scope of that

[1:07:33] which they ultimately did and that's

[1:07:35] what you approved 12.2 2 and back in

[1:07:37] June the middle school the elementary

[1:07:40] school has always been 42

[1:07:42] >> will continue to be a choice STEM school

[1:07:45] when it's if it the new one

[1:07:47] >> yes no

[1:07:48] >> uh it's been discussed as the board to

[1:07:50] combine both uh very much like Indie

[1:07:52] where you have the choice option but

[1:07:54] you've got to district in I mean that's

[1:07:56] sort of the key is is districting in the

[1:07:58] growth um we've got Aquedale where

[1:08:00] Oakboro is districted to that's that's

[1:08:03] over 90

[1:08:03] >> I'm not talking about the growth I'm

[1:08:04] just wondering will the school continue

[1:08:06] to be a STEM.

[1:08:07] >> They'll have that option. Yes, sir.

[1:08:08] >> It's written in here to have a STEM

[1:08:09] focus.

[1:08:10] >> So, that means anyone from the county

[1:08:12] can come and put their child in that

[1:08:13] school if they need that certain

[1:08:15] program, right? Well, you might have to

[1:08:17] cap the program.

[1:08:18] >> Yeah. Sure.

[1:08:19] >> Yeah.

[1:08:19] Yeah.

[1:08:20] >> I'd like to ask middle school option.

[1:08:23] >> What's that, sir?

[1:08:23] >> Will it be K5?

[1:08:25] >> Yes, sir.

[1:08:25] >> So, it'll drop the middle school option.

[1:08:27] >> That's what the board has discussed so

[1:08:29] far. So, it it's the the elementary

[1:08:32] crowding of under the K3 class size law

[1:08:35] has been the ongoing issue at the

[1:08:36] elementary level in this county. Um

[1:08:40] that's, you know, nothing has been

[1:08:42] decided or voted on to by the board as

[1:08:45] far as K8 or um

[1:08:47] >> but if you take this money, does it

[1:08:48] stipulate that you have to drop the

[1:08:50] middle school out of that?

[1:08:52] >> No,

[1:08:52] >> it does not.

[1:08:53] >> No.

[1:08:54] >> Okay.

[1:08:54] >> No.

[1:08:56] I' I'd like to

[1:08:58] not to my knowledge don't mean much but

[1:09:01] uh I'd really like somebody to consider

[1:09:03] reopening Rich School. That would

[1:09:05] alleviate a whole lot of problems and I

[1:09:07] think we could do it a whole lot cheaper

[1:09:08] than what you guys are talking about.

[1:09:11] >> Well to address that I think everyone on

[1:09:13] the board continues to discuss Ridgerest

[1:09:15] and that's always an option. just

[1:09:17] referencing back to our 2022 and 2025

[1:09:19] demographic studies

[1:09:22] oper with the growth of Locust Stanfield

[1:09:25] that area um is situated to really

[1:09:30] capture all of that and to alleviate

[1:09:32] some of the elementary crowding that we

[1:09:34] have from that area. Um you got to think

[1:09:37] between the two studies 22 to 25

[1:09:39] Stanfield grew 25% in enrollment. Um

[1:09:43] they are all busting at the seams. Uh

[1:09:45] India is is approaching I think they

[1:09:47] were around 89 90% when I looked at the

[1:09:50] numbers recently.

[1:09:51] >> That's what you're talking about that

[1:09:53] bridgerrest would help alleviate a lot

[1:09:54] of that because you got a lot of those

[1:09:55] kids used to school in 23 years. I think

[1:09:58] a lot of construction's definitely

[1:09:59] needed in the county and a lot of

[1:10:00] renovation and hopefully this is just

[1:10:02] the start of it.

[1:10:04] What question about the number of

[1:10:05] students which has something to do with

[1:10:09] this but not entirely

[1:10:13] understand the total number of students

[1:10:15] enrolled

[1:10:18] 78 and a few is that correct

[1:10:22] >> it's like 86

[1:10:24] almost 87 86 and some change

[1:10:27] >> we got 78 I want to say 7820

[1:10:31] at our last EDC meeting

[1:10:34] >> and we ask please clarify that because

[1:10:36] yeah

[1:10:37] >> if that is the number of students

[1:10:39] systemwide

[1:10:41] >> then we decline by about four or five

[1:10:44] 600 students

[1:10:45] >> we decline by a little bit but not much

[1:10:48] we're about the same we were last year

[1:10:50] >> it's really a demographic shift Mr.

[1:10:52] Lawhan, we lose student in my experience

[1:10:54] on the board, we lose students in the

[1:10:56] northern end. Um, and really every end

[1:11:00] to to an extent except for the western

[1:11:03] end and uh South Almarl. Uh they

[1:11:05] >> I understand the over capacity at

[1:11:09] Western

[1:11:10] >> Stanley School, but we're under capacity

[1:11:15] at the Albam Mall

[1:11:18] and Northern South Stanley

[1:11:21] and you know comes back to my mind could we or at some point are you all

[1:11:28] going to do some redistricting? We had

[1:11:31] 8671 and that was with prek.

[1:11:36] >> Uh to directly answer your question from

[1:11:38] a board perspective, uh Mr. Lawan,

[1:11:40] that's continued to to to be looked at.

[1:11:43] This board looked at it last year. Um

[1:11:46] the remarks from in the study from the

[1:11:48] demographer were we're very much like

[1:11:51] Union County used to be where we're on the the cusp of not being able

[1:11:56] to keep our uh feeder patterns. So, for

[1:12:00] example, um there has been talk by some

[1:12:02] board members of of uh you know,

[1:12:05] redistricting the indie area to to the

[1:12:08] southern end. Um that was, you know, an

[1:12:12] option provided by the demographer.

[1:12:15] Um but you're exactly right that there

[1:12:17] are a lot of buildings uh out of the 23

[1:12:20] across the county that that are under

[1:12:22] capacity. Um, and with the demographic

[1:12:25] shift, it it begs other topics of

[1:12:28] conversation, and that's one of them.

[1:12:31] >> Is it true that the uh district, y'all

[1:12:34] know where Berles Square is, right? You

[1:12:37] know, there's a creek down below, you

[1:12:38] stay on 2427, you go down. Uh, do those

[1:12:42] students go to Indie or they don't they don't go to Air City Schools,

[1:12:47] right?

[1:12:47] >> There's some students up near First

[1:12:48] assembly to go to Indie. Yeah. And also,

[1:12:50] and you probably don't remember this,

[1:12:51] but the old air mall road drive-in.

[1:12:53] You're familiar with that. Y'all

[1:12:55] probably That's good that you're not.

[1:12:56] That's good. You got me on that.

[1:12:58] >> As you're going up the hill on West

[1:13:00] Main,

[1:13:00] >> okay.

[1:13:01] >> Uh, do the students there go to West or

[1:13:06] go to Indie and places?

[1:13:08] >> I mean, I I can pull the lines and look

[1:13:10] at it.

[1:13:10] >> Okay. I've got that. And they do.

[1:13:12] >> Okay.

[1:13:12] >> I think I've got Yeah, they do. Uh, why

[1:13:17] would students from Alamar that deep go

[1:13:20] to the West Stanley schools?

[1:13:22] >> Why would Sir, I would never have to

[1:13:25] drew the lines.

[1:13:25] >> I'm sorry.

[1:13:26] >> I was not here when they drew those

[1:13:27] lines.

[1:13:28] >> Okay.

[1:13:29] >> I'm not trying to not answer your

[1:13:30] question.

[1:13:30] >> No, there's there's been lots of options

[1:13:33] uh Mr. Mills presented by the

[1:13:35] demographers. Um,

[1:13:38] and it's a matter of whether the board,

[1:13:40] the county wants to keep clean feeder

[1:13:42] patterns as as we stand now. Uh, or if,

[1:13:45] for example,

[1:13:47] folks that live in Indie would, some may

[1:13:49] go to Almar Middle, some may go to South

[1:13:52] Middle. Um, again, the county is is on

[1:13:56] that cusp, right? um according to the

[1:13:59] professionals and that's something the

[1:14:01] county has to decide and that will

[1:14:02] certainly be decided after my time but

[1:14:05] um it is in the studies and has been

[1:14:06] discussed in public meetings.

[1:14:08] >> I was just wondering that it takes 5

[1:14:09] minutes to go to the Arma school but

[1:14:12] it'll take as much as 20 25 minutes to

[1:14:14] go to the school that they're attending.

[1:14:15] >> Yeah, they're they're old district

[1:14:16] lines. I mean I don't disagree with you

[1:14:18] at all. I I think it brings up a greater

[1:14:20] you know uh conversation I think that

[1:14:23] Mr. Lawa might may be referencing and I

[1:14:25] think you're saying without saying is uh

[1:14:27] with the demographic shift and a lot of

[1:14:29] buildings under capacity.

[1:14:32] If we're being fiscal conservative uh

[1:14:34] minded for the taxpayer then there

[1:14:36] should be some discussion on uh how do

[1:14:39] we not have so many buildings that we

[1:14:41] need to maintain and reach other

[1:14:43] buildings at capacity and that would

[1:14:45] involve redistricting.

[1:14:46] >> I know about West Stanley Middle School

[1:14:48] they have 10 classrooms in that

[1:14:50] renovation. Is that right? 10 classrooms

[1:14:53] is proposed. Just 10. That's already too

[1:14:55] small. If we build it today, it wouldn't

[1:14:57] be enough room. And a a school when you

[1:15:01] if you tear down an outside wall and

[1:15:04] connect to it, you have to go in and

[1:15:06] update. Just like in here, you know, see

[1:15:08] the water sprinklers, everything. If you

[1:15:11] tear a wall down and build onto it, you

[1:15:14] have to go in and change everything up

[1:15:16] to code. But if you build adjacent and you know, you got to think about

[1:15:21] student security. If you build adjacent

[1:15:23] to it and don't tear out that exterior

[1:15:25] wall, you don't have to update it. You

[1:15:27] only have to update what you're doing.

[1:15:29] So that's what happened to the Y. The Y

[1:15:30] is tearing down a wall. They're adding

[1:15:32] on. It took over almost $2 million just

[1:15:36] to update and get as water sprinklers.

[1:15:39] And see, if y'all can if your architect

[1:15:42] will do it and your principal knows more

[1:15:44] about that school and I'll tell you

[1:15:45] somebody else, the janitor knows I

[1:15:47] would. And I said, 'You need they need

[1:15:49] to be with that architect, your janitor

[1:15:52] or custodian and the principal, they

[1:15:54] need they're there every day. They

[1:15:56] breathe the air. They they're the ones

[1:15:59] that live there. The students do, too.

[1:16:01] And I know y'all do that. I know you do.

[1:16:03] I'm a teacher. I know you do. And I know

[1:16:05] that's why you have a great passion for

[1:16:06] it. I was just telling you and and you will have to you have a covered

[1:16:10] porch, but you will not have to take

[1:16:12] that money and update all the fixtures

[1:16:14] and everything else that's in that

[1:16:16] building like the Y did. It's just

[1:16:18] cheaper. I'm I'm always looking for not

[1:16:21] cheaper, but you know what I'm saying.

[1:16:23] Appreciate I know that they can't even

[1:16:25] go to the bathroom and change the

[1:16:26] classes. You know that, Mr. Dennis. They

[1:16:28] when they change classes, there's so

[1:16:30] many and they have restricted bathrooms

[1:16:32] that they have to stagger their rooms so

[1:16:35] that the kids can go to the bathroom

[1:16:36] because they don't have but like four

[1:16:39] fixtures. So they can't when they ring

[1:16:41] the bell and everybody changes classes.

[1:16:43] They can't ring the bell for seventh

[1:16:44] grade, eighth grade, and sixth grade.

[1:16:46] They have to ring ring the bell so that

[1:16:49] the sixth graders can go to the bathroom

[1:16:50] because there's not enough room for

[1:16:51] everybody to go to the bathroom. They're

[1:16:52] standing in line and they're late for

[1:16:53] class. Well, and that's been thought

[1:16:55] about in the addition as well. And

[1:16:57] without for all intents and purposes,

[1:16:58] that school was weren't really built to

[1:16:59] be a middle school, and that's run into

[1:17:00] some of the problems, too, cuz the

[1:17:02] classrooms that have the bathrooms in

[1:17:04] them, and when you get that age, you

[1:17:05] don't use the bathroom.

[1:17:06] >> I'm not trying to tell you how to do. I

[1:17:07] just know if you don't connect onto that

[1:17:09] next building, I mean, you got you have

[1:17:10] a breezeway, you have it's cheaper, less

[1:17:13] expensive, I should say.

[1:17:14] >> I think somebody else had a question.

[1:17:16] >> Dustin, I'm just encouraged that y'all

[1:17:18] are talking about the redistricting.

[1:17:19] Maybe conversations are going. I think

[1:17:21] there's a lot of people that would be

[1:17:23] encouraged by that conversation.

[1:17:25] >> I don't think that's

[1:17:27] >> Yeah. I mean, they're all tough

[1:17:28] decisions, I think, for for any board

[1:17:30] member regardless of your purview. But,

[1:17:32] um, there are some tough decisions I

[1:17:35] personally believe that have to be made

[1:17:36] in the county.

[1:17:37] >> Yeah. And some people just say, why

[1:17:38] don't you move this line, that line? You

[1:17:40] got to look at your population density.

[1:17:41] Moving a line,

[1:17:42] >> without these grants,

[1:17:44] >> all this is dead in water. So, we we we

[1:17:47] moved.

[1:17:47] >> And that's a great point, Mr. cuz you

[1:17:50] know I'm a fiscal conservative. I I want

[1:17:52] the taxpayer to pay as least as possible

[1:17:54] to get the maximum amount out of it. But

[1:17:57] the need doesn't go away from a county

[1:17:59] perspective even if we don't get the

[1:18:01] grant. Uh and even if we did, we're

[1:18:03] looking at 2030. I think Mr. Mills

[1:18:05] referenced the middle school being at

[1:18:06] capacity and we looked at a larger

[1:18:08] option. Um and it just felt it was going

[1:18:11] to be larger than the high school. Um

[1:18:14] but where the growth is uh there's a lot

[1:18:18] of conversations that have to happen

[1:18:20] between the buildings uh and between re

[1:18:22] where the lines are sitting. Um and and

[1:18:25] somehow between the state and the

[1:18:27] county. We we have got to begin to

[1:18:29] addressing this over the next two

[1:18:30] decades. Uh cuz we're a little behind on

[1:18:33] it.

[1:18:33] >> And they need science labs at West

[1:18:35] Middle. And when you put a permanent

[1:18:38] fixture just like these chairs out here,

[1:18:40] you can move them. You can put more

[1:18:42] students in a room where the the the

[1:18:45] chairs move, but if you put permanent

[1:18:47] fixtures like a auditorium, you can't

[1:18:49] get as many students because those

[1:18:50] chairs won't move. And when people start

[1:18:52] going to the exits trying to get away

[1:18:54] and just like in a a biology room, they

[1:18:56] need a sink. They need Brunson burners

[1:18:59] and and that that room can't be as big

[1:19:00] and it can't hold as many students. But

[1:19:02] we need to hold students. So I what is

[1:19:05] it 700 feet for middle school? I mean

[1:19:07] ballpark you got to have 700 square

[1:19:09] feet. Is that

[1:19:11] >> 700 feet?

[1:19:12] That's how much a classroom

[1:19:14] >> for a room. Oh,

[1:19:14] >> yeah. For a room.

[1:19:15] >> Well, DPI, they've gone higher than that

[1:19:17] now. DPI, what they recommend and what

[1:19:19] you can build are two different things.

[1:19:20] It's just

[1:19:20] >> Yeah, it depends if it's a elementary or

[1:19:22] middle school.

[1:19:23] >> They want higher than that.

[1:19:24] >> Yeah, cuz the bodies are You can't have

[1:19:26] kindergarteners and first grade and

[1:19:28] second grade climbing steps. So, you got

[1:19:31] to have a level. They can't go up steps.

[1:19:33] I know that.

[1:19:34] >> Yeah. The little kids cannot go up

[1:19:35] steps. That's correct.

[1:19:37] >> All right. Thanks, sir.

[1:19:39] Commissioners, anything else?

[1:19:43] >> All right. What's pleasure board?

[1:19:49] » We're going to submit the grant

[1:19:51] >> 5%

[1:19:52] >> for the for the needs space grant.

[1:19:53] >> Yes.

[1:19:54] >> Yeah.

[1:19:54] >> What's our total?

[1:19:56] >> We would have to pay 2.1

[1:19:58] >> 2.1 to get if they're approved to get

[1:20:02] >> 44

[1:20:04] >> 42 million And your 2.1 makes it 44.1,

[1:20:08] right? Okay.

[1:20:09] >> 2 million1

[1:20:11] county.

[1:20:12] >> It's a 5% match.

[1:20:14] >> 5%.

[1:20:15] >> I'm going just This is just me again. I

[1:20:18] don't see if we're going to pay $2

[1:20:20] million to get $40 million.

[1:20:23] And it's not a loan. Now, we don't have

[1:20:26] the We haven't received it yet,

[1:20:28] >> but I Okay. If we get the 42 million,

[1:20:30] that should open up some of y'all's

[1:20:32] existing expense that we could go in and

[1:20:34] open Ridgerest possibly, right? If we

[1:20:36] get the 42 million,

[1:20:38] >> I think all options are on the table. I the board continues to discuss

[1:20:41] Ridgerest and uh there's been a lot of

[1:20:43] progress on that front.

[1:20:44] >> This would absolutely help you in your

[1:20:46] expenses to get that 42 million, then

[1:20:48] you could do something even better at

[1:20:51] Ridgerest possibly.

[1:20:54] >> Well, the 42 has to go to towards the

[1:20:56] project.

[1:20:57] >> Sure.

[1:20:57] >> Yeah. Yeah, but you've got you know you

[1:21:00] just like we did the 12

[1:21:01] >> the school board is always welcoming

[1:21:03] commissioner funds if you're proposing

[1:21:06] >> 12.5 million. So

[1:21:08] >> if you have a proposal I'd love to hear

[1:21:10] the motion

[1:21:10] >> field west middle school.

[1:21:12] >> What's that?

[1:21:12] >> Commissioner Mills was a motion in there

[1:21:14] somewhere.

[1:21:15] >> Yeah, I'll make a motion

[1:21:18] in these schools. They

[1:21:20] some of them don't even have water

[1:21:22] running water at the sinks and the

[1:21:25] maintenance is hard.

[1:21:29] We we've got to do this for our kids,

[1:21:32] our teachers,

[1:21:34] they we've got if this if they'll give

[1:21:37] us the money and we only spend two I

[1:21:40] mean I don't understand why we that's to

[1:21:43] me that's a no-brainer. That's I mean

[1:21:45] I'm I'm biased.

[1:21:46] >> We haven't gone to the discussion phase

[1:21:47] of that yet, Mr. Mills. No, I have a

[1:21:49] motion on the floor. Do I have a second?

[1:21:51] >> Second.

[1:21:52] >> All right, I have a second. All right,

[1:21:53] now we're in discussion phase, sir.

[1:21:56] Anything else?

[1:21:58] I I'm I'm still going to push for

[1:22:00] Ridgerest. I think it's a waste. It

[1:22:02] should have never been closed to start

[1:22:04] with, and I know there's some members on

[1:22:06] that board that won't ever want

[1:22:07] Ridgerest open back up. And I think

[1:22:10] that's a shame. I think it's doing

[1:22:11] injustice to the kids, not only to the

[1:22:13] community out there. And uh not

[1:22:18] You know, I I think getting 42 million

[1:22:20] for 1 point or 2.1 million is a deal,

[1:22:23] but unless we look at it and spend it

[1:22:26] wisely, it's no deal. And so that I I've

[1:22:30] got a hard job to decide if I want to

[1:22:32] vote for this or not because the school

[1:22:35] system is not wanted to work with us on

[1:22:38] any of the buildings that we've looked

[1:22:39] at, maybe reuse for sheriff's department

[1:22:41] or whatever. Uh I I feel like every time

[1:22:44] we try to bend over backwards to help

[1:22:46] the school system, then y'all buck up

[1:22:48] and don't help us. And so uh you know

[1:22:52] that that affects a lot of my decision

[1:22:55] making is when if you don't want to work

[1:22:57] with me, why should I work with you?

[1:22:59] >> You're working for the taxpayer, sir.

[1:23:00] >> I look at all right. Any other

[1:23:03] questions?

[1:23:04] >> Discussion.

[1:23:06] >> Yes, sir.

[1:23:07] >> My concern is the money. I mean, like I

[1:23:08] said, if you get in the 42 million and

[1:23:10] you're only paying two, but look at

[1:23:12] Indie. We said started out that project

[1:23:14] was going to be 3 million and I think

[1:23:15] now it's north of 6 million. My thing is

[1:23:18] if you get this money and it comes back

[1:23:19] and say it's $65 million and the county

[1:23:21] says we can't do that. That's going to predetermine probably

[1:23:25] never get a chance another grant. And

[1:23:27] that's what concerns me is that we're

[1:23:28] not seeing the real numbers for the Oak

[1:23:30] Elementary School that we're saying this

[1:23:32] 44 million, but in theory and only in

[1:23:35] theory, but we've not seen any I don't

[1:23:37] think there's any concrete numbers to

[1:23:39] support $44 million. My concern when you

[1:23:41] tear down the old school and build it

[1:23:42] back.

[1:23:45] Any more discussion?

[1:23:48] All right, we have a motion and a

[1:23:49] second. All those in favor say I.

[1:23:51] >> I.

[1:23:54] >> Motion carries 52. Thank you, sir.

[1:23:56] >> Thank you.

[1:24:05] » Uh would it be okay? We're going to take

[1:24:06] a fivem minute recess.

[1:29:53] Next item is the volunteer a district uh

[1:29:55] board appointments and our presenter is

[1:29:56] Mr. Chester Louderder, chair of the

[1:29:58] voluntary a district board. Chester,

[1:30:00] good to see you, sir.

[1:30:01] >> Yes, sir. Good evening, commissioners.

[1:30:02] And thank you for the job you do.

[1:30:05] >> I told Bill I had some flashbacks done

[1:30:08] before, right? Yes, sir.

[1:30:09] >> Exactly.

[1:30:10] uh bring three uh recommendations for uh

[1:30:14] members of the board. Elaine Moore who

[1:30:16] lives on Mountain View Church Road

[1:30:19] Alamar and Leon Honeyut uh Stanfield and

[1:30:24] myself to be uh members appointed to the

[1:30:28] voluntary act district board. And I've

[1:30:30] got a horse voice. I mo mowed yesterday

[1:30:32] and I've been having to battle this for

[1:30:35] the last little while.

[1:30:38] All right. Any questions for Mr. Louder?

[1:30:43] » What's the pleasure of the board?

[1:30:47] >> All right. I have a motion to reappoint

[1:30:49] Chester Louder, Leon Honeyut, and Miss

[1:30:52] Moore.

[1:30:53] >> Second.

[1:30:55] Any discussion?

[1:30:58] All those in favor say I.

[1:31:00] >> Oppos. Thank you, sir, for your

[1:31:02] willingness to serve. Motion carries.

[1:31:03] Seven motion.

[1:31:04] >> Thank you.

[1:31:06] get caught up here on my

[1:31:09] >> Yeah, I had to change uh this packet so

[1:31:12] big I had to change emails now.

[1:31:16] >> All right. Now,

[1:31:18] hold on, Mr. Louderder.

[1:31:24] » All right. Next item is voluntary a

[1:31:26] district application. Again, our

[1:31:28] presenter is Mr. Chester Louder.

[1:31:30] >> Yes, sir. Uh we have a a application

[1:31:34] from Jeremy W. Morgan, trustee, and the

[1:31:39] property is on 44105

[1:31:43] Danville Road, New London. It's a small

[1:31:46] track of land, but they're wanting to

[1:31:48] put it into the voluntary act district.

[1:31:52] >> Okay. Any questions for Mr. L

[1:31:55] >> and it comes as a recommendation from

[1:31:57] the board.

[1:31:58] >> Okay. All right. Thank you, sir.

[1:32:02] hearing. None. What's the pleasure of

[1:32:04] the board?

[1:32:04] >> I make a motion to approve it.

[1:32:06] >> Second.

[1:32:06] >> I have a motion by Commissioner Burby

[1:32:08] and I have a second by Commissioner

[1:32:10] Mills. Any discussion?

[1:32:12] >> All those in favor say I.

[1:32:14] >> I.

[1:32:15] >> That motion carries also said Mo. Thank

[1:32:17] you, Mr. L.

[1:32:21] » All right. Next item is the grant

[1:32:23] application for the West Stanley water

[1:32:26] feed project and our presenter, Mr.

[1:32:28] Clinton Henson. Clinton, good to see

[1:32:30] you, sir.

[1:32:31] >> Hey, good to see you, Scott. Thanks, Mr.

[1:32:33] Chairman, commissioners. Uh,

[1:32:35] >> come see you tonight to uh get approval

[1:32:37] of a resolution to apply for grant funds

[1:32:40] for the fall funding for the viable

[1:32:41] utilities in the state revolving fund uh

[1:32:44] with the state of North Carolina. Uh we

[1:32:47] got word, what was that a week or so

[1:32:48] ago, Andy, that they cut the funding for

[1:32:50] the spring. They gave out no money at

[1:32:53] all this spring. So, they told us to

[1:32:54] reapply for the fall. So, that is what

[1:32:56] I'm here to do. And this is again for

[1:32:58] the West Waste, not wastewater, sorry,

[1:33:00] West Water feed project. Um, and as you

[1:33:03] know, that's to connect our current

[1:33:05] Millingport booster station to tie back

[1:33:06] into the western part of the county for

[1:33:08] a redundant second feed uh of water

[1:33:10] supply for the western part of the

[1:33:12] county. Um, and this will be the same

[1:33:14] grant we applied for back in the spring.

[1:33:16] Like I said, it was cut the funding and

[1:33:18] we're just reapplying for the fall

[1:33:19] round.

[1:33:21] >> What was the U total on that? The total

[1:33:24] estimate for the project is 8.9 million

[1:33:27] but the funds were up to up to five

[1:33:29] million is available.

[1:33:31] >> Okay.

[1:33:32] >> Any questions for Clinton?

[1:33:35] >> Hearing none. What's pleasure of the

[1:33:36] board?

[1:33:49] You're applying uh for a grant that

[1:33:54] they didn't release any funds in the

[1:33:55] spring. This is the fall grant. Yes. The

[1:33:57] same application we approved back in

[1:33:58] spring.

[1:33:59] >> Exact same application. It's just for

[1:34:00] the fall funding round instead of the

[1:34:02] spring. They uh

[1:34:03] >> they cut funding for the spring round.

[1:34:04] The state did.

[1:34:05] >> What was the cost to the taxpayers on

[1:34:07] this?

[1:34:09] >> There there's no there's there's no

[1:34:10] cost. This is just application for to

[1:34:13] >> going to be running an adjacent water

[1:34:14] line to help. This is going to be done a

[1:34:17] redundant second fee for the west part

[1:34:18] of county. Right now we don't have a

[1:34:19] single fee going in.

[1:34:21] >> Clinton, I'm um I'll make a motion to

[1:34:23] approve the 8.9 million

[1:34:25] >> for the grant.

[1:34:26] >> It's for the grant. Yeah. Request for

[1:34:28] the

[1:34:28] >> resolution involved. It's just

[1:34:29] >> it's a resolution to apply for the

[1:34:30] funds.

[1:34:31] >> Yes. It's just simply to apply.

[1:34:32] >> I have a motion and a second. Any

[1:34:34] discussion?

[1:34:37] Hearing none. All those in favor say I.

[1:34:40] >> Oppos. Motion carries mo. Thank you,

[1:34:42] Clinton.

[1:34:43] >> Thank you.

[1:34:46] All right. Next item is

[1:34:49] fiscal year 28 North Carolina Department

[1:34:52] uh five, excuse me, 5310 capital

[1:34:55] purchase of service grant public hearing

[1:34:58] and the program resolution and our

[1:35:00] presenter, Miss Pamela Sola.

[1:35:03] >> Good evening, Chair Manford and members

[1:35:04] of the board. Thank you for your time.

[1:35:06] I'm here on behalf of senior services to

[1:35:08] discuss funding opportunity that ensures

[1:35:10] older adult residents remain connected

[1:35:12] for essential care. We're seeking

[1:35:14] approval for $60,000 through the NC DOT

[1:35:17] 5310 capital purchase of service grant.

[1:35:20] It's a mouthful. Um for FY28, these

[1:35:24] funds are dedicated specifically to

[1:35:25] supporting transportation services for

[1:35:27] Stanley County residents who are aged 65

[1:35:30] and older. Transportation is one of the

[1:35:32] most significant barriers for seniors

[1:35:34] when they're facing and trying to

[1:35:36] maintain their independence and health.

[1:35:37] So, by combining the $60,000 grant with

[1:35:40] our existing HCCBG funding, we can help

[1:35:43] guarantee our older adults have reliable

[1:35:46] access to medical appointments and vital

[1:35:48] aging services. Tonight, we're asking to

[1:35:50] hold a public hearing to receive

[1:35:52] community comments regarding the FY28 NC

[1:35:54] DOT 5310 grant as well as your approval

[1:35:58] for the grant application and the

[1:35:59] associated program resolution, which

[1:36:01] officially authorizes senior services to

[1:36:03] pursue the transportation funding. I'm

[1:36:06] happy to answer any questions you might

[1:36:07] have regarding this grant or our

[1:36:09] transportation programs.

[1:36:10] >> All right. Thank you, Pamela. Any

[1:36:12] questions for Pamela?

[1:36:17] » All right. At this time, I will open a

[1:36:18] public hearing to receive comments

[1:36:20] regarding the fiscal year NC DOT 5310

[1:36:23] grant applications.

[1:36:26] Anyone here to speak for or against?

[1:36:34] Miss Bennett, I see you smiling back

[1:36:35] there.

[1:36:37] >> I'm full.

[1:36:41] >> All right, I will close the public

[1:36:42] hearing. What's the pleasure of the

[1:36:44] board?

[1:36:49] » I'll make a motion that we approve the

[1:36:51] grant.

[1:36:52] >> All right. I have a motion by

[1:36:53] Commissioner Mills. Do I have a second?

[1:36:54] >> Second.

[1:36:54] by Vice Chair Malan. Any

[1:36:57] discussion?

[1:37:02] Hearing none. All those in favor say I.

[1:37:04] >> I.

[1:37:04] >> Oppos.

[1:37:05] >> Motion carries. Say no. Thank you.

[1:37:07] >> Thank you for your continued support.

[1:37:12] » All right. Next item is a CR26-02

[1:37:17] conditional reszoning request by Jonah

[1:37:19] Morgan, Miss Bailey Klein. Hello Bailey.

[1:37:23] >> Good evening. Hey, how are you?

[1:37:24] >> Good. Well, hope you are

[1:37:26] >> uh better than I deserve.

[1:37:30] >> Okay, let's see. Let me get myself

[1:37:32] situated.

[1:37:35] Mr. Chairman, members of the board,

[1:37:37] thank you for having me tonight. The

[1:37:39] first item that I have before you is a

[1:37:40] conditional reszoning request. And this

[1:37:42] is request um from Jonah Morgan. He's

[1:37:45] requesting a conditional reszoning of a

[1:37:46] 6 acre portion of an approximately 17

[1:37:49] acre track that's located on Kendall

[1:37:50] Church Road out in New London. The

[1:37:53] request is to conditionally resone the

[1:37:54] property where it is currently county RA

[1:37:56] which is residential agricultural to

[1:37:58] county M1 which is a conditional

[1:38:00] district for light manufacturing in

[1:38:02] order to allow for the facility

[1:38:04] manufacturing metal parts and machinery.

[1:38:07] I'll stay on this screen for a second

[1:38:08] while I go through my spill and then I

[1:38:10] have other maps that I'm going to share

[1:38:11] with you all.

[1:38:13] Um Jonah Morgan like I said is

[1:38:15] requesting this conditional resentment

[1:38:16] on this 6acre portion of what's

[1:38:18] currently this 17acre track. The 17

[1:38:20] acres is outlined completely in this

[1:38:22] blue section right here. And this is

[1:38:24] that six acre portion that's in that

[1:38:26] yellow. This is to accommodate for a

[1:38:29] proposed business um that will be a

[1:38:30] facility for manufacturing of metal

[1:38:32] parts and machinery. This parcel is

[1:38:34] currently vacant. Included is a list of

[1:38:36] conditions that the proposed business

[1:38:38] will operate under as well as a site

[1:38:40] plan with the approximate locations of

[1:38:41] the buildings and the driveway. The

[1:38:43] building will be located at least 100 ft

[1:38:45] from Kendall Church Road as well as

[1:38:47] located at least 50 ft from the RA

[1:38:49] zoning district. A proposed site plan

[1:38:52] has been included and shows also the

[1:38:53] location of the driveway in the

[1:38:55] buildings. The location of these

[1:38:56] buildings on site are subject to this

[1:38:58] change depending on environmental health

[1:38:59] requirements for well and septic as well

[1:39:01] as any requirements that the Stanley

[1:39:03] County Fire Marshall may have for access

[1:39:05] of emergency vehicles. This property is

[1:39:07] located within the rural preservation

[1:39:09] area and I'll move on. Um I'll go

[1:39:12] through this just a little. So this is

[1:39:14] the RA. Um this green area you see this

[1:39:17] is the RA zoning district and obviously

[1:39:19] this is where that sits. Um and across

[1:39:21] this street here is county M2 and that's

[1:39:23] where the cotton gin um is.

[1:39:26] Um the rolling hills cotton gin is

[1:39:28] currently zone heavy um manufacturing

[1:39:30] which is M2. The property um is about

[1:39:33] one mile from the countyy's secondary

[1:39:34] growth area and approximately 1 and a

[1:39:36] half mile from the town of New London's

[1:39:38] ETJ. An 8-oot privacy fence will be

[1:39:40] required on property lines adjoining the

[1:39:42] residential zoning district unless the

[1:39:44] adjoining property owners write um a

[1:39:46] written letter saying that they prefer

[1:39:48] not to have one. The remaining portion

[1:39:50] of the property will stay residential

[1:39:52] agricultural. Um these conditions

[1:39:53] included have been reviewed and agreed

[1:39:55] upon by Mr. Morgan and the planning

[1:39:57] board unanimously approved this request

[1:39:59] at their August 10th meeting. Like I

[1:40:01] said, this is the current zoning map.

[1:40:03] So, as you can see, this lighter portion

[1:40:04] is the RA. Um this is where the cotton

[1:40:07] gin currently is and this is where that

[1:40:10] proposed um facility would go. This is

[1:40:13] the um land use plan map. So this green

[1:40:16] area that you see that's the rural

[1:40:18] preservation area. Um this is the

[1:40:20] secondary growth area here as you can

[1:40:22] tell and then that primary growth area.

[1:40:23] It's a little hard to tell on this map

[1:40:25] but there is a shaded color difference.

[1:40:27] And then here is New London. Like I

[1:40:29] said, they're approximately a mile from

[1:40:31] the growth area and then about a mile

[1:40:34] and a half but as the crow flies from

[1:40:36] New London.

[1:40:38] This is the current site plan. Now,

[1:40:40] please be aware that they would have to

[1:40:42] submit an engineered site plan when it

[1:40:44] came to plan review. That's for building

[1:40:46] inspections, fire marshall, and planning

[1:40:48] and zoning to all review. So, it would

[1:40:50] have to be drawn accurately to scale by

[1:40:52] an engineer when they submitted plans.

[1:40:54] Um, but a lot of times when it comes to,

[1:40:56] you know, any reasonzoning requests,

[1:40:57] they prefer not to obviously spend all

[1:40:59] of that money for a site plan that they

[1:41:01] may not get to use. Um, obviously any

[1:41:03] through traffic, anything of that nature

[1:41:05] would have to be approved by the Stanley

[1:41:07] County Fire Marshall. Um, so that is

[1:41:09] also subject to change. The property has

[1:41:12] been looked at by a soil scientist, but

[1:41:14] it has not gotten a proper perk test

[1:41:16] done by environmental health. So the

[1:41:18] location of the buildings may change

[1:41:19] depending on that but from my

[1:41:21] understanding from the sole scientists

[1:41:23] it is good so soul so they don't

[1:41:25] necessarily see an issue um with the

[1:41:27] proposed layout. You can see where that

[1:41:29] vegetative buffer would be and then

[1:41:31] obviously the main building as well and

[1:41:33] future expansion of the buildings.

[1:41:36] These are the conditions um that are

[1:41:39] currently attached to this resoning. So

[1:41:40] the only allowed use of the facility

[1:41:42] would be for the manufacturing of metal

[1:41:44] parts and machinery. Um, on that I'd

[1:41:46] like to add that the applicant John

[1:41:47] Morgan, he does work for the cotton gin

[1:41:49] across the street also. So, he would

[1:41:51] also be performing work for them as

[1:41:53] well. The manufacturing facility shall

[1:41:55] be confined to only the 6acre portion of

[1:41:57] the property that has um that is

[1:42:00] requested to be resone to the

[1:42:01] conditional M1. There shall be no more

[1:42:03] than one building on the property not

[1:42:05] exceeding 12,000 ft and two additional

[1:42:07] buildings not exceeding 8,000 square ft.

[1:42:09] The building shall be located at least

[1:42:11] 100 ft from Kindle Church Road and 50 ft

[1:42:13] from all other conditional district

[1:42:15] boundary lines. There shall be an 8-ft

[1:42:17] privacy fence constructed along all

[1:42:19] adjoining residentially zoned property

[1:42:21] in lie of a vegetative buffer and this

[1:42:23] will be required unless written notices

[1:42:25] submitted from the adjoining property

[1:42:26] owners that they prefer no privacy

[1:42:28] screening. 152 ft wall sign will be

[1:42:31] permitted that can be illuminated. They

[1:42:33] preferred not to have um roadside

[1:42:36] signage um because they prefer more so

[1:42:38] to be hidden than right on the road from

[1:42:40] my understanding. All outside lighting

[1:42:42] for the building will be will be cut off

[1:42:44] style fixtures and that just means that

[1:42:45] it won't illuminate the sky. The any

[1:42:47] lighting that they do on the outside of

[1:42:48] the building will only shine down and

[1:42:50] there will be one parking space per

[1:42:52] employee per employee, excuse me, plus

[1:42:54] four additional parking spaces. These

[1:42:57] are the conditions that were approved at

[1:42:58] the planning board meeting. Obviously,

[1:43:00] you all have the ability um to ask for

[1:43:02] some of those to be amended or changed

[1:43:03] or removed um with the agreement by the

[1:43:06] applicant. I am happy to answer any

[1:43:09] questions um that you all may have. The

[1:43:10] only other comment that I was going to

[1:43:12] make, I'm going to go back to this

[1:43:13] zoning map really quick. Um just in case

[1:43:16] it comes up, you know, the question of

[1:43:18] is this spot zoning, you know, per North

[1:43:21] Carolina. Um and no, not I would say no

[1:43:25] because spot zoning it is only illegal

[1:43:27] if it's not reasonable. and reasonable

[1:43:29] meaning that it's nearby other

[1:43:30] adjacently zoned property that's similar

[1:43:32] in nature as far as what the current use

[1:43:35] of those parcels are. Um so I would not

[1:43:37] consider this to be spot zone of any

[1:43:39] kind and I made sure of that also with

[1:43:41] the school of government. Um like I said

[1:43:43] I'm happy to answer any questions that

[1:43:45] you all may have of me.

[1:43:46] >> Okay. Any questions for Bailey?

[1:43:50] >> Know it says are going to be

[1:43:52] manufacturing metal parts.

[1:43:53] >> Yes, sir.

[1:43:54] >> Type metal parts. There going to be a

[1:43:55] lot of noise. There's going to be

[1:43:57] 24-hour shifts. What?

[1:43:59] >> From my understanding, it will just be

[1:44:01] normal hours 8 to 5. They didn't prefer

[1:44:03] to put um hours of operation on there in

[1:44:05] case they do have to work on the

[1:44:06] weekend, but my understanding it will

[1:44:08] not create much noise um from the road

[1:44:11] or nearby

[1:44:12] >> large metal pieces. I mean, I'm just

[1:44:14] trying to get a picture of what they're

[1:44:16] going to be manufacturing there. I think

[1:44:18] >> Mr. Morgan's here. He could probably

[1:44:19] answer those when he come up.

[1:44:20] >> Yeah.

[1:44:21] >> And the surrounding properties are also

[1:44:24] owned by the same um family, I believe,

[1:44:26] as well. And the nearest home, um, I

[1:44:28] don't believe you can see it on this

[1:44:29] map, but it is up this way. There's a

[1:44:31] building here, but there's a home nearby

[1:44:33] over here that I believe is around 2500t

[1:44:35] away, I think, when I measure.

[1:44:37] >> Any question? Any more questions for

[1:44:39] Bailey?

[1:44:42] » All right, Bailey. Thank you very much.

[1:44:44] >> Thank you.

[1:44:44] >> At this time, I will open the public

[1:44:46] hearing. Anyone here to speak for or

[1:44:48] against this project? Mr. Morgan, I

[1:44:51] think you had signed up to speak. Would

[1:44:52] you like to come up and

[1:44:57] clarify uh Mr. Barbie's question?

[1:45:01] Clarify, but answer it.

[1:45:04] >> Thank you, commissioners. Um, we'll be

[1:45:06] manufacturing machine parts, welded

[1:45:08] parts, fabricated parts. Uh, be an

[1:45:10] insulated building with closed doors,

[1:45:12] heating and air condition, and shouldn't

[1:45:14] hear any noise.

[1:45:15] >> There going to be no noise or anything.

[1:45:17] No pollution getting out. People are

[1:45:18] going to complain about.

[1:45:19] >> No. No. Should be good.

[1:45:25] » Anybody have any questions for Mr.

[1:45:27] Morgan?

[1:45:29] >> Thank you, sir. Anyone else here to

[1:45:31] speak for or against?

[1:45:36] » Hearing none, I will declare the public

[1:45:38] hearing closed.

[1:45:40] >> What's the pleasure of the board?

[1:45:43] >> Uh, Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion

[1:45:44] that we accept the proposal as Miss

[1:45:47] Bailey presented. If you would, uh,

[1:45:51] Commissioner Mills, if you would either

[1:45:52] go to page 18 or page 103,

[1:45:55] >> additional request that

[1:45:56] >> read the suggested language.

[1:45:58] >> Okay.

[1:46:00] >> Josh Morgan, 17 acre track.

[1:46:03] >> Nope. Going further down.

[1:46:05] >> I think it's page either 18 or 103. I'm

[1:46:08] not

[1:46:16] » move to I move this board to approve the

[1:46:19] M1 condition reszone. Yes, sir. That's

[1:46:21] it.

[1:46:21] >> M1 condition proposal.

[1:46:25] >> All right. for a 6acre portion of 17

[1:46:27] acre track located at Kendall Valley uh

[1:46:30] Kendall's Church Road because the

[1:46:32] request is consistent with the 2040

[1:46:34] Stanley County comprehensive land use

[1:46:36] plan and is application has agreed to

[1:46:39] meet all conditions. All right, I have a

[1:46:42] motion. Do I have a second?

[1:46:43] >> Second.

[1:46:44] >> Um

[1:46:45] >> I don't care.

[1:46:45] >> All right.

[1:46:47] I got a motion. So I got a second by

[1:46:49] Commissioner Hatley. Any discussion?

[1:46:53] All those in favor say I.

[1:46:55] >> I.

[1:46:55] >> Oppos. Motion carries. Same vote. Thank

[1:46:58] you very much. Uh, next item

[1:47:02] is ZA 2602. So, R20

[1:47:06] reszone request for by Gerald and Brenda

[1:47:09] Honeyut.

[1:47:12] Bailey, you up.

[1:47:15] >> Mr. Chairman, members of the board, I'm

[1:47:17] going to move to the next item. Um, this

[1:47:21] is ZA20602 and this is a request for a

[1:47:24] reszoning of an approximately 65 acre

[1:47:26] track. It's currently zoned county

[1:47:28] highway business and they are requesting

[1:47:30] that it be zoned county R20 um in order

[1:47:32] to use their land for livestock and

[1:47:34] agricultural purposes. I'm going to go

[1:47:36] ahead and move to this aerial map that

[1:47:38] way you all are have a chance to look at

[1:47:40] it. The applicants are requested to

[1:47:42] reszone in order to utilize their land

[1:47:44] for their livestock and agricultural

[1:47:45] purposes. The current zoning highway

[1:47:47] business does not allow for livestock or

[1:47:49] agricultural uses and the parcel in

[1:47:51] question is currently in that rural

[1:47:53] preservation area. There used to be a

[1:47:56] salon on the property that has since

[1:47:57] been torn down and most of the acreage

[1:47:59] of the salon was located where the lo

[1:48:01] salon was located, excuse me, um was

[1:48:03] acquired by the state during the

[1:48:04] widening of the highway. The applicants

[1:48:06] no longer wish to utilize the property

[1:48:08] for commercial purposes and plan to

[1:48:10] recombine the property with their

[1:48:11] adjoining property that is currently in

[1:48:13] the bonafide farm program. So, I'm just

[1:48:16] going to go ahead and explain this a

[1:48:18] little further. So, this is currently

[1:48:20] where the Honey Cuts live. Um, this is

[1:48:22] their current home where they also have

[1:48:23] farmland. This portion up here is the

[1:48:26] portion of property that is in question.

[1:48:28] And this will give you kind of a better

[1:48:30] idea. So, that purple shaded area,

[1:48:32] that's highway business. And then

[1:48:33] obviously, as you can tell, this is R20.

[1:48:35] And a lot a large reason if you're

[1:48:38] wondering or curious of why all this

[1:48:40] area is R20. A lot of times when you get

[1:48:42] closer to the lake it tends to be that

[1:48:45] way. Um I believe you know when planning

[1:48:47] was taking place R20 allowed for smaller

[1:48:49] lot sizes. You get towards the lake you

[1:48:51] have obviously more development but um

[1:48:54] obviously these tracks are larger. So in

[1:48:55] that case they're asking to recombine

[1:48:58] this small uh portion of property. They

[1:49:00] want to recombine it with their

[1:49:01] existing. So, in order to do that and

[1:49:03] make it cohesive, they're asking to

[1:49:04] reszone that to the R20 um and recombine

[1:49:08] that with their existing land because

[1:49:09] like I said, right now they're

[1:49:10] technically not allowed to use any kind

[1:49:12] of livestock on it and that's that's

[1:49:13] their goal. Um, and this just goes to

[1:49:15] show also that it is in that that rural

[1:49:18] preservation area as well. And I am

[1:49:21] happy to answer any questions, I

[1:49:22] believe. Yeah. And here's just a a view

[1:49:24] off of Google what the property

[1:49:25] currently looks like um right now. So,

[1:49:28] as you can see, there's no structures

[1:49:29] nor commercial uh business taking place

[1:49:31] on the property. They've also been in

[1:49:34] contact with the tax office about what all they have to do um to rectify

[1:49:37] this also from a tax standpoint. And I'm

[1:49:40] happy to answer any questions you may

[1:49:41] have.

[1:49:46] Any questions for Bailey?

[1:49:51] All right. Hearing none, at this time, I

[1:49:52] will declare the public hearing open.

[1:49:55] Anyone here to speak for or against

[1:49:59] the um ZA26-2

[1:50:02] R20 reszoning request?

[1:50:05] >> Mr. Honeyut is here, I believe. I don't

[1:50:07] know if he wants to say something or

[1:50:08] not.

[1:50:15] » If you don't, that's okay.

[1:50:20] >> It's okay. Don't you don't want to

[1:50:22] >> seem like everything's been taken care

[1:50:24] of.

[1:50:26] >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Adut.

[1:50:29] >> All right. At this time, I will close

[1:50:30] the public hearing.

[1:50:32] >> What's the pleasure of the board?

[1:50:34] >> Mr. Chair.

[1:50:35] >> Yes, ma'am.

[1:50:35] >> I move this board approve this R20

[1:50:37] resoning request by Gerald and Brenda

[1:50:39] Honeyut because the property is

[1:50:41] currently used as agricultural land and

[1:50:43] the request is consistent with the 2040

[1:50:45] Stanley County Comprehensive Land Use

[1:50:47] Plan.

[1:50:48] >> Thanks, ma'am. Do I have a second?

[1:50:49] by commissioner, vice chairman

[1:50:51] law. Any more discussion?

[1:50:54] All those in favor say I.

[1:50:55] >> I. Opposed.

[1:50:58] >> Motion carries. Said move. You're good,

[1:50:59] Mr. Cut.

[1:51:03] >> Approve.

[1:51:06] That'll be

[1:51:11] real.

[1:51:16] All right. Real. All right, next item.

[1:51:19] Um, hold on, Andy. Let me catch up.

[1:51:22] >> You're good.

[1:51:23] >> Uh, next item is the Gaston Community

[1:51:25] Action Board of Directors Appointment.

[1:51:28] And again, our presenter is county

[1:51:29] manager Andy Lucas.

[1:51:30] >> Yes. Thank you, members of the board,

[1:51:32] Mr. Chairman. Um, this is a board that

[1:51:35] the county is part of as part of the the

[1:51:38] way the federal government um

[1:51:40] distributes um

[1:51:43] community care block grants. And so, um,

[1:51:47] we've struggled to have representation

[1:51:48] on this board for years, but, um, Miss

[1:51:51] Heather Kildy has, um, been recommended,

[1:51:54] uh, to for a three-year term on this

[1:51:57] board. Um, and a lot of that, I think,

[1:51:59] has to do with alignment with what she

[1:52:01] does with the Christian ministries and

[1:52:04] the fact that this Gaston Community

[1:52:06] Action Board actually receives federal

[1:52:10] funding that could assist them. And so I

[1:52:12] think um there's some a desire to have

[1:52:14] an active voice uh on that board. And so

[1:52:17] um that's the recommended action is for

[1:52:19] Heather Kildy to be appointed for a

[1:52:21] three-year term to represent Stanley

[1:52:22] County on the Gaston Community Action

[1:52:25] Board.

[1:52:27] >> Okay. Thank you, Andy. Any questions?

[1:52:29] >> Andy, I do have a I do have a question.

[1:52:31] Will she be able to attend the meetings

[1:52:34] via

[1:52:36] Skype or

[1:52:37] >> Yeah, that's my understanding. And she

[1:52:39] won't have to drive to Okay. Yeah.

[1:52:40] >> Wherever they're they meet

[1:52:43] in Gastonia.

[1:52:46] >> Yeah.

[1:52:48] >> Any more questions?

[1:52:50] >> All right. Hearing none. What's the

[1:52:51] pleasure of the board? Mr.

[1:52:52] >> Chairman, I'll make a motion that we uh

[1:52:55] approve uh Miss Kildy for a three-year

[1:52:59] term.

[1:53:00] >> Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a

[1:53:02] second?

[1:53:03] >> Second by Commissioner Crump. Any

[1:53:05] discussion?

[1:53:07] All those in favor say I. I.

[1:53:09] >> Opposed. Motion carries. Sad mot. Uh,

[1:53:12] next item is North Carolina DEEQ direct

[1:53:15] grant acceptance resolution. We got our

[1:53:17] presenter, county manager Lucas.

[1:53:19] >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members

[1:53:20] of the board. Um, back in 2324, the

[1:53:24] county received a $ 1.9 million was

[1:53:26] actually two, but the state takes their

[1:53:28] share for administrative costs. Um and

[1:53:31] so ends up being about 1.97 million in

[1:53:34] grant funding uh for a sewers extension

[1:53:36] to assist in an economic development

[1:53:38] project in the unincorporated area in

[1:53:41] the southern part of the county. Um and

[1:53:44] in order to sort of preserve that

[1:53:45] funding and keep that going, there

[1:53:46] hasn't been a there hasn't been a um

[1:53:49] decision by the the uh entity, the

[1:53:52] business entity to to do that expansion

[1:53:54] at this point in time. Um but in order

[1:53:56] to preserve that funding, we wanted to

[1:53:59] move forward with the resolution, hold

[1:54:00] the money, um so that we could at least

[1:54:03] engineer it and we would get paid by

[1:54:05] those grant funds um if we move forward

[1:54:08] with that engineering. And so um there's

[1:54:11] some requirements for the grant. And so

[1:54:13] we want to we don't want to have to pay

[1:54:14] for that out of county dollars. We want

[1:54:16] to make sure we can pay for that out of

[1:54:17] grant funding. And so this allows us to

[1:54:20] move forward with the grant, get

[1:54:21] everything in place, and be able to pull

[1:54:23] down the funds. And if nothing ever

[1:54:25] happens, we only will get reimbursed

[1:54:27] for, you know, the amount that we spend

[1:54:28] on engineering. We wouldn't get the

[1:54:30] balance of those funds. Um but if we do,

[1:54:33] then obviously we would be able to tap

[1:54:34] into those grant funds to assist with

[1:54:36] that project. So um that's the that's

[1:54:39] the request is to approve the resolution

[1:54:41] that basically establishes this this

[1:54:43] grant and allows us to move forward um

[1:54:46] with some initial planning associated

[1:54:49] with that economic development project.

[1:54:51] >> Okay. Thank you, sir. Um, any questions,

[1:54:54] Mr. Barbie?

[1:54:54] >> I have noticed on here is for an agurism

[1:54:57] economic development project.

[1:54:58] >> Yes, sir.

[1:54:59] >> What would that be?

[1:55:00] >> I can't speak to that since it's an

[1:55:01] economic development project, but it's

[1:55:03] um it's, you know, it's it's aggra

[1:55:06] tourism based. It's an it's an existing

[1:55:08] industry that exists in this

[1:55:10] unincorporate area of the southern part

[1:55:12] of our county. Um, that is in the

[1:55:14] agurism business and this would be an

[1:55:17] expansion of their activities. But I

[1:55:19] can't speak to the the actual business

[1:55:21] because it's not they're in the middle

[1:55:24] of contemplating whether or not they're

[1:55:25] going to move forward with that project.

[1:55:28] But this is something that's been going

[1:55:29] on since 23 24. I mean, it's not a new

[1:55:31] project. We've it's been been they've

[1:55:33] been evaluating and doing due diligence

[1:55:36] for some period of time.

[1:55:40] » Any more questions?

[1:55:44] >> All right. What's the pleasure of the

[1:55:45] board?

[1:55:45] >> Mr. Chair, I make a motion that we

[1:55:47] approve the grant funding acceptance

[1:55:49] resolution.

[1:55:50] >> Thank commissioner Keane. Do I have a

[1:55:51] second?

[1:55:53] >> Thank Commissioner Hatley. Any

[1:55:55] discussion?

[1:55:58] All those in favor say I.

[1:56:00] >> Opposed. Motion carries. 7.

[1:56:03] Uh, next item.

[1:56:06] >> Man, we about covering the whole

[1:56:07] alphabet here tonight.

[1:56:08] >> Yeah, we're getting there, aren't we?

[1:56:09] We're making progress though. Clicking

[1:56:11] them off. Item N is design build

[1:56:13] authorization for the dental clinic

[1:56:16] renovation. And again, our presenter is

[1:56:18] county manager Lucas. Yes, sir. Thank

[1:56:20] you, Mr. Chairman and members of the

[1:56:21] board. The board authorized funding in

[1:56:23] our um operating budget for fiscal year

[1:56:25] 2627 to do an expansion of the dental

[1:56:28] clinic. and we're asking the board to

[1:56:31] authorize us to use the design build um

[1:56:34] construction method versus a design bid

[1:56:37] build so that we can um do an RFQ, get a

[1:56:41] general contractor in and then they'll

[1:56:42] start the process of designing it and um

[1:56:45] we have in that case we only have one

[1:56:47] entity to deal with and we don't get

[1:56:48] into a low bid situation. So, um, that's

[1:56:50] what we're asking the board for is that we approve these design build

[1:56:55] criteria so that we can move forward

[1:56:57] with that and we'll the next step in

[1:56:58] this would be to issue an RFQ um for

[1:57:02] proposals um for qualifications from

[1:57:05] general contractors and I know there's

[1:57:07] some interest in lo from local uh

[1:57:09] contractors in this project and so we'll

[1:57:11] have the ability to to get um somebody

[1:57:13] on board to begin the process of

[1:57:15] designing it and then doing the

[1:57:16] implementation of the renovation. So

[1:57:18] >> all righty this is step one. We have to

[1:57:20] in order per statute in order to use the

[1:57:23] design build construction methodology.

[1:57:25] We have to approve these criteria.

[1:57:27] >> Yes sir.

[1:57:28] >> Do you have a number?

[1:57:30] >> Do you have any numbers at all?

[1:57:32] >> Uh I I I'd have to go back and look at

[1:57:34] how much funding we included in the FY

[1:57:36] um 2627 budget but it's a it's a I mean

[1:57:40] there was a sizable amount for the

[1:57:41] renovation of the project. So I I don't

[1:57:44] have the committed me committed to

[1:57:46] memory as to what we appropriated in the

[1:57:49] budget. I'd have to go look at that

[1:57:50] number. Um and I don't know if you know

[1:57:52] we have enough funding or not, but I

[1:57:54] know we have a significant fund balance

[1:57:56] from dental. And so if it's slightly

[1:57:57] over, we can there's funds we can use

[1:58:00] that aren't won't be taxpayer. Well,

[1:58:01] they're taxpayer funds. They're not

[1:58:02] local taxpayer funds. They are medic

[1:58:05] Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance um

[1:58:08] proceeds that have been escrowed.

[1:58:12] >> Okay. Any other questions? County

[1:58:14] manager

[1:58:16] hearing none. What's the pleasure of the

[1:58:18] board?

[1:58:24] Mr.

[1:58:24] >> Chairman, I make a motion that we

[1:58:25] approve the design bill construction

[1:58:27] method for the dental clinic renovation.

[1:58:29] >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner King.

[1:58:30] I have a motion. I have a second.

[1:58:32] >> I'll second that.

[1:58:33] >> Second by Commissioner Mills. Any

[1:58:34] discussion?

[1:58:37] >> All those in favor say I.

[1:58:38] >> I.

[1:58:41] Motion carries. Thank you.

[1:58:42] >> Thank you, sir. Uh, next item is um,

[1:58:47] Commissioner Sensor. Um, after our last

[1:58:50] meeting and doing some research,

[1:58:53] um, I'm going to ask the board that I be

[1:58:56] recused from this item, uh, I'm going to

[1:58:58] turn the gavl over to Vice Chairman

[1:59:00] Lahan. Um, I found out that Miss

[1:59:03] Pinkston's attorney is my nephew and

[1:59:07] also my attorney. So I am going to ask

[1:59:11] that I be recused.

[1:59:14] Commissioner.

[1:59:15] >> Okay.

[1:59:17] Chairman Ephford has requested he be

[1:59:19] recused

[1:59:21] from uh this particular action

[1:59:24] and we need approval. So what's the

[1:59:27] pleasure of the board?

[1:59:37] I'll make a motion that we accept

[1:59:39] Chairman Ephford's proposal to recuse

[1:59:41] himself.

[1:59:42] >> Okay.

[1:59:44] Uh, Commissioner Mills made a motion. Do

[1:59:47] we have a second?

[1:59:53] » Okay, we have a second by Commissioner

[1:59:55] King.

[1:59:57] All in favor of recusing

[2:00:00] Chairman Ephford

[2:00:02] from this particular item, please say I.

[2:00:05] Any

[2:00:07] opposed?

[2:00:08] >> No.

[2:00:10] >> Okay. So, we've got uh

[2:00:15] five to one. Motion passes.

[2:00:20] You are recused.

[2:00:22] >> Thanks, sir.

[2:00:22] >> Commissioner King, you're up.

[2:00:27] >> Thank you, Vice Chair. Um, at our last

[2:00:30] meeting it was brought to our attention

[2:00:32] that somebody come forward and said

[2:00:34] there was some accusations made and I

[2:00:35] think that the public deserve to know

[2:00:37] what's going on with that. I think that

[2:00:39] the judicial system

[2:00:42] is supposed to be fair and unbiased and

[2:00:44] if an elected official reached out to a

[2:00:46] judge to talk about a court case that he

[2:00:48] has no bearing in that I think that is

[2:00:50] just pushing it to the extreme that it

[2:00:52] shouldn't be pushed to and therefore

[2:00:54] that's the reason I've requested this to

[2:00:55] come on the meeting tonight. Any

[2:01:02] other discussion?

[2:01:06] » Uh, sure. Uh, I would like to say none

[2:01:10] of us I think I can speak for all of us

[2:01:12] to say that none of us want to be in

[2:01:14] this position today. Um, it does not

[2:01:17] make my heart happy at all to be in this

[2:01:19] position. Um, I've worked with Mr.

[2:01:21] Hatley now for almost four years and I

[2:01:23] he works circles around a lot of people.

[2:01:26] He works hard and he does a very good

[2:01:28] job at what he does and um but I'm not

[2:01:32] going to make an excuse for the what I

[2:01:33] have learned. And the fact is Judge Bang

[2:01:37] did recuse himself from the case

[2:01:40] and when I have to look at what we sign

[2:01:44] every December

[2:01:46] as commissioners we sign the Stanley

[2:01:49] County Board of Commissioners sign the

[2:01:51] code of ethics. And there are several

[2:01:53] points here that I want to point out.

[2:01:55] And before I I read the code of ethics,

[2:01:58] there's a few po few that I want to

[2:02:00] read. I want to remind us what a censure

[2:02:03] is because

[2:02:05] it's been brought up that this is this

[2:02:09] is not a trial. No, it's not. I thank

[2:02:11] goodness it's not a trial. I'm not a

[2:02:13] judge and this is not a courtroom.

[2:02:16] Censure is not about determining guilt.

[2:02:20] Let me read to you. A censure isn't a

[2:02:23] legal finding. It's a statement based on

[2:02:26] what we know right now. We aren't

[2:02:28] determining guilt. We are addressing the

[2:02:31] appearance of impropriy and its impact

[2:02:34] on public trust.

[2:02:37] And so if you look at member conduct

[2:02:40] number three, the professional, it says

[2:02:42] the professional and personal conduct of

[2:02:45] members must be above reproach and avoid

[2:02:48] even the appearance of impropriy. We all

[2:02:52] signed our names to this. Number eight,

[2:02:54] conflict of interest. Members shall not

[2:02:57] use their official positions to

[2:02:59] influence government decisions in which

[2:03:01] they have a financial interest or where

[2:03:02] they have an organizational

[2:03:04] responsibility or a personal

[2:03:06] relationship that may give the

[2:03:08] appearance of a conflict of interest.

[2:03:12] So whether you're talking to someone as

[2:03:14] a friend or not, this says clearly you

[2:03:17] can't use your influence in a personal

[2:03:19] relationship.

[2:03:21] And then finally 18 compliance and

[2:03:24] enforcement. This is our responsibility

[2:03:27] and we agreed to it. The cha the chairs

[2:03:30] of each appointed board committee and

[2:03:32] commission and the chairman of the board

[2:03:34] of county commissioners have the

[2:03:36] additional responsibility to intervene

[2:03:39] when actions of me members appear to be

[2:03:43] in violation of the code of ethics.

[2:03:45] Doesn't mean they're guilty of it. ings

[2:03:47] that they appear to be in violation of

[2:03:49] the code of ethics.

[2:03:51] And the board of county commissioners

[2:03:53] may impose sanctions on members who

[2:03:55] conduct whose conduct does not comply

[2:03:57] with the county code county's code of

[2:03:59] ethics such as reprimand, formal

[2:04:02] censure, loss of committee assignment,

[2:04:05] or other actions consistent with the NC

[2:04:07] general statutes and local laws

[2:04:09] governing the appointment of boards,

[2:04:11] committees, and commissions.

[2:04:14] And I would also like to say this, um,

[2:04:16] Mr. Schaefer who came in and had gave

[2:04:18] some public comments, he said it well

[2:04:21] that if the investigation happens and we

[2:04:24] find out that there was nothing to this,

[2:04:29] then he needs to be vindicated publicly.

[2:04:32] And so a board that has the power to

[2:04:34] censure also has the power to resend.

[2:04:37] And I would recommend that we do such

[2:04:40] very publicly.

[2:04:42] So undoubtedly this situation does have

[2:04:44] the appearance of impropriety and it's

[2:04:47] most definitely had an impact on public

[2:04:50] trust. So I say let the investigation

[2:04:53] speak for itself and if all is clear we

[2:04:56] can resend.

[2:05:01] » Other comments I will

[2:05:04] if it wasn't for Judge Bang's recusal we

[2:05:07] wouldn't be here talking about this

[2:05:08] right now. I have been a friend of Judge

[2:05:12] Fang for a long time and

[2:05:16] I is well I begin to wonder why in the

[2:05:20] world would anyone continuously refuse

[2:05:24] to investigate such an extreme

[2:05:26] indictment made toward one of my

[2:05:29] colleagues?

[2:05:30] Why would you not at least examine the

[2:05:32] evidence because this is a class H

[2:05:34] felony when brought against our county's

[2:05:37] highest governed body. And this is hard.

[2:05:39] Just like what Patty said or excuse me,

[2:05:42] Commissioner Crump, it's really

[2:05:43] difficult. I know this has been a very

[2:05:45] difficult time for Commissioner Hatley.

[2:05:47] I've I've known him for many, many, years, his family, and

[2:05:51] especially profound

[2:05:53] uh hardship on the commissioners. It's

[2:05:56] been excruciating. It's been

[2:05:57] excruciating for the Kingston family and

[2:05:59] also Judge Vain. I I intend no

[2:06:03] disrespect whatsoever. I have two

[2:06:06] questions.

[2:06:07] There's three parties that know that's

[2:06:10] not hearsay. There's three parties that

[2:06:12] know if this really occurred. One is

[2:06:14] Judge Vain. Two is the two attorney

[2:06:18] parties. The third

[2:06:21] is Commissioner Hatley.

[2:06:24] And Commissioner Hatley, I want to reach

[2:06:27] out to you. Did you reach out to Court

[2:06:30] Judge Bing concerning a pending judicial

[2:06:33] investigation?

[2:06:40] Mr. Mills, I have never violated my oath

[2:06:42] of office as a county commissioner. I

[2:06:44] have never violated my ethical

[2:06:46] obligations as a county commissioner.

[2:06:49] >> That's all I got to say.

[2:06:51] >> Okay. I just want to ask you one more.

[2:06:52] Did you reach out to Judge Bang in a

[2:06:55] pending investigation?

[2:07:00] » That's all I've got to say.

[2:07:03] Well, this is how I make my Please deny

[2:07:06] that you didn't judge. That's the only

[2:07:09] Okay. Have you ever discussed the

[2:07:12] judicial decision

[2:07:15] with any court authority?

[2:07:22] Do you do you deny that?

[2:07:26] » I'm not.

[2:07:30] Did you know it was unlawful to not

[2:07:32] discuss a pending investigate? Did you

[2:07:35] just know that it was not lawful to

[2:07:37] discuss a pending? I'm just asking you.

[2:07:39] Did you know?

[2:07:44] » No answer.

[2:07:52] Other comments?

[2:07:57] Um,

[2:07:59] not saying anybody's guilty here or

[2:08:01] whatever, but uh, you know, I know a lot

[2:08:04] of things

[2:08:06] have happened over the years, not with

[2:08:08] Mr. Commissioner Hatley, but with other

[2:08:12] entities of the county government and uh

[2:08:15] they get kind of brushed underneath and

[2:08:18] it wouldn't bother me one bit if the

[2:08:20] entire county uh went through an ethics

[2:08:22] investigation cuz I think there's other

[2:08:24] things that we don't even know about

[2:08:26] that I'd like to see brought up too. But

[2:08:28] I know at this time that's not not

[2:08:30] possible. But, uh, I think we need to go

[2:08:33] further with the ethics to to clear

[2:08:36] Commissioner Hatley or or whatever. But,

[2:08:40] uh, I think we just can't drop it.

[2:08:46] I'm going to address this to the

[2:08:47] council.

[2:08:50] Attorney Fur,

[2:08:52] do we have a censorship letter that you

[2:08:55] could read to us?

[2:09:01] Mr. Chairman, I I'm able to provide a

[2:09:04] definition of censure. We have not

[2:09:06] prepared a staff any sort of uh

[2:09:08] resolution or letter if that's what

[2:09:10] you're asking.

[2:09:12] >> Well, if he's censored, what would he

[2:09:14] get? Anything?

[2:09:16] >> Um, a censure is typically done through

[2:09:19] a resolution or a simple vote of an

[2:09:24] elected board. Um so if the board

[2:09:29] desired to go through with a censure

[2:09:32] then

[2:09:34] um you know at the board's direction um

[2:09:39] we could draft a resolution

[2:09:42] >> or or it could just be done as a simple

[2:09:44] motion and a second.

[2:09:45] >> A resolution is basically a vote is a

[2:09:48] vote of approval is the equivalent of a

[2:09:51] resolution. A lot of times an actual

[2:09:53] resolution is not required um

[2:09:57] legally.

[2:10:04] So there would be no written

[2:10:08] resolution of censorship given to him.

[2:10:12] >> That's up to the board. Mr. Vice Chair,

[2:10:17] » what's the pleasure of the board?

[2:10:21] Mr. Vice Chair, I make a motion that we

[2:10:23] censor Commissioner Hatley and I also

[2:10:26] agree with Commissioner Crump that if

[2:10:28] for some reason this is cleared and

[2:10:31] find the statements to be false, then it

[2:10:33] should be reversed publicly.

[2:10:35] Um, also in that motion, I'd like to ask

[2:10:38] that the county hires Pat Flanigan to

[2:10:41] conduct the ethics investigation

[2:10:44] and move forward with the investigation.

[2:10:49] What cost?

[2:10:53] What dollars of taxpayer dollars are you

[2:10:55] recommending?

[2:10:58] I think in the uh work session uh county

[2:11:02] attorney advis us that Mr. Flanigan put

[2:11:06] a $10,000 cap on it that if he couldn't

[2:11:08] get it done by then, he would come back

[2:11:09] to us and let us know and let us know

[2:11:10] what he has found so far and we could

[2:11:12] decide at that point if we want to

[2:11:13] continue on.

[2:11:19] Okay. So, your motion is to censor and

[2:11:22] also to include in the censorship

[2:11:26] uh

[2:11:28] a third party, Mr. Flanigan,

[2:11:32] to perform the investigation at the cost

[2:11:36] of no more than $10,000. Is that what

[2:11:39] I'm hearing? Yes, sir.

[2:11:41] >> Okay. Everybody else up here heard it.

[2:11:43] Did we have a second?

[2:11:47] Okay.

[2:11:49] Uh, Commissioner Barbie second the

[2:11:52] motion. And that's a first cuz he don't

[2:11:55] spend money.

[2:11:57] So, um, before we vote, I'm going to ask

[2:12:01] uh I know Scott, Commissioner Ephford's

[2:12:04] recused himself.

[2:12:07] And, uh,

[2:12:09] Mr. Hatley, you have the right to vote

[2:12:11] or no, not to vote. I'll leave that up

[2:12:13] to you.

[2:12:16] And a no a no vote

[2:12:20] would uh if you're silent, it's it's a

[2:12:23] yes vote. If if it's a no vote, you need

[2:12:26] to vote no.

[2:12:27] >> Excuse me, Mr. Vice Chairman.

[2:12:30] >> Yes.

[2:12:30] >> Before we can vote on this motion, then

[2:12:33] I would like to make a motion that Mr.

[2:12:37] Hatley recuse himself for this uh from

[2:12:39] this vote uh because this is a conflict

[2:12:42] of interest.

[2:12:45] I'll second that.

[2:12:51] All in favor?

[2:12:53] >> I I

[2:12:56] >> You're recused. You're recused.

[2:13:00] We have uh five commissioners remaining

[2:13:04] and uh you've heard the motion that

[2:13:07] we're going to spend 10,000 taxpayer

[2:13:09] dollars to hire an attorney for an

[2:13:12] outside investigation

[2:13:14] and before he's found guilty or not

[2:13:17] guilty,

[2:13:19] you want to go ahead and censor

[2:13:20] Commissioner Hatley. Um that's what I

[2:13:24] hear. So all in favor of that,

[2:13:28] please say I.

[2:13:30] >> I.

[2:13:33] » Okay.

[2:13:35] Against. Nay. And I'm going to say nay.

[2:13:39] I hate to see us spend $10,000 of

[2:13:42] taxpayer dollars.

[2:13:43] >> That was just a sensor, not the that or

[2:13:46] that included.

[2:13:47] >> No, that included that.

[2:13:48] >> Okay. Y that was kind of

[2:13:50] >> Do you vote to spend that $10,000, Mr.

[2:13:52] Let me

[2:13:53] >> I vote to look after the people of this

[2:13:55] county and I think $10,000 would be well

[2:13:59] spent to find out if the if this county

[2:14:01] government is being run correctly.

[2:14:03] >> Okay, that's good enough.

[2:14:06] >> Why would you not want him to be

[2:14:08] vindicated through an investigation? We

[2:14:11] don't investigate, then he's going to go

[2:14:12] on.

[2:14:13] >> Well, you're you're finding him guilty

[2:14:14] of censorship.

[2:14:16] >> No, I'm talking about the investigation.

[2:14:17] Why would you said $10,000?

[2:14:18] >> $10,000 is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

[2:14:21] Do you

[2:14:21] >> if if the parties, the two parties,

[2:14:27] if uh she wants to sue him, she can hire

[2:14:31] an attorney.

[2:14:34] This is this is why I'm voting the way I

[2:14:36] am. I asked for him to deny that he had

[2:14:41] approached or had talked to to Judge

[2:14:43] Vain and he said he he wouldn't answer

[2:14:46] that direct question. And that's what I

[2:14:48] wanted him to do. If he will a answer

[2:14:51] that question and tell me no, I did not

[2:14:54] talk with him. I did not do that, then

[2:14:58] I'm good. But I I he motion the motion

[2:15:02] to censor him and to hire an attorneys

[2:15:06] already passed.

[2:15:10] Thank you, Commissioner Mills.

[2:15:20] Thank you, Mr. Vice Chairman. Uh, next

[2:15:22] item is item number seven, the consent

[2:15:24] agenda.

[2:15:30] » Everyone had a chance to look at it.

[2:15:34] >> Make a motion we

[2:15:37] have a motion. I have a motion. Do I

[2:15:39] have a second?

[2:15:41] >> Second.

[2:15:42] >> All right. All in favor say I. opposed.

[2:15:46] Motion carries. Um

[2:15:52] all right. Next, the next item is item

[2:15:54] eight, uh board comments, announcements,

[2:15:56] and committee reports. Um

[2:16:00] Commissioner Barbie, I'll start with

[2:16:01] you, sir.

[2:16:04] Yeah, this past weekend I had the chance

[2:16:07] or weekend before last, I mean, to go to

[2:16:08] the North Carolina Association County

[2:16:10] Commissioners meeting and um they

[2:16:14] discussed one of the big topics they

[2:16:15] were discussing was property tax and um

[2:16:19] it's going to be on the ballot in

[2:16:21] November, but it's they don't have the

[2:16:23] details worked out. Uh the best that I

[2:16:26] could get from the other commissioners

[2:16:29] there is the their proposal is the limit

[2:16:32] uh after property tax appraisal the

[2:16:35] limit of of only 3% per year

[2:16:39] increase in property taxes and uh not

[2:16:43] very many county commissioners are

[2:16:44] liking that cuz it's going to make it

[2:16:45] hard on their budget. But uh you like if

[2:16:48] you if you got a say your total capital

[2:16:51] to total property tax is 100,000 you can

[2:16:53] only get 103,000 then till the

[2:16:56] reappraisal. So uh but that's just a

[2:17:01] formality I guess there. But um it is

[2:17:04] going to be on the ballot. um it's got

[2:17:07] its good points and bad points, but uh

[2:17:10] something's got to be done with the

[2:17:12] increase in cost of uh property taxes

[2:17:15] and I also think that uh it was supposed

[2:17:20] to be on the uh same agenda to limit it.

[2:17:23] If you were retired and your home was

[2:17:25] paid for and you were drawn retirement,

[2:17:28] then you were supposed to be uh property

[2:17:31] tax exempt. But, uh, I understand that

[2:17:34] that's been kind of pushed it away.

[2:17:37] But other than that, that's that's all

[2:17:39] I've got. Thank you.

[2:17:41] >> Thanks, sir. Commissioner Mills,

[2:17:44] I have a job opportunity for

[2:17:47] and I think you only have to be 18 years

[2:17:49] old. This is a official voting applicant

[2:17:52] guide, and they are looking for people

[2:17:56] to work. Uh, it's a two-hour training

[2:17:58] session, and you get paid. You're a

[2:18:00] member of the county. you're employed by

[2:18:02] the county. Uh you must uh have

[2:18:05] independent transportation available to

[2:18:07] work an entire shift in the morning or

[2:18:09] afternoon and lift 30 pounds. And you

[2:18:12] can be a g chief judge, information

[2:18:14] line, voter check-in or ballot official.

[2:18:18] So if you would like to work during the

[2:18:21] election that is coming up, uh there are

[2:18:24] employment opportunities and these you

[2:18:26] can pick these up right out here at the

[2:18:29] board of elections. So, anyone that

[2:18:31] wants to work and that's drive up and

[2:18:34] anyone that wants to work during the

[2:18:35] elections there is a job and it only

[2:18:37] requires a two-hour training session and

[2:18:40] you got the job

[2:18:42] and that's all I have. Commissioner

[2:18:44] Ephford.

[2:18:45] >> Thanks, sir. Commissioner Crook,

[2:18:47] >> no comment tonight.

[2:18:48] >> Commissioner Keane,

[2:18:50] >> Commissioner Hatley,

[2:18:53] >> I was encouraged to hear the school

[2:18:54] board um talk about redistric. Mhm.

[2:18:58] >> I hadn't heard that in a long time. And

[2:18:59] uh I think that could solve a lot of

[2:19:01] problems with the quality of schools,

[2:19:05] quality of education,

[2:19:07] and help stretch our tax dollars.

[2:19:11] That's all I got.

[2:19:12] >> Thank you, sir. Mr. Milan,

[2:19:15] >> just ask everybody to remember 911 25th

[2:19:20] anniversary. Uh, a lot of people still

[2:19:24] are hurting and are sick because of the

[2:19:28] trash that they were having to go

[2:19:31] through to try to find bodies.

[2:19:34] And just I hope and pray that that type

[2:19:37] situation never happens again.

[2:19:42] Thanks, sir. Um,

[2:19:47] I don't have a whole lot to say tonight.

[2:19:48] Um, thank y'all so much for being here.

[2:19:51] Our next meeting is October,

[2:19:55] Somebody help me. I had it written down.

[2:19:58] >> 10th.

[2:19:59] >> 5th. 5th. Early voting is coming up. Um,

[2:20:04] October 15th. Um, like Commissioner

[2:20:07] Barbie said, there's going to be some

[2:20:08] things on the ballot you need to you

[2:20:10] need to do your research and pay special

[2:20:12] attention to. Uh, so that being said,

[2:20:15] uh, I would entertain a motion to

[2:20:17] adjurnn. So move a motion to have a

[2:20:19] second. All those in favor say I.

[2:20:23] >> Motion carries.

Stanly County Commissioners Meeting: September 8, 2026

Transcript