[0:34] Okay. Good evening. We're going to get

[0:36] ready to start the meeting, but before

[0:38] we do, I just wanted to see if anybody

[0:40] uh wanted to sign up for public comment

[0:42] that hasn't done so.

[0:45] >> Okay. Well, there will be an opportunity

[0:47] » Okay. Well, there will be an opportunity

[0:47] for you to sign up um come up

[0:49] afterwards. Thank you.

[1:08] Before

[1:17] I call the meeting in order, Mr. Hireer

[1:19] is going to say a prayer for the

[1:20] council.

[1:23] Good evening, Lord. We come to you with

[1:25] humble hearts. We thank you for a very

[1:27] safe America 250 celebration. We thank

[1:31] you for returning us back to the town of

[1:33] Leland. We thank you for blessing us and

[1:35] we ask that you bless our nation for 250

[1:38] years more. In your name we pray. Amen.

[1:41] >> Amen.

[1:42] » Amen.

[1:42] >> Thank you. I could now call this meeting

[1:44] » Thank you. I could now call this meeting

[1:44] to order at 6 o'clock p.m. And u just

[1:48] want to say good evening. Welcome

[1:49] everybody for being here. And uh please

[1:52] turn your phones on vibrate or turn them

[1:55] off so it won't be a disturbance. And um

[1:59] just remember we are recorded. anybody

[2:03] can record our meetings. So in saying

[2:06] that, let's stand for the pledge.

[2:11] » I aliance to the flag of the United

[2:14] States of America and to the republic

[2:17] for which it stands, one nation under

[2:20] God, indivisible, with liberty and

[2:23] justice for all.

[2:25] >> Thank you.

[2:27] » Thank you.

[2:27] [clears throat]

[2:28] Next, we have approval of the agenda.

[2:31] Does anybody have any additions or

[2:33] deletions?

[2:34] >> Madame Mayor, uh I would wish to add an

[2:37] » Madame Mayor, uh I would wish to add an

[2:37] item uh state of healthc care at new

[2:40] business, please.

[2:43] >> Where do you want that at?

[2:45] » Where do you want that at?

[2:45] >> Uh maybe the first item under new

[2:47] » Uh maybe the first item under new

[2:47] business.

[2:50] » Oh, I'm sorry. 9.3 would be fine.

[2:54] >> 9.3.

[2:54] » 9.3.

[2:54] >> Yes, ma'am.

[2:55] » Yes, ma'am.

[2:55] >> Anybody else? I have um subdivision

[3:00] » Anybody else? I have um subdivision

[3:00] Shell Bank I'd like to put under at 9.4

[3:03] under new old old business.

[3:07] [clears throat] I'm sorry I've talked so

[3:09] much I'm getting horse again.

[3:11] >> 9.4

[3:12] » 9.4

[3:12] >> the neighborhood Shell Bank.

[3:19] Okay.

[3:19] >> And then um may I ask to for 9.5

[3:23] » And then um may I ask to for 9.5

[3:23] Citizens Academy.

[3:25] >> What kind? Citizens.

[3:26] » What kind? Citizens.

[3:26] >> Citizens Academy. Yes, ma'am.

[3:30] » Okay. Anybody else?

[3:34] Hearing none. Do we have a motion?

[3:37] >> Motion to approve the agenda as amended.

[3:39] » Motion to approve the agenda as amended.

[3:39] >> Second.

[3:41] » Second.

[3:41] >> Any discussion?

[3:43] » Any discussion?

[3:43] All in favor?

[3:44] >> I.

[3:45] » I.

[3:45] >> Any oppose?

[3:47] » Any oppose?

[3:47] Motion carries.

[3:49] Thank y'all. Announcements. What we got

[3:52] going on?

[3:59] Madame Mayor, we're going to start with

[4:01] the recognitions that you have for

[4:03] tonight.

[4:04] >> Oh, okay.

[4:07] » Oh, okay.

[4:07] >> Council, y'all want to come down with

[4:09] » Council, y'all want to come down with

[4:09] me?

[4:44] Okay, we have some people here that has

[4:47] served the town

[4:49] for two different uh terms on some

[4:53] boards. that we have right now. If I

[4:56] could have any, if you serve on a board,

[4:59] newly elected or been there uh on the

[5:02] board of adjustments,

[5:05] would you stand, please?

[5:11] Mr. Garvey, I'll have you up here in

[5:13] just a minute. What about um

[5:20] parks and wreck?

[5:25] I know we got somebody.

[5:27] >> Okay.

[5:29] » Okay.

[5:29] Thank y'all for for serving on our

[5:31] boards.

[5:34] If I could have Don Garvey,

[5:37] Michael Brdic, is he here yet? I know

[5:40] he's on his way.

[5:43] And

[5:45] Scott Hennis,

[5:47] come up and join us up here, please.

[5:58] Hey bud,

[6:09] » if you'll come up here with me.

[6:12] >> Yeah. And we also have J uh Jean Klene

[6:16] » Yeah. And we also have J uh Jean Klene

[6:16] that was on board of adjustments, but

[6:18] she couldn't be here tonight. But Don,

[6:20] you have served our town well. Planning

[6:22] board, board of adjustments, over and

[6:24] over. You have served us well. And we

[6:27] just want to say we appreciate you and

[6:29] we thank you.

[6:30] >> I have been honored by every

[6:33] » I have been honored by every

[6:33] meeting I've been to since January of

[6:35] 2009 to serve this wonderful town. It's

[6:38] a gem. Thank you so much.

[6:40] >> Thank you. [applause]

[6:47] » Stand here with us. Okay.

[6:51] Scott Hennis,

[6:53] >> you're leaving me.

[6:54] » you're leaving me.

[6:54] >> I'll be back. [laughter]

[6:57] » I'll be back. [laughter]

[6:57] >> He has served two terms on the plan uh

[7:00] » He has served two terms on the plan uh

[7:00] parks and wreck board and did a

[7:02] phenomenal job every egg hunt, whatever

[7:06] we were doing in the parks or whatever.

[7:08] You could depend on Scott to be there

[7:11] and we appreciate that.

[7:13] >> Thank you.

[7:14] » Thank you.

[7:14] >> And don't be a stranger.

[7:16] » And don't be a stranger.

[7:16] >> Oh, no.

[7:17] » Oh, no.

[7:17] >> Okay. You'll get sick of me.

[7:18] » Okay. You'll get sick of me.

[7:18] >> Okay. Can you get me?

[7:22] [applause]

[7:26] » And Michael has not walked in yet.

[7:30] So

[7:31] anyway, if everybody will give one more

[7:34] round of applause for these two for

[7:36] helping us, being with us.

[7:39] We could not do our jobs if it was not

[7:41] for people giving up their their time.

[7:57] Maybe we can get Michael when he comes

[7:58] in.

[8:01] >> Okay. All right.

[8:03] » Okay. All right.

[8:03] >> Thank y'all. Thank you.

[8:05] » Thank y'all. Thank you.

[8:05] >> See you soon.

[8:06] » See you soon.

[8:06] >> Okay.

[8:14] » So, We have the proclamation.

[8:16] >> Oh, mayor.

[8:23] » Oh, okay.

[8:27] » Y'all bear with me.

[8:28] >> We'll get organized. [laughter]

[8:31] » We'll get organized. [laughter]

[8:31] >> All right.

[8:32] » All right.

[8:32] Proclamation.

[8:34] Could I have all the members of the

[8:36] Honor Flight come up of the Capefar to

[8:39] come up with me, please?

[8:52] Bob, you going to read that for me?

[8:55] >> I got it.

[8:55] » I got it.

[8:55] >> Oh, okay.

[8:57] » Oh, okay.

[8:57] Come over here.

[9:02] If y'all have never been to see the

[9:04] Honor Flight, come home

[9:07] at the airport, you do not know what

[9:09] you're missing. These guys do a

[9:11] phenomenal job to welcome back people

[9:15] that did not get welcome back in the 70s

[9:18] when they came home. Ruth,

[9:25] » come here.

[9:26] >> Come here.

[9:27] » Come here.

[9:27] >> Yes.

[9:27] » Yes.

[9:27] >> Okay.

[9:29] » Okay.

[9:29] All right.

[9:31] Leland, you want to take it?

[9:32] >> Sure. Good evening, madame mayor and

[9:34] » Sure. Good evening, madame mayor and

[9:34] fellow council members, members of our

[9:36] community. Tonight is our distinct

[9:38] privilege to recognize an organization

[9:40] whose mission reminds us of the debt and

[9:43] gratitude that we owe the men and women

[9:45] who served our nation with courage and

[9:47] sacrifice. Honor Flight of the Capefir

[9:50] area provides our veterans with

[9:51] something truly priceless. The

[9:53] opportunity to visit the memorials in

[9:55] Washington DC that were built in their

[9:57] honor. For many, this journey is far

[10:00] more than a trip. It's a chance to

[10:01] reflect, to reconnect with fellow

[10:03] veterans, to find healing, and to

[10:06] receive the gratitude of a nation they

[10:08] helped protect.

[10:13] These flights are made possible by an

[10:15] extraordinary team of volunteers,

[10:17] organizers, guardians, donors, and

[10:20] community supporters who generously give

[10:22] their time and resources so that our

[10:24] veterans can experience the recognition

[10:26] they have earned. As a community, we are

[10:29] proud to celebrate not only the veterans

[10:31] who have participated in these missions,

[10:33] but also the dedicated individuals

[10:35] behind Honor Flight of the Capefir area,

[10:38] whose commitment ensures that the story,

[10:40] sacrifices, and service of our nation's

[10:43] heroes are never forgotten. Please join

[10:46] me in recognizing the organizers and

[10:48] participants of Honor Flight of the

[10:50] Capefir area for their unwavering

[10:52] unwavering dedication to serving those

[10:55] who have served us all.

[11:00] » [applause]

[11:05] [applause]

[11:11] » And for the founder and president, Mrs.

[11:13] Ruth Rabbit Smith, we have the following

[11:16] proclamation. Whereas the Honor Flight

[11:18] of the Capefir area is an allv volunteer

[11:21] nonprofit organization dedicated to

[11:23] honoring American veterans by providing

[11:25] them the opportunity to visit the

[11:27] memorials in Washington DC built in

[11:30] tribute to their service and sacrifice.

[11:33] I have here to set my hand and caused

[11:36] the seal of the town of Leland, North

[11:38] Carolina to be affixed this 16th day of

[11:40] July 2026. Mayor Brenda Boseman.

[11:45] [applause]

[11:46] >> Yeah.

[11:48] » Yeah.

[11:48] You just know this touches my heart. My

[11:51] brother's been on that flight. Is there

[11:53] anyone in the audience that's been on it

[11:55] before?

[11:57] [laughter]

[12:00] » And you?

[12:03] >> And is this coming Saturday?

[12:05] » And is this coming Saturday?

[12:05] >> What's that?

[12:06] » What's that?

[12:06] >> When is the next one?

[12:08] » When is the next one?

[12:08] >> We haven't announced it yet.

[12:09] » We haven't announced it yet.

[12:09] >> Okay.

[12:10] » Okay.

[12:10] >> Count on April and not Easter Passover.

[12:14] » Count on April and not Easter Passover.

[12:14] >> You can count it on it being in April.

[12:16] » You can count it on it being in April.

[12:16] Not Easter, Passover, or Aelia Festival.

[12:19] Go figure out what date it might be.

[12:22] >> Please, please keep your ear open for

[12:25] » Please, please keep your ear open for

[12:25] that. You will leave there a different

[12:28] person.

[12:30] I I I'm telling you, it just touches

[12:32] your heart. So, and uh to know that when

[12:36] they came home from service, they were

[12:40] not treated like we treat them today.

[12:43] And like I said, my my own brother was

[12:45] one of them. And it just touches my

[12:48] heart to see people do something for our

[12:50] veterans. And we just love you. We love

[12:53] you.

[12:54] >> We love you.

[12:55] » We love you.

[12:55] >> So appreciate this.

[12:57] » So appreciate this.

[12:57] >> One more. One more hand.

[13:00] » One more. One more hand.

[13:00] [applause]

[13:27] so much.

[13:33] » Michael's here.

[13:36] >> Don't leave.

[13:42] Okay.

[13:43] >> Okay.

[13:54] » Thank you.

[13:54] >> It is our fundraising leader on our

[13:56] » It is our fundraising leader on our

[13:56] board. And then

[13:58] >> Karen Taylor just came on our board. You

[14:00] » Karen Taylor just came on our board. You

[14:00] know Karen?

[14:01] >> Yeah. Yeah. She just came in with her

[14:03] » Yeah. Yeah. She just came in with her

[14:03] dad. She just got on the board, too.

[14:07] >> Yay. We got a great

[14:14] Mr. [laughter]

[14:19] » That's what my husband says all the

[14:21] time.

[14:23] >> I do. Bob Lynn, I need you to come.

[14:27] » I do. Bob Lynn, I need you to come.

[14:27] Thank you.

[14:36] Is there any members here? Present, past

[14:40] or future economic development

[14:43] committee.

[14:48] We appreciate the work that you have

[14:50] done and are doing for our town.

[14:53] [snorts] If we could have Michael Brdock

[14:55] join us.

[14:58] Michael has served two terms on our

[15:00] economic development. Stuck with us. I I

[15:04] think you were on the planning board

[15:05] years ago, too.

[15:06] >> No, just TDA.

[15:08] » No, just TDA.

[15:08] >> TDA. That's right.

[15:11] » TDA. That's right.

[15:11] >> I knew it was one of them.

[15:12] » I knew it was one of them.

[15:12] >> Yeah.

[15:13] » Yeah.

[15:13] >> But we want to give you this as a token

[15:16] » But we want to give you this as a token

[15:16] of our appreciation for all that you've

[15:18] done for our town.

[15:19] >> Thank you so much. you uh you moved your

[15:22] » Thank you so much. you uh you moved your

[15:22] business and your residence somewhere

[15:24] else, but you were still trying to help

[15:27] Leland and we appreciate that so much.

[15:29] >> Thank you so much.

[15:30] » Thank you so much.

[15:30] >> So, thank you

[15:31] » So, thank you

[15:31] >> from everybody.

[15:35] » Thank you.

[15:48] Also,

[16:15] we did uh have another person to get an

[16:19] award for the parks and wreck board, but

[16:21] he's couldn't make it tonight. And that

[16:22] was Mr. Michael Long

[16:25] um product. No,

[16:28] >> Michael.

[16:28] » Michael.

[16:28] >> Yeah, Michael Long. I had it right. All

[16:30] » Yeah, Michael Long. I had it right. All

[16:30] these Michaels that we've got around

[16:32] here almost as much as Tracy's. All

[16:36] right. Next, let's talk about the Leland

[16:40] event. Who wants to talk about that?

[16:46] Mayor and council staff just wanted to

[16:48] remind the public that the council had

[16:50] scheduled these Let's Talk Leland events

[16:53] quarterly and the next one will be held

[16:55] on July 29th at 6 o'clock at the Leland

[16:59] Fire Station.

[17:01] I'm sorry. Station 51.

[17:03] >> Yes.

[17:04] » Yes.

[17:04] >> Yes. Was there something you wanted to

[17:06] » Yes. Was there something you wanted to

[17:06] say, Miss Carter?

[17:08] >> I'm was wondering if your mic was on it.

[17:10] » I'm was wondering if your mic was on it.

[17:10] You were not that loud. I just want to

[17:11] make sure everybody got it.

[17:14] Okay.

[17:16] So, the next quarterly event will be

[17:18] held on Wednesday, July 29th at six

[17:21] o'clock at Leland Fire Station 51. And

[17:26] Mayor Boseman and Council Member Carter

[17:28] will be at that event and look forward

[17:30] to those who could come on out and

[17:32] engage with them. Okay.

[17:34] >> Thank you, Sabrina.

[17:35] » Thank you, Sabrina.

[17:35] >> You're welcome.

[17:36] » You're welcome.

[17:36] >> Upcoming events.

[17:39] » Upcoming events.

[17:39] That's what I was looking for earlier.

[17:50] Good evening, Mayor and Council. Like to

[17:52] share with you some upcoming events that

[17:54] we put together for the next couple of

[17:56] weeks as we get through July and for the

[17:58] first three quarters of August. So,

[18:01] starting on July 18th from 10:00 a.m. to

[18:04] 12 pm, we have a seasonal ceramics

[18:06] workshop making fairy houses at the

[18:08] LCAC. We are starting uh piloting a

[18:12] couple programs for our culinary

[18:14] interests. So on July 20th from 6:00 to

[18:17] 7:30 p.m. we have sourdough for

[18:19] beginners at the art center. We have

[18:22] candy bar bingo on July 23rd from 6:00

[18:25] to 7:30 p.m. as well as uh family clay

[18:29] day from on July 25th from 10 to 11 a.m.

[18:33] I am excited to share more information

[18:35] for the Founders Park grand opening uh

[18:37] on July 31st from 5 to 8:00 p.m. We will

[18:41] have uh several food trucks there on

[18:44] site. will have over 25 community

[18:46] organizations, several activities, um

[18:49] games, and um prizes for folks to win uh

[18:53] and to speak with the community and

[18:56] participate uh with several different

[18:58] organizations that represent the Leland

[19:00] community. And closing out that night

[19:02] from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., we'll have our

[19:04] first performance out there on the

[19:06] amphitheater, which will be the Embers

[19:08] featuring Craig Ward. So, they'll be

[19:10] here um to help orchestrate the night

[19:13] and we'll also have uh WCT there as a

[19:16] co-sponsor. They'll be doing live shots

[19:18] throughout the night and we and we'll be

[19:20] filming live from Founders Park. So,

[19:22] we're super excited about that. Again,

[19:24] that'll be July 31st from 5 to 8:00 p.m.

[19:27] We will have parking on site. However,

[19:29] we are also encouraging people to park

[19:32] um at First Baptist Church and we'll

[19:35] have uh shuttles running to uh North

[19:37] Brunswick High School as well for

[19:40] overflow parking.

[19:42] On uh from August 1st to September 3rd,

[19:45] we'll have the Sabine Beckman Gallery at

[19:48] the Art Center. And then on August 1st

[19:50] from 12 to two, Jackie O my pearls which

[19:54] is a jewelry class, a modern twist on

[19:57] the three strand um pearl u beaded

[20:00] jewelry and so have a class there. The

[20:03] gallery reception for Miss Sabine will

[20:05] be on August 6th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

[20:08] Story time at the art center August 8th

[20:10] 12 to 1. We have a really cool class

[20:13] called Changing Oceans on August 17th

[20:16] from 6:00 to 7 PM. This is actually a

[20:18] class put on by the Fort Fiser Aquarium

[20:21] folks. As you all know, the aquarium is

[20:23] closed for a very long and extensive

[20:25] renovation. They've moved a small

[20:26] exhibit to the mall in Wilmington, but

[20:29] they're doing a class with us to talk

[20:30] about the changing oceans are also

[20:32] bringing in some of that maritime life

[20:34] for kids to interact with. And so that's

[20:37] on August 17th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

[20:40] Another step in our culinary

[20:42] programming, fermentation 101. This

[20:45] class is for how to make kombucha.

[20:47] >> Uh and so that'll be [laughter]

[20:50] » Uh and so that'll be [laughter]

[20:50] >> kombucha.

[20:53] It's very good for your summit.

[20:56] >> August 18th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

[20:59] » August 18th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

[20:59] >> Korean food.

[21:00] » Korean food.

[21:00] >> And that'll be at the art center.

[21:02] » And that'll be at the art center.

[21:02] >> It is.

[21:02] » It is.

[21:02] >> Last two things for you. August 19th

[21:04] » Last two things for you. August 19th

[21:04] from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. we have a paint

[21:06] pouring class for vases and lastly

[21:09] seasonal greeting cards on August 20th

[21:12] 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

[21:14] >> And what what was that culinary

[21:18] » And what what was that culinary

[21:18] >> Mr. Mr. Sutton I'm sorry to clear up

[21:21] » Mr. Mr. Sutton I'm sorry to clear up

[21:21] just so we keep open meetings uh don't

[21:23] fail any open meetings laws since there

[21:24] were three of us discussing it uh am I

[21:26] correct kamuka is a drink not not Korean

[21:29] food. [laughter]

[21:30] >> Okay cabbage

[21:32] » Okay cabbage

[21:32] >> correct? Yes. Yeah,

[21:33] » correct? Yes. Yeah,

[21:33] >> made from cabbage.

[21:38] [laughter]

[21:40] >> I might have to check that out. And when

[21:42] » I might have to check that out. And when

[21:42] is that one?

[21:44] >> It is uh August 18th from 6:00 to 30 6

[21:47] » It is uh August 18th from 6:00 to 30 6

[21:47] to 7:30 p.m. at the art center. You'll

[21:49] learn how to make your own kombucha. I

[21:52] won't get into the details because it

[21:53] might gross you out now, but when you go

[21:55] to the the class, you'll learn all about

[21:57] it. It's very healthy for you, and

[22:00] you'll learn to make your own.

[22:01] Maybe I'll just go and watch.

[22:04] >> Is it legal? I see you're fermenting it.

[22:08] » Is it legal? I see you're fermenting it.

[22:08] >> It is.

[22:09] » It is.

[22:09] >> Okay.

[22:11] » Okay.

[22:11] >> That's interesting.

[22:13] » That's interesting.

[22:13] >> Can't wait to check it out. Yeah, I'll

[22:15] » Can't wait to check it out. Yeah, I'll

[22:16] stand in the corner and watch.

[22:17] >> Yeah. Awesome. And also, I wanted to

[22:19] » Yeah. Awesome. And also, I wanted to

[22:19] share um not on your sheets, but uh more

[22:22] information to come. Now that the

[22:23] amphitheater is complete and Founders

[22:25] Park will be open, we will have more

[22:27] information on future concerts. We are

[22:30] um targeting several more through summer

[22:32] and into fall and so you'll see more

[22:34] information to come about who those um

[22:37] those bands and performances will be in

[22:38] the upcoming weeks.

[22:40] >> Thank you so much.

[22:41] » Thank you so much.

[22:41] >> Thank you.

[22:43] » Thank you.

[22:44] >> Wow.

[22:46] » Wow.

[22:46] >> Next we have a presentation from Bess

[22:48] » Next we have a presentation from Bess

[22:48] Blackburn on Leland Area Garden Club.

[23:01] Hey, I want to thank everyone. Thank

[23:03] you, Madame Mayor. Thank you, council,

[23:06] city, and town of Leland, which is

[23:09] becoming a big city now, and all the

[23:11] citizens that are here tonight. My name

[23:13] is Bess Blackburn. I'm with the Leland

[23:16] area garden club. and we were founded

[23:20] just recently and received our 5013C

[23:24] nonprofit status in March of this year.

[23:28] So, let me find my picker here.

[23:34] I'm going to tell you a little bit about

[23:36] the Leland Area Garden Club. Um, again,

[23:38] it's a 5013C nonprofit. Our mission is

[23:41] to preserve and enhance the natural

[23:43] beauty of Leland in North Brunswick

[23:45] County. Our members will be improving

[23:48] public spaces, educate residents, and

[23:52] foster environmental stewardship. We are

[23:55] seeking partnerships that strengthen our

[23:57] civic pride and community quality of

[24:01] life.

[24:04] Our mission is this to inspire a love of

[24:06] gardening, conservation, environmental

[24:09] stewardship to enhance community beauty

[24:12] through education, volunteerism, and

[24:15] partnerships. to promote native plants,

[24:18] pollinators, bluebirds, and healthy

[24:20] public spaces.

[24:24] Why should the town partner with the

[24:26] garden club? Um, well, I was a I still

[24:30] am a member of the Katefir Garden Club

[24:32] in Wilmington. Um, that garden club has

[24:35] been in existence for a hundred years.

[24:37] We just celebrated our 100th year

[24:40] anniversary this past year. And, um, I'm

[24:44] still a member. I joined when I was a

[24:47] resident of Wilmington. I lived in

[24:48] Leland, moved to Wilmington, then moved

[24:50] back to Leland. Um, so they have been

[24:54] very supportive. We saw that there was a

[24:56] need to have a Leland area garden club.

[25:00] Um, the Katefield Garden Club does not

[25:03] allow anyone from Brunswick County to

[25:05] join. So, we thought, well, we need to

[25:08] have our own. and they have been very

[25:10] supportive and very helpful um for this

[25:13] endeavor that that we have taken on. So,

[25:17] um we want to basically emulate a lot

[25:20] what the Capefir Garden Club does for

[25:22] Wilmington and they do a lot um a lot of

[25:26] civic partnerships as far as putting in

[25:28] pollinator gardens, native plant gardens

[25:31] within the town of Wilmington. Um they

[25:35] sponsor the garden club tours which are

[25:38] tours of gardens with within the

[25:40] Wilmington area and they do a lot of

[25:43] education and outreach. So that's

[25:45] basically what we are proposing to do

[25:48] for the town of Leland.

[25:50] So we are a nonprofit structure that can

[25:53] support grants, donations, and

[25:56] sponsorships. So we have a lot to offer

[25:58] the town.

[26:00] Community beautifification. That's one

[26:03] of our main goals. Um, Leland's growing

[26:06] at a rapid pace. We all know it, we see

[26:09] it, we live it every day. We need to

[26:12] maintain our beauty. We need to beautify

[26:15] certain areas that are starting to look

[26:19] a little little shabby. Um

[26:23] so some of the things that we are seeing

[26:26] as problem areas are um village road

[26:30] where the commercial areas are as well

[26:32] as highway 17 where the commercial areas

[26:35] are and we really want to enforce and

[26:39] educate not enforce but we really want

[26:41] to educate and inspire businesses to

[26:43] beautify their areas.

[26:45] Um so that's part of our community

[26:48] beautifification project.

[26:51] Um, one of our signature projects is the

[26:54] Leland Bluebird Trail Initiative. Um,

[26:58] recently I have partnered with the 4H

[27:00] Club of Brunswick for Brunswick County

[27:03] and those kids are so excited to build

[27:05] bluebird boxes. um we are furnishing

[27:08] them with all the materials and on

[27:10] August 7th they are holding a workshop

[27:13] down in Bolivia at their agriculture

[27:16] center and we've got about 10 kids

[27:18] signed up already to build bluebird

[27:20] boxes. So we've got enough materials for

[27:24] them to build 20. Now we don't want to

[27:27] stop there. We also

[27:31] um we also want other clubs and

[27:33] organizations to participate as well.

[27:36] We really envision a bluebird box trail.

[27:41] Um I know someone in mapping with the

[27:44] county and she has offered to do the

[27:46] mapping for that which is really a cool

[27:49] thing. So we really want to engage like

[27:52] boy scouts churches um workshops at the

[27:55] Leland Cultural Arts Center. We really

[27:58] want to get the community involved with

[27:59] this. Bluebirds are a very special part

[28:02] of our conservation.

[28:04] Um, at one time they were becoming

[28:07] endangered,

[28:08] but now with people putting out more and

[28:11] more bluebird nesting boxes, they're

[28:13] starting to make a comeback and we

[28:15] really want to position them as a symbol

[28:18] of conservation in in our area.

[28:23] We also are want to propose putting in a

[28:26] bluebird camp at Founders Park.

[28:30] The reason for choosing Founders Park is

[28:33] it's just an incredible area where

[28:35] people are coming together. Um, and it's

[28:39] also secure. There's cameras. It's it's

[28:42] pretty secure. Police station nearby.

[28:45] Um, so we hope that nobody would would

[28:47] meddle with it. But we want this cam to

[28:52] have a link where people from all around

[28:54] the country can go in and look at the

[28:56] bluebird cam in Leland and watch the

[28:59] nesting pro uh process occur. And we

[29:02] really want to build excitement to that.

[29:04] So that is something that we are also

[29:06] proposing.

[29:09] Um pollinator partnerships

[29:12] um as we know our natural pollinators

[29:15] are on the decline. bees, butterflies,

[29:18] um with all of the construction and

[29:20] development, they're they're really

[29:22] taking a toll. So, we really want to

[29:25] encourage pollinator gardens

[29:28] um for butterflies, bees, and beneficial

[29:31] insects and use educational plant labels

[29:34] to educate the public on what these

[29:37] plants are. And we want to really

[29:39] encourage home owners and businesses to

[29:42] add pollinator friendly plants, HOAs,

[29:46] um, businesses, etc.

[29:50] Okay. Um, education and outreach. That's

[29:54] our primary primarily what we're all

[29:56] about. And we want to have monthly

[29:59] educational programs and guest speakers.

[30:03] um native plant, bluebird and pollinator

[30:06] workshops,

[30:07] senior outreach and intergenerational

[30:10] programming

[30:11] using the Leland Culture Arts Center

[30:14] hopefully and um garden visits,

[30:16] demonstration, hands-on learning

[30:19] opportunities.

[30:22] Here's one thing that we're proposing

[30:24] too, and this is something along the

[30:26] line when I was talking about the

[30:28] commercial areas needing to be spruced

[30:31] up a little bit. We want to do a annual

[30:34] recognition for attractive commercial

[30:36] landscaping and call it the beauty spot

[30:38] award. Uh we would not be able to do

[30:41] this in pro until 2028.

[30:44] Um it just involves a lot of planning.

[30:47] So, we want to promote and inspire

[30:49] businesses to polish up and make their

[30:53] areas beautiful. And in doing so,

[30:56] whoever the the winners are, they will

[30:58] be um honored through media, social

[31:01] media, and community recognition. Um so,

[31:04] we really want to connect the

[31:06] beautifification with economic

[31:08] development and tourism.

[31:13] this.

[31:16] Um, in 2028, we'd also like to have a

[31:19] home garden and farm tours of the North

[31:22] Brunswick County area. So, we'd like to

[31:25] feature outstanding home gardens along

[31:28] with farms. Farms are a little bit of a

[31:30] different twist. Um, Wilmington has we

[31:34] with the garden club in Wilmington, we

[31:36] have our home and home garden tour, but

[31:38] we want to extend this out to our

[31:40] beautiful farms in the area. Uh we've

[31:43] got some incredible farms. Um Shelton

[31:45] Herb Farm, she's interested in being on

[31:48] it. Um Northwest, um there's a a venue

[31:53] out in Bolivia that they're interested.

[31:55] She's a master gardener. Um so we really

[31:59] want to enhance the area and make it

[32:02] make it ongoing every year by doing

[32:05] this. Make it a recurring event for

[32:07] Leland and North Brunswick County.

[32:12] The economic and community benefits of

[32:14] partnering with the garden club are are

[32:17] very strong. Um, beautiful communities

[32:21] attract residents, visitors, and

[32:22] investment. Public gardens and events

[32:25] support local businesses and tourism.

[32:28] Volunteer projects multiply the impact

[32:31] of public resources.

[32:34] Visible stewardships strengthens pride

[32:37] and belonging. educational programs

[32:40] support long-term environmental

[32:42] responsibility.

[32:45] Here's our five-year strategic plan. In

[32:48] 2027, we'll be launching the Bluebird

[32:50] Trail and install, if we have your

[32:53] approval, Founders Parks Bluebird Camp.

[32:56] In 2028, begin home garden and farm

[32:59] tours and beauty spot awards. 2029,

[33:02] expand pollinator gardens and community

[33:05] education.

[33:06] 2030 grow civic partnerships and

[33:09] volunteer programs.

[33:11] 2032 become North Brunswick County's

[33:14] premier environmental nonprofit.

[33:19] We really want to work together with to

[33:21] create a greener Leland. Um town of

[33:24] Leland Parks and Recreation is very

[33:27] important to us. are Brunswick County

[33:29] schools or 4 programs, home local

[33:33] businesses and sponsors, homeowner

[33:35] associations and civic organizations,

[33:38] other garden clubs, conservation groups

[33:40] and residents we all want to partner

[33:42] with.

[33:44] Imagine Leland in 2032.

[33:48] Bluebirds nesting throughout our parks

[33:50] and public spaces. Pollinator gardens

[33:53] across Leland and North Brunswick

[33:55] County. Awardwinning commercial

[33:57] landscapes recognized each year. Annual

[34:01] garden and farm tours drawing residents

[34:03] and visitors. Residents working together

[34:06] to build a greener, healthier Leland.

[34:09] Thank you so much. Appreciate that.

[34:11] >> Thank you, B.

[34:17] » Before you go,

[34:18] >> yeah,

[34:19] » yeah,

[34:19] >> I got a couple

[34:21] » I got a couple

[34:21] >> questions, items, whatever.

[34:25] So, you are the uh bluebird expert, I

[34:28] guess, what I'm going to classify you

[34:30] as. And I just actually just built one

[34:32] and put in my backyard. Uh how long does

[34:36] it take for a on average for a bird to

[34:40] establish a nest in that uh

[34:43] >> in that new home?

[34:44] » in that new home?

[34:44] >> Yeah, great question. Um I'm so glad you

[34:47] » Yeah, great question. Um I'm so glad you

[34:47] asked that because there's so many

[34:49] questions that people have about

[34:50] bluebirds. Now, people think, "Oh, I

[34:53] just have to wait till the spring to put

[34:54] up a bluebird box." But what happens as

[34:57] soon as you put a box up any time of the

[35:00] year, bluebirds will start checking it

[35:02] out. You'll see them flutter around.

[35:04] They're looking for their next home.

[35:06] They're looking for their next nesting

[35:08] spot. So, this might happen for a while,

[35:11] for few weeks or so, and then they'll go

[35:15] in and you'll start seeing them with

[35:18] something in their beaks and they're

[35:20] starting to nest. They're starting to

[35:22] build their nest. So, that process can

[35:25] take some time. Um, you imagine a little

[35:28] bird, little beak building this nice

[35:31] nest. And then for incubation time, it's

[35:35] about two weeks for the eggs to to

[35:38] hatch. And then the mother and father

[35:40] will continue to feed the bluebirds and

[35:42] then they'll finally fledge uh fledge

[35:45] the nest. So please put up your bluebird

[35:48] boxes.

[35:49] >> Are they are they um

[35:51] » Are they are they um

[35:51] I don't want to say territorial, but do

[35:54] they pretty much stay in the same area

[35:56] year after year?

[35:58] >> They do. They do. Um, but they will they

[36:01] » They do. They do. Um, but they will they

[36:01] will migrate to other areas as well.

[36:04] >> Um, but once they found their home, they

[36:07] » Um, but once they found their home, they

[36:07] usually come back to that home and and

[36:10] continue nesting. It's important to

[36:12] clean the box out after they nest. Um,

[36:16] but yeah, we have one and they're just

[36:19] always dancing around it and around it

[36:22] all year round.

[36:24] Have you given any thought to uh working

[36:27] with uh the horiculture folks at

[36:30] Brunswick Community College?

[36:32] >> Yes. Um in fact, I'm going to be taking

[36:35] » Yes. Um in fact, I'm going to be taking

[36:35] their master gardener course in January

[36:39] or I've signed up. Hopefully I'll be

[36:40] elected to to take it.

[36:43] >> Um my background, my first job was in a

[36:45] » Um my background, my first job was in a

[36:45] garden center and horiculture. I worked

[36:47] for a a landscape architect and managed

[36:50] his garden shop when I was a kid. And

[36:53] then later on in college, I'd come back

[36:55] and work summers. But um yes, in fact, I

[36:58] I will be down there again the 7th for

[37:02] the 4 club. Um they're building bluebird

[37:05] boxes for us. So yeah, I'm in involved

[37:08] with some partnerships with them. Yeah.

[37:12] And one last thing about it's been

[37:14] probably eight years ago, maybe

[37:17] somewhere right in there. We as council

[37:21] talked about

[37:23] doing something to beautify Village

[37:25] Road. And of course, now we have this

[37:27] great park over here that we hope more

[37:30] folks would Yeah. would come by. And we

[37:32] would certainly like to make that look

[37:34] uh that whole road uh look presentable

[37:38] and and beautiful. And so I kind of look

[37:42] forward to uh our folks uh partnering

[37:46] with uh with the uh organization, your

[37:51] organization, and see what we can do to

[37:53] >> Oh, we'd love that.

[37:53] » Oh, we'd love that.

[37:53] >> Brighten that up.

[37:54] » Brighten that up.

[37:54] >> Yeah, we would love that.

[37:56] » Yeah, we would love that.

[37:56] >> Bob Coron was big on hanging flower pots

[37:59] » Bob Coron was big on hanging flower pots

[37:59] and stuff. Anybody else got any

[38:02] questions?

[38:04] >> Questions?

[38:05] » Questions?

[38:05] >> Thank you, Beth.

[38:06] » Thank you, Beth.

[38:06] >> You're welcome.

[38:07] » You're welcome.

[38:07] >> Thank you. Appreciate y'all.

[38:11] » Next, as we go into public comment, um

[38:14] when you hear your name called, if

[38:16] you'll come over to [clears throat] the

[38:17] podium, um and remember, please be

[38:20] respectful of others. And um no name

[38:24] calling. You're talking to council.

[38:26] You're not talking to an individual out

[38:28] in the audience. you're talking to us.

[38:31] So, um, sub David, you got the names.

[38:35] [clears throat]

[38:36] >> Yes, ma'am. First up, we have Pastor

[38:38] » Yes, ma'am. First up, we have Pastor

[38:38] Dusty Smith.

[38:39] >> Good evening, folks. Unfortunately, he

[38:41] » Good evening, folks. Unfortunately, he

[38:41] had an emergency and had to leave.

[38:43] >> Okay. Uh, next up, we have Brighton

[38:46] » Okay. Uh, next up, we have Brighton

[38:46] Willis.

[38:54] » Good evening, Madame Mayor, council

[38:56] members.

[38:57] My name [clears throat] is Brighton

[38:59] Willis. I am a retired US Army Corps of

[39:02] Engineers

[39:04] manager. Um,

[39:06] >> excuse me, Mr. Willis, would you speak

[39:08] » excuse me, Mr. Willis, would you speak

[39:08] into the

[39:10] >> Yeah, thank you.

[39:11] » Yeah, thank you.

[39:11] >> Got it.

[39:12] » Got it.

[39:12] >> Yeah. We just want to make sure the

[39:13] » Yeah. We just want to make sure the

[39:13] folks at home can hear you.

[39:16] >> We ready?

[39:18] » We ready?

[39:18] During my career, I worked on uh

[39:20] numerous studies, reviews, designs, and

[39:23] the construction of major public

[39:26] infrastructure projects.

[39:28] Over the past few years, I've researched

[39:31] uh the history and technical background

[39:33] of the Capefir Memorial Bridge

[39:35] replacement, Capefir crossing proposal,

[39:39] the Wilmington Harbor Navigation

[39:41] Project, and many related transportation

[39:44] decisions that have shaped where we are

[39:47] today.

[39:48] representing the town. I also served on

[39:50] the citizens advisory committee for the

[39:53] WNO 2045

[39:56] Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update.

[40:03] I previously emailed each of you through

[40:06] the mayor a copy of a white paper and

[40:10] tonight I'm providing you with a printed

[40:12] version of that cop uh that white paper.

[40:15] The paper examines the interreationship

[40:18] between navigation, regional freight

[40:20] movement, transportation and planning,

[40:23] and long-term bridge financing.

[40:27] It also references references historical

[40:29] planning documents, including the town

[40:32] of Leland's recent resolution to help

[40:36] place these issues in their broader

[40:38] historical and regional context.

[40:42] My purpose is to place this paper into

[40:45] the public record and to offer it as a

[40:48] resource for the council and the public

[40:51] as an important regional transportation

[40:53] issues continue to be discussed.

[40:58] Thank you for your time,

[41:01] your public service,

[41:04] and your consideration.

[41:06] >> Thank you, Mr. Willis.

[41:08] » Thank you, Mr. Willis.

[41:08] >> Thank you.

[41:11] Next up, we have Lewis Hermati.

[41:27] And anyway, before I start, I'd like to

[41:30] ask uh the mayor or the town manager if

[41:33] I could take a moment to honor myself

[41:36] for serving in Vietnam. As you notice,

[41:39] 55 years ago, thousands of us came back

[41:42] and for 30 years or 35, we were never

[41:45] recognized. And it was painful

[41:47] experience coming back and having that

[41:50] long-term uh non-recognition. But now it

[41:53] doesn't bother me. When they start

[41:55] recognizing us, it it really didn't help

[41:57] me too much, hurt me or anything that

[41:59] I'm over it. I just thought I'd mention

[42:02] that.

[42:02] >> Thank you for your service, Louis.

[42:04] » Thank you for your service, Louis.

[42:04] >> All right. So today I'm talking about

[42:06] » All right. So today I'm talking about

[42:06] the American crisis. America has had

[42:08] three major political crisis. The

[42:10] American Revolution, the Civil War, and

[42:12] the Progressive Socialist uh communist

[42:15] war on religion, morality, individual

[42:17] freedom, and liberty. The early

[42:19] progressives advocated democracy, but

[42:22] they but not a republic. They did

[42:26] support God and country. Early

[42:28] progressive policies were women's

[42:30] suffrage, social justice, workplace

[42:33] safety, social welfare, education

[42:35] reform, economic reform such as

[42:38] progressive tax, income redistribution,

[42:40] universal health care, universal income,

[42:43] antitrust, regulating businesses, and

[42:46] taxing the 1%. The new radical left of

[42:49] today intends to transform, replace

[42:52] family, culture, all uh fundamental

[42:55] principles and structures. They don't

[42:58] support God and country. In the new de

[43:00] democratic, excuse me, the new

[43:02] democratic people rule, excuse me, a new

[43:05] democracy, people rule, not our

[43:07] republic. The new democratic party is

[43:09] the democ democratic socialist of

[43:12] America. They are woke going for broke.

[43:15] Uh, no police in jails, no god and

[43:17] country, no borders, language and

[43:19] culture. Wokeism is their name,

[43:22] environmentalism is their game, LBGTQ is

[43:25] their family, God and Christianity is

[43:28] their enemy. Racism, social justice is

[43:31] their battlecry and perversion is their

[43:34] style. They are projecting, they're

[43:37] rejecting all traditional values. Today,

[43:40] America is broken. the family, the

[43:42] church, government, education, and most

[43:45] institutions. They lack moral and

[43:47] spiritual character because there's no

[43:49] school prayer, no ten commandments, no

[43:52] natural rights, no freedom of speech,

[43:54] cancel culture, woke ideology, truth is

[43:57] muted, constitution is canceled in most

[43:59] places. American except exceptionalism

[44:02] is attacked. Teachers unions are run by

[44:05] communist. Social school systems don't

[44:07] allow constitutional truth. Wave radio

[44:10] cancelled my 23 and 26 constitutional

[44:13] ads, social media monitor speech and

[44:17] Magnum Greens board disapprove my

[44:19] constitutional class. Marxists cancelled

[44:22] our history, our heroes, our statues and

[44:25] our values. They re they re-educated

[44:28] their children. They preach class

[44:30] warfare. I'm done. Okay.

[44:33] >> Thank you, Lois.

[44:34] » Thank you, Lois.

[44:34] >> Thank you.

[44:36] » Thank you.

[44:36] [clears throat]

[44:38] Next we have Barry Long.

[44:52] Good evening, Mayor, council members.

[44:56] Two uh three things I wanted to talk

[44:57] about tonight. One was closed sessions.

[45:01] Um, and specifically,

[45:04] why, and this is the second time I

[45:06] brought this up, why are close sessions

[45:07] not put at the end of the schedule of

[45:11] the agenda? Why do you have twohour

[45:14] closed sessions after the first 25

[45:17] minutes of a meeting? It makes no sense.

[45:20] I've asked this before. I believe the

[45:23] town manager is the one that makes the

[45:25] schedule, but you guys are the ones that

[45:27] are supposed to be directing how that

[45:30] schedule should be set up, at least in

[45:32] broad terms. So, please think about

[45:35] this. People don't want to hang out from

[45:37] the public for two hours to hear the

[45:40] majority of the meeting at the end of

[45:42] the night or afternoon.

[45:47] So, you heard it last time, nothing

[45:49] happened. I'm asking again.

[45:52] District voting.

[45:54] Council member Pendleton made a motion

[45:57] at the June 18th meeting uh for a

[46:00] moratorum on all discussions

[46:03] on district voting until the 2030

[46:05] census.

[46:07] I don't understand if the issue is dead,

[46:11] why wasn't there a second and why wasn't

[46:14] it passed?

[46:16] And Mr. hire in particular who I know is

[46:19] opposed or who said he was opposed also

[46:22] was silent. So I don't know if you just

[46:25] go along and get along. Is that your new

[46:27] deal or not? But it's not very

[46:30] attractive. We're helpful.

[46:34] Last one is performance appraisals.

[46:37] The July 13th council meeting.

[46:41] Again, Mr. Pendleton asked for a closed

[46:43] session

[46:45] uh to be included

[46:47] so that uh council members could review

[46:50] Mr. Hollis's performance appraisals. I

[46:53] don't know if they even exist based on

[46:55] what I saw um Miss Boseman, it sounds

[47:00] like from what you said at the agenda

[47:02] meeting that he gets a performance

[47:04] appraisal every November.

[47:07] Now if that's inaccurate, I'd like to

[47:09] know that. But it sounds like at least

[47:11] he's getting one if that's true because

[47:14] that's what you said every November.

[47:18] And if he is, then certainly council

[47:20] members who supervise Mr. Hollis ought

[47:24] to be knowing what his goals and

[47:26] objectives are and if he's meeting them.

[47:29] And they can't do that if they can't see

[47:31] the appraisal because the appraisal, for

[47:34] instance, the most recent one would have

[47:37] had those things in it.

[47:40] So, aren't any of you interested about

[47:42] what what his goals and objectives are

[47:44] and if he's meeting them? Why wouldn't

[47:46] you have a closed session? I don't get

[47:48] it. It just doesn't make sense. It's

[47:50] childish. You're all acting childish in

[47:53] my opinion. Thank you.

[48:00] Next we have Rhonda Florian.

[48:21] The town council is the employer of the

[48:24] town manager. The council hires and

[48:26] fires the town manager, negotiates the

[48:29] contract with the town manager, and

[48:31] conducts periodic performance reviews of

[48:33] the town manager while maintaining

[48:36] records of these reviews. As the

[48:38] employer of the town manager, any

[48:41] council member is entitled to inspect

[48:45] performance review records. The push

[48:47] back to Mr. Pendleton's request to

[48:49] inspect these records is astonishing.

[48:53] Why is the town concealing this? In a

[48:56] previous life, I was president of a

[48:58] nonprofit corporation. My recording

[49:00] secretary had a mantra. If it's not in

[49:03] the minutes, it didn't happen. To apply

[49:06] her mantra to performance review

[49:08] records, if there are no records, it

[49:12] didn't happen. The average time one

[49:15] person holds the petition position of

[49:17] town manager is five to six years. Mr.

[49:20] Hollis has been town manager for 15

[49:22] years. Usually the town council

[49:25] negotiates a contract with the town

[49:27] manager that has an end date. At the end

[49:30] of that contract, the council negotiates

[49:33] a new contract or hires a new town

[49:36] manager. Mr. Hollis's current contract

[49:39] is open-ended with no date.

[49:43] Does the council consider his position

[49:45] to be permanent? In 15 years, Mr.

[49:48] Hollis's salary has nearly tripled from

[49:51] its original $95,000.

[49:53] The September 2025 Leland employee

[49:56] comprehensive list puts Mr. Hollis's

[49:59] base salary at $245,122.

[50:05] $42,000

[50:07] more than Governor Josh Stein's 2025

[50:11] salary. His bonus of $39,88

[50:19] exceeds the annual salary of many Leland

[50:22] taxpayers. The $ 58,69

[50:26] contributed to his retirement fund last

[50:29] year is more than many people receive in

[50:32] their entire career.

[50:33] >> [snorts]

[50:34] » [snorts]

[50:34] >> The council's failure to properly

[50:36] » The council's failure to properly

[50:36] oversee the town manager is a derelction

[50:40] of duty.

[50:42] This obstruction of Mr. Pendleton's

[50:44] request to inspect records of

[50:47] performance reviews, if any, exist,

[50:51] is seriously disturbing and should be

[50:54] the subject of an investigation.

[51:04] Madame Mayor, that's all who has signed

[51:06] up tonight. You ask now if there's

[51:08] anyone else who would like to speak.

[51:09] >> Yeah. Is there anyone else that would

[51:10] » Yeah. Is there anyone else that would

[51:10] like to speak? Okay. Go to podium,

[51:13] please.

[51:22] I wore my uh heels today because the

[51:25] last time I couldn't reach the

[51:26] microphone.

[51:28] So, um, just just wanted to reiterate, I

[51:32] looked at the, uh, Mr. Hollis's

[51:34] contract, and Mr. Hollis, you do a good

[51:37] job as far as I'm concerned, but the

[51:39] contract says two performance reviews

[51:41] will be conducted each year by the town

[51:44] council. Now, I just heard that there's

[51:47] only one being done in November. So, I'm

[51:50] not sure. We have a contract that says

[51:52] he needs to have a review uh twice a

[51:55] year, but um assuming that it's just not

[51:58] done. Um in [sighs] the many many years

[52:03] that um I worked as um an administrator

[52:06] for a hospital,

[52:09] we would always look at previous year's

[52:14] performance appraisals before we did the

[52:16] current year performance appraisals.

[52:18] That gave us an opportunity to review um

[52:22] the goals and objectives of that

[52:25] employee and compare it to what they did

[52:28] and hopefully um provide some

[52:30] information for the next year. So having

[52:34] that information from the previous

[52:36] performance appraisal is extremely

[52:39] important especially for the two newbies

[52:42] who were came in and basically have no

[52:45] background on what Mr. Hollis's

[52:48] performance was previously. So I think

[52:50] it it is extremely important that the

[52:55] newbies have access to the performance

[52:58] appraisals if it's not already done.

[53:02] Thank you.

[53:03] >> Thank you ma'am.

[53:10] » Hello council. I'm Jennifer

[53:12] Brightenbach. I live in Brunswick Forest

[53:14] and I'm just coming up here right now

[53:17] because I think it's important for we

[53:19] the citizens if we have issues to be

[53:22] able to speak out on them. Um and I I've

[53:25] already been preceded by one gentleman

[53:27] who already addressed this issue but it

[53:29] does concern me that um and I've been

[53:32] attending the meetings here for a while

[53:35] um that it was put out um by um Mr.

[53:41] Pendleton that um he had concern he

[53:44] would he would have liked to have seen

[53:46] uh two things concerning um the

[53:50] districts. Um he would like and

[53:52] basically the point was the people

[53:54] should be able to have a say on this and

[53:57] it's kind of concerning to me that

[53:59] because in the past we had two people

[54:03] that voted against the districts and

[54:07] then the mayor also voted. I thought

[54:10] that issue was done, but obviously it

[54:13] wasn't. And then when you brought those

[54:15] things up, Mr. Pendleton, um, Mr. Leland

[54:20] in the past voted with you on that, but

[54:23] then no one voted for that when you

[54:26] brought it up again. And that kind of is

[54:29] giving a confusing message to we the

[54:32] citizens and the taxpayer. Um, it's it's

[54:36] frustrating and concerning. I'd like

[54:38] some clarity on that issue and I do

[54:40] think we should be able to vote on that

[54:42] because it involves us.

[54:44] Thank you.

[54:46] >> Thank you, ma'am. Is there anyone else

[54:48] » Thank you, ma'am. Is there anyone else

[54:48] that would like to speak?

[54:52] » Okay, we'll continue on with the meeting

[54:54] then. Next, we have approval of the

[54:56] consent agenda. Is there anything that

[54:58] anyone wants to take out [snorts] or put

[55:01] in?

[55:05] Mayor and councel, does this have a is

[55:08] anybody got a conflict of disclosure

[55:10] they need to make?

[55:11] >> No, no conflict.

[55:13] » No, no conflict.

[55:13] >> What What you

[55:14] » What What you

[55:14] >> Madam Mayor, what I was going to say, I

[55:16] » Madam Mayor, what I was going to say, I

[55:16] don't want to remove anything from the

[55:17] consent agenda. However, I do want to

[55:20] make a statement that one of the items

[55:21] in there calls for the possession and

[55:24] consumption of the malt beverages and

[55:26] unfortified wine at Founders Park. At

[55:28] the May 21st meeting, I spoke out

[55:30] against this and I just want to go on

[55:32] record again and say that that I don't

[55:35] think that that's in the best interest

[55:37] of our town, but I'm not going to ask

[55:39] that it be removed from the consent

[55:40] agenda.

[55:43] >> Mayor, if I could just um go over the

[55:46] » Mayor, if I could just um go over the

[55:46] items that were on the consent agenda

[55:47] very quickly. Um

[55:49] >> please. Thank you.

[55:50] » please. Thank you.

[55:50] >> We had several um sets of meeting

[55:52] » We had several um sets of meeting

[55:52] minutes um for review. We also had a

[55:56] resolution to accept some grant fund

[55:59] awards

[56:00] and then we did, as Mr. Pendleton

[56:02] mentioned, have a resolution um allowing

[56:05] two additional dates um for some events

[56:09] for the consumption of malt beverages

[56:11] and unfortified wine in Founders Park.

[56:19] All right. Anybody want to make a motion

[56:21] or do you is there anybody else that

[56:23] might have something to add or delete?

[56:28] » Motion to approve the consent agenda as

[56:31] presented.

[56:33] >> Second.

[56:36] [clears throat] Do we have any more

[56:37] discussion?

[56:39] All in favor?

[56:40] >> I.

[56:41] » I.

[56:41] >> Any oppose?

[56:43] » Any oppose?

[56:43] Motion carries.

[56:49] » [snorts]

[56:49] >> Next we have action item property

[56:52] » Next we have action item property

[56:52] exchange.

[56:53] Josh, you handling that? Does anybody

[56:56] have any disclosure they need to make on

[56:59] this?

[56:59] >> No conflict.

[57:00] » No conflict.

[57:00] >> No.

[57:09] » Good evening, mayor and council.

[57:12] >> Good evening. I will be introducing

[57:13] » Good evening. I will be introducing

[57:13] resolution R26-050

[57:17] authorizing the exchange of real

[57:19] property. So there are uh three items

[57:21] that I would like to discuss with you uh

[57:24] specifically as it relates to this

[57:25] resolution. Um one will be the history

[57:28] of this property and how the town became

[57:30] the land owners. Uh the second thing I

[57:33] would like to discuss is some of the

[57:35] conservation efforts that the town uh

[57:37] took as it relates to this property. And

[57:40] then lastly, some of the statutory

[57:42] requirements and procedures as it

[57:45] relates to uh really any town in North

[57:47] Carolina wanting to exchange either real

[57:50] or personal property.

[57:53] And so um in June of 2004, the town

[57:57] became the land owner of parcel ID 030

[58:02] PA803.

[58:05] That property is kind of located back

[58:07] this way off of Village Road. It sits to

[58:10] the east of the veterinary clinic and uh

[58:14] back in 2004 in a case number filed in

[58:17] Brunswick County Superior Court,

[58:19] specifically 04CVS1065.

[58:24] Um this was a condemnation proceeding.

[58:27] This is how the town became the land

[58:28] owner of this piece of property.

[58:31] And so throughout the years, the um

[58:34] conservation efforts of the town um

[58:37] looked at this piece of property as a a

[58:39] potential conservation area. And so um

[58:42] the town of Leland had engaged the

[58:44] University of North Carolina at

[58:46] Wilmington, specifically the department

[58:48] of biology and marine biology through

[58:50] Mr. uh Dr. David Webster. Uh based upon

[58:54] that survey, it was a HEPU fondal

[58:56] survey. I probably will not be able to

[58:58] say that twice. Um, specifically there

[59:01] were there were two animals, one of

[59:02] those being the uh Carolina gopher frog

[59:05] as well as the northern pine snake. And

[59:08] what this survey was to do was to

[59:10] determine whether or not this piece of

[59:12] property would be uh suitable for their

[59:14] habitat such that this property would uh

[59:18] remain in in conservation

[59:20] um as early as um September 2021. and

[59:24] I'm not sure the status now, but the

[59:27] Carolina gopher frog was listed as

[59:29] endangered and the northern pine snake

[59:31] was listed as threatened.

[59:34] Um, however, based on this survey, this

[59:36] site was not suitable as a potential

[59:39] habitat um for those uh for the gopher

[59:42] frog and the pine snake.

[59:44] Um, however, the the town would still

[59:46] like to have a presence in that area for

[59:49] conservation. And so that brings me back

[59:51] to

[59:53] this exchange of property.

[59:56] As you can see here, um there are some

[59:59] dimensions and the next slide will

[1:00:01] actually show the two properties that

[1:00:03] are proposed to be exchanged. Um but I

[1:00:06] just wanted to put this here because it

[1:00:07] does have the uh dimensions and and and

[1:00:11] the feet, if you will. But in turning

[1:00:13] your attention to this next slide,

[1:00:17] the property currently in blue is the

[1:00:19] town of Leland's property. As you can

[1:00:22] see, kind of to the left of that

[1:00:25] um is an easement. And so in blue, it

[1:00:29] does not actually touch village road.

[1:00:32] However, that easement does give access

[1:00:34] to the town if the town needed to take

[1:00:36] any sort of um you know, trimming or

[1:00:38] cutting down of trees and and things of

[1:00:40] that nature. But if you look to um all

[1:00:43] the way to the left, that green strip is

[1:00:45] the proposed exchange of property. Um

[1:00:48] and what that would do is that would

[1:00:50] certainly allow the town to continue to

[1:00:53] maintain a presence in that area for any

[1:00:55] sort of potential conservation efforts.

[1:00:58] Um or you know really anything that the

[1:01:00] town would uh desire in the future.

[1:01:03] And so,

[1:01:05] uh, the other property that the town is,

[1:01:07] um, looking at the exchange of property

[1:01:10] on would be parcel ID 030

[1:01:13] PA8

[1:01:16] that is owned by GR508

[1:01:18] Enterprise LLC.

[1:01:21] Uh, in speaking to some of the statutory

[1:01:23] requirements and the procedures, um,

[1:01:25] again, as I mentioned, that relates to

[1:01:27] any sort of town that wants to exchange

[1:01:29] property. Uh the controlling statute is

[1:01:32] North Carolina General Statute 168A-271

[1:01:36] and there are uh three items that are

[1:01:39] required in order for a town to consider

[1:01:41] exchanging the property. One of those is

[1:01:44] there has to be a description. The

[1:01:46] property has to be described and so uh

[1:01:50] specifically when I mentioned the parcel

[1:01:51] ID as as well as the owners u that would

[1:01:54] meet the description requirement. Uh the

[1:01:57] second thing would be what is the value

[1:01:59] of this property? Uh what is the

[1:02:01] consideration? And so there was a North

[1:02:04] Carolina state certified general real

[1:02:06] estate appraiser by the name of Samuel

[1:02:08] Pate. Uh appraisal number A-7281.

[1:02:13] Um appraisals were conducted on each of

[1:02:16] these properties and they were both

[1:02:17] determined to have an approximate value

[1:02:19] of 177,000.

[1:02:22] So the exchange uh would in fact be an

[1:02:25] identical valuetovalue exchange.

[1:02:28] And the third thing that is contemplated

[1:02:30] and required by the statute is uh the

[1:02:33] intent of council to consider this

[1:02:36] resolution to exchange this property and

[1:02:39] that has to take place by at least a 10

[1:02:41] days notice. And so if you recall um

[1:02:45] last month at the council meeting, I had

[1:02:47] introduced this topic to you and um we

[1:02:50] elicited the services of our town clerk

[1:02:52] who made this posting uh this public

[1:02:54] notice specifically in the Star News on

[1:02:57] June 29th of 2026 and again uh on July

[1:03:02] the 6th of 2026.

[1:03:04] Um, but on top of that, we also posted

[1:03:07] on the town of Leland's website just

[1:03:09] for, you know, further public notice

[1:03:11] purposes.

[1:03:13] And so the requirements for you all

[1:03:14] tonight to consider this exchange of

[1:03:16] property is for one, has the statutory

[1:03:18] requirements been met. Um, and as I've

[1:03:20] just previously mentioned, they have. So

[1:03:23] at this time, um, it would certainly be

[1:03:25] your, um, determination as to, uh,

[1:03:29] whether or not this property needs to be

[1:03:31] exchanged. And the recommendation of

[1:03:33] staff is that um certainly the statutory

[1:03:35] requirements have been been met and for

[1:03:37] you all to consider this exchange of

[1:03:39] property. Any questions?

[1:03:44] » Oh, Frank,

[1:03:46] >> could you go back to the map if you

[1:03:48] » could you go back to the map if you

[1:03:48] would please?

[1:03:49] >> Yes, sir. That one?

[1:03:51] » Yes, sir. That one?

[1:03:51] >> Yes.

[1:03:51] » Yes.

[1:03:51] >> Okay. So, for clarification, and we've

[1:03:54] » Okay. So, for clarification, and we've

[1:03:54] discussed this before, the town owns the

[1:03:56] property in blue and and it's proposed

[1:04:00] that we exchange it straight up for the

[1:04:02] property in green.

[1:04:03] >> Yes, sir.

[1:04:04] » Yes, sir.

[1:04:04] >> Now, the person that owns the property

[1:04:07] » Now, the person that owns the property

[1:04:07] in green now, is that also the same

[1:04:10] person that owns track A?

[1:04:12] >> That's correct.

[1:04:13] » That's correct.

[1:04:14] >> Okay. And they also own track C down at

[1:04:17] » Okay. And they also own track C down at

[1:04:17] the bottom.

[1:04:17] >> Yes, sir. I believe kind of those two

[1:04:19] » Yes, sir. I believe kind of those two

[1:04:19] other squares.

[1:04:20] >> Yes, sir. Okay. So, assuming that this

[1:04:24] » Yes, sir. Okay. So, assuming that this

[1:04:24] happens,

[1:04:26] what's the proposed value of track A?

[1:04:30] How much do you anticipate that track A

[1:04:32] will increase in value?

[1:04:35] >> Uh, I am not an appraiser, sir. I

[1:04:37] » Uh, I am not an appraiser, sir. I

[1:04:37] wouldn't even attempt to give an

[1:04:38] appraised value for that, but I would

[1:04:40] certainly agree that it would be

[1:04:42] substantially higher.

[1:04:43] >> It's safe to assume that that property

[1:04:45] » It's safe to assume that that property

[1:04:45] would be substantially higher because

[1:04:47] now they have that missing piece. Is

[1:04:48] that a fair statement?

[1:04:54] Then why does this benefit the town?

[1:04:56] We're going to get a piece of property

[1:04:58] that's 220t long by 41 ft that is

[1:05:02] absolutely not usable. So it would seem

[1:05:05] that we are in a position of strength

[1:05:07] from a negotiating standpoint. So why

[1:05:10] would we why would we simply offer this

[1:05:12] up straight up? Why wouldn't we ask for

[1:05:15] either cash considerations or track C in

[1:05:18] exchange? Well, I would say at least

[1:05:21] based on the chapter 168-271 as exchange

[1:05:25] of property, it has to meet those three

[1:05:27] requirements. But, you know, to your

[1:05:29] point as to the benefit of the town, um,

[1:05:31] you know, respectfully, that that would

[1:05:33] be for council's consideration.

[1:05:37] » And last question, do do you have any

[1:05:39] idea what the the person that owns track

[1:05:41] A, if they assume ownership of the area

[1:05:44] in blue, what they intend to do with

[1:05:45] that parcel? I've not spoken as to that

[1:05:49] individual as far as what their future

[1:05:50] plans are. Um but it could be could be

[1:05:54] development, it could be conservation,

[1:05:56] it could be anything that you know they

[1:05:58] wish to do. Certainly there's no

[1:05:59] limitations on it, but I do not know

[1:06:01] sir.

[1:06:01] >> Certainly he could he could build multif

[1:06:03] » Certainly he could he could build multif

[1:06:03] family homes, he could build apartments,

[1:06:06] he could build

[1:06:08] virtually whatever he wants or he could

[1:06:10] leave it undeveloped.

[1:06:11] >> Yes, sir.

[1:06:18] Well, I I kind of like it because of the

[1:06:20] people that live on that street backing

[1:06:22] up to that. It gives them a a a

[1:06:28] >> buffer.

[1:06:28] » buffer.

[1:06:28] >> A buffer. Thank you. Um between them and

[1:06:32] » A buffer. Thank you. Um between them and

[1:06:32] a business

[1:06:34] that uh they didn't want the business to

[1:06:37] be expanded years ago because of that.

[1:06:40] So I I think they would be more in favor

[1:06:42] of this than what they than having it

[1:06:46] the way it is. So I I think it's a good

[1:06:49] thing

[1:06:52] and and it's going to be con

[1:06:54] conservation area. So we need more as

[1:06:57] much of that as we can get in the area.

[1:07:01] If I may, uh, my recollection is the

[1:07:05] folks on Woodland Drive approached

[1:07:08] council

[1:07:09] a couple years ago, I guess, something

[1:07:11] like that. And they were concerned about

[1:07:14] um that land behind their properties

[1:07:18] developing and taking away.

[1:07:20] >> That's right. uh some some areas that uh

[1:07:25] » That's right. uh some some areas that uh

[1:07:25] uh

[1:07:27] that they valued for privacy and

[1:07:30] wildlife and and so on if I my memory

[1:07:32] serves me correctly. So, uh, with this

[1:07:36] exchange that that piece of property

[1:07:38] does now, uh, establish a a a buffer

[1:07:45] that allows those people their privacy

[1:07:47] and, uh, so it's not a,

[1:07:51] does it benefit the whole town? I don't

[1:07:54] know. doesn't [clears throat] benefit me

[1:07:55] and M and Magnary Greens, but uh it does

[1:08:00] benefit

[1:08:02] some some citizens of the town who like

[1:08:05] me pay taxes, too. So,

[1:08:08] I think it's uh you know, we're not

[1:08:11] going to make everybody happy. we can

[1:08:13] try to take care of where we see a

[1:08:17] possible uh

[1:08:20] issue and and help those people

[1:08:26] address their concerns.

[1:08:28] >> Being blue is kind of weird looking

[1:08:31] » Being blue is kind of weird looking

[1:08:31] the the border lines.

[1:08:34] [snorts]

[1:08:35] >> Anyone else got anything to say?

[1:08:38] » Anyone else got anything to say?

[1:08:38] Madame Mayor, was there intent from the

[1:08:40] owner of the property in Green to build

[1:08:42] on that property or was he going to keep

[1:08:44] it somewhat as a an easement?

[1:08:47] >> I can't remember all the details, but I

[1:08:49] » I can't remember all the details, but I

[1:08:49] know that the people were very much

[1:08:50] against it because there was no buffers

[1:08:52] required, no nothing at that time.

[1:08:57] » Regardless, even if he builds on on

[1:08:59] tract A, there'd have to be setbacks.

[1:09:02] Isn't that correct?

[1:09:04] >> There's going to be setbacks on

[1:09:06] » There's going to be setbacks on

[1:09:06] anything.

[1:09:08] Madame Mayor, Mr. Hall, if I understand

[1:09:11] correctly, just want to ask there is no,

[1:09:15] excuse me, there is no access to our

[1:09:18] current property from Village Road

[1:09:20] except through the easement. Is that

[1:09:21] correct?

[1:09:22] >> That is correct. As you can see that in

[1:09:24] » That is correct. As you can see that in

[1:09:24] blue, it does not actually touch. Um,

[1:09:27] however, that easement does allow the

[1:09:29] town the right to access that property.

[1:09:32] >> Certainly. And after the exchange as

[1:09:34] » Certainly. And after the exchange as

[1:09:34] proposed, there is um there is access

[1:09:38] from village road to the area on the

[1:09:40] green. Is that correct?

[1:09:42] >> Yes, sir. That's correct.

[1:09:46] » How much did we pay for the area in

[1:09:48] blue?

[1:09:50] It was uh um

[1:09:53] a settlement between um a consent order

[1:09:57] I believe that was filed in Brunswick,

[1:09:58] but I believe the town at that point had

[1:10:01] uh deposited I think $40,000 for that

[1:10:04] proceeding

[1:10:05] >> just for the proceeding the

[1:10:07] » just for the proceeding the

[1:10:07] >> not the proceeding it went to the um to

[1:10:11] » not the proceeding it went to the um to

[1:10:11] the owner of the property at the time

[1:10:12] that was subject to those

[1:10:13] >> that was the fair market value at the

[1:10:15] » that was the fair market value at the

[1:10:15] time through the condemnation process.

[1:10:17] >> Correct. So about $40,000 and the um

[1:10:22] » Correct. So about $40,000 and the um

[1:10:22] fair market value of both properties now

[1:10:26] is what?

[1:10:28] >> Exactly 177,000.

[1:10:31] » Exactly 177,000.

[1:10:31] >> So theoretically this would be a um

[1:10:35] » So theoretically this would be a um

[1:10:35] profit of about $130,000

[1:10:40] if you looked at it that way.

[1:10:42] >> It

[1:10:44] » It

[1:10:44] it's more of an exchange of property.

[1:10:46] Yeah, it is. I see where you're

[1:10:48] >> Yeah. In other words, we didn't pay fair

[1:10:50] » Yeah. In other words, we didn't pay fair

[1:10:50] market. We we kind of sort of did, but

[1:10:53] we got a piece of property through

[1:10:54] condomination.

[1:10:55] >> That's correct. And and at that time, um

[1:10:57] » That's correct. And and at that time, um

[1:10:58] again, like I said, this was part of

[1:10:59] imminent domain proceedings. So, the

[1:11:01] intent of that property at that time was

[1:11:03] for

[1:11:04] >> um uh wastewater wetlands um

[1:11:10] » um uh wastewater wetlands um

[1:11:10] >> mediation, if you will,

[1:11:11] » mediation, if you will,

[1:11:11] >> more more conservation and remediation

[1:11:13] » more more conservation and remediation

[1:11:14] for wetlands

[1:11:14] >> at that time. That's correct.

[1:11:20] » How wet is the area? Do we know?

[1:11:23] >> I don't believe I don't believe it's

[1:11:26] » I don't believe I don't believe it's

[1:11:26] wet.

[1:11:27] >> That's years ago

[1:11:28] » That's years ago

[1:11:28] >> because I know at one point they were

[1:11:29] » because I know at one point they were

[1:11:30] looking for frogs and other amphibians.

[1:11:34] >> That study that I mentioned, it just was

[1:11:36] » That study that I mentioned, it just was

[1:11:36] not a suitable habitat for those.

[1:11:40] » Okay, Frank, do you have something else?

[1:11:42] I was going to say if we if we develop

[1:11:44] the the property in green or blue is

[1:11:48] when we would see the capital gain, but

[1:11:49] at this point if we don't plan the build

[1:11:52] owner to do anything, then you really

[1:11:54] don't see a gain.

[1:11:57] So, I think that that the town of Leland

[1:12:00] was operating from a position of

[1:12:02] strength. We should have asked for more

[1:12:04] than simply a non-usable piece of land

[1:12:07] because we're going to give that land

[1:12:08] owner the missing piece to the puzzle

[1:12:11] that's going to allow him to develop

[1:12:13] track A

[1:12:15] and it's not going to benefit the town

[1:12:17] of Leland.

[1:12:18] >> Mr. Pendleton, I beg to disagree. In

[1:12:20] » Mr. Pendleton, I beg to disagree. In

[1:12:20] fact, I would say that the commercial

[1:12:22] viability would be tied directly to the

[1:12:24] access from Village Road. At present, we

[1:12:26] have no access from Village Road.

[1:12:29] >> That's what an easement's for.

[1:12:31] » That's what an easement's for.

[1:12:31] >> Yes, sir. However, we don't we don't um

[1:12:36] » Yes, sir. However, we don't we don't um

[1:12:36] that is that is just that an easement.

[1:12:39] An

[1:12:39] >> easement is is a right of way to allow

[1:12:42] » easement is is a right of way to allow

[1:12:42] you to access the property. If we didn't

[1:12:44] have an easement, it'd be different, but

[1:12:46] we do. It's a jointly shared easement.

[1:12:48] >> Jointly shared and our ability to

[1:12:51] » Jointly shared and our ability to

[1:12:51] improve it is reduced.

[1:12:52] >> Just like Compass Point had a jointly

[1:12:55] » Just like Compass Point had a jointly

[1:12:55] shared easement to enter in on the east

[1:12:56] side.

[1:12:57] >> Yes, we do.

[1:12:58] » Yes, we do.

[1:12:58] >> So, we we've got access to this

[1:12:59] » So, we we've got access to this

[1:12:59] property. My point is while there

[1:13:02] there's a a certain value conveniently

[1:13:05] at 177,000 appraised for each property

[1:13:08] once this transaction is completed and

[1:13:11] that land owner acquires the parcel in

[1:13:13] blue track A plus the blue parcel will

[1:13:17] cause it to go up in value

[1:13:19] substantially.

[1:13:20] >> Yes. Which we will then tax.

[1:13:22] » Yes. Which we will then tax.

[1:13:22] >> That's right. So unless we can unless we

[1:13:25] » That's right. So unless we can unless we

[1:13:25] can guarantee the taxpayers that we're

[1:13:27] not going to increase taxes in the next

[1:13:29] budget, I don't see where it benefits

[1:13:31] the taxpayers. I think what we should

[1:13:33] have done is asked for a track C in

[1:13:36] addition to the green piece. At least we

[1:13:38] would had a usable parcel on Village

[1:13:40] Road that we could have used.

[1:13:42] >> We don't know if that was available in

[1:13:44] » We don't know if that was available in

[1:13:44] the negotiation.

[1:13:46] >> Did you say no?

[1:13:49] » Did you say no?

[1:13:49] >> Because he came to us apparently. We

[1:13:51] » Because he came to us apparently. We

[1:13:51] didn't go to him. Actually,

[1:13:55] what you just said um causes me to beg

[1:13:58] to differ with you because um right now

[1:14:02] its taxable use is limited because of

[1:14:04] the oddly shaped piece of Leland land

[1:14:07] that's in the middle of it. Um if we

[1:14:09] exchange the property and he now has a

[1:14:12] much more usable piece of land that will

[1:14:14] be developed into something um then the

[1:14:18] taxable property tax that the town would

[1:14:21] receive from whatever it is that he

[1:14:23] plans to build on it would be

[1:14:25] substantially more than what we're

[1:14:27] taxing him for now.

[1:14:30] >> We don't we don't know what that is.

[1:14:31] » We don't we don't know what that is.

[1:14:31] It's it's the the infamous marketing and

[1:14:34] magic uh wand of future economic uh

[1:14:40] viabilities and all that. And I'm not an

[1:14:41] economist and I'm not a realtor and I'm

[1:14:44] not going to look at fair market versus

[1:14:45] future market values. So at this point

[1:14:49] um I don't see any real use for us as a

[1:14:53] town that we're getting out of this

[1:14:54] piece of property right now. Um, at

[1:14:56] least we will give the neighbors on um,

[1:15:00] Woodland a buffer between whatever goes

[1:15:04] there and eventually we'll get some sort

[1:15:06] of property tax uh, benefit from a piece

[1:15:10] of property that now has kind of this

[1:15:12] weird I'm trying to figure out what the

[1:15:14] heck I could call that. It's not really

[1:15:15] like almost a half funnel or something

[1:15:17] shaped property that's smack in the

[1:15:18] middle of this other track. But that's

[1:15:22] just my two cents.

[1:15:25] Okay. Any more?

[1:15:28] All right. Does anybody have a motion

[1:15:30] they want to make?

[1:15:33] » Motion to adopt resolution R26-050

[1:15:39] authorizing the exchange of real

[1:15:40] property.

[1:15:42] >> Second.

[1:15:44] » Second.

[1:15:44] >> Any discussion?

[1:15:47] » Any discussion?

[1:15:47] All in favor?

[1:15:48] >> I.

[1:15:49] » I.

[1:15:49] >> Any oppose?

[1:15:50] » Any oppose?

[1:15:50] >> Nay.

[1:15:51] » Nay.

[1:15:51] >> Motion carries.

[1:15:54] » Motion carries.

[1:15:54] We go down into older new business

[1:15:58] staff reports are on your iPads.

[1:16:01] Mayor, if I could, I just wanted to give

[1:16:03] a couple of highlights from the reports.

[1:16:06] >> Okay. Um I have from our communications

[1:16:09] » Okay. Um I have from our communications

[1:16:09] team we had in June our Facebook views

[1:16:14] increased 144% from the prior month and

[1:16:18] our June Instagram views increased 527%

[1:16:22] from the prior month. So something to be

[1:16:25] excited about more people are viewing

[1:16:27] our posts. So

[1:16:29] also want to note that our budget manual

[1:16:31] for fiscal year 2627 was published on

[1:16:34] the website. So feel free to go online

[1:16:37] and look through that. It's um under our

[1:16:40] finance department section of the

[1:16:42] website.

[1:16:43] Uh we also had some data that was

[1:16:46] provided by staff in our from the human

[1:16:49] human resources department. They had

[1:16:51] analyzed some data from January through

[1:16:54] June of the prior four years um and came

[1:16:59] out with some some good data for u the

[1:17:02] organization. our turnover has declined

[1:17:05] from 10.3%

[1:17:08] um to 5.7% as of the end of the second

[1:17:11] quarter of 2026. Um and also our average

[1:17:15] employee tenure has increased from 3.7

[1:17:17] years to 4.4 years over that same time

[1:17:20] period. So

[1:17:22] >> thank you Missy.

[1:17:23] » thank you Missy.

[1:17:23] >> You're welcome. Anybody have any

[1:17:25] » You're welcome. Anybody have any

[1:17:26] questions on that for Missy?

[1:17:29] All right.

[1:17:32] So, next we go on to

[1:17:36] council comments. Um,

[1:17:45] » Mr. Leland.

[1:17:46] >> Yes, ma'am.

[1:17:47] » Yes, ma'am.

[1:17:47] >> State health.

[1:17:49] » State health.

[1:17:49] >> Yes, ma'am. Um, good evening. This

[1:17:52] » Yes, ma'am. Um, good evening. This

[1:17:52] morning, my wife and I had the

[1:17:53] opportunity to attend the Greater

[1:17:55] Wilmington Chamber of Commerce's

[1:17:56] healthcare power breakfast where leaders

[1:17:58] from healthc care, higher education,

[1:18:00] business, and local government came

[1:18:01] together to discuss the future of

[1:18:03] healthcare in southeastern North

[1:18:04] Carolina. And certainly, while I fully

[1:18:07] understand that members of the town

[1:18:08] council do not establish healthcare

[1:18:10] policy, I think we have an important

[1:18:11] responsibility to advocate for quality

[1:18:13] health care services for the residents

[1:18:15] who we represent. healthcare access,

[1:18:18] preventative care, and strong regional

[1:18:19] partnerships directly impact the quality

[1:18:21] of life for the people we serve. And I

[1:18:24] believe these are issues worthy of our

[1:18:26] attention and support. This evening, I'd

[1:18:28] like to highlight several key points

[1:18:30] from the discussion because I believe

[1:18:31] they underscore the importance of

[1:18:33] advocating for accessible, highquality

[1:18:35] healthcare for residents of Brunswick

[1:18:37] County and Leland. One thing did become

[1:18:39] abundantly clear to those of us in

[1:18:41] attendance. Our region is at a pivotal

[1:18:43] moment in our healthc care history.

[1:18:45] Southeastern North Carolina is one of

[1:18:46] the fastest growing areas in the state

[1:18:48] and with that growth comes increasing

[1:18:49] demand for physicians, nurses,

[1:18:51] hospitals, specialty care, mental health

[1:18:53] services, and healthcare infrastructure.

[1:18:55] The challenge before us is not simply

[1:18:57] keeping pace with today's growth, but

[1:18:59] planning for where our region will need

[1:19:01] to be 10 and 20 years from now. One of

[1:19:04] the primary topics discussed was the

[1:19:06] state certificate of need process, also

[1:19:09] known as CO, and the need for additional

[1:19:12] hospital capacity. At present, New Hover

[1:19:14] County has been identified and has

[1:19:16] approve been approved for 225 new acute

[1:19:20] care beds to meet future demand. Three

[1:19:22] major health care systems have submitted

[1:19:24] proposals. A brief review of those. UNCC

[1:19:27] Health has proposed constructing a new

[1:19:30] 150 bed acute care hospital while

[1:19:32] expanding outpatient services and

[1:19:34] primary care throughout the region.

[1:19:37] Atrian Health has proposed of building a

[1:19:39] new community hospital in northern New

[1:19:41] Hover County that would begin with 42

[1:19:43] beds and grow as the community continues

[1:19:46] to expand. Novant Health has proposed

[1:19:48] expanding its regional medical center

[1:19:51] through a $1.6 billion investment that

[1:19:54] includes a new heart and vascular tower,

[1:19:56] expanded surgical services, a larger

[1:19:58] rehabilitation hospital, and additional

[1:20:00] outpatient facilities. One statement

[1:20:03] that I think was especially was

[1:20:05] especially important for those of us

[1:20:07] came from Lori Whan, president of Novant

[1:20:10] Health Wilmington. When asked about

[1:20:12] their plans for serving Brunswick County

[1:20:14] residents, she stated that 50%

[1:20:18] of their current patients travel to

[1:20:20] Wilmington from Brunswick County for

[1:20:23] care. Again, Novon is telling us that

[1:20:27] 50%

[1:20:28] of their current patient load are people

[1:20:31] from this county and perhaps this

[1:20:33] community as well. While each proposal

[1:20:35] is different, every organization agreed

[1:20:37] on one important point. The health care

[1:20:39] needs of our region are growing rapidly

[1:20:41] and additional capacity will be

[1:20:43] necessary for many years to come.

[1:20:45] Perhaps the most exciting announcement

[1:20:48] involved education. UNCW continues to

[1:20:51] move forward with plans to establish

[1:20:53] North Carolina's first new public

[1:20:54] medical school in more than 50 years.

[1:20:57] The goal is to educate physicians here

[1:20:59] in southeastern North Carolina with a

[1:21:01] particular emphasis on primary care and

[1:21:03] serving rural communities.

[1:21:06] In that same spirit of promoting

[1:21:08] community health, I am working with a

[1:21:10] team from Novant Health to bring a World

[1:21:12] Stroke Day event to Leland this year.

[1:21:14] Our goal is to provide residents with

[1:21:16] stroke prevention education and

[1:21:17] convenient screenings for several major

[1:21:19] risk factors including corateed artery

[1:21:21] plaque buildup and other vascular

[1:21:23] conditions. By bringing these resources

[1:21:25] directly to our community, we can

[1:21:27] encourage early detection, increase

[1:21:29] awareness, and help our residents live

[1:21:31] longer, happier lives. As someone who

[1:21:33] serves this community, I left today's

[1:21:35] breakfast very encouraged. I saw healthc

[1:21:37] care competitors sitting together on one

[1:21:39] stage discussing how they can better

[1:21:40] serve our region. I saw educators

[1:21:44] I saw educators, business leaders, and

[1:21:46] government officials working

[1:21:47] collaboratively to address work

[1:21:49] workforce shortages before they become

[1:21:51] crises. And I saw a shared commitment to

[1:21:53] ensuring that southeastern North

[1:21:55] Carolina continues to be a place where

[1:21:57] families can receive outstanding health

[1:21:59] care close to home. The challenges are

[1:22:01] significant, but so are the

[1:22:02] opportunities. Thank you.

[1:22:03] >> Wow.

[1:22:08] » Okay. And then next you had

[1:22:11] >> uh you had 94, but I'd be happy to go

[1:22:14] » uh you had 94, but I'd be happy to go

[1:22:14] on. Um I I wanted to just uh clarify

[1:22:17] >> I'll wait and do mine after you finish.

[1:22:19] » I'll wait and do mine after you finish.

[1:22:19] >> Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. I just wanted to

[1:22:21] » Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. I just wanted to

[1:22:21] to bring up the issue of Citizens

[1:22:23] Academy again. As you guys know, we

[1:22:25] discussed it during our agenda meeting.

[1:22:26] We've been talking about this for some

[1:22:28] time, and I just want to make sure that

[1:22:29] we're all on the same page about what

[1:22:31] our expectation would be from staff at

[1:22:33] our August meeting. Um we have discussed

[1:22:36] a um a proposed agenda and curriculum.

[1:22:40] We did not discuss proposed meeting

[1:22:42] dates. Uh which staff would be I guess

[1:22:45] it would be operated through the clerk's

[1:22:46] office. But what my question tonight is,

[1:22:49] would it be possible for us to to begin

[1:22:52] uh after this meeting to poll town

[1:22:54] council members for possible interview

[1:22:56] dates in September with start dates for

[1:22:58] participants in September 20 with a

[1:23:01] possible start date between September

[1:23:03] 21st and September 30th. Um I know that

[1:23:07] I know how hard the clerk's office works

[1:23:09] and I

[1:23:09] >> I'm not sure if that date would work or

[1:23:12] » I'm not sure if that date would work or

[1:23:12] not. I really am going to need a little

[1:23:13] bit more time. I understand. If not

[1:23:16] those dates, could you give We We've

[1:23:18] been discussing and kicking this can

[1:23:19] down the road for several months. I just

[1:23:21] would like to ask what it might be

[1:23:23] reasonable for us to expect from you um

[1:23:26] in the next 30, 60, and 90 days on that.

[1:23:29] >> Okay. Well, staff can work on providing

[1:23:32] » Okay. Well, staff can work on providing

[1:23:32] you with an update at the August agenda

[1:23:35] meeting and we can talk a little bit

[1:23:37] more then about the timeline,

[1:23:42] » with the possible start date of when.

[1:23:45] [clears throat]

[1:23:49] Well, we want to talk first about the

[1:23:52] program and how we're going to lay it

[1:23:53] out and that's what we would like to

[1:23:56] bring forward to you first and then from

[1:23:59] there we can go ahead and schedule when

[1:24:02] we would started.

[1:24:03] >> Is it possible to do that on August the

[1:24:05] » Is it possible to do that on August the

[1:24:05] 20th at our next regular business at our

[1:24:07] next regular meeting

[1:24:10] >> to talk about the timeline

[1:24:12] » to talk about the timeline

[1:24:12] >> vision for vision for the project in

[1:24:14] » vision for vision for the project in

[1:24:14] general? Yes, ma'am.

[1:24:15] >> Yes.

[1:24:16] » Yes.

[1:24:16] >> Okay.

[1:24:20] Um, one other thing we talked about, um,

[1:24:23] Mr. Hollis, I know we talked about the

[1:24:24] beautifification of the 7476 corridor

[1:24:28] and and Highway 17. It seems like

[1:24:30] several months since we've um brought

[1:24:33] that up in in a regular meeting. What

[1:24:36] would be reasonable for us to um

[1:24:39] discuss? Are you are you looking for

[1:24:40] more input from us? Where are we on

[1:24:42] that?

[1:24:42] >> No. So, we've had some conversations

[1:24:44] » No. So, we've had some conversations

[1:24:44] with the

[1:24:45] >> agenda. Okay. I'm I'm sorry. I

[1:24:50] » agenda. Okay. I'm I'm sorry. I

[1:24:50] >> Yeah, Madam Mayor, I think we're

[1:24:51] » Yeah, Madam Mayor, I think we're

[1:24:51] >> allow it though because it's

[1:24:53] » allow it though because it's

[1:24:53] >> Madame Mayor, I think there was an item

[1:24:54] » Madame Mayor, I think there was an item

[1:24:54] 9.4 that was your item, the shell,

[1:24:59] >> and I told him to go ahead with his

[1:25:01] » and I told him to go ahead with his

[1:25:01] because he had his list,

[1:25:04] but that's okay. We'll we'll get it all

[1:25:06] straight.

[1:25:06] >> Thank you. [clears throat]

[1:25:08] » Thank you. [clears throat]

[1:25:08] >> All right.

[1:25:10] » All right.

[1:25:10] So, my

[1:25:10] >> I'm sorry. Can we Is it possible for us

[1:25:12] » I'm sorry. Can we Is it possible for us

[1:25:12] to discuss that or hear what Mr. Holl

[1:25:14] was going to tell us about that.

[1:25:16] >> Yeah, I'll allow it.

[1:25:19] » Yeah, I'll allow it.

[1:25:19] >> Yeah. So, we have some we've had some

[1:25:20] » Yeah. So, we have some we've had some

[1:25:20] conversations with the NC DOT. They have

[1:25:23] looked at several locations around the

[1:25:25] town for potential wildflower locations

[1:25:29] and and things of that sort. there are

[1:25:31] very limited uh areas that the DOT is

[1:25:34] willing to uh consider for that and our

[1:25:38] public works staff is working with them

[1:25:39] to see if they can u move forward with

[1:25:42] some of those locations to determine if

[1:25:44] they would be acceptable or not. So

[1:25:47] that's kind of where we are with that

[1:25:48] process right now.

[1:25:49] >> Okay. When would it be reasonable for us

[1:25:51] » Okay. When would it be reasonable for us

[1:25:51] to hear from you again?

[1:25:52] >> Yeah. So next month we'll we'll be able

[1:25:54] » Yeah. So next month we'll we'll be able

[1:25:54] to do that. Um, and an overall

[1:25:57] beautifification plan was one of the

[1:25:59] items that council had asked us about.

[1:26:02] That's an item that we're engaged in,

[1:26:05] but that's going to not be an item for

[1:26:07] next month. That's something that's

[1:26:08] going to take a little more time.

[1:26:09] >> Okay. When we initially talked about

[1:26:11] » Okay. When we initially talked about

[1:26:11] that, you asked me what I wanted to see.

[1:26:13] At that time, I really um did not have a

[1:26:16] vision for that. I kind of do now. And

[1:26:18] so perhaps outside of a meeting, you and

[1:26:20] I could talk about some ideas that um

[1:26:24] that that could be implemented through

[1:26:26] through such a

[1:26:27] >> certainly welcome to hear any ideas uh

[1:26:30] » certainly welcome to hear any ideas uh

[1:26:30] anything of that sort when we bring it

[1:26:32] back. We'll bring it back for the full

[1:26:33] council to consider.

[1:26:34] >> Yes, sir. I don't know if they still do

[1:26:36] » Yes, sir. I don't know if they still do

[1:26:36] it or not, but um I know years ago DOT

[1:26:41] if you ordered your license plates with

[1:26:43] something personal on it,

[1:26:46] the money for that personalized plate

[1:26:48] went towards beautifying the roads. Um

[1:26:53] I don't know if they still do that or

[1:26:54] not, but it might be something to check

[1:26:56] into and encourage people to get

[1:26:58] impersonal

[1:26:59] license plates.

[1:27:01] So, all right. I had on their Shell

[1:27:04] Bank. Shell Bank's a small community

[1:27:07] over in the Westgate area. Um, a few

[1:27:11] years ago, they came to us wanting us to

[1:27:13] set the roads, but um the there was some

[1:27:18] work that needed to be done. The

[1:27:19] developer never turned them over to us.

[1:27:22] And then he changed something in the

[1:27:25] deed or something with where the

[1:27:27] apartments's being built behind this

[1:27:30] neighborhood could use the roads.

[1:27:34] And anyway, they they they feel like

[1:27:37] it's hopeless. They don't have the money

[1:27:39] to make the changes we want on that one

[1:27:41] road. So they asked, could the other

[1:27:44] street be taken in by the town?

[1:27:48] It's it's two it's two streets and then

[1:27:52] the the street kind of behind them is

[1:27:54] not really a street. It's just a

[1:27:56] drive-thru.

[1:27:58] And uh so they asked, "Can we get the

[1:28:00] one road done while they're trying to

[1:28:03] find a way to do the other road to fix

[1:28:07] the things to make the so the town will

[1:28:08] take them?"

[1:28:11] [clears throat]

[1:28:13] Madame Mayor, we would encourage the

[1:28:14] HOA, I assume that's who it is, who uh

[1:28:18] would like to have that road considered

[1:28:21] to contact staff. There is a process for

[1:28:23] road dedication. Uh we would, you know,

[1:28:26] look at that and go through that process

[1:28:28] inspection and everything else that goes

[1:28:29] along with it

[1:28:30] >> uh and see if it would qualify uh for a

[1:28:34] » uh and see if it would qualify uh for a

[1:28:34] dedication.

[1:28:35] >> Okay.

[1:28:36] » Okay.

[1:28:36] >> Is this in regard to the email that we

[1:28:38] » Is this in regard to the email that we

[1:28:38] received from the constituent who

[1:28:39] >> No.

[1:28:40] » No.

[1:28:40] >> Okay. This this is a little small

[1:28:43] » Okay. This this is a little small

[1:28:43] neighborhood. Very small.

[1:28:44] >> Okay.

[1:28:45] » Okay.

[1:28:45] >> I think there's like u 40 40 little

[1:28:49] » I think there's like u 40 40 little

[1:28:49] patio homes or town homes. Okay. Thank

[1:28:53] you. Um Mr. Cogginage, you got anything

[1:28:56] you want to add tonight?

[1:28:59] >> I think this might be the first time in

[1:29:00] » I think this might be the first time in

[1:29:00] my tenure as your uh attorney uh to take

[1:29:05] some time to tell you of a extremely

[1:29:07] important legislative development. Okay,

[1:29:10] >> that took place a week ago Tuesday.

[1:29:14] » that took place a week ago Tuesday.

[1:29:14] The legislature passed an amendment to

[1:29:17] uh chapter 160D, which is the statute

[1:29:20] that governs land development decisions

[1:29:23] uh by all municipalities.

[1:29:26] It directly affects the functions of the

[1:29:29] board of adjustment and as well as

[1:29:32] generally planning staff. You may recall

[1:29:35] from uh your uh if you would uh go to

[1:29:39] school uh instructions about how boards

[1:29:43] of judgments are organized. What things

[1:29:46] do they decide? They decide primarily

[1:29:48] variances

[1:29:50] and appeals from certain decisions that

[1:29:54] the town makes regarding land

[1:29:56] development.

[1:29:59] Under the prior statutory

[1:30:02] scheme and is held up by case law, if

[1:30:06] you were a person that disagreed with

[1:30:09] what the town decided on a particular

[1:30:11] matter,

[1:30:13] you had to file an appeal to the board

[1:30:17] of adjustment.

[1:30:18] You could not go directly to court. You

[1:30:21] had to first file the appeal to the

[1:30:23] board of adjustment within 30 days of

[1:30:25] the written decision.

[1:30:27] And then if you didn't like the outcome

[1:30:29] of that, you uh appealed then directly

[1:30:32] for judicial review. Okay, that's

[1:30:35] complicated enough as it is, but that

[1:30:38] particular scheme has been turned on its

[1:30:40] head. uh the legislature uh in these

[1:30:42] amendments as I read them is that then

[1:30:45] someone who is for lack of a better word

[1:30:47] dissatisfied

[1:30:49] with the decision that the town has

[1:30:51] made. Yes, they can still go to the

[1:30:53] board of adjustment if they want to, but

[1:30:57] if they want to, they can also file a

[1:31:00] lawsuit against the town.

[1:31:04] And they have three years to do it

[1:31:08] without having to go through the

[1:31:10] administrative appeal process to the

[1:31:12] board of adjustment.

[1:31:14] This is a real sea change in procedure

[1:31:18] and uh municipalities all across the

[1:31:21] state including this one are going to

[1:31:23] have to do some serious internal u

[1:31:26] discussions about how that affects our

[1:31:29] procedures, how we weigh our respective

[1:31:32] uh risk involved because that very same

[1:31:36] amendment provides

[1:31:38] that in the event someone appeals

[1:31:43] and wins

[1:31:46] on the basis that the town in its

[1:31:51] actions exceeded unambiguous

[1:31:56] limitations on its authority.

[1:31:59] The town has exposure for attorney fees.

[1:32:05] Made even more complicated in this is

[1:32:08] that an additional tool was added to the

[1:32:12] planning department for its decisions.

[1:32:15] It now is empowered and in fact must

[1:32:18] exercise upon request

[1:32:22] to give an interpretive decision

[1:32:26] on whether under a certain stated set of

[1:32:29] facts

[1:32:30] how the town would interpret and imply

[1:32:33] and apply one of its land development

[1:32:35] ordinances.

[1:32:37] In other words, something that is that

[1:32:40] was hereto for speculative

[1:32:44] town staff was not expected to act on

[1:32:46] any particular decisions unless a

[1:32:48] concrete proposal an application for a

[1:32:50] particular development project was made.

[1:32:53] Now

[1:32:54] one can put together a for instance a

[1:32:58] hypothetical set of facts if you would

[1:33:01] and say under these facts how would you

[1:33:04] apply the ordinance? what would you

[1:33:05] interpret the ordinance to mean? Now, I

[1:33:08] think that that can be a very useful

[1:33:09] tool um as you know to put together a

[1:33:13] development application in certain uh

[1:33:15] instances can be a very complex

[1:33:19] drawn out and expensive endeavor.

[1:33:23] But and sometimes there are instances

[1:33:25] where uh the developer for instance

[1:33:27] would not want to incur that expense if

[1:33:29] it knew in advance what the town's

[1:33:33] particular um view was on how would

[1:33:36] interpret an ordinance.

[1:33:39] Now they have that tool available that

[1:33:41] they can ask staff to say okay if this

[1:33:43] and this and this and this and this what

[1:33:45] does the town say about how our

[1:33:47] ordinances would be applied in that

[1:33:49] matter. that is deemed to be a final

[1:33:51] decision and then they also have the

[1:33:56] right to appeal that

[1:33:59] >> within three years and if the decision

[1:34:02] » within three years and if the decision

[1:34:02] is uh made and is found to be in excess

[1:34:06] of the town's unambiguous authority.

[1:34:08] Okay. Uh we have the exposure for

[1:34:11] attorney vis on that. Um, this is a

[1:34:14] significant development and I think it's

[1:34:16] worthwhile to you be aware of that and

[1:34:18] to know the kind of pressures are going

[1:34:19] to be placed on your planning department

[1:34:21] in responding to this significant change

[1:34:24] in the procedural landscape that the

[1:34:27] town has to deal with. Um, it's also

[1:34:30] important because you're in the midst

[1:34:32] right now of having to decide about

[1:34:34] amendments to your UDO.

[1:34:37] And I don't think uh decisions about

[1:34:39] what your UDO uh should be made. Surely

[1:34:42] you can adopt it, but don't do it uh

[1:34:45] don't adopt it in a vacuum without being

[1:34:47] aware of these significant changes.

[1:34:50] >> Which which um Bennett state law was

[1:34:53] » Which which um Bennett state law was

[1:34:53] this? What number?

[1:34:54] >> This is session law 2026-41

[1:34:58] » This is session law 2026-41

[1:34:58] particularly which is an extremely long

[1:35:01] session law. But you're only concerned

[1:35:03] with sections 39.5.

[1:35:09] » Thank you.

[1:35:10] >> Somewhat related to that, as you know

[1:35:11] » Somewhat related to that, as you know

[1:35:11] that in very narrow instances,

[1:35:13] municipalities do have the rights uh

[1:35:16] some municipalities do have the right of

[1:35:18] involuntary annexation. If there if you

[1:35:21] call them about urbanization projects

[1:35:22] and whatnot, the legislature says that

[1:35:25] you can't do that for uh new

[1:35:27] subdivisions that are greater than a

[1:35:29] thousand acres. and they basically, for

[1:35:31] lack of a better word, look and feel

[1:35:33] like a town. They have their own police

[1:35:35] protection, fire protection, water,

[1:35:37] sewer, you know, that kind of thing. Uh

[1:35:40] that's something that the town would

[1:35:41] want to be aware of if ever it had the

[1:35:43] ability to annex restore to it under the

[1:35:46] current statutory schemes. Uh but that's

[1:35:48] something that your uh neighbor

[1:35:51] municipalities are going to be dealing

[1:35:52] with as well.

[1:35:53] >> Would you mind saying that one more

[1:35:55] » Would you mind saying that one more

[1:35:55] time? It was a little confusing. there's

[1:35:57] a very narrow uh instance left by which

[1:36:00] certain municipalities can involuntarily

[1:36:03] annex.

[1:36:05] Okay. There is protection of a

[1:36:07] referendum. You have to have a

[1:36:08] referendum that's in in favor of it. Um

[1:36:12] but and even then only in a narrow

[1:36:14] context though of

[1:36:17] urban projects where you're trying to do

[1:36:18] urban renewal for blighted areas or

[1:36:20] poverty povertystricken areas. All

[1:36:22] right. Um, and there's certain criteria

[1:36:26] you have to meet. But the legislature

[1:36:28] restricted that further, being able to

[1:36:31] do that by limiting it by saying, let's

[1:36:33] say if a developer comes along is going

[1:36:35] to do a huge subdivision that there are,

[1:36:37] say, a thousand contiguous acres or

[1:36:39] more. Um, and that the services that's

[1:36:43] going to be offered by that development

[1:36:45] have the look and feel of a town. They

[1:36:47] have their own security. They have their

[1:36:49] own fire. They have their own um, uh,

[1:36:51] water and sewer. those types of things.

[1:36:53] You can't annex those in under using

[1:36:56] that procedure. That may or may not ever

[1:36:58] become relevant to Leland depending what

[1:37:00] I do not know what the future holds. But

[1:37:02] that's something for you to have in the

[1:37:03] back of your mind that also illustrates

[1:37:05] to you what the mindset of the general

[1:37:07] assembly is. Visav municipalities.

[1:37:10] It goes back to my saying again over and

[1:37:12] over.

[1:37:14] Leland is a creature of statute. It

[1:37:17] exists only because the legislature says

[1:37:20] it can. It can if it chooses

[1:37:24] rule that Leland doesn't have the

[1:37:25] ability to exist anymore, will not exist

[1:37:27] anymore or it can grant it more powers

[1:37:30] if it wants to or it can decrease powers

[1:37:32] it gives to it. Okay, this is a

[1:37:35] continuing example of this particular

[1:37:38] legislature that is well aware of that

[1:37:40] power.

[1:37:43] >> Mr. Coggins at when I moved here 23

[1:37:46] » Mr. Coggins at when I moved here 23

[1:37:46] years ago, we were considered a hybrid

[1:37:48] state um regarding home rule versus

[1:37:52] Dylan's rule.

[1:37:54] >> Um is it fair to say that we are moving

[1:37:57] » Um is it fair to say that we are moving

[1:37:57] because of case law and decisions as

[1:38:00] well as our legislative um amendments to

[1:38:03] our um general statutes that we are

[1:38:06] moving closer and closer to being a

[1:38:07] full-blown Dylan's rule state.

[1:38:10] I really hesitate to use those labels

[1:38:12] because I think in the end they don't

[1:38:14] inform.

[1:38:15] >> The bottom line is this. You can only do

[1:38:18] » The bottom line is this. You can only do

[1:38:18] what the statute says you can do. And if

[1:38:20] the statute doesn't say you can do it,

[1:38:22] you need to think very long and hard

[1:38:24] before you do so.

[1:38:26] >> Period. You can put any kind of label

[1:38:28] » Period. You can put any kind of label

[1:38:28] you want it that you want. Home rule,

[1:38:30] Dylan's rude, hybrid, I don't care. The

[1:38:33] bottom line is what does the statute

[1:38:35] say?

[1:38:35] >> What does it mean? And do you follow it

[1:38:37] » What does it mean? And do you follow it

[1:38:37] or not?

[1:38:39] I think most academics think that when

[1:38:41] you this the general assembly holds the

[1:38:43] rules that's more of a Dylan's rule type

[1:38:47] of environment.

[1:38:49] >> You are a political subdivision of the

[1:38:51] » You are a political subdivision of the

[1:38:51] state of North Carolina.

[1:38:52] >> Yep.

[1:38:56] » I have an alibi

[1:38:59] buck.

[1:39:00] >> Mr. Coggins, I want to go back to kind

[1:39:03] » Mr. Coggins, I want to go back to kind

[1:39:03] of toward the beginning of your

[1:39:06] speech.

[1:39:08] Um,

[1:39:10] as things seems stood a month ago,

[1:39:14] somebody went to uh the planning board

[1:39:16] and did a request and was denied. They

[1:39:18] had to be then go to the board of

[1:39:20] adjustments and if they did not get a

[1:39:25] affirmative response from the board of

[1:39:27] adjustments, then they could appeal to

[1:39:29] uh superior court. That correct?

[1:39:32] >> Correct. And they could still do that,

[1:39:33] » Correct. And they could still do that,

[1:39:33] by the way.

[1:39:33] >> Yeah. Okay. So I I

[1:39:35] » Yeah. Okay. So I I

[1:39:35] >> they can still do that, but they've got

[1:39:37] » they can still do that, but they've got

[1:39:37] another very important tool now in their

[1:39:40] toolbox.

[1:39:41] >> They can choose to go to the board of

[1:39:42] » They can choose to go to the board of

[1:39:42] adjustment if they want to, or

[1:39:45] >> they can skip the board of adjustment

[1:39:47] » they can skip the board of adjustment

[1:39:47] >> and sue in superior court. Before they

[1:39:50] » and sue in superior court. Before they

[1:39:50] couldn't skip it, okay,

[1:39:51] >> now they can sue directly. But get this,

[1:39:53] » now they can sue directly. But get this,

[1:39:53] though. Here's the here's the kicker.

[1:39:55] They've got three years to do it

[1:39:57] >> before they at least had to get on with

[1:40:00] » before they at least had to get on with

[1:40:00] the program,

[1:40:00] >> right?

[1:40:01] » right?

[1:40:01] >> Okay. And file something within the 30

[1:40:03] » Okay. And file something within the 30

[1:40:03] days. If the developer though doesn't

[1:40:05] want to be under that kind of a rush and

[1:40:07] to uh wait it out, they can wait up to

[1:40:10] three years. So that means that I'm

[1:40:13] going to be working hard with staff that

[1:40:15] for every major uh development decision

[1:40:17] that the town makes there. We have to

[1:40:19] have it in a tickler system in there

[1:40:21] that make sure we know when the statute

[1:40:23] of limitations is run. This is an incre

[1:40:26] this is going to be an increased burden

[1:40:27] on your staff and I think it's incumbent

[1:40:29] upon you to be aware of those pressures

[1:40:30] that are on your staff. And again, it

[1:40:32] doesn't have to be a formal application.

[1:40:37] It can be an inquiry that they to which

[1:40:40] they did not like the answer and they

[1:40:41] may appeal.

[1:40:42] >> I can't predict. Yes. I can't predict

[1:40:45] » I can't predict. Yes. I can't predict

[1:40:45] how many times, if at all, you will see

[1:40:47] that. I think you will see it. Will you

[1:40:50] see it often? Probably not. But you will

[1:40:52] see it. And that, as you can imagine,

[1:40:55] that places interesting dynamics and

[1:40:58] pressures on your staff about how to

[1:41:00] respond when that request is made.

[1:41:03] >> I can see us with a bit more liability

[1:41:06] » I can see us with a bit more liability

[1:41:06] when you're starting to

[1:41:09] give answers to speculative

[1:41:13] what if.

[1:41:13] >> It sure doesn't decrease your liability.

[1:41:16] » It sure doesn't decrease your liability.

[1:41:16] >> And I and I went the reason I was asking

[1:41:18] » And I and I went the reason I was asking

[1:41:18] about the superior court.

[1:41:21] I thought we were I thought they were

[1:41:22] skipping that by going if they sue they

[1:41:25] have to sue through the court.

[1:41:28] >> Yes, they do have to go directly to

[1:41:29] » Yes, they do have to go directly to

[1:41:29] superior court. They can I mean they can

[1:41:32] [snorts]

[1:41:32] >> they they can also though choose if they

[1:41:34] » they they can also though choose if they

[1:41:34] wish though to choose to go through the

[1:41:35] traditional board of adjustment method

[1:41:37] and there's a lot of re uh reasons why

[1:41:39] they would choose to do that because for

[1:41:41] one thing it's it's faster right than uh

[1:41:44] than say just filing a lawsuit uh

[1:41:47] without the benefit of a record being

[1:41:48] developed

[1:41:50] before the board of adjustment. There

[1:41:52] are a lot of things for them to weigh as

[1:41:54] well about which way they decide to go.

[1:41:57] But

[1:41:59] before

[1:42:01] until July

[1:42:03] the 7th,

[1:42:06] before that, any time that you made a

[1:42:11] developmental uh decision on land

[1:42:14] development, a final decision, if 30

[1:42:16] days went by, you were pretty much

[1:42:18] assured that it was over, right?

[1:42:21] >> If nothing happened, that's not true

[1:42:23] » If nothing happened, that's not true

[1:42:23] anymore. You're going to have to tickle

[1:42:25] it into your system that you have three

[1:42:28] years.

[1:42:30] >> You have, lack of better word, this

[1:42:31] » You have, lack of better word, this

[1:42:31] sword of damicles hanging over your

[1:42:33] head.

[1:42:34] >> Yes.

[1:42:34] » Yes.

[1:42:34] >> Do you see um

[1:42:37] » Do you see um

[1:42:37] a need perhaps uh for

[1:42:41] additional training or information

[1:42:43] provided to the board of adjustments?

[1:42:45] >> Yes. and uh your staff is probably going

[1:42:48] » Yes. and uh your staff is probably going

[1:42:48] to be receiving, if they haven't

[1:42:50] already, notices from uh the League of

[1:42:53] Municipalities and UNCC School of

[1:42:55] Government on seminars are going to be

[1:42:57] given on this. This is um quite a

[1:43:00] change.

[1:43:01] >> Is there is there a name yet for the

[1:43:04] » Is there is there a name yet for the

[1:43:04] statute that you

[1:43:06] that you're referencing other than just

[1:43:08] the code?

[1:43:09] >> No.

[1:43:10] » No.

[1:43:10] >> I'm just curious, what was the path to

[1:43:12] » I'm just curious, what was the path to

[1:43:12] law? Did it go through the legislature

[1:43:14] and was signed by the governor? Yes.

[1:43:18] >> Is this another Senate Bill 382? Um is

[1:43:21] » Is this another Senate Bill 382? Um is

[1:43:21] there any chance of this um coming

[1:43:24] before the general assembly perhaps next

[1:43:27] long session and um being amended or

[1:43:30] rescended or anything? Is there any

[1:43:32] scuttlebutt amongst municipal lawyers?

[1:43:36] >> I don't know.

[1:43:37] » I don't know.

[1:43:37] >> Okay.

[1:43:37] » Okay.

[1:43:38] >> It's still it's still way too early.

[1:43:39] » It's still it's still way too early.

[1:43:39] >> It's still way too early.

[1:43:40] » It's still way too early.

[1:43:40] >> Okay.

[1:43:42] » Okay.

[1:43:42] >> Wow.

[1:43:44] » Wow.

[1:43:44] And thank you. I I hesitate to take your

[1:43:47] time, but I felt this was worthy of your

[1:43:49] attention. You would want to be aware.

[1:43:50] >> Appreciate it.

[1:43:51] » Appreciate it.

[1:43:51] >> It's time well spent.

[1:43:55] » It's time well spent.

[1:43:55] >> Yeah, we needed to know that. Okay.

[1:43:58] » Yeah, we needed to know that. Okay.

[1:43:58] Council got anything else?

[1:44:00] >> Yes, ma'am. Um I just want to remind my

[1:44:02] » Yes, ma'am. Um I just want to remind my

[1:44:02] fellow council members that on Monday,

[1:44:04] July 20th at 10 o'clock, um Brezer

[1:44:07] County Habitat for Humanity will have a

[1:44:09] house dedication.

[1:44:10] >> Yes. um which is u the kind of like the

[1:44:13] » Yes. um which is u the kind of like the

[1:44:13] remember the old TV show move that bus

[1:44:15] kind of thing where the homeowner

[1:44:17] finally gets the keys and it all comes

[1:44:19] together and you know you can get a

[1:44:21] little tearyeyed and all that good stuff

[1:44:22] that would be the time to do it. So um I

[1:44:25] would I plan Lord willing to be there

[1:44:27] and I invite not just um council members

[1:44:31] but staff and general public and anybody

[1:44:33] else is there to if you have mental

[1:44:35] habitat home dedication it's a special

[1:44:37] moment. How many homes do they have over

[1:44:39] there now?

[1:44:40] >> Oh my goodness. Um I want to say and I

[1:44:44] » Oh my goodness. Um I want to say and I

[1:44:44] haven't counted them. There's something

[1:44:47] like seven or eight homes, but they've

[1:44:48] had I think three [snorts] home ded

[1:44:51] there's like three homeowners already in

[1:44:52] their homes.

[1:44:53] >> Right. Right.

[1:44:54] » Right. Right.

[1:44:54] >> Yeah. And I know right after this one

[1:44:56] » Yeah. And I know right after this one

[1:44:56] there should be like another one coming

[1:44:57] soon because there were two right

[1:44:59] together that were close.

[1:45:00] >> Yeah. We had two ground breakings about

[1:45:02] » Yeah. We had two ground breakings about

[1:45:02] the same time. There there are two that

[1:45:03] are pretty close to almost being done

[1:45:05] and they told me that they thought it

[1:45:06] would be sometime in July, maybe early

[1:45:08] August for both of them. So,

[1:45:10] >> but it's coming together.

[1:45:11] » but it's coming together.

[1:45:11] >> It is coming together.

[1:45:13] » It is coming together.

[1:45:14] >> Yeah, it's rewarding.

[1:45:16] » Yeah, it's rewarding.

[1:45:16] All right. Is that it?

[1:45:19] Do we have a motion to adjourn?

[1:45:22] >> So, move.

[1:45:23] » So, move.

[1:45:23] >> Second.

[1:45:24] » Second.

[1:45:24] >> All in favor of the motion?

[1:45:27] » All in favor of the motion?

[1:45:27] >> Any oppose? Motion carries. The next

[1:45:30] » Any oppose? Motion carries. The next

[1:45:30] meeting date of the town council is

[1:45:33] August 20th, 2026 at town hall at 6:00

[1:45:37] or shortly thereafter.

Council Regular Meeting - 16 Jul 2026

Transcript