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Wilson County Board of Commissioners to order. This time we'll recognize Commissioner Hill

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to lead us in our moment of silence and pledge of allegiance.

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With me for a moment of silence, please. If

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you will stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

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Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic.

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Again, welcome to everyone who's in the audience tonight and those that will be speaking

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and those that are here just to see and to hear what goes on in a Wilson County Board of Commissioners meeting.

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meeting. You're more than welcome to be here. It's our first meeting for the year 2020,

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and we will start with consideration of the minutes from our December meeting.

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Mr. Chairman, I'll move to approval as you found any mistakes. I didn't.

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The motion has been made properly seconded to approve the minutes. Is there any discussion?

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There is a correction that we do need to make, and it is fairly important. If you're

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turn in the packet to page 35. Under other matters, you will see the meeting

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dates list for 2020. If you'll go down to September the 14th, listed as the

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meeting date, beside that, the day for the work session should be September

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10th instead of October the 1st. We wouldn't want to have the work session

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after we've already had the meeting and below September the 14th we need to

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insert a meeting for October the 5th and then a work session will be held on

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October the 1st. So that's meeting date September 14th. We're adding to the

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minutes, a work session to be held on September 10th. We're adding a meeting

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date of October the 5th and then corresponding with a work session of

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October the 1st.

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Are there any other changes or corrections to the

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minutes for December meeting?

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If not, all those in favor of approving the

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minutes with the corrections as noted, please indicate by saying aye.

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All opposed, the motion carries.

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Next on our agenda is a resolution of appreciation,

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and that is for the 100th anniversary for the

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League of Women Voters of North Carolina, and that is, print is presented tonight for

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the board's approval, and I'd like to ask Commissioner Lucas, if she would, to please

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read that resolution to everyone.

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Resolution, Wilson County Board of

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Commissioners, 100th anniversary, League of Women Voters of North Carolina.

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Whereas an organized movement to enfranchise women began in July 1848 at

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a convention in Seneca Falls, New York, whereas through the efforts of brave

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and courageous women referred to as suffragists who sacrifice family, their

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personal life, and their financial resources for over 70 years to gain equal

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rights for women, especially the right to vote. Whereas women and men, black and

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white, supported the women's suffrage movement for women to gain the

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constitutional right of having a voice in making the laws that

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governing them. Whereas the woman's suffrage movement led to the passage of the 19th Amendment

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to the Constitution of the United States in 1919 with ratification by the states by the

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summer of 1920. Whereas the National Women's Suffrage Association dissolved in 1920 to

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to create the League of Women Voters of the United States to register voters and educate

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all voters.

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Whereas the League of Women Voters of North Carolina was launched on October 7, 1920 on

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the steps of the Guilford County Courthouse by Gertrude Well, a politically active and

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tireless young woman from Gosboro, North Carolina, whereas more than 120,000 women were registered

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to vote in North Carolina by 1920, whereas women today constitute a majority vote in

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our state and the United States and are running for office in higher numbers and more active

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in the election process than ever before in history,

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be it resolved that the 100th anniversary of women

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gaining the right to vote and the founding

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of the League of Women's Voters in the United States

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and in North Carolina is recognized for the impact these historic

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accomplishments have on citizens' engagement

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and the civic life of the community, the state

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and the nation. Therefore be it resolved that the Wilson County Board of

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Commissioners support the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th

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amendment to the Constitution of the United States and the founding of the

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League of Women Voters. This the sixth day of January 2020.

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Thank You Commissioner

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or Lucas. Any discussion?

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What is the pleasure of the board?

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Motion has been made properly

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seconded to approve resolution regarding the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters

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of North Carolina. Any further discussion or questions?

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If not, all those in favor

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please indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? The motion carries. Next on our agenda

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under public hearings is to continue public hearing on Manta Bible College to consider

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request to rezone 17.36 acres from AR to OI for the Board's consideration.

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I might refer back to the minutes that we just approved to the motion that was approved

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regarding Mount of Bible College and that motion was to delay consideration of

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that request until January 6, 2020 meeting while staff gather additional

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information. So at this time I might ask our Development Services Director, Mr.

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Mark Johnson, if he would please come forward and bring commissioners up to

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up to speed with information that he and his staff and others have gathered since our last meeting.

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Thank you, sir. As you have previously stated, this is a continuation of the public hearing that was conducted, I believe, on December the 9th of last year.

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Staff was asked to have time to gather some additional information that may be useful in your deliberations concerning this matter.

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A staff have received a trust that the commissioners have copies of what staff have received.

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We received an email from Noah Brewer outlining plaques and what heavier as it relates to

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the proposed or easement that was referenced at the last meeting.

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And as well as we received from Steve Aurovero with a Barclay and associate whose represents

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a man of Babacolish information that pertains to the deeds for the properties is apparently

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there's two parcels of land involved in this or at one point it was two parcels.

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I think a recombination has been since done.

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And he also sent to you for your consideration the Wilson County Orders regarding the discharging

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of firearms that was asked about as well.

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And I do have a letter from Dr. Sellers Jenkins, which is the Manababa College President, submitted

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a letter as well.

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I'd be glad to answer any questions that I can concerning these items that was submitted.

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Any

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questions for Mr. Johnson?

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Mr. Johnson, could you explain the information that you received from Mr. Brewer and in your opinion what that constitutes?

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Actually, I have not had an opportunity to review it, not in detail.

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I'm not sure whether our attorney's

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search will have to be done to, you know, to authenticate that.

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But as far as the due diligence of my office, is nothing indicated on the survey.

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And again, you receive copies of two plaques and a recombination plaques and it is incumbent

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upon the surveyor or engineer to show all such deeds, all such easements, but pertain to their

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property, and so it's their seal, it's their engineer seal that's on it, so that's what

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we go by.

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So Mr. Johnson, if we approve this, there's no easement, the other landowners won't have

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any access to the land, right?

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No, I don't think the rezoning have

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been a thing to do with the access to the property.

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Again, the rezoning is just rezoning the entire parcel.

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Whether there's an easement on or not

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does not affect the rezoning.

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Well, the question last meeting was,

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the gentleman was concerned that somebody

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through the county's office or county department

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had required an easement there,

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and he wasn't able to buy the land.

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But Mark's pretty certain that that's not anything that the county would have made a recommendation as a private land.

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That is correct. I do know over the last 12 years, since my tenure, we cannot require someone to give another person an easement contingent upon any subdivision of the land or what have you.

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That's completely up to them.

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I believe so. It seems to me that there is a question as to whether or not the easement

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was granted or what have you. So I guess that would be something that we have to determine.

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But again, that don't have any bearing on the rezoning. I believe and our attorney is

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present, I believe an easement in no way conveys property. It just gives an access easement

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or utility easement, so the ownership of the property does not change hands.

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I believe that Mr. Olivero, which is with Barclay Associates, this is his email that

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you have. He did speak, and I'm not quite sure whether or not the, I do know Dr. Jenkins

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against, did not speak at the meeting.

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There was, I think, a little confusion as to whether

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or not it was appropriate for him to speak at that time. And the gentleman trying

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to find

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Mr. Noah Brewer. I do know that there was, if my recollection serves me correctly, that

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there were three individuals spoke in opposition. I'm not certain whether or not Mr. Brewer

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or one of those individuals not, but he did submit

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additional information for your consideration.

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Does

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the listeners have any further questions

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or discussion regarding the request by Manababa College?

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When

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we received through email that I

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was able to look at, satisfied my questions

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at the last meeting concerning especially the easement

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attached to the land and not have any further information

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supplied or given to us from the individual,

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spoke against it. I'm satisfied.

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If not, then what is the pleasure of the board?

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Mr. Chair, I'm making motion to approve the rezoning request.

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Most have been made improperly seconded to approve the rezoning request. Any further

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discussion or questions?

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If not, all those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

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Aye. All opposed?

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Aye. Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Johnson.

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Sir, at the last meeting, we opened, heard speak, and then we closed the public hearing,

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then we discussed.

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And the reason that I read the motion at the beginning of this, the reason that I read

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the motion at the beginning of this is that the motion at the end of that discussion

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was to delay consideration until January 6, 2020 meeting

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while staff gather additional information.

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It was not to reopen the public hearing.

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It was to gather information regarding the consideration

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and present that information to us.

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We've done that. We've approved the request,

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which is exactly...

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We did not reopen the public part

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of that consideration of that request.

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It was sent to us and presented by the staff to us

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as a part of their gathering information,

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which the motion included.

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Next to our agenda is to conduct a public hearing

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to approve the resolution authorizing appropriations

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and expenditures for the purpose of economic development

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by appropriating funds to Merck and Company Incorporated

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for the Board's consideration.

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This time we recognize Ms. Jennifer Lance and we call this public hearing to order.

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Thank you. I'm here on the half of the Merck project, which you heard in closed session as Project Rota.

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The project, you know, of course, was announced last month.

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and includes 55 new full-time jobs with benefits

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and a taxable investment of $57 million.

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And the average salary for those jobs is $59,273.

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The total cost of the incentive is $700,000 over five years.

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And I'll be glad to answer any questions.

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Any questions for Ms. Lantz?

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If not, is there anybody in the audience who would like to speak regarding this request?

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If not, we'll adjourn the public hearing and we'll begin consideration of the request.

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Any further questions for Ms. Lantz at this time?

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Or discussion?

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If not, what's the pleasure of the board?

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Move for approval.

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Second.

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The motion's been made properly seconded to approve the resolution authorizing

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Economic Development Appropriating Funds to Work in Company.

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Any further discussion or questions?

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If not, all those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

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Aye.

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All opposed, the motion carries.

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Next, we have a public hearing to approve the resolution

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authorizing appropriations and expenditures

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for the purpose of economic development

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by appropriating funds to refresh code for the board's consideration.

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We will call the public hearing to order.

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Ask Ms. Lance, if she would, to present this request.

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Refresco is doing an expansion of $16.5 million with 43 full-time jobs.

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It does not include expanding their building, but it does include significant equipment expenditures.

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This incentive is a incentive that will be shared by the city and the county, and each entity would expend $50,000 a year for four years.

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So it's a $400,000 incentive in total.

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And I'll be glad to answer any questions.

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Questions or anything from this lands?

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If not, is there anybody in the audience who would like to speak regarding the refresco

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funds?

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If not, we will adjourn the public hearing and begin consideration of the request.

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Any further questions or discussion by the board?

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If not, is there a motion to approve the request?

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Second.

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Motion has been made and properly seconded to approve request authorizing appropriations

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and expenditure by appropriating funds to refresh code for the

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discussion of questions.

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Not all those in favor please indicate by saying aye.

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Aye.

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All opposed the motion carries.

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We move to personal appearances at this time we ask Ms. Cotang Cho-Moses Audit Manager

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Martin Starnes and Associates to present the fiscal year 2019 financial audit for the

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board's consideration.

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Good evening Chairman and Commissioners.

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Thank you for having our firm be your auditor.

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Again, another here.

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We appreciate that, and we'd like coming out to Wilson County.

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I'm going to present to you guys the June 30, 2019 audited financial statements.

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For 2019, we issued, our firm issued an unmodified opinion on your financial statements.

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It means that your financial statements are not materially misstated to its readers.

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We'd like to thank Angel and the finance staff for assisting us in getting the audit report out.

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We couldn't have done this without them, so we appreciate them.

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For 2019, auditing standards, there was a GASB 88 footnote disclosure for debt that you will see in your CAFR this year.

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Additional footnote disclosures regarding debt will be in your audit report.

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Some of those include for your applicable debt,

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you're gonna see acceleration or termination clauses

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00:27:24,070 --> 00:27:26,210
to those debt pieces, and you'll also see

235
00:27:26,210 --> 00:27:27,870
asset collateral information.

236
00:27:31,470 --> 00:27:34,250
When we look at the general fund for 2019,

237
00:27:35,150 --> 00:27:40,190
we saw that revenues increased by about $225,000,

238
00:27:40,810 --> 00:27:43,090
a less than 1% change from the prior year.

239
00:27:43,510 --> 00:27:49,390
We also saw that expenditures decreased by 1% $940,000.

240
00:27:49,390 --> 00:27:54,130
So overall, it looks pretty consistent from 2018 to 2019.

241
00:27:56,790 --> 00:28:02,950
When you look at fund balance, what it does is it measures the county's financial resources that are available.

242
00:28:03,570 --> 00:28:08,830
So you have your assets plus your deferred outflows minus your liabilities plus your deferred inflows,

243
00:28:08,870 --> 00:28:12,990
and that gets you to your fund balance or your net position in the enterprise fund.

244
00:28:13,610 --> 00:28:18,730
So within the government funds of the county, you're going to see five classifications of fund balance

245
00:28:18,730 --> 00:28:26,150
for governmental funds. Those include non-spendable, restricted, committed, assigned, and unassigned fund balances.

246
00:28:27,690 --> 00:28:35,350
So if we take a look at the county's fund balance positions, you're going to see restricted fund balance of $8.4 million.

247
00:28:35,750 --> 00:28:44,230
There are other restrictions in that fund balance also. It's $5.4 million. You have committed, assigned, and unassigned fund balance.

248
00:28:44,230 --> 00:28:48,750
So the committed fund balance that you see here, that is your tax rebow fund.

249
00:28:49,590 --> 00:28:53,730
The unassigned fund balance that you see for 2019, the 9.2, those are

250
00:28:54,750 --> 00:28:57,950
assigned fund balances that were designated for subsequent year's expenditures.

251
00:28:58,870 --> 00:29:02,430
A little bit of that number is also human services expenditures.

252
00:29:07,420 --> 00:29:13,260
So if we look at total fund balance over the last three years, you see an increase.

253
00:29:13,260 --> 00:29:19,100
For the current year, there was $3.8 million increase in the general funds fund balance.

254
00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:30,880
Available fund balance is used by the local government commission to compare you with your peer group,

255
00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:35,620
which is determined by your population size. To calculate fund balance available,

256
00:29:35,900 --> 00:29:42,360
you're going to take general funds fund balance, take away any non-spinable fund balance stabilization by state statute,

257
00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,760
and then you get your total available fund balance.

258
00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,880
So the local government gets that dollar amount and then they calculate a percentage.

259
00:29:49,940 --> 00:29:53,340
And so sometimes you'll often hear them say fund balance percentage.

260
00:29:57,480 --> 00:29:59,840
Dollar wise for Wilson County.

261
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:08,320
Your available fund balance at the end of 2019 was $39,980,799, which is an increase over the

262
00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:10,320
prior year's available fund balance.

263
00:30:14,790 --> 00:30:17,330
If we look at the general fund's top three revenues,

264
00:30:17,490 --> 00:30:24,630
you're going to see property taxes as the highest source at 55%, followed by your state local

265
00:30:24,630 --> 00:30:30,730
government grants under restricted intergovernmental of 17%, and then your local option sales

266
00:30:30,730 --> 00:30:37,610
tax is 16%. Your other revenues only make up 12%. Your total revenues for the year was

267
00:30:37,610 --> 00:30:44,450
a little bit over $94 million. Your top three revenue source make up 88% of your total revenues.

268
00:30:48,780 --> 00:30:57,180
If we look at property taxes, you'll see a 2.1% increase from the prior year, or in

269
00:30:57,180 --> 00:31:02,200
terms of dollars, you're looking at almost $1.1 million. We saw an increase in your

270
00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,920
total levy and your total valuation from the prior year.

271
00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:08,280
The current year's overall collection rate

272
00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:12,460
for property taxes was 98.28%.

273
00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:17,400
Then if we look at your grants,

274
00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:18,820
again, restricted air and governmental

275
00:31:18,820 --> 00:31:21,100
makes up your state, local, federal grants.

276
00:31:21,660 --> 00:31:24,500
We saw a decrease of $314,000.

277
00:31:25,380 --> 00:31:28,100
We saw quite a bit of increases

278
00:31:28,100 --> 00:31:29,960
in some of the grants that you guys got

279
00:31:30,420 --> 00:31:31,720
that were new from prior year,

280
00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:33,620
like the NC One Fund grant.

281
00:31:33,620 --> 00:31:39,140
There were other private grants that the county received that they had not in the prior year.

282
00:31:39,580 --> 00:31:43,040
And then we saw increases in TANF and food and nutrition dollars.

283
00:31:43,860 --> 00:31:51,060
However, there was a large increase in DSS revenue for childcare services since the county is no longer paying the providers.

284
00:31:51,880 --> 00:32:01,900
So those little increases along with that large decrease in childcare services did an overall decrease of almost 2% in revenues.

285
00:32:01,900 --> 00:32:03,160
Local

286
00:32:05,490 --> 00:32:09,490
option sales tax increased by 7% over the prior year.

287
00:32:10,170 --> 00:32:14,790
The largest increase that we saw here was in the article 39 sales tax revenue.

288
00:32:19,750 --> 00:32:28,570
Your top three expenditures, functions of government include human services at 32%,

289
00:32:28,570 --> 00:32:32,270
education 27%, and public safety at 23%.

290
00:32:32,910 --> 00:32:36,430
The total expenditures for the year was almost $92 million.

291
00:32:37,210 --> 00:32:42,110
The top three functions of government there make up about 82% of your government.

292
00:32:42,950 --> 00:32:49,850
So in the other expenditures category, you're going to see general government transportation, environmental protection,

293
00:32:50,130 --> 00:32:54,770
economic and physical development, culture and rec, and your debt service expenditures.

294
00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:04,400
Human services had a decrease of $3.3 million from the prior year.

295
00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:17,320
Again here, you're going to see this decrease because of the childcare providers being taken over by the state now, so the county's no longer paying those providers, so you're going to see a decrease for that.

296
00:33:17,980 --> 00:33:25,700
In addition, the sale of the home health in 2019 caused less expenditures for 2019.

297
00:33:30,530 --> 00:33:35,990
For education, we saw an increase of almost 3% here from the prior year.

298
00:33:36,150 --> 00:33:39,510
The increase was mainly in the public schools current expenditures line.

299
00:33:40,230 --> 00:33:43,330
That line itself, we saw a 3% increase over 2018.

300
00:33:47,490 --> 00:33:51,090
The public safety, we saw an increase of almost $1.1 million.

301
00:33:52,050 --> 00:33:57,870
The increase here were for the purchases of two ambulances during 2019.

302
00:33:58,890 --> 00:34:06,150
We also saw workers' comp claim in the jail department that was quite a bit a large chunk

303
00:34:06,150 --> 00:34:09,310
of the claims that were paid during the current year as well.

304
00:34:12,830 --> 00:34:17,130
If we look at your debt service expenditures, you'll see a decrease from the prior year.

305
00:34:17,910 --> 00:34:26,070
In 2018 or more, 2017 to 2018, you guys had paid off the general obligation debt

306
00:34:26,070 --> 00:34:27,230
in your governmental funds.

307
00:34:27,230 --> 00:34:32,130
So that caused that decrease of 9% over the prior year.

308
00:34:35,510 --> 00:34:41,570
In your solid waste fund, we saw an increase in unrestricted net position, 6% there,

309
00:34:41,890 --> 00:34:46,650
and then a decrease in your cash flows from operation of about $91,000.

310
00:34:47,430 --> 00:34:51,430
We saw a decrease in net income as well from the prior year of about $81,000.

311
00:34:55,530 --> 00:35:01,710
In your water southeast district, we saw an increase in unrestricted net position of $195,000.

312
00:35:01,710 --> 00:35:08,190
A decrease in cash flows from operations of about 56%, and this was due to more cash

313
00:35:08,190 --> 00:35:10,730
being paid for your goods and services in 2019.

314
00:35:11,610 --> 00:35:16,250
And then we saw an increase in net income from the prior year of about $37,000.

315
00:35:19,940 --> 00:35:25,240
And for your Southwest District, we saw an increase in unrestricted net position of

316
00:35:25,240 --> 00:35:32,280
about 53%, a decrease in cash flows from operations of about $190,000, and a decrease

317
00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:35,960
increased in net income from the prior year of about 35%.

318
00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:40,720
The district just had more expenses in the current year than it did in the prior year.

319
00:35:44,260 --> 00:35:48,620
I went through that pretty quick, so if anybody has any questions or comments, I'm available.

320
00:35:56,490 --> 00:35:59,870
Discussion or questions for Ms. John Moses?

321
00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:11,640
Thank you for your presentation.

322
00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:19,820
I believe it's in order since the audit is still at local government commission

323
00:36:19,820 --> 00:36:26,620
for us to approve the audit contingent upon this positive referral back from the local

324
00:36:26,620 --> 00:36:36,100
government commission. Is that correct? Mr. Lee, I believe that is correct. So what is

325
00:36:36,100 --> 00:36:40,800
the pleasure of the board? I would say too that we just did have an audit committee meeting

326
00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:46,140
where we were able to ask a bunch of questions. Hearing this for the first time and not

327
00:36:46,140 --> 00:36:52,320
I'm not asking any pertinent questions about the county dollars, so plenty of questions for them.

328
00:36:54,680 --> 00:37:01,520
And an unmodified opinion is actually the highest recommendation that the auditor can make to us, so that's a possibility.

329
00:37:06,950 --> 00:37:08,070
What is the pleasure of the board?

330
00:37:08,470 --> 00:37:09,170
Move for approval.

331
00:37:09,970 --> 00:37:10,270
Second.

332
00:37:11,650 --> 00:37:13,050
Motion has been made properly.

333
00:37:13,290 --> 00:37:17,170
Seconded to approve the audit as presented to us tonight.

334
00:37:17,170 --> 00:37:23,370
contingent upon his approval and recommendation back to us by local

335
00:37:23,370 --> 00:37:29,770
government commission any further discussion or questions all those in

336
00:37:29,770 --> 00:37:38,380
favor please indicate by saying aye all opposed motion carries next is Mr.

337
00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:42,780
Randy Faircloth our tax administrator to present several things to us

338
00:37:42,780 --> 00:37:49,560
tonight good evening excuse me good evening I do have a couple items for

339
00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:52,760
the board's consideration. Let me get out my eyes here.

340
00:37:56,910 --> 00:37:59,530
I believe, excuse me again, I believe

341
00:37:59,530 --> 00:38:06,970
the first item that is on the agenda is an application for exemption for a piece of property

342
00:38:06,970 --> 00:38:21,390
at 211 Southeast Pinder Street. This piece of property that is being utilized as an

343
00:38:21,390 --> 00:38:29,610
19 request. It came in during the calendar year of 19, so by statute it is allowed to

344
00:38:29,610 --> 00:38:34,030
be considered by the Board as long as it's received within the calendar year. We were

345
00:38:34,030 --> 00:38:39,990
not able to get it on the agenda for the December, so we're bringing it for this meeting.

346
00:38:40,730 --> 00:38:45,530
My staff has reviewed this, and it's our recommendation to be approved.

347
00:38:46,910 --> 00:38:49,090
be glad to answer any questions you may have.

348
00:38:49,330 --> 00:38:49,850
Any

349
00:38:55,610 --> 00:38:57,690
questions for Mr. Faircloth?

350
00:39:05,460 --> 00:39:06,600
What's the pleasure of the board?

351
00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:10,600
We approve. Second. Motion has been made

352
00:39:10,600 --> 00:39:14,240
properly seconded to approve property tax exemption

353
00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:18,020
request. Any further discussion or questions?

354
00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:24,720
If not, all those in favor, please indicate by saying aye. Aye.

355
00:39:25,060 --> 00:39:27,680
All opposed, the motion carries. Thank you.

356
00:39:28,540 --> 00:39:48,360
The next matter I have here is a request by Merck Pharmaceuticals for a waiver of the penalties from a business personal property audit that was conducted back in 2013, I believe, was the start of it.

357
00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:51,900
It's comprising the years 14 through 18.

358
00:39:54,980 --> 00:39:57,420
And I'll go into detail if you'd like.

359
00:39:57,660 --> 00:39:59,480
You have a copy of the letter here.

360
00:39:59,940 --> 00:40:02,360
If you'd like to ask any questions in regards to that,

361
00:40:03,040 --> 00:40:06,680
I would simply say that it has been and will always be

362
00:40:06,680 --> 00:40:11,160
my recommendation that any penalties be denied.

363
00:40:11,780 --> 00:40:16,980
Simply we start down a path where we can't come back from.

364
00:40:17,620 --> 00:40:20,320
So that would be my recommendation to the board.

365
00:40:25,990 --> 00:40:29,010
Commissioner, is there any questions for Mr. Faircloth?

366
00:40:39,630 --> 00:40:47,750
Any discussion regarding the audit finding penalties request to waive?

367
00:41:02,220 --> 00:41:04,620
And to review your appointment, Mr. Faircloth,

368
00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:07,660
is it a recommendation of the tax office to deny?

369
00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:12,100
Yes, sir. And again, I, along with the board,

370
00:41:12,100 --> 00:41:18,840
In no way do we want to put any difficult situations on anyone, let alone good corporate

371
00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:19,340
customers.

372
00:41:20,900 --> 00:41:24,440
However, in this particular instance, and I don't want to go too much into detail because

373
00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:27,400
I don't want to make it appear that I'm beating on a taxpayer because I'm not.

374
00:41:27,620 --> 00:41:31,540
I'm simply trying to state the facts and try to be consistent in how we treat everyone

375
00:41:31,540 --> 00:41:32,780
fair and equitable.

376
00:41:34,140 --> 00:41:36,400
There was an audit done in 2010.

377
00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:42,500
There was agreements that were reached as of 2014.

378
00:41:43,640 --> 00:41:49,900
Compromises made to try to get that audit out of the way and resolved and it was agreed upon.

379
00:41:51,460 --> 00:41:58,060
Unfortunately, immediately it turned around and we had a discovery for the 14th or 18th year.

380
00:41:58,540 --> 00:42:03,700
So as much as I would like to say we would want to try to lean in that direction

381
00:42:03,700 --> 00:42:11,400
When we have two back-to-back audits and both have sufficient, let me get my words right,

382
00:42:11,680 --> 00:42:17,080
to have significant findings is not a good precedent.

383
00:42:17,620 --> 00:42:22,640
And again, I understand we don't want to penalize in any way if we can avoid it,

384
00:42:22,860 --> 00:42:26,940
but I believe in this case I truly believe that it's warranted.

385
00:42:27,220 --> 00:42:27,420
I

386
00:42:30,660 --> 00:42:35,820
think it's also pertinent that we do give tax dollars as incentives to companies

387
00:42:35,820 --> 00:42:41,560
You know, we certainly wanted to list property as they, you know, and not in this case, I'm

388
00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:46,520
sure it wasn't tied to a cent of dollars, but we wanted to make sure you're doing your

389
00:42:46,520 --> 00:42:50,540
job and we're supporting you, how you do your job, and we're giving out taxpayer dollars.

390
00:42:54,210 --> 00:42:56,170
Any other questions or discussion?

391
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:03,160
A motion is appropriate.

392
00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:11,560
I move for approval, or excuse me, I move for approval of his recommendation, but

393
00:43:12,320 --> 00:43:13,680
to deny the request.

394
00:43:15,120 --> 00:43:20,400
Motion has been made properly seconded to deny the request presented to us by

395
00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:23,400
Merck Sharp and Dawn. Any further discussion or questions?

396
00:43:28,500 --> 00:43:29,100
If not, all

397
00:43:29,100 --> 00:43:36,060
those in favor indicate by saying aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Excuse me.

398
00:43:36,140 --> 00:43:40,760
Last matter for the board's consideration is our monthly refunds and

399
00:43:40,760 --> 00:43:44,800
of course as I mentioned in the last meeting these are refunds that are in

400
00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:49,340
excessive $100 by statute. It must come before this board for approval. Obviously,

401
00:43:49,460 --> 00:43:54,280
we've done our research and due diligence on this and it's recommended

402
00:43:54,280 --> 00:43:55,820
that they they'd be approved.

403
00:44:05,660 --> 00:44:07,580
So Mr. Faircloth, according to what you

404
00:44:09,340 --> 00:44:14,160
last month, this is going to be a regular appearance on our agenda

405
00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:19,540
every month. If we have refunds, yes, sir, it will be. However, I think we

406
00:44:19,540 --> 00:44:23,740
might be able to get this where it can be part of a consent agenda. If I

407
00:44:23,740 --> 00:44:27,100
I don't have anything else that I need to be here for other than that.

408
00:44:27,900 --> 00:44:31,020
I guess it's possible we could do that in a consent manner.

409
00:44:31,400 --> 00:44:34,900
Because again, as I stated last meeting, it's really more of a formality.

410
00:44:35,040 --> 00:44:38,620
And you could deny it, but I think the grounds for denying it would be

411
00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:44,080
putting the board members at risk because we've done all the due diligence

412
00:44:44,080 --> 00:44:45,880
to it and they are entitled to a refund.

413
00:44:46,620 --> 00:44:50,160
But we can't make that decision that has to be done by the board because

414
00:44:50,160 --> 00:44:51,480
it exceeds $100 more.

415
00:44:51,480 --> 00:44:52,180
Any

416
00:44:58,990 --> 00:44:59,890
questions for?

417
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:01,140
Mr. Faircloth,

418
00:45:08,530 --> 00:45:09,890
is there a motion to approve?

419
00:45:10,470 --> 00:45:11,270
So moved.

420
00:45:11,670 --> 00:45:12,010
Second.

421
00:45:13,350 --> 00:45:21,570
Motion has been made properly seconded to approve the refunds as listed, packet page 68 and 69 in our agenda.

422
00:45:22,490 --> 00:45:24,390
Any further questions or discussion?

423
00:45:28,470 --> 00:45:31,070
If not, all those in favor, please indicate by seeing aye.

424
00:45:31,270 --> 00:45:31,590
Aye.

425
00:45:32,190 --> 00:45:34,130
All opposed, motion carries.

426
00:45:34,530 --> 00:45:35,490
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

427
00:45:35,590 --> 00:45:39,050
We will continue to pursue, see if there's other options that we can work on that as well.

428
00:45:39,050 --> 00:45:40,170
Thank you.

429
00:45:40,330 --> 00:45:40,650
Thank you.

430
00:45:49,580 --> 00:45:54,020
Next we ask Mr. Mark Johnson, our Development Services Director, if he would return to the

431
00:45:54,020 --> 00:45:57,760
podium and has two more presentations for the Board's consideration.

432
00:45:59,840 --> 00:46:00,260
Thank you.

433
00:46:00,340 --> 00:46:07,360
The first item for your consideration is the 5311 Grant Transportation Grant.

434
00:46:08,160 --> 00:46:17,120
The Wilson County Board of Commissioners was granted monies from NCDOT Public Transportation

435
00:46:17,800 --> 00:46:24,900
in the form of 5,311 funds which covers our admin and capital costs for our public transportation system.

436
00:46:25,520 --> 00:46:35,480
The county staff recognized that we had the opportunity to receive an additional $77,280 for capital funding.

437
00:46:36,180 --> 00:46:39,720
So we bring that back to you for your consideration.

438
00:46:40,040 --> 00:46:44,140
We basically redid the grant in its entirety and bring it back for your consideration.

439
00:46:44,140 --> 00:46:50,300
The change will result in the county's local share increasing from, for capital, increasing

440
00:46:50,300 --> 00:47:09,960
from $12,600 to $20,300 and $28, which represents a 10% of the $203,203,280 dollars.

441
00:47:12,740 --> 00:47:16,480
The additional funding would be used to purchase three buses.

442
00:47:17,080 --> 00:47:24,600
What we had in place currently was a situation where we basically could only purchase one-and-a-half buses.

443
00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:29,140
This is going to take us over where we can actually purchase three buses.

444
00:47:29,260 --> 00:47:34,360
And we do have three vehicles that can be decommissioned, have the necessary mileage.

445
00:47:35,460 --> 00:47:40,640
And just in terms of explanation, the state decreased the

446
00:47:40,640 --> 00:47:43,800
ozone vehicles where you can have them decommissioned.

447
00:47:43,980 --> 00:47:46,900
So buses at one point that did not qualify or venisoned,

448
00:47:47,000 --> 00:47:49,680
not qualify for decommissioning because of the reduction.

449
00:47:49,880 --> 00:47:54,400
They now qualify so we can actually get three additional vehicles.

450
00:47:55,120 --> 00:47:58,600
We also, there will also be a decrease however in our administrative

451
00:47:58,880 --> 00:48:03,260
cost as was estimated by our previous transportation planner.

452
00:48:03,260 --> 00:48:14,220
So our cost share, the counter cost share will be reduced for admin for $22,422 to $18,099.

453
00:48:14,660 --> 00:48:18,400
So there will be a slight decrease in our admin cost share.

454
00:48:18,900 --> 00:48:22,360
Now the cost share will be paid out of the selling of the three vehicles.

455
00:48:22,980 --> 00:48:26,640
Usually we get $5,000 to $6,000 for those.

456
00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:30,020
Anything else will come out of our fund balance.

457
00:48:30,660 --> 00:48:33,000
So it would not come out of the general funds of the county.

458
00:48:38,090 --> 00:48:45,110
Any questions from Mr. Johnson regarding the transportation resolution for Section 5311 funding?

459
00:49:05,370 --> 00:49:08,410
If there are no further questions, what's the pleasure of the board?

460
00:49:09,430 --> 00:49:10,770
Mr. Chairman, I move for approval.

461
00:49:11,290 --> 00:49:11,670
Second.

462
00:49:12,670 --> 00:49:20,610
Motion has been made properly seconded to approve the public transportation program resolution for 2021,

463
00:49:20,610 --> 00:49:25,750
fiscal year 2021. Any further questions or discussion?

464
00:49:30,960 --> 00:49:32,040
If not, all those in favor,

465
00:49:32,200 --> 00:49:38,000
please indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed, the motion carries. Thank you.

466
00:49:38,420 --> 00:49:45,900
In conjunction with the 5311 funding, Instaduity requires each public transportation agency

467
00:49:45,900 --> 00:49:51,320
that we see 5311 funding to do a proficiency review evaluation, which is

468
00:49:51,320 --> 00:49:55,880
the audit of our program to make sure that we are here to all the FTA rules and

469
00:49:55,880 --> 00:50:03,880
insiduity regulation relating to this finisher of grant funding. So as part of

470
00:50:03,880 --> 00:50:07,960
this proficiency review evaluation, the Wilson County Public Transportation

471
00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:14,160
System must have in place an updated public transportation system safety

472
00:50:14,160 --> 00:50:19,280
plan or SSP plan. The SSP plan is a six-part plan consisting of emergency

473
00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:25,080
action plan for our protection plan, prevention, maintenance plan, drug and alcohol policy plan,

474
00:50:25,420 --> 00:50:32,740
and security plan, and continuity of operation plan. So those are SITS plans all inside of

475
00:50:32,740 --> 00:50:39,440
one comprehensive system safety plan to have updated. The question of action this evening

476
00:50:39,440 --> 00:50:44,300
is for the Board to approve of this system safety plan so we can submit it to Instadility

477
00:50:44,300 --> 00:50:44,920
for approval.

478
00:50:50,520 --> 00:50:54,260
Any questions for Mr. Johnson regarding the Wilson County Public Transportation

479
00:50:54,260 --> 00:50:56,100
System Safety Plan?

480
00:51:07,640 --> 00:51:08,120
If not,

481
00:51:10,200 --> 00:51:11,900
is there a motion to approve?

482
00:51:14,180 --> 00:51:16,560
Motion has been made improperly

483
00:51:16,560 --> 00:51:22,100
seconded to approve the Wilson County Public Transportation System Safety Plan. Any further

484
00:51:22,100 --> 00:51:24,480
discussion or questions for Mr. Johnson?

485
00:51:29,760 --> 00:51:31,680
Not all those in favor, please indicate by

486
00:51:31,680 --> 00:51:37,580
seeing aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you sir.

487
00:51:41,880 --> 00:51:43,380
This time we'd like Ms.

488
00:51:43,580 --> 00:51:48,420
Molly Westmoreland our library director to come forward and present research

489
00:51:48,420 --> 00:51:53,420
findings on barriers for the public library services. Good evening

490
00:51:53,420 --> 00:51:57,680
commissioners. Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you about the

491
00:51:57,680 --> 00:52:02,760
library's efforts to identify and possibly in the future eliminate some

492
00:52:02,760 --> 00:52:05,480
of the barriers to public library service.

493
00:52:07,920 --> 00:52:10,820
We began by looking at the research that's out there.

494
00:52:11,520 --> 00:52:15,940
And one study was done in 2014 by the Edmonton Public Library.

495
00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:23,800
And they identified that barriers hinder service to communities that need us most.

496
00:52:24,440 --> 00:52:28,300
And our concern is that that will apply to us here as well.

497
00:52:29,020 --> 00:52:30,360
They did have some difficulty.

498
00:52:30,640 --> 00:52:33,080
They used multiple research techniques.

499
00:52:33,080 --> 00:52:39,740
They found that the surveys did not yield as much information as they had hoped because

500
00:52:39,740 --> 00:52:43,500
our customers are reluctant to criticize us.

501
00:52:44,100 --> 00:52:48,660
And I, in my career, have found this to be true whenever we do a customer satisfaction

502
00:52:49,180 --> 00:52:49,520
survey.

503
00:52:50,120 --> 00:52:51,900
People tell us they love us.

504
00:52:52,300 --> 00:52:56,880
And so we have to ask specific questions about the services they're receiving.

505
00:52:56,880 --> 00:53:03,180
There was also a reluctance to admit to the barriers because there was a stigma attached.

506
00:53:03,580 --> 00:53:07,720
It's hard to admit that you find it difficult to pay library fines.

507
00:53:08,080 --> 00:53:10,060
And that was one of the questions they asked them.

508
00:53:10,140 --> 00:53:15,360
People were reluctant to say that because of the stigma associated with that.

509
00:53:16,820 --> 00:53:23,920
What they were able to clearly identify was that the groups who are most affected

510
00:53:23,920 --> 00:53:30,420
our underserved communities, at-risk teens, the homeless, low-income families, adults,

511
00:53:31,220 --> 00:53:37,900
low literacy skills, and of course, as a public library, we want to help improve literacy

512
00:53:37,900 --> 00:53:42,940
skills, and that's one of the groups that are affected by these barriers, people with

513
00:53:42,940 --> 00:53:49,680
low literacy. Also, geographically isolated communities, our branches and our bookmobile

514
00:53:49,680 --> 00:53:55,720
and our outreach to the homebound help in this area but there's still more to be done.

515
00:53:58,260 --> 00:54:02,520
Barriers also affect seniors and teen parents.

516
00:54:05,520 --> 00:54:09,820
They identify the top five barriers to access

517
00:54:09,820 --> 00:54:18,820
to library services as library policies, overdue fines, transportation, service awareness.

518
00:54:18,820 --> 00:54:24,460
We know it's hard for us to get the word out about what we do and who we want to serve,

519
00:54:24,880 --> 00:54:26,140
but also literacies.

520
00:54:27,140 --> 00:54:32,240
Sometimes people are under the impression that public libraries are only for the literate,

521
00:54:32,500 --> 00:54:33,540
and it's not true.

522
00:54:33,640 --> 00:54:38,740
We have many, many services that we can provide to people who may be struggling with literacy.

523
00:54:39,980 --> 00:54:45,600
Sometimes people have difficulty understanding and navigating our policies, and sometimes

524
00:54:45,600 --> 00:54:47,800
Sometimes the policies themselves can be a barrier.

525
00:54:49,580 --> 00:54:54,020
And sometimes people are afraid to check out books because they think they will accrue

526
00:54:54,020 --> 00:54:57,240
fines and fees and they're not sure if they can pay them.

527
00:54:57,980 --> 00:55:02,980
We get calls all the time about people who have difficulty with transportation.

528
00:55:03,660 --> 00:55:08,300
They call us to say, my books are due but I can't get to the library.

529
00:55:08,860 --> 00:55:11,060
And of course the staff will renew for them.

530
00:55:11,060 --> 00:55:16,600
The staff are wonderful about helping people who need us and need our help, but we hear

531
00:55:16,600 --> 00:55:17,200
that a lot.

532
00:55:18,400 --> 00:55:23,340
People don't know what we do or understand it, and then there is the lack of literacy.

533
00:55:26,860 --> 00:55:32,240
Research was also done by our own University of North Carolina, the library school there,

534
00:55:32,520 --> 00:55:38,840
School of Information and Library Services, and they identified some more subtle barriers,

535
00:55:38,840 --> 00:55:44,380
And these in a way may be more difficult to address but also a little bit disturbing.

536
00:55:45,340 --> 00:55:51,540
They found that there were interpersonal barriers to library service as well as economical barriers.

537
00:55:52,180 --> 00:55:56,420
Of course the physical barriers we all know we need to be compliant with the American

538
00:55:56,420 --> 00:55:59,540
the ADA, Americans with Disability Act.

539
00:56:00,040 --> 00:56:02,360
We have to watch the width of our aisles.

540
00:56:02,520 --> 00:56:05,960
We have to make sure that people have access if they are wheelchair bound.

541
00:56:05,960 --> 00:56:09,380
but there can be organizational barriers as well.

542
00:56:12,640 --> 00:56:16,060
So one of the interpersonal barriers is library anxiety.

543
00:56:17,260 --> 00:56:20,500
People feel nervous about coming into a public library

544
00:56:20,500 --> 00:56:24,000
sometimes, and we hear at the reference desk,

545
00:56:24,460 --> 00:56:28,660
oh, I'm sorry to bother you, or this is a silly

546
00:56:28,660 --> 00:56:32,960
question. So people are a little bit intimidated when they come up to a

547
00:56:32,960 --> 00:56:36,820
librarian to ask questions. Not everyone, but it does happen.

548
00:56:36,820 --> 00:56:41,820
And that's one of the reasons we reduce, with the renovations that are going on in the building,

549
00:56:42,200 --> 00:56:53,560
we reduce the size of the reference desk so that it's less imposing and less like something you have to approach with humility and fear,

550
00:56:54,200 --> 00:56:55,680
and more user-friendly.

551
00:56:55,900 --> 00:57:02,720
We also ask our staff to be on the public floor more than they are behind a desk.

552
00:57:02,720 --> 00:57:09,980
So they're out there where the customers are and can ask them a quick question about whether they're finding what they're looking for and so on.

553
00:57:11,560 --> 00:57:20,180
There's also the idea of problem patrons, and we hear this sometimes, that customers are going to take advantage of us.

554
00:57:20,200 --> 00:57:22,960
They're trying to game the system and so on.

555
00:57:23,160 --> 00:57:30,880
And it's true there may be people out there who derive some satisfaction in pulling the wool over our eyes,

556
00:57:30,880 --> 00:57:37,520
But they are a very small majority and libraries sometimes and other organizations make the

557
00:57:37,520 --> 00:57:44,880
mistake of setting policy for the 10%, it's usually less than 10% rather than really looking

558
00:57:44,880 --> 00:57:47,640
at the service of the 90%.

559
00:57:47,640 --> 00:57:52,960
And the third one is really troubling to me is the microaggressions.

560
00:57:52,960 --> 00:58:00,620
And I can safely say we don't have any staff who do this in our public library.

561
00:58:01,000 --> 00:58:05,360
But I think we've all experienced, maybe not all of us, but I know I have,

562
00:58:05,960 --> 00:58:12,860
where you need someone to do something for you and they almost seem to enjoy saying no.

563
00:58:13,720 --> 00:58:19,680
There are some people who derive some satisfaction from elevating themselves

564
00:58:19,680 --> 00:58:23,320
by being unpleasant, I'm sorry to say.

565
00:58:23,660 --> 00:58:27,620
We don't have that in the library, but it's definitely something to be aware of.

566
00:58:28,340 --> 00:58:33,060
And to work against. So some of the solutions they

567
00:58:33,060 --> 00:58:37,020
recommended in this study would be to allow for more autonomy.

568
00:58:38,240 --> 00:58:41,080
And we're in the process of doing that. We're increasing the number

569
00:58:41,080 --> 00:58:45,300
of self-check machines that we have in the library and have added them

570
00:58:45,300 --> 00:58:49,140
to three of our large branches as well. The only reason we didn't

571
00:58:49,140 --> 00:58:54,340
add them to all of them was that there's not enough floor space in some of our small branches.

572
00:58:55,560 --> 00:59:01,900
But this gives customers the freedom not to show what they're checking out to a library

573
00:59:01,900 --> 00:59:02,760
staff member.

574
00:59:03,040 --> 00:59:07,260
And some materials can be about sensitive subjects.

575
00:59:07,740 --> 00:59:14,860
And so it's nice to allow people their privacy and autonomy in using those kiosks.

576
00:59:14,860 --> 00:59:21,240
We strive to help our customers become independent, self-sufficient library users.

577
00:59:21,820 --> 00:59:24,560
Of course we want to help them. We want to engage with them.

578
00:59:25,580 --> 00:59:28,740
But we want them to have independence if they want it.

579
00:59:29,760 --> 00:59:35,200
Of course we want to be warm and inviting, educate everyone about the role of librarians.

580
00:59:35,740 --> 00:59:40,800
We're not here to shush you. We're not here to scold you.

581
00:59:40,800 --> 00:59:45,480
We are here to help and that's something we need to constantly remind people about.

582
00:59:46,160 --> 00:59:49,060
We also need to strive to have a diverse staff.

583
00:59:49,780 --> 00:59:54,400
So when we do hiring and searching for library staff, we look at diversity.

584
00:59:54,860 --> 00:59:59,360
We really want to have staff that represent the community we serve.

585
01:00:02,220 --> 01:00:11,880
So the idea of problem patrons, we need to shift our mindset and understand that if what

586
01:00:11,880 --> 01:00:18,100
we used to call a problem patron is something that we're experiencing, perhaps it's just a

587
01:00:18,100 --> 01:00:25,520
situation that challenges our service model. Perhaps it's someone who needs us, but their

588
01:00:25,520 --> 01:00:34,480
needs challenge our policies. And how can we do a better job of serving everyone? We

589
01:00:34,480 --> 01:00:41,620
also need to assume the best in people. And I will say in my career that I have worked

590
01:00:41,620 --> 01:00:48,860
with librarians who sometimes don't do that. They may assume the worst. I'm sorry to say,

591
01:00:49,180 --> 01:00:54,980
I don't see it here in our library. I don't see it among our staff. But we need to

592
01:00:54,980 --> 01:01:00,800
always assume the best in people. I did have a customer who said he wanted some

593
01:01:00,800 --> 01:01:06,000
special books for research and he said I'd like to keep these a little bit

594
01:01:06,000 --> 01:01:12,540
longer after all I am a scholar and I have a PhD and I said to him of course

595
01:01:12,540 --> 01:01:17,220
we can work with you to keep those books longer but I want you to know that

596
01:01:17,220 --> 01:01:22,310
everyone who comes in our door is a scholar and a PhD as far as we're

597
01:01:22,310 --> 01:01:29,750
So we treat everyone as if they were, well what we say is the jewel in the cushion of hospitality.

598
01:01:30,250 --> 01:01:33,430
So we value our customers tremendously.

599
01:01:38,340 --> 01:01:42,900
So some of the solutions to microaggressions, and we're going to be looking at this.

600
01:01:43,600 --> 01:01:49,100
I want our staff to have opportunities for this kind of growth and development.

601
01:01:49,640 --> 01:01:54,580
They need to have a cultural appreciation of all the different communities we serve.

602
01:01:54,580 --> 01:02:04,180
They need to work to make those emotional connections with people that's so important for building trust and really being able to help people.

603
01:02:05,080 --> 01:02:16,200
We want to demonstrate an ethic of caring, of communication, and we want to participate more with our cultural groups through community-based learning.

604
01:02:16,200 --> 01:02:17,280
So

605
01:02:21,020 --> 01:02:28,700
now this part is what I really want to talk with you about and hear your feedback as we move forward.

606
01:02:29,100 --> 01:02:34,560
Because we really want to look at the economic barriers to our services.

607
01:02:35,460 --> 01:02:41,480
And library fines have been identified as an economic barrier. They're also a revenue source.

608
01:02:41,480 --> 01:02:47,800
So that's why I wanted to have some conversation about that at some point and to really look

609
01:02:47,800 --> 01:02:48,520
at it closely.

610
01:02:49,900 --> 01:02:57,180
There are also some exclusionary policies that libraries can sometimes use and we want

611
01:02:57,180 --> 01:03:01,840
to be mindful of that as well and avoid doing that if at all possible.

612
01:03:03,480 --> 01:03:08,340
So first, library fines and some of the rationalizations around fines.

613
01:03:09,690 --> 01:03:14,030
Finds are in place to encourage patrons to return materials.

614
01:03:15,570 --> 01:03:20,190
They are to teach responsibility and accountability to customers,

615
01:03:20,990 --> 01:03:26,650
especially children and teens, and of course to earn revenue for the library

616
01:03:26,650 --> 01:03:30,290
so that we can demonstrate that we are fiscally responsible.

617
01:03:31,570 --> 01:03:35,030
But are these really effective in meeting these goals?

618
01:03:35,030 --> 01:03:46,250
And as far as the research, there was a research by Bundy in 2005, a study done by him, that said,

619
01:03:46,250 --> 01:03:52,320
despite the adherence of many libraries to fines regimes, there is still no researched evidence

620
01:03:52,570 --> 01:03:59,910
that finding is more effective than any other mechanism to encourage borrowers to return items.

621
01:03:59,910 --> 01:04:00,830
In

622
01:04:03,130 --> 01:04:10,810
fact, there's some anecdotal evidence that shows people don't return their items because

623
01:04:10,810 --> 01:04:13,970
they're afraid to try to pay that fine.

624
01:04:14,490 --> 01:04:17,910
Instead, they will just keep the books and never come back.

625
01:04:18,290 --> 01:04:24,350
So that's what we hope to avoid in our consideration of some possible changes.

626
01:04:25,830 --> 01:04:29,790
So again, the Bundy study showed there was no research

627
01:04:29,790 --> 01:04:34,010
that showed fines helped to bring materials back.

628
01:04:35,430 --> 01:04:38,330
And this one, I've heard this a lot in my career.

629
01:04:39,210 --> 01:04:43,010
It's really not the library's mission to teach responsibility.

630
01:04:44,690 --> 01:04:46,710
We know that this is a good thing.

631
01:04:47,050 --> 01:04:50,750
We hope that our parents and our teachers and our employers

632
01:04:50,750 --> 01:04:59,630
our teaching responsibility, but our mission is to teach, foster, support a love of reading.

633
01:04:59,930 --> 01:05:08,450
Because we really believe that if people read, read widely, excuse me, that they will have a better life.

634
01:05:08,570 --> 01:05:10,910
If we didn't believe that, we wouldn't be in this business.

635
01:05:11,790 --> 01:05:16,590
So teaching responsibility works against fostering a love of reading.

636
01:05:18,070 --> 01:05:25,630
This isn't part of the study. This is some study that we are doing internally to really

637
01:05:25,630 --> 01:05:35,570
look at this. Our fiscal year 20 budget for penalties was $18,500. It was higher last year,

638
01:05:35,750 --> 01:05:42,530
but we lowered it because our revenues did not match our budgeted amount. Our fines,

639
01:05:42,530 --> 01:05:51,330
revenues continue to decline and in this fiscal year we've only brought in a

640
01:05:51,330 --> 01:05:59,950
little under $6,000 so far probably due to some policy changes that where we

641
01:05:59,950 --> 01:06:06,830
stopped charging a $1 fine for DVDs because DVDs have come down so much in

642
01:06:06,830 --> 01:06:11,870
price they're actually less expensive than books often and there was no good

643
01:06:11,870 --> 01:06:14,790
reason to keep finding at a high rate for that.

644
01:06:15,670 --> 01:06:20,350
And some of the other changes we've made, recognizing that we had some barriers in place,

645
01:06:20,810 --> 01:06:23,250
have caused that revenue to go down more.

646
01:06:23,650 --> 01:06:29,110
But it has always been a decline in that item, that line item.

647
01:06:30,530 --> 01:06:35,810
What's really sad is that looking at the current fines on the books, and this is

648
01:06:35,810 --> 01:06:37,290
just at the main library.

649
01:06:37,290 --> 01:06:43,750
We restricted our study to just get a picture of the data we're going to expand as we go

650
01:06:43,750 --> 01:06:45,970
forward to do more research system-wide.

651
01:06:46,110 --> 01:06:54,710
But this is just to give you an idea that 49% of our finds on the books are owed for

652
01:06:54,710 --> 01:06:55,910
children's materials.

653
01:06:57,190 --> 01:07:04,810
To me, that's a heartbreaker right there because what are we telling our children that

654
01:07:05,470 --> 01:07:09,990
reading is something you get fined for, and that's not what we want to convey to them.

655
01:07:10,890 --> 01:07:17,390
We would, if we do make a policy change, we would continue to charge for lost items,

656
01:07:18,010 --> 01:07:23,290
what we call lost items. So if you don't bring your book back, we will charge you for it.

657
01:07:23,990 --> 01:07:29,150
We're not even thinking about just opening the doors and giving away our books,

658
01:07:29,150 --> 01:07:36,890
so you can't keep our books if we go forward with this and that's going to take a lot of

659
01:07:36,890 --> 01:07:46,790
thought and a lot of study. Here are the negative effects of fines. They discourage people

660
01:07:46,790 --> 01:07:54,730
from using the library. They disproportionately affect low income patrons and our children

661
01:07:55,550 --> 01:08:00,690
and they damaged library community relations and road trust.

662
01:08:01,750 --> 01:08:08,230
And a staff member, when I delivered this same presentation at our staff day in December,

663
01:08:08,470 --> 01:08:11,750
just to get them thinking and to ask them, how do you feel about this?

664
01:08:12,370 --> 01:08:17,430
And one of them said to me, oh please, that's the worst part of my day

665
01:08:17,430 --> 01:08:20,230
when I have to ask someone to pay a fine.

666
01:08:20,230 --> 01:08:24,450
And it's obvious that that's a difficulty for them.

667
01:08:24,670 --> 01:08:28,450
They don't look like someone who is affluent and can easily pay.

668
01:08:29,310 --> 01:08:38,130
So yes, it can not only create a barrier to trust and the relationships we want to grow,

669
01:08:38,590 --> 01:08:40,930
it's difficult for staff as well.

670
01:08:41,370 --> 01:08:41,590
Is

671
01:08:46,390 --> 01:08:48,670
that where I am? Did I jump forward? I can't tell.

672
01:08:49,810 --> 01:08:50,150
Yes.

673
01:08:51,530 --> 01:08:55,930
Some of the policies that can be exclusionary are proof of permanent address.

674
01:08:56,390 --> 01:08:57,610
We've done away with that one.

675
01:08:58,150 --> 01:08:59,890
Restricting personal belongings.

676
01:09:00,150 --> 01:09:03,330
My understanding we've never restricted personal belongings.

677
01:09:03,830 --> 01:09:06,890
And those are the kinds of policies that work against the homeless.

678
01:09:07,390 --> 01:09:12,430
Because they may have a backpack or duffel bag that has everything they own.

679
01:09:13,210 --> 01:09:15,470
And we can't ask them to leave that outside.

680
01:09:15,910 --> 01:09:17,850
So they can bring it in the library.

681
01:09:17,850 --> 01:09:22,130
We do ask that it not be placed in a way that could jeopardize someone's safety, someone

682
01:09:22,130 --> 01:09:23,390
could trip over it, and so on.

683
01:09:24,490 --> 01:09:28,090
We do enforce hygiene, unfortunately.

684
01:09:28,390 --> 01:09:33,610
We do have to sometimes talk to customers about odor and so on.

685
01:09:33,670 --> 01:09:39,010
We try to be very careful about this and very tactful about it, and it happens rarely.

686
01:09:40,390 --> 01:09:41,910
Also library behavior.

687
01:09:41,910 --> 01:09:49,410
We do have a principle for service that includes maintaining a welcoming environment.

688
01:09:49,690 --> 01:09:54,510
So if someone is disruptive, they are affecting the library's experience for other people.

689
01:09:54,810 --> 01:09:59,430
But we're very careful with it. We give warnings. We explain the policy.

690
01:09:59,610 --> 01:10:04,030
We give them the why. And only as a last resort would they be banned.

691
01:10:05,310 --> 01:10:08,950
Okay, quickly, so some

692
01:10:12,340 --> 01:10:21,280
of the ethical considerations is the inconsistent application of policy based on personal bias.

693
01:10:21,480 --> 01:10:28,420
We hope this isn't happening, but people are human and they sometimes bring their personal feelings about a group

694
01:10:29,540 --> 01:10:33,380
and it can be reflected in how they enforce the policies.

695
01:10:33,680 --> 01:10:35,340
We have to be very mindful of that.

696
01:10:35,340 --> 01:10:42,220
That, as we've said, some policies have a disproportionate impact on already vulnerable

697
01:10:42,220 --> 01:10:43,660
library patrons.

698
01:10:44,400 --> 01:10:50,340
And it's the idea of the criminalization and stigmatization of experience of poverty

699
01:10:50,340 --> 01:10:51,120
and homelessness.

700
01:10:51,940 --> 01:10:54,700
There's no place for that in a public library.

701
01:10:55,480 --> 01:10:57,140
We welcome the homeless.

702
01:10:57,680 --> 01:11:01,400
We want to serve people who are economically challenged.

703
01:11:01,700 --> 01:11:02,680
That's what we do.

704
01:11:03,500 --> 01:11:09,780
And the American Library Association has put together a statement and a recommendation

705
01:11:10,180 --> 01:11:14,860
that all libraries review their policy in terms of barriers.

706
01:11:15,440 --> 01:11:21,420
And if at all possible, eliminate fines and penalties for overdue materials.

707
01:11:21,560 --> 01:11:22,320
Not for lost.

708
01:11:23,160 --> 01:11:27,600
If you lose a book, you do need to pay for that, but for overdue materials because

709
01:11:27,600 --> 01:11:34,320
it disproportionately affects the poor and the other groups that we mentioned.

710
01:11:36,450 --> 01:11:40,130
Of course, we're always looking at our physical barriers, how are our entrances,

711
01:11:40,410 --> 01:11:44,890
are our aisles wide enough, is our furniture appropriate for all kinds of people,

712
01:11:45,570 --> 01:11:50,330
are there elevators in the right places and equipment that people need and so on?

713
01:11:50,950 --> 01:11:55,430
And then is it hard to find our materials? Have we made it hard? We have to look at that.

714
01:11:55,430 --> 01:12:00,350
We have to make sure that we have accessible formats for everyone.

715
01:12:04,630 --> 01:12:10,810
So in my annual report, I mentioned that we are looking at barriers.

716
01:12:11,070 --> 01:12:17,950
I also claimed that we are for everyone, unfortunately saying it is not enough.

717
01:12:19,070 --> 01:12:22,490
We have to work to make that true.

718
01:12:23,370 --> 01:12:24,810
Neutrality is a myth.

719
01:12:25,290 --> 01:12:27,450
Different populations have different needs.

720
01:12:27,450 --> 01:12:34,350
We need to recognize that, and we need to ensure that people from marginalized groups are served.

721
01:12:34,930 --> 01:12:39,750
And to do that, we have to use forethought, intention, planning and resources.

722
01:12:40,910 --> 01:12:47,050
And we as library professionals need to challenge those taken for granted policies, like overdue fines.

723
01:12:47,590 --> 01:12:50,870
We grew up with them, and it can be hard to change,

724
01:12:50,870 --> 01:12:57,230
But we need to really look closely at who we're excluding when we do that.

725
01:12:58,960 --> 01:13:04,220
Any questions or concerns or comments or anything, any feedback on this?

726
01:13:06,990 --> 01:13:07,650
Ms. Westmore.

727
01:13:07,890 --> 01:13:08,310
Yes, sir.

728
01:13:09,970 --> 01:13:14,350
I frequented libraries in my entire life.

729
01:13:17,130 --> 01:13:20,390
I'm embarrassed to say fines have been a part of my life upon occasion.

730
01:13:20,990 --> 01:13:22,890
Although I try to limit that when I can.

731
01:13:22,890 --> 01:13:28,930
What is the alternative to encourage the return of books?

732
01:13:29,230 --> 01:13:33,830
Because I didn't hear what would replace the fines.

733
01:13:34,030 --> 01:13:38,370
Would it be a way of service change or something along those lines?

734
01:13:38,770 --> 01:13:43,130
How would we try to make sure that that library book comes back?

735
01:13:43,630 --> 01:13:44,770
That's a great question.

736
01:13:45,310 --> 01:13:49,490
And that's how that needs to be in the policy.

737
01:13:49,490 --> 01:13:56,210
policy. That's where the policy needs to be designed carefully so that customers understand

738
01:13:56,550 --> 01:14:07,070
this is not a giveaway. This is an expression of confidence in them that they understand

739
01:14:07,430 --> 01:14:13,730
they are borrowing our books. So borrowing is the key. And that if those books are

740
01:14:13,730 --> 01:14:18,650
not returned, they will immediately lose their library privileges.

741
01:14:19,650 --> 01:14:22,610
And in the policy, we need to think about dollar amounts.

742
01:14:22,970 --> 01:14:32,830
So if they checked out a paperback that costs us $3, is that $3 lost book enough to block

743
01:14:32,830 --> 01:14:34,630
them from future use?

744
01:14:34,810 --> 01:14:41,850
And maybe, maybe because it is a lost book, or is there another threshold that we would

745
01:14:41,850 --> 01:14:42,170
use?

746
01:14:42,170 --> 01:14:47,430
Those are all the things that the library board and the staff really need to figure out.

747
01:14:47,990 --> 01:14:54,010
But it has been done, and it's been done in North Carolina, in many counties.

748
01:14:54,430 --> 01:14:57,430
Forsyth, Hickory, that's a city library, of course.

749
01:14:57,430 --> 01:14:59,890
Region Library Northwestern.

750
01:15:00,050 --> 01:15:07,770
Robinson County and Wake County, just this past week, went fine free. And their revenues

751
01:15:07,770 --> 01:15:14,910
are a whole lot higher than ours for fines. But I think your question had another aspect

752
01:15:14,910 --> 01:15:22,290
to it, and that is, what would replace that revenue? Because it is a revenue source for

753
01:15:22,290 --> 01:15:27,130
us. And so we're going to be looking very closely at that, because we respect the fact

754
01:15:27,130 --> 01:15:34,550
that we need to kind of pay our own way to some extent, but we don't want to pay our

755
01:15:34,550 --> 01:15:39,690
way on the backs of the poor, and I hate to say it that way, but that's the reality.

756
01:15:40,570 --> 01:15:42,990
And we're going to look at, we haven't been able to do this yet.

757
01:15:43,070 --> 01:15:46,330
I was hoping to have some data for you tonight, but it's complex.

758
01:15:47,010 --> 01:15:54,670
How much staff time does it take to collect those fines and process them in for deposit?

759
01:15:55,410 --> 01:15:59,710
Most of our fines or large percentage of them are less than a dollar.

760
01:16:00,350 --> 01:16:05,590
So it's a lot of labor involved in relatively small amounts of money.

761
01:16:05,970 --> 01:16:10,130
It takes just as much time to process a ten-cent fine as it does a ten-dollar fine.

762
01:16:11,250 --> 01:16:16,070
So we definitely want to bring in money for the library.

763
01:16:16,990 --> 01:16:26,070
And we have. We received almost a little over $90,000 in federal grants this fiscal year.

764
01:16:26,470 --> 01:16:30,530
So we're seeking those opportunities to bring in revenue.

765
01:16:31,090 --> 01:16:36,810
And that, in a sense, would help to replace some of the money associated with fines.

766
01:16:37,930 --> 01:16:40,970
Did I answer your question? Did I conclude?

767
01:16:41,010 --> 01:16:42,470
You gave us some food for thought, that's for sure.

768
01:16:43,750 --> 01:16:50,350
With the studies you looked at, as there have been studies done on increased late returns

769
01:16:50,350 --> 01:16:54,050
on late fee free libraries.

770
01:16:54,590 --> 01:16:57,350
So and we're going to be looking at that as well.

771
01:16:57,870 --> 01:17:04,210
What we have is the other side, the studies that show that fines do not bring books back.

772
01:17:04,830 --> 01:17:09,970
The research is not showing that fines are effective in getting books back.

773
01:17:09,970 --> 01:17:16,970
And we have some anecdotal information that says from libraries, but it's vague still and

774
01:17:16,970 --> 01:17:23,910
I need to really refine that for you, but that more books come back, that they come

775
01:17:23,910 --> 01:17:27,070
back because people are not afraid to bring them back.

776
01:17:27,590 --> 01:17:30,870
People are reluctant to bring back a book that has a fine on it.

777
01:17:31,310 --> 01:17:35,970
They would sometimes rather keep the book than never come back to the library.

778
01:17:36,670 --> 01:17:43,310
So yeah, we need to ask those questions, and now I've got a list of libraries I can talk to, so that's helpful.

779
01:17:43,650 --> 01:17:47,350
How often can you check out, recheck a book?

780
01:17:48,490 --> 01:17:53,570
So they check out for three weeks, except some of our newer materials only check out for a week.

781
01:17:53,830 --> 01:17:57,510
Brand new high-demand fiction, they only check out for a week.

782
01:17:57,610 --> 01:18:00,810
But we buy more of those, so you don't have to wait too long.

783
01:18:00,810 --> 01:18:02,270
They check out for a week.

784
01:18:02,390 --> 01:18:08,830
Most materials are for three weeks, and we will renew for you twice, so a total period

785
01:18:08,830 --> 01:18:09,790
of nine weeks.

786
01:18:11,770 --> 01:18:13,210
Yeah, good question.

787
01:18:13,550 --> 01:18:13,990
Thank you.

788
01:18:14,470 --> 01:18:14,630
Yes.

789
01:18:16,690 --> 01:18:18,170
The exterior of the library.

790
01:18:18,450 --> 01:18:20,630
It used to be, I'm

791
01:18:22,680 --> 01:18:26,380
not sure exactly what to call it, an area where you could return

792
01:18:26,380 --> 01:18:26,680
a book.

793
01:18:26,780 --> 01:18:28,700
It said book return on the front of that.

794
01:18:28,760 --> 01:18:28,960
Yes.

795
01:18:29,640 --> 01:18:36,540
If I'm not mistaken, no longer does it say book return, but the way of putting the book

796
01:18:36,540 --> 01:18:44,500
in there is still there, and I used it about three weeks ago after I was coming by there

797
01:18:45,060 --> 01:18:51,700
and just noticed that book return was not on it, but the way of putting it open, putting

798
01:18:51,700 --> 01:18:54,140
a book in and closing it was still there, so I used it.

799
01:18:54,140 --> 01:19:02,020
So is that viable anymore? Because allowing people to return books after hours when the library is closed

800
01:19:02,020 --> 01:19:05,560
might actually get more books back in.

801
01:19:05,860 --> 01:19:07,600
If there was a sign on it, do you mean?

802
01:19:08,300 --> 01:19:11,520
I don't know what happened to the sign. I'm glad you told me that.

803
01:19:12,100 --> 01:19:16,540
I haven't looked at it in a while. I don't know if the sign fell off and we haven't gotten it put up time.

804
01:19:16,660 --> 01:19:20,020
That's not good. It needs to say book return. Absolutely.

805
01:19:20,020 --> 01:19:26,520
The difficulty for some people, though, is that even if it's after hours, and our hours are generous,

806
01:19:26,700 --> 01:19:33,040
we're open from 9 to 9 Monday through Wednesday, and then 9 to 6 Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

807
01:19:33,760 --> 01:19:39,440
But if transportation is an issue, a book drop won't help, because you can't get there.

808
01:19:40,320 --> 01:19:42,820
So, but yes, it definitely needs to have a sign.

809
01:19:45,110 --> 01:19:45,610
What else?

810
01:19:45,610 --> 01:19:46,530
So

811
01:19:49,090 --> 01:19:59,630
with so many books now being available in electronic format, I've taken some

812
01:19:59,630 --> 01:20:07,810
classes and everything I get now is an e-book. So where do you see or how this

813
01:20:07,810 --> 01:20:13,090
would be incorporated in our system here? I'm

814
01:20:15,110 --> 01:20:15,810
just wondering where

815
01:20:15,810 --> 01:20:26,290
videos. So we have e-books and we own 1,200 titles roughly and we have joined in partnership

816
01:20:26,290 --> 01:20:33,370
with some surrounding counties and some a little further away to share our e-books.

817
01:20:33,870 --> 01:20:41,830
So even though we've only purchased 1,200 that we own, our customers have access to

818
01:20:41,830 --> 01:20:48,530
a whole lot more. The issue with ebooks, many people still prefer to hold a book and read

819
01:20:48,530 --> 01:20:56,450
from paper. I like both. I use both. But the publishers are working against public libraries

820
01:20:56,450 --> 01:21:02,870
deliberately by raising the price of ebooks so that they are prohibitively expensive

821
01:21:02,870 --> 01:21:20,810
to public libraries. An individual e-book, for example, could cost $90, where the print version would be a $20 or $25 book and we get a 45% discount on that because we use a job who has understate contract.

822
01:21:21,110 --> 01:21:32,150
We get an enormous discount on our books. And yet for e-books, the price is very high. And the library profession is working on this and trying to reason with publishers

823
01:21:32,150 --> 01:21:39,550
to say there's no reason to treat us differently, an e-book that you could buy for $10.99 would

824
01:21:39,550 --> 01:21:47,010
cost us almost $100. So that's an issue that's going to restrict library's use of those electronic

825
01:21:47,010 --> 01:21:51,010
books. We hope it will get better though. Yeah, but we, yeah.

826
01:21:52,070 --> 01:21:57,790
And I was, you know, when you were talking about barriers, I was just wondering have

827
01:21:57,790 --> 01:22:08,890
have you considered maybe Sunday from maybe one to six or as a timeframe for folks who

828
01:22:08,890 --> 01:22:13,050
can, you know, get by who maybe can't do it the other days of the week?

829
01:22:13,350 --> 01:22:13,630
Yes.

830
01:22:13,950 --> 01:22:15,010
We have looked at that.

831
01:22:15,210 --> 01:22:16,550
I would love to do that.

832
01:22:16,910 --> 01:22:19,450
I've worked in libraries that opened on Sundays.

833
01:22:19,970 --> 01:22:27,130
Some libraries open, and generally it is, for example, one to five, and that allows

834
01:22:27,130 --> 01:22:32,530
people to go to their place of worship, maybe have a little bite of lunch and then come to

835
01:22:32,530 --> 01:22:35,850
the library and have a lovely afternoon experience in the library.

836
01:22:36,570 --> 01:22:41,830
It also helps our students who realize on Sunday they have a term paper due on Monday

837
01:22:42,590 --> 01:22:49,310
and they have a way to get their sources and places where I've worked they did it during

838
01:22:49,310 --> 01:22:55,050
the school year and then maybe didn't have open Sundays on during the summer.

839
01:22:55,830 --> 01:22:58,990
And we have talked about it as a library board.

840
01:22:59,170 --> 01:23:00,830
We've explored this a little bit.

841
01:23:00,970 --> 01:23:03,230
But I would like to continue to talk about that.

842
01:23:03,310 --> 01:23:04,610
I would love for us to do that.

843
01:23:04,850 --> 01:23:06,290
I think that would be good.

844
01:23:06,390 --> 01:23:07,590
And I was thinking about the students.

845
01:23:08,550 --> 01:23:12,510
And one other thing, now the, so if I go now,

846
01:23:12,690 --> 01:23:15,610
am I going to smell that Starbucks coffee in there

847
01:23:15,610 --> 01:23:19,070
and find a nice comfy chair to...

848
01:23:19,070 --> 01:23:19,710
I know.

849
01:23:21,670 --> 01:23:22,790
And isn't that funny?

850
01:23:22,790 --> 01:23:24,690
I mean, not just yet, we're getting there.

851
01:23:25,510 --> 01:23:28,210
But because, well, those of us in the profession

852
01:23:28,210 --> 01:23:31,030
know that a library cafe is a place

853
01:23:31,030 --> 01:23:34,290
where you can use the internet and maybe

854
01:23:34,290 --> 01:23:36,750
get a snack from a vending machine.

855
01:23:37,430 --> 01:23:40,570
But other people read that in the paper.

856
01:23:40,730 --> 01:23:42,070
We had a lovely article in the paper

857
01:23:42,070 --> 01:23:43,530
about the library renovations.

858
01:23:44,330 --> 01:23:47,290
And thought, exactly as you, oh,

859
01:23:47,310 --> 01:23:49,070
I'd be able to get a cup of coffee in there.

860
01:23:51,410 --> 01:23:56,870
So, I've worked in library systems where we did have a cafe, Hickory has a cafe, finding

861
01:23:56,870 --> 01:24:02,330
a vendor who will staff a cafe and make enough money is difficult.

862
01:24:02,870 --> 01:24:08,570
So we thought in the interim, we're looking at the possibility of a vending machine.

863
01:24:09,250 --> 01:24:14,450
And now these aren't the kind of vending machines where you get a cup of coffee and

864
01:24:14,450 --> 01:24:16,850
you wish you hadn't, you know, they're just so bad.

865
01:24:16,850 --> 01:24:26,890
So these are the kind that will give you a macchiata, a latte, a mocha brevet, whatever you want and by

866
01:24:26,890 --> 01:24:33,170
understanding that it's good coffee. So yes, you will be able to smell coffee in the building at some point.

867
01:24:33,330 --> 01:24:35,250
We really are working toward that. Yes.

868
01:24:36,150 --> 01:24:45,750
And just one final thing. I do want to thank you for the bookmobile that travels out in the county.

869
01:24:45,750 --> 01:24:50,650
to the places, to the communities that are out there

870
01:24:50,650 --> 01:24:58,650
that are in between city services and out in the county.

871
01:24:59,190 --> 01:25:02,950
So, and in particular, you know, the stop that's made,

872
01:25:03,090 --> 01:25:05,230
you know, to the children that's out at the

873
01:25:05,230 --> 01:25:07,030
WIDO Academic Enrichment Program.

874
01:25:07,330 --> 01:25:10,730
So it means a lot and they look forward to it.

875
01:25:10,850 --> 01:25:12,550
And then we have some, you know,

876
01:25:12,550 --> 01:25:17,990
a member of the community that will just come over and check out books from that time, so

877
01:25:17,990 --> 01:25:19,250
I appreciate that.

878
01:25:19,570 --> 01:25:20,490
Oh, it's our pleasure.

879
01:25:20,650 --> 01:25:21,710
We love the bookmobile.

880
01:25:22,470 --> 01:25:30,590
In fact, not this fiscal year, but for fiscal year 21, I have to think, because it may

881
01:25:30,590 --> 01:25:34,990
be actually too late for that year, we would like to get a federal grant to purchase

882
01:25:34,990 --> 01:25:36,590
a new bookmobile, yeah.

883
01:25:37,010 --> 01:25:38,150
And they're out there.

884
01:25:38,290 --> 01:25:39,570
That federal money is out there.

885
01:25:39,570 --> 01:25:41,330
of the timing, I can't quite remember.

886
01:25:42,330 --> 01:25:44,490
It may be too late for fiscal year 21,

887
01:25:44,950 --> 01:25:48,930
but we will definitely be pursuing that, yes.

888
01:25:49,450 --> 01:25:53,170
And we'd like that bookmobile to have more internet access,

889
01:25:53,610 --> 01:25:55,150
or this bookmail has none.

890
01:25:55,250 --> 01:25:57,090
So we need to all have books,

891
01:25:57,570 --> 01:26:01,350
but also have a way for people to come on the bookmobile

892
01:26:01,350 --> 01:26:05,310
and do a job search or research for school

893
01:26:05,310 --> 01:26:06,550
or whatever they need.

894
01:26:06,550 --> 01:26:09,570
So, fingers crossed, I'd love to do that.

895
01:26:11,340 --> 01:26:12,300
Anything else?

896
01:26:13,500 --> 01:26:14,380
Any other questions?

897
01:26:16,040 --> 01:26:17,060
Great, thank you.

898
01:26:17,180 --> 01:26:17,880
Thank you so much.

899
01:26:24,770 --> 01:26:27,430
Next we have Ms. Teresa Allen, our health director,

900
01:26:28,010 --> 01:26:31,190
to present four different things to us, I believe.

901
01:26:33,990 --> 01:26:35,510
Good evening, commissioners.

902
01:26:35,710 --> 01:26:38,590
Please let me apologize for the coughing spell.

903
01:26:39,330 --> 01:26:40,690
I haven't coughed this much all day,

904
01:26:40,830 --> 01:26:43,190
and of course you can hear and get going.

905
01:26:43,190 --> 01:26:48,070
But I'm going to give you the pleasure of hearing some of our staff this evening.

906
01:26:48,790 --> 01:26:54,330
Angela Manning is going to present three FDA grants that she wrote for and received for your consideration.

907
01:26:55,130 --> 01:27:00,410
And then Jessica Williams, our communications manager, is going to share with you an opioid video

908
01:27:00,950 --> 01:27:03,850
and the latest initiative we have that surrounds that.

909
01:27:05,700 --> 01:27:10,740
Good evening. I am excited to tell you we were awarded.

910
01:27:10,740 --> 01:27:17,360
We were notified in December that we were fully awarded for the three category of grants that we are eligible for.

911
01:27:17,540 --> 01:27:24,500
It's FDA money that is distributed through AFTO, which is the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

912
01:27:25,400 --> 01:27:35,460
Three of these grants, the first for your consideration and approval is for $3,000 for a travel grant to the FDA Southeast Conference.

913
01:27:35,740 --> 01:27:37,960
They have this conference every year in a different state.

914
01:27:37,960 --> 01:27:42,940
I was able to use the funding that we were awarded this last year to travel to

915
01:27:42,940 --> 01:27:45,920
Nashville, Tennessee for the conference and I was actually asked to be a

916
01:27:45,920 --> 01:27:50,120
presenter on behalf of Representing North Carolina and to share the work that

917
01:27:50,120 --> 01:27:55,100
we have done in Wilson County nationally as a jurisdiction for what we have

918
01:27:55,100 --> 01:27:58,960
done with the FDA program standards. So we were renewed for that and I

919
01:27:58,960 --> 01:28:01,920
believe this year's conference is in Alabama and we are hoping to send

920
01:28:01,920 --> 01:28:08,740
to additional staff members to that. The second small $3,000 grant. I'm excited

921
01:28:08,740 --> 01:28:12,860
about this one. It's kind of unique. We want to offer food safety training

922
01:28:12,860 --> 01:28:17,900
specifically to a targeted population for our temporary food events that we

923
01:28:17,900 --> 01:28:23,780
have. So we have a lot of day fairs, whirligig, fairs and festivals, a lot of

924
01:28:23,780 --> 01:28:28,380
Sunday in the parks. And so what we find is that a lot of people are

925
01:28:28,380 --> 01:28:34,700
really interested. You probably, we get a lot of questions about food trucks and

926
01:28:34,700 --> 01:28:39,960
everybody, you know, has interest in a food truck. And so what we want to do is

927
01:28:39,960 --> 01:28:44,060
we want to provide food safety training targeted specifically to this

928
01:28:44,060 --> 01:28:49,000
transient, temporary base. I mean, unfortunately an outbreak with a

929
01:28:50,180 --> 01:28:54,780
festival or fair an event, you're actually investigating maybe a month

930
01:28:54,780 --> 01:28:58,180
after the actual event happened. And so what we want to do is we want to

931
01:28:58,180 --> 01:29:00,620
offer some targeted training to the public.

932
01:29:00,800 --> 01:29:01,460
This would be free.

933
01:29:01,860 --> 01:29:03,620
This would be hands-on.

934
01:29:03,840 --> 01:29:05,680
And it would really walk people through, number one,

935
01:29:06,100 --> 01:29:08,660
the process of permitting with the health department.

936
01:29:08,820 --> 01:29:10,640
How do you get a permit to be a vendor

937
01:29:10,640 --> 01:29:12,660
at one of these temporary events?

938
01:29:13,140 --> 01:29:14,960
And then also the food safety aspect.

939
01:29:15,120 --> 01:29:15,900
What are the challenges?

940
01:29:16,400 --> 01:29:17,380
If there's no running water,

941
01:29:17,520 --> 01:29:18,900
there's no mechanical refrigeration.

942
01:29:19,100 --> 01:29:20,060
How do you handle food safely?

943
01:29:20,320 --> 01:29:23,020
So we're really excited to kind of put this together.

944
01:29:23,160 --> 01:29:24,600
And this is kind of the first of its kind

945
01:29:24,600 --> 01:29:25,400
in North Carolina.

946
01:29:25,600 --> 01:29:27,240
So I'm really kind of excited about that.

947
01:29:27,240 --> 01:29:30,260
I've got some other counties kind of want them to copy what we're doing.

948
01:29:30,560 --> 01:29:33,100
But and then the last one is for $20,000.

949
01:29:33,700 --> 01:29:37,180
This is to fulfill the last half and

950
01:29:37,180 --> 01:29:41,860
to finalize our FDA risk factors study of risk factors for

951
01:29:41,860 --> 01:29:45,540
foodborne illness with all of our retail food establishments in Wilson County.

952
01:29:46,000 --> 01:29:47,560
We were able to do the first half.

953
01:29:47,780 --> 01:29:50,300
We got funded $20,000, which I'll approve for 2019.

954
01:29:50,860 --> 01:29:55,620
And then we've got the $20,000 grant that will finish us out for 2020.

955
01:29:55,620 --> 01:29:59,860
That grant money will be used to cover, to upgrade some IT equipment.

956
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:05,340
That my inspectors using the field every day for food inspections, some equipment, replacement,

957
01:30:06,060 --> 01:30:11,760
and to supplement some budgetary items there. So those are the three grants that we rewarded and

958
01:30:11,760 --> 01:30:15,160
would like for you to approve for us to receive an allocate funding.

959
01:30:16,400 --> 01:30:22,700
Be glad to answer any questions. Any questions from Ms. Manning at this time?

960
01:30:23,060 --> 01:30:28,400
I've got a quick question on the food trucks. I know a private individual doesn't understand

961
01:30:28,400 --> 01:30:34,260
and who they're hiring and are they familiar with say an out-of-state or out-of-county?

962
01:30:34,520 --> 01:30:38,000
Do we have a list of approved food truck vendors?

963
01:30:38,440 --> 01:30:44,440
We do for Wilson County, so my staff, anybody can call any event organizer or somebody who

964
01:30:44,440 --> 01:30:47,340
owns a business and wants a list of food trucks to bring out there can call.

965
01:30:47,720 --> 01:30:52,680
The list is in alphabetical order and so no one's name is preferential.

966
01:30:52,680 --> 01:31:00,240
And we only, we give them the people that are permitted.

967
01:31:00,880 --> 01:31:04,200
Now, food trucks are transient and they're very difficult.

968
01:31:04,500 --> 01:31:07,100
Sometimes once we permit them, we can't find them.

969
01:31:07,200 --> 01:31:09,200
Our jurisdiction is only allowed to be in Wilson County.

970
01:31:09,320 --> 01:31:14,220
So I do have food trucks that unfortunately we permit and then go to like Johnson County or Wake County

971
01:31:14,220 --> 01:31:17,140
and we kind of depend on those counties to inspect them.

972
01:31:17,700 --> 01:31:22,400
So we do recommend that people make sure that they have a current inspection.

973
01:31:23,220 --> 01:31:29,600
If it's a food truck, that let's say you're a business and you're bringing in a food truck from Wake County, for example.

974
01:31:30,040 --> 01:31:34,620
That food truck technically by law and their permit is supposed to notify us that they're working in Wilson County.

975
01:31:35,020 --> 01:31:39,640
And a lot of them, if they do, I'll call the other county and say, hey, does this need an inspection?

976
01:31:40,020 --> 01:31:45,420
Because nine times out of ten, if I do an inspection for their food truck, next time they run across one of mine,

977
01:31:45,420 --> 01:31:50,720
They'll reciprocate the favor and that helps us with our 100% compliance for food inspections.

978
01:31:51,160 --> 01:31:52,740
So yes, we can provide a list.

979
01:31:53,060 --> 01:32:01,840
We can also help the public navigate some resources that you can kind of get to to search for food trucks.

980
01:32:01,960 --> 01:32:05,700
But on our website, you know, our food inspections are up there now.

981
01:32:06,020 --> 01:32:12,160
They can type in a name of the food truck and if it's permanent in Wilson County, it will come up with our current inspection.

982
01:32:13,680 --> 01:32:18,220
But we do. And we are also offering, and we've partnered with the Wilson Community College.

983
01:32:18,400 --> 01:32:23,360
Last year was the first time we did it. We do a seminar twice a year to discuss,

984
01:32:24,160 --> 01:32:27,860
specifically for citizens who are interested in starting a food truck.

985
01:32:28,140 --> 01:32:32,820
It's a great need. We probably talk to at least three or four people every week that come into office

986
01:32:32,820 --> 01:32:38,920
and just really trying to get in front of the educational process of what the laws are,

987
01:32:38,920 --> 01:32:42,440
what's needed before someone goes out and makes a major purchase of a food truck and

988
01:32:42,440 --> 01:32:45,860
then finds out that maybe we can't permit it or it's more complicated than what was

989
01:32:45,860 --> 01:32:49,520
assessed. And so we've got that coming up with Wilson Community College's Small

990
01:32:49,520 --> 01:32:52,360
Business Center again to seminars for 2020.

991
01:32:56,260 --> 01:33:03,000
They do. Technically that food truck has to

992
01:33:03,000 --> 01:33:06,260
carry their permit. It may not have to be visible but that truck has to have

993
01:33:06,260 --> 01:33:12,920
permit on its facility at all times of operation. So any food truck that operates in Wilson County,

994
01:33:13,000 --> 01:33:18,160
my staff does have jurisdiction to enter and ask to see that permit. If they cannot show that

995
01:33:18,160 --> 01:33:23,860
permit, we will ask them to leave. If we can verify the permit on site, some things happen.

996
01:33:24,400 --> 01:33:27,320
This is a neighboring county and we can get in touch with the Environmental Health Office

997
01:33:27,320 --> 01:33:31,820
at that time to verify that permit. But if we can't and they don't have a permit on the

998
01:33:32,720 --> 01:33:33,740
they've got to go.

999
01:33:34,820 --> 01:33:37,280
And they are required to post a sanitation grade.

1000
01:33:37,640 --> 01:33:39,200
That was a change about three or four years ago,

1001
01:33:39,560 --> 01:33:41,180
just like a normal restaurant would.

1002
01:33:41,520 --> 01:33:44,340
So that sanitation grade is posted at all times,

1003
01:33:44,380 --> 01:33:46,280
just like your regular food service establishment.

1004
01:33:46,820 --> 01:33:49,800
But the permit doesn't necessarily have to be publicly posted.

1005
01:33:54,500 --> 01:33:55,440
Any other questions?

1006
01:33:58,310 --> 01:34:02,270
If not, could we take approval of the grant award

1007
01:34:02,270 --> 01:34:05,190
for the food seminar grant first

1008
01:34:05,190 --> 01:34:06,690
First, in the amount of $3,000.

1009
01:34:08,510 --> 01:34:09,070
Second.

1010
01:34:10,110 --> 01:34:16,770
Motion has been made properly seconded to approve the grant award amount of $3,000 for the FDA Food Seminar Grant.

1011
01:34:17,350 --> 01:34:18,890
Any further questions or discussion?

1012
01:34:20,070 --> 01:34:23,190
If not, all those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

1013
01:34:23,390 --> 01:34:23,790
Aye.

1014
01:34:24,370 --> 01:34:25,990
All opposed? Motion carries.

1015
01:34:27,110 --> 01:34:33,650
Next will be approval of the grant award amount of $3,000 for the FDA Food Safety Education Grant.

1016
01:34:33,650 --> 01:34:34,790
Second.

1017
01:34:35,830 --> 01:34:38,230
Motion has been made and properly seconded.

1018
01:34:38,610 --> 01:34:41,350
Any further discussion or questions?

1019
01:34:45,080 --> 01:34:47,420
If not, all those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

1020
01:34:47,620 --> 01:34:47,960
Aye.

1021
01:34:48,340 --> 01:34:48,540
Aye.

1022
01:34:49,560 --> 01:34:50,140
Opposed?

1023
01:34:50,400 --> 01:34:51,180
Motion carries.

1024
01:34:51,920 --> 01:34:56,740
And third, approve with the grant award and the amount of $20,000 for the FDA risk

1025
01:34:56,740 --> 01:34:59,800
assessment survey 2020 grant.

1026
01:35:02,900 --> 01:35:04,900
Motion has been made and properly seconded.

1027
01:35:04,960 --> 01:35:06,480
Any further discussion or questions?

1028
01:35:07,600 --> 01:35:10,520
If not, all those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

1029
01:35:10,740 --> 01:35:11,060
Aye.

1030
01:35:11,880 --> 01:35:13,540
All opposed, the motion carries.

1031
01:35:14,200 --> 01:35:14,640
Thank you.

1032
01:35:14,640 --> 01:35:14,900
Okay.

1033
01:35:15,280 --> 01:35:15,760
Thank you.

1034
01:35:15,900 --> 01:35:16,280
Thank you.

1035
01:35:19,160 --> 01:35:20,440
And good evening.

1036
01:35:20,840 --> 01:35:21,820
Good evening, commissioners.

1037
01:35:22,720 --> 01:35:31,140
My name is Jessica Williams, and I'm here to talk about one of the amazing projects that our health education staff has implemented, and that's our opioid messaging campaign.

1038
01:35:31,140 --> 01:35:37,760
So every year the Health Education Department is funded with a grant called Healthy Communities.

1039
01:35:38,200 --> 01:35:44,460
And in that grant we're allowed to, this year, to start an opioid messaging campaign

1040
01:35:44,460 --> 01:35:46,980
or either connect with one that's already started.

1041
01:35:47,460 --> 01:35:52,620
And we wanted to kind of highlight what the work that's already being done here in Wilson County.

1042
01:35:53,060 --> 01:35:57,800
So instead of partnering with one that had already been started, we wanted to kind of create our own.

1043
01:35:58,380 --> 01:36:02,260
So our health education staff, some of them are here tonight.

1044
01:36:03,160 --> 01:36:06,200
So Ms. Melissa Haynes is here. She's one of our health educators.

1045
01:36:06,780 --> 01:36:11,300
And Samantha Patrick is our AmeriCorps VISTA employee.

1046
01:36:11,820 --> 01:36:15,260
And Samantha has been the lead on this project,

1047
01:36:15,260 --> 01:36:19,400
and she's done a phenomenal job getting it off the ground and up and running.

1048
01:36:19,960 --> 01:36:25,120
So we began this project back in the fall of last year,

1049
01:36:25,120 --> 01:36:36,900
And what we've done is created a video that will educate the public on the dangers and misuse of prescription opioids.

1050
01:36:37,600 --> 01:36:44,260
So what we wanted to make sure that people knew was to not share their prescription opioids

1051
01:36:44,260 --> 01:36:48,020
and make sure that they're aware of what happens if there's an overdose

1052
01:36:48,020 --> 01:36:53,100
and how they can help their family member or you know keep the supplies in the

1053
01:36:53,100 --> 01:36:58,740
house so someone can help them if there was an accident. So we created a video

1054
01:36:58,740 --> 01:37:03,480
and then we purchased kiosks that will be placed in two pharmacies and we're

1055
01:37:03,480 --> 01:37:06,000
hoping one more place here soon.

1056
01:37:08,340 --> 01:37:11,740
And we we're working with Wilson Value Drug

1057
01:37:11,740 --> 01:37:18,800
drug store and reload discount drugs to place the kiosk in and those are already up and going

1058
01:37:18,800 --> 01:37:21,940
and we just placed one in our health department lobby today.

1059
01:37:22,760 --> 01:37:24,980
So hopefully we're going to be constantly getting feedback.

1060
01:37:25,260 --> 01:37:31,600
There's an evaluation tool that's with that as well that will be each person that fills

1061
01:37:31,600 --> 01:37:35,260
out or watches the video, they'll be able to take the evaluation tool and we'll be

1062
01:37:35,260 --> 01:37:37,320
able to get feedback real time from that.

1063
01:37:37,320 --> 01:37:47,440
And I think we did partner with the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Deaf

1064
01:37:47,440 --> 01:37:48,320
and Hard of Hearing.

1065
01:37:48,980 --> 01:37:52,960
So this video is accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

1066
01:37:53,260 --> 01:37:55,700
So you'll see a sign language interpreter.

1067
01:37:56,580 --> 01:38:00,520
And when the video is viewed on YouTube, there are captions that are available in

1068
01:38:00,520 --> 01:38:01,500
English and Spanish.

1069
01:38:02,120 --> 01:38:06,600
So this video is also shared with all of our organization partners, so we wanted

1070
01:38:06,600 --> 01:38:10,900
it to as many people as possible. But thank you for your time and for viewing the video.

1071
01:38:15,630 --> 01:38:25,010
Know your risk. Addiction wasn't in the prescription. In 2017, 35 people in our county went to the

1072
01:38:25,010 --> 01:38:31,490
emergency department for an opioid overdose. In the same year, 10 Wilson County residents

1073
01:38:31,490 --> 01:38:39,730
died of an unintentional opioid overdose death. In our county, over 4 million opioid pills

1074
01:38:39,730 --> 01:38:42,710
were dispensed in one year alone.

1075
01:38:44,410 --> 01:38:49,210
In our 2019 community health assessment, many of you indicated that you thought substance

1076
01:38:49,210 --> 01:38:52,990
misuse was a top issue affecting quality of life in Wilson County.

1077
01:38:53,530 --> 01:38:54,950
So let's do something about it.

1078
01:38:57,490 --> 01:39:00,870
Prescription opioids play a large role in the opioid epidemic occurring right now

1079
01:39:00,870 --> 01:39:01,670
in the United States.

1080
01:39:02,210 --> 01:39:05,530
Prescription opioids can be addictive and dangerous if used improperly.

1081
01:39:05,950 --> 01:39:09,110
This is why it's so important to follow your doctor's instructions when using medication.

1082
01:39:09,110 --> 01:39:10,110
A

1083
01:39:12,130 --> 01:39:18,430
person's tolerance may increase with repeated use of prescription opioids, which is common

1084
01:39:18,430 --> 01:39:21,510
in jobs with high rates of injuries or illness.

1085
01:39:22,090 --> 01:39:28,070
Increased tolerance may lead to addiction and cause some people to use recreational drugs

1086
01:39:28,070 --> 01:39:31,150
as a substitute, despite the dangerous risk.

1087
01:39:31,990 --> 01:39:36,510
Did you know that 67% of people who misuse prescription drugs say they get them from

1088
01:39:36,510 --> 01:39:42,250
family or friends, therefore it is important to properly store and dispose of your medication.

1089
01:39:43,150 --> 01:39:48,350
Please do not share any of your prescription medication with anyone and properly store them

1090
01:39:48,350 --> 01:39:51,130
using either a locked medicine cabinet or a lock box.

1091
01:39:51,770 --> 01:39:56,690
For more information on proper storage of medication or a free lock box, please contact

1092
01:39:56,690 --> 01:40:06,290
Community Impact NC at www.impactcarolina.org or at 252-237-1242.

1093
01:40:07,990 --> 01:40:13,410
There are multiple ways to properly dispose of unwanted, unused or aspired prescription

1094
01:40:13,410 --> 01:40:18,150
appeals. Disposal locations include the police department, the sheriff's office,

1095
01:40:18,430 --> 01:40:21,490
CVS pharmacy, Walgreens, and Wilson Value Drug Store.

1096
01:40:21,490 --> 01:40:22,530
In

1097
01:40:26,820 --> 01:40:30,580
the event of an opioid overdose, look for these signs and symptoms.

1098
01:40:31,620 --> 01:40:38,280
Small pinpoint pupils, slower shallow breathing, blue lips and fingernails,

1099
01:40:39,260 --> 01:40:43,480
snoring, gasping or gurgling, and if they're unresponsive.

1100
01:40:47,750 --> 01:40:51,010
If an overdose is identified, please call 911.

1101
01:40:51,710 --> 01:40:56,550
The 911 business emergency law in North Carolina protects individuals from being arrested or charged

1102
01:40:56,550 --> 01:40:59,050
for a drug related medical emergency.

1103
01:41:04,240 --> 01:41:10,060
The loxone is a medication that reverses opioid overdoses and is used by Wilson Police, the

1104
01:41:10,060 --> 01:41:11,960
Sheriff's Office, and EMS during emergencies.

1105
01:41:12,660 --> 01:41:17,520
If you feel you are a family member at risk of an overdose, most pharmacies in the Wilson

1106
01:41:17,520 --> 01:41:21,040
County Health Department have a loxone nasal spray kits available.

1107
01:41:21,540 --> 01:41:25,760
To use the loxone, place your thumb on the plunger and your first and middle fingers

1108
01:41:25,760 --> 01:41:29,820
on the sides of the nozzle, tilt the individual's head back and support their neck.

1109
01:41:29,820 --> 01:41:33,840
Press the nozzle into one nostril, into your fingers or pressed against the nose,

1110
01:41:34,280 --> 01:41:38,420
press the plunger firmly into the nostril and remove, and then seek emergency help.

1111
01:41:43,440 --> 01:41:47,340
Addiction may not be written in a prescription, but we know opioids can be very risky.

1112
01:41:47,900 --> 01:41:51,480
For more information, please feel free to look at resources such as Hope Alliance,

1113
01:41:51,980 --> 01:41:53,980
which helps individuals reach recovery resources.

1114
01:41:55,960 --> 01:41:58,840
RC3, which offers programming to support a person's recovery.

1115
01:42:01,520 --> 01:42:04,140
Lockyourmeds.org has information about storing your medication.

1116
01:42:06,520 --> 01:42:09,920
The Wilson County Health Department has educators to connect you with resources.

1117
01:42:11,720 --> 01:42:15,040
And lastly, your pharmacist can answer any other questions that you may have.

1118
01:42:15,320 --> 01:42:15,600
Remember

1119
01:42:23,560 --> 01:42:24,840
that we are here for you.

1120
01:42:25,140 --> 01:42:26,500
We are here for you.

1121
01:42:26,880 --> 01:42:27,980
We are here for you.

1122
01:42:29,380 --> 01:42:30,880
We are here for you.

1123
01:42:31,200 --> 01:42:32,700
We are here for you.

1124
01:42:33,200 --> 01:42:34,660
We are here for you.

1125
01:43:06,200 --> 01:43:06,740
Thank you.

1126
01:43:07,080 --> 01:43:07,380
That was good.

1127
01:43:07,960 --> 01:43:08,520
Very much.

1128
01:43:08,860 --> 01:43:14,120
I did want to say a special thanks to our many community partners who worked with us to put this video together.

1129
01:43:14,120 --> 01:43:19,020
It's just another, more evidence of the great partnerships that we have here in Wilson County

1130
01:43:19,020 --> 01:43:20,920
and thank you for allowing us to share it.

1131
01:43:21,240 --> 01:43:22,720
Thank you.

1132
01:43:28,630 --> 01:43:37,930
Next we ask Mr. Michael Cobb, if he would, our E&M Director to come forward and present a request regarding ambulances.

1133
01:43:38,450 --> 01:43:39,750
Yes, sir. Good evening.

1134
01:43:40,550 --> 01:43:41,150
Good evening.

1135
01:43:44,390 --> 01:43:48,610
Our request tonight is a purchase of an ambulance.

1136
01:43:49,190 --> 01:43:55,170
The funds for this purchase are budgeted already in this year's budget.

1137
01:43:56,290 --> 01:44:04,410
We advertised for and received bids, a summary of that process and the bids we received is

1138
01:44:04,410 --> 01:44:09,070
in your packet, and I'll be glad to answer any questions about that when you take a

1139
01:44:09,070 --> 01:44:09,550
look at it.

1140
01:44:10,010 --> 01:44:18,050
So our request, if you notice the numbers in the agenda and the numbers on the packet

1141
01:44:18,050 --> 01:44:21,270
at our request is not for the least expensive one,

1142
01:44:21,290 --> 01:44:24,250
instead it's for the vehicle that most closely matches

1143
01:44:24,250 --> 01:44:25,330
our specifications.

1144
01:44:25,990 --> 01:44:27,570
So there is a difference in the price there.

1145
01:44:27,690 --> 01:44:31,810
We believe it's worth the difference that you see in those

1146
01:44:32,250 --> 01:44:35,090
to purchase the one that's listed first,

1147
01:44:35,090 --> 01:44:37,950
because we've listed them in order that we received them.

1148
01:44:38,330 --> 01:44:40,610
So the one that's listed there from Southeastern

1149
01:44:40,610 --> 01:44:46,650
Special Vehicles is $199,717 is the ambulance

1150
01:44:46,650 --> 01:44:49,150
that we want to move forward with purchasing. That's a request.

1151
01:44:51,940 --> 01:44:52,400
It's a little,

1152
01:44:52,980 --> 01:44:59,200
it's a roughly a $10,000 increase from last year for a very similar vehicle. I

1153
01:44:59,200 --> 01:44:59,720
thank Ford.

1154
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:03,840
May have had an increase. I know the price of metal went up, and I know the price of the

1155
01:45:03,840 --> 01:45:08,860
stretcher system went up, too. So there's at least three different price increases that

1156
01:45:08,860 --> 01:45:09,380
we had there.

1157
01:45:20,110 --> 01:45:27,340
And we're answering any questions if you've got about it. So the two ambulances

1158
01:45:27,340 --> 01:45:34,380
that are less expensive than the one I mentioned requesting have some exceptions to our specifications.

1159
01:45:34,380 --> 01:45:39,500
For example, one of them is constructed with a thinner metal.

1160
01:45:39,640 --> 01:45:44,200
They use different methods as far as the general construction process,

1161
01:45:44,480 --> 01:45:46,300
how they seal the joints, that kind of thing.

1162
01:45:47,860 --> 01:45:53,560
As far as our long-term plan, we're hoping to remount several of these ambulances,

1163
01:45:54,140 --> 01:46:00,460
take the box and put it on a new chassis after we've used the chassis for several years.

1164
01:46:00,460 --> 01:46:08,520
And we think just as far as continuity of operations in the service history that we've

1165
01:46:08,520 --> 01:46:10,920
gotten from the vehicles and getting them serviced.

1166
01:46:14,280 --> 01:46:17,580
They're pretty much interchangeable if you get ready to do that.

1167
01:46:19,440 --> 01:46:25,580
As far as remounting the box, there's a process.

1168
01:46:25,880 --> 01:46:32,620
I mean, depending on how many years it's been since the first one we bought of this particular kind was in 2012.

1169
01:46:32,620 --> 01:46:37,000
So, there will be some differences in the chassis, but the vendors, there are vendors

1170
01:46:37,000 --> 01:46:43,960
that are certified to reattach it, to remind it, but it's basically reattach and do some

1171
01:46:43,960 --> 01:46:44,940
refurb along the way.

1172
01:46:47,150 --> 01:46:47,770
I got a question.

1173
01:46:47,990 --> 01:46:51,670
I got a phone call from one of the bidders today out of the blue, and I think I'm the

1174
01:46:51,670 --> 01:46:58,590
only one because I asked a few of y'all earlier, and he expressed concern of putting

1175
01:46:58,590 --> 01:47:07,890
this out for bid and then not, you know, obviously the load is really low. But you know, obviously

1176
01:47:07,890 --> 01:47:11,650
it's not explained like you just did to us that there's some differences in thickness

1177
01:47:11,650 --> 01:47:17,450
of metal in the box and other items. I mean, I would think that being in the industry,

1178
01:47:17,590 --> 01:47:23,250
this person would have known what their bid had or not. If you're sending, are we sending

1179
01:47:23,250 --> 01:47:29,150
them out specifications of what we want. We do. We do. And they send us back a bunch

1180
01:47:29,150 --> 01:47:33,850
of very detailed documents that I've got back there in the chair. And they tell us that

1181
01:47:34,250 --> 01:47:39,290
we have this many exceptions to your specification. Because some of them are fairly specific.

1182
01:47:39,930 --> 01:47:45,810
They're very specific. Like you make southeastern, I guess we dealt with before. So you may

1183
01:47:45,810 --> 01:47:50,670
send a spec for the last vehicle they built for us out. South is very similar to it.

1184
01:47:50,670 --> 01:47:57,410
Lannick, I think that's probably who I heard from. I didn't catch the guy's name, but because he mentioned $7,000, but

1185
01:47:59,690 --> 01:48:03,170
So my my only concern is and I trust you

1186
01:48:05,090 --> 01:48:06,690
$7,200 in that

1187
01:48:10,910 --> 01:48:13,550
Yeah, my my only concern would be

1188
01:48:13,550 --> 01:48:19,070
Communicating with these other bidders so that when we do go out for bid again that they aren't feeling like oh, yeah

1189
01:48:19,070 --> 01:48:20,050
We're just giving a number.

1190
01:48:21,410 --> 01:48:24,410
And we end up, of course, it was re-advertised.

1191
01:48:24,530 --> 01:48:26,730
So I guess the first time we did it, we just got the two.

1192
01:48:26,870 --> 01:48:28,210
We only received two the first time.

1193
01:48:28,270 --> 01:48:30,230
So I would just caution that maybe we

1194
01:48:30,230 --> 01:48:33,030
can communicate with the lower bidders

1195
01:48:33,030 --> 01:48:34,430
and why we're doing this.

1196
01:48:34,830 --> 01:48:37,150
And just so that next time around,

1197
01:48:38,230 --> 01:48:39,930
we put it out for bid that we're

1198
01:48:39,930 --> 01:48:42,910
going to have not just Southeastern show up,

1199
01:48:42,950 --> 01:48:46,710
because that would, if I kept this low

1200
01:48:46,710 --> 01:48:48,570
and kept going with the higher crowd,

1201
01:48:48,570 --> 01:48:51,670
I would stop turning on bids.

1202
01:48:56,620 --> 01:48:59,500
Okay, any other questions for Mr. Cobb?

1203
01:49:04,200 --> 01:49:07,320
This person is very respectful too, so don't...

1204
01:49:07,320 --> 01:49:09,000
I've talked with all of them.

1205
01:49:09,060 --> 01:49:10,280
Okay, all right, good.

1206
01:49:10,920 --> 01:49:13,140
But he did have some concerns.

1207
01:49:19,890 --> 01:49:21,470
Okay, what is the pleasure of the board?

1208
01:49:23,290 --> 01:49:24,050
Move for approval.

1209
01:49:24,990 --> 01:49:25,350
Second.

1210
01:49:26,850 --> 01:49:29,590
The motion has been made and properly seconded

1211
01:49:29,590 --> 01:49:41,690
to authorize the purchase of an ambulance for $199,717 to Southeastern Specialty Vehicles.

1212
01:49:42,930 --> 01:49:45,330
Any further discussion or questions?

1213
01:49:49,420 --> 01:49:52,240
What is usually a turnaround time on delivery?

1214
01:49:53,240 --> 01:50:00,480
This one, the bid package they set us set about 60 days and it's different for every

1215
01:50:00,480 --> 01:50:09,340
vendor. We have heard some talk about 300 days. This one says 60. The gentleman you

1216
01:50:09,340 --> 01:50:16,100
talked with gave us a date of late April I think. So it's different for each

1217
01:50:16,100 --> 01:50:21,160
fender. That's important too. That's worth some dollars.

1218
01:50:28,140 --> 01:50:29,220
So once we once we

1219
01:50:29,220 --> 01:50:32,040
prove them, you're gonna go ahead and pull the trigger. We'll talk to him this

1220
01:50:32,040 --> 01:50:32,240
week.

1221
01:50:43,470 --> 01:50:49,970
Okay. Is that if there are no further questions, all those in favor of

1222
01:50:50,630 --> 01:50:54,590
leading the bid to southeastern specialty vehicles as the motion says, please

1223
01:50:54,590 --> 01:51:00,370
indicate by saying aye. Aye. I'll oppose the motion carries. Thank you sir.

1224
01:51:03,280 --> 01:51:09,200
Mr. Angel Andrew, if he would, please come forward and our financial services director.

1225
01:51:11,560 --> 01:51:12,040
I'm

1226
01:51:14,240 --> 01:51:19,840
sorry. Don't we have an option too where we can forego the bid process?

1227
01:51:21,320 --> 01:51:26,600
Haven't we done that in the past where it was like maybe a state or a comparable bid within a certain number of days?

1228
01:51:26,840 --> 01:51:32,580
There's a pre-bid process for contracts that are previously bid.

1229
01:51:33,720 --> 01:51:34,980
The language doesn't.

1230
01:51:35,500 --> 01:51:40,380
The county EMS department just did a competitive bid say within 30 days we could take.

1231
01:51:41,460 --> 01:51:44,240
There is language in the law. Let's say we can do that.

1232
01:51:44,460 --> 01:51:46,400
Thank you. Sorry about the question.

1233
01:51:52,930 --> 01:51:54,090
Good evening, commissioners.

1234
01:51:55,030 --> 01:52:00,530
I want to bring before you two budget amendments, one for the library, one for the sheriff.

1235
01:52:02,330 --> 01:52:05,830
Neither one of them require county funds.

1236
01:52:06,390 --> 01:52:15,530
And it's just to accept the commission for the library and receive funds for insurance

1237
01:52:15,530 --> 01:52:17,090
claim reimbursement.

1238
01:52:20,240 --> 01:52:24,020
Bring that to you if you have any questions, I'll be more than glad to answer.

1239
01:52:24,020 --> 01:52:25,400
Any questions for Mr. Landra?

1240
01:52:30,440 --> 01:52:31,800
If not, is there a motion to approve?

1241
01:52:33,340 --> 01:52:33,860
Second.

1242
01:52:34,800 --> 01:52:39,440
The motion has been made and properly seconded to approve the budget amendments as presented.

1243
01:52:39,700 --> 01:52:41,080
Any questions or discussion?

1244
01:52:43,930 --> 01:52:46,590
All those in favor please indicate by saying aye.

1245
01:52:46,830 --> 01:52:47,170
Aye.

1246
01:52:47,590 --> 01:52:49,230
I'll oppose the motion carries.

1247
01:52:49,770 --> 01:52:50,250
Thank you.

1248
01:52:50,770 --> 01:52:55,310
Next on the agenda is a capital project ordinance for solid waste services.

1249
01:52:55,850 --> 01:53:04,010
This is for the expansion of the new cell for solid waste called Westside 2.

1250
01:53:04,550 --> 01:53:04,690
Do

1251
01:53:07,480 --> 01:53:08,020
you have any questions?

1252
01:53:11,940 --> 01:53:13,340
Has that been permitted yet?

1253
01:53:16,600 --> 01:53:17,060
I'm sorry.

1254
01:53:17,180 --> 01:53:18,180
Has this been permitted yet?

1255
01:53:18,320 --> 01:53:18,940
Permitted yet?

1256
01:53:19,760 --> 01:53:20,480
We know who's got it.

1257
01:53:20,480 --> 01:53:21,820
It's not that I'm aware of.

1258
01:53:22,080 --> 01:53:22,940
He's a waste deal.

1259
01:53:37,870 --> 01:53:50,860
So, so anything we are approving the page and a half Apple project ordinance solid waste service expansion.

1260
01:53:51,120 --> 01:53:52,940
We're approving all of that language.

1261
01:53:53,100 --> 01:53:54,040
That's a part of that.

1262
01:53:54,200 --> 01:53:54,540
Yes.

1263
01:53:54,700 --> 01:53:56,900
This would be for the face one.

1264
01:53:57,360 --> 01:54:02,160
So I'm not sure if you have this document before you.

1265
01:54:02,160 --> 01:54:02,880
Any

1266
01:54:16,230 --> 01:54:23,900
questions regarding the capital project ordinance for solid waste

1267
01:54:23,900 --> 01:54:26,040
service expansion? West side 2.

1268
01:54:33,900 --> 01:54:36,560
Now is there a motion to approve? So moved.

1269
01:54:37,020 --> 01:54:41,140
Second. Motion has been made properly seconded to approve the capital project

1270
01:54:41,140 --> 01:54:47,500
ordinance for solid waste expansion? West side 2. Any further questions or

1271
01:54:47,500 --> 01:54:47,920
discussion?

1272
01:54:51,230 --> 01:54:55,310
None. All those in favor please indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed?

1273
01:54:56,790 --> 01:55:08,790
The next I want to recognize several 21 actually from the county who have participated in last

1274
01:55:08,790 --> 01:55:18,190
year calendar year 19 and attended the municipal finance courses that were offered by our local

1275
01:55:18,190 --> 01:55:26,930
Wilson Community College. Out of the 21 employees that went, seven of them alone were directors.

1276
01:55:27,790 --> 01:55:35,890
I bring before you just as an example of what is that we covered in that class. And having

1277
01:55:35,890 --> 01:55:43,910
taken both classes at the school of government and at the Wilson Community College, I found

1278
01:55:43,910 --> 01:55:49,010
this course to be extremely helpful, friendly, valuable to me.

1279
01:55:49,810 --> 01:55:55,610
The difference between the School of Government and the local Wilson Community College one

1280
01:55:55,610 --> 01:56:01,450
is the price, but the advantage of it as well from going from the School of Government

1281
01:56:01,450 --> 01:56:06,410
to the Community Colleges, I took the same class at the School of Government and I

1282
01:56:06,410 --> 01:56:09,290
covered the same subject in three days.

1283
01:56:10,070 --> 01:56:15,850
At the community college I was able to cover the same subject in a matter of nine weeks.

1284
01:56:16,510 --> 01:56:20,850
So I was able to absorb, digest it, and apply it.

1285
01:56:21,350 --> 01:56:27,410
And I found that not only did I find it helpful to myself, but the directors and the employees

1286
01:56:27,410 --> 01:56:31,550
who attended also has found it to be very, very helpful.

1287
01:56:31,550 --> 01:56:35,790
I'm a strong advocate of learning and of discourse.

1288
01:56:36,470 --> 01:56:51,770
I will continue to encourage our directors and our departments to encourage their employees to take advantage of this course every time the community college will offer it.

1289
01:56:52,050 --> 01:56:56,350
So I just wanted to share with you the names, the departments, the number of employees that went.

1290
01:56:56,350 --> 01:56:59,370
And I myself, I'm very proud that out of our department,

1291
01:56:59,550 --> 01:57:01,850
we have a staff including myself of eight

1292
01:57:01,850 --> 01:57:05,970
and five of our staff members have benefited from this class.

1293
01:57:06,510 --> 01:57:10,530
So I'm glad I'm very proud of the employees and my staff

1294
01:57:10,530 --> 01:57:13,530
for wanting to educate themselves and learn

1295
01:57:14,160 --> 01:57:17,310
what is it that we do, why we do it,

1296
01:57:18,180 --> 01:57:21,410
and why the county operates the way we do.

1297
01:57:21,830 --> 01:57:23,230
It's very beneficial.

1298
01:57:25,650 --> 01:57:33,030
Next on the agenda, I have the monthly financial report for the month of November, and I bring this before you just to present it.

1299
01:57:33,530 --> 01:57:36,670
If you have any questions, I would like to answer them for you.

1300
01:57:41,290 --> 01:57:51,990
I would just like to ask to make sure that our staff who completed that course, that those names are recorded in the minutes.

1301
01:57:52,770 --> 01:57:59,090
Yes, our intention is to send them a letter, recognizing them and letting them know that

1302
01:57:59,090 --> 01:58:02,530
we have recognized them tonight before you.

1303
01:58:02,730 --> 01:58:02,870
Great.

1304
01:58:09,720 --> 01:58:11,980
Did you say it was a non-week course?

1305
01:58:12,340 --> 01:58:12,660
Yes, sir.

1306
01:58:15,470 --> 01:58:22,410
And in that course, actually, there's a lot that we cover, but we cover the structure

1307
01:58:22,410 --> 01:58:26,670
of our local government here, and we also compare that to the city, which is different.

1308
01:58:28,090 --> 01:58:32,270
We also cover the accountability of the government accounting.

1309
01:58:33,210 --> 01:58:38,770
We cover why we have various funds within the government and our financial structure.

1310
01:58:39,530 --> 01:58:44,650
We cover what is revenue, what is expense, what are PO's, why do we do that.

1311
01:58:45,070 --> 01:58:48,650
We cover the budget process. We cover your duties.

1312
01:58:48,930 --> 01:58:53,410
What is it that you do? Why do you do what you do? Why do we get together every month?

1313
01:58:53,410 --> 01:59:01,330
and we bring presentations to you, we cover the LGC, who are they, what they do, what

1314
01:59:01,330 --> 01:59:07,450
they represent, why they're so important to us. We cover the capital, capital expenditures,

1315
01:59:07,710 --> 01:59:14,990
capital reserves, we cover my role as a financial director, what is that the county, the manager

1316
01:59:14,990 --> 01:59:20,810
and yourselves expect of myself and my office. We cover what is the purpose of the pre-audit,

1317
01:59:20,810 --> 01:59:24,150
And we covered the audit. What is the purpose of the audit?

1318
01:59:24,690 --> 01:59:31,570
And there's a couple of other things that we do. We go into the utilities.

1319
01:59:32,790 --> 01:59:37,170
What governs them? How do they operate? How do they bring in revenue?

1320
01:59:38,510 --> 01:59:42,030
What's the purpose behind them? What are the pros and some of the cons?

1321
01:59:42,750 --> 01:59:48,290
So it covers a great deal of subjects that we can all benefit from.

1322
01:59:49,310 --> 01:59:50,730
I would encourage you.

1323
01:59:51,050 --> 01:59:51,810
Thank you.

1324
01:59:52,050 --> 01:59:52,390
Yes, sir.

1325
01:59:55,500 --> 01:59:59,900
I believe the report is presented.

1326
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:07,800
to us for informational purposes. Yes, sir. Thank you. You're so welcome. I

1327
02:00:11,960 --> 02:00:12,740
do not believe

1328
02:00:12,740 --> 02:00:25,200
we have any old business, and I'll refer to Ms. Steinagel for other matters. The only item

1329
02:00:25,200 --> 02:00:30,940
I have before you is the budget calendar. We are getting ready to start that process

1330
02:00:30,940 --> 02:00:36,660
again, I know it feels like we've presented that it's time to start anew, so we've got

1331
02:00:36,660 --> 02:00:44,140
that starting in February and you've got dates that flow through the budget adoption, which

1332
02:00:44,140 --> 02:00:48,620
certainly has to be before July 1. Denise, I'm not smart enough to print

1333
02:00:48,620 --> 02:00:53,300
that. Is there any way we can get a printed copy of that? Absolutely. Yep, we can get

1334
02:00:53,300 --> 02:00:58,360
that for you. We'll get that printed for you and then we'll also get all those

1335
02:00:58,360 --> 02:01:01,320
states included on your calendars as well.

1336
02:01:01,440 --> 02:01:02,880
But even on a state budget, yeah.

1337
02:01:05,640 --> 02:01:05,920
Right.

1338
02:01:06,320 --> 02:01:08,580
So we don't have to do it like that.

1339
02:01:09,660 --> 02:01:10,060
You're...

1340
02:01:10,060 --> 02:01:11,640
Well, we want to do a case with Bruce.

1341
02:01:11,960 --> 02:01:12,100
You should.

1342
02:01:14,400 --> 02:01:15,200
You're a broker.

1343
02:01:15,540 --> 02:01:16,380
See what you do.

1344
02:01:16,580 --> 02:01:16,980
Exactly.

1345
02:01:18,680 --> 02:01:20,620
We did just...

1346
02:01:20,620 --> 02:01:22,780
So if you see anything, let us know.

1347
02:01:22,900 --> 02:01:26,500
I think we did stay away from spring breaks and that type of stuff, so then we're not

1348
02:01:26,500 --> 02:01:27,280
meeting during that.

1349
02:01:29,070 --> 02:01:34,550
In reading through the dates for it, how

1350
02:01:36,860 --> 02:01:41,880
essential is it that we do the second budget presentation

1351
02:01:41,880 --> 02:01:44,000
on April 21st?

1352
02:01:45,600 --> 02:01:46,920
That's a Tuesday night?

1353
02:01:47,480 --> 02:01:49,700
We can adjust any of these.

1354
02:01:50,900 --> 02:01:52,480
It can be on Wednesday.

1355
02:01:53,660 --> 02:02:00,240
That budget presentation on Monday and Tuesday, you had your first Monday night meeting

1356
02:02:00,240 --> 02:02:01,640
which was like the 6th.

1357
02:02:01,640 --> 02:02:08,000
We stayed away from the 13th through the 17th since that was spring break and so that's the dates of Monday Tuesday

1358
02:02:08,000 --> 02:02:12,980
But they can be on any days. This is your calendar. So so make it work for all of you

1359
02:02:19,690 --> 02:02:20,150
Do

1360
02:02:31,480 --> 02:02:36,360
you suggest we move to a Wednesday or a Thursday or we can do is

1361
02:02:40,580 --> 02:02:45,760
Or perhaps a Thursday sometimes Wednesdays can be a conflict in the evening

1362
02:02:45,760 --> 02:02:47,640
Which one are we talking about?

1363
02:02:47,640 --> 02:02:49,260
It says April 15th.

1364
02:02:49,540 --> 02:02:51,060
The 20th is a Monday.

1365
02:02:51,640 --> 02:02:54,240
Tuesday, April 21st.

1366
02:02:54,520 --> 02:02:55,760
It would be going...

1367
02:02:56,540 --> 02:02:58,840
Thursday would be April 23rd.

1368
02:02:59,520 --> 02:03:00,060
Right.

1369
02:03:13,370 --> 02:03:14,750
Wednesday's are not good for me.

1370
02:03:15,190 --> 02:03:15,410
Okay.

1371
02:03:16,950 --> 02:03:18,430
What other dates you saw?

1372
02:03:20,890 --> 02:03:21,670
What's Thursday?

1373
02:03:22,430 --> 02:03:22,970
23rd.

1374
02:03:23,610 --> 02:03:24,990
Roger, is that a bad day for you?

1375
02:03:26,410 --> 02:03:28,210
Again, I don't know what's coming down tonight.

1376
02:03:28,490 --> 02:03:31,350
I'm only in Thursdays and Fridays and I'm not doing it.

1377
02:03:32,630 --> 02:03:34,590
I'm not around.

1378
02:03:37,150 --> 02:03:39,630
Again, it's a new year, so I'm not sure what's right.

1379
02:03:40,730 --> 02:03:42,590
Whatever works for the best of the board.

1380
02:03:42,810 --> 02:03:44,750
I mean, I'm trying to work my schedule in this work.

1381
02:03:46,690 --> 02:03:50,110
Stay with Mondays and do like the 20th and the 27th.

1382
02:03:58,430 --> 02:04:00,030
How does that move to everybody?

1383
02:04:01,110 --> 02:04:05,270
Move the 21st to the 27th.

1384
02:04:07,030 --> 02:04:09,310
That would be an agenda session that week, too.

1385
02:04:09,490 --> 02:04:09,770
On Thursday.

1386
02:04:10,210 --> 02:04:10,790
On that Thursday.

1387
02:04:11,290 --> 02:04:12,310
Can we

1388
02:04:19,740 --> 02:04:21,420
do the 27th?

1389
02:04:22,380 --> 02:04:27,120
Keep the 20th and move the 21st to the 27th.

1390
02:04:29,130 --> 02:04:32,270
Is there a consensus that that will work?

1391
02:04:35,730 --> 02:04:37,910
I'll make it work whatever you're going to do.

1392
02:04:39,290 --> 02:04:39,810
OK.

1393
02:04:40,970 --> 02:04:45,010
Then is there a motion that we adopt the budget calendar?

1394
02:04:46,070 --> 02:04:47,930
Are the times still okay?

1395
02:04:48,170 --> 02:04:49,230
Would you rather go earlier?

1396
02:04:50,390 --> 02:04:53,510
We have 7 o'clock, but is that still okay?

1397
02:04:53,950 --> 02:04:55,830
Again, we can be flexible in whatever works for you.

1398
02:04:55,970 --> 02:04:57,810
If you'd rather start at 5.30 or 6.30.

1399
02:04:58,470 --> 02:05:00,490
We'd left it at 7 just for consistency.

1400
02:05:01,170 --> 02:05:01,670
Same

1401
02:05:03,980 --> 02:05:04,940
as time only.

1402
02:05:05,660 --> 02:05:07,080
7 is fine with me.

1403
02:05:08,580 --> 02:05:09,300
Does

1404
02:05:12,270 --> 02:05:17,290
it usually put your personnel recommendations that you present to the

1405
02:05:17,290 --> 02:05:19,830
personnel committee in your presentive budget?

1406
02:05:26,120 --> 02:05:30,280
I believe we met prior to it this

1407
02:05:30,280 --> 02:05:39,000
year. So to answer your question the personnel committee had met and they

1408
02:05:39,000 --> 02:05:45,500
were in the budget that I presented this year. I believe in previous years the

1409
02:05:45,500 --> 02:05:46,720
that person have to make that afterwards.

1410
02:05:47,180 --> 02:05:53,300
It would not be prudent to try to put that prior to the presentation.

1411
02:05:53,720 --> 02:05:54,460
Yeah, we can do that.

1412
02:06:03,750 --> 02:06:05,750
It would change

1413
02:06:08,720 --> 02:06:09,200
some.

1414
02:06:14,480 --> 02:06:17,220
So, yeah, and there's not really dates for either of those,

1415
02:06:17,380 --> 02:06:20,300
so you could probably just take those off,

1416
02:06:20,380 --> 02:06:21,860
or we can insert those differently.

1417
02:06:21,980 --> 02:06:23,120
There's not a date for that,

1418
02:06:23,260 --> 02:06:25,080
your point being that you would do it beforehand?

1419
02:06:25,440 --> 02:06:26,940
Yeah, it really doesn't matter.

1420
02:06:27,440 --> 02:06:31,540
So you could move it up that section, that A and B,

1421
02:06:34,730 --> 02:06:38,210
we would need to do it sometime before

1422
02:06:38,210 --> 02:06:41,920
May 11th, probably sometime in April.

1423
02:06:48,100 --> 02:06:49,980
So yeah, we could make that occur.

1424
02:06:50,120 --> 02:06:55,620
We could have the department staff will be in by March 30th, so we could get that presented

1425
02:06:55,620 --> 02:06:56,940
to you during the month of April.

1426
02:06:57,720 --> 02:06:58,460
Would that work?

1427
02:06:59,560 --> 02:07:03,360
That would give you no time to say just went crazy road.

1428
02:07:04,640 --> 02:07:05,080
Absolutely.

1429
02:07:05,520 --> 02:07:07,460
Everything you said could get you a budget.

1430
02:07:07,900 --> 02:07:08,340
Absolutely.

1431
02:07:09,420 --> 02:07:10,620
So yeah, we could do that.

1432
02:07:14,460 --> 02:07:17,160
I don't think the best place to do that, but we could definitely,

1433
02:07:17,400 --> 02:07:21,680
we could just say in April, we might move that up from a formatting perspective,

1434
02:07:21,900 --> 02:07:23,920
but we could just plan both the personnel committee meeting

1435
02:07:23,920 --> 02:07:26,380
and the nonprofit committee to meet in April.

1436
02:07:26,380 --> 02:07:27,240
And

1437
02:07:33,800 --> 02:07:39,060
is there a motion to adopt the budget calendar as presented with one exception of

1438
02:07:39,060 --> 02:07:43,060
moving the date April 21st to April 27th?

1439
02:07:50,060 --> 02:07:53,520
The motion has been made in prior to the second year to adopt the budget calendar.

1440
02:07:54,320 --> 02:07:57,820
As amended, any further questions or discussion?

1441
02:08:00,210 --> 02:08:03,550
Denise, that would include moving the A and B part up.

1442
02:08:07,500 --> 02:08:09,840
All those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

1443
02:08:10,060 --> 02:08:10,400
Aye.

1444
02:08:10,400 --> 02:08:13,760
those motion carries committee

1445
02:08:16,860 --> 02:08:18,580
reports I

1446
02:08:24,340 --> 02:08:25,460
don't think we have any committee

1447
02:08:25,460 --> 02:08:39,840
reports this afternoon long day this is brief would you like for me to go

1448
02:08:39,840 --> 02:08:46,620
ahead please okay the audit committee met immediately prior to this meeting and

1449
02:08:46,620 --> 02:08:50,680
heard from the auditors. The full presentation was prepared for

1450
02:08:50,680 --> 02:08:51,980
this meeting tonight.

1451
02:08:58,300 --> 02:09:01,660
Okay. Chairman's report. I didn't have

1452
02:09:01,660 --> 02:09:07,220
anything to add. Manager report. That puts us at concerns in

1453
02:09:07,220 --> 02:09:11,980
public. Conducted by the Wilson County Code of Conduct. We

1454
02:09:11,980 --> 02:09:16,480
have two people that have signed up to speak before us

1455
02:09:16,480 --> 02:09:21,500
tonight. First of all, Jimmy Hathaway. Mr. Hathaway, if

1456
02:09:21,500 --> 02:09:28,900
If you would come forward to the podium, and please state your name, and thank you.

1457
02:09:31,580 --> 02:09:32,460
Jimmy Hathaway.

1458
02:09:33,820 --> 02:09:39,660
I just wanted to talk about the laws, hunting laws, and Wilson County.

1459
02:09:40,440 --> 02:09:42,760
They're not worth the paper they wrote on, you know.

1460
02:09:43,400 --> 02:09:45,380
I want to see, can we get something done?

1461
02:09:49,000 --> 02:09:55,400
If you've got any questions, y'all want to question me about something, let me know, you know, if I've said something wrong.

1462
02:10:00,290 --> 02:10:09,070
They're taking the road to hunt and then their dogs can run all over everywhere, you know.

1463
02:10:10,390 --> 02:10:16,250
We need to get them off the road because that road is something besides hunting, you

1464
02:10:16,250 --> 02:10:16,410
know.

1465
02:10:18,460 --> 02:10:24,960
It's not full of hunting, you know, but they're taking it, parking on the highway, road

1466
02:10:24,960 --> 02:10:26,620
blogs they

1467
02:10:30,200 --> 02:10:34,240
don't need no written permission the way they're taking the

1468
02:10:34,240 --> 02:10:42,100
highway and turning their dogs out you know and I they'd be good if you could

1469
02:10:42,660 --> 02:10:47,020
give me a little money so I could give them help to catch the dogs and turn

1470
02:10:47,020 --> 02:10:55,240
them over to the animal control and pay off to get a little money from them because they

1471
02:10:55,240 --> 02:11:00,260
got tracking cars and shocking cars they can control them dogs a little bit

1472
02:11:00,260 --> 02:11:09,180
But in this neighborhood, I'm in that everything goes their way, nothing for

1473
02:11:09,180 --> 02:11:14,260
somebody like me that's making my payments and paying taxes and tearing up

1474
02:11:14,260 --> 02:11:21,360
my crops and stuff and we need to see can we get down and I know y'all been

1475
02:11:21,360 --> 02:11:28,060
busy tonight and I don't want to take much of your time but folks born with

1476
02:11:28,060 --> 02:11:32,520
no brain can use more sense than the folks is out there. Excuse me for saying something

1477
02:11:32,520 --> 02:11:40,840
about folks with no brain, you know. But I hope we can get something done, work together

1478
02:11:40,840 --> 02:11:45,100
on it. You know, some of y'all have got my telephone number, if you need to call me.

1479
02:11:46,260 --> 02:11:47,720
And I thank y'all.

1480
02:11:48,060 --> 02:11:49,380
Okay. Thank you, sir.

1481
02:11:54,530 --> 02:11:57,930
And next we have Mr. John McNeil.

1482
02:11:57,930 --> 02:11:58,790
Good

1483
02:12:08,100 --> 02:12:10,140
evening, Chair and Commissioner.

1484
02:12:11,380 --> 02:12:17,620
My name is John McNeil and I come before you because I've cast my bid for

1485
02:12:17,620 --> 02:12:21,340
Kennedy Sea for North Carolina House of Representative,

1486
02:12:21,960 --> 02:12:23,080
District 24.

1487
02:12:24,580 --> 02:12:29,440
I was born and raised here to the late Robert McNeil and Edna McNeil.

1488
02:12:29,580 --> 02:12:31,700
Grew up over on for Narrow Way Street.

1489
02:12:34,040 --> 02:12:38,620
was a high school All-American basketball player here, played for the legendary Coach

1490
02:12:38,620 --> 02:12:45,280
Harvard Reed, was part of the winning 1984 state championship team, went on to graduate

1491
02:12:45,280 --> 02:12:51,340
from Elizabeth City State University in 1992, where I received my bachelor's science and

1492
02:12:51,340 --> 02:12:59,620
management, and was married to my late wife, Anita Magnia, had two sons, John II and

1493
02:12:59,620 --> 02:13:05,980
La Ronde, and then we moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where I went on to be a successful

1494
02:13:05,980 --> 02:13:15,920
businessman and construction owner. Then recently moved back to, upon moving back

1495
02:13:15,920 --> 02:13:21,960
to Wilson, North Carolina here, I set out to give back to the community that

1496
02:13:21,960 --> 02:13:26,080
stood behind me through my ordeal, bringing me back here to North Carolina.

1497
02:13:26,080 --> 02:13:32,080
I went to work for Wilson County Public Schools for seven years where I mentor

1498
02:13:32,080 --> 02:13:37,260
children over at Daniel's Learning Center. I helped kids that was adjudicated

1499
02:13:37,260 --> 02:13:44,500
by the courts, Wilson County, at least a lab out from the Savior Youth building

1500
02:13:44,500 --> 02:13:51,560
over there, and where we had kids that couldn't be on the school grounds.

1501
02:13:54,660 --> 02:13:55,360
They

1502
02:13:55,360 --> 02:14:02,540
As I was doing that and looking at the percentage of the kids that was actually graduating through

1503
02:14:02,540 --> 02:14:10,540
the programs that I had up, I was saying to my family, what is there that I can do next

1504
02:14:11,000 --> 02:14:14,260
for the people here, the citizens here of Wilson County.

1505
02:14:15,420 --> 02:14:22,160
After praying about it, talking about it, I said, well, I want to run for North Carolina

1506
02:14:22,160 --> 02:14:23,260
House of Representatives.

1507
02:14:23,260 --> 02:14:31,060
them. And that's what brings me here. In the process of that, I sent Scott Remarry to my

1508
02:14:31,060 --> 02:14:40,320
wife Teresa and Family Man. And since wrote a book, Breathe Freedom to John McNeill Story,

1509
02:14:41,080 --> 02:14:49,040
talking about the legal battles that I had and in hopes of inspiring other people not

1510
02:14:49,040 --> 02:14:57,200
to give up on whatever fight that they have with the personal judicial system here.

1511
02:14:58,040 --> 02:14:59,600
And that what helps me.

1512
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:06,840
Or made me make up my mind to run for North Carolina House of Representative because I have

1513
02:15:06,840 --> 02:15:12,660
a heart for helping others, especially those that have been affected by incarceration, poverty,

1514
02:15:13,240 --> 02:15:21,700
and injustice. The envisions of a thriving future for Wilson County and believes the key success

1515
02:15:21,700 --> 02:15:28,280
or the key issues to bring about change to the district, the 24th district, or education,

1516
02:15:28,280 --> 02:15:34,300
Making sure schools have proper resources to effectively serve all students,

1517
02:15:35,040 --> 02:15:43,560
prison reform, re-examining self-defense laws, creating programs for families of incarcerated individuals,

1518
02:15:44,320 --> 02:15:49,260
and agriculture, supporting the economic plot of farmers.

1519
02:15:50,000 --> 02:15:55,860
I'm running for North Carolina House of Representatives because I simply care about the well-being of the people.

1520
02:15:55,860 --> 02:16:06,000
So I'm a strong candidate, battle tested for Wilson County that needs to represent this

1521
02:16:06,000 --> 02:16:13,020
district, the 24th district, effectively in the general assembly and move to the community

1522
02:16:13,020 --> 02:16:13,580
forward.

1523
02:16:14,380 --> 02:16:19,080
So I'll come before you today just to let you know that I place my candidacy.

1524
02:16:19,880 --> 02:16:20,600
Okay.

1525
02:16:20,940 --> 02:16:21,600
Thank you, sir.

1526
02:16:21,600 --> 02:16:22,400
Thank

1527
02:16:32,030 --> 02:16:36,990
you both gentlemen for coming forward tonight and speaking to the board at this

1528
02:16:36,990 --> 02:16:37,430
time.

1529
02:16:37,730 --> 02:16:40,370
I believe we are going into closed session.

1530
02:16:42,600 --> 02:16:49,430
If so, is there a motion that we go into a closed session pursuant to GS 143-318.11

1531
02:16:50,110 --> 02:16:54,890
parentheses a close parentheses parentheses for close parentheses to discuss matters

1532
02:16:54,890 --> 02:16:58,790
relating to the location and expansion of business in the area served by this

1533
02:16:58,790 --> 02:16:59,150
body.

1534
02:17:01,390 --> 02:17:06,230
motion has been made properly seconded all those in favor please indicate by

1535
02:17:06,230 --> 02:17:14,850
saying aye yes please we will take a quick two minute