Clinton NORTH CAROLINA  February6. 2024, CITY COUNCIL MEETING  The City Council oft the City of Clinton, North Carolina, met in a regular session at 7:00 PM on February 6, 2024, in the City Hall Auditorium. Mayor Starling presided. Councilmembers Ruggles, Corbett, DuBose, Strickland, and Mayor Pro Tem Becton were  present.  City Attorney Tim Howard ofHoward and Carr, PLLC, was present.  Also, present were City Clerk Elaine F. Hunt; City Manager James Duncan; Finance Director Kristin Stafford; Public Works Director Chris. Medlin; HR Director Natalie Blue; Parks and Recreation Director Jonathan Allen; Planning Director Mary Rose; Fire Chief Hagan Thornton; Assistant Police ChiefAdrian. Mathews; Senior Planner Lyle Moore;  Lieutenant Allen McDougald; and Captain Jonathan Aman.  Police Chief Anthony Davis was absent, due to a prior engagement.  Jack Tunnell ofThe Sampson Independent was present. Sylvia Chestnutt ofThe  Sampson Weekly was absent.  Mayor Starling called upon City Clerk Hunt to give the invocation.  CITY COUNCIL  Upon a motion made by Councilmember. Strickland, seconded by Councilmember Ruggles, the minutes ofthe] January 2, 2024, regular city council meeting and the January  23, 2024, CIP workshop were unanimously approved. PRESENTATION - 2022-2023 FINANCIALI AUDIT  The 2022-2023 Financial Audit was presented by Mr. Jay Sharpe, Sharpe Patel CPA. He stated that the audit is complete, the scope and timing are on track, and the Cityhas a clean audit opinion. Also, Mr. Sharpe informed the City Council that all numbers are    trending in the right direction; and the fund balance represents the City's net worth, and the City of Clinton's fund balance has gone up every year. Mr. Sharpe stated that this financial audit has been approved by the Local Government Commission and was the best that any organization could receive. According to Mr. Sharpe, no difficulties were  encountered.  There were no concerns from the City Council; therefore, Councilmember Strickland made a motion to accept the 2022-2023 Financial Audit. Mayor Pro Tem Becton seconded  thei motion, and it passed unanimously.  RECOGNITION - 2023 FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR  Fire Chief Hagan Thornton presented the recipient for the "2023 Firefighter oft the Year," Lieutenant Allen McDougald. He stated that this award is a very) prestigious award  because peers do the nominating and selecting.  ChiefThornton asked Mayor Starling and Mayor Pro Tem Becton to present a plaque  tol Lieutenant McDougald. Pictures were taken and congratulations were, given to  Lieutenant McDougald. ORDINANCES BUDGET  Finance Director Stafford requested that Mayor Starling and the City Council approve budget amendments tol keep the general ledger balanced in various line items and  toreflect expenditures more accurately.  Upon ai motion made by Councilmember DuBose, seconded by Councilmember Strickland, it passed unanimously to adopt the following budget amendment #2024.02.01:  Budget Ordinance Amendment Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget  #2024.02.01  BEITORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Clinton, NC, that the following amendment be made to the Annual Budget Ordinance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024; amended on November 14, 2023; is hereby amended as  follows:  Section 1. To amend the General Fund, the expenditures are tol be changed as follows:  Account #  Account' Title  Increase Decrease Total    10-4100-0600 10-4200-0200 10-4200-0201 10-4200-5401 10-4900-0200 10-5100-3300 10-5900-1700  Groupi insurance Salaries Part-time salaries Workmen's comp Salaries Supplies Maint/repairauto TOTAL EXPENDITURES  $5,100 $11,700 $1,000  $6,100 $11,700 $13,700 $30,000 $61,500 $17,800  $43,700  Section 2. To amend the General Fund, the revenues are tol be changed as follows:  Account # 10-3160-0000 10-3470-0001 10-3900-0100  Account' Title Lot cleaning reimbursement ABC-police revenue Police Grant reimbursement TOTAL REVENUES  Increase Decrease Total  $30,000 $10,600 $3,100 $43,700  $43,700  Section 3.  Copies oft this budget amendment shall be: furnished to the City Clerk, City  Manager, and Finance Director for their direction.  MAGNOLIA POINTE SUBDIVISION - DWIGHT MILLER - ASPHALT INSTALLATION  Senior Planner Lyle Moore explained this request. He stated that Dwight Miller requests that the City Council accept a surety bond of$75,000 concerning thei installation of asphalt in the Magnolia Pointe Subdivision. Mr. Moore stated that if the City Council approves the surety bond of $75,000, Mr. Miller will be able to record the final plat and begin construction of dwellings in the 13-lot subdivision without installing asphalt along  Miami Street.  Furthermore Mr. Moore stated that the Land Development Ordinance gives up to a year for the installation of asphalt. He said that ifi installation of asphalt is not done within a year, the City Council may calli in the bond or give an extension if deemed necessary. and Public Works Director Medlin has approved the monetary amount on the bond.  Mr. Moore informed the group that City Attorney Howard has reviewed the bond Upon a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Becton, seconded by Councilmember Ruggles, Dwight Miller's request to approve a surety bond of $75,000 regarding installing    asphalt in the Magnolia Pointe Subdivision without installing asphalt along Miami Street,  passed unanimously.  RESOLVION-SURPLUS PROPERTY  Upon a motion made by Councilmember Strickland, seconded by Councilmember Ruggles, it passed unanimously to approve the following resolution authorizing the  disposition of personal property by GovDeals sale:  RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN PERSONAL  PROPERTY BY THE METHOD KNOWN AS:  "GOVDEALS"  WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Clinton, NC desires to dispose of NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council that: (1) The following described property is hereby declared to be surplus to  certain surplus properties of the City of Clinton.  the needs of the City of Clinton: One (1) 2010 Chevrolet Impala VIN# 2GIWBSEM4A1183588  Estimated value $ 500.00  (2) The Financial Analyst is authorized to receive on behalf of the City Council of the City of Clinton bids via GovDeals for the purchase of the described  property.  (3) GovDeals will begin the sale of the described property on or about  February 16, 2024, and will continue the sale until the described property iss sold. The terms of sale shall be Pay Pal, credit card, or wire transfer. (4) The City Clerk will not cause a notice of the electronic public auction to be (5) The highest bid, if it complies with the terms of sale, may be accepted by  published in accordance with G. S. 160A-266 (c). the Financial Analyst and the sale consummated.    APPROVED WALK-ON AGENDA ITEM - ASEMENTAGREEMENT BETWEENTHE CITY  OF CLINTON AND DUKE ENERGY PROGRESS, LLC  Upon a motion made by Councilmember Ruggles, seconded by Councilmember Strickland, it passed unanimously to add an item to the February 6, 2024, City Council agenda-Consideration of approving an easement from the City of Clinton tol Duke Energy Progress, LLC, to allow Duke Energy Progress, LLC, to back feed the downtown area." Public Works Director Medlin stated that all the downtown area is "fed" by power from down College Street. He stated that approval oft this easement will allow for a secondary feed for power to the downtown area. This easement and secondary feed will  benefit the Cityt tremendously.  Upon ai motion made by Councilmember Strickland, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Becton, it passed unanimously to approve an easement from the City of Clinton tol Duke Energy Progress, LLC, to allow Duke Energy Progress, LLC, tol back feed the downtown area.  APPOINTMENT  Mayor Starling opened a discussion ofthe All-America City Committee's vacancies. He stated that the resolution can be amended from the original fourteen (14) members. He  asked City Clerk Hunt to read all the names on the Committee.  Ms. Hunt read the following names: Dee Bryant; Patty Peterson-Cherry; Susan Bristow; Nettie Pernell; Victor Fryar; Sherry Matthews; Pastorl Lynn Blackburn; Pastor Regina Monroe-Lucious; Shirley Williams; Pastor RosaMaria Garcia; Dr. Jamie King; Commissioner: Thaddeus Godwin; Dr. Wesley. Johnson; Stephaine Graham; and Pastor Matt  Seals.  Upon a motion made by Councilmember Strickland, seconded by Councilmember Ruggles, it passed unanimously to amend the All-America City Committee to consist of fifteen (15) members and to approve the abovementioned fifteen (15)individuals to the  Committee.  Mayor Starling stated that presently, the Committee is composed of fourteen (14) Individuals recommended to the Committee were: Pastor Lynn Blackburn; Pastor Regina Monroe-Lucious; Mrs. Jess Bashlor; Ms. Shirley Williams; and Pastor RosaMaria Upon a motion made by Councilmember Strickland, and seconded by Councilmember DuBose, it passed unanimously to add Pastor Lynn Blackburn; Pastor  members, but more can be added ift the City Council deems it appropriate.  Garcia.    Regina Monroe-Lucious; Mrs. Jess Bashlor; Ms. Shirley Williams; and Pastor RosaMaria  Garcia to the. All-America City Committee.  REPORTS  The monthly combined staff report was acknowledged.  STAFE REPORTS  There were: no staff reports. CITY MANAGER REPORTS  City Manager Duncan had no reports. PUBLICCOMMENTS - OTHER BUSINESS  There were no public comments, no other business for discussion.  CLOSED SESSION necessary. ADIOURNMENT  Initiallya closed session was announced to be on this agenda; however, it was not  Being no further discussion, a motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Becton, seconded by Councilmember DuBose, and it passed unanimously to adjourn this February  6, 2024, City Council meeting.  The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:25P PM.  Fha 1 hat Elaine F. Hunt, City Clerk, MMC, NCCMC  Lewsarlinglr.Mayor  Eh