TOWN OF COATS Board of Commissioners October 14, 2021 OFFICIAL MINUTES  I.A ABSTRACT:  Ascheduled meeting oft the Board of Commissioners held on October 14, 2021 int the Board of  Commissioners' Meeting Room at Coats Town Hall.  II.ROLL CALL:  Mayor Chris Coats, Mayor Pro-Tem. Jerry Beasley, Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert, Commissioner. John Raynor, Commissioner Allen Mosby and Commissioner Marc Powell were present.  Town Attorney Alton Bain was present.  III. CALLTOORDER:  A quorum being present, Mayor Coats called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Mayor Coats delivered the invocation and led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.  RESOLVED, to approve Agenda as amended.  MOTION BV: COMMISSIONER JOHN RAYNOR: SECOND BY: COMMISSIONER MARCPOWELL APPROVED, AYES (5), MAYOR PRO-TEM JERRY BEASLEY, COMMISSIONERS POWELL, MOSBY, RAYNOR  AND GILBERT NOES (0)  IV.APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: RESOLVED, to approve Consent Agenda.  MOTION BY: COMMISSIONER: KELVIN GILBERT: SECOND BY: COMMISSIONER. JOHN RAYNOR APPROVED, AYES (5), MAYOR PRO-TEM. JERRY BEASLEY, COMMISSIONERS POWELL, MOSBY, RAYNOR  AND GILBERT NOES (0)  1    V. PRESENTATION:  A. FY-20-21 Auditors Presentation  Lee Grissom, CPA, CFE with S.Preston Douglas and Associates, LLP presented the Board with the audit fori fiscal year 2020/2021. Mr. Grissom stated that the finding of the report was that the financial statements are fairly stated and free of material misstatements. Mr. Grissom provided the Board with graphs that showed the growth within the Town over the past five (5) years and included a graph that shows the long-term debt at zero. The change int the net position increase by Two Hundred Forty Four Thousand One Hundred and Nineteen Dollars ($244,119) for the General Fund and Fifty Three Thousand Two Hundred and Thirteen Dollars ($53,213) in the Water Fund.  (Reference #1)  B. Meter Project Coordination w/HRW  Steve Ward Director of Harnett Regional Water presented to the Board the status of the County's radio read meters. Mr. Ward informed the Board that this was a project that began in 2019 and the decision to go with Sensus and Ferguson. As of today, the project is around forty-five percent (45%) completed. Mr. Ward stated that het felt the entire eighteen thousand (18,000) customers completely installed by next summer. Mr. Ward shared the advantages of the radio read meter as;  would be  1. Customer service 2. Quickly notifications ofl leaks 3. Coats reports 4. Fewer complaints 5. Seamless installation  6. Computer and Software helpful with information daily 8. Savings from reports for problems such as leaks  7. One Thousand customers for Coats with installation around 125/130daily  Commissioner Gilbert ask what other surrounding towns were using radio read meters, which Mr. Commissioner Powell asked what would be the maintenance cost to the Town, which Mr. Ward replied estimate of six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year. Mr. Ward stated that this maintenance is to assist Commissioner Gilbert questioned the installation of meter for new homes. Mr. Ward stated that the public works staff will be trained to install meters and the Town would purchase their metersa as needed. Mr. Ward also informed the Board that the meters have around at ten-year (10) longevity life.  Ward replied Dunn, Apex, Cary, Raleigh and PWC in Fayetteville.  with the cost oft tower, computers, modems and support.  VI. MANAGER & COMMITTEE REPORT: A. Department Head Updates  Nick Holcomb Town Manager updated the Board on the following:  2    1. Christmas Lights have arrived 2. Downtown survey on website 4. Farmers Day rescheduled for October 29-30 5. Farmers Day BBQ sale al big success  3. Rick Flowe working the past two months with zoning and code update going well  B. Finance Director/Town Clerk Hiring Update applicants, one at 5 p.m. and one at 6p.m.  Nick Holcomb Town Manager informed the Board that interviews scheduled on October 28th. Two  Rodney Pleasant Public Works Director presented his September report. (Reference #2)  VII. PUBLIC FORUM:  Mayor Coats opened Public Forum and informed the speakers of the three-minute time limit.  (Reference #3)  Hope Turlington: 327 S. Railroad Street, Coats, NC- expressed her concerns with the mental and living conditions of Teresa Stewart at 312 Railroad Street, Coats, NC. Ms. Turlington stated that Ms. Stewart is living in al home with no water nor sewer. Ms. Turlington stated that Ms. Stewart is all over Town and the neighborhood. Ms. Turlington asked the Town to help with petitioning the Clerk of Court to call fora al hearing and presented to the Town Manager a petition with signatures of concerned citizens. Al letter was given with the petition signatures to the Board, which has been given to numerous local, Brian Adams 292 S. Railroad Street, Coats, NC- Mr. Adams informed the Board that Ms. Stewart is sleeping on her porch, has no working bathroom in house, wonders around house at all times, concerned about the septic tank in back yard that has fallen in and expressed concerns for her and the neighborhood with safety. Mr. Adams stated that Ms. Stewart needed help. Brenda Serrano 299 S. Railroad Street, Coats, NC stated to the Board that she lives across the street from Ms. Stewart and they are dealing with cats everywhere because Ms. Stewart is feeding all the wild cats and refuses to assist with letting Harnett. Animal Control take care of the problem. Ms. Serrano informed the Board that they try to help Ms. Stewart but she does not allow them to. Ms. Serrano expressed concerns with animal waste and human waste that is in the back yard. Ms. Serrano  county and state agencies requesting help. (Reference #4)  mentioned the safety of Ms. Stewart, her family and the neighborhood.  Nick Holcomb Town Manager expressed his appreciation to Hope Turlington andi the neighbors to take this to court. Mr. Holcomb stated that they would all need to be prepared to testify in court.  Mayor Coats hearing no others closed Public Forum.  3    VII. CLOSED SESSION:  Mayor Coats asked to go into Closed Session S 143-318.11/(5) Negotiate proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange or lease. $143-318.11 (1) Approve prior  Closed Session minutes.  Moved into Close Session at 7:52 p.m. Back into Open Session at 8:38 p.m.  IX.ADJOURN:  RESOLVED, to adjourn meeting.  MOTION BY: COMMISSIONER ALLEN MOSBY: SECOND BY: COMMISSIONER, JOHN RAYNOR APPROVED, AYES (5), MAYOR PRO-TEM. JERRY BEASLEY, COMMISSIONERS POWELL, MOSBY, RAYNOR  AND GILBERT NOES (0)  Meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Ku7zhk Karen F. Wooten, Town Clerk  Chris Coats, Mayor hl  4