MINUTES  REGULAR SCHEDULED: MEETINGOFTHE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  OFI EDGECOMBE COUNTY FEBRUARY 6, 2023AT7:00 P.M. JONATHAN FELTON COMMISSIONERS ROOM COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA  1.  MEETING CALLEDTOORDER BY CHAIRMANI LEONARD WIGGINS! AT MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Leonard Wiggins, Chairman, Rev. E. Wayne Hines, Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Viola Harris, Mr. Donald Boswell, Mr. Ralph Webb, Mr.  7:00 P.M.  George Thorne and Mrs. Evelyn Powell. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. Clerk to the Board. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS. Mrs. Bess provide safety instructions. Rev. Hinej provided prayer.  OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Eric Evans, County Manager, Mrs. Natalie Bess, Deputy County Manager, Mr. Michael Peters, County Attorney and Ms. Frangie Mungo,  2. 3. 4. 5.  PRAYER.  MIINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL. Rev. Hines moved to: approve the minutes of the. January 3, 2023 minutes as presented. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 1. Mr. Wiggins called aj public hearing to order to receive citizen comments relative toa Special Use Permit request from] Roger Sauerborn to expand his permitted  PUBLIC HEARING:  sand mine on NCI Highway East.  Mr. Peters read the public notice as published.  Mr. Evans stated that Mr. Sauerborn submitted the application for this Special Usel Permit. He reminded thel Board and audience that this particular case (Special Usel Permit), the public hearingi is considered a quasi-judicial hearing and wel have tol handle it as such. Anyone who will come tonight to speak either for or against, as well as Mrs. Braswell, Planning Director, will have to be sworn  in.  Swearing in of thej participants was donel by Mr. Peters. Mr. Evans called onl Mrs. Braswell toj present the Staff Report.  Mrs. Katina Braswell, Planning Director (Sworn): Staff report for case number  22-SUP02, February 6, 2023. Applicant request Applicant/Owner Location: Parcel Number  A Special Use Permit to expand as sand mine operation NC42 East, Tarboro near Thigpen. Road  Roger. Sauerborn 4755027894 Permitted by NCDENR  Acreage ofs sand mine: Appradnatry3s6acre, affected with 51 acres  Acreage ofe entire parcel Approximately. 126.38 acres    Zoning District  AR-30 (Rural Residential) All adjacent properties zonedAR-30  Background. Information:  Mr. Sauerborn. submitted ar request to expand ane existing sandi mine offNC42 East, Tarboro. Thes sand mine which consists of5acres was approved via a Conditional Use Permiti in 2016, Case No.. 16-CU-310. Per Section. 1.11.51 B, Existing Development, Existing conditionalt use! permits approved priort tol November. 1,2021, are hereby converted tos special use permits and shall continue to apply as approved. Int the event an applicant seekst tor revise developments subjectt to ac conditional use permit, all changes shalll be considered in accordance with the requirements in Section 2.3.20, Per UDO Table 4.2.1, all types ofe fextractive industry are allowed ini the AR-30Zoning Districti with the approval ofas special use! permit. Thel Extractive Industry Use Category includes uset typesinyolvingi thee extraction, removal, orb basicprocessing ofminerals, liquids, gases, ore other natural resources. Suchi uses alsoi includey quarrying, welloperation, drilling, mining, or other procedures typically done at ane extraction site. UDO1 Development Standards pursuant to Section 4.3.33, Extractive Industry, apply. Technical Review Committee comments: 1-Scott Kiser, Director of Edgecombe Soil and Water) Department, stated! based ons soilt type, itappears suitable for sand mining. Environmental ands safety concernss should be addressed with thel NCI Division Land Quality Permit application process. Hea also notedp plannedi ingresslegress appears tol bel between residential properties. 2-Sid Clark stateds signst tor notify public oftruckse entering) highway wouldb be posted att thee entrance on  Special Use Permit.  Description of the proposed Special Use Permit:  NC4 42 East. Decision:  PAAIRPAEPNPERN and decide one ofthef following in  1-Approval oft thes special use and concept! plan as proposed; 2-Approal ofareviseds special use and concept! plan; or 3-Denial oft thes special use and concept! plan We alsol have attachments. Arei there any questions.  *Development mustz undergo sitep plan review following approval ofthes special use Mr. Wiggins: Aret there any questions? Thisi istoe expand the existing sand mine. Isthere Matthew Riggs, Representative) for Mr Sauerborn, (Sworn): 2215 Porter. Road, Greenville, NC27834Idonthae. any comments unless you all have any questions. Iam representing  anybody elset tos speak? Mr. Roger. Sauerborn.  Mr. Wiggins: Are there any questions from the Board?  Mrs. Harris: We don'thave any complaints from neighbors or anyone so it would be my Mr. Wiggins: Ithink wel have to approve the, we have tor make sure thati it: 1. Will not materially endanger the publici health ors safety iflocated where proposed; 2. Ther use complies with all required standards, conditions, ands specifications ofthis 3. The use will nots substantially injuret the value of the abutting land, or thes special use is 4. The use willl bei in harmony with the area Iwhichi itist tol bel located;  motion to approve.  Ordinance; apublic necessity;  2    5. Ther usei iss subject toad concept! plan that accurately depicts the proposed use's In doing sot thei motion would be toc approve the application and thati ith has mett the criteria. Is  Configuration that correctl Mr. Peters? Mr.] Peters: Kes  Mr. Wiggins: Wouldt that bej your motion? Mrs. Harris: Itwouldb be. Mr. Wiggins: Do wel havea as second? Mrs. Powell: Isecond. Thei motion carried by unanimously vote. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS.  A. Boy Scout Troop 587 Sponsored by West Edgecombe Ruritan Club- 10 members pursuing their Communication and Citizenship in the Community Mr. Evans stated that Boy Scout' Troop 587, which is sponsored by the West Edgecombe Ruritan Club, have ten members who arej pursuing their Communication and Citizenship in the Community Merit Badges. Mr. Evans invited the Troop to come up and hei introduced them. Mr. Evans thanked Mr. Webb for bringing this to our attention. Mr. Evans introduced their Scout Mr. Wiggins asked Mr. Peters to explain tot the troop what the Board just did  Merit] Badges.  Master Ronl Kanthak. regarding the Public Hearing.  Mr. Peters explained the quasi-judicial process.  B. Stuart Hill, Thompson, Price, Scott & Adams presented the) Fiscal Year 2022 Mr. Hill stated that the audit has been submitted to thel Local Government Presented the Communication to Government letter that is required which explains what was good and what was not. There were a couple of findings, but alli in all, it is much better thani it has been in thej past years. The findings are not really al huge deal. Mr. Hill stated that everything went smooth and encouraged  Audit.  Commission but not quite approved yet.  staff and thel Board to stay on course. Hej presented:  Edgecombe County financial information for 5y years Analysis ofi fund balancei is about $32 million in 2022  Analysis of fund balance available: is 36.65% of general fund expenditures Analysis of unassigned fund balance as aj percentage of general fund Analysis of revenues over/under expenditures before transfers Chart with analysis of cash and fund balances Debt analysis (excluding compensated absences & OPEB Break down of general fund revenues Break down of general fund expenditures Prior period adjustments Budget violation  expenditures of 26.22% Property tax rates Collection percentages  Findings  Mr. Hill answered questions from thel Board.  3    C. Silvester and Eunice Hill, Hilll Family Farm Education Center- Highlighting: a Mr. Evans stated that for four years wel havel been doing our Recreation Mini- Grant Program. Over those years wel have spent over $70,000 in these $2000 or less grants to make smalli investments with big efforts tol help create the opportunities for our citizens to be able tol have recreation. We have had al lot of great programs that have come across our table. Wel havel built some good partnerships, made some friends through this process. Mr. Evans felt thati it would be nice tol highlight one of our greatest success stories. They were doing great work before we met them and we are happy tol havel been able toj playa Mr. and Mrs. Hill, owners of the Hill Family Farm Center located in Whitakers, came forth. Mrs. Hill stated that they became a non-profit in 2018 and they have achieved so muchi in those years. She stated that the community they serve is low income and children with disadvantage, therefore iti is hard to find  Recreation Mini-grant success story.  small parti in that.  volunteers to help. Shej presented thei following:  Their mission. Supporters. Programs.  Meet the team (Board members). Seniors and Disabled Meals Program. Helping our Community Fuel their Bodies Well. Partner with Innovative Networking Group. Youth Summer Fun and Recreation. Youth Life Skills Academy. Implemented taekwondo with the mini-grant in 2021. football with 551 participants. Collaborated in thel Black Farm' Tour last year. Mobile Market.  2022 mini-grant they did the Walking Classroom and they started flag Currently in the process of getting a building on their property for the indoor Hill Family Farm Education Center and Recreation.  Several Board members commented.  Mr. and Mrs. Hill answered questions from thel Board. D. Dave Sharpe. Director- - Tarboro/Fdpecombe Chamber/TDA,  Mr.Sharpe presented on some of the things that the Chamber and' Tourism are  doing:  Visiting Chamber members. Farm City Breakfast. tourism.  Night Christmas parade with 89 registered participants. Working with Uplift NC, a group out of Appalachian State, to talk about what they can do tol help market Edgecombe County as far as Cycle North Carolina coming to Tarboro and Edgecombe County. Currently in talks with the' TV show American Pickers. There are Attended the Rocky Mount Nash] Edgecombe Economic Summit. The need to reestablish volunteer groups tol help get the word out.  two candidates down this way. Tractor Supply ribbon cutting. Helped with the carriage rides. Helped with the Balll Drop onl New Year's. The need to get a Young Professionals group. The need for as social media plan and marketing.  4    Thei need to retain members and recruit new members. Getting thel Business After Hours program back together. Ther need for the Chamber Banquet to get back to normal.  Food truck summit. Network with other chambers. Been on the radio several times.  7. PUBLIC PETITIONS.  Alvin. Joyner, 1271 Daughtridge Farm Road, came forth stating that therei isa a Guide Service at the end of] his street where you pay money to go shoot deer. He stated that he can put up with the shooting, but asked ifs you could imagine having over 100 dead deer in an open pit within 16, yards of your house. Itstinks. Mr. Joyner stated that he contacted Mr. Boswell and) Mr. Boswell came out and witnessed thes smell. Thej problem is there are no laws, no rules about wildlife animals. Itis domestic animals. So, ifs you) have cows, chickens, etc. there are rules and regulations on how you dispose of their caucuses. He stated that he even had the man: from the Soil and Water Commission meet] him at the house with the State Veterinarian and was told therei is nothing they can do. Ifit was a dog or a chicken ors something like thati in that pit, they could shut it down. The Wildlife. Agents will not do anything because the dumpingi is on his property. Mr.Joyner: stated that itis al hardship on him and his neighbors. He does not know when he can go outside or when] he cannot. He has to put tape on his windows and doors and burn scented candles inl his house. He cannot even have any people over because he does not know ifiti is going tos stinks so bad. Other counties have stuffi in place, ordinances, for hunting lodges, hunting camps, guide service and they have to abide by the ordinance to take care of the smell and the proper disposal of animal waste. He asked thel Board to consider getting something done. He stated that he lives in the rural part of the County because! hel hunts and he had deer hounds and fox hounds and hej purposely wanted to lives somewhere that he would not bother none ofhis neighbors. Mr.Joyner stated that the gentleman has moved in town and he has been in contact with) him several times, but he does not understand that he lives there and has tos smell it. He stated that the owner just gives him excuses like "Oh, it needs tol be al little colder" or "Tll put some chemicals oni it and it will go away." Mr. Wiggins asked Mr. Peters and Mr. Evans tol look into this. He stated thati it sounds like iti might be: al health issue and tos seei if thel Health Department can get involved. He asked them to also see if therei is anything that thel Board can do. Check with other counties and see what they do. Seei if therei is some type of Mr. Evans stated that Scott] Kiser, Soil and Water Director, started researching and talked to a couple of State agencies that we thought would have jurisdiction over this, State Wildlife Commission and Division of Water Quality. Ifyou were burying livestock it would bel Division of Water Quality. It seems tol be one of those gray areas in between the two agencies. Mr. Evans stated that in follow-up conversations that] Mr. Kiser has had, they now believe that it will fall under the Division of Water Quality and they are going to follow-up on that. He stated that his belief is that itis within City ofl Rocky Mount's extraterritorial, jurisdiction and they are aware ofit Mr. Wiggin asked them tos still look at what thel Board can do because we might can expedite whatever iti is they can do and asked Mr. Peters and Mr. Evans to see if  ordinance that this Board can possibly take action on.  now as well. They may haves some involvement withi it.  they can prepare something that the Board can do, we will.  8.  OTHER BUSINESS: A. Approval of budget amendments.  Mr. Boswell moved to approve thel budget amendments as presented.  5    Mrs. Harris seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. B. Approval of County vehicles and equipment to designate as surplus. Mr. Boswell moved to approve designating the list as presented. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Approval of updated Ambulance Franchise Agreement for ECU East Care Mr. Evans stated that they currently have the agreement but the name has Mr. Webb moved to approve the agreement as presented. Mr. Thorne seconded  Transportation.  changed from Vidant East Care.  the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  9.  APPOINTMENTS: A. Planning Board.  10. AFTERLISTS AND RELEASES FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 11. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FORI REVIEW.-Reehed-:  Mrs. Harris moved to approve the afterlists and releases as presented. Mrs. Powell  A. Water and Sewer update. B. Monthly Financial Summary.  C.Social Services - Extra FNS Benefits for COVID ending March 2023.  12. MANAGER'S REPORI,-"Reched": A. Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport update. B. TDA Financial Report. D. Eastpointe's Mobile Care Centers. E. Update on Countyline Merger. F.P Proposed dates for upcoming meetings.  C. Notice: from) NC Office of Archives and History re: Historical Marker.  Mr. Boswell moved tol hold a Special Meeting on February 20, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss thel broadband project. Mr.' Thorne seconded the motion, which  carried by unanimous vote. G. Update on ARPA-Assisted Home Repair Program. H. Renovations in Commissioners Room.  13. COMMISSIONERS REPORT. Commissioners' workroom.  Mrs. Harris stated that being this is her 22nd year shes stilll has not seen a  Mr. Evans stated that we: are limited in space, but thati is something that the Board  wants and gives him direction we will make room.  Mr. Wiggins suggested that it be talked in the budget work session. Mr. Webbs stated that he serves on the UCP-COG. Onei issue is there are sixteen regions of government throughout the State. Alphabetically named A-R. These Council of Governments have served for a number ofyears. In thel Legislature now, therei is: al bill that would change those areas around. Mr. Webb stated thati ifitis not brokel let's not try to fix it. UCP-COGi is the first of those sixteen toj put in writing to our Legislature tol leavei it: asi itis. He stated that our five counties that serve each other do very wellj job. He stated that thel Board mayl hear something but  just wanted tol let them know UCP-COGI is opposed toi it.  6    Mr. Wiggins stated that sometimes back a discussion about that came up regarding Mr. Boswell asked about the opening of thel NC Driver's] License Office and after discussion it was the Board's position to try and keep thel NC Driver's License Mr. Thorne stated that he completed thel Local Elected Leaders Academy at the end of January and completed his ethics for the year as aj part of that process.  the Consortium and they were opposed to that too.  Office: in' Tarboro.  14. ATTORNEY'S REPORT. 15. CLOSED SESSION.  None.  Rev. Hines moved to go into closed session to discuss: A. Economic Development. [N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(4)] B. Personnel. [N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(3)] Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  Mr. Boswell moved to go out of closed session and resume the regular meeting. Mrs.  OPENSESSION:  Mrs. Powell moved to approve the 21 % % salary increase for Mr. Peters. Rev. Hines Rev.) Hines moved to approve the 2% % salary increase forl Mr. Evans. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion. Motion carried by 51 for (Wiggins, Hines, Harris, Powell and Webb) Approval of update to thel Pay Plan as recommended by the Personnel Committee. Mr. Evans stated that in 2019, thel Board agreed to transition Mr. Peters in-house and he became ai full-time employee of the County, However, we did not at that time create aj job description for that position. The Personnel Committee recommended that we draft that description for thel Board's consideration, which isi included in the agenda packet. Also, we currently have a Solid Waste Supervisor position that we recommend amending the description tol better suit thei needs of the department, as well as to move iti from grade 10 to Rev.] Hines moved to approve both job descriptions of the County Attorney at grade 34 and the Solid Waste Supervisor at grade 14. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried Approval of amendment to Personnel Policy to add Paid Bereavement Leaveas Mr. Evans stated that currently our. Personnel Policy allows staff to use up to 3 days sick leave for bereavement at the death of ani immediate family member. At their last meeting, thel Personnel Committee voted to recommend to the Board to amend the policy to offer2 days paid leave for bereavement. The except from our Personnel Policy is included with the recommended amendment. He also included the section of our policy that defines Mrs. Harris moved to approve the amendment as presented. Rev. Hines seconded the  seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  and 2 against (Boswell and' Thorne.)  grade 14 on the pay scale. by unanimous vote.  recommended by thel Personnel Committee.  immediate family. motion.  7    Mr. Wiggins raised the questions regarding the possible abuse of the amendment. After discussion it was decided thats staff willl be made aware that ifiti is abused it willl be  adjusted.  The motion was carried by unanimous vote.  Mr. Evans stated that wel have al RFPS out now for al lobbyist. They are due back next week. Hel has had conversation with the firm McGuire Woods that former Congressman Butterfield works with. They want toi introduce themselves tol let him know what services 16. MR. BOSWELLMOVEDTO, ADJOURNTHE MEETING UNTILMARCHG, 2023AT7:001 P.M. MRS.) POWELLSECONDED THEI MOTION, WHICH  they provide and they requested a copy of thel RFP.  CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.  Approved March 6,2023. Dais  JDay  Frangie Mungo, Clerk to tha] Board