MINUTES  REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF' THEI BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  OFI EDGECOMBE COUNTY MARCH7, 2022 AT 7:00 P.M. INTHE CARMON AUDITORIUM COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA  1.  MEETING CALLED TOORDER BY CHAIRMANI LEONARD WIGGINS AT MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Leonard Wiggins, Chairman, Rev. E. Wayne Hines, Vice-Chairman, Mrs.1 Evelyn Powell, Mrs. Viola Harris, Mr. Donald Boswell, Mr.  7:001 P.M.  Ralph Webb and Mr. William Wooten. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. Deputy Clerk to thel Board. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS. Safety instructions provided by Mrs. Bess. Prayer provided by Rev. Hines.  OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Eric Evans, County Manager, Mrs. Nataliel Bess, Deputy County Manager, Mr. Michael Peters, County Attorney and Mrs. Kim Myers,  2. 3. 4. 5.  PRAYER.  MINUTES OF] PREVIOUS MEETING PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL. Mr. Webb moved to approve the minutes of the February 7,2022 meeting as presented. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS. A. Recognition of Coach Sandral Langley.  Mr. Webb came forth toi introduce Coach Langley, South West Edgecombe Girls Basketball Coach. Mr. Webb read the Resolution to Honor Coach Sandra Langley forl her exemplary leadership and commitment. Coach Langley set the record for most winsi in girls' basketball in 2015, and then reach her 800th career wini in December of 2021; now being the winningest female coach in thel history Mr. Webb moved to approve the resolution. Mrs. Harris seconded the motion, Coach Langley stated that shel has loved every minute ofi it and thanked the B. Alan' Thompson, Thompson, Price, Scott, & Allen, presentation of] FY-20 audit.  ofl North Carolina High School Athletic Association.  which carried by unanimous vote.  Board.  Mr. Thompson presented a summary: Significant Audit Findings.  No difficulties encountered inj performing the audit. Corrected and uncorrected misstatements. (all corrected) Disagreements with management. (None) Management representation. Management consultations with other independent accountants. Other auditing findings or issues. Other matters. Financial information for five years. Analysis ofi fund balance.  1    Analysis of fund balance available.  Analysis of unassigned fund balance as a' % of general fund expenditures. Analysis of revenues over (under)expenditures before transfers. Analysis of cash and fund balance at. June 30, 2020. Debt analysis (excluding compensated absences and OPEB FY. June 30, 2020.  Property tax rates Collection percentages Break down of general fund revenue. Break down of general fund expenditures.  Michelle Etheridge. Health Director, to presented COVID-19 update. Mrs. Etheridge stated that as of February 22, 2022 NCDHHS reported 13,257 cases of COVID-19: in Edgecombe County. Group most affected is white females in the age group of25-49. There has been a significant increase in the daily case averages. Shej providedi information on demographics on cases, deaths and vaccines. Death count due to COVID-19 is 141. Shej provided information on COVID-19 testing, vaccines, community events and incentives. Mr. Wooten moved to approve the removal of the mask mandate. Mr. Boswell  seconded the motion.  Mr. Wiggins asked for comments from Mr. Evans.  Mr. Evans stated that the weekly reports that he sends to the Board shows what the CDCI has been publishing as their county level transmission data. Most of North Carolina has been at red (high) for al long time. Under that it says that wearing masks indoors is recommended. They also now have a slightly different system that does not look exactly at: all like the same information call the Community level which shows Edgecombe County as being medium, which is conflicting information. He stated that wel havel been trying to be consistent in what is being done and whati is recommended to thel Board based on that information. Mr. Evans stated that if thel Board wants to make a decision, he would suggest that to make it: at] lease optional and encourage people to wear the After discussion the vote on the motion was 31 for (Wooten, Boswell and Webb) and 4 against (Wiggins, Hines, Harris and Powell). Motion failed.  mask.  6.  PUBLIC PETITIONS. None. 7. OTHER BUSINESS:  A. Approval of] budget amendments.  Mr. Wooten moved to approve thel budget amendments as presented. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. B. Approval of] Health Department Fee Schedule change.  Mr. Evans stated that we regularly review our fee schedule to add fees as needed and to ensure existing fees cover the costs associated with providing the services. Hej presented fort thel Board's consideration a requested change in COVID Vaccine administration fee for the Health Department. The Human Services Board at their last meeting voted to recommended the approval oft these changes Mrs. Harris moved to approve the fee schedule changes as recommended the Human Services Board. Mr. Wooten seconded the motion, which carried by  tot thel Health Department's fee schedule.  unanimous vote.  2    Approval of change order for fire alarm system upgrade.  Mr. Evans presented for thel Board's consideration change order no. 21 for the contract with Siemens Industries, Inc. The original contract was for the fire alarm system upgrade in the County Administration Building and Courthouse. Change Order. No. 1 added additional components for the basement of the Courthouse, which were left off the original bid. Mr. Evans stated that Change Order No. 2, which would take the contract over the $50,0001 limit hei is authorized to approve, adds the upgrade of the system in EMS Station 300." This change order willi increase the contract to $55,120. No additional funds are needed as this was budgeted in the current year's Capital Improvement Plan. Mr. Boswell moved to approve the change order as presented. Mrs. Powell  seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. D. Approval of the appointment of] Deputy Tax Collector.  Mr. Evans stated that the tax offices were reorganized in 2013 to better align the work of the Collector and the Assessor's position. Tarasa Lewis, the' Tax Administrator holds the duties of both Tax Collector and Tax Assessor. We also have both a Deputy Tax Collector and al Deputy Tax Assessor who serves in her absence. Thej previous Deputy Tax Collector, Lisa Warren, recently accepteda position in the Finance Department. Mrs. Lewis has selected Lisa Skinner as the new. Deputy Tax Collector. NC general Statutes require thel Deputy Tax Collector be officially designated as such by thel Board of Commissioners. Mr. Boswell moved to appoint Ms. Skinner as recommended. Mrs. Powell  seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. A. Upper Coastal Plains Council of Governments. motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 9. AFTERLISTS ANDI RELEASES FORI REVIEW AND APPROVAL. seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 10. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOR REVIFV-Recded":  8. APPOINTMENTS:  Mrs. Powell moved to appoint Mr. Curmilus Dancy. Rev. Hines seconded the Rev. Hines moved to: approve the afterlists and releases as presented. Mr. Wooten  A. Water and Sewer update. B. Monthly Financial Summary.  Mrs. Katherine Walters provided the report. C. Health Department's follow-up to opioid report. 11. MANAGER'SI REPORI--Reehed": A. Workforce Development indicators. B. Parks and] Recreation Plan update.  Mr. Evans introduced Ms. Jennifer fields, Physical Activity and Nutrition C. Reminder Commissioners Retreat March 21,2022 AT 9:00: a.m., East Carolina Agriculture and Education Center, 1175 Kingsboro Road, Rocky Mount, NC Mr. Wooten moved to amend the Board's meeting schedule to resume meeting in the Commissioners chamber next meeting. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which Mr. Webb stated that al lot of our fishermen and citizens in the Old Sparta area have voiced numerous complaints about boating access at the Old Sparta Wildlife site. Many have drafted letters to the Wildlife Commission andi it seemed asi ifitis falling on deafe ears. Mr. Evans finally got the correct person. Mr. Webb stated that we got a response stating that they willl be working on re-doing thel boating access in  Coordinator.  12. COMMISSIONERS REPORT.  carried by unanimous vote.  the Winter oft this year.  3    Mr. Webb talked about thel litter problem in certain areas. He stated thata concerned citizen called and said that they found several bags of garbage on their property and they looked through the garbage and found a name on a medicine bottle. Mr. Webb stated that they did not speak with Sheriff. Atkinson, but they were told that just because they found trash with an envelope, or a medication bottle with a name that they would do their best to speak with thei individuals and attempt to get them to come and take the trash. Mr. Webb stated that sometimes the response that the Sheriff's department is gettingi is that they hired somebody else to take their trash off. He stated that he was not trying to interfere with the Sheriff's Office and their duties and responsibilities, but citizens have concerns about trash being placed on their property and I am: at the mercy of the world as to whether or not thej person comes and removes it and there is noj penalty. He felt that this should bes something for thel Board to think about and possibly enact and ordinance. Mrs. Harris stated that a concerned citizen in thel Princeville area, near Concrete Roads stated they had called before and trash is still being left by their house. She asked about the possibility of placing signage and lighting in the area because it was Mr. Evans stated that there are State laws regarding littering the difficulty is  cleaned up before and iti is stilll happening.  enforcing.  There was Board discussion on the litter problem.  Mrs. Harris asked for an update regarding thel bridges in the County that were being worked on and now no work is being done on them and citizens are  complaining.  Mr. Evans stated that he will get an update from DOT. Mr. Boswell about thes status of the EMS stations being completed.  Mr. Evans stated that Station 2is complete and they are backi in there. Two other  stations are next on the list for mold remediation.  13. ATTORNEY'S REPORT. 14. CLOSEDSESSION.  None.  Rev.1 Hines moved tos go into closed session to discuss: A. Economic Development. [N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(4)] Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 15. MR. WOOTEN MOVED TO RECESS THE MEETING UNTILI MONDAY, MARCH21.2022 ATS 9:00 A.M.] FORI BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RETREAT. ATTHE EAST CAROLINA AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION CENTER. MR.] BOSWELLSECONDED THE MOTION, WHICH CARRIEDI BY  Mr. Wooten moved to go out of closed session and resume thei regular meeting. Mr.  UNANIMOUS VOTE. Approved April4 4,2022. Fa Frangiel  to Board  A Mungo, Clerkt thel