MINUTES  REGULAR SCHEDULED: MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY AUGUST2, 2021 AT 7:001 P.M. INTHEJONATHAN FELTON COMMISSIONERS ROOM COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE: BUILDING TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA  1.  MEETINGCALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMANI LEONARD WIGGINS. AT MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Leonard Wiggins, Chairman, Rev. E. Wayne Hines, Vice-Chairman, Mr. William Wooten, Mr. Donald Boswell, Mrs. Viola Harris, Mr. OTHERS PRESENT: Mrs. Natalie Bess, Deputy County Manager, Mr. Michael Peters, County Attorney and Ms. Frangie Mungo, Clerk tot thel Board.  7:00 P.M.  Ralph Webb and Mrs. Evelyn Powell. MEMBERS ABSENT: None.  ABSENT: Mr. Eric Evans, County Manager. Mrs. Bess provided safety instructions. Rev. Hines provided prayer.  2. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.  3. 4. 5.  PRAYER.  MINUTES OFI PREVIOUSI MEETINGS PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL. Rev. Hines moved to approve the minutes of the. July 6, 2021 meeting as presented. Mr. Wooten seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. A. Mike Causey, NC Commissioner of Insurance, presented a volunteer award and Mr. Mike Causey came forth toj present Mr. Will Wooten a special award. Mr. Causey stated that Mr. Wooten was going to raise $28001 for turnout gear for the Heartsease Volunteer Fire Department for his Eagle Scout Project and by doing other things. He was so successful that he did not stop at the $2800, he raised $25,000. Mr. Causey stated that on behalfo of the State of North Carolina, he presented to Mr. Wooten from thel North Carolina Department of Commissioners Award in sincere appreciation for alll he has done Mr. Will Wooten thanked everyone who made this possible. Mr. Will Wooten is thes son ofMargaret Anne and Commissioner William In addition, Commissioner Causey presented ceremonial grant checks totaling more than $175,000 to eight volunteer fire departments. They are the Conetoe, Heartsease, Leggett, Lewis Community, Pinetops, Princeville, Speed B. Karen Lachapelle, Health Director, to present COVID-19 update. Mrs. Lachapelle stated that as ofJuly 26, 2021, reported to her by thel DHHS Edgecombe County has 5,818 cases of COVID-19, six new cases per day last month. We still have Optum Serve testing at Heritage Parki in Princeville average and at Pinetops behind' Town Hall. You can still be tested at Freedom Hill,  SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS.  grant presentations tol local fire departments.  donuts  by selling  for the citizens ofl North Carolina.  (Billy) Wooten.  and' West Edgecombe volunteer: fire departments.  Vidant Multispecialty Clinic and OIC.    Mrs. Lachapelle provided COVID-19 casei information relative to total cases, age groups, gender, race, hospitalizations, deaths (age, gender); number of vaccines given, sites participating in vaccination clinics. She stated that wel have a decline in the number of vaccines they are giving daily at thel Health Department. They have reduced the number of COVID Vaccine Clinics to' Thursdays and Fridays, 9: am to 4 pm in both offices. They are getting ready to start their community  outreach.  Mrs. Lachapelle answered questions from thel Board.  Mrs. Bess stated that Mr. Evans estimates that the vaccination rate of our active employees tol be around 42%. To incentivize more employees to get vaccinated, hes suggests that wel have a drawing. Every employee who provides proof of vaccination would be entered into the drawing for the following prizes. Ifthe Board approves he will determine the details and timing of the redrawing.  5-81 hours administrative leave 10-$25 gift cards 5-$50 gift cards 2-$100 gift cards 1-$500 gift card  Mr. Wooten moved to approve the vaccine incentive for employees as presented. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Mrs. Lachapelle announced that tonight's meeting willl bel her last. Her retirement datei is September 1,2021. She introduced Mrs. Michelle Etheridge  asi interim Director.  Thel Board thanked Mrs. Lachapelle for hers service. discuss revaluation schedule and a refund request. payer due to an error on the tax record.  Tarasa Lewis, Tax Administrator, presented the 2020 Annual Settlement, Mrs. Bess stated that in addition to the Annual Tax Collectors Settlement, Tarasa Lewis will discuss the notification received from the State recommending we advance our schedule for revaluation, as well as a request for refund from a tax Mrs. Lewis stated that tax collections rate was 96.24%, an increase of 1.74 Mrs. Harris moved to approve the' Tax Collector's Settlement as of. June: 30. 2021 and recharge the' Tax Collector with collecting taxes for years 2011 through 2021. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Boswell moved to approve the recommendation to conduct the countywide revaluation project effective. January 2024. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, Mrs. Lewis provided information on a letter received by taxpayer Mr. Derius Swinton regarding a request for refund due to an error on the tax record and her recommendation of no refund. After discussion on this matter, the Board  which carried by unanimous vote.  accepted the recommendation ofl Mrs.Lewis.  6.  PUBLICI PETITIONS. None. 7. OTHER BUSINESS:  A. Consideration of approval of budget amendments.  2    Rev. Hines moved to approve thel budget amendments as presented. Mrs. Harris Mr. Wooten stated that he added thet totals andi it came up to $1,172,000 from various accounts appropriated out of fund balance and thel Budget Committee Mrs. Katherine Lancaster, Finance Director, came forth toj provide an Rev. Hines withdrew his motion and Mrs. Harris withdrew her second. After Board discussion thel budget amendments were: acted on individually. Mr. Wooten moved to approve. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried Mr. Wooten moved to approve. Mrs. Harris seconded the motion, which carried Mr. Wooten moved to approve. Mr. Webb seconded the motion, which carried Mr. Wooten moved to approve. Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried Mr. Wooten moved to approve. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried Mr. Wooten moved to approve. Mrs. Harris seconded the motion, which carried Budget amendment #7: To appropriate funds from fund balance to cover total BIOTECH, lease payments for FY 2022; Inadvertently calculated wrong in the  seconded the motion.  has not had the opportunity tol look ati it.  explanation.  Budget Amendment #1: by unanimous vote. Budget Amendment #2: by unanimous vote. Budget Amendment #3: by unanimous vote. Budget Amendment #4: by unanimous vote. Budget Amendment #5: by unanimous vote. Budget Amendment #6: by unanimous vote.  original approved FY 2022 budget.  Tabled.  Budget amendment #8: To appropriate funds from fund balance to cover funding approved for thel Forestry Service; nadvertently left out of the original  FY2022 budget. Tabled  Budget amendment #9: To appropriate funds from fund balance to cover expenses forl EMS equipment and vehicles; This includes expenses incurred last fiscal year (Unused balance from) FY2021), but not paid for due to delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to a maintenance agreement contract on Stryker new and used power stretchers and power load system on  trucks. Tabled  3    Budget amendment #10: by unanimous vote. Budget amendment #11: by unanimous vote.  Mr. Wooten moved to approve. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried Mr. Wooten moved to approve. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried Mrs. Bess stated that since transitioning Emergency Medical Services in-house, wel have realized the need to add al Field' Training Officer position. Thisisa paramedicl level position thati includes duties of assisting and training EMS staff, especially newly hired staff. This willl help to ensure quality of emergency medical services provide. This position willl be a grade 16 on thes salary scale and if approved we will transition four positions already budgeted to thel FTO. Mr. Boswell moved to approve adding the field' Training Officer position as recommended. Mr. Wooten seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous Mr. Boswell moved tot table this item. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which Mrs. Bess stated that Sheriff Atkinson has been approved to receive a' Traffic Safety Grant from thel NC Governor's Highway safety Program. This $109,796 will allow for the addition ofa deputy in the Sheriff's Office who will focus on traffics safety and awareness. The grant requires a 15% match, which willl be provided through personnel funds already budgeted to the Sheriff's Office. This isa three-year grant, and thel local match will increase for 15% to 30% and then Mrs. Powell moved to approve the grant agreement as presented and authorize: a budget amendment in the appropriate lines for this grant. Mr. Webb seconded E.A Approval of request to amend timeline for Corning Inducement Agreement. Mrs. Bess stated that wel have received a request from officials with Corning, Inc. to amend thel Development and Incentive Agreement. Being that thel land transferred to Corning later than expected when the agreement was the timeline for construction and completion of the facility was moved approved, back. At thej previously agreed upon incentive schedule, Corning will only receive nine years of annual inducement payments. Being that it was our intent, and their understanding, toi incentivize thel location of Corning's new facility here in Edgecombe Cunty with ten years ofi inducement payments, iti is recommended that the Board approve the revision to thei inducement schedule. Mr. Boswell moved to approve the request as presented. Mr. Wiggins seconded Mrs. Bess stated that an offer toj purchase was received from Darius Smith to purchase property the County owns atl NC 42 East in' Tarboro. This property was acquired though tax foreclosure. The offer is for $1,000. Ifthe offer to purchasei is accepted by the board, a minimum 10-day public notice must then  B.A Approval of Paramedic Field' Training Officer position.  vote.  C. Approval of] Revision of Capital Improvement Plan for FY-21. D. Approval of NC Highway Safety Grant for the Sheriff's Office.  carried by unanimous vote.  to 50%.  the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  F. Approval of offer to purchase County-owned lot on NC 42 East.  be given for upset bid.  4    Property information Address: NC 421 East Taxl ID#: 4734-17-1144 Acreage: <1 acre (192'x204') Tax Value: $12,000.00 (land only)  Cost to County (Back taxes and legal fees): $4,457.21  In order to removei this liability from the County's ownership, to recoup the costs the County hasi in the property, and to return it to taxable status, iti is recommended that thel Board of Commissioners accept this offer to] purchase and direct stafft toj publish the aforementioned public notice. Mr. Boswell moved to approve the offer toj purchase as presented and authorize staff toj publish the required public notice. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, Mrs. Bess stated that in accordance with the procedures for funding of thel Home and Community Carel Block Grant, a recommendation for the allocation ofFY- 22 fundingi is presented forl Board consideration. Edgecombe County is being awarded $571,363 forl FY-22, whichi is an increase of. .03% from the $571,211 awarded: in FY-21. The total request from providers is ($640,150) was $68,687 more than the funding available to the County. After much valuable discussion, presentations fromj providers and guidance from the Upper Coastal Plains Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging, the attached plan isl being recommended. We believe this reflects the needs ofl Edgecombe County's aging Mr. Harris moved to approve the funding plan for thel home and Community Carel Block Grant as presented. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried  which carried by unanimous vote.  G.A Approval of] Home & Community Care Block Grant Funding.  population and thel best use of the available funding.  by unanimous vote. APPOINTMENTS.  8.  A. Tarboro-Edgecombe Arts Commission. motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  Mr. Wooten moved to appoint Ms.' Tonjal Musick. Mr. Boswell seconded the Mr. Wooten moved to approve the afterlists and releases as presented. Mrs. Powell Mrs. Powell moved to approve the contracts as presented. Mrs. Harris seconded the  9. AFTERLISTS AND RELEASES FOR REVIEWANDATFROVAL seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 10. CONTRACTS FOR REVIEW AND/OR APPROVAL. motion, which carried by unanimous vote. A. Water Services. B.F Financial Summary report.  11. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOR REVIEW. ***Received***  C.Elections- Candidate filings and redistricting. 12. MANAGER'S REPORI-"Reeived": A. Workforce Development indicators. B. Update on Opioid Settlement. Update- - August 19, 2021 at 10: a.m.  C.P Proposed date forl Final Work Session on the Unified Development Ordinance  13. COMMISSIONERS REPORT.  None.  5    14. ATTORNEY'S: REPORT. 15. CLOSEDSESSION.  None.  Mr. Wooten moved to go into closed session to discuss: A. Economic Development. [N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(4)] B.I Legal Matter. [N.C.G.S. 143-318-11 (a)(3) Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Rev. Hines moved to go out of closed session and resume the regular meeting. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Boswell moved toj put back on the table the consideration to approve the contract with Ainsley Construction fort the roof repair for Rocky Mount DSS. Mr. Webbs seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Boswell moved to approve the contract with Ainsley Construction. Mr. Wooten seconded the motion, which carried by a vote of61 for and 3 against. Mr. Wiggins 16. MR-BOSWELL.MOVED TO RECESS' THE MEETING UNTIL THURSDAY, AUGUST19.2021 AT 10:00 A.M. MR. WOOTEN SECONDED THE MOTION,  and Mrs. Powell voted against the motion.  WHICH CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.  Approved September7,2021. Frangie Mungo, Clerk to the Board F  6