MINUTES OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 AT7:001 P.M. INTHE CARMON. AUDITORIUM COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE: BUILDING TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA  REGULARSCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  1. MBETINGCALLED TOORDER BY CHAIRMANI LEONARD WIGGINSAT  7:00 P.M.  MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr.Leonard Wiggins, Chairman, Rev. E. Wayne Hines, Vice-Chairman, Mr. William Wooten, Mrs. Viola Harris, Mr. Ralph Webb and  Mrs. Evelyn Powell.  MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Donald Boswell.  OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Eric Evans, County Manager, Mrs. Natalie Bess, Deputy County Manager, Mr. Michael Peters and Ms. Frangie Mungo, Clerk to thel Board.  2. SAFETYI INSTRUCTIONS. 3. PRAYER.  Mrs.] Bess provided the safety instructions. Rev. Hines provided the prayer.  4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL. Mrs. Harris moved to approve the minutes of the August 2, 2021 meeting as presented. Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. A. Recognition of the South Edgecombe Summer Recreation Program. Mr. Webb came forth recognize the young team that finished 3rd in the State, with an all star record of7-2. Mr. Webbi introduced the coaches. Coach Turner introduced the other coaches and he also introduced the team members. B. Michelle Etheridge, Interim Health Director, to present COVID-19 update. Mrs. Etheridge stated that to date, reported tol her by the DHHS Edgecombe County has 6488 cases of COVID-19, 121 deaths. 17,000 vaccines administered to date. Wes still have Optum Serve testing atl Heritage Parki in Princeville and at Pinetops behind Town) Hall. You can still be tested at Freedom Hill, Vidant Multispecialty Clinic and OIC. She provided COVID-19 case information relative to total cases, age groups, gender, race, hospitalizations, deaths (age, gender); number of vaccines given, sites participating in vaccination clinics. Mr. Evans stated that wes are trying to encourage people to get vaccinated. Our vaccination ratei is relatively low. Mr. Evans called up Mr.I Nyreke Peters, Lead for North Carolina Fellows Intern. His task while hei is with Edgecombe County is toi improve our communication with citizens in regards to COVID vaccine. Mr. Evans stated that Mr. Peters has prepared a video that has been published on the County's YouTube Channel and willl bes sent out in other ways. He stated that he wanted the Board tos see the video at tonight's meeting. Mr. Nyreke Peters came forth and introduced himself and showed the video.  5. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS.  Thel Board congratulated the coach and the team.  PUBLIC PETITIONS. None.  1    7. OTHER BUSINESS:  A. Approval ofl budget amendments.  Mr. Webb moved to approve thel budget amendments as presented. Mr. Wooten Mr. Evans stated that repairs from the WICgrant was bidded out and he recommended that the Board approve the contract with Long's Home Mr. Wooten moved to approve the contract. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, Mr. Evans stated that in 2019 we convened the Parks and Recreation Tax Force to explore how we can develop and improve access to recreational opportunities for our citizens. The work oft this group built upon the County's efforts through the Recreation Mini-Grant program, which we began in 2017. The work of the Task Forcel has resulted in many forward steps, including thel Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which hej presented for the Board's consideration. Mr. Evans stated that this plan sets out as aj primary goal to create al Parks and Recreation Department, which will ensure the ongoing work ofi improving the quality of life for our citizens. But also detailed in the plan are the various efforts undertaken by the Task Force which] lead to the recommended actions. Yvonne Murphy, Health Matters Associate with Cooperative Extension, and Taskl Force Chairperson, will present some background on thej process. Mr. Evans stated that he will review key components of thej plan, including the recommended action steps. He recommended that at the conclusion of the presentation that thel Board adopt thel Edgecombe County Comprehensive Parks Ms. Yvonne Murphy, call forth toj provide additional information and to answer Mrs. Powell moved to approve the plan as presented. Mr. Webb seconded: the C.A Approval of Resolution to Support the Safe Routes to School Program. Mrs. Powell moved to approve the resolution as presented. Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. D. Approval of Bad Debt Write-off for the] Health Department. Mr. Evans stated that thel Edgecombe County Health) Department's Bad Debt Write Off Policy states that a patient's account willl bel handled as Bad Debt when therel has been no: activity on the: account for more than six months. This does not mean that there will be noi further efforts to collect the debt. In fact, if therei is any activity on the account, for example the patient presents at the Health Department for series, then the accounti is reactivated. This actioni is an accounting method whereas the written off debt nol longer shows on our books as Mr. Harris moved to approve the Bad Debt Write-off for the Health Department as recommended by thel Human Services Board. Mrs. Powell seconded the E., Approval of thes selection off firm to provide redistricting services.  seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  Improvement for $56,700. which carried by unanimous vote. B. Adoption of Parks & Recreation Master Plan.  and Recreation Plan as] presented. any questions from the Board. motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  areceivable.  motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  2    Mr. Evans stated that thel Board is required to adopt a resolution containing the revised electoral districts on or beforel November 17,2021 resulting from the 2020 Census. Mr. Peters prepared al Request for Proposals which was published on the County's website and thel NCI Procurement website tos solicit responses from qualified firms. We: also mailed the RFP directly toi firms wel believed might be interested in submitting aj proposal. Wel have received only one response as of Friday and as of today we received a second response in which they have not yet had the opportunity to review. Mr. Evans stated that he wanted to revisel his recommendation that was in the agenda package and recommended that thel Board hold off on approving this contract to allow them toextend the deadline tos seei if we will received other submissions. He recommended that the Board call for a special meeting on September 15, 2021 at Mr. Webb moved to call for a special meeting as recommended. Mrs. Powell F.A Approval of request to increase Edgecombe County Board of Education stipend. Mr. Evans presented a letter from) Dr. Valerie Bridges, Superintendent, requesting thel Board to consider approving ani increase of thel Board of Education's stipend by $200. Ifapproved effective this month, that will be: an additional cost of$14,000 for current expense funding for the remainder of this Mr. Wiggins moved to approve the stipend increase. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by a vote of5to1. Mr. Wooten opposed. G. Approval of calling for a public hearing regarding changes to the Animal Mr. Evans stated that the Animal Services Advisory Council is recommending additional changes to the Animal Services Ordinance. The changes they recommend arei in Article II Inherently Dangerous Animals. Theyi include: additions to the types of snakes that are prohibited; required documents for registration; and a recommended increase from $50 to $5001 for civil penalties. In Section 4-34 the Advisory Council recommends additional provisions regarding the adoption of animals. These changes require aj public hearing. Mr. Recommended that the Board call for aj public hearing for October 4, 2021. Rev. Hine move to call for aj public hearing: at the October 4, 2021 Board of Commissioners meeting. Mrs. Harris seconded the motion, which carried by Mr. Evans stated that Sheriff. Atkinson is requesting the Board to consider the retirement ofl K-91 Maxi for the reasons provided. In addition, he asks that the Board allow Max to bej purchased by his handler Sgt. Kenneth Wooten for the Mr. Webb moved to approve the request as recommended by Mr. Evans. Mrs. Harris seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  2:00 p.m. to approve a contract at that time.  seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  fiscal year.  Services Ordinance.  unanimous vote.  H. Approval of request to retire K-9 in Sheriff's Office.  sum of $1.00.  I. Approval of Forestry Services Agreement. the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. J. Approval of] Resolution Authorizing Application tol Distressed  Mrs. Powell moved to approve the agreement as presented. Rev. Hines seconded  3    Community/Viable Utility Reserve Program.  Mr. Evans presented resolution to the Distressed Community/Viable Reserve Program tos submit an application through their Asset and Inventory Assessment (AIA) grant program to conduct a water system and rate study. Edgecombe County, along with 99 other Utilities throughout North Carolina were recently deemed a Viable Utility. Current fundingi is available for Viable Utilities and we expect more funding to become available int the Spring of 2022. While conducting these studies does not particularly increase our chances ofl being funded, it does] put us in al better position tos see whati issues are morej prevalent Mrs. Harris moved to approve the resolution aj presented. Mrs. Powell seconded  throughout our water system.  the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  APPOINTMENTS. A. Board of Adjustment.  Mr. Webb moved to re-appoint Eleanor Battle-Sharpe and Maria el Faysal. Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. A. Proposed amendment to the UDO public hearing called for by the Board of  9. PLANNING BOARD REPORT. ***Received*** Commissioners to bel held onl November 1,2021. B. Minutes of August 9, 2021 meeting.  10. AFTERLISTS AND] RELEASES FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 11. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOR REVIEW.-"Recived":  Mr. Wooten moved to approve the afterlists and releases as presented. Mrs.) Powell  A. Water Services. B. Financial Summary report. 12. MANAGERS REPORI-"Resehed"  C.R Register of Deeds- E-filing through Simplifile is now available. A. Introduction of] Paul Moseley as the new Utilities Director. Mr. Moseley came forth and introduced. himself to the Board.  Mr. Evans recognized Mr. Moseley. B. Workforce Development indicators. C.Community Voices Initiative. D. Sales' Taxi report. 13. COMMISSIONERS REPORT.  A. Commissioner Viola Harris' appointment tol NACo committees.  Healthy Counties Advisory Board Immigration Reform' Task Force Membership Standing Committee Rural Action Caucus  14. ATTORNEY'S) REPORT. None. 15. CLOSED SESSION.  Rev.] Hines moved to go into closed session to discuss: A. Economic Development. [N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(4)] B. Personnel Matter. N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(3)] Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  4    Mr. Wooten moved to go out of closed session and resume the regular meeting. Mr. Mrs. Harris moved to approve the Sheriff's $3,000 salary increase retroactive to August 21,220. Mrs.] Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 16. REV.] HINES MOVED TO ADJOURN' THEI MEETING UNTIL OCTOBER4. 2021AT7:001 P.M.MRS. HARRIS SECONDED THE MOTION, WHICH  Webb seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  vote.  CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.  Approved October4,2021. Frangie Mungo, Clerk to thel Board Elp  5