Scotland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting EOC Building: 1403 West Boulevard, Laurinburg, NC  June 3, 2024, 6:00 p.m.  Commissioners in attendance: Chairman Tim Ivey and Vice Chair Darrel "B.J." Gibson,  Commissioners Bo Frizzell, Clarence McPhatter, Darwin Williams.  Commissioner Alford arrived at 6:15 p.m. Commissioners not present: Whit Gibson  Staff in attendance: County Manager April Snead, County Attorney Ed Johnston, Community  Relations Specialist/Deputy to the Board Dorothy B. Tyson. Call to Order, Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance  Chairman Ivey called the meeting to order and asked Commissioner Williams to deliver the invocation. After the invocation, Chairman Ivey then led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Approval of the Agenda  Motion was made Vice-Chair Gibson to approve the Agenda and the motion was duly seconded by Commissioner Williams. Vote to approve the agenda: unanimous.  Public Forum  Rev. Richard Tyson of] East Laurinburg Baptist Church addressed the Board in opposition to the proposed recycling center being placed on the corner of] Highway 74 and 3rd Street in East Laurinburg. Rev. Tyson presented aj petition with 80 signatures in opposition of the 3rd Street/Highway 74 site. He stated the problem with it being placed there is rats, snakes and bugs. He also stated that it is not the owners that are causing problems with the trash, it is the renters/Section 8. Thisi is aj problem because the landlords are not doing what they should in regard to picking up trash and that all people should take responsibility. They understand that the budget is tight, but would ask that it be located elsewhere. Commissioner Frizzell asked where he would suggest placing the recycling Center. Rev. Tyson said on the Dixie Guano site, but the renters still wouldn'ttake their trash there. He also stated that during a storm, the solid waste employees brought out a dumpster and the people worked tol keep the area clean. He informed the Commissioners that 6th 11th Streets are the problems and that there is a "Tent City" in East Laurinburg. Vice-Chair Gibson thanked Rev. Tyson for coming to the meeting to speak. Afterward asking if they would want dumpsters or ai recycling center set at the property (Old Town Hall) and then moved out. Chairman Ivey stated that they are not sure oft the soil at the old Service Distributing location. Rev. Tyson stated that this property was not available as he knew someone was purchasing it. Commissioner Frizzell asked how they dispose of waste currently. Rev. Tyson replied that Tedder's Trash Service and Joe's Trash Service are the vendors that they use. Commissioner McPhattter told Rev. Tyson that he sees him and that he hears him, and that he will not vote to place a recycling center there. Margaret Brigman, a lifelong resident of East Laurinburg also spoke in opposition and asked where on 3rd Street  1    Scotland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting EOC Building: 1403 West Boulevard, Laurinburg, NC  June 3, 2024, 6:00 p.m.  would the recycling center be placed. Chairman Ivey replied on the Main end near Highway 74. He then asked the residents of] East Laurinburg that were present toj please stand. There were  approximately 10 present. Consent Agenda  The Consent Agenda is as follows:  (a) Approve Minutes of May 6, 2024 Regular Meeting (b). Approve April Refunds, Releases, and. Discoveries  (c). Approve surplus of 2CCDMATIHH600174 (d) Health Department Position (e) Tax Department, Reclassification 6 Budgetary. Adjustments (g). LRCOGF/25HCCBG, funding  2008 Chevrolet. Impala VIN# 2GIWC5838/226036: 2016. Dodge Charger VIN#  (h). LRCOG. FY25 and. FY26 In Home Aide Contract. Award  Motion was made by Commissioner Alford to approve the Consent Agenda and duly seconded by Commissioner Williams. Vote to approve Consent Agenda: unanimous.  Proclamation  Mrs. Mary Anderson ofLaurinburg and the Executive Director oft the North Carolina Coalition for Prostate presented to the Board to proclaim June 2024 as Men's Health Month in Scotland County. She read the proclamation and asked for their approval. Motion was made by Vice-Chair Gibson to proclaim June 2024 in Scotland County as Men's Health Month.The motion was duly seconded by Commissioner Alford. Vote to approve: unanimous. Mrs. Anderson informed the Board that Scotland County is one of only eight counties in the world to  proclaim June as Men's Health Month. Scotland County Sheriff's Office  No one was present from the Sheriff's Office to present. Fiscal Year 2024-2 2025 Budget Discussion  The proposed FY 2024 - 2025 was presented. It was asked how non-essential P/T employees were identified. The County Manager stated she would give department heads the amount of part time staff funding in the budget and department heads should determine which are essential and what another employee can pick up regarding duties. Regarding 401K, there are concerns with long term employees. The County Manager stated that this is a one time thing and that spending willl be reviewed during the year to see ift there was anything that could be brought  2    Scotland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting EOC Building: 1403 West Boulevard, Laurinburg, NC  June 3, 2024, 6:00 p.m.  back. It was expressed by Vice Chair Gibson that some employees told him that they would rather end 401K and keep the COLA. The County Manager replied there is not an equal cost difference between the two. Commissioner Frizzell suggested finding another way instead of cutting 401K and the County Manager agreed. The discussion continued with expressed concern for the employees, going back to the drawing board, and finding other ways to save. To come up with al balanced budget without raising taxes. Chairman Ivey asked if they wanted to raise the tax rate and it was stated by one commissioner that he would vote to raise taxes before cutting out the 401K. Also mentioned was the Stimulus money that came and was spent and now it is upon us. Commissioner Williams pointed out that he doesn't want to: raise taxes, and as our budgets change the way that we operate should change too and agreed to not touch the 401K. It was stated to look at the number of employees (300) compared to the number of citizens (35,000), and that everyone on the Board was for reducing taxes. Per Commissioner Alford, Scotland County is growing and we will get some reliefin the coming year and they will pay taxes. Also that we have some incentives packages with companies that have come in, those packages will come this year and one year from now we will be better, expect it tol be better next year. The public hearing is scheduled for June 25th and the tentatively scheduled meeting on. June 5th is too close, but a special meeting can be scheduled. It was asked about the Fund Balance and informed that $500,000.00 from the fund balance is already included. Thej possibility of using more from the Fund Balance was discussed. Finance Director Hobbs stated that using $1,000,000 would risk us being under the selfimposed balance. We are currently at about 15% and $8 million oft the fund balance is unrestricted and does not recommend dipping in further. It was stated that if wet take a million dollars then we. have to make up a million dollars. County Manager Snead indicated she did not recommend using more of the fund balance to balance the budget. The County match for 401K was discussed, with the match being 3%. The possibility of reducing the match to 1.5% -2% was discussed and was stated that the reduction would generate some money. All budgets were reviewed and discussed. The date for the next meeting  will be. June 11, 2024 at 9:00 a.m., ai recessed: meeting.  Vehicle Use Policy  The Vehicle Use Policy was presented with the additional information requested by the Commissioners. The County Manager asked if they were ready to approve the Vehicle Use Policy. Motion made by Commissioner Alford to approve the Vehicle Use Policy. The  motion was duly seconded by Commissioner McPhatter.  Boards and Committees Appointments  Motion made by Vice Chair Gibson to appoint the following to thei identified boards. Motion was duly seconded by Commissioner Alford. Vote: Unanimous. TDA - Tony Spaulding and' Thomas Parker, III Richmond Community College - Commissioner Whit Gibson  3    Scotland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting EOC Building: 1403 West Boulevard, Laurinburg, NC Scotland Memorial Library Board - Tiffany Graves Miles City ofLaurinburg Board of Adjustment - Larry Lanier City ofLaurinburg Planning Board - Ken Jackson and Hal Jernigan  June 3, 2024, 6:00 p.m.  County Manager's Report  Laurinburg Maxton. Airport/Scotland County. Land Swap County Manager is still waiting for approval.  North Turnpike Water Line  There is some movement. Waiting to: receive follow up with Oakhill Baptist Church to use their Fellowship Hall to set up a site to collect the deposits on Tuesdays, as this will make it more convenient for the residents. Chief Inspector Milligan has gone door to door and delivered 50  notices to residents ofN. Turnpike Road and Connecting roads.  East Laurinburg Properties expired and has not been relisted. Scotland County IT  This is on pause until location of East Laurinburg Recycling Center is determined. The listing  Each department is different and uses different programs-aPpications Twelve areas of recommendations by The National Guard and thirty-nine tasks to be done, twenty have been completed. Some of these recommendations are very expensive. County is also awaiting approval oft the county IP address. This is weighing very heavily on DSS, the Health Department and the Register of] Deeds. They are: imaging more computers this week and will deploy the  needed computers next week, with the Sheriff's Office being first.  East Laurinburg Recycling Center  There is a wooded area further down Highland Road and the owner is willing to split into desired acreage. The County Manager asked if the Board wants her toj pursue conversations with the  realtor. The Board gave permission to: move forward. Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program Funding Consideration Five projects have been submitted to clean out ditches.  Bereavement Policy Comparison  Scotland County now requires you to take your sick leave for bereavement. Other counties compared provide extra time and employees do not have to dip into their sick or annual leave. The County Manager agreed to prepare a new Bereavement Policy and present to the Policy  Committee.  4    Scotland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting EOC Building: 1403 West Boulevard, Laurinburg, NC Southeastern Community Action Partnership and IE. Johnson Annex  June 3, 2024, 6:00 p.m.  We are waiting on the NCORR group environmental survey. Commissioner mentioned that we have been hearing about this survey for a year now. The County has been advised to not do  anything until the survey. has been completed.  Updated Agreements Presbyterian Park.  Working to update agreements with the Scotland County Humane Society and Laurinburg Presbyterian Church. The agreement with Laurinburg Presbyterian Church is for cutting grass a  Civic Plus Social Media Archiving  Thisi is highly recommended and would be needed with ai records request.  Water Bill Request: Request from a elderly lady who has an excessively high water bill which is in arrears. A large portion has been forgiven by the City and she is requesting the same from the County. The water is still on. Commissioner remarks: we are not wanting toi forgive water bills,  even normal ones. Commissioner Reports  Chairman Ivey - Contract with City for 911 Service, that we need to come up with, what we will ask for, a number. Commissioner Frizzell - What about a letter. We will have time since their meeting is on June 18th. Chairman Ivey Quarter (4) cents sales tax can be put on the ballot for approval in NovemberCommisioner Frizzell - Can we go to a % cent. Chairman Ivey stated that he is not sure. County Manager Snead said that she would check on this. Commissioner Frizzell mentions raising sales tax % cent and: reducing property tax. Commissioner Ivey informed the Board that this would happen next year with it being on the ballot in November. Commissioner Frizzell stated that landowners need some relief. Also mention that there are a lot ofbeachgoers in the area, especially on the weekends. Board of Election Director Dell Parker informed the Board that actual ballots will be ready on September 6th, sO they need to let her  know ASAP.  5    Scotland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting EOC Building: 1403 West Boulevard, Laurinburg, NC  June 3, 2024, 6:00 p.m.  Meeting recessed until 9:00 a.m on June 11,2024, at the Edwin Morgan Center located at 517  Peden Street in Laurinburg, NC.  Waclly B.dn Dorothy B. Tyson Deputy to the Board  Tim Ivey Board Chair  R  (Seal)  6