Welcome to the Thursday March 4th meeting of the Esper city council Appreciate everybody being here. We are still under COVID protocol and Linda Carter is on the phone from home. This Carter you with us Thank you very much good to have you here tonight in spirit And we we have visitors out in the hallway, and we are observing social distancing and masks, and trying to be as safe and cautious as we can. If you will, at this point, stand and join me in a moment of silent meditation. I invite you to pray in any manner that you're comfortable and we will follow that with Thank you. to fight the United States of America and to the Republic from which it stands one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice wrong. Thank you. As we move into our meeting tonight, I'd like to welcome the guest. Have a couple of things I'd like to welcome the guest. Have a couple of things I'd like to mention. As we get started, it was a year ago coming up Saturday, I believe, a year ago that ran up hospital went into bankruptcy proceedings to try to save the hospital and that was a plan to bankruptcy. And here we are a year later still waiting to have that play out. There have been lots of twists and turns and at this point we are waiting the county who would be the applicant, is the applicant for the rural health care stabilization money that was approved by the legislature. The county is waiting to hear from the state UNC health care and the local government commission on the application for that $20 million capital loan. So right now it was still not heard and could come any time, any day now. One of the updates on that and it has been a year in the absence. We went into the COVID lockdown. We've had a lot of a lot of twist and turns in the COVID navigation lots of city hall here is still closed to the public. A lot of our departments and programming has been altered. Some canceled, some various things. As we have negotiated and advocated the COVID world we live in, we found it necessary to protect our mission critical people, firemen, policemen, public works people that do the day-to-day service for citizens, it's unfortunate that we've had to make some changes. Most notably, canceling the Christmas parade and not being able to have the Christmas on sunset and various the summer concerts and many things that the citizens look forward to. So we'll keep our fingers crossed now that there are three vaccines coming through and many of us are being able to get vaccinated and over the next few months. Many more will be vaccinated and maybe we can reach the point of a herd immunity, which will make it a lot safer and practical to reopen and go back to what we hope will be some semblance of a normal life that we remember from before. We'll just keep our fingers crossed. And in the meantime, I encourage the citizens that are watching the night on YouTube to be vigilant where you may ask, wash your hands, stay distanced, and just try to be as safe as you can and sooner or later we'll get through this. So, our first business item on the agenda, I'd like to call on Mr. Steve Hackett, CPA with firm Liam R. Hunt and Cut CPA to present our audit report for the fiscal year 1920. Mr. Hackett, come on forward. Good evening. Glass of deep bogging up. Y'all have a copy of your financial set. And also there's a spreadsheet that I think Mr. Reeves had probably handed out with that. It makes it more easier to follow. We do have the spreadsheet. With the year ending June 30, 2020, as in the past, the city has received an unmodified opinion on its financial statements, where I clean out it as we call it. On page 21 of the financial statements, the data from that page is also on the spreadsheet, titled Comparative Balance Sheets Governmental Funds. This statement is an overall view of the financial position of the city and its governmental funds at June 30, 2020. The line item unrestricted cash and cash equivalence of $17 million, $95,130 for all governmental funds, decreased $3.3 million, or 15.7% from last year. The restricted cash of $6 million, $102,000, to earn $51, increased to over $4 million, 226% from last year. Now, majority of the decreased understricted cash and the increased in restricted cash is because of the transfer of funds from the general fund 4.5 million to the Zucity Sportsplex project fund So I'm going to do this I can see For future construction For the Zucity Sportsplex for the Zucity Sportsplex. Restricted cash consists of amounts restricted by grant tours and free trip contributors for specific projects or expenditures. On page 33 and a note, there is a listing of all the restricted cash and what is restricted for. You want to see the detail of that amount. Overall, the total cash for all governmental funds increased $884,088.3% from last year. General fund portion of cash and cash equivalents which includes restricted cash decrease 3.2 million or 15% from last year. Your taxes receivable increase 34.8% due to an increase in a tax levy in 1920 and tax collections of 6% from the prior year. The accounts receivable increase 8.7% from last year. Due from other government's item, which includes sales tax receivable, utilities franchise tax receivable, franchise tax receivables, grant receivables, etc., state relatively stable from last year with an increase of just a little over 1%. The notes receivable balance of 1Band $22,608 includes amounts loan to developers of the Asperer Mille-Auls and sunset place apartments for low income housing. The next section down, loud billies and fun equity, the accounts payable and crude loud billies line item for all governmental funds of $2,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, and over $765,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 were 59% from last year. Total lobby list for all governmental funds increased 606,496 dollars or 28% from last year. The section below that total fund balance for all governmental funds of 25 million, $542,618, increased from prior year a little over 287,000 or 1.1%. This also includes a general fund. The general fund portion of fund balance of $19 million, $297,709, had a decrease for the year of 3.7 million or 16% and the amount available for appropriation which you won't see on your financials as a statute calculated amount. A 15 million $447,630 is 44% of your current year expenditures which is well above the 8% that the local government commission likes to see. Now the prior to the city's fund bounce available was 68% of expenditures. The transfer that you did to the Sucy Sportsplex along with a 10% increase in general fund expenditures overall calls this amount available to draw from 68 to 44%. Now on page 22 of the financials, the revenues and expenditures for all government funds. Total government fund revenues of 31 million, $177,000, $743 increased a little return to $70,000, or just a little bit under 1% from last year. There was a 5.4% increase in the Avalorn tax collections. And that decrease in restricted revenues, this calls to slight increase in revenues as a whole. General fund revenues of $30,720,519 increased a little over $689,000 or 2.3% from last year. Total governmental fund expenditures of $31,805,461 increased a little over $3,000, or 10.6% from last year. And this is also due to the increase because of the due to increase in expenditures in cap outlay and the airport improvements project fund, and also some expenditures in the Zuzi Sportslet Project Fund. The recreation department for the new recreation center has some costs which carried over in the 1920 and the police department and the fire department had also some capital expenditures during the year. General fund expenditures of $30 million, $183,310 increased a little over $2 million or 9.8 percent from last year. On page 25 in the financials, the next spreadsheet that you have labeled comparative statements of net position proprietary fund. This is a statement of net position for the water and sewer fund. This statement is overall view of the financial position that sees water and sewer fund at June 30, 2020. Unrestricted cash and cash equivalent of 11 million, $303,654 decreased a little over $166,000 over 1% from last year. The council receivable decreased 7.4% from last year. Now, due from other governance decreased, significantly due to the receipt of some amounts due to the city from the FEMA for the Hurricane Florence a couple of years ago. The eminitors for the water and source fund decreased slightly from last year. Your capital assets netted depreciation of $41 million through her $19,157. Decreased due depreciation on your capital assets being more than a capital assets you purchased during the year. The accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $881,345 increased a little over $109,000 or 29.3% from last year. Your total amount of compensated absences was just the vacation and comp time that's accrued for the employees of current and long term decreased 3.2% from last year. Total notes payable, which includes your current and long term portions, decreased $469,364 or 10.4% from last year. The net pension liability of $1 million, $645,427 represents the city's portion of the state local government budget retirement system amount. And that's your portion at June 30, 2020. The total OPEB liability amount of $4 million, $369,635, is higher from last year due to the estimate amount that will be needed to provide health benefits to the retirees once they retire. Overall, the Water and sewer funds total our bill is increased to $367,500 or $3.2%. The total net position for the water and sewer fund decreased $1,961,864 last year. on page 26 in your financials. And the last spreadsheet is a statement of revenues and expenditures and change of fund from that position for water and sewer fund. Total operating revenues of 12 million, $274,138 decreased 428,000 or 3.3% from last year. Expenses of $14 million, 431,000 to $07 increased a little or 470,000 or 3.3% from last year. Majority of this was an increase in water maintenance and building collections apartments from overall increase in just regular operating costs. And now, some costs increase associated with retirement and post-employment benefits. This created net operating laws of $2,157,069. Overall, your total net change of position was a reduction in water sure fund of 1.9 million per year. Given the pandemic, I think that the city did very well. I think a lot of us were expecting some reduction in sales tax revenues. And I think people adjusted from going to brick and mortar sites to buy vinyl lines. So your sales tax revenues didn't really get hurt a whole lot. I've been seeing that in a lot of audits I've been doing. Seeing questions? Questions or missed. Hackett? Are you saying you attribute the increase in the loss due to the people's inability to pay? In which fund? The Water Soar? The Water Soar. Well, you had a reduction in revenues because there was a moratorium put out about not being able to collect the penalties, so that would have caused a reduction in some revenues, yes. But I think like most cities, after the moratorium was lifted, you developed a payment plan for the citizens. I think you'll be working very well with them, trying developed a payment plan for the citizens. I think you'll be working very well with them trying to get them to get caught up. So we should expect to see that number to improve improvement. We would hope so. We would hope so. They got to understand that. And the several factories close, you know, this time of year, that's true. And industrial consumption went down. Remember when factories were shut down two or three weeks? That's in there. So it's a general loss of revenue from lack of business. Or just when we had the complete shutdown in March and April, the school will close, that the Chetan Holokani down, it's a big number. An anomaly is one thing, but it's still a big number. The sole less watering, we had people that couldn't pay for water they were using. Two key factors. Correct. And came to them all. Which we shouldn't but still we got to address the pipe for its unfold. We're still playing. He's coming. Any other questions for Mr. Hacker? On behalf of the city, let me thank you once again. I think what I hear is that we really enjoy talking with you. But you do a good job. And maybe in the finalist of the park will work well together. We look forward to seeing you again next year with a little better knee. Okay, I'm sorry. So Mayor with the Mr. Hacker presentation, that closes this will be my thing. I think we're in my opinion. Wayne, thank you. Mr. Williams, this fall, you're going to have part of this process. We invented three of here without ready for it. And then he actually closes the books. He reports it to the state. And then he's just talking to you, he gets all that back. He gave you the call of retirement. He's retirement. And if he has to get all that into the system and get them. So, along the process, I say that only by calls. This week, tomorrow, or this year, your 50 will send out the budget which he's for next year, which is July 1st. So, the human resources department has completed. There's one to retire. There's to do a stepping crease, all the personnel things that send out the finest department, the department. They give a staying foot. Now we'll do the capital pays, the operation pays, and the budget is all together. And so, the cycle continues. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Steve. Thank you, Ms. Reves. And of course, the debt being department has to a great job. It was just a strange year. We get about 300,000 a year in late fees. Well, I'll say six months of that. We have about $8,000 and about mid-20, I think, is 24, maybe 26 customers that are under the HOPE program. You may have heard. They went around and signed people that we haven't received payment for. So you can see we've closed the books, but we're still trying to collect what then we're budgeting for next year too. So we'll start proper words. Stressful? I probably use some other words but I'm not going to answer that. Thank you John. Another good job. Downtown Ashburn Incorporated Executive Director Rebecca McGee, come on in. You're going to tell us about our next treatery. Yes, and I'm going to take off my mask because it will slide down. It's my son's, my seven year old son's because I've lost all mine. Thank you all for having me tonight. I'm really excited to tell you a little bit about our next event. And I'm going to speak for a moment real quickly and then I also have a guest that I'd like to introduce and speak about part of the event. So downtown Ashboro in November was successful with our first streetery on November 7th. We did it from 11 to three based on the weather and we had reports of this is pre Saturday pre-COVID Saturday sales. This was it was four Saints actual best Saturday single Saturday out of their entire existence other than their events. We've had restaurants that say anytime you want to do it again we're down for it. But not only the restaurants that benefited from that, we had the boutiques and the retail places that said, the cars parked here, the traffic that stopped, that shop during that day was a great Saturday sale for them as well. We are doing everything with the restrictions in mind, as well as COVID safe. We know that there are still guidelines that we need to follow and we want to make sure that we do not over extend ourselves. You know, we're still learning a little bit about the restrictions and what's coming forward. So that being said, we did from 11 to 3 in November just based on the weather. However, the city didn't actually pick up the bearcaids until around 5 and we had several of the restaurants push it as absolutely far as they could. Because the residents were not able to do that. the city didn't actually pick up the bearcaids until around five and we had several of the restaurants push it as absolutely far as they could because they were just people were coming and people were willing to eat and so it was really a great experience so this time we've decided to lunch and dinner we went from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. which when we made that decision it was the end of any alcohol sales. And then, of course, we also had the curfew. We are still maintaining that time. One thing exciting about this is not only are we doing sunset, but we were able to work really closely with DOT and real quickly, actually close fateful as well to help those restaurants, the new Beggle Company foresaints, magnolias, they can extend out into the street as well. And we were excited to add that. We will be having music. Again, all social distance items, these are background music. These are not concerts. They are there to enjoy while you eat and enjoy the experience. We've also had several of the retail shops partner together and say we want to do something that participated. Yes, this is a dining event, but if we can do something that is safe, can we partner together? So the boutiques, five or six of the boutiques I think we're up at now have partnered together to create a fashion show. And that will be from one to two. There are going to be five individual models from each shop and they are going to be on a stage. Away from the crowd we'll have some seats but this will be kind of floating and then we'll start back the music. We've also movies, outdoor movies are allowed during this COVID pandemic times. So, we partnered with Dusty at the table to offer a movie at 8 p.m. Children's movie. We just got the movie picked. It's going to be Zootopia if anyone's curious. So we're really excited that it's not only the restaurants that are benefiting, but we've found safe ways to create family activities as well and to create shop activities for the shops. And we actually had an addition shortly that's not in any of our marketing right now just because this was added three or four days ago and I wanted to invite up Joel to speak a little bit about that if you will. I'll try to be brief but thank you all. I've lived here in Ashburg for 18 years and I feel embarrassed that it's my first time being here. I've done a lot of traveling. I went over 120,000 miles the last couple of years, last year I went three. So I'm bringing my world to Ashford. We're bringing a mobile maker space. Normally, the White House asked me back in 2015 to go around the country and coach makerspaces. I'm the guy that helped build the Forge in Greensboro, if you hadn't heard of that. In the first year we had 16 new companies formed, non-patents filed, and over 50 people got jobs in the first year. That got me an invitation to the White House. And then I started traveling and seeing the whole country, 35 states, 120,000 miles. Now I'm beyond stirra crazy. I can't travel. Greta's driving me nuts. And I'm driving her nuts. And we're trying our best to get through this. But I'm having national resources reach out to me and willing to help. And so I'm showing you right now that is a mobile maker space. That's $60,000 worth of technology in that 15 foot trailer that will be here next Friday at 1 o'clock at Bison 10-Ele Park. All of you are welcome. Anybody there? You're welcome. We are going to have a government and business leader day and we're going to have businesses come in and talk about what their current employment needs are and their future needs. We've got a severe problem with our kids making decisions on what their future should be without getting adequate information about what the employers needs are and they are making misinformation and aren't spending their thoughts processes in ways that really can impact their families in strong ways. We're going to be teaching people how to use the CNC mills, routers, 3D printers. That's one right there. I'm expecting to get it in the next day or so. Laser cutters. We're going to have 3D pens for young kids to play with the 3D that can actually make their drawings into a sculpture. And so we're gonna try to, we've got to, I don't know about you, but I'm fed up with the stupid pandemic and all the melancholy and all the, everybody feels so depressed. We've got to figure out ways to get past this and that's why I brought this. We got to make a big move. And so I brought a big tool and you want to gable, this will get some big things happening. This is a 50 pound hammer called the forminator. And we've had 16,000 people from around the country pick this up and put down their dang cell phones. You want to get kids excited about working with tools, you got to make tools exciting. So I invented this and I got to show you I'm real excited and I hadn't had a chance to tell you yet. We need to talk about it. But I invented the best ever collection jar for afterburn. And I'm going to show you in a second. But this is some of the equipment. This is where this is the best location. I'm so grateful to John and the city here for thinking and allowing me to do this and trusting me to do this because I could not find a better location than by the ten-year park to do a socially distant hands-on exposure. And again, having a football field size event. I mean, I'm gonna use that whole park. We're gonna do Blueprint projects where we're gonna actually have kids find themselves, I'm gonna give them a number. They gotta find that number in the park. On the Blueprint, they gotta go there. And if they get there, they're gonna have a drone drop a taco on them. Okay. We to do silly stuff to get them thinking. I'm also going to have 3D printed pancakes out there for them. So these are some of the benefits of this by the way I've got handouts here and I'd like to review this. I have to see it around, please. And, uh, but, uh, yeah, we've got to do some more things to get the economy going. So here's the dates. I want to tell you, uh, March 12th is the kickoff at 1 o'clock. I've got two news crews coming. You know, Greta, I've got to have two TV here. So, uh, so we got two news crews coming on you know Greta, I got to have TV here. So we got two news crews coming on Friday, on Sunday, March 14th through the 17th from 1 to 5. We're going to have the technology tailgate parties, so we're going to do a series of exhibitions to get so many people aware of it. And we're also going to participate in the streetery from 11 to 4 and then also which I want you to approve on before I commit to it. There's new inventions I didn't anticipate having available. Again I've got makers around the country working with me some friends of mine at Ohio invented the coolest donation jar I have ever seen. They literally put a shop back in their ceiling and they created a fake UFO and they created the shop back and people put money. They clamor for the chance to put money to see it go up to the space show. And so we created one. Look at that thing in there. That's just UFO. Guess what that is? That's two baby pools that we bought from Lowe's for 20 bucks. And we painted it silver and we put all kind of lights on it. And we're going to have a fan shoot air through it and people are going to see their money go up to the spaceship. And so I'm willing to come out that evening and it's a dusty already loves the idea. Come out that evening when they're watching movies they get to see the spaceship. So anyway, and again I'm getting all kinds of support, new fabrics, Jordan Schindler's an old friend of mine. He's giving us at least 200 masks to make this thing safe. I've got a licensed drone pilot working with. We've got Forest Scientific working with me getting the equipment and we've got a whole bunch of other support coming as from Maker Depot Academy and this guy that invented or makes wires. I'm not talking politicians, I'm talking LYRE's guitars. He, sorry, but it's a joke, but he makes these instruments and flutes and things. And he's going to be there too. We also have some folks that beat on to make their own drums, the Japanese drums. They make out a whiskey bear. So we got all kinds of folks coming here. And tomorrow I'm meeting with Tempkin, Metals USA. It's very excited about this. And Randall men is excited about this. But we're getting the word out. This is what I'm exticking my knelk out for. That $60,000. I've got to come up with $3,000 a month. I've also got to come up with some insurance. I've got to come up with parking and when we're not using it because I don't have enough in my space. And then I'm going to have to have some high tech folks to help me. And then so I'm thinking about $5,000 a month. And so, and then we're gonna get some supplies. That's where we're hoping that UFO will help us uncover some of this. That homeless shelter, if we make that, that'll be about $2,000 in supplies. But that'll be something somebody could actually have, it's being used right now. That design is a CNC design and people in all different types of crises use that. So we're going to make laptop desk, all these kids are sheltered at home and are working on their parents' phones and don't have a laptop, a place to work at home. Well we're going to have a laptop desk or make drone kits. They'll actually get to make their own drone. And if a kid isn't excited about making their own drone, what do you do with them? So the main thing is, through this, this is a proven tool. I'm not making this up. This is stuff that happens all over the country. It just happened to happen to you here. And we're able to bring this with wheels. We're not locked into a building. We're able to go anywhere where there's a need. And go in any community, ram, sewer, liberty, all these other communities, but the home base will be right here. Why? Because I live here. And I want to see us succeed. So thank you again and I appreciate your time. I'm sorry I'm a nut back but we got a lower to borrow the crazy. Elon Musk is he was doing everything normal. He wouldn't be a billion. All right Friday which Friday. One o'clock and hit 12. At 12 o'clock. It buys in 10th part. By the 10th part. Be there. I'll have TV cameras for you to talk to. All right. And then only 20 if you're going to be up down for the streetery. Streetery, but the 14th through from 11. Sorry, went 1 to 5 on the 14th through the 17th. Technology tailgate party dropping dropping drones, dropping tacos from the sky. The taco look, okay, it's giving me about 40 tacos. So is he going to be nuts? But uh... Frozen turkeys. Yeah, better than turkeys. The frozen turkeys on WKR, please. Yeah, yeah. We're going to do something. But yeah, and then a streetery will be for that, and we'll be back in April. And then I'm thinking about running classes on April Fool's Day, because inventors are called fools when they first get started. And then later on after they make money, they're called geniuses. Well, I think your efforts are a well placed, and I applaud them as we listen through all them. Things on the knees want to keep getting talked about as student loan debt, and the best way to combat debt just don't never incur it. Yeah. And especially without a plan or especially an anticipated result, we've gotten too far away from learning how to make something. That's right. You know, service jobs, techs, jobs, usually those are short jobs. Yeah. You know, somebody has to have a product sale. That's right. have an exchange of Money, yeah, you know to buy something to sell something. That's got come from somewhere And with technologies on way you'll outrun Chinese labor. That's right. So it's right So there you go I mean, well the other thing is RCC they can can't get anybody to take into the plumbing classes. And how many of you have trouble getting a plumber? They're getting ready to build splash pads in neighboring cities. Well, Dr. Shackler says his machinist program, which, which, Hoss, Gene Hoss helps sponsor, has sponsored things down there, has the lowest graduation rate of any program he's got down there, because once they make it to where they can go into industry to print us, they're leaving school, not graduated to $50,000 a year. Yeah. He can't keep them long enough to finish. That's right. So I mean, nothing speaks to man like that. Well, and this is going to be, this mobile, or a notebook. Yeah, and this mobile maker space is going to be a feeder system to the schools and other things. It's not, if anybody perceives that it's competition, they don't really understand what I'm doing. So, but thank you so much everybody. Thank you, Joe. This is an honor being supportive you and I hope you can all join us and you got any ideas and if you can help me I'd be quite grateful in figuring out how we can get sponsors and support to cover the cost of this because. I probably shouldn't be doing this, but I can't. I got to do something and I believe in it. And I think we already have gotten some commitments from some groups and I anticipate that it'll happen once more war gets out. Thanks again. We appreciate your enthusiasm, Joel. You're welcome. And if you want to use this, then wait some people up. You're welcome. Yes, thank you. And we hope you can make that. I'm going to do this off again. I can't talk with it on. We hope you can make it out to the street re event. And we're really grateful for your support. Previous to this, you know, for the changes that we had to make in Ashboro to make this a possibility. So I just want to again say thank you for that. It has made a world of difference to these businesses able to do these events. And I just want to thank you. So please come out and enjoy the day. If I will be there all day long streets will be open again by 10 p.m. That is a DOT on the DOT application. So if you have any questions about the logistics I'd be happy to answer them. Does anybody have any questions? Your hours are 11 to 9. 11 to 9. That's excellent. Yep. Very good. Thank you all again. If you have any questions be happy to answer them but otherwise I'll let y'all get to your rest of your council meeting. Any progress on Uber? On Uber. You know I wonder if I can get some here that day. They actually that's how they started in Lexington is one barbecue festival. They decided to come out and the person who Ubered made so much money. They said let me know anytime you have another event I will be happy and so we called them every single time. One Uber I've had in Ashboro is bringing somebody from Hoppoin. I play with my phone and I caught one and it took the ride and it was getting off on the empty hill. And it came down. Yeah. Long walk home. Well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Mayor or Ms. McGee leaves the exception that allows alcoholic beverages to be sold for outdoor dining does not apply unless the city council actually closes an area in which it's to occur so we need to have a motion. I believe you have a map that the city manager. You have a map that your seats may have to follow. The motion that you have to return to the map has presented. Now, Mayor, just hang on a second. We're actually closing sunset avenue on this map. That's our street. Okay, the NCDOT has already approved it for South Wales. South Wales, so the motion should be to use the map and close sunset avenue. And we'll include Fable just to use the map and close sunset out of new and will include Fable just to get the city ordinance taking care of and you need a time in there. I heard the time The street mayor from 08 to 10 to 10 p.m. 08 to 10 so the closer in these people 8 to 10 North to trade. North to trade. North to trade. So they can't start down there. So trade will be open but they'll be able to turn you out of way. Okay. Okay. I have a motion. Mayor I move we close the sunset avenue and the portion of North Street between sunset and trade. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'll do I have a second. Second. Second, Mr. Moffitt. Discussion? All in favor say aye. All opposed. Do we need to include Fable Street in mayor? I would say we also adopt a closed effort. I've already said we do. Yeah. For the alcohol. Just your motion is to approve the map. The closures on the map. That's correct. With your formation, I saw it will interpret the motion in the second. Yes. And the vote that is a face weight. The man and the motion carried. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Okay. Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I tried to do better. You're going to check on the Uber. I'll check on the Uber. Yes, I will. So Mayor, we want to thank Rebecca and Joe. Well, energy enthusiasm is the lack of energy or enthusiasm is not their one of their problems. So we're glad to have you. Mayor, there are some over here in the public comment period. There are some folks out there. All right, that's next. Thank you, Rebecca. This is the appointed time for the public comment period. Is anyone in the house that would like to address a council on any items of city concern or business? Anyone? John, do you have anybody out there? I don't have a member, but thank you for the good and good. Okay. Somebody comes up with a weird room. Moving on on the consent agenda. Council, you have in front of you, the consent agenda, is any item on the consent agenda that you would like to remove for individual consideration Hearing none I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as it was presented Mayor I moved to approve the consent agenda as presented Have a motion my mr. Burke to approve the consent agenda. Do I have a second? Second. Second is reading discussion. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Ms. Carter. Thank you. Consent agenda is approved unanimously. Item eight. consent agenda is approved unanimously. Item 8, Mr. Nuddle, our community development director. I will open a public hearing on case, RZ-21-01. And it's regarding zoning ordinance text amendments. Thank you, Mayor. This is an application that has been filed by the city planning staff to amend portions of the city zoning ordinance as it relates to permissible encroachments and to public right of way. The last few months we've been talking about various steps the city can take to encourage and spur investment in the downtown area. This is along those lines. The affected sections within the zoning ordinance include Article 200A, is where new language would be inserted and I'll share that with you here in a few moments. And this would supersede section 304.4 and section 505 of your zoning ordinance within tiers one and two of the center city planning area. And that's the central with the traditional central business district and areas adjacent to that. As I told you previously, the city zoning ordinance generally does not allow encroachments into public right-of-ways, which are those areas outside of a street, but within areas that we may have infrastructure or sidewalks, that prohibition is over both city maintain streets and state DOT maintained streets. Some of those prohibitions affect canopies oning, signage, and other improvements that are related to outdoor dining. As I said, I think back in January, we've seen over the years an increase in the number of requests that would encroach within this public right of way, this public space, particularly on Sunset Avenue and within the central business district, where the setbacks of existing structures tend to be minimal. And in some cases, those structures are located along and coincide with that public right-of-way line, leaving virtually no space to do improvements on the front of these existing structures. The Ashboro City Code does contemplate improvements that can be made over sidewalk, which could allow encroachments into public right away but there is a review process and there are standards in place in the city code that address such improvements. Obviously the city only has jurisdiction over city streets that we maintain so where we have maximum control over improvements is going to be on streets that the city maintains but you'll see the language that we propose would permit improvements on state maintained streets as well provided the state provides authorization for such improvements. Our intent of this amendment is to ensure that the zoning ordinance doesn't conflict with other provisions of the city code, but more importantly that it is thoughtful in how we handle investments in the historic core of the city. And currently, like I said, we have some obstacles to that investment occurring, particularly in the center city area. At the planning board level, there was some discussion about how other jurisdictions handle similar type of situations, and what we have found is that many, very similar to the standards that I'll share with you from our city code essentially defer to the state building code in terms of those standards for improvements with over within the right away or over public sidewalks. This city code provision, Chapter 99.11 currently exists. And this is how the city reviews proposals of structures over sidewalks. So you can see there are standards that relate to how far the structure shall be from the face of the curve, which is 18 inches. The city code establishes the minimum clearance from the finish grade of the sidewalk to any overhead structure, which is 10 feet. It talks about horizontal support and the clearance for those support, which is 8.5 feet. The code makes separate provisions for signs that are placed over sidewalks and under the decks of canopies or structures such as that, establishing a minimum clearance of nine feet. Column spacing is handled through the existing city code. The code talks about the top of foundations having to be below finish grade of the existing sidewalk to avoid any trip hazards and so forth. So these are existing standards that the city already has in place to deal with structures that may provide cover over existing sidewalks. The challenge that we face is that within our zoning ordinance in 304.4 Number three no part of any canopy marquee or on actual extend into any public right away It's pretty clear under the current terms of the zoning ordinance that there is to be no encroachment within public right away per that section Likewise as we look at advertising within the areas of the city, science will be located outside of public right away. So we have two very clear standards within the zoning ordinance that currently do not allow improvements that would otherwise be permitted by the city code to occur. I talked about the Tier 1 and Tier 2, which is you'll see in the text of the amendment, which I'll cover here briefly, for proposing this to affect Tier 1 and Tier 2. That is the area of peach on the map, which is the traditional central business district, and then the, and tier two is the darker green, just surrounding that central business district tier one. So those are the two areas of the city should an amendment be adopted where these per new provisions would apply. And so those provisions that we propose are on the screen, they've been sent and you're included in your packets. And it says notwithstanding those previous sections that I mentioned, object instructors over sidewalks otherwise permitted by chapter 99, shall be allowed to encroach into city maintained public right-of-ways and would state approval, state maintained public right-of-ways provided. These three standards are met. state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state-of-the-state state that such improvement does not prevent the city and any other entitled entity from maintaining public infrastructure within that public right away area. Lastly, we refer applicants to chapter 99 or additional standards and note that those improvements shall be in strict compliance with sensible and supported by the plan. We believe that there are three plan for some guidance on whether these amendments are sensible and supported by the plan. We believe that there are three policies or objectives of the plan that generally support such an amendment. We don't find any that are obviously negative towards the request. request staff believes that this amendment does ensure that investment can occur in a reasonable way in the downtown area, but also ensures that other requirements that are related to appearance and safety, public accessibility are met. So I'll point out that this amendment still preserves other standards of the zoning ordinance as it relates to building materials and design, things of that nature. It just allows that encroachment to occur. This amendment will defer to the city code regarding objects and structures over sidewalks. This amendment recognizes that buildings within that downtown area were developed with very limited separation from the street and this amendment gives that flexibility to the property owner. And the land development plans vision as stated in the adopted plan is to develop a unique and vibrant atmosphere setting in the center city area and set it apart from other districts. And we believe that adoption of this amendment would do just that. This proposal was presented to the planning board at its February meeting. They had some discussion and some questions. Ultimately they forward this to you with a positive recommendation and obviously staff does recommend approval of this amendment as well. There's two action items before council. This evening one is consideration of the consistency statement and obviously the text amendment request. Thank you. This is the appointed time advertised time for comments, public comments on the text amendment proposal. Is anyone in the house that would like to address the council regarding these proposed text amendments? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council members. I'm Mark Trollinger. I've spoken with you a couple of months back to back. So I'll keep my comments brief. Just simply want to say that I believe that this request enhances the architectural character of the city and the blocks that are included. It provides for an outdoor dining experience that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Ashboro. Creates activity, outdoor interaction, which promotes a vibrant downtown experience, which like you might see on the sidewalk cafes in Europe and so forth. I think it's a good request. We still maintain ADA access. The areas that would come into play currently have a lot of enough sidewalks to allow this. And just appreciate your support. Thank you. Any questions? Thanks, sir. Anyone else? The council have any questions or Mr. Noodle? The text amendments are the same for tier one and tier two and we can do it under one. Yes sir. That's correct. Tier one and tier two ask you for your thoughts. Mayor, I move we approve the request to have the text amendments. Chair one and Chair two has presented by staff based on the consistency statement and the favorable recommendation of the planning board. We have a motion to approve the text amendments as presented based on the consistency statement. Is this one action for both? One action but approving on the consistency statement. Is this one action for both? One action, but approving both the consistency statement and the requested text amendments. Which is how I believe the clerk has interpreted the motion. Do I have a second? Second. Raise your hand. It was. Katie got her hand in. All right, Katie. You raised your hand. OK. Second by Miss Snugg's discussion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Miss Carter. Aye. Thank you. All opposed? Motion carries unanimously. We are excited for your project. You've got a great builder working on it. And we're excited to see you get that finished and open and interested to see how it's going to look down there. So, thank you. Appreciate you taking your time on a busy Thursday night to come up here. All right. Thank you. Item 9. Michael Ronier, Water Resource Director, you've got two issues. Item A is funding for proposed improvements at SOAR or left station number three. Sorry, I'm stuck. Good evening. Item A is really just an update on the project for the Sanitary Super Lestation Number Three Improvements Project. Good news, we've got funding. Just wanna give a brief history of the project. We completed an engineering study in September 2017 and presented that to you as a council. Okay. Yes. Lift three is where you're mind-street. Okay. So it serves south end of town. Everything from Walker,ew to there. Okay. It is a DQ is very familiar with our situation there. So with that you we presented some options to you as the council and you gave us direction to proceed. With that we started applying for funding. We applied for clean water, stable vowing, fun loan. Fall 2018 didn't get enough points to get the project. Fall 2019 didn't get enough points to get the project. Spring of 2020 didn't get enough points to get the project. Spring of 2020. Didn't get enough points to get the project. You see where we're going. Finally, I did not reapply in the fall. I wanted to work on getting some more points to make this project eligible. Will them be hold? Anytime you don't reapply, they roll it over to the fall application process. I was working on paperwork talking with the state on applying for the spring of this year. And they said, well hold on a minute You've got funding you just don't know it yet So with that they have approved the project budget we have to date is 2,730,240 dollars The loan amount agreed upon with The loan amount agreed upon with DWI is $2,750,240. You have a graphic, so on this. I dig. Thank you. There we go. That's the budget item there. That was actually in the application. Thank you, Mayor. With that, we are approved for the loan of the $2.7 million, 1.1% interest, which is very low interest loan. The project is eligible for grant funding or principal forgiveness, but we don't meet the qualifications for that. We don't meet the criteria. So it is 100% loan for us. Let's see. Next. This is the time table. Of course we started long before 2017. We knew we had a problem. We've been working on it for a while. With that, this is our calendar now. In July, we have to have an engineering report, the environmental assessment into the state. We've already got a lot of that done with the first report we did. We just need to add some things through it, that's underway. We've already selected an engineer. We brought that to you in May of 2019 and we've got a professional engineer working on the contract with us. With that then we will get the approval for the engineering report. Then we've already started the design work as well. I've already laid out a path for the new line to go for the new state. We've selected a potential site for a new station. So we will again, designing through that. And with that, we will submit our bid and design package to the state by June of 22. They will approve by October and then we will be able to advertise and receive bids and hopefully award a contract in February of 2023. Still a long way out but we're getting there. You've been working on it. And it's going to get the state. They're going to maybe be a little friendlier to us. Let me ask you. Yes. You're replacing number three. We are going to relocate number three further down Little River to pick up more drainage area. All right. Now I'll take in the jail and the business park. Yes. Go the highway. This project doesn't exactly cover that. That could be in an addition to the project to eliminate the pump station behind the county building. The station will have that capacity. It has the capacity. Yes. And it needs to happen, but I'll be a future project. Yeah. It's not a big project either. And this is pretty simple. This station currently takes everything from the old Yates Ham and Chopin Center and Monroe Avenue and all of that. All the apartments back there. And you know what I have on you, Todd Hill, Airport, 49, Matt Lab, it's the workhorse. Same as what we're three or four years past due on the day. We are, it's been needed doing. We've been working on it for a while. So really this is just an update. Hopefully we will get the contract going in 2023. I'm hoping we get ahead of this schedule. We're well ahead of this schedule already, so we will keep our feet on the ground running and working hard. Any questions on that project? No, item B. Item B. Barthreaters, services, contract. Yes. We have at the, I'm just going to skip to the next slide. That is an outline of our property at the wastewater treatment plant in North Ashburg. We have three parcels up there with that. It's 86 and a half acres. We still have 58 acres that we aren't using for the plant. We've noticed for several years now, the timber is pass past mature we're starting to lose a lot of timber. You drive into the plant every day you see another tree over the road. So a lot of those aren't ours but there was around us so I think it's time for us to do some forestation at this site so we contacted Mr. Jerry Tug, Tugwell and we have worked with him to come up with a professional services contract. He is very eager to get this project going. I think the timber market is really hot right now. So with that you have a copy of the professional services contract in your packet and all we need is for you to approve the execution of this agreement. There's actually a resolution. There is a resolution. Okay. I'll entertain a motion to adopt this resolution by reference. May I adopt this resolution by reference? I have a motion by Mr. Moffett. Do I have a second? Second. Second, Mr. Bale. A discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Mr. Carter. Aye. Thank you. Opposed? No votes to oppose. Emotion carries unanimously. Thank you sir. Thank you. This is the right time I can tell you. And I would encourage just to keep an eye on any and all of our lanes as we've had this discussion before. The timber that is an active cash crop within directly corn, not the failed ones, it just dies all the way. But people do that with trees all the time. There's a maturity. It's going to lose to me the way. You know, it's properly managed. It will be both money and my current animal retract. Thank you. Mr. Leonard, sitting engineer, you have a preliminary report for Dixieland Acres Traffic Study. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good evening, Council. You have in your packets preliminary traffic calming study along with a map for the Dixieland Acres area. This enlarged map shows a layout of what the recommendations from DRMP might be. These recommendations include the construction or placement of speed cushions, which are marked as a realigned intersection marked as the traffic circles, which are smaller in size and don't necessarily require additional real estate which are marked in C and a median island and there's just one of those is marked in D right on the intersection of Pine Grove and Mark Avenue. The map shows the proposed locations of each and there are total of 13 speed cushions on six different streets. Six realignments, two traffic circles and one median island. As I said earlier, these traffic comming devices function in conjunction with one another and will be required and all will be required in order to achieve the desired effect Engineering will be coordinating with public works staff to With the installation of these devices in the coming months and we'll keep staff art will keep counsel briefed on the On the progress all right Is this map available here at City Hall for neighbors to look at? Sure. Okay. I'd just like to speak to the people on YouTube tonight if you're watching and you wondering what we're doing here. Give you a little history. The Dixieland acres has become a pass through a bypass for certain areas of Dixiland Drive. And the residents over there have asked us many times over the last few years to try to do something to manage the traffic and to slow it down. And we hired a firm to do this study. And this is their recommendation. If you're concerned about the traffic patterns and the proposed improvements for Dixie Drive, you can see this map that I know you can't see it tonight, but the map is available for inspection here at City Hall and it shows the combination of recommendations that will slow this traffic down coming through Dixie Drive and make it possibly less desirable as they cut through to zoo parkway. So just wanted to let people on YouTube watch us remote tonight understand what we were talking about. It's a question. Good answer. You can have mentioned I want to clarify. Well, any additional right away need to be obtained for out and sea indeed. At this time we don't believe so. We're going to have to go out and take a look and just do a little surveying. But these traffic circles are, if you look in the left corner of that page, it's really small. I mean, it's 10 foot down. So the intersection is the greatest. That's correct. Well, we'll just have to see, run as starting. Jump over. Yeah. Coming down. That's the stuff we'll have to look at and see. I mean, I'm not, it was just a question, there's not. Yes. Opposition, but it just just look like C and D. D on there. D at Pine Grove. That's narrow there. Um, you may end up, you may have the right way. But we don't know if the right way is already existing in the end. Yeah. We'll do a little research right away. But okay. That's correct. All right. Very correct all right any other questions for the Dixon and Acres traffic study and it looks like a good good plan I mean speed table is working chapter okay oh more speed cushions requesting there'll be a lot more speed cushions requested around town, what word gets out there over Dixon Land. There are other places around that probably need some speed control, as in what they call speed cushions. Speed cushions. OK. All right. Mr. Leonard Leonard you also have item 11 which is resolution of intent to close from public right away. Yes sir. So currently survey Carolina is making additional changes to the plat or were making additional changes to the plan as requested by the city staff. We did receive that at about five o'clock today and went to stay bringing this item to council at the April meeting. Okay. Thank you. Need act? No action for that. Okay. Mr. Argrin, you've got a de-angitation request. Yes, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. We got the plaque today at right away at 5 o'clock in the City of Attorney's and Miracle Worker, but not that much of a miracle worker to draw up the piece in bounds description between 5, 15 and 7 o'clock and to have it right. Check check obviously. In your package mayor we have a de-act annexation request from Mr. Donald and here to annex certain properties on the south side of Tott Hill Road. That property was brought in as part of the Tott Hill arm area annexation which was I think about 2008, about 12, 12 and a half years ago, you may recall we had to go to the General Assembly to get that annexation that was, you know, beyond our ability, the Council's ability and scope. And you may remember at that time, we talked about annexation in the state changed all the annexation laws they changed all annexation laws Cities can annex, but they can't DNX so Actually, we have to go to the General Assembly and get permission to DNX a property that it's just a cork of The law So that's why this is resolutions in front of you tonight. The resolution explains that it lays out the meets and bounds description to drawn by the city attorney and it lays out the rationale, why we're de-annexing it and the fact that we have to get General Assembly approval. The process from here should the Council approve this resolution by the city, prepared by the city attorney that we would recommend. If you look on that plaque too, you see it's mostly a stream bed and we don't want to police and fire that anyway. I don't know if there's a crime down there, we want to Sheriff's Department to take care of it. We don't, we don't have enough to do. And that being said, if the council approves it tonight, I will send an email to our local delegation to the General Assembly. Now we've missed the deadline in the House and the North Carolina House and North Carolina Senate for local bills to be introduced. We'll ask if we can't get it attached to one. Or they may have found a blank bill just ran off county only. So the mayor and I will work through that tomorrow and next week as needed. So barring no questions, we would on this undeveloped property. Obviously we would ask the counsel to adopt by reference this resolution drawn by the city attorney to a DNX certain properties located on the South Side of Tau Hill Road. May I have a motion to approve by reference the resolution of intent to permanently to DNX certain territory located on the south side of the target. You'll rule. Mayor, I move we adopt a resolution requesting removal of those portions as enumerated in the resolution. I'm seeing the missing request in general assembly. Take that. I have a motion by Mr. Bell. I have a second. Second. Second, Mr. Swayer's discussion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Mr. Carter. Aye. Thank you. All opposed? Motion carries. Once again unanimously. Thank you, Mr. Argren. And the last business item is you will update the council on COVID-19 pandemic? So, Mayor, the COVID-19 pandemic continues. It's been 13,262 cases in Randolph County and 201 deaths. It may have been, I think about 204 by today. That's very tragic. There's been enough desk now that we know all know somebody who's been touched by this in our workforce. We've had it in our workforce. Another outbreak, Monday, which is scrambled to get the garbage picked up again, Monday. In public works, our whole command team at one time was set in police department, just or exposed. I think we're about 8.5% now, positivity test rate in Randolph County. Ideally, you'd like to get down to about 3%. Now, several updates regarding the COVID-19 vaccination vaccine in this state. Frontline workers are eligible, March the third. Now that's the rest of us that and In government service here at the city who have not already been through the process. We have not required our employees to take it yet I Don't know if any public agency in North Carolina that has But we do're starting to see more of our employees taking it voluntarily. It also moves up people with higher risk. That includes, as you see right there, dementia, neurologic conditions, down syndrome, etc. And long-term care. Those long-term care people, they're in long-term care for intellectual and development disabilities. We continue to have an impact on municipal operations, like I said. This pandemic has really exposed, and I tell you this every year, one of these days maybe we'll get this fixed. It's going to be like pump station three. A promise you were still work on it. We just got to find somewhere new for water billing. Why do I say that? Well, that's water billing now. We've jammed every box in there. We did get the screens up, the plexiglass, but we lost an employee. We're going down to two employees down there. We can't get either one of them sick and plus they have kids, so we'll continue to operate. We are moving the automated pay station behind here to the North-Attenew North-Aspirer Police Department for more traffic space. And the staff has begun actively looking for a place for a new place for headquarters for water billing and ideally we would put make it whole customer service. You can go in there, get new tap sorted, turn off, turn zone, customer, our water meter readers, we won't have to find them all over town, all that. Devin Herting, do a good job managing the space, but I've told you lots of times I know Linda was in retail banking. Nobody puts their customer service, but government in the basement. It still looks like a fire department. Fire inspection guys have volunteered to get back down there. They probably want to put the brass pole back up too, but Steve Pay won't let them do that. City manager may be going up and down on it. That also, I said last month, I need for a third fire station for our citizens watching on YouTube. Fire station one or headquarters. The one on South Church Street is actually two stations and one building. We run that east side of town and west side of town out of that. We have split that station in half literally. This is, was the training room. It is now the second day room. So those recliners there are for them to officers, firefighters to walk after the work day. Our work day is a 24 hour work day, eight to eight, but our training day is 08 to 1700, five o'clock. So post five o'clock, they can't go anywhere, but they can stay there. I was down there this morning, they had a racial ray on before, and it was about time to start cooking lunch down there. So it looks like where old recliners go to die. Our sanitation picks them up, right. This is Deputy Chief, on your left with the Christmas tree is Deputy Chief Cottonman's office, three people are in there now. Where the firefighter is standing up, that was the secretary's office, she's now working from home. It gets better. Yes, that's the Christmas tree because we don't have any storage down there anymore. This is a bathroom that's now common-deered to be the second prep area for our kitchen. We have to separate our kitchen. And you'll note in that white refrigerator and that white stove is in the training room also. So our two shifts are split down there. You may have seen Thomas Phil and some of our sister cities got a whole shift some firefighters. We don't have any extras to I think we're over strength maybe one firefighter beyond our normal allotment. We also have opened the transfer station on Prestonel Street back. One of the ironies of the and I can't explain this. Of the pandemic is the landfall field traffic's bigger than ever. So we were stuck in traffic a lot. We've opened our transfer station back up. We've promoted rusty turners now, our transfer station manager, and he's out there full time now. And so now your garbage and recyclables is not going directly to the landfills going to Preston Street but we're staring at Walker's been the sanitation business to tell you a moving truck gather's no malls that all those gather's no revenue so we need a moving or parked. Fortunately we've cross-trained everybody up public service. I just remember two and a half years ago we merged and they're doing a great job up there. One of the issues about our businesses, we work in shifts, teams, platoons. So we try to stay mast up, but when you're in a hole, fixing a water break, Did you go out of water this morning? No. A region seen North Ashburham, a buddy, Kurt Vider lives up there. He come this morning, water was shooting about 40 feet in the air. Got a good pressure up there. When you're down in there trying to fix it, and your elbow to elbow is hard to keep the mask. I did have one of those about a month and a half ago and it was just amazing when I looked out from my front porch and it didn't affect me because it's below where my water comes in but I went out there and looked one time because they had the backo out there digging and after a while all I could see was the top of a guy's head he was even with a streak so he was that deep in a hole. Yeah, it's hard work. Yeah, this folks work hard. So we're now going to start offering COVID testing at our employees wellness center, quote, a clinic up at Public Services Department. That includes for all the city employees, retirees, and dependents on the insurance plan. That's about 550 folks. We're also getting the vaccine. I don't know which vaccine will be available for our employees through the wellness clinic. Our health care provider five points is getting that we're on the list to get it. We have a lot of employees that went today and yesterday going. I've been, other employees have been. I don't think I'll talk out of school. The Miss Carter gets her second one tomorrow. So, oh, she got it. Okay, so she can be with us at the April meeting. So we're trying to move forward. This is the bail deal, this will, this follow the budget cycle. We're all mission essential. Yeah, that's what I say. So I'd like to just the day-to-day operation of the city government continues. COVID or not, I mentioned the finance budget cycle. I lost also a mention tonight. Captain Wagner. Captain Wagner, David Wagner, who most of y'all, less time y'all see, saw him as Lieutenant. David Wagner and was in street clothes the head of our CID is now we promoted him Congratulations to Captain Warrant we cannot have a ceremony and all like we normally do that's one of the things that they drop for COVID and we're we'll say goodbye And about The six or seven weeks to captain Thompson. Oh, no Who will go join the retired Rose list? Well if, if I don't lose the paperwork, we'll let you retire. I think he went to say, thank you, what's the big day today? Yes. Yes, so he's got his time off calculated and also. So the other life cycle of the city, the employee base base continues its life cycle too. We've got great people moving up and we love some great people at the top. It was a great experience. That great experience, yeah. Most of you probably noticed in the paper this week that Randolph County was, and I've talked with this, upgraded or downgrade to a yellow county from a red is that a upgrade? Yes, okay. We've been upgraded from a red county COVID-19 to a yellow county this week so All right. Yes, okay. That's good news. We're headed in the right direction We're down around six percent now about eight percent so We're down around 6% now about 8%. 8% so just encourage people to keep wearing their mask and keep being trying to be safe and socially distance and conscious of your surroundings. Yeah. I have friends that said it was just like a flu or not quite as bad as a flu. And I've had friends that's the worst thing they've ever been through and I have personal friends that have passed away from it so it's nothing to laugh about or not be serious about so that's all the staff has mayor all right mr. awkward has birthday on 18th, and Mr. Bell, Councilman Bell has a birthday on the 21st. Happy birthday. That's why you two guys are such close friends. That's it. Second generation. I like to average our ages. It makes me feel better. All right. No comment. is it makes me feel better. All right. No comments. And most of you are aware that the Lady comments from Asperer High School, the girls basketball team of Lady Comics, Asperer High School, have made it through a defeated season in basketball. They are playing Saturday night for the State 3A Championship. They are the Western Champions and one more game. One more game. They're 15 and 0, I believe. That's right. Yeah. They have a great attitude in the paper tonight. Donald McGal said the only thing that's going to beat us is ourselves. And so the community is planning a send-off. The tournament game, championship game is six o'clock at Providence Grove High School, chosen when they realize that when North Carolina High School athletic Association realize it couldn't do it at Chapel Hill like they usually do or Reynolds Call a CM like they usually do they started looking for a big High School gymnasium centrally located and and Dr. Gainey provided Providence Grove and Wheatmore. So some of the championship games will be Wheatmore, some of the Providence Grove. They're playing at six o'clock Saturday night. Providence Grove gets to the point. 445 Saturday afternoon, there will be leaving Ashborough High School on their activity bus. Their plan is to come down Park Street and turn on Sunset and go to Fable Street, go North Fable Street to Holy Liberty Road and go to Providence Grove High School. The community is planning a big send-off and they're asking people to with proper social distancing gather along the sides of sunset and the available street to cheer them on. Well, give them well wishes and let them know their fans are behind them and it is a real disappointment that they have this fabulous undefeated season that They're going to the state championship, and everybody in Asperger cannot go to the ball game to watch them. So, sporttone.net will have it broadcast. We have a big event, but I'm encouraging everybody to try to come up town. The fire department, well, I think they're planning to have their fire trucks out and maybe we can get a police escort coming through town with a police car and we want to do our part to let these young ladies know that all of Esperra is behind them we love them and support'em and wish'em well. So, 445, they're leaving the high school. Okay. So I would say if you're downtown on the sunset by 440 or so, 445, you probably won't miss. And so, this is all over social media that I posted yesterday, they were four and I think it's been six years, six years, 70 times. So, and everybody else in town is talking about it too. So, if you can, come out, tell your neighbors. And let's see. Is tree rearing on March 20th from 11 to 9? I'm assuming I'm not sending anything on your Kiwana's pancake day. I guess that'll be this fall again. Well, they talked about doing drive-through only in the side of the right time. So we're postponed for another six months. And that really hurts the bottom line, the project fund, and all the great things they do with the money they raise. I'm gonna do one. Once again, our mind accounts, so I think I remind you every year in the budget, but they are the Kiwana Star, the largest supporter of our recreation programs and our partner at Cray Park. And remember what Joel was telling us at 12 at 1 o'clock at Boston Tadiel Park or the mobile maker space. It's really important what Joel is saying and Councilmember Mop is saying there is a real skills gap. There's unemployed people that aren't hired and there's employers that need folks well why doesn't that match? These, there's a skillset gap. And as our average wage in Randolph's 37, 5, something like that, that's, you heard Mr. Moff said they hire at 50,000, day one, without finishing their education and their training. If you can get welding, if you can get machining, if you can get the 3D printers, those are real hard skill sets electrician plumber those those carry a long way. If you haven't got a specific purpose the last thing in the hundred thousand dollars. That's okay. I'm not sure I've got anything else for the calendar. John you know anything? No, somebody. All right. We'll start down here with my snugs. I hope David's going to be better. David's under the weather and we're praying for him. Thank you. So what you have for the benefit in the crowd tonight. Well, I just think everyone for calling and asking about David and also about me, I was shocked when I got a phone and I answered and it was the mayor to see what he could do for me, but I'm well and I'm doing well and I just asked that you all pray for my son. We certainly will continue. Yeah, he's at home here to go to see his primary doctor here today and he had to go to once a cell to see his cancer doctor also today. But my problem is it being a parent that he won't talk. He won't talk to me, so. That probably not the first time. That's what kids do. So many. All right, Mr. Moffe. We share a body of pork happy birthday. Oh, same Patrick's day and I believe it will be post Easter before we get back together again. Lots of activities, lots of streetries, up'd say a place right here. Yeah, Easter. Amongst all this, you know, some bright spots of indies. Yeah, we're going to be Easter. Probably a few. It's raining. It's nice to actually have things on the agenda for us to do other than come to the council. It's nice to have the streetery. It's nice to have a potential parade. It's nice to do other than come to the council. It's nice to have the streetery, it's nice to have a potential parade, it's nice to do that. I was lucky enough to get a vaccine last week. And I don't think until I had it, that I realized the cloud that you have overused when you just thinking about the possibility. So I encourage anyone who has the opportunity, I had minimal side effects at all. I just encourage you to consider getting that vaccine. Mr. Bell, the downside of having COVID is you have COVID, but the upside is you have some antibodies. I'm feel fortunate in that regard and I look forward to the time that I can actually get the true vaccine and encourage everybody to. When it's available and you have that access to take advantage of it. All right, you've got a call from the hospital. They're very asking me if I'd had one because they had some extras. They were scrambling around trying to get rid of all they had. You go, you go. I don't have any head. I'm good. I'm old and I really. It just works. Go, Lady Blue comments. Absolutely. That's hard for a walk at this. Mr. Foyers. Just again we've heard it mentioned in here before about the compliments of our city planners, our building inspector and everything else. I had a gentleman, one sort of business here in town. He came to that out, we talked. I said, first thing you need to do is you need to go see Trevor and get everything squared away with that. He did that. He talked to him today, stopped by, talked to him out on the street and he said, things are going great. The city people were helpful, they were kind, they put in right direction. He said he came here from another state and he said they had to hire a busman to go to the planning department to talk to somebody just because he said you're talking, there are so many different people to talk to. So he said this has been a joy and a play when he looks forward to opening his business sometime probably next month or so. Great. So always good to hear. Miss Carter, do you have anything for the benefit of the crowd? Just an afternoon at the biggest budget. Wasn't that a glorious day? I was outside on the forklift all day. It's just wonderful. And it's just a matter of course. Yep. Yep. Well, we're glad you've been able to join us tonight and look forward when you can come to join us in person again. Glad you have your vaccine. Travis, good to see you. Hope you're doing better. And, staff, good to see you. Hope you're doing better. Staff, thank you so much. Well, if there's nothing else, gone. We're adjourned.