Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to call this commissioner's meeting Monday night, February to 5th, 2024, to order by first asking the mayor of Congress if he would to give us an invocation and need a someplace. You all please rise. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you to thank you for the many wonderful things you have done for us in the past. We thank you for the wisdom that you have given to the commissioners to lead Dukeland County and now to night, Lord, we ask you again to give them the wisdom and knowledge, allow them to be deep down into the storehouse of wisdom to be able to carry out the task as before them. We ask you to continue to bless our leadership in the state house and as well across the country. We ask you for peace in our county, prosperity, and love and harmony. We ask you to continue to bless county manager and assistant county managers. They travel for one place to another to make things better here in Dublin. Remember our law enforcement and other individuals to help out in many different ways. In the mighty name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us all amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the divine, the United States of America and to the Republic, which stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, sir. Does any of the commissioners have anything to add to the agenda tonight? I do not. I do not. No sir. Flirt. This is already. Sir. Mr. Radden. Manager. Move Mr. Schoo. All right. I'd entertain a motion. I've got a motion to approve. I need a second. Second. Second. All in favor say aye. All opposed? Carry. All opposed. Carry. All right. I need a motion to accept the minutes from January 16th meeting. So I've got a motion second. Any further discussion? Here and none. All in favor say aye. All opposed, same side. Carry. All right. I'd entertain a motion to accept the consent agenda Got a motion to and a second any further discussion Here in all in favor say aye all is same side. Carry. That brings us in to item number one, public comment. I think we do have some people signed up. Yeah, if you don't mind calling them up, everybody understand it. It's a three minute that you're allowed to speak. and you need to come up to the podium and state your name Okay, the first the first person is Bob is Barbara Grady My name is Barbara Grady. I live at 4927 North NC 111 highway seven springs. That is a half mile from the Wayne County line. And what I have found is over the decades that I've been paying any attention at all, I've noticed that the commissioners don't pay too much attention to what's going on north of Highway 24. In any case, that's a personal problem. My problem tonight is that via stat is apparently the only satellite communication I can get for internet. And they have recently decided that I should pay twice the rate I had been paying. And so they just cut off my service, saying that my equipment was out of date and they couldn't support that particular model anymore. And I told them that I would not be renewing my contract with them. And so now I'm looking for a new broadband satellite service or if anybody wanted to run some cable buy it'd be really nice to have that fiber optic but I'm not looking forward to that anytime soon. I live in a standalone house there's not a large community of close neighbors and so I don't expect too much to come anytime. Right away, I just want to tell you that I think it would be really nice if the county would try just a little bit harder for us isolated folks who live alone to get better broadband access. Thank you. Thank you. The next person that has signed up is our Rob Taylor. Good evening, commissioners. My name is Rob Taylor. I'm town manager for the town of Wallace. I guess I'll give that address 316 East Murray Street, Wallace, North Carolina. I believe on the agenda tonight is the renaming of Powell Street to Jordan Street and just wanted to provide a few comments. I had some written down but I left my glasses in the car so I have to wing it. But we are looking to honor David Jordan. I think many of you may remember him. He was a long time school teacher for Dupland County Schools former assistant principal at Wallace, Rose Hill High School, and finished his career as a principal at Charity Middle School. He was also a long time town council member for the town of Wallace. He served 40 years on our town council 30 of those years as a mayor pro-tim He gave a great deal to our community in Dupland County and our town council would Really like to honor his legacy by renaming Powell Street to Jordan Street That's the street that he and his wife lived on, Nancy, and just request the commissioners support us in our effort in honoring a great man. So that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. That brings us to item number two, road concerns. First off, ask the commissioners. Do you have any road concerns? I wouldn't, I would want to, there's a concern that was presented today and I want to ask the county manager, are you familiar with Mr. Mathis information coming out in regards to the four way stops. Yes, I'm seeing that even. Okay and the reason I'm bringing that up just so that it's in the record, do you have those streaks there in front of you? It's about eight different locations that are getting ready to be impacted. Let's see here on one second. I got them right here. Do you believe in them all for it? if you would. Tram Road and Belford Church Road. Tram Road and Bennitz Bridge Road. Right there at Scott's Store Road and Scott's Store Road. Tram Road and Red Hill Road. Bowden Road and Revell Road. NC 41 and 111 at Jackson Store Road. NC 50 and 403 at Warren Road. Warren Road at Solomon Street. Charity Road at Bay Road. NC11 Stockinghead Road, Liddale Road at Drummersfield Road, and NC 403 at Boataker Road. Thank you, Commissioner Garner, and just for the notation, it had been a time a while back when information wasn't shared, and we was kind of caught off guard, but these four ways stopped. So going to be positioned at these locations, at Commissioner Garne just read off within the next several months. So it's more of a FYI that this is gonna take place. So we can get the information out there, and it's just a part of communicating, keeping everyone informed. So I just wanna take the opportunity this time to share that with all of you today as well as the public. Thank you. Okay. Does anybody from the public have any road concerns? Feel free to speak up now. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. What does, I'd be interested in the general attitude of this board and also I'm sure relative to these four-way storms. I'm a lot of money, I'm a clean spin, and some of them I just don't see the logic. We are not on transportation committee, but I have some colleagues at all, and they can't get any information from the State Department of Transportation. Well, I'll start out by telling you that I do not understand and support all these voileys stops. I mean, there may be information that the state has from accidents and stuff that I'm not aware of, but it does appear to me that we're spending money putting in four way stops. It's not necessary. And I'm old school, but when I've wrote down a road as many years as I have, all of a sudden I come up with a four way stop on it. I'm aggravated. And like I said, if it is preventing an accident, I'm not trying to argue with the data, but I don't see the value myself today. Anybody else can speak? We haven't been shared any type of data. I know it's a DOT issue. There was a risk rate family member actually in teachers where the four way stuff is and I spoke with the fire department there They did say that particular location it has reduced severe crashes, but now some of these places I don't know why they think I mean like the little road and Way up the country where you don't have much traffic. So Well, I can say that initially when it first took place at the Bay Road and 117, I had several calls about the fact that it mattered taking place in the fact that you have a 55 mile-mile zone that goes down to a stop. So I went out there and actually sat there a little bit and watched a lot of tires sliding as a sort of not being aware. So I contacted the DOT just to try to get an understanding as to why you would put a stop sign on a 45 I mean, $55 an hour zone. And like the chairs noted, they presented data and the study that had taken place as to why this need to happen. And I've been in Dubin County 20 plus years and hadn't heard of any fatalities in this location, I'd say, it hadn't taken place. But a lot of effort from the DOT in terms of what they share with me, representative Dixon, as to how they come to the conclusion and why something had to take place. But they're looking at the calls in terms of stop signs opposed and the roundabout opposed and the stop lights. So they found it to be the most cost effective and the decision is being made within that structure. And I guess my point was just make sure that we are aware so we can communicate because I don't know what efforts if any going towards it would redirect it after the fact unless there's some study to present the data to change it. It can be very inconvenience and especially if you're not aware and you're just kind of driving and sometimes like we do may not be paying attention that we need. And without those initial rumble strips is something that I had mentioned maybe we need something to indicate that these stop signs are coming up on them and they're still investigating that. But this is a decision that's kind of in May without a whole lot of leeway in terms of changing it unless enough people were to get behind it to boast their concerns and see what will happen. So kind of got it. It's something that they've been working on. There's depth and collusion and just want you to know what's going to happen. What bothers me is we've had some conversations. I haven't found anybody locally that was consulted. I think local knowledge is important. That one that you mentioned out there on Vowdon Highway and what we call being a general discourse was those good visions every which way. One thing that I don't like them, I don't see what they do. I understand what they're trying to do, but I don't know if the data will support that, it may, I don't know. But a prime example is on 4-3 in Rome's chapel. You come out of Graham Road, there's a 4-way stop. You go 100 yards to the intersection of Semmelons Crawford Road in 4-3, there's another stop. You know, why do you need two of them within a hundred yards of each other? It just does it. I mean, if we go to every intersection and put a full way stop, nobody's ever going to get anywhere. I think I know the answer. One time a friend of mine was traveling back through the mountains. We stopped in one of the most stores. Back then, there was Lanterns everywhere. Hanging from the ceiling, setting on the floor, setting in chairs, on top of the drink box and everywhere. And those boy talk storm asses, man, you must sell a lot of lent. He said, no, he said, but there was a guy by here three or four months ago who could sell the helicopter. Mr. Addy, you raised your hand. I just like to say that I'm completely surrounded up there on Little Levin, my four-way stops, and I appreciate him very much. The one at Alos Bridge Road in Little Levin has stopped. I hope several fatalities that had happened at that particular crossroads. My husband used to fuss because I would go one way and he said, why don't you go the other way some It's a little shorter and I said, because I know who's going to stop and that's going to be me. But now everybody stops. We won right up in Red Wayne County from, I mean, serves the people coming out of a butter ball. And they had been a lot of traffic back up because they had to stop. And 11 went right on. Well now that you've got a four way stop, there's list congestion at that particular crossroads when it shift change time at Butterball. So I've been flavoring them for that reason, even though I don't particularly like the instrumented by four way stops, I think it's been helpful in terms of fatalities of 111 and Alice Bridge and in terms of just general traffic movement and not being installed out a long time up at the one in Lane County right there at Design Church Road. Okay. Any more road concerns? Here and done we'll move on to item number three. Represented Dixon. three. Represented in a ptexan. My turn. It is your turn. I'm really happy to be here with you. Thanks for giving me a little bit of time and putting me on the agenda. What I've done in an obvious of this is ceremony. I wouldn't try to catch this check here. It's probably going bounce. But it's very, very nice to be able to bring some stuff back to Eastern North Carolina. For many years, we were at the lower end of the field trough, and not very much consideration. Senator Jackson and I, along with some other colleagues in non-urban North Carolina, have been able to stay at some fairly decent leadership positions. And rather than some people thinking that this money just follows out of the sky, what happens and there's two philosophies. Every penny of this money that we have gotten for Duke and County could have gone through the competitive bid process. And there's billions of dollars that could go through competitive bids. Many of us got together six or seven years ago. We think that 170 people know better where the needs are than career bureaucrats, sitting in these places where you send your project request forward. And so we've been able to convince leadership, let us spend some of the money. This is not new money, it's money that was going out anyway, it's just that the local representatives get significant input on where that money goes. And some people think differently it should be all competitive and a lot of it is probably 85% of this kind of money is on competitive bit. So say 15% of the money that's available for water and sewer and other kind of projects. We have Dips on that and Senator Jackson and the Senate in our state, the House does the budget one year, one two year period and the Senate does it the next two year period. So we alternate every two years. This year, this session, the House proposes their budget first. Of course, the governor is the first one to put out a budget after he gets the revenue forecast. And then the House takes the governor's budget and we put our fingerprints on it during the final budget. It's been a long time since we've had a governor sign one of our budgets. The current governor's never sign one, including this one here. He didn't sign this one. But we do have a super majority and we were able to get around this big time. So what you're going to see, the numbers of these boards is the key to how, and I can give you these individual things, or care can do that also. So in here we've got the money over the last two budgets, this one and the last budget. Of course we know about the jail, economic development, the airport out here, emergency operations, a big piece of money. They are senior citizens, the road out for the forestry, the event center parking place out here, significant amount dollars for the volunteer fire department across the county. Kenens will sue eight million dollars. I'd like folks in Kenensville to appreciate that. Three million for Warsaw Souter. A couple of directed grants grants and the difference in a directed grant and this is there's no purpose behind it. In other words whoever is directed to this do whatever. The Warsaw got $30,000 in the last road to over there, facing out of directed grant $15,000. And clips are going to direct it, so that's money that comes to those phones. And they, their boards, decide how they're going to spend that money, so it's not directed. So that is about, in two years, we've got $400,000 for the court to put up the new court. He would serve a lot of people in the UK. So that's 435, 80, 210,000 dollars in direct grants. It goes to the Miss File just that it's been anyway limited. So I'm presenting this ceremony of check today for 80 million $206,000. And we can give you a bread down all day. The big jewel is that, tumultrally, we've gotten $32, a little of the $ million dollars for the jail. And I think you've either come in at about 41 million. And I'm going to say here that I was greatly influenced over the years by the need that we've had for a long time. And it got to where I felt justified in going to my urban colleagues and say, listen, we sent a whole lot of people to bother to shop with you. We sent a whole lot of people to Jacksonville to shop with you. These bypasses have bypassed us. And you're welcoming our folks up there and we're spending money with you. We need some consideration. And so we were able to get $11 million in the budget. $22.2 million in the budget is the last time. And now $11 million for a total of a little over $32 million for the jail. And I hope that that is enough impetus to get the board in a position where we can build the jail with the three pods on it and take care of our needs for some period of time. So, I've said of that, and I'll just show you what that looks like on the check. And it will be some kind of a little picture, and I'm sure what that is. Yes, that's what it looks like on the check. It looks good to me. Yeah. So that's what 80 billion, 200 thousand dollars looked like on the chat. And that's cumulative now. I don't want to get criticized for bragging, but I damn sure I am right. I just think it's nice for us to get some benefits, some consideration down these. Mr. Chairman, members of the board, it's been a great time and a pleasure for me to be able to secure these funds to help you guys out. Can we all step around there and get a picture with you in this check? Yes, you guys. Can we all step around there and get a picture with you in this check? Yes, you can stand up here. He wants to stand up here. Go down there. Maybe share if you want to say something. I know it's been a long past but through the leadership of Representative Dixon and also this board we've made progress in a short period of time and this is for all of the Duke and County and like it says on the future generations this has made a major impact for everybody and our kids and great kids. For episode of Dixon we do appreciate the hard work we know this has been done easy and we do thank you for everything you've done for us here in Brooklyn County. And I will say one more thing. I was trying to say a lot of it. I got away. I was talking about the budget, the House, and then sent it to you. So Senator Jackson, he's in a much higher leadership position than I am. He's a senior chair of appropriations and I'm just a chair. But he lob is and he gets a part of money that he can distribute. I get a part of money from some of the committees and chairmanship that I have. And so what we do, we compare notes some of the committees and chairmanship that I have. And so what we do, we compare notes and heal, it's all still fine. Of course, he's got a big, the Senate's got much material to it, but we do coordinate. So for example, the $5 million that goes down to Wallace to their new facility. That come out of Senator Jackson's fund. And it's all the way I said it was a while ago. It's money that would have gone through anywhere from a year and a half to a four year grant program in order to get the money spent. The last thing I'm going to say is I never thought when I went to Raleigh that I'd come and try to bring it back in my company. There's only one reason that I can support this. I don't support anything that doesn't have the prospects of being built. Pretty quick. So if you buy a gadget today, if you wait a year or two years, that gadget's going to cost me money. And so Wayne, that's the reason I can support these kinds of projects, is because every bit of this is going to be put in something hard, something that has to be bought, and it's going to be bought more economically today than it will be later on. Think about how long we can get down to road on the day. So hope you understand all of that. I like it. Thanks for getting to that. I like it. Thank you again, Representative Dexon. You know, it is absolutely a great privilege that we have Senator Jackson up there Understanding and fighting for our county. And we appreciate it. That said, let's go into item number four, and turn the floor over to Mr. Miller. Thank you, Mr. Jim. First of all, commissioners, you each have a sheet at your desk. And all the members of the public in the room have one if you don't have one and you won't have. Here's some extra copies but this is the sheet that we're referring to. I just like to go over the sheet very briefly to begin. The expenses for the jail project, the engineer is $2,695,128. The construction has alluded to before hand is $40,223,100. The road leading to the detention center is $1,000,000. The commissioning agents $100,500. Special inspection is $150,863. The total expense for the detention center projects $44,169,599, or $91. So if you go just below that into the revenue section, you see the SKIF grants that were previous spoken about. The interest from those for 21,300,000, the second grant for 11 million dollars. The interest for the grant to year-to-date 1,372,335 and anticipated future interest $1,000,000 while the detention centers being built. There's also three red-leg interest-free loans that we will apply for and those total $2,360,000 each for a grand total of $7,80,000. So the total revenues that we have for the project at this time are $41,752,335. The difference being $2,417,256. We currently have an unsightened fund balance of which I think we'll be spoken about tonight is $35 million, $849,716, which commissioners, congratulations. That is a very healthy fund balance. You've done an excellent job. The calendar year 2023 interest for all the general funds and the capital fund are $3,577,778 and 99. So our recommendation for the Detention Center Project is to utilize the grants, the red lead loans and appropriate $2,400,000, $417,256 from unassigned fund balance. There are some other options. Those other options are general obligation bonds, limited obligation bonds, and bank financing. But our in-premise discussions, I didn't get the feeling that the board wanted to go and debt from this project at all. So having said that, I'm happy to answer any questions you have about the project. We have our finance officer with us. We also have our sheriff with us. We can we can answer any questions that you have about the project. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion if I can. Okay. Make a motion to accept the low bid of Daniels and Daniels for 40 million, $223,100, which includes all alternates, one through ten for construction of the Dublin County Detention Center project and authorize the County Manager and Attorney through entering the contract negotiations with the low bidder as as certified by mostly architect for the construction of the Dutland County Detention Center. I'll say it. Okay. I have a motion in two seconds. So any further discussion? Before I make my vote, I just want to say that when I took my position on this board that I was going to govern our county and have a say in the way our county was governed like the business is. And I don't think anybody in here really truly wants a jail. But let's face the fact, we have to have one. It's a part of life, it's a part of society, not everyone will behave. But I think this is a step that our county has needed to take for many, many years. And I think this is a step that will benefit our taxpayers myself and our future taxpayers. And I really don't anticipate on having to build a jail in the next three, four generations. And Mr. Dixon, this wouldn't be possible if it hadn't been for your leadership in Raleigh. And I thank you. Any other comments? I just don't think we should let it go without echoing what you just said. I mean, I know Sheriff, you had some trying to get you the jail that you needed with the least amount of expenditures as possible. If anybody would have ever asked me are we going to be able to build this size jail and not raise taxes I would have never believed it. But as Mr. Edwin said, thanks to Mr. Dixon and the hard work he put behind it and getting all of these extra grants, we're going to be able to build you a jail and not raise taxes, which is outstanding. Any other comments? I guess since you started, I guess I've got a follow-up. Yes, good. If it takes us a little while tonight, as long as this county has waited for a new jail, if we don't get out here tonight, don't tell a clock, it's not gonna hurt my feelings. No, TACO was already been said, represented Dixon. Thank you and Senator Jackson for your efforts. They truly were a blessing in the skies. And Sheriff to you, I would say congratulations. It's definitely been a long time coming, but it's great that on a new leadership, we have the opportunity to put some things in place that's truly going to benefit the county on a whole and also help in terms of safety of our employees. So I'm related looking forward to seeing it going in the ground and hope we can continue to move forward together, making these tough decisions. So at the end of the day, our families in terms of our citizens and the residents and the people that want to come reside in Duper County can truly say that the best for it has been put forward for the benefit of all. So thank you all. And I really appreciate. I just like to say that a lot of people have had that fingerprints on this endeavor. And it's finally went through the process to get to this point. So thank you for everyone that has put forth an effort to try to get it done. Some people are not here right now, but thank you. Will you move on? I appreciate everybody, sure. I'm probably the only one up here that has been in and out there more than anybody else. It's probably Mr. Gardner. It's just something you shouldn't have. You're the only one. I'm the only one. I think it was all good. This is a project that's been near and dear to my heart. The last time that the jail was adding on to it, our current location, my father was sheriff. He did what the commissioners would allow him to do, which hindsight is always 2020. It wasn't enough. Now here I said as a commissioner and sheriff, I'm glad that we've been able to build you the 236 bed facility that you want. I think it will as Commissioner Edward a jailer for roughly 12 months. And so I know what it's like to work with me, 12 hours years. And I think this new facility will allow things to happen much more efficiently and a whole lot safer. So again, Representative Dixon, and please and I will as well to Senator Jackson and all the other, it's not just those two, there're the two that led it, but it took the vote of everyone that voted for this budget to get it passed. And that I am thankful for that we were able to receive in total $80,206,000. That's a lot of money to come to Dupland County. A lot of money. And this board is going to put it to good use. What hasn't been already started, will be hopefully started in the near future. Thank you. All right. We had a motion on the floor. We've gone through the process. Now, all in favor say aye. Aye. You're an animus decision. Thank you. I think everybody. Okay. Now we'll move on to item number five, Alyssa County. Thank you fellas. Now, join the Board of Education. They, they built 42 million out of earth schools with high raise taxes. We built this with high raise taxes. I don't know of another candidate anywhere around. They can say that. Get inside that. Sorry. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Good night. Nice. Thank you, sir. Good evening. Good evening. I am here to request no to hold a public hearing for Doug Brown. To name a lane off of Penny Road, the name he's chosen is Orzo Drive. Okay, I'll open up. The floor will go out of regularization into a public hearing for any public comments that you want to speak of towards accepting or not accepting this road name. Here in the name I close public hearing was to pleasure to board. Right, public hearing back into the open session. I need a motion from the board. What's your pleasure? Motion to approve. I have a motion to approve. I need a second. Motion to approve from Mr. Garne. Second. Mr. Branch. Any further comments. Theory 9, all in favor say aye. All opposed, same sign. Carry. Okay, move on to item number 6. This is to change a name of Powell Street to Jordan Street for the town of Wallace. Okay, open up another public hearing. Everybody in the audience please understand we open up this public hearing and you're free to speak and share your comments towards the item four or against these road changes or road names. So again, anybody from the public then wants to share a comment. Four are against changing the road, the street from Powell Street to Jordan Street. Is that correct? Yes, sir. Anyone from the public? We've already had Mr. Taylor state his request. I don't think that should be a new record. Okay. You got any more comments you would like to make, Mr. Taylor, you made that on your, on your sign up, but this, you got a chance to speak now. I just repeat what I said very quickly here. Public comment. Sorry. Yeah. No one else will go back into the open session. What is the pleasure to go? Move. I got a motion from Mr. Branch. And a second from Mr. Dyle. Any further comment? How many residents are affected by this name change? Probably about three, three property, three or four property owners on the street and three other more. Adressed? Adressed. Yeah. And they've all been made aware that they will be responsible for changing all their info. The ones that live on that street are they, they don't want to sign this. Yes, sir. And then we went out and verified it also. So, the ones that are listed as pile street, one, two, and two addresses. Three. So the other ones that have addresses all of it are vacant lots? Yes. And then we had one that was out of town. I don't know if they were able to get it with or we were not. But they already had a majority so And there was anything on that lot. But it's a vacant lot. Yes, sir So just so I'm perfectly clear the people that live there are in They are of changing the name even though they've got to change Everything with their checkbooks and their stamps and everything but they see the honor being worked for while. Yes sir. Okay. Who was the road named after originally the paddle? I'm sorry, I don't recall who that was. Probably the developer many years ago. What, I'm sure that the town of Wallace did their homework. That street is the, Mrs. Powell, I mean, I'm sorry, Mrs. Jordan still lives on that street, how did they end the remarks? Yeah, they end the majority. Any further comments? Here and none. All in favor say aye. All opposed. I'm not sure if you're going to get the right answer. Any further comments? Here and none. All in favor say aye. All opposed. I believe I only got one opposed. Is that correct? Commissioners? Okay. So it's carry. Thank you. Thank you. All right. That moves us to item number seven. Mr. Hill. Great. I'm TD Hill. I'm here to present the 2023 audit presentation for Duke and County. Give you a status update. Obviously the financial statements financial statements, they were filed on December 1st. Got a clean, unqualified opinion for 2023. That is the top opinion. Financial statements have been filed. They've been approved by the LGC. Federal filing went through. It's completed and approved. Talk real quick about roles, objectives, alter independence. Obviously we have to be independent and we are in fact an appearance. We have a plan. The audit is planned accordingly. We have an understanding of all the internal controls over the county, basically how the county works, all your processes. We perform a risk assessment, obviously we spend our time auditing what things are the most risky. Then we perform our audit procedures and we obtain sufficient evidence to render our opinion and it's jail sealed, it'll tell you we get a lot of audit evidence from her and her team. Our opinion we basically concentrate on whether the financials are free from material misstatement, reasonable assurance. We don't look at everything, we do look at samples. And we look at samples, our representory of the population. In addition, we did a single audit this year, which is required. That was our Medicaid Medicare testing. We were in her opinion on the whole financial statements as a whole and on compliance. And required supplemental information. This is for all governmental entities, as a management discussion analysis and various schedules, changes in pension liability. These are the different, we did eight programs this year. We did six federal and two state. Then results, we did an individual fund state months current findings, we have one in eligibility. This is in Medicaid testing. It related just to recircifications, and it was a repeat finding from last year. Then we did some adjusting journal entries. They required communication. We did some, there was no accounting policy changes, all the estimates appear to be reasonable. There was no disagreements with management, and no difficulties were encountered. We had a complete cooperation from the accounting team. Let's look at the results. General fund balance. If you look here, the revenues were in blue, expenditure are in green, and we're trending well. We're obviously taking more in the we're spending which is always good. Look at the fun balance here. Look at that trend line from 21, 22 to 23. Trending very well. And like Mr. Miller was talking about earlier that brown, that is your fund balance that's the unassigned fund balance. That's 35.8 million. So you've got a lot of flexibility there. This is a general fund balance as a percentage of expenditures. That's going up because your fund balances so large Property taxes know she'd done all that with your fund balance be at your property taxes haven't raised that as they stayed Fairly steady, which means you guys have really been good stewards Other taxes licenses Then we got expenditure breakdown this over the last two years is kind of where you've been spending your money. Obviously public safety. We're going to be doing that more probably this year next year. Human services and education. Then we got proprietary proprietary fund summary. So our major takeaways, unqualified opinion for 2023, counties health, peer strong, their disagreements with management, we've received complete cooperation from the current finance team, and we've filed on time for the first time since 2023, or since part of the 2011. Any questions or comments? And I really thought, you know, I was going to tell you all this great news and everything, and then, you know, represent, represent, Dixon comes up here like, 80 million dollars. Kind of stole my thunder a little bit there. But now when you come back next time, you know what you got deliver? Yeah, I know. 81 million cents if you get off of the next. Big check like that. I would like to say thank you. Yes, sir. But number one, I'd like to turn over and look at you and say thank you for you and your team. I can't say a month for what y'all done and you know not only doing a good thorough job for the audit but meeting it on time as you say at 2011 so you know that's 12 years since we ever had one turn in on time thank you again any other comments. Did a great job also kept coming back to me. What else do we owe you? What do we need to get to? She was really always constantly coming back. We had an open line of communication, but her and her team everything. They were all there were great, but constantly kept coming back. What else do we need? What do we need you? And like I said, we did ask for a lot of documentation, but she was great. We did a great job. Channel. We really appreciate it. All right to everybody else the standards been set We will Thank you, thank you All right that moves us to item number eight this robin you outside Yes, she is. Good evening. Good evening. And I'm here today to present a contract for approval. It's from the North Carolina Department of Natural Cultural Resources. It's a two-year grant. This is going to be the first disbursement of $75,000. And this is for fiscal year 24. And they will allow us to backtrack and pay for expenses over the last year. So what I'm here today is for the approval of the contract and also to have a designated signer because they do docu sign, which is virtual now, rather than the old way we used to do it. And also a request for payment form. So there has to be a signatory for that. I also have the budget amendment that I've broken down, the $75,000, which is in the contract. In attorney, Tim, I did check with the granting institution about the removal of the indentification paragraph, and they said no. Okay, I'd entertain a motion. You have for the contract between North Guy and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the Cali Museum of History Science for North Guy and Science, MGM, grant of FY 2024 in the amount of $150,000 authorized to chairman the sign and authorized social budget of memory. Most to prove. Okay. The rest of the quick, you go to the motion. The motion of Mr. French. I need a second. Second. Second. Mr. Garner. Okay. Now open up for discussion. Would the docu sign that we need the manager or assistant manager or to sign it or how to. Funnary. Yeah. Funnary. Yeah. And also it needs to be for $75,000 on $150,000. And $150,000 for two years. She's just asking for $75,000 for physical. $24,000 for two people. There'll be a new contract for the second this person. So they need to correct the amount from 150 down to 75,000 and instead of the chairman signing it. We need to finance officer to sign it. you made it motion if you're good with all that in seconds good any further discussion here and none all in favor say aye all opposed same sign carry thank you all right brings out of number nine just a hatching good afternoon mr chairman members of the board. I kind of slightly feel bad. We're talking about saving all this money, yet I'm up here trying to spend a little bit. What I'm bringing before you is a contract between Duke and County and the Eastern Carolina Council for $2,800. What this would do is two four-hour session trainings from the Eastern Carrick Line Accounts Hall for our for the planning staff myself for Tim as our attorney for the Board of Adjustment members as well as the commissioners if they would like to attend or any other staff members would attend. What they would be doing for the Board of Adjustment Training is the quasi-judicial giving our new Board members a better understanding as to what the Board of Adjustment does and how they need to proceed with the hearings essentially. Well, the first meeting, it'll essentially be Well, the first with the first meeting, it'll essentially be a training they will explain in depth what the Board of Adjustment does. The second one, there will be mock trials, essentially. And again, that any commissioner that would like to attend is more than welcome. I've already reached out to Larry Fason. He is the Regional Planning Director. He's essentially just said, let me know who all wants to come so we can have all the materials prepared. What I'm asking for is approval of this contract. Okay, I'd entertain a motion to approve the contract between News Forever Council of Government, East Carolina Council of Duke Biscayne and Authorized Chairman, sir. Most to approve. So, it's a motion by branch. So, second by Edward, any further discussion? and authorized chairman's side. Much too, bro. I'm not sure if I'm right. It's just that I can buy Edwards. Any further discussion? Yeah. I'd like to say that, you know, I'm on the board there, on the executive board and the finance and other committee. And this right here is a very good deal, because we entertain the municipalities and counties we're training for ethics and all types of training, grant training and all that stuff like that. So this is one deal that we offer to counties and it's a real good deal. So I really want us to do it. And the HFSA staff will get trained to be more professional. And they open it up to the Board of Commissioners as well as the Board of Adjustment and the Web, the else and the County Government and the E. Monster Viewer. Any further discussion? You got a sense of data on that, Chris? At the moment we do not. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. We have a few questions. I just don't know if February's gonna work for them. But again, March is what I'm pushing for. Okay, any more discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. All opposed, same side. Kerry, thank you so much. Thank you. Okay, it brings the item number 10, Mr. Brandon, the man. Good evening. for the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to grant the grant to to their broker for Medicaid. This will allow you to get billed or for us to bill and get paid for these Medicaid patients. Who doesn't have any insurance? We are currently right now in the same kind of contract with a Merrill Health, Wailcare, United Health Care, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield. This contract has been reviewed by our county attorney and we have finally got it approved. There's two approved. I've got a motion in a second and a follow discussion. Here you are none. All in favor say aye. All opposed to the same sign? Carry, congratulations. All right, item number 11, Gary Redg. Good evening. Good evening. Let's see the first meeting in February. I'm required to report the amount of unpaid current year-propery taxes. That amount is two million eight hundred ninety-five thousand three hundred eighty four dollars in twenty nine cents. One more time. Two million eight ninety-five five three eighty four point two nine Then I also asked that y'all order those taxes be advertised Got a motion from mr. Garne Second Information redwards and that is that we list this unpaid taxes and advertised the amount in the newspaper. What percent of that do you have that on top of your head of the total tax collections? We've collected about 91.2% Is that up or down to collect surveys that up upper down from last year at this point in time is down a little bit Most years of the more collections. Yes, sir Father discussion Here you none all in favor say aye all opposed same sign Thank you. Thank you All right that brings the of number 12, Mr. Miller. Commissioner, as you may know, there's been many residents along Eastside Cabin Road and Calico Bay Road that have had significant issues dealing with wastewater or more of colony known as sewer or septic. The resolutions that you're looking at are to continue with the grant, the grants from the National Office of the USDA is to complete the preliminary engineering report and environmental assessment. It's called SAFE for Grants. is to complete the preliminary engineering report and environmental assessment. It's called the SAFE or grant. Search grant, I'm sorry. Search grant. Dupland County meets the eligibility requirements to receive USDA rule development financial assistance by the search grant program. The grant for Calico Bay will total $120,624, $20,000, and the grant for East Laudcabin Road will total $106,889. This resolution authorizes the county manager to execute all documents relating to the rural development search grant, including the acceptance of all terms and conditions of the obligations of SA grant, if awarded, and ratifies all actions taken by the county manager and finance director, as well as other county staff in furtherance of this grant today. So this resolution is for grant-only funding, meaning there is no county appropriation necessary for the grant. I've told you everything about what the grant does. What this resolution does not do is obligate the county movement forward to any type of additional appropriations. It does not guarantee the resonance of Eastside Cavan Road or Calico Bay Road waste water services in the future. It does not obligate the county or any municipality to provide wastewater services to the residents of East La Cavan Road and to Calico Bay. It does not entitle the resonance of East La Cin Road in Calico Bay Road to wastewater services. Or, does it suggest there will be free or reduced service fees associated with installation of the services provided or the services provided in the future. Now, it's my understanding that this has been an ongoing process and many of you may ask why I read through this list. I did that to avoid any confusion that there may be moving forward. I wanted the board to know exactly what the resolution for each one you need to approve two resolutions. But I wanted the board to know what the resolutions were there for and I wanted the board to know what they did not there. So I'm happy to answer any questions. I mean, uh, finance directors have been heavily in the process and commission of branches, man. Before I, before I asked for anything from the board, I'd like to thank you for clarifying it. I do think that it's a project that has needed, we've been them water and sewer, but this is the work to be done to try and maybe to figure out how. This is basically the way I look at it. So, I thank you for clarifying that. And since there's two grants, first I would like to ask the motion to entertain the one for Calico Bay. So move. So you got a motionico Bay. So moved. So moved. So moved. Got a motion, Mr. Branks. A second, Mr. Dahl. Any further discussion? Here and none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed same sign. All right, now I'd like to ask a motion for the one for like the East like Kevin. So moved. Motion of Mr. Branks. a motion for the one for like the East like having. So we'll do motion for Mr. Brakes, second for Mr. Dow, any further discussion? Here and none, all in favor say aye. All opposed same side? Carry, okay, we'll move on. All right, that brings us to item number 14. Announcements for Mr. Miller. Commissioners, we've done a lot tonight. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about any subject to make you may have, but other than questions you may have, I don't have anything. Okay, with that said, I would entertain a motion to go out of a regular session and to close session for personnel matters. Matters, putting it to NCGS 143-31.11. I get a much younger. Got a motion, Mr. Garne second by Mr. Edwards. Any further discussion Here none all in favor say aye Okay, ladies and gentlemen. I do appreciate y'all being here tonight Thank you for your participation Looking forward to seeing you in two weeks. We're going out of close session back into open session. Anybody have anything to add for the nights? Motion to adjourn. I have a motion to adjourn. Do I have a second? Second. Motion to adjourn, Mr. Garner's second, but Commissioner Edwards. Any further comments? I would like to say I appreciate it. It's been a fairly long night tonight but I think we covered a lot of ground and I appreciate the attendance and what everybody's done. That said all in favor say aye. All the folks same sign. Here we'll see you on the 19th.