Okay ladies and gentlemen I would like to call this meeting to order November 21st, 2022. My name is Dexter Edwards and tonight is a little different than normal. I always start this meeting out with a prayer and a pledge and we will tonight but let's start this meeting out. If everybody would please rise and let's have a moment of silence for Mr. Darrell Walker who passed away Wednesday, November 16th. Mr. Walker served on this board from 1994 to 1998 and then he served on the board of the elections and chaired it for several years. So what I would like is for us to give him a moment of silence and at the end of the silence I would like to ask Reverend future to do our invocation and lead us into play. So if y'all will, let's give reference to Mr. Walker. Thank you for the live-book, Commissioner and Bureau of Walker and we thank you for what he meant to do for County and his service to this board and to the citizens of this County and to his community, to his church, and we pray your Lord that you bless his dear family with many memories of what they were able to recall of the love that they shared and we pray your Lord that you would just bless us with the memories that we have. Father, we just come to you tonight with thanks given in our hearts for this wonderful time and season. And your word tells us that everything had hath breathed, praise the Lord. And so we just thank you to not go to live in a wonderful country. And we have the freedom that we enjoy. We thank you for those that are our public service for our military and for all those that have served on far and domestic soil. We thank you for those first responders, Lord, and all enforcement and emergency services and fire service, Lord, and pray that you would keep them safe and blessed them. We thank you, Lord, tonight, that we can gather here and that the commissioners have been elected by the citizen to serve as stewards of the governments of this county that you would bless them tonight and all their deliberations. And we thank you, Lord, for those of us that are public servants and we have the privilege to serve others. But we know that we're serving you when we serve others and so we just give you thanks. We pray to your Lord you'll continue to bless new accounting. We pray tonight Lord that you will bless us all collectively and individually and our families as we come forward to the Thanksgiving time of year. We just pray to your Lord that you'll continue to bless us for the rest of this year and all good Christmas and that you'll give us a good new year ahead. We pray to not go over that you'll bless everything that you said that we would have a spirit of unity in the bond of these and that we govern ourselves according to Jesus' name. Amen. please just to provide the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands elimination under God and individual with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, George. Before you all sit down, we have something else tonight that is, you know, better sweet, good friend, long time commissioner. This is his last meeting. This commissioner tops them. And at this time I think that there's some people that might be in the Yeah, you're welcome. I'm not on that front. You know these people told me they were coming here. They been good. I just left my parents out. They're coming. Thank you all for coming out. At this point, if Mr. Davis would read our decoration. Thank you. I have a resolution honoring Kennedy Thompson, State of North Carolina County of Dukeland, whereas Kennedy Thompson was appointed as a member of the Dukeland County Board of Commissioners on August the 15th, 2011. And whereas Kennedy Thompson was elected by the Residence District 3 in 2012 to fill an unexpired term and again in November of 2014 and November of 2018 to consecutive four year terms. And whereas Kennedy Thompson was elected chairman of the Duke and County Board of Commissioners in 2013, 2014, and 2018. And whereas Kennedy Thompson was elected vice chairman of the Duke and County Board of Commissioners in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. And whereas Kennedy Thompson was educated at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and earned a bachelor's degree in 1997 and was also educated at the University of Baltimore School of Law where he received a Juris Doctorate degree in 2001. Whereas Kennedy Thompson is a well-respected local attorney and managing partner of Thompson and Thompson. And whereas Kennedy Thompson also serves as General Counsel for James Sprut Community College, the town of Warsaw, and the town of Rose Hill. And whereas Kennedy Thompson is a devoted husband to Courtney and a loving father to their four children, Bear, Ellie, Trace, and Parker. And whereas Kennedy Thompson elected not to seek re-election in 2022. And whereas Kennedy Thompson during his period of public service earned for himself the reputation of being a devoted husband and father, a loyal friend and an able and dedicated public servant. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Dukeland County Board of Commissioners expresses its gratitude to Kennedy Thompson for his over 11 years of service as a Dukeland County Commissioner for District 3 and for his love and dedication to all Dukeland County residents and be it further resolved that the Dupland County Board of Commissioners, County staff and residents, wish Kennedy Thompson continued success in all his endeavors and expressed their hope for him and his family's continued help, happiness, and prosperity. In witness whereup, I have here to set my hand and calls my official seal, calls the official seal of Duplet County to be affixed this the 21st day of November of 2022. Dexter B. Edwards chairman Duplet County Board of Commissioners, by test Davis H. Britson clerk to the Board of Commissioners. Thank you. Applause. Thank you. I'm asking down where I started to get a picture with you and your family. Okay. I didn't know I'd been chairman of last year. Yeah. That's the work. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to get my kid. So I didn't get the picture with that and the family then I'll get the flag and I will get the flag. Get the flag. Yeah. Yeah. You're welcome to stay in the pictures with. I want to get the commissioners into the other way we can get them. And you can get trained back up here too. We didn't really all get the things right. Thompson, this is a plaque of our recognition for your dedication from 2011 to 2022. This is the commissioner. Thank you. Thank y'all so much for being here tonight. Thank y'all so much for being here tonight. And I do believe that you've pulled it all by. Double even though I'm screwed. Great job. Great job. Great job. No, she said it's just a bit of a bad word. I said it's a nice thing. Excuse me, do you know what I wanted you to do? I'm not saying anything. I'm just being happier. Yeah, okay. We're coming to floor over to Commissioner Topson. Well, thank you. That was very unexpected but very nice gesture. By everyone, I appreciate that. I have four kids. My son, Bear, was born 11 and a half years ago. I was nominated. The next day to serve on this board, and I've served 11 years, I really enjoy it all, and I've learned a lot by doing so enough. I remember Mrs. Eddie Williams, who was the chair person when I was elected to the board, made the comment and she meant it. There's none there at my mind. That was a steadfast woman who was all about service. She says, it's all about your service, nothing else. It doesn't matter. And you see all kinds of BS with national politics and state politics and it just puts a very bad patient in your mouth and this board and luckily local wars that I've been blessing up to serve on that we that just never never's happened and that's something I'm very proud of. I did want to I started jotting a few things down of goals I had wherever I got elected 11 years ago, and things we would accomplish, and I wanted to highlight those that I'm proud of, and I'm proud to serve with many people. I don't know how many commissions I've served with, but I think seven of them are no only with us, which puts in perspective how long I've been here, which means it's time to go. I thoroughly enjoy it, but I want to put a few things that highlight, you know, we were able to implement the findings from the pay study to get our carrying employees fair pay, you know, I got on the board, we were pretty much a laughing stop with pay and now we're not. We put into playing the building in jail, which was a main goal I had when I got on the board. 20 years past due, but we got into play now. That's good. We built K through 8 schools. 20 years late, but we did that as well. We've got in place animal control transportation service for the age. There all can be building new places while I was on board we put in a new courtroom which was a goal of mine. I am very proud of that. It's fantastic. We've got a new county manager. We hire I think Jesse and Dex were part of that process. And we hired Tim, I do attorney. And then Davis hired the leaders that he has, you guys. And it's just completely, we've done a clique overall. I remember, I don't know how many applicants we had. We had 50 plus applicants, you think? That was a lot. We had 50 plus applicants, you think? That was a long time. We had a lot of applicants and I think they were vetted and air down to maybe 15 and then the commission at the time, Dexter and Jesse and myself and the other, Naira and Naomi May 5th. And Davis was one of the five and the people who would tell us in the way it was supposed to be told us, well Davis is not really qualified on paper. But I think we made the right decision. There's nothing out about that. You've certainly proven yourself and said, the counties in good hands and I've it serving it. I really have. I don't have any hesitation in saying that this board is currently sitting here. I respect all of you. I respect all the staff and I know this board is in good hands and this can't be in good hands. And I appreciate the recognition tonight and I'll be doing it serving. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That's fine. I've proven to like to say it's been a pleasure. I've been certainly with you for eight years, but I would like to turn to four over to Mr. Doud because he's been with you most of your time on this board and I think we've had a good solid board all the way through and still do today and we're going to miss you but I turn to floor Mr. Doud to see if I can make some comments. I know him came for quite some time and for those of you that don't know I was in law enforcement with Howard Trill and I think he was a little bit of a DA. I was there. Yeah. But anyway, he was instrumental in some things that I've learned over the years. And he's been a mentor to me up. Look for his guidance and a lot of different things. And it's been a pleasure for me to work with him. Thank you. I could say a lot more, but I'm going to keep it short. That's kind of trying to keep things short and sweet. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that. Yes, sir. Yeah, as Mr. Dow says that, if I keep it short, I must say that that's one thing that being passed. And we're going to drag him out tonight, you know, since he's not going to be back to chastise us in the future. We're just going to make him be here a lot longer than I think. Speed has been one of the wonderful things that I picked up from him that go there's no reason to talk to hear yourself talk. Let's get the business done and go on. And you know, I thank you for that. Anybody else like to say a remark or two before we go? I just like to say I think I've been here the shortest time with you can but I'm knowing you throughout the community and I appreciate everything that you've done. I wish you well. And as you move on with family and mega-sp you're very open, you're honest. And that's not only in these three years, but in our professional careers, as I was in law enforcement and working with you in the next years and in your attorney room, if you ever told me anything, I could take it to the bank. I didn't have to worry about it. You've always trusted me, trusted you, great friend outside of law enforcement, outside of the commissioners and I appreciate our friendship and working together in our professional lives. But you'll be missed. I think you do as Dexter said. You do over the record for shortest meeting. That just was about a month and a half ago. I think it was all until 15 minutes. It's been a pleasure enjoying life, enjoying family, and we'll see each other down the road. And as we always do. Great. Thank you very much. Thank you, Murray Thomas. OK. Yeah. If you're ready. Well, we'll move on. That brings us to the first item on the agenda, which is no, no, no, no, excuse me. I'm getting ahead of myself. All right. The I need to know if you got anything you want to add to the agenda tonight. Mr. Chairman, members of the board, if it pleases the Board, I need to add two public hearings for the Public Transportation Department. One is on the FYI 24 Public Transportation Department's grant funding request, and another is on their 5339 FTA discretionary grant funding that is being used to construct our new public transportation facility. And if we could do those right after we have the road naming public hearing tonight, that would be okay. Pleasure to board. I got a motion to accept the agenda with those add-ons in a second. Okay. All right, any more discussion? All in favor say aye. All opposed? Here. All right. Do I have a motion for the accepting the minutes from our November 7th meeting? So we've got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Here and then all in favor say aye. All opposed? Here. Alright. Hopefully everybody's had the chance to go through to consent agenda. I got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Here and then all in favor say aye. All opposed? Same side? All right. Here you go. Now that brings us to item number one on the agenda. And that's our public comment. If there is anyone, please call it forward. Yes, Mr. Chairman. We have four individuals who assigned that for public comments. And I, the first is Miss Barbara Player. Miss Player, if you could come up to the podium so you can speak into the microphone. Yeah just just come up front and speak your name and you've got three minutes. My name is Barbara Plier and I stay in Wrangler and my situation we have down there is a lot of sand in the room and we cannot get in and out. A lot of us get stuck in there and then we having water problems No, then at my water this morning he had turned black brown And we got country water and How y'all doing on that sister hey, but I knew in a different area, but um We was trying to find out if y'all have some kind of funding man, would you name please? My name is Deborah Whitehurst. Okay. Yes, and I'm not gonna say I don't really feel fair But I visit often and I've been down there and I was so they live in this little community here and they're several families there and all of us stuff. So they live in this little community here and they're several families there and they need some, they need some work. If you have any funding that they can get some role and maybe the county water they don't if you all have any funding that can help us out. You think else? Okay. I'm going to agenda two if you want me to go ahead and state my calls because I live in a different area. Okay. Go ahead since you's in there. Okay. Okay, my concern was I know I live in a rural area and I um, I pay taxes every year and um, I have a problem with my um, guards pick up. So I I was wondering, did y'all have any funding for there? Have it something to come, because I'm having to go out all the time trying to find somewhere, but just can't get to the dump site or whatever. What do you live, man? I live out on 117. It's in the ballot area. This war cell is considered, but it's considered a war cell. It's between facing them, war cell. There's a convenient side intersection of the Herman Taylor Road and the Taylor Town Road. Is that the one you use? Yes. Okay. I think that's the closest one to your rest. Yes, but I was wondering if they have a pickup and they might have front door pickup or whatever. So I went to pick out a doctor like they do in the town. So I'm just walking. That is not a service that you can't even imagine. Can it be something being put on the agenda or whatever? We're making that in. Thank you. Okay. If you leave your telephone number with, uh, Mrs. Grant, guess me, it's not a good name. Don't keep that. Okay, what about Matt Brown? You're saying the same. Matt? I'm sorry. Now. I'll forgive you, I'll forgive you, sister. Come on. Come on. Come on. Mr. Chairman, the next individual sign-up for public comments is Mary Hodges. What happened with the unfulfilled statement? This is Mary Hodges. What up with the information on the same thing? Okay, Ms. Whitehurst, if you would write there things. The last individual is Commissioner Branch. Well thank you, sir. Good evening, everyone. I want to share a little information with you. Myself and Commissioner Dow had an opportunity to represent the county at the legislative conference in Raleigh last week. We spent three days up there. Just some receiving information about the things is going on in the great state of North Carolina and how it can impact the things that are needed here in Dupland County. I want to thank you, Mr. Brinson, and your staff for the arrangements. We arrived safely, had no challenges and getting to our rooms and having an information that was needed to get to the meeting spots. So we really appreciate that it's always good to have things laid out so when you get there you can step right in and get going with the main reason why you're there. But I find these types of opportunities to be very helpful because it allows us the opportunity to have conversations with commissioners throughout North Carolina. In the NCC, basically, you have 100 counties. You have so many commissioners that come and share information about what they encounter in their counties. And what you'll find is there's nothing new. They have questions similar to what the citizens have presented to us this evening. And what you will have is a chance to kind of chop it up to see what avenues that they take to achieve the goals that are necessary to meet the needs of our citizens. So in going to those it really gives you a bird's eye view of how we can streamline processes and come together to meet the needs of our people. So these are very rewarding meetings. I also found it to be a resource to connect the dots. There's a lot of people that are on the program that comes to share data about what's available to the counties. IE grants and I've already had a chance to speak with Mr. Brestson about avenues that we as Dukeland County, a tier one county I may add, can receive funding. I mean we're getting it already but there's other avenues that we can pursue to really help us lift this county as we move forward. But it's being able to have those relationships so that they know who's calling and we have questions and concerns to meet the needs of our staff here in the county. So I found that to be very rewarding. And then Thursday morning, I'm building a Cooper came and gave a speech. Sharing information about something that I think we've all heard of at some point in time. And that's Medicaid expansion. I was truly amazed at this number he presented to us to the $521 million. That's available to the great state of North Carolina. That's monthly if we were just logging in to participate in Medicaid expansion. He said this to us so that we as the leaders in the county could go back and share the information, but also to connect the dots with our representatives and our senators about how much of a value would be to have 521 million dollars to come into the state of North Carolina monthly to go towards Medicaid expansion. I even investigated to see what would that look like in Dupland County in terms of body counts. And in my conversation it was determined some 7200 plus residents would be made available if we were to accept this expansion. There's a total of 40 states out of the fifth that's already signed on. It's our time, it's our season. To truly take a look at what this will do and how it can impact our citizens and free up capital to do other things. So myself and Mr. Dow had a chance to just listen and then talk about the importance of these measures. So I say to you as a citizens of Dukeland County, these are the type things that we need to push for and we need to come together and make it happen These are the type things that we need to push for, that we need to come together and make it happen. Because the dividends that it will pay to us are great, and it will open up avenues to other things that we so greatly need. And then we talked about the current state of our political climate, the division, that everyone knows about. The 10,000 pounds of rule in the rule, in terms of why we don't talk about it or what we need to do to eradicate it. But we're the leaders. We're the individuals that's coming to a location to hear about what we already know. So we have to be the tip of the sphere, to be willing to do whatever it takes to demonstrate, be the example of change that we know needs to happen, so that this division that we have can be mitigated so that we can get back more to the center to do things that's necessary for the good of all people. Here we go, it's a party. Medicaid expansion is not just a party, it's about people. So how do we work together collectively to make these changes? So I bring this information back to you, to us, so that we all know really what's going on and how we can work better together. Because as the serenity press aids, we should ask God to help us to accept the things that we can't change. And the courage to change the things that we came and the knowledge to know the difference between the two. We have the knowledge. We know what needs to be fixed. And we need to work better and smarter at coming together. So in the end of the day, we will be a better for Dukeland County. We will be a better North Carolina, and we will be a better United States of America. And in closing, I too, I'd just say, I wish each and every one of you a happy, blessed, joy, feel, and restorative Thanksgiving holidays. And truly find time to share with that precious commodity and that's each other and your neighbor. Thank you for your time, Mr. Chair, fellow commissioners. Godspeed. Thank you. We appreciate all those kind, Godspeed. Thank you. We appreciate all those kind words and all the information and the time that you have a voucher up there getting information for us, Nick Allen. Good for the comments. All right, let's move on to item number two, Melissa Kennedy. move on to item number two, Melissa Kennedy. Good evening. I'm here for the public hearing on behalf of Jamie Schellwer to name Elaine. In Oakwood Township, the 200 block of Norwood Israel Road and he has chosen Mickey bass lane. Okay this time I'm going to open up for public hearing any public comments we're not opening up a community of the comments from the public. Last chance. You said Mickey bass lane. Okay, hearing nothing from the public, I'm gonna close the head. We're back into open session. Got a motion and a second to approve naming this road from Jamie Shover to in block 200 on all of the Israel road, my all of North Carolina, and Wolfsburg township, Mickey Best Lane, and accordance to the Duke and County Address and Road Name and Portance. Any further discussion? Here you are none, all in favor say aye. All opposed, same sign. All right, carry. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, if I may, this is where we want to add Miss Angel Vanissia so conduct to Gallauder hearings Miss Angel Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to be added on tonight First I'd like to see if we could conduct the public hearing for administrative and capital grants, the 5311, for us to be able to have our operating administrative grants for next year's school year. OK. At this time, I'll open it up for public hearing. Any comments for the public? Angel, maybe you should tell them how much the grant is. Sure. The Administrator grant for fiscal year 24, the total grant amount is $254,376. Our local share is 15%, which is 38,156. And that would all be covered with our fund on balance and revenue generated. Our capital is for vehicle replacement. We currently have three that we will be replacing as well as furniture to go in our new construction building, audio and visual equipment that will go in the new building and lettering on the actual vehicles. The total cost of that would be 368,664. Again, 10% of that is what we're responsible for and that would bring the 36876. Again, all of like to have you need comments from the public that you'll be like to have hearing none or close public hearing. So if you take action is the board or just no sir open and she's going to conduct another public hearing now. Mr Chairman. Okay. Next I would like to do the 5339 FTA discretionary grant. And that is for the construction of the new building. The total amount of that is $3,020,171. Our local share amount is $600,4,035. Again, that local share amount is covered by our fund balance, but this is required in order for us to continue with our grant for construction. Okay, open the public here. You're welcome to comment. No questions, no comments? All right, I will close this public here. Thank you so much. We appreciate hard work you've done to bring this money to the county. Thank you, ma'am. All right, that moves us into item number three. Mr. David Mump. Good evening, commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to come and speak before you today. First of all, I just want to say thank you to Jesse Dow for his leadership and service on our executive committee as well. So my name is Dave Bone of the new executive director for Eastern Carolina Council of Governments. I just want to take a little bit of time to introduce myself as the executive director and then hopefully reintroduce Eastern Carolina Council of Governments to you as well. So just a little bit about myself. 20 years of local government experience as a city and county manager. Most of my career has been in Eastern North Carolina. Most recently served as county manager at Davy County on the other side of Winston-Salem. Prior to that I was county manager at Martin County for nine years. And then I served as town manager in three towns in Eastern North Carolina. Started back on May 16th and I'm very excited to be here. Also, I just wanted to note that I also serve as the Association of County Commissioners representative on the North Carolina NL1 board been serving in that role for over seven years and have two years left in that term. So there are any issues or concerns that you would have in regards to NL1 service and funding on the state level. So just a little bit about Eastern Carolina Council. It is a multi-county local government, planning and development organization. We are one of 16 councils of government in the state of North Carolina and we are conduit between local government and our region as well as our state and federal partners. We provide technical assistance to local governments and administrative projects and programs which benefit our region's members and citizens. We focus on regional collaboration and partnerships. We serve nine counties. So we're one of the larger council's government in state. So we serve Carter, Craven, Dupline, Green, Jones, Lenore, Oslo, Pamela Coe, and Wayne Counties, as well as about 50 minutes of palli. So we have a large territory. Our mission is to improve the region's quality of life by providing planning, economic development, and senior services to local governments and area residents by maximizing our resources and collaborating region. So I just wanna talk a little bit about our resources and collaborating region. So I just wanna talk a little bit about our departments and our services. Our largest department is our area agency on aging. We work with counties and different providers to serve and advocate for our senior population. We also have two rural transportation planet organizations, our RPOs, the Eastern Carolina RPO and Down East RPO. So we are one of two Councils of the government and state that actually have two RPOs, most have just one. With our RPO staff, we develop and cooperation with NCDOT staff, log range local and regional multimodal transportation plants. We provide a form for public participation in the transportation planning process. We help local governments and the state with their power to the excellent process for transportation projects within our region. And we provide transportation related information to our local governments and various stakeholders as well. We also provide economic development planning. We are the designated economic development district for the federal EDA or economic development administration. With that comes a lot of responsibility to coordinate on a regional basis and develop our comprehensive economic development strategy or SEDS, which is basically our strategic plan comprehensive economic development strategy or SEDS, which is basically our strategic plan for economic development for our region. We are currently working to update that plan and we should be doing it, completing that by January. Also with that, we work with counties and communities on EDA public works grants applications. So if you're an economic developer, if your county is looking to access those EDA grant funds for a new industry, we would work with you to advocate for that as well. We also have administrative services we're currently working with Town of Newport on their manager's search, and that should be coming to a close possibly today. So one of the things that we're very proud of, so we have had a period of time where we have not had community planning staff. We've been relying more on as an organization on some of our strategic partners and consultants. Right now we are reestablishing that capacity entirely. So for about two and a half years we haven't had that staff and we are working to establish that staff now. So historically we've worked with communities on various planning issues such as zoning ordinances, one-six of the updates, annexation ordinance revisions and other land use issues. We've worked with various ordinance code updates, minimum housing, storm water, flood plain, different plants, like comprehensive land use plan, bicycle and pedestrian plant stormwater plants, and then just general administrative services for several smaller municipalities that don't have planning staff. We've also have helped historically with some GIS map units for those communities that do not have that capability internally. So we've hired one new planer, Carlton Gideon. He started in September, building a lot of good rapport in a very quick fashion. And we are currently recruiting for another community planner as well. We initially are maintaining our relationships with our strategic partners. So we supplement our internal staff through collaboration with these partners. So just want to talk a little bit about our initial 90-day plan and some of our priorities and accomplishments today. So first priority was to establish board and organizational priorities. The 90-day plan was accepted by the board. Second priority built trust relationships and lines of communication. We started with weekly communication with our executive board and general membership board. We restarted our newsletter on July 1st. That was something that had not been circulated in about a year. We very quickly had meetings with county managers to begin assessment of services desired. We sent out information to our members about different grant funding opportunities, as well as information about American Recovery Plan or ARPA deadlines and information. We've also reached out to managers and various officials on a 101 basis, and we had our first meeting joint meeting with the City of County Managers in October. So our third party is to build staff and organizational capacity and expand services to address member needs. We've gotten several grants to help us with that effort. So we've gotten some funding for our pretendentical assistance. So we are currently providing our pretendentical assistance to no additional cost to our members. So we've got funding that helps pay for that service. We have a new finance director that started on August 15th. She's doing a great job. Like I said, we've got the new plan that's already started. And then we also got additional EDA funding to build capacity as well. So we've got some funding through EDA for our economic development plan and then we've got this additional building capacity funds as well. Our fourth priority is to develop a plan to take action to approve of financial sustainability and accountability. Those grant funds, as aforementioned, help with that. We've also got another grant through the Jazz for Recovery Tentable also got another grant through the disaster recovery tentacle assistance program through our through the state ARPA funds and our regional council of government. So with that, we're focusing on some disaster resiliency efforts, stormwater, grant applications, brick applications. So we're already started with that process and then we're going to be developing a training curriculum along with the other Council government in the state to help train for disaster recovery at the city and county level. We also want to be make sure that we're transparent. We're sharing information with our members. We've added additional budget, all information to our website. So again, we want to be very forthcoming and transparent and be accountable. Our fifth priority is the focus on customer service and providing value to our members. We want to continue the outreach that we've done. Not only through these types and areas but our RPO staff has done a really good job reaching out and talking about the state transportation improvement plan, talking about local priorities as well. So I hope you've had that meeting. If not, please let me know. And we can schedule a meeting to work with you on that. We're working with communities on our potential assistance. As I said, that is free of charge to our members. We're also working on 160D legislation compliance. One thing we're very proud of, our AAA, We're also working on 160D legislation compliance. One thing we're very proud of, our AAA, Area Agency on Aging Simplified, the Month of Rehobortionment, Documentation Reporting for Counties and Providers. So that's saving your staff time in an out-of-staff time as well, just to simplify that process. So we want to make sure that we are providing very efficient service to you. Again, we just want to focus on solutions and bringing other partners to the table as we move forward. Our sixth priority is to seek out opportunities to facilitate regional collaboration and provide regional leadership. A lot of that involves training, but it's also just bringing people together for discussion and define common areas that we can all work on together. First of all, we work with the School of the Government on the Affordable Housing webinar. We did that back in May. We're working with them to try to follow up on that and have some additional regional training here in our region. We've assisted with the rise Eastern North Carolina, which stands for Regents in a day in for strong economies and environment, which aims to support resilient, resiliency primarily in the storm impacted regions. So we had public meetings on October 18th and 19th. Your staff was there representing your county. We assisted with my future NC Regional Education attainment, then on July 28th and we worked with NC Impact on Town Hall events at ECU on August 11th. We've worked successfully with Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board on a grant application to grow workforce development leadership on our region, and that's begun. We've assisted the UNC School of Government in hosting a human trafficking training on September 29th, as well as a wastewater operation training just last week. So we are working in tandem with School of Government. They are beginning and renewing their outreach efforts to have trainings in our region. And we want to be their partners so we can bring that training to you in a very nearby setting. So that will hopefully give more opportunity for your staff and for you as well. that training to you in a very nearby setting. So that will hopefully give more opportunity for your staff and for you as well to attend those trainings, take less time out of your busy schedules and do it more cost effectively by decreasing the travel time. So we're working not all of the school government, but beginning to have conversations with real water association and other agencies to make sure that we are providing as many training opportunities as we can locally in our region. So we want to tell the good story. So often we, as just human nature, we focus on our day to day areas of concern and we don't take time to celebrate our success. So we want to make sure that we're taking time to celebrate the success not only about our organization but also our members doing that through our various communication, monthly newsletter with our website, social media and so forth. So we want to take that time to celebrate our success as well as your issue. So just some highlights of current projects and initiatives. Again, talk previously about the expansion of our planning staff and planning services. Our agency, Air Agency on Aging. We've, with DIVA, was one of the first that we began rolling out our Grisha Assistance Program for seniors. That's been very successful. So, that is ongoing. So with that program, any senior, 60 or more is eligible to apply for this reimbursement for groceries. There may be a, there are a few questions about income as part of the application process, but there is no income requirement. No income threshold. So any senior 60 year over is eligible to apply for this program. We have our application on our website, and also folks can just call our number and apply over the phone. And then once the application has been processed, all they have to do is send us the grocery receipts and then we will process the reimbursements up to $500 per person per household. So only one household, only one person in a household is eligible and that you can't use those funds to, you can't get reimbursementursed for, you know, pet food and non-food supplies, but any food item, and it doesn't include tax, but, you know, any food item you can get reimbursed if we're up to $500. We're working to finish our comprehensive economic development strategy, five year plan. Our RPOs are working with our communities We're working to finish our comprehensive economic development strategy, five-year plan. Our RPOs are working with our communities on the State Transition Improvement Plan. Very excited about their new websites. We've got a wealth of information on our RPO websites. A lot of good information. Certainly encourage you to take a look at those web pages and they fall under our ECC website. Please share that out because a lot of really, really good information. We're also working with Billville on the Recreation Master Plan and part of application. We're working on several grant writing efforts including facing. We work with him on a real transformation grant and let's see Richlands nearby in the next county over. And so, you know, we've also worked with several other counties, Calipso, on brick application. So really looking to expand our grant writing efforts. That's one of the things, and besides the training that everybody's asking for is grant writing assistance. And so we're looking to grow that capability and capacity. Right now we're using our planning staff to build that capacity and conduct that grant writing. I'd love to have a scenario where we have a full-time grant writer. So that's our vision, that's what we'd like to be at at some point. Let's have a dedicated grant rider to work on grants for our members. I mentioned the 160D Lane use compliance where there's several communities that still need to work on that and we're working with them. And one of the other things we're working on now that the elections are over is working to plan event with our state and federal legislature delegation before they get too busy with their new session. Try to bring people together as a region to talk about our needs in the legislature and maybe their vision for what they want to accomplish. So be looking for that invitation. We're hoping to schedule that towards Anna-Jane Red. And again, just move forward. We want to be that leader that helps bring governments together and other partners together for collaboration on a myriad of different issues. And we certainly want to get input from you on what things are important to you that you feel like we can help with. ARP, economic development, transportation, training, growth, affordable workforce housing, regional water and sewer collaboration, stormwater, legislative advocacy. So, in closing, I just wanna thank you for your time. Thank you for opting to be here. I have been beginning to attend the Diplin County Municipal Association meetings, I've been to two quarter meetings so far. It's my intent to continue to do that just to be have an opportunity to meet with you and the other leaders in your county. So just want to let you know that we are here, we want to help anyway we can, and I want you to take advantage of us. So thank you again, do you have any questions? Any questions from Mr. Ball? I'm not making a statement. I'm gonna leave. Okay. Yeah. One thing that we've done, like you said, I'm on the executive board and prior to us hiring Mr. Bone, we decided to rebrand ourselves to make people understand what we did in the region. Also, Wallace, different communities, Kenanville. So I'd like to give you a abuser and thank you for a job well done and we want to strive to be the be a strive to excellence in the state of North Carolina for Council of Goals. Yes sir. So thank you very much. Thank you. Anybody else? Thank you so much. Thank you for your presentation. Okay that brings us to item number four. That's your word for you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and commissioners. I appear before you tonight with three items of business. The first being an engineering services master agreement with parish and partners to manage the first project would be to manage the airport road that we're building out of the airport and also they would be available to do any other capital improvement projects if we so desire the airport commission received on behalf of the Economic Development Commission, a million and a half dollars to build the Air Park Road. And so we're actually working in conjunction with the Economic Development Commission to build that road. And so we needed to have an engineer to design the road. And so we had a committee that did a RFQ for statements of qualifications and solicited those, received them and reviewed them and selected parishion partners. So the Master of Contract or Master of Agreement has been drafted and our county attorney has reviewed it and approved it. And we would submit it to you tonight for your approval. Thank you, Edward. I got a motion in a second to approve the agreement for professional services between New England County and various departments with Carolina P.L. Hill. Any further discussion? Sure. One good question for me. I was looking at the draft that's attached in the agenda packet. It's not the one that changes, but I assume the partially executed one. Trish got that? Yes, that is correct. And I apologize for that. We got the draft. You know, we got the draft. With your changes made after, or we got the final after I had our submitted the agenda request. And so the county attorney had asked that we put some insurance language in there and they took care of that. I think that's actually the best sign of the correct version. If you've got that. I think I've been coming this year. Thanks. Thank you. Any more comments? Here at the end, I'll end up focusing on. All opposed. Same side. Carry. Okay. Item number five. Next item is the contract for a drainage repair project. As you know, we've had that drainage repair project for quite some time. Duke of County Airport was given $100,000 grant, 90, 10, 90% state, 10% county. And we have requested informal quotes for repair of the drainage issues out there in our infield between the tax away and runway and we received the low-viet 41,000 dollars from the riverland and builders and also we would request that you approve that and also the contractor amendment task order number 2021-2 with app on to look after that project air commission has reviewed both of these contracts the state of North Carolina division of aviation is reviewed them as well and we would submit them for your approval tonight. Mr. Cooper. It's done a motion for both of them. Yeah. I got a motion to approve both the contract between Riverland and Builders LLC $41,000 and the motion to the Um, then for, yes, or task or order number twenty twenty one dash two. Yes, sir. Okay. I'm just trying to make sure that we're running together. Yes. Four thousand six hundred eighty two dollars. That's right, sir. I've got a motion for both of those. Do I have a second? I got a motion and a second. Father discussion. Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry if I may. I forgot to ask that we need to include a budget amendment, but that as well. OK, it's in the motion. It's in the motion. Thank you. OK, you've got a discussion. Here in the in favor say aye. All opposed, same sign. All right, here. Hey, that position is done number six. Back to the last item of business is the back to the 1.5 million dollar skiff grant to do the airport road with the request to approve approval of the project resolution established in the capital project, but it's budget ordinance as well as the attached to a budget amendment. That is well for the one set up 1.5 million autograph. I got a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Here and then I'll end paper play. I all above same sign. All right thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Chairman if I may just say thank you Mr. Thompson for appreciate all your support over years there for I've been with since the very beginning. Three half words towards thank you for your service as well. All right and bring us down to number seven Mr. Davis. Thank you Mr. Chair, members of the Board. I respectfully request that the Board approve a service contract between Dukeland County and TRC Engineers Inc. for professional services related to a $500,000 EPA environmental protection agency, community-wide Brownfield Assessment Grant that has been awarded to Dupland County. The EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant provides funding for grant recipients to inventory, characterise, assess, conduct, arrange, planning activities, develop site-specific cleanup plans and conduct community engagement related to brownfield sites. This grant will be used to help Dupland County address our brownfield challenges to help bring them back into productive reuse by assessing sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, including hazardous substances, co-mingled with petroleum and or petroleum. The grant funds will be used to assess and plan redevelopment of brownfields consisting of unused or underutilized industrial and commercial sites throughout the county. This program is an important tool in addressing brownfield sites with the potential to transform the county economically and socially, increase job opportunities and provide healthy lifestyle alternatives. The Dupin County does not have the level of expertise it will take to fulfill the requirements of the grant. Thus, I am asking that we need to partner with TRC engineers in to provide the necessary consultant services to assist us as we navigate through the grant process, which will take over four years. The County Attorney has reviewed the contract, made some changes, which were agreed to by TRC engineers. So, I'm asking you now that you approve the contract. Thank you, Board. I got a motion in a second to approve the service contract, DRC engineers incorporated to provide professional consultant service brought to the EPA community wide Brownfield assessment grant that has been awarded to Dukelin. Father discussion. Here in the other favor say aye. All opposed, same sign. Carry. Get it. Break by the number eight. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the board, I request the approval of a resolution to approve the presentation of his badge and service weapon to retiring sheriff Blake Wallace. I request that you adopt this resolution authorizing Sheriff-Elect Stratton Stokes to pursue a retiring Sheriff Blake Wallace with his Dupin County Sheriff's Office badge and service service weapon in recognition of his retirement from the Dupin County Sheriff's Office and the County of Dupin. The request is pursuant to North Carolina General Sachute 20-187.2 and is also in accordance with past Dupin County government practices. The service weapon is Smith and Wesson, air light PD-357 result revolver serial number CHJ0584. Okay, I've got a motion in a second to approve this. Any further discussion? All the papers say aye. All opposed, same side. Carry. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I may, I'm going to appear on behalf of Mr. Newburn, your animal services supervisor. He had his, had a grand dollar this afternoon and he is at the hospital with his daughter. And also, I'd like to announce that one of his other animal control officers, Brandon Santiago, had his first child today as well. well so. Mr. Newmer was going to appear to present a contract between Duke and County and the Warsaw Animal Hospital for the treatment of all seized and quarantine animals for some of the kind of General Satji 153A-442 and General Satji in 1980-70 and also an all- 0-2 NCAC 52J.020. The initial term of this contract will continue until June 30, 2023 with an option to terminate the contract by either party at any given time with or without calls within Within a 30 day advance written notice the contractor Warsaw Animal Hospital shall perform all services under the contract within compliance with the law and the county attorney has reviewed the contract and has given it his blessing. Pleasure to order. Second. Kind of motion to say to approve the service contract with Warsaw Animal Hospital any further discussion Here you know all the papers they are all opposed same side Here We have a separate contract with daughter Martin Martin to provide the large animal services. I don't think we saw animal hospital does large animals such as horses cattle. He works with him. He works with him. Yes. He does it, but we have a separate contract with him Take that brain to the item number 10 His quen Good evening. I'm here tonight to present three new stream flow rehabilitation contracts The first contract that I have is Daniel Stunder doing business as a snatchy clearing. He was the low bidder for the stream flow rehabilitation contract in the amount of $204,396 and I would like to ask that you award this contract to you. Okay, if I had his item number 12 but since she's already addressed it. Yeah, we'll address it item number 12 for her. Okay, I think we've got a motion. We've got a motion, we've got a safety. Any further comments? All the papers say aye. All the phones, same time. Care each other. That's not another point. Okay, I'm sorry. The next one is Midi Creek Street Float Rehabilitation Contract. And that is for Jerry Hall of Hall Street Service in the amount of $162,200. And I would like to ask that you reward that contract to Jerry Hall. I got a motion on the second. That puts us back on remember 10 now. Anybody has any questions? Any further discussion? Here you are none. All in vote to say aye. All opposed. Same side. Carry. The last one I have is Douglas shoulder of D&D construction This is where the limestone and many Creek watershed magnets strap contract is in the amount of 135,300 dollars And I'd like to ask you a word that To Douglas shoulder of D&D construction We got a motion in a second Any further discussion? Here and then I'll end the favor. Say aye. All opposed. Same sign. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, if I may, could I ask that the board go into closed session for certain real kind of general statute 143-31811-86 for personnel matters and also in early time general session 143-31811-8 for legal matters. Okay, I have a motion. I got a motion. A second that we go out of open session and the closed session. Any further discussion? Here's none. I'll in favor say aye. All opposed? open station and the closed station and the closed discussion. Here's none, all in favor say aye. All opposed? Okay, we're now going into closed station. For those of you that are in attendance, appreciate it. Thank you for coming tonight and your comments. You know, and we will, somebody we get back to in the future. Thank you. All right, so we're back in, we're out of closed session, back in a conversation. Recording zone? Great. Yes, sir. Okay, so I turn it over to Mr. Davis. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just want to remind you that county offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday and Friday this week to have certain Thanksgiving holiday, but our solid waste convenient sites will reopen on regular schedule Saturday, in case you get that question from one of your constituents. Yes, so they open Saturday on regular schedule commission down. The event center will host a movie night on Friday, December the 2nd. The movie show will be How highly branched though Christmas. Pictures with Santa and the branch will be available. The pictures will be available beginning at 4 o'clock. The movie will be shown at 7. And again that was Friday night December the 2nd at the events. I just want to remind you again about these two events taking place in December. I thank George Kavie these days at the last meeting, but on December the 14th, that's the Wednesday. The Senior Christmas event will be hosted by the Service for the Agent, like they do every year, and you'll be getting probably a formal invitation from Miss Brown over at the Service for the Agent. And then on that Friday the 16th will be having our county employee Christmas party and appreciation of lunch and that will be again on Friday December the 16th at the event center Smithville Foods will be providing our meals once again this year. Thank you Mr. Chairman that's all I have. Okay, you want to share it? I'm alright, I'm sure it is. Did you just aerial photographs Mr. Chairman? George, do you want to tell them a little bit about that? That's the transportation site. Yeah, if you've been by there you've seen the walls of the building right now, I've said them. So we have a property, I think tomorrow morning is 9 o'clock, that property is won't be very well. You can see this together, you go there. That's the driveway that will actually, the buses will leave that back lock and they will come out and drive away. That truck's coming out to build them, it's actually right there where they're in the center. And in the front parking lot, I'll say that. The buses will come in on the right side and go back in to pull into their parking rods. Probably just one wonder for the set follows. And I'll just see you enjoy the point out in the amount of dirt. Look into this lot, you would think it's flat and I'm great, but they had to be able to back of that lot at five feet with dirt. And back then we had really dirt there before and it was good dirt. And I'm out there doing the wheel of dirt years ago. And so they were able to get dirt from there for the use of the steel. So it's just different views and Josh show that we're from the area before to the east of the earth. just different views and Josh show that worked for me in the airport to visa. But I don't know if I'm service as they can see. And we're set to test that grass-tries with. And the CME law laws are less concrete blocks. The college concrete measure review. There's door frames up. Oh, no, door frames on tonight. And then we have that need, there's what next to you. Juice thing. So, and that construction company is as far as we're going to have the very portion, for a part of that we'll go. And that's slated for completion in October of 23, the Transportation Facility in June of 23. Let's quit. There you can see the bottom walls there. We'll probably do this for you about every other month until they start working inside and then we wouldn't go inside to take pictures. You won't have to fly to drum. That's all we have, Mr. Chairman. Okay. I appreciate that. Anything else from Board Members? I'll entertain a motion. Anything else from Board members? Our entertainer motion. I want to say happy Thanksgiving to all you guys, wherever you may be. Enjoy your meals. Stay safe. Enjoy your family. God bless you. I'm saying send them. Enjoy your family. It's just one time you get to hear it. Sit down and say thanks. I think all of them are agree with that. Thank you so much for bringing it up. But I didn't think I'm looking for tonight. So. I got a motion. I got a motion of a second to adjourn. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye. All right, thank you.