you I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. The I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. you We have a special guest with us tonight. Mr. David Hunt, would you lean us in a pleasure, William? I'd be happy to. You've banned a space flag. I pledge allegiance to the people flag of the United States, North America, and to the judge. Which stands under one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state approval. What's the will of the board? Motion to approve. Thank you. I got a motion second. Any discussion? I'm going to call the question. All the pay raise you right hand. You can impose lot wise. That's all that they carries. Thank you. Ladies, gentlemen, tonight will be having a close session and a close session will be Chambers. When we have close session and Chambers will ask, we invite those to stay and everyone else would be asked to please be excused. I'll get to that later in the in the meeting. We also have one of our commissioners whose first time we have done it this way before but he's dialing in remotely from out of town So commission hunt. Thank you. This is the first time we've I think we've ever had the plate of the pledge to have allegiance done remotely too So it's a one for one So thank you all right Ladies, I'm the next item is public comments All right. I'll let you jump to the next item is public comments. I believe we have three folks that we like to speak for their three minutes. And this is for a word we'll see you comments from individuals and members of our community. And generally you will not be engaged back but we'll receive your comments because this is a public comment period. And it's not any certain order but first person is Eric Gordney from Poor City. I hope I pronounced that correctly. Welcome, sir. Any have three minutes? Hi, all. My name's Eric Gordney, living in Henrietta. We'll just finish doing our income taxes that time here. I can tell you I'm a poor man. Nah, I'm one of the poor people in this town. There's a lot of poor people in this town. And I just wanted to bring that up because I think all of you are first going, oh, first going guys. And a big thing in the end, of course, he was quoting from Chronicles, second Chronicles, they're at the end of the Old Testament. You have the minor prophets. A reoccurring theme among the minor prophets is judgment on Israel and Judea because of their treatment of the poor. They're ingested towards the poor. And I bring that up because you know this last year you guys doubled my taxes, didn't improve my land, didn't do anything to it, and yet my taxes doubled. It didn't adjust the tax rate down enough to keep my out of pocket costs. And I'm asking you guys when we're working on the budget now, adjust that tax rate down. And if you go to the County Commissioner website, the number one issue for the commissioners, it even says what your duty is is the budget. It's the only thing that's listed for you guys is the budget. Really, you guys should be going through that thing line by line. In this county, I'm sure you've been talking with people. We just had a campaign. Sure you've been talking with people. We have a bloated bureaucracy in this camp. You know, it has gotten so complicated to do things in this county, construction laws, or otherwise, that that's really where the bulk of the budget is, right? It's in payroll. We have such a bloated bureaucracy. You guys need to be looking at that. Alan and I have talked about this about some things that can happen, where you could start cutting position and lowering that budget. That's how you could justify lowering rate. I realize that the state dictates to you certain things that you have to do, that the state dictates to you certain things that you have to do, but this bureaucracy that we've created here, it needs to be put back. Things need to be privatized rather than the county. So I'm just, I'm asking you guys, like I said, now in the budget making process as we come up to when we present the budget, that you guys would start looking at. And I'm asking you to lower that. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Appreciate you coming. Thank you. Thank you. The next speaker is Vicki Leiter. Sorry. Your time's up now. This way better. Welcome you have three minutes. Thank you. Commissioners. My name is Vicki Leiter and I'm the vice-regent of the Griffith Rutherford chapter of the American Revolution. We are actively planning to celebrate America's 250th birthday in 2026. We are placing D.A.R. plaques on revolutionary soldiers graves here in the county and cleaning veteran gravesstones. And we have other projects planned as well. We just celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party by sending English tea that was dumped into the harbor on December the 16th, 2023, along with over 11,000 other submissions from across the U.S. The reason I am here is to ask that there needs to be a plan for the County commissioners and to incorporate those with the other towns for a milestone celebration in our county July 20 July 4, 2026 is just a little over two years away. I looked up on the North Carolina State I looked up on the North Carolina State, America 250 line on the website and I have some information that I'll give to Ms. Haynes to copy for each of you. But there is four counties and 5013 C's up to $30,000 to help for the celebration, what you plan to do and things like that. But there is a deadline of May the 3rd. And I only found this out after your last meeting. So I ask you again to please consider having a big birthday party for America 250. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're a resident. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The next speaker in the final was it was a voice Avernathy. Voice you have three minutes? I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorryunded mandates are. When I voted, I stood out there outside the vote and precinct and I had people that were holding signs. I said, can I just talk to you for a while? I said, what are unfunded mandates? They don't know. I said, what is, uh, uh, rather for county's tier of states have to list. The counties have to be listed as a tier one, a tier two and a tier three. One lady said, I guess we're tier two. I don't, we're tier one. People just don't know. So first of all, we have to educate the public, the population. If you've got a problem, you fix it. We have a problem with unfunded mandates. Somehow, we're going to have to educate the public so the public know what's the problem and they can start emailing, sending letters, sending texts, whatever it takes to their state senators and state representatives and said look now understand it's a problem, let's fix it. First we've got to educate the public and that's problem because I don't know when I've seen the license, use article any word that's ever been talked about unfunded mandates. The other is revenue neutral. We had an election recently and from what people are unhappy about, they thought that revenue neutral meant that their property values would go up and the tax rate would come down and the end result their tax bill would be the same as it was previously to the reevaluation. Two of y'all got defeated in the election and the word I hear on the street is that people were voting the incumbents out because their tax bill went up. So don't know how you explain revenue neutral from understanding there's two definitions. One is like I explain and the other is the D.O.R. definition. So people just need to understand and know what revenue neutral is. I don't know if you need to have a town hall meeting and stand there for two hours and try to explain what revenue neutral is, the two definitions. But I will tell you this little comment that I heard a man tell me. He said I'm glad our commissioners are not electricians because that neutral sure shocked a heck out of me. And that pretty much gets to the crux of the matter. Is from what I'm hearing, is that two county commissioners got voted out because of revenue neutral and the other three will get voted out because of revenue neutral. Sooner or later you're county's gonna have to direct the county manager to come up with things that are not mandated by the state. And eliminate them. Thank you. Thank you. All right, thank you, sir. All right, excuse me. I'm sorry. Excuse me. Excuse me. Mr. Those public comments, thank you folks for coming. And your public comments. Next item is consent agenda. Is there an item to be added or removed from consent agenda? Motion to approve. Second. It's got a motion to second. Any discussion? You know the call of question. all the favor raise your right hand Me pose likewise Harry's thank you Commissioner's he raised his hand I watched it still You can put it down. You can take this. I do think it's going to be fine. Commission next time is 3732. National Day of Prayer Proclamation. I'd like to recognize our vice chairman, Alan Tony. So, you know, this month we celebrate the National Day of Prayer so we do a proclamation, so I'm going to read the proclamation. As whereas from the earliest days of our country's history, people have turned to Almighty God for helping God. Whereas in times of national crisis when the country is striving to strengthen the foundations of peace and security, citizens stand in special need of divine support. And whereas the Congress, by joint resolution approved on April 17, 1952, has provided that the President shall set aside and claim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday as National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation. And whereas the first Thursday of May has been designated by the Congress of the United States as the National Day of Prayer and whereas the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners recognizes that distinction and whereas the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners recognizes the need for assistance to join this prayer effort and and now therefore be hereby resolve that the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners encourage Rutherford County citizens to United Prayer on May 2nd, 2024. And I make this as a motion. Second. I got a motion to second in discussion. I have one question. Looking at the first line, whereas from the earliest days of our, is it country or county? County, don't worry. Okay. all right, but yeah country. How would have thought all of this country? Yeah, but we've got his county. Any further discussion? You're going to call a question. All all favor raise your right hand. Any pose likewise? Okay. Thank you, Commissioner. I'm not sure if you're with me as I catch up here. Mr. Nick's on the street sevens me four. Is the child abuse prevention month proclamation? Like to recognize our. The DSS director or sign director. And you have a guest with you? I don't have a guest with me. I have Sherry Bright. I recognize her. I recognize her. And we are so excited to have her because now the view is very, very, very good. And we cannot do this alone. I'm just going to miss this. Thank you. I'm just going to read a proclamation that we submitted. I'm going to report and they will resource me. Ready? This is the Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2024 proclamation. We're as children are our state's most vulnerable members, as well as our state's most valuable resources. Help them to shape the future of North Carolina. And we're as positive childhood experience in this company, CES, like loving caregivers and safe, stable, and nurturing relationships, can mitigate trauma and the negative impact at first childhood experiences, which we also call ACEs. That promotes the social, emotional, and development well-being of children. And whereas, childhood trauma can have long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects throughout an individual's lifetime and impact future generations of their family. And whereas Jaha-Tramma, including abuse and neglect, is a serious problem affecting every community and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone. We're asked children who live in family with access to concrete economic and social supports, less to experience abuse and neglect. As nurture positive childhoods and preventive child boundary one is possible because of the partnerships data between families, prevention advocates, child welfare, education, health, community, faith-based organization, faith-based organization, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and local state national government. And whereas we acknowledge that in order to solve the public health issue of abuse and neglect, we must work together to change hearts and mindsets, for retelling and sharing. Center the needs of families, breakdown biases, and barriers, and inspire action from expected and unexpected partner. And, whereas we are committed to advancing equitable, responsive, and effective systems that ensure all children and families are healthy and thriving. And whereas we recognize the need to prioritize kids and invest in more prevention initiatives like home visiting and family strengthening policies, economic supports, and community-based child abuse prevention programs at the national, state, and local levels. And now, therefore, we do hereby proclaim April as child abuse prevention month and to recognize this month by building a narrative of hope for children and families through collaboration and creation of ecosystem of primary prevention that does not currently exist. We want to thank our viewers. I'll share an exterior. So so the proclamation was read and what we're voting on commissioners is the one that was read not the one that's on our agenda So we've had an alternate one test tonight, so yes, please if you wait after the board votes We need to copy to the clerk So they have the proclamation rates and So now it's in our minutes. I'll look for the board for what's the will of the board. Not sure to prove. I got a motion. I got a motion second in discussion. In the future, we just sent us the one that we're going to be reading. Yes, we sent the correct one. OK, we don't have it. So any further discussion? You're gonna call the question. The all in favor raise your right hand. Any opposed, likewise? Okay, it's approved. Thank you. Thank you. Even? All right. Commissioner Sixx, I have just 3741. I'm going to catch up here. Resolution recognized in April 14th this National Public Safety Telecommuter. The fellow communicator, OEEK. Scott is here. Please. Director, please come up here. I'm sorry. You'll have to excuse me. I wasn't even sure I was going to make it tonight. So I don't know if the resolution is here in front of me. I'll just make it up. Basically what we're asking for is public communicator week is nationally recognized for the week of April 14 through the 20th. What we're asking for is the board to recognize all the hard work that our tele agencies. In the amount of dedication they put into the job that they have attached with. Would you like me to read the resolution as well? Actually it's in our minutes, but you've done a great job. So we appreciate that. And we actually appreciate everything your, your team do for us. Absolutely. Right. Thank you. When it happens, you're right in the middle of it. We have to be really honest. Well, Commissioner, just to add to that, I appreciate and I'm proud of what Scott and his team do. Most of them are realized from a public safety and emergency services perspective. They're first line of defense. They're taking all those calls from any given situation and you can just imagine the amount of trauma and mental health strain that puts on his team. So I am continually inspired and impressed by how they function, how they work. So I appreciate Scott's leadership. Thank you. Thank you. Commissioner, you have the resolution before you. What's the bill of the board? The commotion we adopt the resolution. Thank you. Second. I got a motion second. Second discussion. Any discussion? Any minute, call the question. All in favor, raise your right hand. Thank you, Dave. All opposed? thank you. All right, thank you. All right, thank you. All right, thank you. All right, thank you. All right, thank you. All right, thank you. All right, thank you. All right, thank you. All right, thank you. Next item is 3733. Pull me to the juvenile crime prevention council. I'd like to recognize or clerk to our board. Please, behind table. You're on deck. All A request was received to appoint Ms. Steny Cobb to the juvenile crime prevention council. Positions on this council have been advertised and applications have been received. So we may consider a move. Thank you. Does it recommend a motion before we come forward members to listen with the board? Motion to repeat. Thank you for that motion. Need a second. Second. Got a motion. Second. Need discussion. Anyone who called the question? All the favor? Raise your right hand. Thank you, David. Thank you. John raised your right hand. I was looking over here. I was looking over here. I was looking over here. I was looking over here. I was looking over here. All right. Much fairy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you sir our next item's budget amendments. So this is 3738 only agenda like you recognize our finance director director good evening. See Good evening There's a series of budget amendments for consideration the first one is for some sale of property for plant jackets and the register of dates is asking for that to be put into supplies. The sheriff has received some unauthorized substance tax distribution that will go into the equipment line. They also received some miscellaneous revenues that will go back to uniforms. The EMPG grant got an additional supplement like they do each spring, so that's appropriating those funds for emergency management's clause. Senior Center, this adjust the budget to match what was appropriated for them this year through OPDC or FIT Hills. The sheriff also received a grant through the state for the Jag Edward Jag burn grant. It will be for ballistic helmets for the crew. And then the last one is out of the debt service fund. It's professional services that will use school appropriated fund balance. That will be for the overcharge calculation services on the RS middle project. that will be for the over-touraged calculation services on the RS Middle Project. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any questions from the board? No, no, almost the will of the board. Motion, we approve the budget amendments. Thank you. Second. Got a much second in discussion. You're going to call the question on a favoriter right hand. Thank you, David. Any opposed? I guess you're next. Six, I have just 3740. This is to transfer vehicles to the health district for the animal control operations. Again, I'd like to recognize our director Paul Roester. There are four vehicles that are currently used for animal control operations. We are requesting that they be transferred to the health district since they're being driven and used by that staff and not county staff any longer. Upon such time, we can no longer use on for the operations then we are requesting the health districts sent them back to the county so we can dispose of them through guvdeals. The vehicles will still be maintained by our county garage as well as will continue to monitor and budget replacement costs as needed. continue to monitor and budget replacement costs as needed. Okay. Thank you. We'll start with the board. I make a motion. We approved the transfer of vehicles for animal control operations at no cost. Thank you, Commissioner. The motion in seconds. Second. Motion to second in discussion. You know, I call a question. All favor raise your right hand. Thank you, Dan. Can you pose? Like side? I can carry it. I'm done. Commission next item is 3735. Pardon as I catch up here. I'd like to recognize Dr. Paul Holden with partners. Sir, welcome. Mr. Chair, commissioners. Mr. Garrison. Mr. Williams, thank you very much for giving me just a few minutes here today to present what's called our outside agency budget request that we make every year for the major element of this is to try and minimize the gaps that we have in services in this community. And so these requests has to do with mental health and substance use issues in this community. We have a group of leaders in the community that gets together and discusses these issues and tries to make a good decisions about what we're going to request of the county commission each year. I think the big thing that I want to make sure that you all know is that we're asking we're very cognizant about the use of funds, county funds, and so we're asking for the same base amount as we've asked for in the last several years, 100, 268, and then also fund balance that we have to kind of make up the difference. So we're asking for many of the same services that we've asked in the past, dealing with housing, working with, like I said, with intellectual disability and developmental disability issues. I think the thing I want to bring to your attention this year is we'd like to make a change. Currently in jail services and many of the folks that end up in our jail here, our folks that are at a high risk in this community and there are not Medicaid funds to reimburse for services for them while they're in the jail. So that's why we looked to the County Commission to fund jail services. We had a gentleman that worked here at Prior to my arrival a year ago and then he retired since past away. I understand he was a really upstanding person in the community. So we went with an online service this past year and they're pleased with it when the Sheriff's Office but it's different. When you're doing online, there's a lot of suicide assessments that go on in the jail and different mental health issues. So we found a local provider preferred choice. It's actually right down from the jail. And Darce Sarah Horn is one of the owners of that. And with the money that we used last year, what we're going to do is we can only afford part time, but we are going to have it in a way that we can have somebody touch that jail every day of the week, so that they're there. I think one of the biggest things, in addition to the folks that are in jail, is the staff there is very interested in what mental health folks have to say about how to deal with some of the people that are in the jail. So I think they're very happy and interested if the county commission passes this that they feel like they're going to be supported in that we can do a better job with the folks that are in our jail and hopefully make referrals on for them so that we don't have them back in jail at a future point. Fine. So you have our request in front of you and if I give any questions, I'll be glad to answer those. Are there any questions from the board? Okay, thank you, sir. What's the will of work? Like most will approve the funding recommendation. Thank you for motion. I need a second. We got a motion second. Thank you, David. We got motion second. Any discussion? Thank you. I really thank you, for what you say. I would like to say that the mental health services for the jail is important. And some of the members of your group of the team have reached out, so I have spoken to. And this is something I think the office of the sheriff was looking towards for members of the district attorney's office, public defender's office, everyone in the judicial system. It sees the value in this. And so, and I really appreciate partners partnering with us and allowing us to direct some of these, who's made us better from monies in a local way like this, because it's gonna make a difference. So thank you. Thank you. We think it will. Okay. All right. All right, any further discussion? Any more on a call to question? All in February, you're right. Hand. Thank you, David All right any further discussion? You're gonna call a question on February's your right hand Thank you, David. Thank you. Any opposed lights nice motion carries. Thank you Commissioners I'm looking looking for a motion going to club session just because Industrial location EDC, under NCGS 143318184, we'll be asking EDC director, right, our finance director, Paula, Roach, our board of commissioners, our attorney, our clerk to run any for this meeting regarding this industrial location. And right now look for another motion to go to closed session. Thank you. Second. Got a motion, second. Any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call the question. All the favourites you're right hand. Thank you, David. Any pose light wise? We're not going to close session. I'll get Steve. Steve, you're going to close session. I'll get Steve. Steve, you're welcome to join us. you you you you you you you you you you you