This meeting to order, it is the Thursday, September 17th, regularly, schedule meeting of the Ashbur City Council, and it is in the third week of the month, simply because of Labor Day and other conflicts. It is our regular monthly meeting. I would invite everyone to join me as I stand to invite you to pray in any manner that you are comfortable and after that we will follow up with pledge allegiance. Thank you. Congratulations to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individual, liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Appreciate everyone being here tonight. I would remind everyone before we go too far into our agenda that this meeting is live-streamed. We are still practicing our COVID best practices for social distancing, masks, we've removed most of the chairs from the room and people are seated in the hallway with proper distance between them. So, and welcome everyone that is watching on the live stream. our first item of business is old business. So with drawn land use case. Mr. Nuddle, would you tell us, give us an update on this please. Thank you Mayor. This is an item that has been continued at two past city council meetings. The applicant has withdrawn this request. So no action is needed of the city council the item is withdrawn. Okay, thank you sir. As everyone will remember this case came up last month and we continued it at the request of the applicant and he has sent with'Malley request. Mr. Nuddle, oh, Mr. Nuddle or Mr. Ogburn? Mr. Nuddle. Thank you, Mayor. As you know, the City of Ashboro through the leadership of Justin Luck in the Planning and Zoning Department, as well as the Downtown Business Association and numerous partners and volunteers, successfully got the city of Ashbro through the North Carolina Main Street and rural planning centers, Downtown Associate Community Program earlier this summer. That success led to our designation as a North Carolina Main Street community, which is a title earned after meeting rigorous downtown development criteria. And that was the goal of our application to the Downtown Associated Community Program was to graduate to the Main Street designation. That process also led to the creation of a new downtown nonprofit organization, Downtown Ashboro Inc. To champion continued downtown growth and enhancement. Main Street communities are required to be led by a full-time employee to ensure that the goals and objectives for downtown economic development, historic preservation and marketing are executed. In this evening, I'm happy to introduce you to Rebecca McGee, the recently hired executive director for DAI. Rebecca comes to Downtown Ashbro Inc, after having served as director of Uptown Lexington, Incorporated, a 501C3 similar to downtown Ashboro since 2014. As you'll see on the screen during that time she had numerous accomplishments leading that organization. They are up on the screen for you to review but we're excited to have Rebecca here this evening and to be working with her in the years to come. So Mayor, we'll welcome Rebecca and turn the floor over to her. Hi, I just want to say thank you all for the welcome here. I have been extremely, extremely welcomed my first week and a half coming to downtown Ashboro. I'm excited for the opportunities. I keep getting asked why I left Lexington to come here and I'm super excited to help start a program from the ground up. It's been a dream of mine for the last three years. I've been in Lexington for six. So I've been kind of watching Ashboro for the last year. I knew that they were coming hopefully into the program knowing what you had to do with the downtown community group that Justin kind of led. And so, I'm really excited to be here. You'll have some really, really great assets, some really great building business owners, and a really great board to work with so far. So, I want to say thank you for this opportunity opportunity and thank you for believing in the Main Street program. I believe in it. To a fault, it works if you do it correctly. And there are about 88 cities in North Carolina that have proven that this program works. And thank you again for having me in Ashboro. And if you ever have any questions, I'll feel free to ask. And I would like to meet with each of you individually just to get kind of your goals and ideas for the downtown. So feel free to call me. I will have cards soon. Not quite yet. So thank you again. Well thank you. We are so excited to have you in Ashboro. We know of the great things and I will tell the rest of the council everyone in room that I got the nicest note from the mayor of Lexington congratulating us on our recent hire and I think somewhat lamenting the fact that they lost you so we are excited to have you here. And we know you'll do great things and look forward to working with you. Thank you so much. Mayor, did you have Chief Longberry open that lid? No. Didn't cross my mind. Thank you. Anyone having any questions? So Ms. McGee? Well, you're off the hook tonight. Okay. Thank you for being here. The office is. Yes. My office, I am being housed in the chamber. I will make one correction on the slide earlier. If you send an email to Rebecca downtown Ashrow it is spelled differently so I will not get it if you spell it the traditional way of you spelling Rebecca so I'm at in the chamber building if you send me an email my cell phones on there it's normal business for me to be contacted by my cell phone I absolutely hate an office phone because I'm never ever answer it. I will answer it but please call my cell phone and yeah come visit me and I'll be reaching out to each of you individually to set up a time to hopefully sit down and talk with you. Does that work? Thank you so much. Good to have you here tonight. Okay. This is the appointed time for the public comment period. I would invite anyone in the house that would like to address the council tonight on any items of city business or concern to come before us to the microphone one of the time. And I will call on any. I think there are two or three people here I know of tonight that would like to speak. So you'll just first one up. Yeah, I could real briefly. Just from speaking to some folks, I know there are several people here to speak on the CDBG coronavirus potential grant and there is a public hearing for that. So if those comments are related to that CDBG grant it would be best to hold those comments to that public hearing otherwise comments would be welcome now. Okay there's everyone to understand what Mr. Nodell just said we will be having in our further down our agenda we will be having a public hearing regarding CDBG grants. If you are here to talk about those grants, community development block grants, it would be best to hold your comments until we get to the public hearing and actually are talking about the CDBG grant program. So if there is anyone here to speak on any issue other than that, come to the microphone. Come ahead, Mr. Zaliki. Greetings. My name is Rashidi Zalika Everett. I'm here first to thank you for presiding over a calm city and community during the trials in which we have had over the last six to nine months. I want to thank you for orchestrating the peace that has existed so far. I'm representing the Asperger Juneteenth Education Allowing Us. And over the last few years, whenever I was in charge of this, the city of Asperger have always helped me out in some way somehow. I'm here again asking for that help, but the 2021 season, the Chamber of Commerce and others like the Lions Club have assisted also. I don't know what type of financial condition the Asperger has, but I would like the Asperger to step on board and again have the tourism bureau of Asperger by publicly announcing and promoting Juneteenth Holiday this coming year. I would also like to see if you could finance this on my behalf by granting $2,000 help to this and I will get all the accounting records you need to record the spin on this money. That is all I have to say. There's a question I'd be glad to ask. Thank you, sir. We will pass that to the City Manager and maybe one of our committees for consideration. But the public celebration that was planned in Brewers Park on Juneteenth, the official Juneteenth commemoration, was kind of messed up by our COVID restrictions, and it was postponed in a month and a half later. There was semblance of a celebration, but the name had been changed because it wasn't actually the Juneteenth. We were well represented at that that event the city was we had police out there in our fire and our sprinklers out for the kids and unfortunately it's under lighting and we shouldn't shut down but we will we will try to help you promote that and possibly be able to do something as a sponsorship for you next year. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. Welcome. Thank you. Did you talk to the dean? No. Is there anyone else that would like to address the council on any item other than the CBDGB seat? The block grant. Okay. Hearing none then we will go on to the consent agenda. Council you all have in your packet consent agenda, which you've had time to review. I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as it's presented. Mayor, I move we approve the consent agenda as presented. Thank you, Mr. Burke. So we have a motion to approve. May I have a second? Second. I'm sorry I didn't hear you. Thank you. Miss Snugs, we have a second from the Snugs. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. All opposed. Miss Carter. Thank you very much. Good to have you with us tonight. I'm sorry I neglected to welcome you earlier. I hope you're doing well this week. Okay, motion to approve the consent agenda has been approved. Mr. Nuddle, I believe you're back up. We have a final flat certification of the Robin's Nest Phase 2 Section 1. Thank you Mayor. Yes this is a two part request from the owner this evening. That is to certify the final plat for Phase 2 Section 1 as well as to grant an extension of time allowed between preliminary and final plat review for the remaining sections of Robin's Nest Phase two. If you remember the city's ordinance allows a preliminary plat approval to be valid for one year, we are approaching that one year time period so the developer has requested additional time to move forward with construction of the remaining phases beyond the section here this evening. Real quickly, this is a relatively small section we are looking at just over 50,000 square feet of total land area, two Randolph County Pins. There are a total of three lots in this section averaging just over 14,000 square feet in size. On the screen here, you'll see that this is actually the termination of Finchley Court, so the existing Finchley Court will be, the Cotasac is being built and three lots will access those properties from that construction. Up on the screen are the city utilities that are in place. Those utilities have been installed in the development I will note that One if not two of these potential lots do just Barely touch 100 year flood plain so there will be some flood plain permitting when homes or constructed on that Property to ensure that they are not impacted by that flood elevation but but for the most part, this section has been completed. There is, and I'll point this out in the analysis. There is some final paving to do for the project, but otherwise the infrastructure is in place. This is the entirety of phase two up on the screen. Right now you'll see the area in yellow is the phase two section one area. So there's quite a few. Lots, 41 in fact, remaining to be constructed along with the public streets and infrastructure. Up on the screen is the plat that I have placed at your places to that is requesting and ultimately will be recorded following any final necessary additions will be recorded in the public registry. Real quickly this is in the city served by city services. This is a conventional traditional residential subdivision. It is not a townhouse or cluster type development. I will note in two family dwellings as well as single family dwellings are permitted in this current R10 district provided the criteria met for those two family dwellings. There are two existing entrances to serve the development from phase one of Robins Nest. We are looking at approximately 70 feet, linear of new construction eventually court and then the cul-de-sac to terminate the street There is a potential for some additional plating to occur That is that has access on eventually court and that could go as a minor subdivision to staff and not come to council But the remaining lots you will see again in a future meeting for final plat certification. This has gone through all city review points from the engineering department. The plat corrections have been made, water and sewer has been installed. We will need as bill engineering to be submitted following the completion of paving and any miscellaneous items prior to the release of any guarantee that we're holding. Public Works has been checking on this project throughout its construction. From the planning standpoint, we do have a phasing plan that shows how the remaining phase will be built out just to ensure that from an emergency service standpoint that we are covered. So that has been received in satisfactory. We do, we have been given a financial guarantee for the final paving for this subdivision. That came in today, so we have not had a chance to review that in its entirety, but it has been submitted, and we expect that we'll be able to move forward with accepting that, or a modified version of that bond here and Probably tomorrow or early next week We have also been provided the one-year warranty by the developer to ensure against defects for the infrastructure that they have installed So ultimately this this phase two section 1's in decent shape and is ready for councils. Conditional approval would be our recommendation subject to the completion of those remaining items. I do think the developer has a representative here this evening if you have any questions but otherwise our recommendation is to approve. Mr. Cabot's here. Do you anybody having questions for Mr. Cabot? Looks as straightforward as you can get to my point. Mr. Cabot, do you want to come in and speak to us or I don't think anybody has any question for you but would glad to see you here. How you been doing? It's always a pleasure. Mr. Mayor, members of the board. I would have been glad to answer any questions. It's finally moving and they're almost completed with this fight. So get that fought down there to be good to get. Questions? Thanks, sir. All right, so we need two separate motions here. I'll entertain a motion to approve the final flat certification for Robbins Nesclase 2 section 1. What's the final flat certification forLike motion to put the final plaid certification for Roberts and this face two section one? We have a motion by Mr. Moffitt. Do I have a second? Does that have to be subject to the conditions that need to be done? No, no, no. Would you accept that amendment? Conditions is presented by Trevor. I will second. I can have a second, but Mr. Bell. Discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Ms. Carter? Aye. Thank you very much. Motion is approved. The extension of time is set. It is typically one year. Okay, so I will entertain a motion to grant an extension allow between preliminary and final plat review by the remaining section. Mr. Economic motion that we grant the extension of time for one year to recommend it by the treadmill at all. It'll be a loud 20-30-30 pound flat. The remaining sections of the Rob business faces the most of my Mr. Moffitt. Do I have a second? Second. Mr. Barrel. Any questions? All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Mr. Carter? Thank you very much. Motion is approved. Thank you, Mr. Kibbit. We look forward to the final approval. The next 41 months. Did you say it? Okay. All right. Now, item 8a is public hearing that we referred to earlier. I'll ask Mr. Muddle to, I will open the public hearing and ask Mr. Muddle to bring us up a speed on that. Thank you, Mayor. This is the schedule time for a public hearing to invite feedback on housing, community, and economic development needs, specifically in reference to a possible application for funding under a recently announced CDBG Coronavirus Program is designed to help units of local government respond to and recover from health and economic impacts of COVID-19. The program will assist non-entitlement areas across the state, which includes Ashboro. We are a non-entitlement jurisdiction-estiction by supporting public service, public facilities, and special economic development activities. The Department of Commerce will award CDBG, coronavirus funds on a first-come, first-served basis with a focus on local needs identified by the community and collaboration with state and local health officials. Now this is very noteworthy because typically the CDBG program has a set deadline, but in this case to get those funds out in the community's quicker, it is a first come for a sort of basis. So there is times of the essence in this application period. Initially, the state is anticipating providing 28 and a half million dollars in funds that it receives from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to support COVID-19 response in North Carolina. This is pretty important and it's directly from the application that we've reviewed for the funding. The projects that you apply for and a local government must be the applicant on the request for funding. But those projects must incorporate at least one of the following as an area focus. Support families and communities through telehealth support and other public services to protect the most vulnerable and high risk populations, to assist small businesses with economic recovery, to address testing, tracing, and tracking trends. Additionally, the state has established the following funding priorities. There is a public service category, which would include subsistence payments to prevent evictions and utility disconnections, as well as food distribution, testing and diagnosis, and employment training for healthcare workers on the front lines. So those are examples of public service type of programs. There's also a public facilities category which would enhance internet access to supporting increased connectivity to schools, jobs, and health care. It also includes building rehabilitation or improvements to support activities such as repurposing buildings into patient treatment centers. So you can see the the focus really is action that you are taking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last category is to provide financial assistance to businesses with 100 or fewer employees, including micro enterprises with five or fewer employees to support businesses that manufacture medical supplies or to help small business impacted by COVID-19 create and retain jobs. So under the CDBG program, this is the first of what will be two public hearings related to this item. And during this initial hearing, it's important that we outline what we anticipate the process and schedule to be and again due to the first come first Serve nature of this program. We do anticipate holding a second public hearing at the October 8th. I believe that's the right day. I don't meant to check that but the City Council's October regular October meeting where details of any application Will be available so in between now and then any input that we receive either at tonight's public hearing or through correspondence in the coming weeks will be considered as we identified and contact organizations that may be able to assist with any implementation of this funding. And again, it is not, we are not guaranteed to get any funding at all. The role of citizens as well as program requirements under the CDBG program, well, this is an important step to allow the public to participate and provide feedback on housing, community and economic development needs in the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to receiving comments here this evening, written in oral comments will also be receive, receivable by the community of development division, which I oversee here at City Hall. And it's important to point out, well this this is a specialized program the typical CDBG program requirements still apply so requirements pertaining to equal opportunity and fair housing, Americans with Disability Act, there's monitoring and significant reporting that goes into these federal programs. All that is applicable should the city receive funding and it's important for everybody to know that there is quite a bit of reporting and compliance monitoring that goes on with these programs. I'll lastly point out that the full program requirements can be attained from the application which is either available through the city or through the Department of Commerce. So with that said mayor now is the allowed time for public comments related to the CDBG grant. Okay. I know we have two or three people here to speak tonight. So first up, sir. Yes, my name is Jerry Price. Walk right up here to the microphone, introduce yourself. Okay, good evening. My name is Jerry Price, and I have a nonprofit that just started recently, so it's a start-up. I am interested, of course, of securing funding. So my main reason being here, before as this program is very interesting, I have heard of it, but I'd like to take a little time just to review it, get the application, and be able to make sure I understand everything is in it. What's the nature of your nonprofit? Housing, veterans, food, shelter, education. Have a name. Holistic Health Recovery. Holistic Health Recovery. Health Recovery, yes. Great. Yeah. Are you having anything specific you want to ask us for tonight? I don't, maybe outside of the, or, or. Yeah, but this is outside of that. I don't know if you guys do anything like someone's in my position, like $1,000, does you be able to, whether it's a gift or have you want to call it? Do you do anything like that at all? The reason I'm asking is because I have some things I really need to do for this and I just don't have to cast to do it right now. We do have certain areas of sponsorship and assistance. What I would suggest is your best bet is to go to the city manager, make an appointment with the city manager, sit with him, and tell him what assistance you might need and what you have in mind in that regard. In the meantime, you can research this block grant program and get with our community development office. You can, as you noticed, you can submit to a public comment to writing. Yeah now I would be glad to do that as well. And go by and see Mr. Nudell his office downstairs on the first floor or you came in. Okay. I know. I can give you you ask you your questions and get your speed on the CBBG opportunity. I appreciate it. Thank you for hearing me too. Thank you sir. I appreciate you being here. Thank you. Next Mr. Blige. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. time. My purpose for being here is to ask the city of Asheboro to consider building a multipurpose facility on the east side for the east side community for youth, adult, and community services. A few of the suggested sites. One is already owned by the city of Asheboro. It's owned by the Department of Parks and Recreation, is the grass area on the Brewers Street Park. Right now, that property is probably used six or seven times a year during the summer for different activities. If there was a multipurpose facility, they could be used year-round. I think we all in agreement that there's no other options available that's reasonable in the community. Another area would be Bruea Street, a lot behind the Central Classroom Building, or the Corn of Loach, and Presnell, Southwest Corner. Some of the programs we could possibly have there is a business incubator program to assist people in starting businesses, providing funding for community survey to identify the needs of the East Side area. Some of the services and organizations that I know that we could have there, one would be adult education courses with Randolph Community College. Our organization is recently entered into a deal with Randolph Community College with regard to providing adult education courses and the location just happens to be outside of Asheville area. But the location was recently approved and so we're getting ready to draft a memorandum of understanding or a memorandum of agreement for the facility to be used for those purposes. We also do our programs in the school system, so we've been talking with the superintendent about providing, expanding our job shadow program to include all of the students in the junior and senior level who aspire to be teachers and have them participate in providing tutoring to the kids in the East Side area year round, with the school system providing a bus to take these students from high school area to the location, if possible, because over the years, the lowest performing school grade averages are the kids affected in this area. They are presently cut off a recreational facilities at present, and then any recreational facilities that they might be able to go to is too far away for them to be able to get, and there's no transportation available. We also need to address the economic inequity in the area as well. So we've been in talks with the True Lion Federal Credit Union to provide workshops for financial literacy, credit, importance of credit, and present their services at present. There are quite a few homeowners on the east side that own their homes outright. And I've taken some of them to some of the banks in this community and applied for an equity loan for probably 25% of the value of the home. And they've been turned down because their credit report reflects that they may be 15 or 10, 15, 20 points under the acceptable credit average in order to issue a mortgage now. It's not like they're asking for anything other than what belongs to them already. So therefore, when it comes down to it, they're really sitting on dead presidents because no the financial community won't work with them. And I think that this something should be done about that, but on the other hand too, they need help and understanding the importance of credit and financial literacy. And so these are some of the things that this multipurpose center would be able to accomplish. I hope the city will take this into consideration and I thank you for your time. Are there any questions? Questions? That was an extensive list. I'm trying to touch on the problems that presently exists in the community, sir. I'm going to get some positive feedback from Triline, a different set of bank and a crit. I think you determined that in your initial dealings with them. So we will take your comments and we will work with you best we can anyway, anyway possible. Thank you very much. Thank you sir. Have a good evening everyone. Thanks for being here tonight. Appreciate you work with the kids in the schools too. Is anyone else in the audience tonight that would like to address the council? 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. and since COVID started, we're taking about 15 to 20 calls a day requesting assistance and help, which is double the amount that we normally get on a normal basis. The main issue that we have is that people are like five and six and seven months behind. It's not just like one month anymore because I guess bills have been able to be put off. So now I guess there's a larger financial need than usual. And most of the time the Salvation Army are under normal circumstances, I should say, would pay a portion of their bill to keep them responsible. We assist with utilities and rent, mortgage. We have and walk-in food pantry that people can visit daily. And we also do groceries like for a household once per month. So we normally pay a portion of the bill to keep them responsible for them to have to try as well, but we have been starting to cover the whole bill for one month. One of those bills can range between $508.00. So we could easily help and assist up to $4,000 a week. Just for June, July and August, we've served 649 people with assistance phone calls and walk-ins. We successfully helped nine families with their electricity bill. We've had 300 volunteer hours, and we've assisted four families with emergency housing, which would be like if they needed to stay in a hotel. And we've assisted 19 families to pay their rent, and the number of people served with food including people and families who come in daily for products is 1,470. So yeah, I just think the grant would be very important to help those in greatest need in our community and to help the people who are in the most vulnerable town and now I think is one more than ever. So. Questions? Well, Ms. Gail Moore, it sounds like you're Taylor May for this. The grant is Taylor May before the work you do. Oh, thank you. I'm sure that to move forward we can make some application and maybe get you some assistance. Perfect. Which you can partner with the city to get that service out there. Absolutely. We were very afraid going into the utility abatement program that people would let it multiply until to the point where when they did get back to work, it couldn't afford to catch it up. It's just a catch 22. Right. Right, and I understand that on your behalf. I was waiting to happen. Yes. You don't have the money to pay and you put it off and you get to put it off and put it off and put it off. Right. The day comes when you can't put it off and put it off and put it off. And the day comes when you can't put it off. Right, and it's just an unprecedented time. I think we just don't know, you know, I think it's just the unknown. I mean, you know, you try to do the right thing and then it's like, I don't think, I think we're all just kind of going in it doing the best we can. I mean, for sure. So. We appreciate your work at Salvation Army. Thank you. Sounds like maybe there's something here that we can possibly do to help. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you for your time. I appreciate you having me tonight. Appreciate you being here. Thank you. Thank you. Is anyone else in the audience that would like to address the council? No one else? Okay. In fact, I can ask Trevor a question. Mayor. Yes. go right ahead. Is this, I understand it's limited funding through the, through the stage, but are these likely to be full grants or are they going to consider pro-rated funding for some of the applications or is it going to be all or nothing? Well, well, two, yeah, two, two points one one of which I failed to mention, the maximum amount that can be requested is $900,000 through this program. And if you think about it with $28 million roughly, we have 28 jurisdictions applied for the maximum. That's all the program's going to fund. So I think you would be much more competitive to ask for less than identify what you need and ask for that amount instead of trying to go after the full amount. But I think there is some, I believe there's some flexibility in how this may take form. It's possible that the city could identify several subrecipients and work with each of one of them individually. I think from an administrative standpoint and probably from an legal standpoint that may be challenging to manage the various subrecipients. As we've talked about it internally, it seems to us that the perfect scenario would be to identify a single subrecipient to work with who could then work, distribute those funds in accordance with the program. So the application has not been written. And that type of feedback is important for us to hear in terms of what makes the most sense. Certainly there's probably two dozen organizations that could benefit from this funding in one form or fashion. But I don't think it would be ideal for the city to try to manage 24 type of subrecipients. So as we continue to research a program, I think what's occurring to us is the likelihood that maybe one or two subrecipients who then can assist with getting that money out into the community is probably preferable. So thank you. It's not like pretty reasonable approach because my experience in this area is probably a great overlap in the applicant, the in the investigation of the benefit. And if a general clearinghouse I was thinking be established on a problem which agency I thought might be in Germany, just like I said, at least three or four leading soldiers. That's probably the way to look at that. Well, the funds being distributed to the city forever? And then the city would parcel the funds out to the applicants? So how is that the way it works? That is, yes. The city would receive the funding and then appropriate that money out based on agreements that agreement or agreements that we have with those sub-recipients. In the recipient would be the agency. That's correct. The non-profit. And this is not an option. And not an option. And not an option being the applicant to that agency. That's right. The folks that we wouldn't anticipate working with as sub-recipients would be those nonprofit organizations who then work with clients that they serve to provide that assistance. Because I think it's mostly evident that we don't have the resources to process it, and it would be incredibly challenging. And we think there are better organizations out there suited for that. Yes, sir. Absolutely. I have a question for you, Trevor. Yes, ma'am. I'm not going to stand up and talk. I was just clarifying because he and I talked about this that's why I was not going to stand up and ask him questions. But if you had a business and the people who work at your business lost their job in the business due to their income, they could plot the people lost their jobs due to the business. Well, the city would have to identify which arena of that grant that we would be requesting funding. And there is some discussion of job retention and employee retention. I believe it's related to perhaps a medical, you know, a business that has been serving, you know, providing medical type of manufacturing or services that has struggled to maintain their employees. So I do think there could be a scenario where assistance could be provided for folks who have suffered some job reduction or job loss. But again, we would have to identify that as what we are proposing to do. And the other... We would have blocked all of it. I mean, it's literally that specific. We have to identify what we are interested in. Yes, sir. And I'm glad she asked this question because a very important component of the CDBG program is that you are not duplicating and providing duplication of benefits that are otherwise available. So if unemployment benefits are available and haven't been exhausted, then this would not be a good program to do so. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else have comments to make regarding the CDBG grant? Under that was commented. You shared with us for a kid bit. So things like specific bill catch up for a mortgage utility water food. But because unemployment for instance is already there. Right. You know perhaps even a medical find is not covered by what are the program. Correct. That's right. The very important should we get funding a very important component of this whether it's the city administering this or working with the partner agency will be the screening of those beneficiaries to make sure that there is not other assistance otherwise available to them or that they have received so they're not essentially double dipping out of that of the. I'm sorry. I already have about for something to that. Exactly. Crosser. Job retention if you had payroll protection. Correct. So it can get very complicated, which as the more we thought about it, the sophistication of a partner agency is going to be pretty important to be able to manage it. I have another question for you. In reference to like if you had a building setup and you wanted to administer the CE testing. Would you be able to, you have to be legally qualified to do the testing and bring the eight people in qualified to do it, but you have to have a building and then like they were saying, the track painting and the testing. If you did that, could you use that money to set up a area to provide testing? I know there are areas in Asperol, like Vermeer, Medical, and several other places, but there's not really one available to a lot of people over in the ESOC community. And I was suggesting that college should have that building there. Just suggesting, I'm not, you know, but I was just asking that. Yes, yes, ma'am. I do believe that if there was a proposal to to use dollars to equip and existing building for the purpose of COVID testing and tracing purposes. I do think that that would be an eligible service under the program. Because, like we said, a lot of people have problems getting, for whatever reason. But as you say, the details of who then comes in to provide the services, ensuring that, right, the qualifications, ensuring that those services are provided. Because again, this is a community development block grant. It is intended to serve low to moderate income individuals. We would have to make sure that it is an area, as you say, that would meet an underserved or unserved population with that testing. But I do believe that would be, the potential was there for a couple of those. But it's random. I mean, they come once and that's about it. There's nothing continuing on about it. Right, I think you both could propose, probably either enhancement of those mobile opportunities or a brick and mortar type of operation for, for as long as the pandemic goes on. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay, Ms. Reeves, leave your up. 8B, finance director Debbie Reeves will update the council and deferred utility payment program. You like to plot program? Well, you know, I'm sitting back there and I'm thinking about my next topic and now there are a lot of people out there that are in need and if someone could figure out how to manage a program that would help these people, that would be pretty cool. Good evening. When the governor's executive order expired, utility customers at the city of Ashbroke kind of fell into three categories. I had businesses who were passed to with charges from June 2020 or earlier who would not been able to pay any of, pay their utility bills or did not pay their utility bills. These accounts were passed to as of July 15th. These accounts are not eligible for the governor's payment plan because his payment plan is for residential customers. The second category of customers were residential customers who had passed due charges originating from invoices dated February 2020 or earlier. These accounts were passed to a March 15th, and would have been disconnected in March if we had run a disconnection. These accounts fall outside the scope of what is covered on the executive order for payment plans. The third category is the residential customers who had charges passed due from the March 2020 invoice through the June 2020 invoice. These customers had charges, water, and sewer that were eligible for a six-month payment plan. In the beginning of August, after the executive order expired,ters in English and Spanish were sent to all customers who had not paid their June 2020 invoice or earlier. One set of letters were set to category one and two customers advising them of pending disconnection at the end of August because I wanted to notify them individually that the period had expired and we were going to be resuming normal business practices. And these accounts were accounts that would be disconnected based on the city of Ashbrook, code of ordinance and were outside of the scope, excuse me, of the executive order. There were 119 businesses representing about $57,000 in past due balances that need to be paid. There were about 165 residential accounts with $65,000 of charges due of which 20,000 of that were charges prior to the March 2016 bill that were outside of the scope. A second set of letters were sent to category three customers who had balances eligible for payment plans. 535 accounts representing charges due of $160,000. In all, about 800 customers are impacted. For perspective, we send out about 12,800 invoices each month. So while 800 customers impacted, and that is residential and commercial, impacted by the COVID-19 environment, 800 customers is still a small percentage of our total build accounts, which I'm very thankful for. Customers that were billed in July 2020 did not get letters in this mailing since their bills had not yet come due. Additionally, while the July invoice is eligible for a payment plan, it didn't appear that they were going to be the first round of customers need in payment plan assistance. So we set our focus on the people who were farther past due, had larger balances due. Aside from the two special mailings, information advising of payment plan option and for customers to contact their office, we're put in customers' invoices, posted on the website, posted on Facebook, and Trevor put an article in the newspaper. Trevor also created a simple form on the website that allows customers to start the payment process. It's basically a form you click. You put in your name, address, your account number, contact information, press send, and it comes to the billing office. Then we have all the information we need to look at the count history, determine what the situation is and calculate out a payment plan prior to calling the customer back. Then after having a discussion with the customer, we follow up with written correspondence via email or in writing if people don't have printers at home. And we request the customers to respond back to us, acknowledging that they've received the documentation of the payment plan. They understand the terms, even though we've gone through it with them over the phone, giving it to them in paper form also. So they would have it as a reference and a guide for going forward. We highlighted that the payment plans need to be made by the 15th of the month which is an alignment with our standard due date for all of our accounts and that they have to pay their current bills, that their current bills are outside of the payment plan. They will need to pay those bills in order to avoid charges that would come due in accordance with the City of Ashboro ordinance or charges or the be subject for disconnection for nonpayment. So there's a lot of discussion back and forth in setting up all these payment plans. As of September 16th, a review of my payment plan reports reflect that I had 122 payment plans set up. As of September 16th, 76 of these accounts are subject to be dropped from the payment plan because they haven't even made their first payment. Yesterday, disconnection notifications were sent to 810 customers, the 76 customers that we had talked to and set up payment plans that did not pay their first payment are included in this notice. This is an opportunity for them to be reminded that their payment plan payment is due and to try to come in alignment with the payment plan or be disconnected. If the payment plan people are disconnected, the requirement for reconnection is different than what the standard requirement is for our normal practices with the code of ordinance. Because customers need to pay their payment plan amount. If they pay their payment plan amount, but they don't pay their current bill, they still can get reconnected, but they're going to be disconnected shortly because they're going to fall behind and be disconnected in accordance with the City of Ashford of Codav ordinance. So there's a lot of education going on here of trying to help these customers understand what's required. Our documentation is kind of outlining. Pay this by this day. Pay this by this day. Pay this by this day to try to help guide them. Sorry, I have a little bit of a cold. Other customers who have not set up a payment plan, people outside of the 122 of Ori contacted us. When they get disconnected, they will or when they get their second disconnect notice, advising them that disconnection is scheduled for the end of this month. That will be an opportunity again for them to call us in order to set up payment plans, discuss that. There is potential that this cutoff, the cutoff at this end of this month is going to be a lot larger than usual because we have a lot of new circumstances. We've run to be considered. We've run one cutoff now since moving out of the COVID environment, but that was a small cutoff, including just the customers who are not eligible for the payment plans. This cutoff is going to impact all the customers who have not paid multiple months of bills for a variety of reasons. And we're going to have to navigate through that with the customers and devise a payment through that with the customers and devise a payment plan that meets the criteria and walk them through the process. So in advance, I'm advising you guys to be aware that this may be a large cutoff. There may be a lot of customer fear or concern. We're going to do everything we can to work with the customers to help them be on track. Within what our power is to do. We have already contacted other public works departments to ask them to assist in managing the cutoff process because we have a meter department of five people. If you're cutting off a large number of people it is very difficult to get to all of those houses disconnect them, allow those customers time to contact the office, find out what they need to pay and then get reconnected. So we're preparing for the worst, hoping for the best. Once a payment plan, process is set up, the process is really seamless if the customer pays their bill. The utility billing system outlines on their invoices, what their total amount do is, it outlines what their current charges are, and it tells them what their payment plan amount is, and it tells them this is what you need to pay now. We have a lot of that information on there because we want the customers to understand the big picture and hopefully see that their balance is on their past due balance is going down and that they're slowly getting out from under this big. A few months is the payment plan of balance divided by six months? After bills, it's $60 or not and it's behind three months. If there are payment and plan amount is $24 and their normal bill is $75 and they're going to be paying $100 but they're going to be not paying $400 or whatever that payment plan amount. We're trying to be as lenient as possible, but we are following the six-month period because that is what's outlined. I do have some customers that are struggling and we're going to try to handle those on a case by case basis depending on the situation. There's a lot of customers I have not talked to because they have not been responsive to any of the personal correspondence we've sent to them. So there's a lot of unknowns that I don't know about right now. I expect that this managing the payment plans is going to be a process over the next seven to eight months because obviously customers who reached out to me last month in August when I first sent the first rounds of letters they've already set up a payment plan I've already started on the payment plan the customers who we may be impacted and cut off this month we're gonna have to start that whole process with them and do the best we can to try to keep them on track. My staff is once these letters go out, my staff, we have contact phone numbers and emails and we're going to try to develop a system to try to correspond with these individuals to try to let them, you know, remind them, your payment plan payment is due. You really need to handle this at least for the next couple months while we get them on track and hopefully people will get on track. I really don't know exactly what's going to happen because there's a lot of people out there who are in need and a lot of bills that need to be paid but we have the payment plan is a six-month payment plan the water and sewer charges are the only charges that are eligible for the payment plan based on the governor's guidance. So garbage charges are not eligible charges. Do you have any questions? People, there are very sensitive people that are in all kind of situations. You know, you think on the one hand, you've always got to be done in enrollment checks or subsidize many people drawing more than they really like. Then you get further into it, when we first started our own this year, we have people on short term and they reinstated temporary layout. But everybody is working from home. And we did us now this past week at employees received their unemployment benefit check on the first week of April. You know, where that money comes from, where it's supposed to go. I mean, you know, they said, they said, I can imagine sorting through legitimate illegitimate need, crisis of what these folks have. You know, we just, we just, is our concern, but this is what we all have to give. Well, and a lot of people, and all honesty, a lot of the people who are on my list are the same people who are on my list every month that are subject to being disconnected, and they are aware of the system. But you know they've been thrown into some different different circumstances. We're trying to manage the program that we drafted, the payment plan program and we're managing it within the guidance of what was drafted and we're just going to have to see how it goes. My initial problem was no like fees could not be evicted, got interpreted as suspension of rent. Didn't have to pay period, ever. Well, and I do have customers who say that, that we should just forgive it and it's unfair that we're asking that they have a utility bill. Yeah. It's challenging. So. Okay, it might get difficult to guess and not having any income or April, May, June, July, and August. It's a question when it came to God, it could have given the date process and the wrong. I will update you guys accordingly as I learn more as we navigate through this process. It is new territory to have payment plans in an all honesty with my first experience. I hope that this is the only payment plan experience we have because it is a lot of work to manage it. I can't imagine how it also cannot imagine how difficult this is. You and your staff. Thank you very much. I'm hired to be able to deal with it. I've been coming in the back door and somebody has wandered around the parking lot out there trying to play with me over trying to talk to somebody and cause COVID was closed our office and the kiosk. So many people don't understand or cannot learn the kiosk and the guys have been great to run out there and help. And when I was on the 15th they were doing it all the way down the hop. We have started. The police have been very nice and they have started to help us managing that traffic flow because with me and my staff and the parking lot people don't listen to us. But when you have a black and white shiny police car there. They all stay in line carefully. And you know, for the last two months and this month, I mean, the line, the line's been down there till about six o'clock. And so I haven't like this month. I didn't apply late fees until the morning to give everybody one more extra day because I know it was an adjustment period and it is something they need to adjust to but we have spent, we have sent correspondence to the customers in special mailings encouraging them to pay a variety of different ways and offering them to any direction they can mail it in early. Use our new payment portal, which is very easy once they get it set up. And the great thing about the payment portal is I see those payments immediately versus I don't have to wait for a file to come. Yes, sir. Is it correct my understanding if you use a credit card at the key us there is no user fee if you use the portal or is the use the portal is a third party provided service and they do charge a $2.25 payment A charge of that much. Yes, staying in line at the kiosk, we are absorbing those kiosk fees. And the traffic at the kiosk has quadrupled. You put my wife finally used the kiosk on an on-stake pathway. It is quadrupled. I will say that when you consider an hour sitting in line to use the kiosk because you come an hour before the end of the due date and paying $2.25, I guess there's an evaluation period of what is considered more important. I have talked to so many customers and I mean they yell at me because they have to sit in line for an hour and I keep encouraging a month after month. Please come a little earlier. Please come during this time. Please don't come that last day. And as much as my staff and I tell them we can't change human behavior. Debbie, does your software programs are they set up or they can manage the payment plan or do you have to do that manually? The software program manages the billing of the payment plan. The software program also tells me when someone has not paid the payment plan. What has to be managed individually is the requirements to get back on the payment plan because the our payment plan has adopted that if someone doesn't pay their payment plan they theoretically will be dropped. But if they catch back up I can put them back on the payment plan. Software system automatically drops them from the payment plan. So I have to go through after payments been received, reset them. Yeah, I'm good. So it's a dual process. It is a great tool. And we are figuring out how to use it. It is new software. And this is the first time we're walking into this with our new software provider. But it is much more enhanced than our previous software was and it's very clear on the customers bill that it's a payment plan. Any questions? Thank you. We should have asked the local the number wasn't high. Well, you know, all of you guys, I can train you guys to answer the phone in the next 10 days because in the next 10 days, I'm probably going to get, we're actually in the next five days. I'll get a barrage of calls in which all will be doing his payment plan. So I'll be happy to set up a call center. We can use the council other areas Thank you guys Miss Cargur, you still with us Thank you All right Go to recreation services Director Donovan Sermon. Mr. Sermon is going to update us on the phase reopening of the recreational programs and facilities due to the governor's executive orders. Thank you, Mayor Council. Just a quick update. I provided a wrap. Trevor, you got to look over there. All right. How do you work this thing, then? Good. Because I've been a slide for you all so that you can see so that it's only one. All day was one. Keep it simple. But I thought you'd be more interested to see our progress from the original state on order. through the current phase 2.5 than just hear me spill a bunch of facts and stuff to you. So I just want to quickly go down where we're at. You can see where we came from. We're pretty much closed down as close can get at the beginning. But where we are now, the recreation office on sunset, we're still there to help people. We're just restricted access. We actually come to the door. Call or not first. We'll help you if we can, if not, as long as you're masked up and use a little hand sanitizer or let you in the building and do anything you need. The golf course, we've taken some safety precautions. It's been open the whole time because it is considered exercise, so the government left that open. But we have made some safety changes as far as the lounges closed. Cards are limited to one person unless you're a family unit. There's no bunker rakes. We just ask you to brush it over with your feet. Just trying to cut down on that contact. Our athletic fields, they were closed originally now. We are allowing teams and moms and dads, sons, and daughters to go back out and practice a little bit on the baseball fields. Farmers market's been open all along, because that's an essential service, of course, because it does have food and produce. The lakes, rease is open full bore. The limitation is at Lucas and that's just for the boat rentals. Right now we're not running any boats through at least phase 2.5 and that's more of a safety issue with we have to issue every boat that goes out life jackets or and that type of thing and just to make sure that it sanitize and sits for the amount of time that you need. It's just not conducive to good management right now. So that's still reduced but you can still go out and fish, boat, if you have your own boat, all that's still there. Parks were always open, they still are. The things that have reopened are the playgrounds. You're open to reopen them on the 4th of September and that's when we reopened ours. They are being sanitized once a week. It's not a requirement, but we are fogging them with a peroxide based solution just as an extra precaution for the citizens. Bicentennial because of the mass gathering limit, most events that bicentennial are way over 50 people, so Bicentennial is not. Being rented at this time, the shelters have reopened as long as it's 50 people are less. All of our shelters except Memorial are rated for less than 50. The big one, we're just telling people you have to leave your event at 50 people are less. The Recreation Center opened this past Monday. Of course it's 30% capacity, but we're open. That's the swimming pool, exercise room, and the gym. What is that capacity, Jonathan? Well, we are actually doing, it's up to 30%. We are currently doing less than 30%. See, the gym throws it way out of whack, because the gym is ready for so many people. Your 30% is higher than what we actually feel like is safe as far as social distancing. So what we're actually doing because we have two entrances, one on North Street, one on Fable Street. Each level of the facility is 25 people. And then if you're there for the gym you went, we actually enter on North Street, if you're there for the pool or exercise, we ask to be able to treat. So far, that's just work good. Of course, it's only been since Monday, but it's working. Skate Park is reopened. The skate park, because we're an indoor outdoor facility, fell under the skating rink restriction. For whatever reason they did. But that is back open now. The Sunset Theater, because it is a live entertainment venue of course is still closed like any other movie theater or playhouse. Swimming pools, we reopened them when we were able to face two to limited registration stuff only. It has never been open to the public just to come. You have to register for the classes. Even if they were free classes, we just asked that you registered ahead of time. And then the tennis center's been open all along. But that's where we're at. We're hoping that when we get to the top of the second, we can open a little bit further if the governor sees fit. He was on today and said that the numbers are looking positive, which is good. So hopefully we can continue in that process. Any questions? Questions? Mr. Sherman, I wanted to let the council know we had a first recently had a funeral at Boston Tennial Park. The family lost their mother and people we knew, one of the family members actually worked for the city, and they had no church or funeral home that was willing to have their service, so they had their service. At Byson Tennial Park, the casket and the family were on the stage and the attendees were all spread out in the park. And they said it went really well, it went to compliment you on allowing me to have it. Well, you're correct, it was the first. And all of our parts, let me just mention Bycentennial is closed to rentals. We're not allowing we're not promoting events that could exceed the limit But all of our parks are open as General open space is the governor allows So the the funeral courses and is an exempted item they kept their social distance and like you said it was a first But they were very very very very please.wood. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I actually had a lady that lives on Maple Avenue. She butts right up against the property and we just had't got over there yet. She called me yesterday. So we are we are taking a look at that. Yes ma'am. And I for sure were in the open. You know pretty much walked in her house. So you get out there. Yeah it looks pretty scrappy and there it gets nice. So there it's like like that. That's not a good place to lie. No ma', I agree with you. Yep, we are looking into that. Okay, thank you. Yes ma'am. Anything else? Okay, thank you sir. Thank you. It's still entered. Mr. Leonard. You have an excitation petition to handle. Good evening, Mayor Council. This portion of property, this is for a portion of property that contains 2.88 acres owned by Kenneth and Bridget Galamore. You have in your packets a resolution prepared by the City Attorney that directs the thank you sir. Direct the city clerk to take the required actions and staff recommends adoption of this resolution by reference. Thank you. Any questions? I'll entertain a motion to approve this request by resolution. Mayor, I move we adopt the resolution directly to the city clerk to investigate the petition. I represent. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Bell. Do I have a second? Second. It's reading. I'm actually sorry. Thank you Mr. Bell do I have a second second. Miss Redding. Thank you. Sorry. Second miss Redding any discussion? All the favour say aye. Aye. All opposed. Ms. Carter. Thank you. And the second part. Thank you Mr. Mayor and anticipation of your action. The city clerk is prepared a certification of sufficiency of the petition and invited certification. You have in front of you Resolution prepared by the City Attorney setting the public hearing date for the October City Council meeting October 8th, correct And only question the requested annexation. Staff recommends adoption by reference. Questions? I'll entertain a motion to adopt a resolution the resolution by reference. I'm sorry. Mayor, I move we adopt the resolution sitting at the date for the public hearing for the annexation by reference. Thank you, Mr. Bail. I'll do I have a second. Second. Second, Mr. Swayers. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Mr. Carter. Thank you. All right. And Mr. Leonard, item 10, you have a bid summary of a request to award a parent close bid to the roof work at the Ashburg Police Department of the North District Station. Yes, sir. Bids were advertised for the end received on August 11, 2020 at 2 p.m., a total of three bids were received from Burrs Inc., GMG Inc., and McCray Roofing Inc. McCray Roofing Inc was the lowest responsible, responsive bidder with a low bid of $79,920. Staff recommends approval of the low bid submitted replacement for the replacement of the Ashburp ED North district station. Okay, it's running too far apart. Any questions? We have a recommendation to adopt this low-beard. I have a motion to that effect. Mr. Mayor, I'm on my commotion that we approve the recommendation for the last bit of the break. I have a motion by Mr. Monthly. Do I have a second? Second. Second, Mr. Swearer's discussion. I will say it's nice to finally get started on this project. So all the people say aye. Aye. All opposed. aye. Aye. All opposed. Mr. Carter. Thank you. Motion carries. And we have been summoned to request your ward. We're going to bid to HVAC at City Hall. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Bids were advertised and received on October 25th, 2020 at 2 p.m., a total of three bids were received from Charlie's Tenshop Inc. Mandolin, HVAC, Plum and Electrical and Superior Mechanical Inc. Charlie's Tenshop Inc. was the lowest responsible, responsive bidder with a low bid of 104,965,000 Channequing Charlie's 10 shop ink was the lowest responsible responsive bitter With a low bit of 104,965,000 and staff recommends approval of low-bid submitted Lashcom, I was right That's a spree Questions questions? Any entertain a motion to approve this? Mr. Mayor, I'm a motion that we should be at the only particular interested bidder. I'll just pinch off. I'll have a motion by Mr. Moffe. May I have a second? Second. As I was reading discussions. All the favour say aye. Aye. All opposed. Mr. Carter. Aye. Thank you. Motion carries. And item 10c is consideration of proposed change orders for the sports class. Yes sir, Mr. Mayor. After grading had began, it was determined throughout the course that multiple additions to the contract were necessary. These additions are included in change order number one and are as follows. I believe you have a packet or it was in your packet that shows that. The addition of addition to the grading contract is the addition of 15 inch RCP and flared in sections in the lower driveway. This is 44 linear feet of RCP and a reinforced concrete pipe and two flared in sections for the addition of $4,000. There also be a change in the wall color from the standard gray to the mocha. This was purely aesthetic and added 20,000 additional drainage for an unknown spring that was discovered and need to be stabilized, which included significant amount of number 57 stone, trucking and fabric and pipe. That's $48,602. The installation of the volleyball court sand, the original grating only did the rough grating and this is for the sand for the volleyball courts and the under drainage stone and fabric for an addition of 120, 120,975. Then commercial grade, four foot black safety fencing for the top of all the retaining walls. This includes labor and material for approximately $1,695 linear feet and it will be the addition of $72,695 and 50 cent. Then the undercut and recompact of the driveway per the sole tech from SNME, they ran into a tire dump area after they started, they started proof rolling the drive, they already had everything graded and the proof roll failed and they started digging down and ran to a tire dump area. So that's 1500. The installation of drainage and basins for the maintenance building, and that's 1,640. And then the temporary seating for fields 1 and 1 through 4 stabilization, that's 2,4,000. And the grading contract total just for the regular grading would be $308,412.50. The addition of water and sewer is also been put in with a proposal or proposed waterlines including meter vault, backflow preventer and installation material in approximately 3,000 feet of 6-inch duct alarm with all the pertinences and approximately 900 linear feet of 3-inch PVC for irrigation and 650 linear feet of 2-inch PVC, as well as complete services for the connections of all buildings. This was decided to be needed to prevent from us having to recut all the soil that was just moved around and everything and then put in all the stone and everything else. That's a total of 240,790. The other proposal is for the sewer line, including all the pertinences, which is installation of materials, and approximately 3,250 linear feet of forced main and two manholes or wet wells for 80,000. For a total for the stabilization on the temporary seining of the fields because we're looking at putting turf in. There was also a deduct of 83,250 for the Bermuda grass for four fields. He's also requesting an extension of 120 days that has due to wet weather and unforeseen site conditions, site issues, and poor soil conditions. So the total addition to the contract would be $629,202 and 50 cent less the deduction of 83 for an actual total of $545,952 and 50 cent and staff recommends approval of change order number one. The 83,000 reflected in the debt and the vice contract. Yes. So that's correct. So that's correct. Yes. It would just be a, it would just be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would be a, it would I only came to me where that item had to be. That's the picture that you made, but that you put the water in. The 545, that included the 62920250. That does include the water and the sewer. For most of this stuff, this is not really additional. This is part of the whole master plan. Yes, it is. It is. And you can see what we've got. We're just trying to get it into process to save an end. That's correct. Yes, trying to get it in while the ground's already torn up instead of going back and digging. That's correct. Yes. OK. Great. I was out there a couple of weeks ago and it's impressive to see what has happened. It's really starting to take shape and it looks good. It's pretty close to the grain. There's water standing all over the field. Yes. It's flat. Which means it's not running out. That's correct. We will be hoping to stake stormsour this week for them to start putting Stormsour in, but that's to the point where they're at where they're going to be doing Stormsour and getting the motor rater on walls. The wall is about finished. The wall at... I'm sorry. The wall right in here around the playground, it's not showing up. Right in here around the playground is about four courses from the top and cap. This wall here is complete and capped and we state this wall on Monday of this. There's a lot of wall out there. Yes. But it's going to be beautiful because you stand up to the entrance and see the whole thing. Yes. And it's a good view also if you're standing back this way looking back and see all the fields. Probably the Beverly Beans. Probably the Beverly Beans. OK. Thank you. Yes, sir. We're going to do a, sir. Good job. Appreciate it. I know you're up to your eyeballs and all the gators too with that project. Yes. And everything else that you have to keep up with. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Ray. Good. Hey, good morning, weather took the red. Yeah. Okay. May I guess we need to approve that, no? Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. May I move we approve the change order? I have a hand myself here. Yeah, we probably ought to do that. I have a motion from Mr. Bell to approve this recommendation. Change order, recommended change order by reference. Do I have a second? Second, Mr. Moffitt. Discussion? All in favor say aye. All opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. I'm sorry. Thank you, Mr. Bill. Catch me on that. I was anxious. I know. the great state of Randolph. Item 11, EDC President Kevin Franklin. Come on, sir. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of Council. I stand here in the unenviable position between you and the judgment and adjournment. So I will try to be brief, but we do appreciate the opportunity to be here this evening to present our annual report. I would like to acknowledge that the mayor sits on our EDC board as a permanent, the mayor's position of Ashbur as a permanent member. So you are well represented in addition to other community members from the city of Ashbur. And I also want to express appreciation for the financial support that the city provides to the Randolph County Economic Corporation every year. You are behind Randolph County, the largest single supporter of Randolph County EDC. And we don't take that funding lightly and we appreciate the support that you provide. A quick note, typically as you know we would be presenting this report in January or February. We decided this past year that rather than doing a January annual report based on a calendar year and then doing other reporting on our annual fiscal year, we would combine all of that and we're going to start doing all of this based on our annual fiscal year. We would combine all of that, and we're gonna start doing all of this based on our fiscal year reporting. So that's why this report before you really is an 18 month report rather than just a 12 month report. A few highlights over the past 18 months, we had 82 new jobs committed. Contained an annual payroll of over $2 million coming back into Randolph County and payroll. Also included about $18.5 million in commitments and new investment. I'll highlight two of those, two largest projects. First of all, here in the city of Ashboro, we said on 90,000 square foot expansion to custom extrusion on Taylor Drive in Ashboro. Most notable that facility was previously 16,000 square feet and they added 90. So they had, this company was acquired several years ago by a much larger company and they are really looking at this as their premier southeast manufacturing facility. So we are seeing growth that's gonna continue to occur at that location and that's good news. I'll also just mention that the EDC did sell 10 and a half acres of the West Randall and Business Park up in Randallman for expansion of Reem, parts distribution facility up there, they added about 110,000 square feet. Those were the two largest commitments that we had in Randolph County. We also continue to see good success with building reuse grants having about 700 little over 700,000 in building reuse grants secured. Those were in the cities of Ashboro, Archdale and Thomasville, the Trinity area. We are continuing to see good inquiries. We had about 100 project inquiries and we're able to submit on about half of those. The majority of those requests still are for buildings and the buildings still are driving the majority of our visits. And so what we would like to see is not only are we seeing high level number of inquiries and the ability to submit for a lot of those, but we would also like to be able to see a higher level of conversion of request to final project win. So working in that direction and one of the reasons that we brought crystal on board is to work on business attraction and the product development that's required in order to get those businesses here. The statistics in this report otherwise might indicate a fairly normal year, but as we all know this year has been anything but normal. And so we've seen a lot of challenges specifically from the month of March and moving forward. We did see disruption and opportunities. There's a page in the report that's really dedicated to some of the companies and their opportunities that they took advantage of in terms of either enhancing the businesses that they already were doing or pivoting to keep folks employed at their facilities. Several good opportunities in the city of Ashboro, AEC narrow fabrics, Ashboro Elastics for us long timers here. They saw their business really skyrocket with the manufacturer of the narrow bands for masks, such as N95 masks. They had more business than they could really handle. Another business is Trotter Sewing Company, former formerly BJ Conso over on Industrial Park Avenue, here in Ashboro, their contract cut and sew operation, and so they really had opportunity, and again, at more business than they really could even handle selling PPE and so there were some good opportunities to just enhance a few of those businesses based on their regular business model. Others that were able to pivot and manufacture PPE I think everybody is well familiar with the long lines of cars outside Bosong Medical Bosong Hojary. I don't know how many individual masks that they sold but I'm hundreds of thousands of dollars worth I believe. I don't have any firm numbers on that but that was very good for some of our area businesses. It also created a bunch of additional opportunities for us as the EDC to be able to support the existing industry that we had. As you might imagine, when the governors beginning to hint about closure of businesses and less their essential, our phones started ringing off the hook, are we essential? How do we qualify? Is essential? What do we need to do? How can we stay in business and operations? So we had a lot of opportunity to interface with our businesses based on questions that we received. We also had a lot of information that we received that we were able to push out to our businesses. We did reach out individually to each of our member companies. And so both reactive and proactive opportunities to support the existing business that we have across the county. We also saw change at the EDC over the course of this past year. We saw some restructuring and renewed focus on our core goals of economic development, business retention and expansion, business attraction, marketing, product development, and we're seeing progress in those areas. Let's see, we hired Crystal on, as Business Group Director. She's been with us for almost a year now. It was October the seventh, October the seventh of last year. So almost a year under her belt. She's made a lot of progress. She's made a lot of progress. She's made a lot of connections and seeing positive things that are happening across Randolph County. And she's going to mention some of that here in just a moment. We also have renewed our efforts around marketing. As you might imagine, all of those trips that we had on our calendar for meeting with site selection consultants, going to trade shows, et cetera, all immediately dried up. So we had marketing dollars in our budget that were now free to do other things. And so we've hired marketing firm out of Greensboro to help us with our messaging and with our marketing collateral. They've done some great photography for us. And so we're going to be rolling out some of that information very soon. We also had a strategic action plan approved by our board that's gonna hopefully help us to see better results over the course of this year, but I'd like Crystal to come and just briefly talk about product development and business attraction and what she's here in Randolph, Canada to do. Welcome Crystal. Thank you. Good to see you. To one of you again, I appreciate your time and I'll try to be quick because I know I'm in the way of bedtime for many of us. So as Kevin said, I was hired almost a year ago to to command it and recruit or attract industries into the community who are expanding or relocating and to also grow our product to words that we say quite often are product and projects. So product is buildings and sites and or sites and projects are companies that we are working with. So without product we have no projects. And we're very limited on product and so one of the things that I did right off the bat when when we got here is we had a joint meeting among the commissioners and mayors and city and county managers to just talk about a little bit of how we can obtain control of some property with little or no money down so that we could use those dollars for infrastructure. And so that began the wheels turning with several people. We've also been out working with landowners identifying potential property that we know is available and that we market for our community and to projects that we submit on. The problem is as we don't have control over those, and many of those do not have the infrastructure in place. So we're trying to work with those private owners to see how we can obtain control of that property and get that property to develop. We're also working with developers to see how we can build a public private partnership so that we can move forward with some of this infrastructure possibly have a shell building as Kevin mentioned before The buildings having available buildings is what drives The majority of our products or our projects that come in so You know, we're we're focusing on how we might be able to structure that pay for that through a public private partnership grants How that may be I've gone out for bid on shell buildings structure that pay for that through a public private partnership grants. How that may be I've gone out for bid on shell buildings. We've also stepped back and decided the property that we do own out at West Randallman Business Park. The remaining acreages may be focused on making sure that we have the engineered drawings on that what's available for us to build upon and have that site ready graded and shovel ready. So, you know, we're making progress working with site selectors getting their input on what companies are looking for. What's the timing? And the biggest thing is that we have to be ready. Ready, ready, ready, ready. And so that's what we're trying to focus on is get product, not just product, but readily available product. And so, and I'll be speaking more to our Councils and municipalities about that in the near future. But I appreciate your time and I'm happy to answer any questions. Questions? Crystal, thank you so much. Thank you. I want to say, on behalf of the city, we appreciate your hard work on our behalf for Randolph County and the city of Esparall. All in mean, this is a paradise. In this environment, it's not a particularly easy job, but I know you stay at it and I enjoy working with you as a member of the EDC board. Thank you. Appreciate you being here and we'll. In just a minute, we're gonna believe that completes. Most of our agenda, I have two items that I'm gonna insert here before we go to the closed session motion and this would benefit the paper. So because we're getting ready to go into a closed session and everybody we go and we come back we don't expect you to sit around In a out of concern for sustaining the gatekeeper's house of perpetuity, the Asheville Women's Club has offered to donate the house to the city. And the plan might include cultural recreation services taking that over and maintaining it as another cultural and recreational asset for the city. Our staff is working on some recommendations and some more information so at our October meeting we will be on the agenda and we'll learn more about that. John and I met with him last year, but earlier way back. And they're concerned about the maintenance and upkeep of the gatekeepers' house. And it's certainly a historically significant property. And so we'll learn more about that in October. And the second item is there's a house over on Cox Street, actually Cox Family Home, and it is just to the left of our entrance to the Arboretum, right? Right at the bottom of Scarborough Street, just up to the right a little bit. It's the first house that joins the property to the community garden, David and Pauline Gerald, center of city garden. That property has been offered to the city per purchase. City has had an appraisal done and the staff is working on a formal report for our October meeting. But so we will learn more in October and at that point try to decide if we want it, if it's necessary for our long term project and what's the best way to proceed with it. So I wanted to brief you guys on those two items before we went into closed session. So we will need to go into closed session here. So I will ask for a motion to move into a closed session to discuss economic development. Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to the Council go into closed session in order to discuss matters relating to the location of expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the City of Ashboro, including the agreement on the tentative list of economic development sentences that may be offered by the city and negotiations. I want present the motion to go into closed session, pursue it to section 143, dash 318.1184 of the North Carolina General's Daxian. Good. Okay. I will, we have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Second, Mr. Birx. All in favor? Say aye. Aye. Ms. Carter? Okay. All opposed. My time. Motion carries. We will move into a closed session to discuss