Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Good morning everyone. Welcome to this nice, beautiful, sunny day in Derek Kennedy. I'm over I'm over winter. Hope y'all are too. Um, welcome to the March the 2nd Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting. And at this time, I'd like to call on the Reverend Thomas Wilson for an invocation. Reverend Wilson, thank you as always for being here. The beginning of Psalm 133. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when we dwell in unity. Let this be our desire as we engage in discussions and make decisions that impact others. We trust with grace that we can achieve a sense of unity and work together effectively. May our decisions be filled with respect for one another and have the and achieve the unity that we strive for. This we ask. Amen.

Amen. Thank you, Reverend Wilson. May we stand for the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for its one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. County Manager. Yes, sir. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Uh, item one on the agenda is the chairman's opening remarks.

Thank you, County Manager. Before I get started, um, I'd like to recognize David Twitty, our chairman of our board of education's here this morning. Uh, our clerk to the court, Dean Tullson's here this morning and our former vice chair, Wally Overs Overman's here this morning. Thank you gentlemen for being here this morning. Appreciate your attendance. Um, I got a lot to cover this morning. So, board and public, y'all be patient with me this morning if you will. Um, as always, one of my favorite um, parts of the chairman's comments is I like to open with a little bit of humor. Um, this young woman recently lost her husband and she was talking to her best friend about um, after the funeral was over with. and she was telling her friend that her husband had left her with $20,000 in cash uh and that she was broke. Well, her friend said, "Um, how's that?" And she said, "Well, I paid $5,000 for the casket and the funeral and the remaining $15,000 for a stone." And her friend said, "Wow, how big was the stone?" She held her hand up and said about two and a half carats.

Robert, I don't make them up, folks. I just tell them. Um, this past week, Saturday, um, was the polar plunge. And I'm have a picture I'd like to show up on the screen for you folks of my fellow commissioners. Oh my um that participated in the polar plunge. Now my fellow commissioners I was had every intention of doing that but I had a trust I had a board of commissioners meeting for the lost colony checks in the mail

from it is from 10:00 in the morning till 1:30 that afternoon. So thank you lost colony for helping me not freeze to death. But anyhow, this is our fellow commissioners, our vice chair, Commissioner Roh Ross, Commissioner Balance, and Commissioner Burrus. Um, understand there were some 400 plus participants and they raised over $81,000. That's incredible. They only had a $60,000 goal. And Steve did jump in in a full suit. Yes, we see that. We see that.

That was my swim. That was his. Yeah. Once you see that.

Yeah. Um this past week, uh the county manager, myself, and um our lobbyist, Johnny Tilllet, Harry Kaplan, uh drove to um um Jacksonville to meet with um Senator Lazera. Uh he's from Enslow. uh he has a special interest in transportation issues um throughout the state and we were able to share with him. We were we were looking for we were look we're looking for as many representatives, senators, legislators as we can to help us with our NC12 uh issues and our transportation and and he was um very um um available to listen to us and hear our concerns and he will take it back to the legislature. He promised us that he knows how important our concerns are with NC12 and he has our full support and he will do anything he can in the legislature to help us u find solutions um to help us with NC12. Along those lines, um the county manager, myself, and Commissioner Balance will be heading to um Raleigh this Thursday after the our Wednesday uh meeting with the uh Coastal Counties Fishing Coalition. um will be heading after that meeting to Raleigh uh to attend the joint legislative transportation oversight committee. Um that's an important meeting that they're having in Raleigh first thing that morning. We understand

that we'll have some an opportunity to share with that committee uh once again uh our NC12 concerns and issues that we have. And then right after that meeting um I have um I've mentioned in before that Senator Senator Rabin u responded to my letter that I sent all the legislators in November about a funding putting money in the beach nourishment fund that they established several years ago which they never put any money in. So he's on board with doing that. he's on board with um um short-term and long-term solutions to NC12. And the third thing, he's on board with um eliminating the hardened structure um that that the state uh has uh kept us from from doing anything like that. So, I'm anxious to um from county manager and and um Commissioner Balance to hear that as well because he's had multiple conversations with me, text with me that he's on board with all three of those issues. So, he wants to sit down and um formulate a plan as to how we address all three of those issues. And if you don't know him, he's he's a mover and shaker in the in the Senate. So, I'm I'm being cautiously optimistic um that uh he can help us. The other concern I have is for our commercial fisherman families and folks out here that I have a reliable uh uh source that says um after tomorrow if if Burger in fact is reelected,

um he will bring this banning of trollling for shrimp in the sound uh back up in the short session. So, our commercial fisherman and their families, uh, we may have to do the same thing that we did before, go to Raleigh and droves. And um also we'll have I'll have this uh on the on the agenda for the Coastal Counties Fishing Coalition midweek for us to discuss how we can address this and how we can uh once again um as a unity in 20 counties uh in opposition to this and sharing our concern with the legislature. Um that meeting of course the coastal uh county's coalition will be held Wednesday. Um it's a central location for us and it'll be held in Morehead City at 1:00. Um tomorrow is election day. Uh I don't have to tell you you there's been stuff all over the uh social media about election day. um not sure who your party is, who you support. The main thing is I encourage you if you have not voted early to at least exercise your right to vote tomorrow. And it's it's an important election year and your voice um uh and vote counts. So, please um go to the polls and vote. Uh I think I was just passed a note some 4,200 plus

some 4,200 plus residents in DARE. That's nowhere near the amount of um uh voting folks in this county have voted in early election. So tomorrow is critical. We need you to get out and exercise your right to vote. Um, our country's in in uh having tough times and and and seeing a lot of things going on throughout our country. And uh I just want to remind you as citizens in our country that this recent bombing of Iran by the Israel and the United States is serious. Um uh we've lost some servicemen members and um I want you to please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers as as our country deals with this situation with Iran. So please keep in in mind your thoughts and prayers for our servicemen who are overseas and even here at home. um be with them and be with their families and God bless their families for the sacrifices that they make for their loved ones being away. So pray for them and and um hope that they will certainly u come home safely. Um the state of the county is sold out. It's uh at Captain George's on March the 18th at about 8:15 in the morning. and I'll start the presentation around 9. I've extended that um presentation again this year. I'll be going to Hatteris Island on Saturday and uh doing the state of the county on Hatteris Island. It'll be

held at the high school um auditorium. Those folks of you in Hatteris that u please sign up. You don't have to sign up. You can show up, but sign up. It'll at least give us an idea of how many folks to uh expect. So, you can go online on our web page and sign up if you will. It it'll just help us. It's free. It's free.

Yeah, it's free. Um so, um please um if you're there and available on Saturday, um please please come. We'd love to have you. uh looking forward to uh to doing that state of the county on the 18th here in Dare at Captain George's. And of course, last but not least, I'd like to um like to make some remarks about the um DARE 250 passport program. Um, it's my pleasure to recognize a Dare County resident whose enthusiasm for local history truly reflects the spirit of Dair County as the land of beginnings. I'd like to introduce you to Murray Parker who is a resident who is a resident of Nags Head and the first person to officially complete the recently launched DARE 250 passport program. Since the program launched just January the 1st of this year, Mr. Parker has fully embraced the experience, making the effort to visit all 13 locations throughout Dair County, which is an accomplishment worthy of special recognition. As many of you may already know, the DARE 250 passport program is a key part of our 2026 commemoration of America's 250th anniversary. It invites residents and visitors to experience the remarkable places where history unfolded in our community over the past several centuries. The program connects participants with 13 historic sites across our community, including the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Chika Makamico Life Saving Station, Bodie

Island Lighthouse, Jockey Ridge State Park, Janette's Pier, Allen Farm, Bethany Church, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, P Island Cookhouse, Buffalo City, flat tops of southern shores and the monument to a century of flight. At each stop, participants scan a QR code to collect digital stamps, creating a personal journey through centuries of local history. You can learn more at dare250.org.org/passport. Mr. Parker didn't just participate. He completed the entire experience in remarkable time. His curiosity, initiative, and pride in our in our shared heritage sets a wonderful example for our entire community during our year-long A250 celebration. Mr. Parker accomplished accomplished captures exactly what the program is meant to inspire. exploration, appreciation, and connection to the people and places that have shaped the community we call home. On behalf of the Dair County Board of Commissioners, thank you for leading the way and encouraging others to begin their own DARE A250 passport journey. Mr. Parker, if you'll join me at the podium, I'd like to present to you with the Dare County A250 Passport Program, John Hancock Certificate of Appreciation.

Oh, that's nice. You've been busy, my friend. I have. I have. You've been busy. I've enjoyed it. I know you. I'm sure you have. It was nice. Mr. Park is a certificate of completion from the Der County Board of Commission. You've earned this ranking of John Hancock. All right. You visit all passport locations. We want to thank you for participating in the county's A250 passport program. Thank you. And I would like to say that everyone involved in this program did an awesome job. I mean, it was very enjoyable and interesting. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Fantastic. Well, thank you for Thank you for

what you did. County manager. That concludes my remarks. Jim, that brings us to item two on our agenda. That's the service pins. Um, today we have 55 years of service that we're going to recognize. First up is Adriana Velasco. She'll come up and receive her 10-year pin from Daniel Stein.

Her eyes got real big, but she's gonna come up here soon. Adrian, good morning and welcome ladies. Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning to all of y'all. Can you hear me? Okay. Yes. All right. My name is Danielle Stein. I'm the inhome aid supervisor with the inhome aid program with Department of Human Services. Sorry, I'm a little nervous. Department of Health and Human Services. It is my honor to express my gratitude and appreciation for this wonderful woman beside me, Adriana Velasco. She receives her 10-year pin today. Adriana is a certified nursing assistant. She provides her clients with assistance with ADLs. ADLs are activities of daily living such as uh bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, and mobility. And often, as time passes, functional independence may become difficult due to age, disability, injury, or chronic conditions. This hands-on support that Adriana provides with everyday activities ensures that her clients live safely and independently in their homes. If not, they would rather have to live in an instit in institutional setting and that is not the goal of our program is to keep them independent and safe in their home. Along with working as a full-time inhome aid, Adriana is married which will be 12 years September

11 now 12 in September and is constantly a bright spot in everyone's day. Outside of work, Adriana has been an avid runner. She has received many rec recognitions in several several first place finishes in 5K competitions. She is so outstanding she actually won the first race she ever competed in. With all her energy, I often refer to her as the Energizer Bunny. She never stops working and her work ethic is beyond exceptional. Adriana holds herself to the highest standards and does not stop until she is satisfied with the service she has provided to her clients. Adriana's talents of professionalism and clinical skills have helped numerous clients throughout the years. She has touched so many lives in this community. I cannot begin to count the number of people who are living a better life because of her. Adriana is always willing to help in whatever way possible, no matter the task. When she is given an assignment, it will be completed before I can even finish my sentence. I hope she realizes what an asset she is to myself and to all of her co-workers. Adriana is an essential team player. In the past, she has volunteered to cover a client case load when another aid was out on extended leave. This kind of dedication ensured that the client would receive consistent care in a timely fashion. Adriana has demonstrated a natural compassion and connection to others. This is not a skill that can be taught. Her heartfelt compassion towards her co-workers and clients go above and beyond her duties as an inhome aid. She demonstrates extraordinary empathy, dedication, and initiative with every task that she completes. It is with great pride that I present this tenure service pin to Adriana with hopefully many, many more years to come. This recognition reflects the county's appreciation for her dedicated years of service and is a symbol of her professional success. Adriana, I want to express my personal appreciation for your years of service and want you to know that you are a most valued team member. Your skilled abilities and compassion are the basis for the continued service we provide to the residents of Deer County. Dedicated and

loyal employees are very difficult to find. You my dear are one of the reasons why the inhome program continues to be successful. Thank you and congratulations. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, if Gina Dixon would come forward, receive her 15-year pin from Chief Jenny Collins. Good morning. Good morning, ladies. I'm going to introduce Gina Dixon, who's one of our advanced EMTs with us. Um, Gina comes from a long history of public safety. Her grandfather was the fire chief of Portsouth Fire and Rescue. um where both her brother and fire uh brother and father were firefighters with Portsouth too. And she's got a nephew in Norfolk fire and rescue. Did you say Portsmouth? Portsouth. Yeah, that's Ptown.

Ptown. Yes, sir. That's Ptown. Portsouth.

And she'll correct you if you pronounce it incorrectly. So, so she grew up listening to scanners and it was just something that was normal in in the household. and when the calls came out, it was never an interruption of their day. It was a reminder for their family and how they serve their community. So, prior to EMS, um her previous life, um she worked in an orthodontic clinic um as a treatment coordinator. In fact, for seven years, when the orthodontist traveled to Deer County, she would come down here with them. um she got hired on um in 2011 um and actually one year on the DARE dental van u before her uh transition over into EMS. So going back on the EMS timeline in 2003 she got her EMT through Dare County EMS um when they were teaching the the program and her advanced EMT in 2010. And so after thousand of hours of volunteering with Dair EMS, in 2012 is when she transferred over from the the dental van um and came over to EMS full-time. She'll tell you that her career has be um has been dedicated to selfless service to others. There's moments of heartbreak and but there's also the triumph where you're invited into somebody's worst day and you're there to trust it and and make it better. And those moments are the reminders of why she started in EMS and what continues to keep her in EMS today. Always with a smile, always helping co-workers. She sets up for training events. She helps us with training events. You'll find her at DARE days, our open houses, career days. Um she's just a great ambassador not only for the department, but for the county also. Um, she works with a lot of

students who are coming through the COA program and riding along with us and I always get great feedback from the students in the college. She gives her time. Um, she often helps out with the Lions Club for their visually impaired fishing tournaments. Uh, she is a master at organization. We can give her the worst store room ever and tell her to ginaize it and it comes out and everything's organized, labeled, and in its proper place and she threatens you if you move it from that spot. Um, she's lived in Dare County now for 32 years. She's been married for 24 years. Her husband Chris works for us. He was in the back a few minutes ago, but he's out running a call right now. Um they h uh she's got three kids and four grandkids. So Gina for 15 years of wonderful service. Thank you very much. Let me give you that pen. And we know there's many many more. Thank you.

Thank you. Next if Shannana Fulmer would come forward to get her 30-year pit. Welcome this morning, Shana. Good morning. Thank you.

It's always nice to come up here. When I come up here, they're always the ones that have the silver or the diamond in the thing because they're all the ones that have long terms of service and and Shana's certainly one of those. 30 years is a long time. Um Shana's been with us in public works since she started working for Dair County. So her whole career has been in public works. And she started out as in doing administrative stuff and worked her way through the ranks and came all the way up and and is now our director. Um it's interesting to know a little bit about what public works does. Everybody probably immediately thinks about sanitation and picking up the trash and which is a big part of what they do and what Shannana supervises, but it also includes all the maintenance of the uh facilities that we have and the grounds what we have and I think we have over a hundred buildings that are on the list that need some type of maintenance and that comes under her responsibility. um all the county vehicles, all those white cars and trucks and vans that you see out there, all the garbage trucks, all the equipment that you have, everything that we use to run the county, that all comes under uh public works. Um when you look at the transfer station, all the if you've been out there in that big hill, all that where the garbage gets transferred to the big trucks, that's hers. The CND landfill that comes under public works. uh our recycling program throughout the county. All that comes under public works. Did I miss anything?

Uh it's a it's a it's a big menu. It's a big menu and a large responsibility and it's one of our larger departments as you know when you start looking at employee lists or budgets and things like that you can tell. So, it is a big task and she does it well, has done it well, uh has grown into the job well and we've been lucky to have her for all this time. Uh the apartment has improved from where it was and it's improved year over year over time and it's through her leadership and her efforts that those things have happened. So, Shana for 30 years of service, thank you so much. Hope we get some more. Uh I won't say how many, but 30 years is a long time. And thank you for your hard work.

5:00 today. There you go. Thank you. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, that brings us to um our employee of the month. And for our employee of the month uh for February, if Noah Gillum would come forward to make that presentation.

Good morning, gentlemen, and welcome.

Morning, chairman, commissioners. This morning, I have the pleasure of presenting Barton Grover with the February employee of the month award. Barton started his career with Dair County in 2020 in the planning department as the Dair County soil and water conservationist where he assisted residents with finding solutions for shoreline stabilization, erosion issues, and stream debris removal. After s after several successful years in that position, Barton was promoted to the to his current role as the grants and waterways administrator. Barton has excelled greatly in this position and the work he has completed is nothing short of astounding. Barton's hard work and dedication in the position has resulted in Dair County being awarded numerous significant grants with an estimated value of over $25 million. These grants range from FEMA hazard mitigation grants for house elevations to storm water mitigation grants and everything in between. Barton also in his current position serves to the pleasure of the Oregon task force and the Dair County Waterways Commission. Barton works directly with our local officials, state and federal agencies, consultants, EJ dredging, and our local watermen and women to ensure our inlets and waterways remain open and safe. Most of all of Barton's assignments, tasks, and responsibilities are challenging and complex, but his dedication and perseverance in overcoming challenges has been paramount to his success. Barton is self-motivated and a pleasure to work alongside. We sh we should all be honored to call him a colleague and a friend. Congratulations, Barton. Very much. Next, we have our employee of the month for March. And if Jessica King would come forward to make that presentation.

Good morning and welcome.

Good morning. Uh for the March employee of the month, I have the privilege of um presenting Rey with that. Ray proves himself every day to be a vital part of the water department team. The area we live revolves around the tourist season and water is no different. During the season, the focus is on water production. The offseason is the time for projects. This off season has been full of critical infrastructure projects and Rey has played a vital role in all of them. He goes above and beyond every project to get the job done efficiently. The majority of these projects come with a ticking clock. Ray's ability to understand the importance of the task at hand allows him to get the job done. Each project also comes with unforeseen challenges. Ry is able to pivot with each challenge to make sure the job is completed correctly. this winter. Without Rey, we would not have been able to complete the projects that we did. His knowledge, skill, and dedication are an incredible asset to the department and the county. His work ethic is admirable. Every day he leaves work having accomplished something that is to the benefit of the department. Whether it is a small task such as cleaning up around a facility or something larger as repairing a critical piece of infra infrastructure. I personally have been able to spend time out in the field working one-on-one with Rey. I am grateful for each of those opportunities as it allowed me to learn so much. Working with Ry has shown someone who genuinely cares about the job they are doing and someone whose goal is to leave a place better than they found it.

This is yours. Next, if if Elizabeth Riley would come forward now to present our employee of the year. Thank you, Elizabeth.

Good morning. I am honored today to be presenting the 2025 Dare County Employee of the Year. Dair County's employees are our number one asset. As we all know, they give it their all and make Dare County the best. Stair County would not be what it is if it wasn't for our employees who work tirelessly around the clock to provide our residents and visitors. We are extremely fortunate to have each and every employee full and part-time. Each month, subordinates, supervisors, and department heads nominate employees who go above and beyond in the line of duties. Employees who go the extra mile. Employees who shine bright. The nominations come to human resources and then the employee of the month committee meets to discuss and decide on the stellar employee. The committee is made up of past employee of the month recipients. At this time, I would like to introduce those who were on the committee. If you'll please stand and remain standing. Misty Parnell, Health and Human Services, Matt Hester, Information Technology, Dustin Peele, County Manager's Office, and Carlen Darcy, EMS. Thank you for what you have done in 2025 to make the program a success. The employee of the year is chosen from the 12 recipients that received employee of the month throughout 2025. Now for the 2025 employee of the month recipients, please stand and remain standing. Nikki Caldwell, EMS Skyler Folly, County Commissioners. Lorie Seal, Water. Melissa Turnage, Health and Human Services, Social Services Division. Cara Hannaran, EMS. Trisha Allen, Library. Gordon Price, Facilities Maintenance. Jessica Brookie, Health and Human Services, Social Services Division. Brooke Atwell Rusk, EMS.

Mike Kerr, IT, Dustin Respus, Water, and Laura Kistler Brown, Health and Human Services, Social Services Division. Thank you all for what you have done to make Dare County a wonderful place to work and live. You are tr You are truly our asset and we sincerely appreciate you. Now for the 2025 employee of the year. Congratulations to clerk to the board Skyler Foley. And I have been lying for over a month now. So I'm really happy this is done. So come on over everyone. Congratulations. Folks, I just want to I just want to share the the with the public and those that here today.

Um, you have no idea the amount of hours that Skylar puts in for us. She's not been our clerk that long, but she has just taken over that job and and run with it. She she has seven commissioners along with a county manager and departments that she has to respond to. And I don't I can't tell you how many emails the seven of us get throughout the day. and she helps with res uh each of us commissioners in and responding to those. She reaches out to our lobbyist um in Raleigh uh communicating with them. She she has my itinerary daily of meetings that I have uh with phone calls, Zoom meetings and meetings outside the county on be on behalf of the county. She keeps track of that for myself and my my fellow commissioners. And she's now I put this monkey on her back too with u doing the minutes and the agendas for the coastal uh uh counties fishing coalition which involves some 19 counties. She has to keep track of that, communicating with each one of those county chairman and the person that represents that county on that board. It's it's I I can go on and on, but I cannot emphasize enough how this young lady has stepped in a role and just run with it. And she's gone to schooling. She's taken uh classes uh for clerks to the board and no matter how um busy she is time off I I communicate with her on

Saturdays and Sundays and I hate doing that but sometimes I mean I have to do that with my schedule as chair of this board and she's Johnny on the spot responds to my texts. um she'll take care of making a phone call or making uh arrangements for myself um even over on the weekend. So, Skylar, please know how much this board appreciates you and the work that you do for us. Can I say something? Yes, ma'am. I was a little unprepared.

Um I just want to say thank you. Well, I just want to say thank you all. It's an honor to work here and it's an honor to be here for you guys. And I will say Deer County is full of amazing people. Um, we really couldn't do it without all of our staff either. So, thank you guys so much and I really do appreciate it. Thank you, Scott.

That brings us to item five on our agenda, which is public comment. Before we go to public comment, all of you that received awards, please go out through this door right here so we can have a picture made. you've not signed up, please raise your hand. When you do, I'll recognize you. Please come to the podium, state your name and where you're from. Please limit your comments to five minutes. There's a green light on the podium that'll come on when your time begins. There's a yellow light that will come on when you have about a minute left. And when the red light comes on, please conclude your remarks. on the signup sheet. The only one I have is Katie Morgan.

Welcome this morning, Katie.

Hey, I was nervous, but now half the room just left, so I feel a little better now. I didn't want to bring down the mood, but um Okay. I'm Katie Morgan, and I'm here today because I'm confused with recent decisions made, and I feel like I personally feel like the board's priorities are backwards. We just heard at the last meeting that the sanitation department has about 10 open positions and little to no applicants. We were told that it would take about $260,000 a year to get those workers an $8,000 raise with only about $109,000 of that coming from the general fund. $8,000 a year is a lot of money to a lot of people and it would immediately help some local families. Also, it's not an outrageous number. It's a practical solution to a real workforce and housing problem. All right, let's rewind to last October. This board voted six to1 to spend $400,000 launching, which is 200,000 over a 2-year period, launching a brand new affordable housing nonprofit. This start startup has no clear construction plans, no defined performance metrics, and some of that money is actually set aside intended for marketing to try to change the public's opinion. It was said that the nonprofit came to the county first instead of the towns because it knows that the county has money set aside for affordable housing, $12 million to be exact, which is set aside sitting somewhere. During that October meeting, $400,000 was described by the chairman as quote a drop in the bucket. To the taxpayers earning that money, $400,000 is not a drop in the bucket. And to the county employees that could have also seen that $400,000 going towards raises in their

pockets is not a drop in the bucket. And let's be honest, the public has already spoken on government funding housing. When $35 million in affordable funds went back to the state, that said something. This is not a nimi issue. It's about trust. And many of the voters here in Dair County simply do not support governmentrun housing initiatives. Period. End of story. And the it's if the real issue is workhouse retention and housing strain, then the most immediate solution is straightforward. Increase your wages. By increasing county workers pay, the county would be helping at least 800 workers and their families instantly. Y'all need to invest in the people who are already working here. Make Dare County employment not just competitive, but genuinely desirable. That strengthens local families. Right now, the $400,000 committed to start the DA Dare Housing Foundation nonprofit could have gone straight to helping county workers facing housing cost, delivering immediate impact without expanding government. But instead, we now have a tax increase headed to the ballot, framed as parks and Rex funding to cover a laundry list of updates. even though those dollars ultimately flow into the general fund and be can and can be used for anything. And I'm curious how this will all play out because back in 2024, I was told by someone that is usually in this room that a major sports complex will be built in Stumpy Point and that if I got in this person's way, I was going to get quote steamrolled. I actually have that conversation somewhere recorded on my phone. Anyways, if this tax does get passed, I hope that the money truly does get equally distributed to all of the parks and recck facilities and we don't just build

the next big shiny thing that will ultimately go unmaintained and understaffed. Here's what it all looks like from the outside. New programs, more spending, and higher taxes to sustain it. To me, that's not limited government. That's growth in government. And so over the past few years, as I've paid closer attention, because I never really have until I had kids, right? Um I realized that I do align much more with Republican principles. As I stated even when I was running as a Democrat, I I do align more with Republican principles at a very very local level. Meaning I do believe in fiscal restraint. I do believe in smaller local government and I do believe in focusing on core services first. That's why I've changed my party affiliation and I hope that the local Republican party will be welcoming because they will be seeing a lot more of me in the very near future. In conclusion, I'm going to end with this. I say before creating new nonprofits that don't even have clear vision and throwing money at a problem that the county the community has already said on multiple occasions we do not want and asking the residents for more tax dollars. Why not fully invest in the workforce which would ultimately how help with housing and how about we fund the services we already have? That seems like a repon responsible place to start with me. Um, thank you.

Anyone else like to speak at public comment? Yes. Yes. Yes, sir.

You can't get back. You got that right. Thank you. What's your name, sir? I'm Barry Holt, also known fondly as Fuzzy in some corners of the world. Okay. Uh, I'm a veteran and I'm here for our veterans and I would like just to ask consideration for our VSO officer to become a full-time position. We have a lot of veterans in this county and that's my request that you could consider that for us veterans. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Barry. Thank you. Other public comment. Anybody else for a public comment? Yes ma'am. Come forward please. I've heard that from other veterans around here as well.

Good morning. Uh, many of you know me already from my years advocating for the replacement of the Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet. But for those of you who don't, my name is Natalie Perry Kavanagh. I'm a resident and business owner on Hatteris Island. And I am still a bridge mom. Just to remind everyone, the Bridge Moms did not push for one option or another, but asked our leaders to make their decisions about what to do to keep Highway 12 open in a timely manner. When the Bass Knight Bridge was built, we were happy to see the corridor intact and plans for the other threatened areas of the highway being considered. In the past few years, for whatever reasons, not all of those areas of concern have been able to be completely addressed. I was pleased to see the work of the NC12 task force being done and the beginning steps of the SAND stakeholders initiative, and I support them wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, each year we still saw more and more damage to our road and more days of closures through storms. And that brings me to the fall of 2025 and a noraster that caused the ocean to breach the dunes on P Island. And to my horror, I watched on social media as a small white car that was driving on the state-maintained and open highway get hit by a wave and wash from side to side in the storm waters out of the driver's control. I knew then it was time to start looking for more help for our only way on and off our island. At the end of October, I reached out to Greer Bey, who was our contact in the North Carolina Department of Transportation during our bridge mom's early days, although she is in the private sector now to see what she thought about for the future of our highway. When I told her how fragile the road had become and how helpless we were feeling here, she began to come up with some ideas on who to talk to and how we could be helped. She brought Jim Trogden into the conversation and I asked Beth to join us. We have been talking about how we needed help and what we could do to get that help throughout these winter months. One of the reasons personally that I'm

so involved with the Bonner Bridge Replacement Project was that my grandfather, Vernon Lee Perry, worked for the North Carolina Highways Department as an engineer. He was the man on the scene for many of the roads and bridges being built in eastern North Carolina, including the Bonner Bridge. He was known for his dedication to the safety of the traveling public on his roads. My dad tells stories of him seeing something wrong when they were out traveling with the family and going out of his way to find a house with a telephone so he could call into the office about that issue. Usually to my grandmother's annoyance making them late for wherever it was they were going. I did not inherit his engineering abilities, but I did however inherit his concern for keeping people safe. I know that Beth who is here with me today, shares that concern. I know that you, the Dear County Board of Commissioners, share that concern and that Greer Bey and Jim Trogden, share that concern. I ask you to consider bringing them on to work with us to get this road in better shape for our future. It's going to be a full-time job to make that happen. I don't have the skill set to do it. You all have a full plate of important things you need to do to keep this county strong and successful. I feel that hiring Greer Bees Consulting to assist us is a good investment in the solutions for Highway 12. and I look forward to working with you to see them through. Thank you.

Thank you, Nat. Other public comment. Anyone else? Sure. Come up, please. Welcome this morning, Beth.

Good morning, Beth from Hatteris. Hard to follow up on that, but um first I want to thank you guys for everything you do for us. I know you, as Natalie says, have a full plate and we really appreciate all the hard work. Um, I'm here to speak obviously in favor of the agenda item six, the hiring of consultant and technical advisory team for North Carolina Highway 12. As we're all aware, we need near, mid, and long-term strategies for NC Highway 12. The task force did a wonderful job in identifying the longer term needs, and I'm thankful for their hard work. In the near term, however, we need we know that the current way that we are keeping Highway 12 passable is not sustainable. Pushing mounds of sugar sand into dunes is not a thing that either feels like or projects stability to our community or to the traveling public. Though I am very very grateful for the pushing of that sand and C do works tirelessly on our behalf. We need another answer while we are also pursuing our other potential long-term options. Whether those longerterm options are bridging outside of the rideway, moving the road itself, hardened structures, or other ideas, all those options are and will still be on the table in the long run. And we will work together as a community to make these things happen. The most urgent question is what can we do now? What can be done that could potentially get funded and bring relief as early as this year? If we stay within the right of way and retreat vertically, so to speak, we might be able to keep a more stable corridor while the other longer term options are in the works. I am not an engineer. That being said, there are temporary bridging options that can be cost-effective, pre-built, and pre-staged for when we need them, not if we need them, when we need them. Jim Trogden is past secretary of NCDT DOT is one of the best persons that

could be tapped to help for this push. He knows the challenges of a North Carolina Highway 12 on Hatteris Island intimately. In my opinion, having worked with him for years, we could not have a better person to help bring to fruition a funded plan to keep up with our most urgent access issues. He helped navigate and fund us through the lawsuit that ultimately culminated not only the replacement of the Oregon bridge, but also the Jug Handle Bridge and the Ethridge Bridge. He is an engineer to the core. He thinks how can we not why we can't. Greer served as deputy uh deputy secretary under Jim at NCD and has worked on efforts all across our state including the creation of Dicks Park in Raleigh. She's just retired and Jim has brought her in to help him. Her specialty is really building consensus and communication and getting the public also engaged. The harsh reality is we as a community do not have a high enough year-round population to scores for significant major investment under the NC DOT STIP funding plan. We will need to think out of the box and tap other resources. This plan will define the near mid and long-term strategies and to identify all the possible funding that could be available to us. Being strategic in our approach and understanding and understanding all our options will help us reach our goal. Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you, Beth. Any other public comment this morning? Anyone else? Uh, any public comment from Buckton? Yes, we have one speaker, Cheryl Danach. Good morning. Good morning.

My name is My name is Cheryl Danach and I live in Frisco. I'm here to voice my concern over the growing coyote population/pro on Hatteris Island. You probably have seen social media covering the coyote threats on Hatteris. The I heard all of that but didn't feel threatened till a coyote came out of the brush towards my daughter and our dogs at night this past December. It wasn't afraid of her or the flood light she directed on it. It stood, it looked at them, and then walked up the street. Later that night, around 4 in the morning, I woke up to the yipping of coyotes in my backyard. I think the mom coyote that we saw earlier probably brought back food for them and they were celebrating. Then in January, a friend sent me a text warning me to be careful taking the dogs out that night and a recording of a coyote pack off Lullaby Lane. And I just like to play that for you quickly now with me. This is on Liby Lane in Fris and I'm really concerned.

That's a mom saying that's why you can't go outside at night to little child. Anyway, I have spoken to the Deer County Animal Control and the North Carolina Wildlife. There's rules and regs. I understand. So, there's really no help there right now. The ocean, the sound, and the inlet prevent coyotes from moving into new territory. So they come into our neighborhood looking for food. One person headed north on 12 in Rodanthy. Pre-dawn, this was saw a large large coyote and smaller ones running towards the bridge, probably in desperation for food. I lived in bearrass two years with acres of warehouser timber behind me. And I never heard or saw a coyote because they can travel north, south, east, west, multiple directions for food and territory because they need new territory. In Frisco, I hear them on a weekly, sometimes lately daily basis because they're breeding now. The coyotes are geographically trapped here. I don't see why the coyotes on Hatteris Island can't be trapped and relocated to a preserve where they will stay far from people. They can't leave on their own. So, I hope something can be done to make it safe for Hatteris residents and pets and help the coyotes find new territory. Thank you for hearing me out. I know we don't you I know we don't usually respond to public comment, but to the woman in Buckton, uh I actually have all the depradation permits myself personally. So call on the county phone number that's listed on the site and if you have private property I can uh handle that issue for you personally.

Thank you commission. Any other comments? No further comment from Buckston that Mr. Chairman we'd move on to item six and this is uh presentation from Greer Bey consulting for NC12 bridging the gap of affordable housing. um to set that up a little bit. Um the Highway 12 task force met um for what over a year, Mr. Chairman? Yes, sir. Year and a half. Did I say housing? I meant Highway 12. Highway 12 testing. It is

and came up with a a report and a plan that had all the stakeholders in it and everything in it. and it was a broadbased look at it and everybody agreed with what the issues were and everybody agreed with what the solutions were. Um, as we began meeting and many of you all were at these meetings, uh, we met with our legislative delegations in Raleigh. We met with I don't know the last at least two maybe three secretaries up there about that. And what we found in those meetings was everybody agreed we had a problem. Everybody agre acknowledged that what the solutions were were correct. But nobody had a solution of how we would fund such projects because the dollars are extraordinary to do what the task force um proposed. And so we continue to meet. Um the chairman mentioned earlier that we met with Senator Lazero this week. Um, we had met with him once before in his office in Raleigh. Uh, and we'd met with him once before that even. And so we've been up there several times. We've met with the the secretaries uh of the two transportation in the House and the Senate. And as I said before, we met with the Secretary of Transportation. And in all of those things, they the came up that we needed to find some interim solutions because it would be a long time and difficult to find dollars as big as it required to do what the NC12 uh task force had had recommended. And so to that end, we began working on it. And you heard from Natalie this morning. She came to us and talked to us about Greer Bey and and Jim Trogden. Um, I remember Jim Trogden from when he was uh at DOT uh before and so we we did have a relationship with them and dealing with other issues on Highway 12 way back then. And so he comes forward,

they come for us today with a proposal to do to look at this thing uh and to start thinking about maybe smaller chunks and more affordable projects and try to take this a little piece at a time uh to try to ultimately get to our end goal, which is to preserve access. And so with that said, I'll turn it over to Greer and let her come and tell us about what they are and what they can do for us.

Good morning. And um and thank you for not asking me to have a proposal about affordable housing today. I was I was not prepared. Um but um thank you again and I I appreciate uh all the work that you all do. Uh Natalie's right. She reached out and as did some other folks and said, "Okay, what um who can we talk to? What can we do? Everyone's supportive. Everyone agrees with the long-term solution. What can we do now? Uh I am not an engineer. Unfortunately, General Trogden could not be with us. He had a family obligation that he could not change for today. But my experience with working with him and I think Beth said the same is that he is a very creative thinker and a problem solver. And so as we um as he retired and and I recently retired and we've been speaking with y'all, the idea came forth that we thought um we came up with sort of a strategy to help take some of the burden off of you all um where we could help look at what are the immediate options, what can be done to give some relief as quickly as possible and what are maybe some creative funding options? Uh this isn't a technical study. I think we all agree that we we know what's going on and the studies have been remark, you know, been extensive. Um the partnerships are strong. Everyone in the community is um agrees with what the goal is. Um what our services would be would be to help you all navigate the strategy on how to get there. um include in the short term and in the midterm. Uh DOT

has been very dedicated and and very committed and worked very hard to keep that road open. Um and this isn't in lie of their work. This is um really just being a resource to help you all come up with the options to put forth to see what we can do. Um both Jim and I have great love for um North Carolina and for the Outer Banks and um and if we can be of service in our retirement, we would love to do so.

One one other thing that I'll add as you all consider this. uh in our meeting with uh Senator Lazaro last week, the the chairman sort of took him through this process and told them what we're considering this morning with uh Greer and Jim and he was all on board. He he said that was a great idea because a plan such as this gives him tools that he needs to help us advocate in the general assembly to maybe get some of these things done. So he was very much in favor of what we and and basically said if we didn't have a plan and we didn't have numbers on a plan then he didn't know what to ask for and he couldn't help us. And so again, this is going to be an important step to getting that help. I think I said that right.

Absolutely. Chair, county manager. He he needs substance. He needs a plan uh to be able to to make some headway in the general assembly.

Um and I will I will add one thing if I may. when um when I had my own company, I will say that one of the things that made the biggest difference on the creation of Dicks Park was really getting everyone who wanted a park um together and having a defined plan. And it allowed the policy makers, it allowed in that case the um the nonprofit, you know, the private donors to be able to really see concretely where things were going. So, I'm I'm a firm believer and and Jim is too, that the best way to get to your end result is to really have a plan that everyone can work off of. And so, that's uh that's where we think we might be able to help you all.

The their proposal is before you. If you all have questions um for career, then she's here and if you have any questions of her just Yeah. Yeah,

just so the board knows, we we need multiple options in dealing with um and multiple avenues to address our NC12 um issues and this is just another source that will certainly help us uh moving forward in that direction. So, but the floor is open if you have any questions that you'd like to ask. I I just I read through the slide. I was wondering if someone Greer perhaps could just walk us through it one more time the graphic.

I can try, but I will um I would strongly recommend that we wait until General Trogden can be here. He is the engineer and I do not want to misstate. Um he's the he is the technical expert. County manager will do it. Greer, thank you. Right. Okay.

Right. And I'm I'm just looking and this is for you and the public. Um the goal is to create a long, mid, and short-term plan to address Highway 12 closures and to create a engagement strategy to organize all the entities that are going to be involved in that strategy uh to come together with the policy makers to to try to move this thing forward. Um they can develop a an engineering plan. Uh they'll work with us. They know the players at NC DOT and so they'll work with them and the Federal Highway Administration uh to develop a plan. Um, it's proposed that the plan would offer a short-term solution, a list of potential funding options, provide a roadmap for long-term solutions, and be costefficient. Um, they'll come up with a sort of a grassroots strategy. Um, the technical director will be Jim Trogden. He's a professional engineer. Uh, he was also the secretary of transportation and was with NC DOT for a number of years. Um uh there will be a community engagement, a marketing, a document phase of this that puts all those things together. Um and again, it it will get something on the table that we can work from that says we need to build a little bridge here for this amount or raise a road here for that amount or move a road over there for this amount. And then we can start working towards making those things happen so that access on Highway 12 will be preserved and maintained. I mean that's what our goal in all this is. So

was he there when the Ethridge Bridge was put in? Yes. Yes. Trogden there during that? Yes, he was. Because I if you I mean that to me that's a that's a prime example of that the bridges work because when the bridge was put in and it was put in as an emergency it was just like this a temporary bridge to solve the problem because we were cut off. That was when that storm cut in and took out the ranger station and it was built and then it shored up and showed that bridges work. So the fact that he knows the players, he knows the I mean, yeah,

we're if we don't do something, whether it's with them or with somebody else, we're spinning wheels because yeah, we've talked and talked and met and met and traveled and we've brought DOT down here. We've taken them on a bus. We've driven the roads. We've walked on the dunes. We've done all that stuff with them trying to make sure they understand. Uh, as I think Nati said or maybe B said, there still funding the strategic improvement plan has a formula. We're never going to fit in that.

We'll never score enough on that formula to do it. We we had a meeting with Lazaro. He was telling us how if it doesn't meet the STIP, then it goes into the regional plan. it doesn't meet the regional plan, it goes into the local plan. And by the time it gets to the local plan, all the money's gone. So then the local stuff gets done. And so we kind of get squeezed out because we can't score. And so we've got to find one, more affordable ways to do something to preserve access on Highway 12. And two, uh we've got to find ways to get those things done. And so hopefully this will help us move in that direction. Um costwise by my calculation uh it's about uh $55,000 over the term of this contract.

That's what I saw. Yes. And so that's what we'd be looking at uh to to get their help to get us through those goals. And and we could pay for that, Matt, through contingency. I was going to make a motion to retain Greer Bey consulting to conduct this study and provide us more solid long or short near mid and long-term solutions to Highway 12. Second. Okay. There's a motion on the floor by Commissioner Ross. It's been seconded by Commissioner Balance. The floor is open for further discussion.

I've worked many years with uh Mr. Trogden on uh some issues here in Dair County. Um and also pertaining even back to the conception of the Miss Katy project. Um he knows the area. He understands the problem and he is a type of person that does think outside the box and uh I support this wholeheartedly. Thank you, Vice Chairman. Anyone? Wasn't he director of DOT? Yes. Secretary of D. Secretary. Why didn't he fix it when he was director? What's he going to do now that he couldn't do when he was director?

Because um do funding is extremely limited. You going to be able to get it now? Well, he's going he's going to certainly help us find options for funding. You're talking, not just DOT funding. Okay. One last thing I'll tell you. I'm open to it for one year. Try it. See what happens. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I just, you know, you bring up you you spend 6,000 a year on something that's probably not going to do anything.

Well, let's take a step back. We're talking about a decade ago and we're talking about a decade ago where in take Rodanthy for example, uh they did come in and do beach nourishment in Rodanthy to preserve the highway. The problems a decade ago weren't as acute as the problems are today. Okay. And so again, under the way DOT funds thing, the formula didn't Mom been shoveling sand there for 30 years. It's been a long time thing.

Yeah. Commissioner, I I I'm optimistic that we're gaining some ground because my conversation and and I I know there's some reluctance to with respect to the dealing with Raven, but he has acknowledged the millions of dollars in the last 20, 30 years that DOT has spent pushing sand and twill. and he's made it clear to me that maybe that's not the best way to go to continue um saving highway 12 that that uh the legislature needs to finally step up to the plate and find other funding options to build u bridges as my task force recommends. U the answer is more bridges. Well, they had an opportunity to do it a long time ago when they discussed the what was it 15 mile bridge.

Yeah. And then they said it was going to cost too much money and then they shot it down. Right. Well, it's going to cost about 10 times more now than what it cost 15 years ago. That's true. If you built a single bridge, I just don't think that they're going to do it now either. Well, that's true if they build a single bridge. But could I ask could I ask the finished is finished is our task force has suggested and so so has the state that shorter bridges a perfect example as m commissioner balance just pointed out the the Ethridge bridge is working I mean the it's not working as a bridge bulkhead it's working it's working to ingress and egress off of Hatteris Island you know if we didn't permanent structure

kind of like what we need on the other side. But um at any any rate, go ahead. I'm just trying to clarify what what is your point, sir? That we should not pursue this contract with this engineering firm and consulting. They're going to do anything. I think 56,000 would be a uh I mean I'm open to it. Give them a shot. See what happens for one year. The annual contract. Just clarifying. County manager, would you reiterate what uh Senator Lazar stated to you? You said a few moments ago that without a definitive plan, both short, mid, and near, with cost and fact uh fact-based analysis, he's unable to really move forward seriously uh with it.

He believed that there are ways to get smaller amounts of money than $200 million bridges to do things to start beginning to solve this. But in order for him to pursue those and help us pursue those, he's got to have a plan. He's got to know where we're talking about doing. Would this consulting engagement produce such a plan? And this this is a step toward Yes. Look at the difference in the temporary bridging plan is huge. That's how that that's how a bridge got there was a temporary bridge. Well, and and that's how the the jug handler bridge got there as well. I mean, because there was a plan. Yep.

Anyone else? Okay, with that being said, those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I oppose. Sign. Motion carries unanimous. That brings us to item seven on the agenda. And if Chuck Lifeet would come up to talk to you about uh our transportation rates, Morning Commissioners. Morning, Chuck.

I'm here this morning on behalf of Dare County Transportation. Uh Dare County Transportation receives its funding in four primary uh ways. One is through Dare County. Two is through um the ROP funds which are funded uh through North Carolina DOT which are the rural operating assistance program. Uh the collection of fairs from individuals who just want to ride Dar County Transportation. And then finally through the non-emergency medical transportation program which is administered by uh Medicaid. Um Der County has not has been operating at a um revenue cost per mile uh revenue rate of $1.70 per mile. Um that rate was established prior to COVID. We don't have an exact date as to when that was established. In January of 2026, we completed the NC DOT worksheet to establish what our um per mile rate is should be, and it comes out to $3.92 per mile. Um based on that figure, uh you have before you the Dair County Transit rates that we would like approval for moving forward. Um we are requesting that there be no change in the per mile rate that we use for the rope funds. Uh that is a grant program and we draw down those funds uh throughout the year. It's a fixed amount. Um we are not requesting any change in the self-pay fairs. Those will stay the same. We are requesting approval to uh charge $3.92 per mile for the non-emergency Medicaid transportation program.

What do we charge today, Chuck? $1.70. $1.70. Sorry. Yeah. When When was the last time we had a rate increase? Prior to It was prior to CO. Don't know the exact year. Yeah, it's been a while. Yeah, it's been a while. And like like I said, I on the I sit on the transportation committee and and going through this and like Chuck said, this does not increase the individuals out of pocket for transfer. Correct. Correct. It is just what we build to uh Medicaid and Medicare. Just Medicaid. Medicaid. I'm sorry. Yes. Does Medicaid pick up all of it? Yes.

Yeah. So why would we not do this? We're we would I wanted to make sure that the board of commissioners was aware of all of our rate structure. So I'm asking you to approve all the rates. Um doing the Medicaid reimbursement. Um that's what it costs per mile and we should be able to get that reimbursement uh because of that. I don't want to change we don't want to change the other rates that are out there for Der County Transportation. There's no there's no downside to our traveling the people. That's what I'm working. That's where I'm searching, Bobby. I'm digging for it. Right. So there's no increased cost to Dair County citizens. Correct. Correct.

Wonderful. Is it just out of curiosity, is this due to fuel? It's a combination. Well, if you the last time we looked at it was before CO. It's it's fuel, insurance, cost of the it's all your fixed cost, uh salaries, um maintenance, all of that goes into play comes into play. Yeah. And plus this is also what makes

presented. Is there a second? seconded by a vice chair. Floor is open for further discussion. Hearing none, those in favor signify by saying I. Opposed like sign. Motion carries unanimous. Thank you, Chuck. Thank you, Commissioners.

That brings us to item eight on the agenda. At the last board meeting, we went through and we had a slideshow and we talked about uh the recreation plan and what has been recommended to us by the consultants that did that plan. after doing community engagement and figuring out what the community wanted with regard to recreation. When we looked at that, uh the cost of that was in excess of $50 million over time to get that done. And given that we didn't have a funding source to fund that, then the question came up and the decision was made to to put out to the voters and say, if you all would like to do the recreation plan, here's a method to pay for that. and that's the quarter cent sales tax increase that we talked about at the last meeting. Um, with that said, in order to move that forward, you have to adopt a resolution uh that we give to the uh board of elections for them to set that at the November election. And so that resolution is in your packet. Would you like

you read that resolution, please? Um whereas the Dare County Board of Commissioners over the course of several years was advised by its recreation advisory board and by members of the public of a need to improve recreation facilities for our citizens. And whereas in response to those concerns, Dair County engaged McGill and Associates to study and determine the community's needs and desires for recreation and to make recommendations to the board based upon those findings. And whereas the McGillan Associates study showed that to make the needed improvements and upgrades to recreation facilities and to provide for the current and future recreation needs of the county, an investment of 56.9 million was needed. And whereas there are not revenue sources sufficient to fund such improvements, and a new source of funding is necessary to meet the county's parks and recreation needs. Whereas the North Carolina General Assembly has enacted the one quarter sales, the one quarter cent sales and use tax under article 46, chapter 105 of the North Carolina general statutes, which authorizes counties to levy a local sales and use tax. And whereas in order to levy the local sales and use tax, the county of Dair must conduct a special advisory referendum on the question of whether to levy a local sales and use tax. and the election shall be held in accordance with the provisions of NCGS 163-287. And whereas it is the desire of the board of commissioners of Dare County to offer the possibility of such additional sales tax to the voters of Dare County in an advisory referendum pursuant to NCGs 105-537. Now therefore, be it resolved by the DARE by the board of commissioners for the county of DARE as follows. One, a referendum is hereby called during the normal time the polls are open on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, at which there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the county of Dare. The question stated in section three of this resolution two, the said referendum shall be held in accordance with the

proceed procedures of NCGS 163287. The Dare County Board of Elections is hereby requested to conduct said referendum and take all steps necessary to that end in accordance with the provisions of this section. Three, the form of the question to appear in the ballots and in the instructions to voters for said referendum shall be substantially as follows. For or against local sales and use tax at the state at the rate of one quarter% in addition to all other state and local sales taxes. Section four, the clerk to the board of commissioners is hereby authorized and directed to mail or deliver a certified copy of this resolution to the Der County Board of Elections within three business days after its passage here. Five, the Board of Elections shall publish a legal notice of the special advisory referendum in accordance with NCGS 163-287. Six, this resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.

Thank you, county managers. Any questions? Uh yeah. Uh so I thought we were going to discuss the 57 million at some point in the budget meetings. And here in line three, the McGill Associate study showed to make the needed improvements, upgrades, recreational facilities, provide for current future needs of the county an investment of $57 million was needed, 56.9. By signing this resolution in today, are we confirming that we're only going to spend the 50 that the 25 cent on wreck board? No, we're not committing to spend any of the plan. You You've got to get the referendum passed before you can make decisions on spending that. If you

Well, then why is that even in here? If you move forward with the plan, then the referendum will cover the cost to implement the plan as well as provide dollars to cover the operations of the new facilities and the things that you I understand that, but I'm not good with that plan. Okay. I'd like to see the money split up between the departments. I said that last meeting. I still I think that it'd be fiscally more responsible to spend maybe a smaller project on the recck department and spread it out amongst our departments. So, if this is only locking us into that 57 million for recck departments, I'm going to vote no. It it does not lock you into it by statute. Okay.

Anybody else? Anyone else comment clarify that? We I'm sorry. Will you finish, Commissioner? I mean, are you I mean, can are we still going to discuss this money at a later date or are we just all in on this rec? Because that's going to determine the outcome of my vote.

You You're going to have to discuss this again because there's a lot of things you got to do to imple if the tax were to pass and you wanted to move forward, you got to do a lot of things to move it forward. So, yes, you have to discuss that again. You have to budget it. You have to bid it. You have to allocate. You have to set up your timing. You have to decide what your priorities are. You got to do all that stuff uh before you can move forward with with the plan. Uh the plan gives you the outline of the needs and then you all have to set and it gives you somewhat of a priority for those needs and you have to decide whether you're going to move forward with all of it or some of it or how you're going to proceed. Okay. Commissioner Ross.

Uh yes. Uh just wanted to clarify from some earlier public comment. Does this board have the authority on its own to pass a quarter cent sales tax increase on Dair County? No. Is this resolution in any way attempting to circumvent that lack of jurisdiction or authority? No. It's to it's to give you that authority. Is this authority authority only available to this board after the results of a referendum of the community of residents in Dair County approving or rejecting? Correct. Okay. Just want to make sure I got it. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Ross. Anyone else? I'll make a motion to approve.

Okay. There's a motion on the floor by Commissioner Balance to approve. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by the vice chair. Floor is open for further discussion. Hearing none. Those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. Like sign. Motion carries. Unanimous.

Mr. Chairman. That brings us to item nine. Uh we've been in contact with uh the Department of Transportation. As you know, their ongoing and continuing maintenance of Highway 12 involves pushing sand back up and and building those dunes along the canal zone and other areas that are threatened. And they take that sand usually from the other side, it washes from east to west. And when it washes over to the west side of the road, they push it back onto the east side of the road. But there's a sand loss that occurs each time that occurs. and they're running they I say running out they they have issues with having sufficient sand to build the dunes back as they occur. And so as they get opportunities for sand and and sand moves up that they haven't moved, they need a place to put it and hold it so that they can use it when the time comes uh to patch a hole in a dune somewhere. We have a bar pit or not a bar pit, a a storage sand storage pit over by the helellipad in Rodanthy. Um, it was designed and built for when we dredged out the the emergency channel into the Rodanthy Harbor that the sand was pumped into that holding area uh until it dewatered and then we would haul the sand out or do whatever with it so that it would be empty to be used for the next time there was a a dredge event. Um, for a number of reasons that we've talked about a number of meetings ago, the core hasn't and have gotten themselves into a catch 22 with dredging the Rodanthy Harbor. So that they effectively can't do it. They they can't dredge it because in order to dredge it, there has to be a need. When you identify the need, then they have to get in a budget. Then it takes two years to get a budget and by then your emergency harbor is filled in. So we have to go around the core. And so what we've done

is we've gone about getting our own permits to dredge that Rodanthy Harbor channel. And in doing so, it would be done uh with a hopper dredge and not or a bucket dredge, not with uh a pipeline dredge that needs a sand place to dump it. And so that makes that sand store that area available. And DOT would like to use that to put sand in and store it for when they need to patch holes in the dune. um on the surface that we don't have issues with that. I've talked with Barton about that from the position and the vice chairman and there's no issues uh from the dredging side with that. Um what we've told them is that if they if you all allow them to do that, then they've got to do two things. One is there's an overflow drain that you have to keep in maintaining it if you ever are going to use it for dredge spoil. Uh and it costs a significant amount of money to repair that. And so they've got to make sure they don't damage it or if they do they're going to repair it. And two, that if for some reason we had to dredge and we had to use a pipeline dredge and we needed somewhere to put sand, they would remove their sand so that our spoil site would be available for that. And they've agreed to do that as well. So with those two things, then it's before you all to see whether you would authorize them to use that spoil site and Rodanthy as their sand storage site as well. So you need,

excuse me, go ahead. I was I was going to make the motion to approve uh to let the Department of Transportation utilize that borrow pit is it is definitely another tool in the box we can use to help for Highway 12. Certainly. Okay. Second. All right. It's a motion on the floor by the vice chair. It's been seconded by Commissioner Balance. Floor is open for further discussion. Hearing none. Those in favor signify by saying I. I post like sign. Motion carries unanimous.

Uh item 10 is the use of the former uh COA building, the the building on Twifford down there. Um so when we built COA, the idea was that COA building was going to accommodate the needs of COA and that ultimately they would give us that site and and those structures to the county. And over time what's happened is COA has been successful even probably more successful than we anticipated and they are using both the new COA for structure as well as uh the building on Twifford and and would like to continue doing that. Um and so with that said there's the building as you know is in two halves. There's a breezeway between them. The western building is the newer of the buildings. It's the one that they use and and is in good shape and we've kept and maintained that. Now, I mean, the Easter, the western part is the old roller rink. And

and we had our folks go in there and our uh architects and engineers go in there and they said it wasn't worthy of repair. It would cost more to repair it than it would to fix it. And COA basically said, "Whoa, ho, stop. We think we can use it." Well, when they got ready to use it, they went in there with their folks and they came out with the same conclusion that we we already had is that that building really isn't suitable to be repaired and can't be brought up economically to use. And and so they're suggesting that that building be demolished and that we keep the newer building there to do that. and they would continue to use the newer building uh as the COA as part of the COA campus and that if they ever didn't use it for that purpose, if the census went down or we went to remote learning and all of a sudden they didn't need it, then all of that could revert to us as we originally planned. And so that's what's before you today is to authorize is to to get on record that we support that plan so that we can move forward one with the demolition and two they can continue to use that.

Are we doing the demolition? Uh yeah because uh how does that like what's that look like? Because I thought see so who owns the property? They own the property but who owns the buildings? They own well if you own the property you own the buildings. Not always but yeah. Yes. So, so they own they own all of it. Uh, but under the rules, just like schools can own the schools, we have to maintain.

We've have to fund it to maintain it. So, you know, we could give them the money to do the demolition or we could just do it. Uh, it's much easier and simpler for us just to do it and we've got to fund it anyway. And we've got uh Dustin has done it a number of times before and it's just easier and simpler. And so they would authorize us to demolish that point of the building and we would do it if if you all agree. The the reason we need to demolish it is become an eyesore. Is it dangerous? We're putting money in it. Well, but but why? Well, how it's not occupied. Toys tots or whatever uses that building. Um

so I'm Yeah, I've been in there. I've seen that. I'll tell you my thought, but I'll have to tell you I didn't talk about this specifically with COA. COA leases um a lot over adjacent to that property that they use for parking. And if this building was removed, then this part of the site could be used for that parking and then they wouldn't have to continue or we wouldn't have to continue because we fund them. That's right. to spend money for that leased parking area. And the building is, I mean, it's in pretty bad shape and it's going to continue to deteriorate and and we don't want to keep painting it and putting roofs on it and and then if we're not going to do that, then it's going to look

we need to get rid of it. Cool stuff like that. I mean, didn't we just replace the roof on that place? You know, we I I think we did on the the new part, but I don't know about the old part. Yeah, we did on did on the well we did on the western part the western part and that's the part that's going to stay that's the part we're going to keep the eastern building is the one we're going to keep and the western parts when it's coming down we're keeping the eastern part the new part keeping the new two conflicting hangers right there just got said we're keeping the new part the one at the far if you drive up the parking lot the one I'm very familiar with it I look at it every day there you go that's what we're keeping

all right I mean I that I don't think that hardly anybody uses I mean, is the school using the other building now? The the school was using and is going to use that. They've run out of room. They're going to start putting some of their adult They are going to start using it over there. Okay. I just had never seen anybody there in five years. All right. Well, whatever you want. Tear down. Tear down. Okay. Pleasure of the board. Motion to approve demolition. There's a motion on the floor by the vice chair to approve demolition.

I'm sorry. the the the motion, I'm sorry, needs to be that we agree that they can continue to use that and not have to give us the property as we originally agreed and that if they don't use it, then um it come it would come back to us as we originally agreed and then secondly that you all would agree with or approve the demolition of the property. Okay. Okay, I'm good with that. Did you did you get that? Yes, moved. Okay. Make it a motion. I vote to second. There's a second. Agree to that. A second. Do you agree to the motion? Yeah.

Okay. That was amended. So, all right. Commissioner Burrus. Those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Oppos like sign. Motion carries unanimous. Item 11 is the airport authority lease. Um, in our ongoing saga with FAA trying to get approval, uh, to get our property released over there, um, one of the things that came up was they didn't think that the description that was in our lease that was done in 197 was sufficient to of course not

describe the property. and they didn't think that we had spelled out well enough it was good back who's who's who's paying for what. And so what this lease amendment does is it describes the property and it says that the airport pays for all the use of the property and the county has no responsibility for that. And so it really that's all that it does and it's simply to satisfy a box on a checklist with the FAA to get us some maintenance and stuff. Yeah, we get everything done.

Um we give them a stipen every year but it doesn't go to any particular thing and and we give it to them because we want to support the airport but not because it's our responsibility to maintain it. Yeah. Um so that's what this is for and it's here for your approval. So we got everything done. We're good. Um, finally agreed to everything. Did the FAA finally I would tell you that my perception is yes, but every time we get there then some some other person we never talked to comes up and says, "Oh, what about this?" And we didn't even know we needed this. What about this? And so I've talked to him about every day. 89 things is what it started out at.

There you go. 30. Um, I think I think we're we're there because we at least we we are now having direct conversations with the FAA which we couldn't get through to anybody before. And so we've had some pretty productive meetings. We've given them a lot of stuff. Um, they gave us a checklist at our last meeting. This is the last thing on that checklist. And so when they get this, they have everything that we that they've asked us for that they told us that we needed. Um, and so we think that it'll be a hope that it'll be a relatively smooth process to get those approvals. I'll make a motion to approve the lease and authorize county manager to sign. I'll second it.

There's a motion on the floor, Madame Vice Chair. To approve is seconded by Commissioner Cre. Floor is open for further discussion. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Amend the motion for the chairman to sign because that's how it's written. Chairman. Okay. Amend it. Second. Agree. Yeah. Floor is open for discussion. Hearing none. Those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppos like sign. Motion carries unanimous.

Uh next is your consent agenda. And on the consent agenda, you have the approval of the minutes from February the 12th, the tax collector's report, uh the cable TV contract for EMS station 2, uh the lease for the AT&T site on Link Road, library internet contract, the pathway grant budget amendment, financial travel and policy updates, uh large item pickup for Dupont Trucking, uh budget amendments for the new emergency management grant, uh the Der County DHS s public health increase for the youth center fundraising budget. Uh the DHS HHS social services North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affair grants. Uh and 12, the resolution authorizing the execution delivery of an equipment installment financing agreement under NCGS 168-20.

Um question on the large item pickup. Um did we put that went out for bid, right? Did that go out for bid? So the yeah as just like before we we we we bid the major contract and DuPont was a subcontractor under our major contract. So we have a storm we can engage that contract right and they that's what we did and and then they sent DuPont out to do that work under the contract that we bid and I think we bid that every like every five years. So, this is coming up for the I don't know what the term is, but I don't know when we did it before, but we do it as a part of our emergency operations plan so that we've got in place contracts, right?

And and to meet all the FEMA requirements and so we bid it on the cycle that they required. And when it went out to bid, did you get any local bids? Uh, no. Now, remember, we didn't bid this event. We bid, we put out a bid to provide debris removing and and set up what we were talking about. And typically those things are are larger than what our people can do. And so when we get that in place, um, we have that contract and then we can then implement it anytime we have a storm. And that way we don't have to wait 30 or 60 or 60 days for a bid process to do it because we've already pre- bid it. Right.

All right. And so that's what we've done and and we've simply implemented that. This is the company that is under that contract at the end of whatever the five-year term is. And I don't it's it's it's not in its first year, but I don't know how far along we are. We'll bid it again. And if the local contractors can meet the the bid criteria, then they can bid and and they'll have their opportunities as well. It says it went down roughly 56,000. I'm sorry. It went Oh, yeah. From when it was Yeah. the the debris level was a little smaller than the first time we did it. Did they have the contract?

Point point being is and I with respect to Commissioner Balance's question, we get we get questions all of the time about local biders. The point being is when we put this bid out, those local business have have an opportunity to bid and we don't get bids from them. Right. Well, there's some so so then we then we get criticized because we're not giving business to local biders. Well, how can we understand the process?

There's some criteria that a lot of the local bid and we have the same problem when we build things. For example, bid bonds um when you do want they've got to be prepared to do up to like a two or three million dollar debris removal and they've got to be able to afford to buy the bonds to cover that and a lot of the smaller guys can't do that. Secondly, they got to have equipment and facilities available to meet a hurricane need, not just a little need. And a lot of the guys can't do that. And so it really makes it difficult for the local folks to bid it. And if you try to do every small debris pickup like we're doing and bid it, now you're waiting 60 days or more with all that debris out there that you can't remove it. And that's not acceptable either. So we don't have a lot of choices. Right.

And I get it from the local side, but that's just the way the rules are set up. Thank you. And they're not our rules, by the way. They're the FEMA rules. Right. Yeah. Motion to approve the consent agenda. Motion on the floor by Commissioner Balance to approve consent agenda as presented. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by the vice chair. Any further discussion? Hearing none, those in favor signify by saying I.

Oppos like sign. Motion carries unanimous. Um, next is the Virginia S or your board appointments. Uh, the one that you have this month is the Virginia Siliclet Community Center Advisory Board. Jonathan Deluchia and Sarah Hester Smith have resigned from the board. The nominating committee uh recommends Olivia Spencer to fill Sarah Hester Smith's position and the seat rem by Jonathan Lucas. They're requesting that it remain vacant for now. Uh, I nominate Olivia Spencer to fill the seat on the Virginia Stilllet Community Center Advisory Board. Okay, there's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Second. Second by the vice chair.

I believe Commissioner Bur, those in favor of the motion signify by saying I

I posted like sign. Motion carries unanimous. uh your upcoming board and committee appointments. You have the airport authority in April with one term, juvenile crime prevention council with one term, the mans harbor marina commission with three terms, and the older adult services advisory council with two terms. In May, you have the veterans advisory council with two terms, and the zoning board of adjustments with two terms. And then in June, you have the college of the album board of trustees with one term. You have the extr territorial jurisdiction district town of Knackhead one term. You have the fees center advisory board with six terms. The haters community center board. Thank you, county manager. That brings us to item 14, commissioner's business, county manage attorney's business. I'll go back to the county manager for anything else he may have.

Uh, yes, sir. So the I have one thing and the chairman and I have again in meeting with these folks about Highway 12, about beach nourishment funding, uh about all the other issues that we have, we've tried to reach out to our federal partners, uh and our federal delegations. And as I was explaining to somebody this morning, we're kind of a a gnat in their ear up there. um and we don't have the connections to the right people to get the right things done. Um so we talked with our lobbyists that we use in North Carolina and asked could they help us in Washington DC and they do have a lobbying group that is in Washington DC. Um we talked with them at some length. What it was it Bob about a week or 10 days ago.

Yeah.

To see what they could do. Um, we talked to them, you know, about lobbying for federal funding or helping us find federal grants or navigating the federal structure to find funds to do all those things that were listed in the chairman's letter that he sent uh to our delegation in Raleigh. We're trying to engage our delegations and the people that make decisions in DC along those same lines. Um so they've offered to or serve as our lobbying firm uh in DC for those issues and for any other issues that would we bring for them. U what they have proposed. We pay the our lobbyists in Riley. I think we pay them $5,000 a month while the legislatores in session. Uh the the group from DC is proposing that we pay them $7,500 per month. um they've proposed that we do this through December and see what results we get and then we can look back at December and decide what we're going to do going forward if our money's been well spent or not. And so what's before you is do we authorize them to move forward? That's about 10 months and you're talking about a roughly $75,000 commitment um if we choose to go in that direction for them to lobby for us from now till December. There there's nothing in writing here or anything.

I have a a letter, but I just got it Friday afternoon or you'd have it. So, okay. I don't We got You should have You should have that in front of you. No, I have a Lisa. Yeah, I don't think I got that either. Yeah, I got a lease. That's not it. Yeah, I got You need the Magguire. Yeah, I I'm glad I don't know. I'm going to need to understand more before I'm willing to say yes. I just don't know, Bobby. I don't have a yes or no in mind. I just don't know. Okay. Can we take the clerk to to email I thought you had emailed that proposal to the board. I thought we did, too.

Yeah, I thought you had emailed that to them. I'd like to see what we've got what with what we're doing right now, too. We've just just getting Greer in there. And yeah, can we look at this again next month? We'll get the clerk to send you that proposal. You'll have time to review it. We'll talk about it at our We can do it at our Well, at our April meeting. That's right. We do it at April. We'll bring it back. Okay. Fair enough. That'd be good. Thanks, Y. That's all I have. Yeah. Thank you, county manager. Um, Miss Knight, Caitlyn is sitting in for our public information officer, Dorothy Ha, today. Caitlyn, thank you for doing that. Is there anything you need to share with us you'd like to?

Yes,

I'll just share one thing if I may. Um, our DARE A250 fair will take place in downtown Mano. You may um have seen the release that went out last week. We will have free tickets that will go live next week. So, I just wanted to highlight that dare250.orgfair is where folks can get those tickets. And we're only ticketing the evening portion of the event. The morning event will take place from 11 to 4 downtown Mano. There will be vendors, historical storytelling, street performers, and two stages set up downtown and then it will transition at 3:30 to Rono Island Festival Park. And since there's a capacity of about 3,500, that's the portion that will be ticketing. So, get your tickets as quickly as possible next week when they go live.

Great. Thank you, Caitlyn. I believe um I believe I was stated correctly in chairman's comments that the state of the county sold out in Dare right it's almost I think we have 10 tickets so darante.govsoc to get those. It will be because uh we kn usually have more and and we have to turn folks down, but um once again we'll tape that as well. Correct. It will be recorded and we usually release it the week following right your presentation and then we'll have of course the Saturday's um presentation

in Buckton, right? And we still there are tickets available for that. So, I think we've got about 30 people signed up for the Buckton portion. So, we can still see quite a few more. Okay. I I moved it down there, Marielle, and let you folks know. I'm telling them 30 looking for more. Um, thank you, Caitlyn. Um, yes, sir. I was looking at my list here. The gentleman spoke earlier about the coyote issue. I didn't know whether you were going to speak to that. Yeah, we can.

Marielle and I have talked about that several times. I've talked with NC Wildlife uh resources and they're prepared to come down to Buckton or Frisco or wherever we want to have them come meet and have a community meeting to talk to them about coyotes and what they can do, how they can help solve some of those problems. And and we would be glad to to set that up. Uh it's just a matter of picking a date and a place and and they said they'd be glad to help us out. So we can we can do that. Um we've done that before in other areas where we've had coyote problems. Um and they've done that in some of the towns where the towns have had coyote problems. And so we can do that as well.

And I think Dorothy was also going to put a link on the website to either the park service or the wildlife that had some additional information on the website so people could click over if they weren't able. mechanisms for that is funds that they get from the lottery. And so their superintendent has just signed those requests and I'll need Bob to sign them um before we can execute those. Sir,

I would say just as an abundance of caution, someone make a a motion to approve uh the use of the lottery funds and allow the chairman to direct those to the school board. So move. Okay. Second motion on the floor by the vice chair, seconded by Commissioner Balance. Any further discussion hearing? None. Those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed like that. Motion carries unanimous. Thanks. That brings us to um commissioner's business and uh Commissioner Burrus, will you kick that off, please?

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um very quick, we just, you know, we had a great u chili fundraiser yesterday at McGrass Burger Shack. Shout out to them for hosting uh for the DARE Education Foundation to help raise money for them. And it was a a packed house in there. It was a wonderful event. We had a lot of fun. Um, and that's always good to give back and be at these fundraisers. One of the fun parts of our job. Uh, secondly, uh, tomorrow is voting day for the primaries. So, I encourage everyone, uh, regardless of party affiliation, get out and vote. It's uh it's our right and we need to exercise it and it's our civic duty and it's something I hope everyone will have the chance to do tomorrow is is get out and vote and support your candidates. Um that being said, support your people. Don't be derogatory towards the other folks. Make sure you support your folks and and leave it at that. I think that's the best way to handle that. Um and and rise above. So um The other thing I have to say is is looking forward to a uh a busy spring here. Um the A250 is getting going. I do have plans to try and get around to all of those locations. I think that'll be a lot of fun. Um I'm amazed that somebody's already done it, so congratulations. Uh that was quite something to see. And um that's all I have this month, sir.

Thank you, Commissioner. Appreciate Thank you, Commissioner Balance. I'm going to be quick this time. Pardon? I said I'm going to be quick this time. Wow. It has been a fun month and I have finally dethawed my feet. It took a little while, but I I got there. So, um big, um first flight girl, uh high school girls are in the first round of playoffs. So, the game's tonight. It's I think it starts at six at First Flight High School. Our our high school girls are playing in the playoffs. So Oh, it's tonight at 6. Yes, I'm going. All right. I mean, I'm here up here already. I might as well hang out for the day, right?

I can find something to do. Actually, I am. Um, so the RPO has been asked I I'm on the RPO for um Dair County and they've been the RPO again, Mary. I'm sorry, the rural planning organization

for the abomaral commission. So, that's what this whole stip thing and everything that everybody's talking about with the roads. Um there's that going to that with Bob and Bobby on Thursday and looking very forward to being in Raleigh to advocate for our roads. It's going to be a big one. Um I did want to remind everybody down in Hatteris about the uh about that state of the county. Please come out and see it. It's it's free. Just go in and register and we're doing I think the doors are opening about 9 or 9:15. I think there she's um Dorothy's going to have coffee and all and then it'll start at 10:00. So, that's um really important to hear from uh the chairman on that and I'm excited to hear to for it to be down in Hatteris. Um I want to congratulate our employees of the month and I'll get teeyed because I'm really get emotional about stuff like this, but I don't think anybody comprehends what this lady does for us. Like it the employee of the year could not have like she's how many times I've called her and emailed her and can you do this? Can you do this? And she never says no. She always takes care of it. Huge. Like when you're trying to juggle so many things, she's on it and appreciate you so much. But oh, also just to acknowledge all of our employees. It's so I love the employee of the month. I love that, you know, taking the time to recognize those that step above and beyond is just really important and I'm really glad that we're able to do that for them and showcase their hard work for us. So that's all I got. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Ross. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, no wets suit. He didn't wear a wet suit this year. I'm proud of it. There there is absolutely no shame on this board from our chairman. I mean, I I valiantly went in to that 39° water if you can believe it. 39°. I saw you. I saw you. I saw.

And it was a great great fun day for a great cause. So, congratulations to all of our Special Olympians. Uh, Commissioner Balance, you took the words out of my mouth. I would have I will not elaborate other than to echo the sentiments of our service month, our service pin award members or winners recipients, Barton and Ray. Of course, our 12 employees of the month and Skyler simply the best. So, hats off there. Listen, this Highway 12 thing is gaining traction and I could not be more encouraged. Uh I know that the letter campaign yielded results. We have a Greer Batty consultancy now going to look at it. County manager, you emphasized what Senator Lazaro was looking for. We have the people on Hatteris Island mobilized. Uh we have a short potentially short, middle, and long-term plan coming from this consulting. And I couldn't be more excited. This has been and remains a strategic challenge to the county and I'm very very impressed that we have moved it to this point and it's gaining momentum and accelerating. So, thank you. Uh number three, couple of event reminders. March 15th, St. Patrick's Day parade. The Kelly's parade is on. March 28th, a big uh event for

Go back to that. Let them know we got a float. Say let them

Yes. Uh, the Dare County Commissioners will have a float in the St. Patrick's Day parade. Yes, Mary Helen, we will be there. We will be there in mass as a group celebrating this wonderful holiday. On the 28th, the uh OBX Thrive Initiative. I see Dr. Davies in the back, one of the leaders there from Health and Human Services along with our hospital. and it is a very very impressive countywide effort to develop very healthy living habits and live longer, happier, healthier lives. That event was on March 28th at Duckwood's Country Club. And I'm going to take a personal moment here and embarrass one of our staff. I have to ask Miss Kite, what is going to happen two months from today to the day? Please answer. I thought surely you were going to call me out for only dipping a toe in during the

I was letting that go. This is more important to you. What is it? My wedding. Congratulations. Congratulations. Thank you. That's all I have, Mr. Chairman. Very good. Thank you, Commissioner Ross. You got put in the budget for vice chair. How about the vice chair? Vice Chair.

Uh, yeah. I got a couple things. Uh, first off, Skylar, very welld deserved. We cannot do what we do without your help. You make our jobs a thousand times easier. Even though it's not an easy job, but you do your best to make it as easy as possible for us, and I cannot thank you enough. Um, I I agree with Rob sentiments. Highway 12 is is taking root and is going. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I know when you first established the uh Highway 12 task force, uh I could see things starting to happen even at that point and now we're starting to really roll and uh hopefully we can get some more things happening on Highway 12 because that is a vital part to Hatteris. Um the polar plunge was fun. It was cold. Um I thoroughly enjoyed uh diving into the water in my swimsuit and uh

that's not true. it. Well, yeah, it was. No, diving in was fun. Just when I came up, the second wave hit me right in the face. He dove in. He came up with that wave his face. I was like, that that was not too fun. But, uh, yeah, something about, you know, salt water rushing up your nose just doesn't feel good. His eyes are like,

yeah. Um, but anyway, I enjoyed it and uh the main thing is there was to support our athletes in Dair County and for them to raise um $20,000 more than what their goal was is outstanding. Is very outstanding. And uh my heart's my heart and my pledge and everything in my goes out to them and I want to support them 110%. Um, coming up March 21st, DARE Medflight open house at the hangar, uh, the new hangar over in the at the airport. Uh, from 10 to 1. Uh, come on out and of course get get to look at the helicopter and also the EMS staff will have different uh, stations out there to where you can learn some uh, first aid and some life- saving procedures as well. Um, and also in past years, I don't know this year, I haven't heard yet, but they normally have cookies. So, come out and get you a cookie. Uh, look at Dare Medflight. Look at that operation. It is truly remarkable. Um, I can say this that uh DARE MedFlight and with Dare County EMS, there is less than a handful of EMS helicopters in the United States that are not supported by trauma center and DARE MedFlight is one of those. So, it's a very impressive organization. Please come out and take a look. Um, we also have uh the favorite part of all of our commissioners meetings, our pet of the week.

Our pet of the week this week is Sunshine. This sweet girl was brought into our care from another shelter who sadly could not keep her any longer. This is a new fresh start for her. We are excited to see her find her forever home. She's great on a leash, housrained, and adores people. To adopt Sunshine or foster one of our other animals, come visit us Monday through Friday at our shelter located in Mano. For more information, visit our website at obxspca.org or visit our OBX SPCA Facebook page.

So, definitely run out to the OBX SPCA, take a look at Sunshine, and maybe you can give her her a uh forever home. And uh I think you might have to beat uh Mariana Balance down there because she was like adoring that that little puppy dog. So Oh, that one already. Yeah. So definitely go down to SPCA. Let's give Sunshine a forever home. Thank you very much. Thank you, Vice Chairman. Commissioner uh Baitman is unfortunately not able to be with us today. He had excused absence. He's out of the out of out of the state. He's taking care of international affairs for Deer County. That's right. Commissioner Krief.

Well, uh, it started off on a good note. Uh, I don't know how many people watched, but I most certainly did with most of the country. Watch the Olympics and obviously the gold medal hockey games, women's and the men's. I don't want to get in that argument. But anyway, that was incredible for uh us to take home the gold. First time since 1980. Uh, it was an amazing game to watch. Overtime goal. uh all the USA chance, the pride, the team coming back for the state of the union with all their gold medals. It was an incredible thing and I hope everybody enjoyed that as much as I did. Uh as far as county stuff goes, uh had some concerns about some of the fields in Mano. Uh I'm going to work on that. We're going to get with the school board and hopefully get something done about that. Um Fuzzy to talk about what you spoke of in public comment. I believe that we do need to look into a full-time option for the veterans affairs. You're not the first veteran to say something about that. I've had a a few reach out to me personally about that. I I do believe that we need to potentially look into that moving forward, Bobby. I don't know if there's anything for that.

Um the answer is we have asked her before to do that and she she didn't want to work full-time, right? So, it isn't because we didn't offer the opportunity. Yeah. Um and we haven't talked about it in a while. So, I guess well, what I'd like to suggest is we go back to her, ask her, and then bring back a proposal in in April with whatever additional cost it would be for us. If she and if she's willing, she Bobby just recently she approached me on that. She and her husband, we we chatted just briefly, but it was something I was going to follow up. So, and she may have changed her mind, but but in the past, we have made that offer.

Yes. It it seems like she did have a change of heart based on my comments. That's good. If you'll come back with us with a confirmation of her willingness to do that and what additional cost it would be, we can address that at our April meeting. I'm looking at Sheila, she'll take care of that. Okay. Sheila or whoever. Look, Sheila, I'm working on it right now. She's on it right now. Thank you. Sorry for the interruption, Commissioner Cre.

No, no, that's a good interruption. That's fantastic news. That's what I wanted to hear. That's great. Uh other things we got is uh coming up obviously we got the 250 celebration uh now that it's moved to Manio. I think that's a good place for it, you know, here on Ron Oak Island where it all started. Uh so I'll be attending that and uh who I love American history and what a what a better place to do it than the first place uh that was ever attempted colonization in the entire uh United States. So that's that's a cool deal. Moving forward from that, obviously we just had the uh marine fisheries meeting up in Kittyhawk. Um, another pointless uh agenda item going after Bonita with no real stock assessments, no data. once again proving that the marine fisheries board is uh only a agenda driven board and uh as many scientists as they pay and have on the uh marine biologists they pay the state pays over there at marine fisheries they certainly don't utilize them because they do not have any valid data at all and they shut down my trout again other than at I hope that everyone has a wonderful spring coming up. Temperatures are getting warmer. I know everybody loves that. Have a great spring. Thank you, Commissioner Krief. Um I too watched a lot of the Olympics and my hats off to the men and women hockey and all the rest of the recipients. But Canadian said we cheated. The referee said we cheated. I mean said the referees cheated. Gave us the game. Especially the men.

Well, they literally got caught cheating in Curlin. So 51st state.

Pretty pretty sad. You get beat and you you can't you can't handle the pressure. Um my last item was about the veterans and thank you Mr. Holt for your comments and appreciate that and we'll look into that. get back to us in April. Um, we we may have some timing issues with this Magguire Woods in uh in uh DC. Um, so I'm I'm going to ask the board to take about a 20 minute break and take a look at that proposal. um county manager um share with us what your thoughts may be there with respects to doing this now rather than waiting until April because of our situation with

I don't know if it will matter but in talking with uh Congressman Murphy's office um they were giving me the idea that the windows for getting earmarks and funding choices will close here shortly and I was concerned that if we waited until April to give them the go-ahhead. We may miss the deadlines to get into any of those appropriations. That doesn't mean we will or that doesn't mean we'll get anything, but at least we haven't maybe passed up the opportunity. So, that was

and but then again, just I'm sorry, just a question there. The consultants don't put in that request though. Greg Murphy would put in that request. Correct. So the issue is what what the consulting group is going to do is going to find us hopefully not only advocate for normal appropriations but for grants and other things for ear marks for whatever else they can come up with

that helps us move these things forward. Um you know there's some dollars that have to be spent before you can bid things. I don't know what the grants are out there for, but there may be opportunities to get a grant that would let us put some more sand on a beach somewhere or, you know, do something with um a dune line that we need to repair or, you know, one of those other things that was in the chairman's letter. Um there may be some opportunities to to get into the word of funding. I I again, I'm speaking out of school. I don't know what. I just what I don't want to do is wait a month and miss those deadlines as things start gearing back up because they recess in the summer. So,

and we could go back to them as well and ask them if they would consider us um contracting with them on a monthly basis and see if they would entertain that. That way, you know, we don't have to go to till all the way to December. Um um it's just it's just another food for thought to run that by him. But I I would like to take a u recess for you to have chance to look at that and then we'll come back and discuss it. Terminate. I think it says we could terminate in 30. We could terminate in 30 days. Terminate. That's what the contract says. Yes, sir.

Yeah. So, can I have a motion to recess for 20 minutes? Motion to recess for 20 minutes. Okay. There's a motion on the floor by the vice chair. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Balance. Those in favor signify by saying I opposed like sign. Motion carries unanimous.

County Board of Commissioners meeting back to order. And um in in reference to this uh Meguire Woods uh proposal, we have some um some uh concerns with it and we need to work that out with them. So we will we will go back to them with that those questions and and um issues that we have concerns with and see if we can include it in their proposal. But if I have to, uh, we'll call a special meeting in a couple of weeks after we've ironed this out to discuss it further. If that's if that's meets the pleasure of the board. I'm good with it.

Okay. All right. With that being said, then I need a motion to adjourn until 900 a.m. on April the 7th at 11:29. I make the motion to adjurnn. We're before 11:30. There's a motion. This hasn't happened in a long time. There's a motion to adjourn commissioner balance. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by the vice chair. All those in favor signify by saying I. I post like sign. Motion carries unanimous. Thank you.