City Council - Regular Meeting

I'm good. Rally, you ready? It's 6:30. We're going to go ahead and call our meeting order. Please firm yourself. Any wish to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting please to complete a comment card turned into the clerk. Please include a comment or matter that will be addressed on the card to be heard. Please refrain from comments until the public comment portion is completed unless directed by the board. Heavenly Father, we just come to you. Thank you for blessing us to be here today. But we ask that this meeting run smoothly, Lord God. It gets done what you will have to get done, Lord God. Lord, I ask that you bless each and every person here and all families represented, Lord God. And I ask that you bless the town of Kala. In your mighty name we pray. Amen.

Amen.

Let's please remain standing for the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Be seated over the agendas and third agendos. We have the minutes Stacy and that's not in the old don't worry about it right now. We've um just so you all know we Stacey been here since she walked in at 9:00 this morning. I ran home 15 minutes and things to come back and change it. We have she has turbo with Black Mountain for hours. Today we got a surprise. Um Josh from LGC who works with Black Mountain software also came in for to bring us our um scanners and update some equipment and left. And then he forgot to make our printers be able to talk. And one computer doesn't talk at all anymore. is going to have to come back. Stacy called him and wherever he was, he was back there in 20 minutes. So, um, we'll add that later and let everybody look over those. Okay.

I make a motion to table the approval of minutes from the following date, Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Need a second. All in favor? Anybody opposed? Any public comment? We have any comment? No. No ma'am. I'll need a motion to close out our public comments portion. I make a motion to close out our public comments portion of the meeting. I second. All in favor?

I got in. Um going to go ahead and start with our action items. The first thing we have is something that I need to read and it's it's a little lengthy. Um so bear with me. We have a resolution that we are needing to adopt and it's from the NEW which stands for Nash Edge Home and Wilson counties hazard mitigation plan. They do this about every 5 years and it has to be updated and new. So they sent us um the copy of the plan. It's I think it's 525 pages long and it's um something that we can print or get in a book and I've asked that it be sent to us. The hazard mitigation plan has been approved by the North Carolina emergency management team and it's been sent to FEMA for their approval which means that it's time for all the communities um to adopt the plan who are nation educated municipalities. So I have got the resolution ready that they have sent to us. I'll read that to you and we'll discuss if we need to and hopefully get this approved. So resolution adopting the NEW regional hazard mitigation plan. Whereas citizens and property within the town of Canino are subject to the effects of natural hazards that pose threats to lives and cause damage to property. And with the knowledge and experience that certain areas of the region are particularly vulnerable to dam and levy failure, drought, excessive heat, hurricane and tropical storm, flooding, tornadoes and thunderstorms, winter weather, wildfire, cyber threat, hazardous substances,

radiological incident and terrorism. And whereas the town of Cana desires to seek ways to mitigate the impact of the identified hazard risk. And whereas the legislature of the state of North Carolina has in article 5, section 160D-501 of chapter 160D of the North Carolina General Statutes delegated to local government units the responsibility to adopt regulations and designed to promote public health, safety and general welfare of its citizenry. And whereas the legislature of the state of North Carolina has enacted general statute section 166A-9.41, state emergency assistant funds, which provides that for the state of emergency declared pursuant to general statute 166A-19.20A 20A after the deadline established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency pursuant to the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2002. Public Law 106-390, the eligible entity shall have a hazard mitigation plan approved pursuant to the Stafford Act. And whereas section 322 of the federal disaster mitigation action of 20,000 states that local governments must develop all hazards mitigation plan in order to be eligible to receive future hazard mitigation grant program funds and other disaster related assistance funding and that said planning must be updated and adopted within a 5-year cycle. And whereas the town of Canina has performed a comprehensive review and evaluation of each section of the previously approved

hazard mitigation plan and has updated the said plan as required under regulations at 44 CFR part 2011 and according to guidance and issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management Whereas it is the intent of the board of commissioners of the town of Canada to fulfill this obligation in order that the town of Canada will be eligible for federal and state assistance in the event that a state of disaster is declared for a hazard event affecting the county. Now therefore it be resolved that the board of commissioners of the town of Kaith hereby adopts the NEW regional hazard mitigation plan. vest the town of Cana with responsibility, authority, and means to A inform all concerned parties of this action. B. Cooperate with federal, state, and local agencies and project firms which undertake to study, survey, map, and identify flood plane areas and cooperate with neighboring communities with respect to management of adjoining flood plane areas in order to prevent exasperation of existing hazard impacts. appoints the town of Canita emergency management to asssure that the hazard mitigation plan is reviewed annually and every five years as specified in the plan to asssure that the plan is in compliance with all state and federal regulations and that any needed revisions or amendments to the plan are developed and presented to the town of Canada Board of Commissioners for consideration. The board agrees to take such other official action as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the objectives of the hazard mitigation plan which will be

adopted this 10th day of March 2026. Now all those gifts and whereas um in part English is we have been a part of um the Nash Edcom Wilson hazard mitigation plan and it's time for it to renew. So just for an example, if we were ever in another situation like Floyd or Matthew, we've adopted this plan. We're covered under the emergency management um plan for the state for the county and for our town. So our citizens and our community will be able to get whatever funding like if it's FEMA um or anything through the state. So

where is the current one at now? In the notebook in the emergency um disaster notebook. Me personally, I feel like we need to before we adopt it to table it so we can go over it. They're just my suggestion. Y'all don't have to be with me. I'm just thinking to go over it and make sure that we do have everything in place that we need.

Well, the document, like I said, 525. Um, it's a it's a very comprehensive document. It has maps. It has visually impact levels. We have information about dams, rivers, everything. Um this is what Edge County has in place and we follow Edge County everywhere. uh to assure that our citizens and hang on. If it were to be enacted disaster that we are under this emergency man easier for them to find assistance for you remember how the helicopters and army the same way so we will have that publish that makes sense everybody and as soon as I get the 525 pages. I will put it out like I've done the DMSRP and this to make it available so people can see. Um I have my grand hold about 125 pages that I have looked through and especially the parts about Cano and the maps. Um but it's it's just a continuation and an update of what we already have. I didn't think that so I can't say yeah now I don't know I I said I haven't seen it

well I mean my my take on this hazard mitigation plan is I'm worried that if we don't approve it if a natural disaster occurs in March and we don't have this updated plan in place our citizens could be at risk of not getting help from the government. And I know March isn't necessarily hurricane season, but I really don't want to run that risk. If anything, if a rainstorm were to happen or we get another snowstorm, the weather is pretty unpredictable and I don't I don't want that.

It's a natural disaster, tornado, anything. I understand your concern that you want to review this document. Joy that if we don't our citizens won't be protected. I think in this case the needs of the citizens have to come first. We need to make sure that our citizens are protected and with a plan that comprehensive if there's any issue with it we can easily take it up with um whoever we need to.

Yeshua. I have faith in this floor and I have faith in those um in you know in the community. I want to make sure our citizens are protected. They help first. We can't go without fighting about this. Oh god. I had questions about the day. Anybody else?

Motion. I make a motion to adopt the to approve the resolution for the adoption of the Nash Edgecom Wilson hazard mitigation plan. Second. I second. All in favor? Anybody? Um Bessie, I'm going to go ahead and sign this and you have to attest and we'll get our copies and everything.

Thank you guys. Um The economic strategic development plan is in your folder. This is what Bruce has just sent recently. Um I went over and did just like I did the first draft. This is supposed to be the final draft and it is a little bit thinner than the other. Um as far as the maps and things go, he still has to add that information. Um, but what he's looking for with this is that we go over it the same way we did. So, I went over this one and make copies. Um, I'm asking that you guys take a week and take your time to go over do like you did before you write on them, highlight whatever you need to do. Um, and give them back down here to us next Tuesday so that I can compile everybody's information. And once I've done that, I'm also going to have a copy available for the citizens and the work groups that have um participated in the planning that they can view it. Bruce will be at our April uh it's 14th board meeting to present the plan and go over it. So um we'll see how this goes. I just put that out there. Our CDBG upgrade update, excuse me, is our annual performance report has been submitted for 2025. um the fair housing information that was to be posted, the photos and the location for the submitt of the grant um

to the submitt of the grant administrator was done on Thursday, February 26. I did get an email back today from Sarah and she did let me know that she had received everything and that's all the information I have at um about the CV G. We need a mobile home. Um, just to update everybody. I met with Tim Forbes and Journal Spell, who is the Edgeon County Planning Inspections Director on Monday, March the 9th. Um they are actually in the final stages of completing the closing of the Canadian mobile home park and the preparation of the sale of the property. Um there were a couple of things that they needed to do and I think um Tim has accomplished some things that had not been done. Um I know he's got a couple of dates that he's got to do some things in char. So, um, we are not have not scheduled a next group meeting like we've been having. Once Tim gets some of these steps that he completed, he'll report back to Durban and to the Edge County Attorney's um, yes, attorney's office there and hopefully it will be completed in a couple months. the railroad agree on C on CSX mentioned in our last meeting that the agreement has been uh was up in the air and he had sent the agreement. We voted on the agreement has been completed and we're in process now of being able to find

funds for reimbursement for the town to CSX and for the maintenance of the railroad right away. He has also talked about the possibility of um the opposite side that's not town property but it's private citizen property. So, I'm working on that because as y'all know, the debris that they cut in September went on both sides of the track. So, um we're working to see if we can get that cleaned up and they will reimburse the town curbside yard. I need some help with this. Um we've got these and I've got the dates. We've got some curbside yard waste information on the back and for that will help out a little bit too. Um where I guess this is spring and we've had lots of trees cut and tree limbs and people aren't adhering to the specifications on here and our yards pick up like I can't get those on these. So there's some that are really long and over four feet. So I've got um four. Yes. that he's mentioned to me and I'll be doing a letter to put out um for those citizens. If you cut down an entire tree or you clear your lot or your yard, we don't pick that up. It's just simple yard clean up things. Um so we have we do have three areas right now that trees have been put down and that's not what it is. So, um, if you I will help out with that. See somebody or somebody has a question. I just remind you that this has not changed.

What happened to the um the notice on the citizen? That's not his job. He That's not his job. I'm going to address it to a letter and I don't mind going to put this on somebody's door, but that's not what his job is. And so we we'll take care of it. You want if you want that, you can have it. Is a digital version available to send you so you can post it online as well. Yes, absolutely. I thought it was on the newsletter.

It's been on Facebook. Well, and that's another thing, too. A lot of people don't have Facebook, right? And they don't have

That's why I'm asking for help from y'all, from citizens sharing this information. And and that's why I'd rather go about it like do a letter and take this to go talk to them instead of um him getting any kind of infection or anything, you know, I'd rather take care of. All right, we have a special day coming up Saturday. It is our market day. Sunday was actually March 8th and March 8th was the birthday or anniversary of the incorporation of town Cana. Believe it or not, 349 years old. So when we have the market ceremony, we will do like we did last year. Last year it did fall on the anniversary date. This year it does not, but we'll have um birthday cake and possibly ice cream, something for people who come to the market. So, y'all help spread that word, too. You people can come by and grab this birthday cake and help celebrate Canadian being 149 years old. Done. Approval motion for approval of the town Administrator's report second. I'm going to turn it over to you for the clerk report and the budget report, but if you don't mind, I'm going say something about what's been going on all day and then you can tell me you're the one in there for hours. Um, our accounting specialist has been doing a turbo meeting with Stacy and we pulled a lot of documents. We pulled statements

and things and so to help her be able to have something where everything is matching up. Um we she's been on it. Um we will have more information as she works with her again. She will probably turbo with her again or she will actually come back. She's been three days that she has come and worked on. So Stacy has got her username, her login, her information for Black Mountain software, and she's been working on it really hard today. So,

all right. Um, well, greetings mayor and commissioners and citizens. Um this report is as of um the end of February. So what we have in our job fund um right now um $17,7721 um um we do have um over 83,000 in the money market, but that particular account has not um been reconciled since August. And so I'm sure there's not going to be that by the time we get everything caught up and put into um the system. We have um received revenues of course from the uh department of um revenue for ador taxes and property taxes um 42 or 42,000 um for adorum um over 39 um for for sales tax and and things like that. Um also um the major um expenditures um that we have um pretty much is through uh contractual services um which is a little bit above um $22,000 and that's the general fund. for the um power bill we have in that account again as of the end of February 20,000 uh.35 20,35.39 in that and the same situation um for the money worker account which is totaling over 60,000 um again we will have to catch the reconciliation up for um that account and also again um the most of the um

expenditures to that account is due to maintenance um and infrastructure as far as the bank reconciliation um that's what we've been working on today. So we have got caught up until uh as of December 2025. So that's where we are and so um we hopefully um by the time we report again we will have it all called up and I'll be able to give a up to date current um report by next meeting time. Thank you very much. a motion to approve. I'll make a motion to approve the public. I second.

I have I because I got a question about the reconcile. You said that the reconcile won't done. It's done through uh December. What happened in January? February. We haven't done that yet. January. We haven't done that. Okay. Well, I'm not opposing. I have Yes, ma'am.

And as far as the um um budget um report, um I do not have the budget report at this time. That's something that um time did not allow for today and our complications with our new equipment and having called a tech back to the computer said we had all kinds of issues. Um at 5 minutes 6 I said Stacy just stop um table I need a motion to table until April. I make a motion to table the budget report until the next regularly scheduled meeting. All in favor motion to close out the clerk and the budget report.

I made a motion to close out the clerk and budget report. A second in favor.

I um closing comments. We have regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday, April 14th, 6:30 p.m. here. I mentioned earlier that um bridge for commerce is going to be here to do a presentation about our town economic development strategic plan and hope that you will be here to hear them and know what's going on. All of that being said on our market and our anniversary birthday celebration Saturday and get your word out. I hope you guys come out. We I know we're having a food truck. Um has several vendors respond. We're having a food truck. um crochet and um knitting veget. I want everybody to join. I personally have been incredibly excited about this event because, you know, I want to see everybody and it's getting warm outside. I think there's a big difference with it being the month of March and that we included that is our anniversary celebration because the request to be a vendor and what do I need to do, when can I come have been overwhelming. So I hope that all those who have expressed interest and promised to come show up but I also hope our citizens come out and support them um and just come and visit and participate and celebrate. I mean, this is extremely exciting because of, you know, all of the technicalities and stuff that we've been um overcoming and, you know, I I feel like this event is going to give our citizens hope and

it's going to give our citizens a time to come together and um and just enjoy being citizens of Canita. Then, you know, people are coming from outside of Panama as well. They get to enjoy our community and just it's going to be very exciting. Very I'm very proud to be a part of this community and to help out with this event. Anybody else?

I just want to add to um the notice that I got today um from the down east home and I put some over at the post office. Um they're doing a notice of public need hearing. um March the 19th, the Inerson meeting will be at the um Rocky Mount City Hall at 10:00 a.m. and they doing a virtual loop as well. And like I said, I placed some over at the post office and you'll have some here and make copies table if you guys would like your newsletter and that also. Oh,

so if it's it's pertaining to the CBD CDBG and the home funding um the annual action plan here for 2026. So if you would like to um participate in that the information she said she got some post office and if you're here and you maybe think of somebody that helps or somebody in your neighborhood or community you think might be interested, grab one for them um and let them know too. All right, you have anything you want to say? You ready?

All right. Thank you very much ladies and thank you very much citizens for coming out and Mr. Good Dancing for doing your thing. Need a motion to adjourn. Second favor.