City Council - Regular Meeting

uh

public comments speaking about. Can we move the public comments? Yeah. Okay. Do whatever you want to in front of new business. Got to have a pen. Got to have a pen.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Ricky Hall. I am the uh mayor prom vice mayor's easier. Um, Mayor Tally couldn't be here with us tonight and uh we are ready to um get going here. We have a short agenda, so um be patient with us. Um I'm going to ask Bobby if you'll say a prayer for us.

Join me in prayer, please. Heavenly Father, this is a very important day in the life of our community. We ask that you grant wisdom and discernment to all those who are participating in the process of voting. [clears throat] A privilege that we as citizens should cherish. Father, we ask that you guide us and direct us. That all we all that we do bring honor and glory to you as we take care of all those who reside in our community. These things we ask in your son Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. [clears throat]

Let's stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

And um let's do the consent agenda. Um we have basically four items on our consent agenda. Our consent agenda is those items that are considered non-controversial. Um item A is to approve the minutes of our um October 14th meeting. approve an a a an amendment um transfer of $21,000 uh from the police department to in the police department's line item um to use to repair damage to um our police range, our firing range um due to um the tropical storm. C. Approve a budget amendment um $60,000 for a grant received from Impact Alamance to purchase equipment to I'm sorry from Impact Alamance to purchase a van and equipment um to be used as a park and play and D approve a tax release of $476,60. Oh, I'm sorry. $476.60.

Do I hear a motion? Uh, make a motion that we approve items A through D on the consent agenda. Second. Okay, I got a motion, a second. All in favor? I um we are going to do u one change in our agenda. We're going to move public comment up. um to the next item on our agenda. Oh. Um Mr. Agustinon. Yeah. Okay. Come on up. Give us a speech, buddy.

Hey, I appreciate y'all uh jumping out ahead a little bit. We have a practice I got to get to. So, I appreciate that. Uh good evening, council members. My name is Casey Egleston, and I'm here on behalf of the Graham Reapers. We're a local AU flag football team, but also I'm here to advocate for our public school athletic programs and school organizations in general. I'm here I'm here to ask you for help in connecting us with some local businesses um and organizations that might be interested in donating and help sponsoring our young athletes as we prepare for a tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina come December. Sports and recreation teams are about more than just a game. They build teamwork, discipline, confidence, but also a sense of community. Here in Graham, our kids show up every day ready to work, ready to learn, ready to represent the city with heart and dedication. They are the future of our city and county schools. Please understand, we have had a fantastic partnership with the Graham Recreation Department, showing us tremendous support by allowing us to use their facilities and practice equipment. Josh Cutlip and the rest of the team over at Graham Recre are doing an extraordinary job, and I just want to point that out. This year, several of our youth flag football players have earned the opportunity to participate in the Crown Classic Flag Football Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's a prestigious two-day event that draws talented teams from across the entire Southeast. And it offers our players a chance to compete at a higher level, create core memories, and bring positive recognition back to our small town. However, participation in this tournament comes at a cost. Just the team's entry fee is approximately $500. Then when you factor in travel, lodging, and everything else that is a required expense, the total can nearly reach $3,800 per squad. For family members, especially those already balancing other school and household costs, that's a tough ask, especially so close to the holiday season. Our mission, my mission, is to create an organically driven fundraiser that shows how much our local community values our players and in turn the future of our students. These young men have earned these accolades and I

owe it to them to advocate on their behalf. That's where I'm hoping the community steps in and shines a little bit. We're seeking sponsorships from local businesses and organizations as well as individuals to help cover some of these expenses. Whether it's a personal donation or a business looking to get their logo out to the public. Any amount is vital to our goal. To show our gratitude, sponsors will receive recognition on a team banner, social media shoutouts, as well as public acknowledgement at the event itself. More importantly, your support sends a powerful message that Graham believes in its youth. It values its recreational and educational programs, and it understands the investing in our kids is investing in our city's future. We're not just asking for money. We're asking for a partnership. A partnership is helping young athletes grow, learn, and succeed both on and off the field. Together, we can ensure that every child who has earned the right to compete in Charlotte can do so and represent Graham with pride. The spark we create today in this moment could spread like wildfire for future students and athletes in Graham. I have shared my information with Miss Whitaker and Miss Tally and I hope uh they could direct you to contact with me. Thank you for your time and your support and your continued commitment to our community's growth. Thank you.

Have you reached out to impact element or lab? Um I've spread this information as far as wide as I can. And I'm even getting in little online spats with people and it generates in gets uh gets some attention. But I just anybody who's interested in helping. This is a 8U team and and they're amazing guys. I I'd encourage any of you that want to check them out, come down to Charlotte December 12th and 13th. You will see some guys that really like to work hard. Great. Thank you. Thank you so much. We'll do what we can for you. Thank you. Appreciate it. All right. We're going to move on to the consent agenda. Um Oh, we did that. I'm sorry. New business.

We're going to do new um new business. Um donation of documents. Um the from the historical museum. Um is that for you, Ann or Megan? Um Brian F, recreation director will handle this item.

Good evening, council. Um this is pretty straightforward in my opinion. We've um uncovered some documents that I'm not sure how long how how long they've been at the museum dating back to the 1700s. And as you can imagine, these documents are very fragile. And we do not have the expertise or the environment in which to safely protect them for the future. Um, so we're uh proposing to forward these documents to the government record section of North Carolina State Archives for safekeeping and so they can be um more readily available for uh study by historians and just folks who are interested in that um sort of thing in general. They have been digitized and they will be um or they are credited to the Graham Historical Museum, but we just want to forward these on so they can uh be protected forever. Now, are we still maintaining ownership and like we're loaning to the the state for archive purposes or actually transferring ownership of the documents? transfer and ownership would be um more clear and and defined way to do it. If it's the council's wish to permanently loan um and if at some point the state archives do not wish to hold the documents anymore, then they give them back to the museum, then uh we can see if that can be written into the the donation form.

Yeah. Or the loan form in in that case. Would you investigate that? Please appreciate that. Sure. Does that mean it would need to come back before?

No. If you know, it's been brought to my attention that some of those documents uh have ties that families are still here and connections. And so it's one of those things of they were given to the museum and we would like to have maintain ownership as long as you know there are descendants here. Uh if you know it's one of those things that these documents hey the descendants are all gone so it's just historic. I have no problem with us giving it to the state. Okay. [cough and clears throat] You got you got anything questions or to say anything?

So, are you asking him to reward it be and then bring it back before council or do you want to just approve it as donating the items? I mean, that's what we need to determine. If it if you want him to reward it, you know, then we'd probably have to bring it back next month. You want him to reward it or are you good with the way this is worded to donating the items? Let Megan do some clarification.

Yeah, I will just let you know that we are not necessarily equipped to store documents of that age. So, what we're hoping to do is to give them to people who have that expertise and can maintain them because unfortunately we just we don't have that capability. We don't we're not able to. Um general statutes require when we donate something especially whether it's to another local government or anything to come before a governing body which is why we're here today to request that. So, are you okay with the word donating? That's what I'm asking. I mean, yeah.

I make a motion that we approve this donation to um the state archives of all the records that they want to send to them. Second. All in favor? I. Thank you. Yeah, that's that's going to do it. Um, we're going to have city staff comments and Megan Wley, you're up first.

Good evening. Usually I skip this part, but tonight I do have something for you. I want to introduce our new chief of police, Brian Neil. If you will come up to the front. Yesterday was his first day with the city of Graham. Um, he comes to us from Elon Campus Police most recently, but has over 25 years or nearly 25 years with the State Bureau of Investigation. We went through a very extensive and lengthy process, lots of different checkpoints along the way, and I truly think we ended up with the best candidate and Chief Neil and excited to see what the future holds for the Grand Police Department. Thank you. Thank you very much.

You got anything you want to say? Yep. Uh, I've said a lot. I wasn't prepared to make a speech or anything. Um, but I look forward to working with all of you. I look forward to working with the community. I'm excited to be here and um, just know that I'm going to make sure that your return on investment in public safety here in Graham. We're going to make sure you you don't ever question that. Yes, sir. Awesome. We're Thank you. So glad to have you here. We we're really excited to have you here. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you all. That was all for me. Thank you. Karen, you got anything? I know I know Rene's got something. All right. What about the Lord? [laughter]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to forget you. Um any um city council comments? I don't have any comments. I'm good, too. We're going to go into close session. Yeah. You want to read that? [clears throat]

City Council will consider going into close session pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11 Bleg [clears throat] A and Bleg 5 to consider purchase of 1771 North Jim Miner Road in Hall River parcel ID number 152551 owned by Thomas and Linda Stewart adjacent to Graham Regional Park for the intended use of park and recreation facilities and discuss a potential litigation matter in accordance with NCGS section 143-318.11 ble A bole at 3.

I make a motion we go into close session. Second. All in favor? I Mr. Mayor put down just ask on the legal matter. Is that a pending legal case of any kind? Thank you sir. Okay.

All right. Think they're going to do me first or the other one? or the other thing. Thank you very much. Let's hope. Are we good? That'd be lovely.

Because I'm going to tell you I'm going to be on everything. So, I'm not going to be the one. Okay. Absolutely. Chief, let me just get 20 years. I was uh over It was

just overchar mentioned earlier and then police for a long time. Thank you question.

How you been Tom? Doing all right. Got any predictions? It's going to be interesting. That part usually is true. Been a lot of people out today. I think Bethany Church had I left while ago was over 200. That's good. I mean I just want people that's it. You know these are notorious town. Nobody turn up. Nobody comes for these questions. I don't understand it. I think we see how many Greensboro they say they're talking like how many people supposed of course you know look how many Greensboro got but still 88

yes to keep campaigning might Yes, you've been hard. I'm glad

about what they're talking I'm just kidding. As long as it's corporate. Yeah. They're going to recreation able to do. Yeah, it's very cool. So,

over the land close that help's there's need another thing.

Police chief that is obviously

Is that where you guys are from?

Oh, okay. I've been out on your way to your campus just for a heartbeat. This is not relit And then she posted on Facebook that her daughter and I are coming. She said, "No, I'm not doing this one with her." And so I went to it and I didn't get know much about the and it was kind of a little What are you all doing? No. Other than Okay. Okay.

I thought Junior know who's got chemistry chemistry and that's an interesting But I have to know

and it was so cool. It is so cool because I am a great tourist. I have so many culture shock, you know. retired.

We have to certain culture shock me from Michigan which my daughter was born in Michigan first.

Yeah. I mean, Massachusetts. Yeah. But it was really funny. [laughter] Anything else I can help you with? Nice meeting all of you.

Great. I think you got enough points now. really long. I think 9:48 that's really Hello. Oh,

it is. It has to be the same.

You know, I might actually have to come up here at some point to vouch for the app that I'm making. Oh, you should. What are you making? It's for public health. It's like something for accessibility citizens for in general like for Elon for just people in general. I guess it's supposed to be like nationwide. We do. That's really cool.

Would you put it here at the Elon Council? I'm surprised people get more health and elementary school right next to it. Does that not They get a little

Iunt security.

Where did everybody go? Was that something we said? Okay. Okay. Ricky makes the motion. Mayor motion that we come back into session, please. Second. All in favor? I I'll read this. All right.

Pertaining to easement acquisition for the 10-in waterline replacement project. Motion to move forward with condemn condemnation proceedings for the following properties. First number one, Raleigh Rental LLC. GPIN number 8895624197. The second property is Judino Marley GPIN number 8895415363. I make a motion that we approve that we um approve this. Second. All in favor?

I mayor. How is that related to the item you went into close session for? Oh, we're gonna get there, Bob. We're getting there. We're a little out of order. We switched the order around a little bit. Is that the legal one? The one you Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Um, regarding the uh purchase of the uh the parcel for the regional park,

I make a motion to approve the purchase of 1771 North Jim Miner Road in Hall River, parcel ID number 152551, owned by Thomas and Linda Stewart, adjacent to the Graham Regional Park, for the intended use of park and recreational facilities for a purchase price not to exceed $335,000. And also also make a motion to approve the budget amendment recognizing $37 and $37,000 $725 in grants and $27,275 in appropriated fund balance.

I second your motion. All in favor? All in favor? I um seeing this there's nothing else on the agenda, I make a motion we second. All in favor? I thank y'all for coming out tonight. Yes, ma'am.