Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Okay. Good morning and I will call to order the January 5th, 2026 meeting of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners. This is our first meeting of the of the year and I will uh we will uh start as usual with our pledge of allegiance and after that I'm going to ask our sheriff uh Bill Wilkey who's the chaplain of the North Carolina Sheriff's Association to come forward to give our invocation. So if everyone if you can please stand for the pledge and the prayer.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nationy for all.

Please have a quick seat. The book of Isaiah records several things and was written uh it was believed to be in 742 BC. Its author Isaiah received a message from God in a time where Israel was plagued with corruption, was under threat of attack from the Assyrians and the Babylonians. [snorts] And all this pressure was placed on their society and it lacked leadership and it lacked a moral compass as some church historians believe. So Isaiah pinned these words in his book as a message from God and he said, "Learn to do good. Seek justice. Correct oppression. Bring justice to the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause." This was written almost 2800 years ago and the God of the planet then is the God of the planet now and the one that I will submit the following prayer to on behalf of this county. I would invite you to join me in prayer. Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for reminding us in the ways that you do that our hearts should first be pointed towards you which in turn should point us towards seeking justice, caring for those less fortunate and unable to care for themselves and to fight oppression. Lord, let it be so and create in us a strength of character, purpose of heart, and clarity of mind to achieve this for the people of Haywood County. as we lead forward. It's in the name of Jesus that I pray. Amen.

Thank you, Sheriff. Our next order of business will be public hearings, but we don't have one today. And after that, we'll uh is our public comment session. And if I have one person signed up to speak, just uh limit your comments to three minutes. And uh I I've been reading this during this this season. says, "Speakers will not discuss matters regarding the candidacy of any person seeking public office, including the candidacy of a person addressing the board, the viewpoints or platforms of any political party or political action committee, or political issues currently of interest on a state or national level, unless those issues directly [clears throat] relate directly to the actions under consideration by the board." And um that's part of our board rules. Okay. Okay. So, next uh the the person I have signed up to speak is Howard Neper. Welcome, Howard. Good morning, uh commissioners and uh Mr. Queen and Mr. Morehead and everyone here this morning. Uh first of all, I want to make one quick statement. You see me wearing this hat. I've only been here twice, but I had a little cancer from laying in the sun too long in Florida and uh and the horses in Western Carolina. So, I have to wear this hat based on the doctor there. So, I'm not trying to be rude by keeping the hat on, but that's little going to be gone soon. Uh I am uh here as uh Howard Neper as a private citizen speaking. Okay. And uh I just first would like to make one statement before I get into this quickly. I' only got three minutes. Uh I um uh had contacted Miss Best's office uh before the um deadline for uh commissioners to get out and I was uh was unable to reach her. I've never spoke to her, but I uh was going to try to ask her to stay in as a commissioner.

Um uh I think she was a great positive force. It's going to be very difficult for anyone to fill her shoes. And um and I'm I'm going to get off that subject because I'm I'm not can't get into any political, but uh I'm sorry that you're leaving and hope you'll come back uh in in in politics because Heywood County certainly could use your the state of North Carolina. Okay, that's just my particular feeling. And all the other four commissioners, I also appreciate all what you do to serve. What I'm here to tell you is that I uh I went back and and and and watched about 12 years worth of uh meetings and and and comments that were made by constituents and and I just personally as a citizen found it fascinating. Uh some people said, "Well, you need to get a life if that's all you can do is watch 12 years of meetings." But I took a lot away from those meetings and they were positive things. And uh I'm here to say uh that I don't think that uh and and my my comments should not be are not pointed at anyone here. I don't believe there's been any abuse of power in in this commission whatsoever. But I I am the kind of person that I believe in positive uh positive uh energy. Uh lying and and and and and making statements to turn one against the next and and all of that drama is not needed in in in a in a in a commission board. It's important that uh people stay positive and that that we don't have uh anybody doing that in a in a commission. And I'm not saying anybody is, but people can be removed. And that's one of the reasons why I wanted to come up here in my last minute is that I want to say that commissioners or any political figure can be removed from office uh if it if it's deemed where they are at a point of abuse of power and that can be done by a vote and then they're out and they have to get a lawyer to get back in. Nobody wants to

see that happen. So I understand that nobody's perfect. I'm not perfect, but I just hope and pray that that the uh everybody on the board will uh try their very best to work together in a positive way and it's best for the county and the citizens and and especially being on the board. Everybody needs to really have a positive energy. That's really all I have to say. I'm not saying any not mentioning any individuals. I'm just saying as a general, it's best that everybody stay positive and make it an enjoyable experience. Okay, that's all I have to say and thank you very much and good luck. Okay, maybe I'll see you again in the next month or so and I really wish everybody the best of luck here. I really do. It's a it's a hard job. Public doesn't know it, but I now realize it's not so easy. All of your service is important. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rene. Thank you very much.

Yeah. Our next order of business is constituent concerns. I do want to mention a couple. Uh most Haywood County government offices will be closed Monday, January 19th, 2026 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. uh the solid waste facilities uh convenience centers material uh recovery facility or the MURF uh station transfer station which is the MURF I'm sorry and the wide oak landfield will be open so you can uh deliver your trash to these places if you need if you need to and please note that because the MLK holiday the next regular commissioners meeting will be at 5:30 on Tuesday January 20th So there's twice a year we have our meetings on Tuesday and it's uh Labor Day is usually the first Monday. We have that usually on Tuesday and then of course MLK day. So just want to let everybody know that. Does anybody have any other constituent concerns they want to bring up?

Okay. Anybody got anything that they need to bring up? Hope everybody's having a good new year. Okay. Administrative uh agency reports and presentations. We have an update on federal and state broadband programs. Our community and economic development manager Hannah White's here to speak to that. Welcome Hannah. and I do appreciate all you're doing on the broadband and the housing that you that you that you take on. So, thank you.

Yeah. So, last time we were here um we were still waiting for federal approver approval from the bead program. We have since received that right before Christmas. So, figured with that news, I'll give you all a little overall update about all the programs. So this was broadband around COVID. Um you can see there's a lot of blank spaces. They used to use census tracks to determine if a area was served or not. Um this was something I found in the old files looking through some of my daughter Porto stuff. um she and some of the IT people had gone through and tried to actually identify how many locations in each of the census tracks. They have since gotten better and is now by locations. This was as of 2024. Um this was all the unserved locations in Hwood County. So the first big program was ARDOV which is the rural digital opportunity fund. This was still when they were using census track. So, as you can see, it was kind of focused towards like the north and south part of the county. A lot of public land out there. So, but still was able to serve 5,000 locations. As of um December, they're about 3,500 locations served. Of that 5,000 essentially, um they have until 2029, but they're expecting to be done by the end of 2026 to actually finish out the buildout in Hwood County. and the service provider will be spectrum with that one grade supplemental that also added 304 locations that is um Skyurn is provider and that one is actually complete and that's going to be all those orange dots on the map

the orange dots what does that represent um the locations of the great this um broadband program okay so what are those dots like are fiber. Um, yeah. I mean, are they are each dot somebody that's getting that or is that where the fiber's running? That's someone who um would be avail that that broadband provider would be available to them be available in those areas. Okay.

Um, this was the next round of the broadband program. The winner for this one is Spectrum. They are expecting to be done by March of 2026. It was supposed to be done already, but Helen obviously delayed it and then they ran into some issues with the permitting agency, but I talked to them the other week. They think they have all their paperwork done and the permitting agency has been in contact with them, so they think that should be moving on soon. Um, and those are the purple dots on that map. The next one was great to CAB. They love some acronyms in broadband. Um, this one was also Spectrum. That one is also complete and that added 301 locations. And those are those pink triangle dots. Following that, we had CAB. Um, this was another one. Skyrunner is the awardee. They have 915 locations in the county. Um, they're expected to be done by October of this year. And we've already heard some of that. That was the Car Ridge HOA that got serviced. That was in that CAB grant. So, they've already made some significant progress with this grant. Those are the blue dots. And up until this grant or through this grant, um, we have all this available on the Hwood County Community Economic Development page. I have a broadband tab. So, I have all the locations through this grant. If someone wants to go in, look up the address, see if they're awarded. I have not received the locations in a shape file for the county to use yet, but this was the second round of cab. The first round of cab um relied on some American Rescue Plan dollars, which we had some leftover due to some um the general fund balance. This one, the general assembly recognized that, hey, not everyone had that over 10 million

American Rescue Plan fund. So they did a second round to allow all the counties to participate regardless of how much American Rescue Plan funding you got. Haywood County was awarded 359 locations. Skyrunner was also the awardy and that has an expected completion date of December 2026. B. This was the one that was just approved by the federal government. It is adding 660 locations. 331 of them are um satellite but the rest are fiber and then that buildout will be complete by the end of 2030. So what's next? So stop gap is coming down the pipeline and I expect it to be here any day now the program guidelines because this program was also tied to the opera funding so we have they have to expend it by the end of the year. So literally any day now I expect to find out some more that about that program. This was the map that they had on their website and it showed 131 eligible locations still in Hwood County which basically matches what I have based off my estimations. Yeah. So on that previous slide, is that 131 remaining locations total?

That is what I'm understanding from it, which matches closely what I have based off our estimations. So I had about 121 locations still remaining, but maybe other buildings had been built since I last had data based off unserved locations. Again, not to interrupt your your presentation, but I don't know that people understand how monumental of an accomplishment that is to have um I mean, if you're that 130 whatever that doesn't have it, it I'm sure still feels like it's eons away. But when I first came on the board, um and being I'm sure all of y'all being related to neighbors and people in the community to I mean there were more places that didn't have it than places that did have it.

Yeah. And so it's it's been good to see these providers, you know, do what they said they were going to do and get that. It's it's so vital to how we do everything these days. So that's great. Yeah. Thousand%. Um, as y'all know, I'm also from a different part of North Carolina, but still a rural part. And I remember my grandparents driving an hour and a half to go see their doctors and um going to college and all the urban kids had internet their whole lives and were way ahead of like what I felt like when I started college. So yeah, so happy to see so many movements overall.

It's a great thing. It's a great accomplishment. Um so yeah to your point um in this map the gray was all the um locations that have been served or will be served with these broadband programs. So it's about 25% of the county was unserved or underserved starting around COVID. And then um to your right is the map that talks about the number of locations, the completion date, who the provider is. And so altogether it has added about 82 locations to the date. And the last buildout again is going to be done by the end of 2030, but most of them will be done by the end of this year. Right?

A little map talking about some of the programs. And then this is what I would like to stress to the constituents is to go to the FCC website, type in your locations, see if you are listed as like a provider listed as servicing your location. If you're if it's not a provider who's actually serving location, please do a ch a challenge so you get recognized as unserved because that's going to be super important for the stop gap program is that we know how exactly how many unserved locations we have and other NC resources. And that's all I have. Any questions for me?

Good work. Yeah, that's great work. So, as far as the percentage of the county that's not being served, do we have a number like is I know you had said is it 131 or 121? That's what um NCDIT had for the stop gap program. So, I'm assuming that's all that they have listed as remaining unserved which is close to what we had. I had about 121. Um 121. Okay. But right um they have more up- to-date data than I do build that didn't go into those locations or whatever it may be. Yeah. So we've gone from thousands not being served to Yeah. a little over a hundred. Yes.

And stuff and and and I know some of those areas because you know it's the last mile if you will. Yeah. And that's uh I can remember geez almost 10 years ago us talking about that last mile and maybe six years ago well no eight years ago and uh trying to get that done. So and I appreciate these providers like Skyrunner and Spectrum um do is has ZTO are they still operating? They are. And then um have they gotten better? they have and they were um they improved they had a bunch of like outdated infrastructure which is some of their issues. Um but they updated all that

I guess over a year ago now and during that time they were emailing us letting us know what locations they were working in so that way if y'all got a call or we got a call we be like oh yeah like this is because they're updating this street right now. Um so yeah my calls have decreased dramatically so hopefully yeah ours did too. Yeah. In fact, I don't think I've had a call lately. Yeah. You know, and and then I guess they have proper staff probably. I mean, I know you I mean, there was there for a while. They kept people came and came up, people went, you know, and they were having people come in from out of state to do the work. And then, of course,

um they didn't care, you know, as as much as somebody that lives here that works here and everything. So, but that that's great. And then so it sounds like by 2030 all this will be in place. Yes, maybe. Okay. And most of it will be in place by the end of this year. It slowly just be that's that 2030 date line. Okay. Okay. So yeah, that's great. Yeah, I can I can remember we just it just uh you know I feel like this is the the 1920s and 30s when we're getting telephone electricity, you know, and stuff. And that was, you know, some of the outline areas were the last to get it and everything. So,

I think that's been frustrating for neighbors, too, because people could see it at their neighbor, and I imagine that's how it was when we were getting telephone service, you know, then, well, my neighbors got it, so I'm sure refresh my memory. I think there was a program and and I I understand that maybe it's gone away that did that offset some of the cost and made internet affordable or something. Is that gone? Yes. Um, that changed with administration. That didn't get refunded. What I will say is to ZTO's credit and to Spectrum, they both offer plans that are low cost that would have been on par with the um, American connectivity program, whatever that acronym was. Um, and then Skyrunner has a competitive rate as well.

Okay, that's good to know. Yeah, my um my mother-in-law lives kind of close to the Bunkham County line and um going towards Sandy Mush and they don't even have they didn't even have cell phone service there for years. And then as um landline telephones became more, you know, antiquated and fewer people had them, they were having she was having increased and she's in her 80s was having, you know, issues with the phone remaining. But but anyway, my point is Spectrum um Spectrum has serviced that. It's actually Beaverdam Road and they've serviced it all the way to the top of the mountain now. And so all of those neighbors up there in the Glade and all those places have been able to get internet and that's been very helpful.

That's great. Yeah. So I'm so happy to hear that. Yeah, it's it's been good to see it come to people that you know, you know,

Hannah, sorry, Commissioner Long, uh, thank you for your work and, uh, for all that you've done on this. I remember campaigning back in 16 and this is one of the top priorities, you know, is to take care of those that were uh, unserved and and we've come a long way. Don't mean we need to stop now, like you said, but at least we've come a long way. And it's exciting to see something like this finally happen. And uh good report here. I guess the question I have is do you have any information on what's next in line? I know we've talked about satellite services and stuff like that. Do you have any updates on those type of services? I don't mean to put you on the spot with that.

Um yeah, so with bead we did have those 330 and that will be Amazon actually who's going to be the satellite provider in Haywood. I do know Starlink is obviously in the area and I think satellite technology will continue to improve, but some of the issues we run into the mountains is right now you still need that clear line of sight. So maybe in the winter you might have that clear line of sight, but come summer when we have that thick canopy maybe your service change and also I've heard um maybe the rates aren't favorable for affordability. So um it is interesting but hopefully the you know I do think the technology will continue to improve just like everything. So hopefully someday satellite will be solid regardless of what season of the year it is. Um

yeah hopefully the more people that more providers that get involved the cost will come down as well. So I'm sure as we revolve into that that we'll see improvements. I can remember thinking with that bag phone in my car, you know, actually talking to somebody in my vehicle. That was just almost unheard of, you know, how exciting that was. So, it' be exciting to see what's uh next uh in this chapter and hopefully eventually this 121 131 will go away and everybody will be served. I remember during co again we realized how important you know that that internet service was. We had kids. Yeah. We didn't have had kids sitting in the

in the uh library parking lots or anywhere they could get service to do their homework. So again, thank you. Thank you for all your team's work, Dr. Porto and absolutely the whole team. Yeah, thank you. Uh good report. Thank you. Anything else? Well, again, thank you, Hannah, and I I echo Commissioner Rogers. Uh Dr. Porto, if you're listening, we really appreciate all the groundbreaking work you did and the broadband committee. uh that started that and they they were so persistent and I know you picked the mantle up and ran with it and I I was [clears throat] looking at all the acronyms here for the funding streams that I think I counted seven but I might

you know it's amazing how many streams of revenue there was coming for the last mile and [clears throat]

the unreached but you know uh this has been a topic as other commissioners have spoken for some time and I remember Senator Corbin invited us out I think commissioner best and I went out to Mon County and he had Mr. Denny from the governor's office who was kind of spearheading this uh project across the state and uh two years ago our NCACC president uh her initiative was you know connecting that last mile and uh you know we worked as a a conglomerate as a group across the state to push the governor and and federal federal government to put funds into the state of North Carolina. And I think it's no uh no accident that North Carolina has consistently ranked number one as far as drawing business in to the state. And that's across all 50 states. And I think some of those initiatives have certainly they've proved vital for for our state and our county. And I again I appreciate you doing that. And you know we uh we we just were very persistent. I know I had I had a meeting in Raleigh with Mr. Danny and I kept telling him, you know, hey, we've got rocks. We have mountains, tall mountains and deep valleys and you know, they give so much money per mile, you know, and you go down east and the sand and that soft dirt,

you just got to knock over a pine tree. Oh, they could put cable in, miles of cable in one day. And up here, you know, they hit great granite rock like we have in these mountains and they might get a half a mile done while they're they put 50 miles in down there in one day. So, it's kind of having your feet under the table and fighting for a county and and you folks have certainly done that and we keep reiterating, hey, the state doesn't stop at Hickory. The state does not stop at Hickory. Yeah.

And so, we have special situations in the mountains and we we got extra funding to take care of that. And so I I think it was a group effort and that's what it takes, you know, that's what it takes. A group effort to serve our citizens and and and get to that that milestone. I and I'm I'm like the other commissioners 131 or that

that just seems it just seems like yesterday we had people coming up here during public comments like we we need cable, you know, we got a business to run and you know, there's thousands of people at one time that were not served. And uh so this is I like a happy meeting and I like uh uh you know this is good news and so appreciate appreciate that good report.

Yeah. So yeah, again cuz we hope those locations are right that just the 131 121. But yeah, again, please um encourage anyone you know to go take that FCC for our brand challenge. If they have a provider listed and they call the provider and the provider is like no, we don't serve that location, have them do that challenge so that way we can get as accurate as we can with the remaining unserved locations. That's great. Thank you, Hannah, for all the hard work and stuff y'all put in this because I know it's been a whole lot of work. But I wonder about the 121 that's still left. Are they are they in areas that's just so hard to get to that they won't won't be got to for a while or do you think the satellite stuff going to help get those pulled in too?

A little bit of both, but also sometimes, right, they go this way and then somehow the valley doesn't get included. So it looks like they get provided and just by the direction of the service somehow they get missed or skipped or um so yeah that's why definitely encourage people to go take that survey and make sure that they have the service that they're getting claimed to have. It's a little bit of everything. Um but hopefully yeah the stop gap program which is coming soon is meant to address those last remaining locations. So they do have something to look forward to then. Yeah. That's good. Thank you. Yeah, Chris,

I just wanted to say just a couple of things there. Um to if if you don't have service, call providers that may be near. I'm just recommending that I and the reason I did is we we have a home in a neighboring state and we didn't have any type of internet service. And so one day uh there was a flyer on my door said that they were running fiber up our road and they you know, do did we want it? And I was like, "Yeah, yeah, we definitely want it." So I called and asked, I think it was Spectrum, and I said, "Why did you all of a sudden do this here?" And he said, "We when people call in, we we categorize the number of calls from a certain area." And he said, "That helps drive us on where we need to, you know, serve people and everything. So don't hesitate to call and ask cuz I think these providers keep a list probably to know, you know, where they need to get to to help folks and everything. So I just want to help, you know, that does work. Yeah.

You know, if you keep keep calling, it may not be instant, but and I the other a couple other things I wanted to thank you for u for going after the grants, you know, I mean, we went, you know, those grants are available. We could sit on our hands, but we didn't. And you and you uh and Dr. Porto especially. And Dr. Porto. Yeah. And and they were just um that's been really great to to that you guys recognize what's available and go after it.

And um I know did were you here last time when I read the Cardinal Ridge letter, the HOA? Yeah. And she basically they thanked specifically Dr. Porto and you and u and our economic development manager. I guess David, you were part of that. David Francis was uh in trying to get, you know, some internet going and and and get those, you know, those grants and everything. So, you definitely didn't sit on your hands and everything. We we are so appreciative. I know the public is. Um and then one do you do you do anything with the cell phone? Um I don't um other than the internet type

Yeah, other than um working with Joey a little bit on the cell tower to maybe get some funding for that. Um, okay. But, well, I know there was a cell tower on Highway 209 near the truck stop that was supposed to um provide highspeed internet, I think, is what they were saying. Do you know if that's up and running? Have you heard? I haven't. That might be a planning planner question. Yeah, I know normally with wireless like it's an option and when you're in when you're need an option, it's great to have. Um, the only issue that we sometimes see with that is the upload speed. You're right.

Obviously doesn't match what you can do with the fiber, but right, how many people actually need that solid if you're just doing homework or reading articles online, you obviously don't need the same upload speed as someone who's doing um serious like streaming or business type stuff. So, okay. Okay. The tower is up and yeah, I knew it was up. I just didn't know if it if it they were waiting to get fiber run to it is what I had heard and it was supposed to get operational in August. They were running fiber to the site. Is that

okay? I don't know that I just saw that that it was up and those those uh towers are connected two different ways. One is a one is a a fiber um that's a that's a terrestrial fiber. It runs along ground underground but the other is a is a is a is an antenna that [clears throat] on the tower that communicates with other towers over the air. So both those have to be up to for the thing to to function correctly. But uh they they should they shouldn't have any trouble getting u the terrestrial link. I I I can't imagine that that would be a fallout. When I was uh on 209 Friday, uh I wasn't getting the kind of bars that I would have expected for that tower to be operational yet. I would have expected five bars as I was driving down 209 and and I was get I was getting

three and that's that's from Wesville, right? So that that that tower will also improve u the yes along the valley the the line of sight from that tower right through into downtown. So it's a it's a huge help. I know I know there have been complaints about that. Yeah. In fact, I complain about that because I I live, you know, where I Yeah. And and you shouldn't My wife says we shouldn't live in town and not have decent service. So, Well, and and being a county commissioner, you certainly want to get it to your house. Um the uh it's there. It's just not good. I The one thing about that tower, they, you know, it was built as supposedly a camouflage treelike tower. Yeah.

We get to see it now. It doesn't look like a tree. It looks like it looks like a big old pole covered with the It's like a Christmas tree that's never been taken down. You know, you look at it. It's like the tree Christmas tree you bought from the dollar store. It just has Yes. Yes. The the some of the some of the branches have fallen off. No question about it. Exactly. They weren't in the box. Yeah. Just up all year. Do what? They just leave it up all year. That's right. They do. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Okay. You may got anything else for Yeah. No. And also just wanted to thank y'all too for your support. We've been able to be competitive because y'all have supported going after these programs.

Yeah. Appreciate it. Yeah. All right. Thank you. Like the taxpayers a lot of money. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Hannah. Thanks. I don't have a discussion or adjustment of agenda. Is anyone else? And we'll move on to the consent agenda. Does anyone have [snorts] any questions on anything on the consent agenda? We just have two items. Okay. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion we approve the consent agenda as u presented. So move. Is [snorts] there a second? Second. Is any discussion at all?

Yeah, just on that second one right there, that $500 that that is such a nice token gesture toward caregivers. uh you know caregivers for folks who are elderly who take care of these folks that have Alzheimer's and uh that's a lot of strain and stress on some of those folks and just to show a little bit of love back toward those and appreciation that uh that goes a long way being part of the HHS board you know that that's a growing a growing demand sadly but uh any help there is definitely appreciated thanks for point that out to [snorts] have a motion to second. All in favor say I.

I. Anyone oppose? Okay. Okay. Next order of business will be regular agenda. Uh we just have one item. It's kind of a short meeting today, but uh the regular item is to request approval of a budget amendment for Hwood County Schools debt service fund 1,176,000 to appropriate fund balance for the purchase of two parcels totaling 13.07 acres on hospital drive in Clyde. Graham Haywood County Schools Assistant Superintendent Graeme Haynes is here this morning. Yes. Chairman Ensley, commissioners, thank you for having me this morning and I hope uh your new years are off to a good start.

Um [clears throat] so yeah, simply put, I am here just asking for your approval for us to purchase that land. Um our board did vote at the December meeting to do so. Um that land, it's a little over 13 acres located off Hospital Drive and Spicewood Drive. It's directly behind BB building at Tuscola High School. if that gives you kind of a better sense of where it is. Um, we don't have any plans for the land right now, but the property owner had reached out to us. Um, and the board feels as though anytime we can kind of expand footing around one of our schools for future development if we need it. Um, and the price is right, we should do so. So, that's kind of where they are right now with that. Um, so if you have any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them. Um, and if not, then that's my request. Please

the property owner um it's so it's mission it's right there behind that mission my health building um but it's HCA hospital uh yeah corporation of America that owns it. Yeah. I remember when they bought that. Yes. And built that that building. So you know we talked about they had talked about the owners before these owners had talked about you know but we didn't need all that you know.

Correct. So this is not the whole amount, but it is kind of the vacant area there that runs. If you were to turn off onto the that host that the the road there that goes up to that mission, it's kind of where the road ends and then all the way back that goes, you know, that flat property and then kind of that goes up the hill toward Tuscola there. And you're you say I know David Bernett's here from your board this morning. So did you said that you you uh your board basically I guess unanimously approved it. Yes, they did. It came through building and grounds and then the board did unanimously approve the the purchase of it and we'd pay for it out of capital funds which are local sales tax allotted from the state. Right. Yeah. So, this is out of your fund balance.

Yes. Yeah. Graham, this is not the money that's buying this this uh property. That's not money that's coming out of the operation of the school.

No, sir. It it comes from our capital fund balance which is generated from um local sales tax revenue. We get 30% of article 40 and 60% of article 42. And so that generates monthly. Christian and I actually met before Christmas about all of it. Um and so this is only money that we can use for capital expenses, purchasing land, um upgrading buildings, HVAC, things like that. We cannot use it for local current expense or our day-to-day budgetary needs like salaries and whatnot. Would that help in any way on the, you know, people always talking about the we're going to have to have another school pretty soon stuff. Would that help in the expansion on something like that?

It it could. Um, you know, I think we would have to probably do some sort of geo bond to purchase a school just because school um, which I think is is what we did last time and our current geo bond for Bethl Elementary, it rolls off in 2627. Um, so we're about to pay that one off. Um, and that debt service is actually paid for directly from these capital funds uh, yearly as well. Um, so once that's freed up, we'll have some more money there and then, you know, we'll probably have to do the same thing again to be able to purchase a school in the future. Uh, and school cost of construction as construction with everything has just exponentially increased over the years. So, we're looking at a a pretty good amount that we'll have to figure out when the time comes. I just want to make sure that people understand that this is not going to affect that, you know, and and our the money will, you know, we have to a lot for the schools and stuff to operate and everything.

Correct. Yes, sir. Thank you. You're welcome. And you've speaking of Canton Middle, I know it's off the subject a little bit, but you've continually applied for a grant for that school. So,

we have been um Yeah. And then there's a state grant for that. And if if I'm not mistaken, it's 42 million for an elementary, 52 for a middle, and 62 for a high school. So if we were to get the grant for um a middle school, that would be 52 million towards that cost. Um we've done some preliminary work um with Clark Nexon and CDC when we did our facility assessment and it was looking probably in the 80 to90 million range including property um to be able to put up a new Canton Middle. Don't quote me on that. That's just numbers I'm trying to remember from that meeting, but I think it was in that ballpark. And of course, it depends. Um,

depending on what you put in the school, you know, I mean, current Canton Middle has an auditorium. Does a new middle school need an auditorium? If so, the price may go up because DPI doesn't include an auditorium in a middle school outfitting. So, you know, that may change a little bit. Does it need two gyms? You know, does it need an auxiliary gym? Probably. So, the DPI version of uh middle school only includes one gym, so the price may go up a little bit if you need two. That kind of thing. Lots to flesh out in that, but we are continuing to look at that and work on that. Absolutely. I don't mean to get off on that. No, no, but I know that's a concern for you guys and that, you know, y'all are looking at that. I know that you had applied just didn't get the grant. Some other some local other local schools have, but

Transennsylvania County got a big one. They have. We're hopeful that we can get it soon. You know, I think we've got to um figure out where we're going to put it first and have property and get design plans is kind of what we've been told. And then once we've got those things, you know, we've we're hopeful that we could receive it. But you've been working on that as well. I know that we or you guys have been really looking for property and and pursuing that and talking to people. So, it ain't like a sitting on your hands for several years. Yes. We've been trying to do that. So, we were trying. you know, we've slowed down with floods and whatnot. Um, but we're we're continuing towards that goal. Absolutely. At least that school wasn't in the flood. So, no, it did not. He was looking at it, but he wasn't he

Yeah. Yeah. We got a little bit of water in the very bottom um with Helen, but for the most part, our schools were fine. It was just all the the athletic facilities and and whatnot that flooded. So, just to reiterate the business at hand, your your elected school board, they they've already approved this. Yes, they Okay. So, yeah, they approved approved it at the December 8th meeting. And I did get an or an email or a contact from somebody that was asking about a canton middle getting getting one built and um that's why I wanted to ask that. Absolutely. You probably had comments too. We hear it every now and then. Are they are they is it over are they overcrowding there?

Um no, there's there's enough space there um for for what they've got. It's just an old building. It's just a very old building. Yeah. Um I think um a building at Wesville Middle is the only building that is older than Canton Middle and it's just slightly older, but it's just that one building. Just a building, right? Okay. Yeah. The other one got burned down, I think. Yes. Yeah. Back. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Does anybody have any other questions? Okay. All right. Hearing not, I'll entertain a motion we approve item one of the regular agenda. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Any other discussion?

Okay. All those in favor say I. I. Anyone opposed? Okay. That's unanimous. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Graeme. Appreciate Thank you so much. Appreciate y'all support for us. Happy New Year. Thank you. Okay. Next order of business is appointments. We have the request approval and appointment of John I guess that's Boss Jr. Samantha Spence and Taylor Bernard to the Greenway Advisory Council each to their first term then as an atlarge member. And Brent Bryant did you want to comment on this? Uh nothing other than what's in the item. I think the greenway council voted in November of last year. Okay. To appoint these folks

and that those Okay. And this is the greenway councils for the whole county. Correct. Okay. And Okay. Anybody have any other any questions about that? I do. Uh Brian, is that the is that's the the one that uh [snorts] Patrick Harton keeps calling us on? That's that's the same same one. He we received I think 11 applications for those few seats and they voted on I think it was the 18th of November is when they met and went over all the applications. So their board approved it and good deal.

Okay. I'll entertain a motion we approve that the appointment. I'll make that motion. Okay. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. Okay, that's good. Okay. Our next order of business is close session. We do have one item. Um, so can I have a motion to go into close session per North Carolina General Statute 143-38184 regarding economic development? So moved. Okay. Is there a second? Okay. All in favor say I. I. Okay. We'll be in close session. We enter the chambers in the

Okay, we've returned from close session. Uh, does is there anything else that we need to bring before the board?

Uh, there is one thing I I I should have said this before we went into close session and North Carolina General Statute. Um bear with me just a minute. Um 143-381.11A4 allows for um certain matters to be discussed in close session. Those are attorney client privilege, personnel matters, economic development, law enforcement investigations, and student discipline. And that is not considered a backdoor closed meeting. Um we're doing exactly what North Carolina general statute allows us to do. And so I guess Commissioner Best, what you're saying is some folks maybe need to have a uh government 101 class and I think you did a well very good job of presenting that.

Thank you. And I will say that Amy keeps us and make sure that we stay and and Haven make sure that we stay within our within our lane and when we're in there. So, okay. Anything else? Happy New Year. That too. Okay, I'll entertain a motion we adjourn. Make a motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor say I. Okay, we'll be safe.