County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

take this time to thank each of you for coming and sharing with us to see what it is that we do with your tax dollars. They're well used, well spent. So, good evening. Very short meeting tonight. Uh said earlier to the board of commission. Looked like a long meeting. We have a close session that might make a little bit longer, but you don't have to stay for that. We won't let you stay for that. that good to have each of you come tonight and share with us in this local government meeting. We'll get you in, get you out and try to give you some answer to some of your question. If we don't answer all of them, I'll give you the answer that you want. We do the best we can. Thank you for coming. We have the pledge and invocation by Commissioner McCollum at this time.

This is pledge algiance 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.

May we all bow our heads in humble submission to prayer. Father God, in the name of Jesus, we thank you for this meeting on this night that the county manager and the five elected official county commissioners that will bring closure to the minds of the people towards the understanding that they desire of their hearts that they need. Allow things to be done decent and in order in the name of Jesus. And we thank you for this prayer. God, cover us with your holy stained blood of the lamb of God and we forever we will forever give your name the praise. Amen. Amen.

Thank you, Commissioner McCollum. Before we adopt, I would like to get the board to add the item. I like to where we got number five, county manager. Put number five as the Kate fur hospital folks people is here tonight. Right click number five and move the manager number six. Move ch report to seven. Close session eight. Adjourn be nine.

I need a motion to that. I'll make a motion. Second. Second. All right. Time to cons I oppose. I have it. Thank you. All right. Let's get started. Consent. Anyone have any problem with A, B, or C? Not. I take a motion to approve. So move. Second. Second. Motion second. We approve A, B, and C consent. All have time to consider. All in favor? I. I. Oppose. I have it. Tax, Miss Dudley. This is the lady that sends out those letters to us about our taxes. Thank you, Miss Daffany. [laughter]

Good evening. Members of the board, total collected for the month of October was 595,254.34 at a 77.3% rate compared to a 76.78% rate last year. Prior years collected [snorts] was $106,357.80 at a 25.1% compared to a 24.36% rate last year. Total collected for the month of October was $71,612.14. What percentage that put you for the year, Miss Dutlin? Right now we are at 77.3. Okay.

And then I have some releases and adjustments. And I do apologize. I do not believe the total was on the bottom of your sheet, but the total is $31,133.12. some DOT changes for three years for one person. Um, Will Trace Mobile Home Park was double taxed and then another DOT change and then uh another person was double taxed. Okay. Give me that total again, Miss Dan. $31,13312. Thank you. And all of these are releases except for one refund back to Okay, that motion. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we uh give the releases of $31,133.12.

A second. Second. Motion to second. I have time to consider offer. I oppose. I have it. Thank you, Mr. Deli. Whole [clears throat] county sheriff office. Sheriff Roger. I see Mr. Hines in the back. Good evening. Good. Is no y'all arrest this guy? [laughter] Good evening, board. Good evening, manager. Um, I'm going try not to be up here a long time, but I got a lot of good news for you. Good.

So, just to kind of give you uh a update on our program here that you guys supported. Uh, we just uh took part in a international trauma medical convention that was held in Charlotte and we were the first agency in the history of that program that's worldwide to ever take part of that. I think that's a big question. [applause] We do we do realize that we couldn't have done that on our own that it takes us together collectively working together as a team. Absolutely. Um the benefits of that is a situation that I want to bring uh up tonight. If you don't mind, I would like to make a little small presentation.

Let's do it. You here now? So um on last week, we had a a situation to occur and and some of this information is private, so I'll be kind of like brief with it. We had an elderly lady who called 911 about 1:00 in the morning and um she was she was in distress and she told the telecommunicator to the 911 dispatcher that I can't breathe. I need help. Okay.

So while the units were in route um they lost a connection with her. So she went unresponsive. Upon arrival, uh, Deputy Tedar and Deputy uh, uh, Bernie, they approached the house EMS stage to make sure that everything was secure. They did a full 360 around the residence and went above and beyond and looked into the windows of the residence and found this elderly lady lying unresponsive on the floor. So instead of waiting for the fire department to bring the appropriate equipment, right, to breach the door, these guys took those young limbs, [laughter] they ain't doing no work. They all right, but they took those young limbs and forced their way into that home to where these professionals here um these these

Adrian and Luke Adrien and Luke and two others, correct? Yes, sir. They went and they were able to provide advanced life support to this lady. [applause]

This is what it's all about where we can work together and put these tax dollars to use for the best interest of our citizens. I would like to read this little memo that I had wrote for these guys. The Hope County Sheriff's Office proudly recognizes the exceptional actions of our public safety personnel who went above and beyond the call of duty during a recent life-threatening emergency involving an elderly resident of our community. On November 11th, 2025 at 1:30 a.m., our communication center received a 911 call from an elderly female who was in clear distress before vital information could be obtained. Contact with earlier was expectedly lost. Understanding the seriousness of the situation, dispatchers were consistent in providing information so deputies along with EMS could prepare accordingly and promptly responded to the residents. Upon arrival, deputies observed the woman lying on the floor and unresponsive through a window of her home. Without hesitations, deputies made the decision to breach the front door to gain immediate access. Their quick actions allowed EMS to begin initiating life-saving measures without delaying assistance seamlessly. Alongside all personnel, including dispatchers, assisted in providing critical interventions that played a crucial role in the patients care and ultimately survival efforts. Their their decisive response, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to protecting the citizens of Hope County exemplify the highest uh standards of public service. These actions reflect dedication, bravery, and compassion that our community depends on every day. On behalf of the Hope County Sheriff's Office and the Board of Commissioners, we extend our deepest appreciation for the extraordinary service displayed during this incident. Your professionalism and your readiness to act in the face of urgent needs of service is an

inspiration to all and reinforce our mission to safeguard the lives of those that we were sworn to serve and protect. [applause] [applause] Um, as you all know that we have, this sheriff's office has taken a serious hit in these last three weeks in this county. But you know what? We are, we're resilient group of people because our constituents, our supporters, our community, they're very supportive of what we have here in this county and I appreciate that. Uh, which brings me to this. Due to the demand that we have in our community, we see that it would be very very indicative and very needful that we increase the level of our care to paramedic. Um, we've spoke with the medical director. We sat down. We looked at our numbers. There have been countless of situations to include myself to being involved in certain situations to where if we had certain medications or if we had certain skill levels that we could have potentially saved a life. Homecoming was a prime example. A lady went unresponsive out there. An EMS, they were tied up. And our deputy medics who were was it Lee and Maria, you know, they were both out there for several minutes while this lady was unconscious providing life-saving measures. However, if we would have been able to function at the next level up as if our current EMS services, I think we could have had a better outcome potentially. Um, it's no cost. We already have everything that we need. The only thing that we need is your blessing to say that, you know, you agree for us to function at this advanced level. We've already talked to the state.

Everything is is done. We don't need any money or nothing. It's just we just need you to acknowledge that Oak County Sheriff's Office will be functioning at the paramedic level from this day going on forward or whenever you decide to sign. If you decide to sign and agree. So sheriff do you need that in by way of a motion to make it formal or

so so we have a system plan county manager she's familiar with the system plan that we have and the system plan covers u county EMS being our primary provider ambulance provider it also has on there now that whole county sheriff's office is functioning at the level so the only thing what happens basically is one sheet of paper that's marked instead of it'll be moved over to paramedic and that's it submitted to the state the state already been down. We've had all the conversations myself, Scott, all the stakeholders are involved. We just need your guys' approval. That's it. This is a win to me. Of course, you don't know who that next call might be, right? Could really be one of us or one of them anyway.

You don't never know. So, this is a way up is you can't deny something that even is not costing us at this moment that you can't deny if it would cost something later on to save a life. That's something that you will never get back again here. At least you lose it. So, it's a a a win-win to be able to do all you can on the call. Mr. Chairman, just um so during this time, will they be like continuing education for these folks, sheriff, and all that. So, we'll keep that standard that the way that we need to keep it and everything. So, when you administer that, we're covered,

right? and all and all that's written in the plan that has to be presented before state before you do any of that state. Okay. Just could you make sure we get a copy of the plan too. I'd just like to read it just read. Yeah. Great. Sounds good. Sheriff also sheriff I know of of at least two occasions where you all have saved lives. Uh you was included in one of them. Um and I I think that I mean it's it's a blessing to have law enforcement in a dual capacity

uh like you all are serving. Uh I I sleep good at night in Hope County when I travel across the country and across the state and I see what they're going through and I look at home. I'm I'm so blessed to be here in county and I appreciate your service. I appreciate Officer Ter and Officer Bernie for what y'all done. Uh but your whole entire law office uh I would be happy to make that motion uh to support what you're doing. There been a motion which I'm glad to take that second. Second. Motion second that we uh bless this program to it. Discussion at this time got a second. open for discussion, Miss Thomas. Yeah.