Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I really enjoy. just shot me a message. He is temporarily held up. We want to give him a couple more minutes and then we'll get started.

Michael, your tie collection always when cameraman and persons are best of the best. All good. All right. Good evening everybody. I call this meeting to order. Welcome everyone to the September 8, 2025 Town of Kova Hills Board of Commissioners meeting. I invite everyone to please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance.

I 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. As we prepare to enter into a moment of silence, let's take a moment to reflect on the upcoming anniversary of the 911 events which changed the lives of so many. Also, we want to acknowledge the passing of former KDH Police Chief Jim Gradless. He served not only as a paratrooper in the Army's 101st Airborne Division, but also in the US Navy as a submariner and on patrol boats during the Vietnam War. He served with distinction and was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor following his military service. He began a distinguished 21-year law enforcement career and served as our town's police chief for over 11 years. Chief Gradless was the walking definition of a true public servant and he will be greatly missed. Please keep Maryanne and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Okay. Um our next uh item of business this evening is our agenda approval of the board. We have an an agenda before us.

Move to approve the agenda as presented. Mayor second. We have a motion, a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. I. I.

All right. We have an agenda. Next is the time we set aside for public comment. This is an opportunity for anyone in the audience to address the board on any topic of their choosing that pertains to the town. We do ask when you're called upon approach the podium speaking through the microphone and identify yourself by name and address. There will be no debates. Please keep your comments three minutes if you're speaking as an individual or five minutes if you are speaking on behalf of a group. And as we begin this public comment session, I understand we do have some special guests here this evening. uh and they are joining us in a presentation to honor a recipient of the Guardian Award. Uh we'll ask them now to approach podium and make their introductions. Glory and Jessica. Floor is yours. Good evening. Uh my name is uh Corey Mercer. the uh chief of fire risk reduction for department of insurance. On behalf of uh sec commissioner of insurance Mike Cy who couldn't be here tonight, we want to bring you greetings and we want to thank you for allowing us to come tonight. Uh tonight we want to come and we want to recognize one of your uh public servant and um I'll read a little bit about the the award. The award is the guardian award which is one of the most prestigious awards that the department of insurance um give to public servants who uh exemplifies true leadership in their community and this award is very deserving from what I what I have read. This nomination of the award is in recognition for an individual's outstanding leadership, unwavering dedication and exceptional service to our community. As fire chief of Kill Devil Hills, he has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty, not only in the managing of emergency responses with professionalism and efficiency, but also in fostering a strong, resilient team

culture within the fire department. Under Chief Till's leadership, the department's implemented a critical internal and external safety program initiatives. He has been the driving force behind the department's continued growth and improvement. He transitioned his department into a muchneeded new fire station, replacing the previous facilities after approximately 50 years. During his chief's tenure, he improved the Kil Devils Hill Fire Department ISO rating, going from three to one, making our fire department one of only 28 fire departments out over,200 in the state of North Carolina to have an ISO rating of one. He also lead the department of in a comprehensive emergency operation plan for the twin for the town and continues to direct all emergency response efforts with professionalism, precision and care. He has worked tireless to strengthen inter agency partnerships, foster collaborations, and ensure the highest safety standards across all areas of service. Chief Tilly leads by example, demonstrating integrity, compassion, and tireless commitment to a public safety. He is deeply respected by peers, staff, and residents alike, not just for his skill set, but for his character. It with great pride that I that I submit this nomination in recognition of a career of dedicated dedication to protecting and serving others. His commitment to excellence to the well-being of both his team and the community make him an outstanding candidate for this recognition. And with that said, we'd like to honor uh Chief Troy Tiller with the Guardian Award from the Department of Insurance. [Applause]

Thank you. Thank you so much. This is a team. It's not just me. [Laughter] I want to thank everyone for giving me this opportunity. Um, honor to serve this position. Um, but it wasn't me. It was my whole team working together each and every day safety of our community. But, um, thank you, sir. [Applause] Commissioners like

Sure would. Hang on a minute. Just one minute, please. How many chilies are up here?

Thanks. [Laughter] You're good. [Music]

Mayor, I do have myself together now. I was a mess there for for a moment. That was a great surprise. But um like I was trying to say, um it's been a team effort the whole time. us working together for the uh for the great and good uh of our community. Uh striving every day to do the best we possibly can to keep our town safe as possible. The whole fire department team. [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

All right. Uh now we'll open up the floor to any other public comments if anybody has anything they'd like to share. Our podium's open. Uh seeing no takers, there will be another opportunity later on in our meeting. Uh move on. Response to public comment. Uh congratulations, Chief.

And our town is a a better place because of of you and your team and the hard work that our fire department puts in keeping us all safe. So, thank you and congratulations on your next step. Uh, any other response. All right. Hearing none, I move on to ongoing business. Yes, sir.

All right. Would move on to new business item number one, appointments. We have quite a few. Uh for the historic landmark commissions, we have Grant Fletcher and Sandy Marklin. They're both that are terms are up and both have expressed uh interest, a desire to be reappointed. A board of adjustment regular member Jason Self's term is up and Jason is also expressed desire for reappointment and our alternate member of the board of adjustments Grant Fletcher has also expressed uh his term is up. He's also expressed desire for reappointment and um opened up to the board for discussion on these candidates and uh what's the will.

I've known and worked with Grant for many years. He's a good uh a good lawyer but also a good uh good uh historian and citizen of the town for sure. Of course, we all know Sammy so um and how good uh all the great work she's done. I think she's what? She's recently taken the job as on the board of elections. The board of elections. Yeah. Right. So we have she will not be here. This is this year it's going to be new.

So those are great. And then and of course Jason has served uh real well on the board of adjustments as well. So I would move to do we individually here or you can do you can do them all. AB one motion. I would move to reappoint all of those candidates uh to those various positions um that they've asked to be reelected to appointed to. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any more discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. I. I. All right, congratulations to all. Thanks everyone for their service. Um committee reports.

Nothing this evening. Um, I've got a couple things. The um, Outerbanks Visitors Bureau on 93, the Dare County Board of Commissioners offered their consent unanimously for the expenditures presented by the Dare County Tourist Bureau for the construction of soundside boardwalk. Um, Dare County Tourist Bureau attorney has reviewed and approved the contract as to form. Dare County Tourist Bureau engineer and executive director have reviewed the term uh and filed notice to award. After years of planning, and Ivy, I know you saw these plans, too. Um, after years of planning, a design and permitting, this project will be an icon and a shining star for citizens and visitors to get up close and personal with our waterfront. I look at this as an inspiration uh for the possibility of a boardwalk one day on the bomb track. Uh this is really going to be a showpiece. It has boat slips and it has a kayak launch. Uh has a place where people can get down and and get in the water, so to speak. U it's going to be going to be very nice. Another note, different different subject. The GACC has changed up its meeting format a bit. Unanimously approved. The GACC has started having its meetings on a rotational basis at the different entities, which I think is a really good idea. Um, and last month, KDH hosted the meeting, and I wanted to thank Michael and Rachel for setting up the room and making the accommodations. Y'all did a great job. Thank you so much. Um, our next meeting will be hosted by Kittyhawk and it seems like to me it's a really neat thing. They go

around to each of the towns. So, that's all I have for committee reports. Mayor, any other committee reports? Uh, commissioner's agenda. No agenda. Nothing. Nothing. All right. hearing uh closing out with that move on to mayor's agenda. I do have three resolutions and proclamations to uh share this evening. First is constitution week proclamation, breast cancer awareness month proclamation, and fire prevention week proclamation. Um and I'd like to make a motion for approval for all three. I'll second.

All right. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. I. I.

Thanks, guys. Um, few more things. Um, youth mental health first aid course. On Wednesday, September 17th, the town will be hosting a youth mental health first aid course from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in this meeting room. This is designed for parents, teachers, family members, caregivers, and caring citizens to know how to help adolescents from 12 to 18 who are experiencing an addiction challenge or mental health crisis. To register for more information, please visit our town's web page at kdhnc.com. Our ice cream social is coming up. Our town's annual ice cream social will be held on Tuesday, September 23rd from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. right across the road here at Aviation Park. There will be performances from First Flight Fine Arts Groups, hot dogs and hamburgers cooked by our fire department. One last time to thank the chief in a public setting and eat ice cream and good hot dogs and all that good stuff. Um the event will also include a cakewalk with all proceeds to benefit the Wallace Macauan scholarship. I hope to see everybody there. It's a really fun well established event. We've had good luck with I don't think we've ever had bad weather social. Knock on wood. So we'll look to keep that tradition going. It's one of the more fun events we have. Our fire department open house uh will be held on Tuesday, October 7th from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at station 14. I encourage all of our families to come out and participate in the fun activities to learn about fire safety. Last item I have is historic homes tour and ceremony. Our historic landmarks commission will be hosting town's annual designation ceremony, historic designated homes tour on Friday, October 10th. The event begins at 1:30 here at Town Hall and is followed by self-guided tours of

historically designated homes from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p. p.m. That is all that I have today. Um, town manager's agenda. Nothing this evening, sir. Town man, town attorney. Nothing. All right. Move on to the consent agenda.

Yes, sir. Thank you. We have the minutes from um July the 14th, 2025. monthly reports from June and July of 2025. Um we have three um budget amendments. First one to appropriate the funds for beach nourishment. Second one is to um record the um incumbrances and lastly a budget amendment for the water fund which is for on call contractors to complete water system repairs as needed. Um item four is um just for recommendation purposes at the cancellation of the August 14th, excuse me, August 11th meeting. And then lastly um through consensus, the board of commissioners um has authorized staff to change the November Monday, November the 10th um commissioners meeting to Wednesday, November the um 12th. And we'll take care of that. And approval um of the consent agenda is recommended. Make a motion.

Second. Motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. I. I. Great. Consent. We have a consent agenda. Now is our second time for public comments. Somebody's music. Right on. I mean, that sounded like someone was, you know, in the batters box. ready to share something. Um, hearing none, nothing to response to and I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Second. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. I. I. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Good. See, but we might get in trouble if you're not here. Then you'd ever kn