Commissioners - Regular Meeting

+ 13 C. All right. Any other additions to the agenda, Mr. Cape? [cough] All right. Um, let's enter into the public comment period. All right, we have four speakers. Uh, Scott B.

Good morning, gentlemen and ladies. Uh, thanks for always giving us a chance to speak in public. I'm just here to uh voice my support for the quarter cent sales tax. Um for people that maybe don't realize the math part of it, how it works out, it's 25 cents on $100. So you'd have to spend 400 bucks to spend a dollar to have an extra dollar at sales tax. That 25 cents adds up to be like $2 million over the year. And we like nice we like nice things here in the county and we have to pay for those somehow. So I think you know I'm going to do what I can to help Mr. Shields and Mrs. Bass back there and maybe Mr. Willy there uh promote this and try to see if we can't get it past this time cuz uh uh we need this and uh it's a good thing and thank y'all so much. [clears throat]

Thank you Mr. B. Uh, Maryanne Ingram.

Hi, I'm Maryanne Ingram. I've lived in Mon County at uh 115 Autry Road uh for 33 years. And um all you ladies and gentlemen that are here and I I use the word ladies because we have two up here. This is great. Would love to see more ladies up here. But I've never written anything to express to you all, but tonight I have. We have had a full year with all sorts of emotions and actions and we have made it the best that I know each of us can possibly make. and understanding and recognizing that we are individuals and we're doing the best that we believe with what we know is the best with every day. [clears throat] And I bless all of you who are up here serving our county and doing a great job with it. I wish you a merry Christmas and happy holidays. May we welcome this new year which is going to be coming in like a monster. With all that Christmas brings us this year, let us express and receive compassion, joy, understanding, and this is expressing and receiving

forgiveness. But most of all expressing and receiving grace. I have studied a lot about what grace is and it is just letting things be and understanding. Grace involves love. And so those two express and receive grace and love with every opportunity that you have in 2026. Thank you everybody for what you've done for us.

Thank you Mary. Thank you Mary. Thank you Mrs. Zinger. [clears throat]

Very well said. All right, Lake Silver. Chairman, thank you very much. Commissioners, great to be with you. Uh my name is Lake Silver, as you mentioned, from Congressman Edward's office. I want to swing by tonight and uh give you a little bit of an update from the Congressman's office and also pass that along to your constituents. Uh we are still working very hard on uh the people of NC11's behalf. few things that the congressman does uh through legislative action. He sits on both the budget committee and the appropriations committee and is always all ears for any suggestions you have for federal legislation that needs to be taken. Uh I also have with me tonight our senior case worker Maline Layman. We uh frequently work case uh cases for folks of Mon County to help with veterans benefits, social security benefits, anything that anyone has need of from the federal government. We're actually going to be in front of town hall in Franklin tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. with our Carolina cruiser for anyone who would like to come see us and talk about that. Finally, um little bit of an update. I am taking a job with the state auditor's office and so I'm going to be leaving the congressman's office but still a friend of the congressman's and the congressman's office and I feel like leaving you in really good hands. Some would say an upgrade. I think probably an upgrade. So and she is Reagan Bunch. She's going to take over from Haywood County West for the congressman. I'm going to give her a little bit of a chance to introduce herself to you all. So last three years have been fantastic. Thank you all. Look forward forward to working with you all in my new role. Thank you.

I'm Reagan. I don't have a whole lot to add. Um I've met of most of you um at some point or another before I kind of went into political retirement and started teaching middle school. Um so I teach in Jackson County at Blige Early College and I will be part-time to start because I would not leave my students in the middle of the school year. Um but I'll be full-time in June and I'm really looking forward to working with Mon County. Do you have a card, Reagan? Do you have a card or anything? Um, they're in the mail. You do have Okay. They're in the mail. We'll get them to I'm going to have the same phone number as Lake. So, if you just want to erase his name, you can just put mine in instead. [laughter]

I won't say it in front of him. I see it deleting over there. [laughter] God bless you. Christmas. Thank you guys. Safe travels.

All right. Betsy based. Evening gentlemen and ladies. Nice to see you all. Um, for those who um, don't come to the meetings in person and watch online and for those who are sitting in the back of the room and weren't here last month, I want to compliment Jamie Paku for the incredible, incredible presentation she did to help us all understand the landfill and all of the complications. that was I've been a teacher for decades and that's the best presentation I've ever seen of how to understand a complicated issue. So I really want to just publicly thank her for that and um hope that we all make good decisions based on the information that she gave us. Second thing um I'm a volunteer at the Mon County Animal Shelter and I know that we are undergoing some big changes there. the change that you wanted didn't happen. Kind of sad about that, honestly. For once, you and I are on the same page. And and what I my deepest deepest hope is that I'm not going to have to stand in front of you and tell you that nothing's happened yet because right now it is not good. you know, the the laundry situation. If y'all don't know about the laundry situation and trying to get a washer and dryer in there that works, this is not rocket science. I have a washer and dryer that works and if it breaks down, I'm getting one right away. I understand commercial is different, but I want to see some actual attention given to the employees of that place and to the animals of that place and the volunteers of that place. There are well doumented thousands of hours

that the volunteers work there. One day I showed up on a Friday morning and they told me we couldn't use the restroom. In fact, we can't hose down the kennels because we can't let water go down the drain. And I know that Warren was on top of that and working on that. But here's my problem. Not one person suggested to the staff, hey, we'll get a porta potty with a handwashing station cuz this is part of the health department. And so when we're taking care of things like feces and other things, we need to be able to wash our hands and not just use hand sanitizer. And employees deserve to use the restroom during their workday. Does anybody argue with that? Do we do we not get to use the restroom? The staff told me, well, we can go up to the health department. And I'm thinking, okay, I don't know what happens on Saturday, but on Sunday when I volunteer, another day I volunteer, health department's closed. Where are we going to go to the bathroom? Where is the staff going to? They're still taking care of the animals, but not one person said, "Let's get you a portaotti, gang." Not one. That's unacceptable to me. So my sincerest hope is that the new administration pays attention to the human beings first of all that dedicate to that and I guarantee you not one of you would have dealt with that in your work environments ever nor would you let your employees deal with that. So please let's take better care of our staff. And when are we going to get pickle ball courts?

Chairman, may I may I say something here? Um, and I'll address this to you, Miss Bass. Um, the changes are still coming. It's my understanding. Um, the delay in how we're dealing with the health department and the consolidation and everything else. We thought that it was unfair to bring in a new director and already make changes. So our focus on this is to bring in the new director in January, let her get [cough] settled in and then try to make a decision on where we go to from here with this consolidation. So by all means, we have to take care of the staff and the animals that shelter [clears throat] and whatever that picture looks like is where this board is going to we're going to address it. All right. Any other additions to the agenda? Hearing none. Looking for a motion to approve the agenda.

So move here. Motion by Commissioner Shields. Second by Commissioner Breeden. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please raise your right arm. State I for the record. I. Any oppose? Miss Tammy 5. All right. Now, reports and presentations. Hudson Library Foundation. Uh Hudson Library Foundation board member Andrew Jamar. All right, come on up. Good job.

All right, it's already on. Great.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for letting us come uh come speak. My name is Andy Schmar and I am the former president of the Hudson Library. Uh I was the president from 2020 to 2022 and I'm the project manager for this um new chapter begins the capital campaign, but really the project that's going to result from the from this. Um just a little history, my mother, my grandmother was president of the library in 196061. So almost well exactly 60 years after uh or before I was. and my mother was on the board uh in the 80s and the 90s. So, I've got a long history with this library and I feel a a certain commitment to it that um that might not have existed before. I'm joined by Philip uh Curu um who's the current president and we'll be speaking to you about the details of it and Hank Ross who some of you know who's our landscape architect on this project. um because we've got both an interior partial renovation and an exterior uh improvements that we're we're intending. So, our intent this evening is to familiarize you with a bit of the library's history. To begin with that, um as you'll see on the second slide, it's the second oldest library in North Carolina. Um and has been part of the public realm since 1884 when it was called the Highlands Academy. and it was really just a shelf of books in the Highland school at the time in 1884. Uh we're going to provide some data on uh showing you the importance of this community asset and it is nothing more than a community asset or it above all else is a community asset um and how it is so important to the surrounding community of Highlands and even the county. Um uh lastly we'll pre present you with a case statement and a plan for the first major

renovation of this facility since it was built in 1985. There were there was a significant amount of work that was done in 2008 2009 um that was much downsized as a result of the the lack of funding at the time. Uh but u since then since then and really since 85 the library stands as it was when it was built 40 years ago. As somebody who most of you know in walking through with me a couple weeks ago said it needs a lick of paint. Um, it needs more than a lick of paint and and we're hoping that uh through your support and the support of the town of Highlands and the many contributors that we have that will make this facility ready for the next 40 years after uh after it's been in um been in existence for the the previous 40. So the the library has gone through a whole bunch of changes. The library the library name has changed. uh the organization that govern had governed the library has changed. Um in 1955 it was it was decided it would be the Hudson Libraries of Highlands, North Carolina incorporated and at that time the board that organization was responsible for both the ownership of the library but also the governance of the library. Then in 73 uh a partnership or the Fontana Regional Library uh system emerged on the scene and um the Hudson Library signed an agreement with the Fontana Regional Library System. In March of 1980 was the original lease agreement between the county Mon County and and then at that time the Hudson Library of Highlands, North Carolina, Inc. which essentially made this a um um a branch of the Mon County Library System. Um it has been since 1973 the governance of the library, the

running of the library, the employees, the salaries and so forth has all fallen under the Fontana Regional Library system and all of our employees work for and our head librarian, new head librarian works for the county librarian. So our board is nothing more than the owner of the property, the owner of most the contents of this property and then uh the owner of the land. And so that's our focus is taking care of the the facility and improving it in whatever way that we can. We are now the Hudson Library Foundation just to reduce the uh people didn't know well you're the library aren't you running the library and so forth. We don't. Um we're the foundation that supports the library. We're very similar to a friends group just as the Mon County Library has a friends group. The difference being we own the library, we own the land as opposed to the county owning it. We have this the lease partnership. Um so our ownership role has changed over the years and um as I said in 2008 portico the right-hand uh photo up there the the uh entry was was um was replaced and added when the Basam Arts Center moved out of this facility. Thankfully, the county maintenance department um has been a great partner uh over the years and providing general assistance and repairs as they arise and as as the um as the resources are available. But I have to say we've been a pretty pretty inexpensive partner for the county over these last 40 years because the major improvements that have been made, including a 44KW generator that we just had installed, have been paid for through our fundraising efforts. We've relied upon the county for the general maintenance. Um, I've seen them replacing the light bulbs in the in the facility, but we're responsible and have felt a great

responsibility for this. And so what we don't have is the capacity to do the improvements that we think are necessary. So next slide. So this is our this is this these shouldn't be a great surprise to you. I was actually surprised at the number of distinct visitors that that this library has on an annual basis. That represents 120 or so people a day coming into the library. And then you see all of the other things that go on in this library. not dissimilar to any of the other libraries in the either Nant Hala or the Mon County Library, perhaps on a smaller scale compared to the county, but still a very important part of our community and a and a community asset. So, I'm not going to cover the programs and the services. You all are very familiar with the programs and services that that the libraries offer. Um, I was in line to get something notorized today. I didn't know that libraries offered notary services. Ours does. and and I think the others do as well. Our partnerships are wide, particularly primarily in the Highlands community, but we offer our services, you know, Highlands goes from a thousand full-time residents to 30,000 part-time residents in the summertime. So, our our um our community base is is quite broad, particularly in the particularly in the summertime. And we're involved in a lot of organizations that you see here that you're probably quite familiar with and many of whom I'm sure have come before you asking for support in some form or fashion. Um our community partnerships again a lot of organizations that that we uh are involved with and come to our meeting room and use our meeting room which is offered for free in the building uh intentionally. So, we embarked 5 years ago on a long range plan and and part of that was a survey

that we did of the community. We had over 3,000 responses to that survey. And here are the results. Here are the priorities that our community that our respondents who were mostly library users did. Number one was outdoor space with Wi-Fi and tables. Um, number two was outdoor space for guest for guest speakers. Number three was redesign of a reading room. Number four, condition um additional community meeting space. So, and and there were several others, but this prioritized our focus on how do we improve this library for the next 40 years. What are the needs of the community at this time that are probably going to be the needs of the community um for the next several decades at least? And these are where we have focused our efforts and where we focused on where we can do the improvements. So without further ado and you listening to my history, I'll turn it over to Philip to talk about the details. So this map,

thank you all very much. Um, so the map you see here kind of outlines what Andy described as the community needs from that survey. Um, I'm happy to walk you through it. So, plan East, which is the south side of the building, uh that portico, which Andy mentioned, that's that square to the right. As you come in the building into the entry, you make a left and that square highlighted in a brighter white. That is currently our audio visual or yeah, audio visual room that has DVDs and books on CD. um that catalog will be moved elsewhere and that space will become two additional study spaces and a conference room. Um the study spaces are an essential resource for students, professionals, local organizations for for study and work. Um we have one current study room that you could see kind of towards the bottom of the building on the map uh between the children and reading room. Um it's almost always reserved and that demand keeps increasing. Um, then the reading room itself. Um, much of the furniture and shelving systems are are pretty outdated in the library. As Andy mentioned, a lot of that is from the original 1985 building of the library. Um, so replacing them will enhance the overall library experience. Um, and then if we move up and to the left, that young adult lounge, um, [snorts] with limited safe space throughout the community in Highlands, this young adult lounge will provide an inviting place to study and socialize. It currently is a young adult area, but it's not really walled off or a dedicated space. It's just kind it's a it's a corner that has some booths. Um, so this will really make it a true place for them. And then the pavilion. Um, if we go down to the left off of the current meeting room, um, that utilizes

more of the library's existing property. The property is pretty much that whole graphic that we see here. Um, the pavilion will provide additional outdoor meeting space. Um, that will almost double the current meeting room size with those two double doors. If those are open, it creates a really nice space between the two of them. And it'll also provide an outdoor place to read, work via Wi-Fi and and hold community events. Uh so that's an overview. Just taking a look at the map. And now we can go through before

I'll wait on the uh to talk about the outside because Hank is here. So um but we've worked with some great design partners. MPS uh is an architecture firm that really focuses on library architecture. They've done a great job at helping work through our catalog and make sure everything fits and help select furniture that's appropriate for for library use. Uh Ross Landscape Architecture, that's Hank here. He's done a lot of great notable projects throughout islands. And then Summit Architecture, another local architecture firm that is helping with construction drawings and design. [cough and clears throat]

Oh, just to the right here. And so here are some renderings that help show the before and after of the spaces um that I was describing on the map. So here is the young adult room uh the current space on the left hand side and then after uh you could see that real dedicated space for them. Um and this perspective is looking from outside the room. And then the next rendering is if you were inside that room so you can get a feel for for how that space would function. And then the next rendering is of the reading area. And so on the left is the current furniture and on the right is that new furniture and lighting. And then the next is the conference and study room. So this is looking from the quiet reading room back down that hallway to the audiovisisual room. Um and you can see in the after the two doors that would provide access to the two private study rooms. And then off to the very far right of that image would be the door to the conference room and then the outdoor pavilion. And I think this is a good time to segue to you.

Okay.

Yeah. the, you know, the uh the long range plan identified the need for the outdoor space uh but really got into the details with a series of meetings with the the library board and staff and kind and determined really what they what they needed. Uh the space as you can see um is from the parking lot um is an open space and then on the right side is a is really a a natural area that there's not too many natural areas right downtown anymore in Highlands. Go ahead to the next one. [clears throat] Uh this this slide shows the after uh showing the pavilion um that Philip mentioned. Uh it also shows a storage building um and then shows some landscaping. Um and one of one of the things that really came to mind was uh the parking and not to remove parking. We ended up removing only one parking space uh to do the whole outdoor spaces uh that that we uh uh designed. Um and the the goal of the outdoor space is to provide um an area really for patrons and the rest of the community. I think other community members will be able to use that pavilion and that space uh for for certain events uh fundraising etc things like that. Uh and that space is about 640 square ft 20 by 30 [snorts] ft. Um and uh also we wanted to create um additional outdoor space. Why don't you go to the next one? Uh this is the the overview plan. Um the um the library itself is on the bottom of the drawing. Um and then the the pavilion is the bright uh white looking uh space there and the storage rooms off to the side. It also includes

a patio uh with a water feature. And so it's going to be actually really a very nice uh uh space for people to want to sit and read um or use the Wi-Fi. um um and or just uh uh just get out of the library for a little while and and have and have coffee or whatever. And so um it it also um we're going to have uh an area you see the the path that runs around through the woods. It's a natural area. There'll be seating in the woods, uh plantings, and um and it'll all be handicapped accessible as well. And so we the let's see there will be outdoor lighting also for safety. That's really what I have.

Yeah. [clears throat]

So this is kind of the big reveal and you all have seen this. I don't think anybody in the audience has has seen it. The total cost of this is split um more or less um [clears throat] 50 uh I'm sorry 33% for the outdoor work and 66% but about half a million for the outdoor about a million for the indoor and you're going well I didn't see a million dollars worth of work in there and and a lot of it is is is embedded in those photographs but it's a we have 40-year-old lighting in there it's it was fluorescent. The bulbs have been changed by the county uh to LEDs, but um it's very restrictive in that the lighting is right over the aisles where the book cases are, but it doesn't allow us to move those bookcases because if you do, then the lighting isn't directed. So, you may have seen on some of the earlier renderings, um maybe this is the best one. The lighting is going to be LED lighting. It'll be new new ceiling embedded in there. Allows total flexibility for anybody over the next four decades to move the shelving or whatnot. And it's the state-of-the-art art lighting. I think we have 40-year-old carpet in this in several places here. We're going to replace the carpeting. And at the same time, since we're replacing the carpeting, we need to replace the 40-year-old bookshelves. and we're going to replace those with more state-of-the-art current bookshelves because we've got to move those bookshelves out to put the card carpeting down. So, bottom line is we're at a a million million five is our total cost. We hope to have this completed the exterior uh done this this spring actually and we've raised enough money. We've had a successful campaign to be able to underwrite those costs, but that still

leaves us a million dollars that we need to raise by late next summer because the uh contractors are going to need to we're going to need to go uh identify the contractor, but the materials, we're all familiar with the logistics challenges in getting materials. So, things like bookshelves that are custom or that are unique uh are not offthe-shelf items that we can go buy. the lighting and so forth. We anticipate the our our uh contractors anticipate it could take four to six months to get some of those materials and we want to have them pre-staged and ready because we want to do the interior work. We've been told it can be done if we shut the library down and sorry about that but if we shut the library down for three weeks they can do the entire job in three weeks. Um that's moving things out doing all the work moving things back in but they can't have the library staff there. So, but but that's what we're paying for is to keep the library open or get it back open as fast as we can. So, we've been discussing um what how we approach you all and I I had a very bad tactical error here, not coming and meeting with each of you. I should have done that and I apologize, but because of the the compression of of schedules and whatnot, we just presented this to the Highlands Town Board about three weeks ago, two and a half weeks ago, um we I can give you a figure now and I will be happy to do so or let you talk amongst yourselves. Um or whatever you all suggest, Mr. chairman, how I'll be [clears throat] happy to give you a figure now of what I think uh we would be asking you to help underwrite this project.

Well, first off, it's a magnificent project. Thank you. You'll compliment Highlands. Well, so I guess the from fundamentally speaking from my behalf, speaking for myself, I feel like this is an item we take on during our budget season, right? We kind of take this on, you know, after February and uh Mr. cave down there. We kind of see, you know, how things are trending, how things are tracking and and uh, you know, I feel like we'll do what we can. And your budget year is is one July to the budget has to be passed by July 1, right? Yeah. So, we kick off one what? February the 1st. Yeah. We we'll start departmental meetings February 1st and then the budget will be presented to them probably [clears throat] around the 1st of May.

Well, I'll tell you right now what we are looking for is about $350,000. It's comparable to other projects that you've helped underwrite in Highlands and that I'm aware of. Be happy to. We don't need the money right now. I mean, I'd love to have the money right now so that we can go forward and and move forward, but the timing might actually be perfect for us in terms of we're going to need to commit to contracts and everything about that time. And if we have an assurance through your budget process that there's a line item in there for the Hudson Library. And I can almost guarantee you there's never been a line item in this in this county's budget. I don't believe in the last 40 years for the Hudson Library. So we're asking you to break new ground here and and help us in that regard. Be happy to work with you. We'll come to workshops, whatever you wish us to do to help make that happen.

Cool. Any other comments? I'll be glad to touch base with you when we get a little closer and we'll we'll have some conversations. See see what I can do. Thank you very [clears throat] much. Thank you for your time very much. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you, Hank. And congratulations on your tenure and yours, sir. All right. Update from the Mon County Fair Association and request for funding. Uh co-chairman Dennis Connley. Mr. Connley.

Good evening, gentlemen and fair ladies. Uh, first of all, wish you all a merry Christmas. Hope you have a nice new year. Uh, I am Dennis Connley. I'm the co-chair of the Bon County Fair Association. And with [clears throat] me is Jamie Brooks, who is a fair director and also the president of the Mon County Horse Association. And we have Alvin Doster, who's on our board with us. We'd like to thank you for your kind donation in 2024 and really didn't anticipate coming back before you at this time, but circumstances sometimes change. As you well know, uh if you've been out to the fairgrounds recently, you'll see a major improvement to the horse arena. Uh the horse association has replaced the old arena with new metal, more permanent, and stronger containment fences. In doing this, they have asked for a security system by their insurance company in case of vandalism, natural disaster, and any other event. They have paid for the new arena, but do not have the money for the security system. And we don't believe they should be responsible for that anyway. It's on fair property. It should be fair responsibility for security. And we appreciate them putting the fence up. And it certainly makes that area down there at the bottom of the field look so much better than it did before. and what they've done. Uh in addition, one of our biggest complaints from the fair and from other different shows that's put out there is we had no Wi-Fi service in the buildings for the uh little snap uh credit card runs or what they're called. Uh and so and we should have thought of that when we did the work last time, but it just didn't come to our mind to do it that it was that necessary. And we did a u survey of the of the vendors and that was the number one thing they wanted was to have some access to be able to use Wi-Fi. And that makes it easier for us to be able to

rent if we can say we have Wi-Fi and we can give them a Wi-Fi passcode for that event then come back and and and and do it. So, we tied the two together because uh we felt like that was the biggest way to do it and easiest way. Uh you've I think in your uh agenda items, you've been given an estimate for these improvements. Now, one thing we did fail to include in it is is that the wiring has to be buried from the alumni building down to the horse arena for the cameras and everything to go through. So, we're thinking that's going to take about $3,000 additional to to bury it. So, that's something we would like to ask above and beyond what what that uh estimate there says. Uh if you went out to the last year's fair, it was by far the best attended fair that we have had in my years of working with the fair. And I think Mr. Corbin, who is our longest serving member, said it's one of the largest. Last year we had Nana Hala students there. We had people from Highland there which I would encourage them to come in the future. Uh Scaly Mountain. It was nice to see more people than just Franklin. But as you all know, our goal is to continue to improve the grounds each year. Um and we we appreciate it. and and it is the one time of the year that most Mon County you can see most a lot of Mon County residents in one place is come to the fair you're going to see them and uh now I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Jamie Brooks who is the president of the source association to make comments and then we'll be glad to take any questions thank you Mr. Connley, I do apologize. I'm not a good public speaker. I didn't make a lot of notes or anything. Uh, but I do want to echo Merry Christmas to all of y'all. [clears throat] Uh, we have been blessed making County Horse Association through grants, donations, and also u funding through private

investment as far as uh there's sponsorships and banners around the thing for get our new arena rails put up. It does look a lot better. It's a whole lot safer. It comes in as something we need to do for a long time. Uh we kind of looked over it, band-aided it for years and years and finally we took the bull by the horns this past year and got the word out and by the grace of God it all come together. Uh you can go by and look at it. It looks like completely different place. Honestly, not patting our own self on the back, but it really does. I know Mr. Shields helped us through some of the grants that we got. We certainly appreciate that. Uh with that being said, uh I know y'all have through working with some of y'all knowing some of y'all. How many people's, you know, went down there and just turned around or parked for a certain amount of time, used telephone, whatever else. Uh there's no security system on that lower end. What we're asking about um that parking lot is not only used by us during the fair, during the horse shows, but also the fields across the river. And with that being said, that puts a lot of people down there um that you don't know about. Some people great people that you know, you might know them by name, other people maybe through there that don't have any business being there. [clears throat] It's not where we grew up when I was in high school. It used to be gather the fairgrounds, hang out, you was good to go. Everybody down there know you've been named. If you got in trouble, daddy's going to go back before you got home. It's not that way anymore. Uh a prime example was when we were down there installing uh the the new panels. There was actually a uh person set up homeless shelter right there in the show barn. Nobody knew about it until we found it. It was not a shelter. It was just a thrown together bunch of pizza boxes and all this nonsense. uh being an adult, I call the the chairman, let them know about it. But if had been, you know, some teenagers coming through, the person's still there, it could have been a risky situation real quick. It was dealt with. Uh but with that being said, if we had security cameras in place, you know, 24-hour scanning, not only we have, I think, a lot lower [laughter] crime rate as far as we've had a few, you know, people come through do certain things that don't need to be done. They

could be seen, law enforcement can see it, know exactly who's there, when they're there. Um, and then also from the parking lot point of view for anybody using stuff across the river, if anything, you know, questionable went on over there, that could also be saw through the cameras, uh, as far as that goes. Um, and not only would it be able to be used by the horse association and the fair association, you know, during the use of the the fairgrounds for the fireworks and all that stuff. It's a really wide used area. in if say heaven forbid something did take place we can see exactly where it happened what caused it and know from a safety point of view I do apologize not having things down you know hardcore I can point out exactly uh we do have a lot of the numbers in front of you to see what the you basic cost is going to be another thing we have talked about doing and also in the process of this is upgrading our lighting that is down there uh Duke with a company of sump utilities put up a lot of poles and a lot of used lights that were taking down car lots and different places. Those are 1000 watt H hallogen bulbs. And I should hide this not, you know, say Duke said it, but every time you flip those switches on, those meters go crazy. And with everything being done with the fair association, the horse association, we generate basically all of our own money without sponsorships other than what sponsorships coming in. I'm sorry. Um, and so we have to save money and where we can. One thing we would like to do is get those thousand watt H hallogen bulbs down and lights and get some maybe new LED lights put up. I know that's not in front of you. That's kind of above and beyond. Uh and I can get up with other folks and talk to people that would be able to supply those. But that would also make the cameras a whole lot more efficient, you know, like clear, like crisper. And I just think it'd be a good business move to do that. Uh I do apologize for not having more stuff, you know, lay in front of you or be more polished, but um definitely I think it's worth thinking about. I think it's a great thing to use for not only us now, but that, you know, children coming up tomorrow have a safe place to go and let the fairgrounds kind of get back to

where it used to be. Uh, you know, within reason. Uh, not only that, the truckers that come in and out. Uh, it's a good place for them to use, but heaven forbid something happens or somebody gets vandalized down there, it don't just say, "Well, we're going to throw it back on the fairgrounds or down here." That way you can see immediately, you know, sheriff's department, whoever can eas. and then any other situation or in emergencies during flooding or anything like that could be seen and made aware of real quickly. Uh with that being said, I do there once again apologize. everything down. [clears throat] I should have, but I would love to work with you and see if we can get some of this put forward as far as monies to get us, you know, where we need to be as for getting this a reality, not just a wish, and make it safer for, you know, everybody using it and um to be able again, be able to use our arena and everything we've got in front of us to its fullest capabilities. So, thank y'all so much once again. Merry Christmas. [clears throat] I'll turn it back over Mr. Connley for closing. One thing about the the system I don't want to I don't don't want anybody to say that we misled you. The security system we're going to put in is not going to be extremely detailed oriented. It will be a general. It can give you the shape of the vehicle. It might be able to give you the tag. It could possibly give a face, but it's not going to be a clear crystal clear case because that cost would probably be four to five times what we're looking at here [clears throat] in talking to integrated installation. So I I don't want just to think that we can pinpoint everything, but it's going to help any way we go about it. And uh we'd be glad to answer any questions.

So in round the numbers, you're looking at 25 or 26,000. Well, if we add the three for the for the around we would be looking for roughly 26 27. Yes. So the Okay. So the quote the quote I had was 221 197 22 198. So if you add we don't the sales tax is included in that. So you would be looking at the 20,00350 and then if you add the 3,000 we don't have to pay for you but you would do that in the reverse. Yeah but if we were being responsible

and I do apologize for not having the lighting cost in front of you. That was something we came up with later through the horse association and I thought, well, while we're going in front of you far as a meeting, go ahead and throw that out, get y'all's opinion on it. I just think it would be a good time to do that while we're, you know, changing everything else up. And that would be something, you know, as a possibility, you know, get back with y'all along as far as the exact cost on that and if it's doable or not or, you know, you know, getting together or whatever, teaming up or something. Appreciate what you do. It's it's

I think I saw just about every one of you at the fair this year and I think you can affirm that the attendance was some nights was just unbelievable.

Uh and uh we had the best revenue generating that we've had. But you've got to remember that's primarily our revenue generating for the year. And with our tax uh with our uh insurance that we have to pay, pretty much what we generate at the fair covers our insurance during the fair itself covers our insurance for the year for the liability the and every uh buildings and everything. I we're spending roughly $15,000 a year just on insurance for the grounds and the liability against us as directors and everything. You know, you take $15,000 that could go towards a lot of improvement if you but you you can't have it. When I stop came on the board, we literally had no insurance on the properties. That was one of the first things. Talk to Mr. Profit says we got to do something about that. We can't afford that. You know, comments. [cough] Uh, the [clears throat] only thing I'll say to Jamie's point, I went down there the other day and that's a really good looking arena. You guys done a great job. But I did talk to a couple members of the horse association about the lighting. Um, so I would like to see some numbers on that. I don't know if that would help.

You know, you're paying all that insurance. You might as well have some rodeos and some barrel races and things like that. Maybe gen a little bit more money, but I don't maybe we can get some. Our problem is our insurance won't let us have rodeo. [laughter] The egg department had to have it and with [clears throat] the liability against us because our insurance specifically said there would be no rodeos. Let me throw you a few questions. So, you know, the date on this estimates May 12th says it's good for 30 days. Have you talked to this bunch? Yes, I have talked to Eric. He is he's going to honor that. He's going to honor it or be very close to it. You know, we we've got a little money if we screw up.

You know, I'd like to question your thoughts on the security cameras. I feel like you have to run the wire, you have to buy the modem. It seems to me like you you upgrade the camera. I mean, if there's an event and you need to identify a vehicle and all you see is a blur. I mean, I'd like to know what the cost difference is. You the wires are already ran. You have to buy a hard drive. Well, we've got a good system where you can zoom in and you can you can read the writing on their shirt. I mean, if you're going to have a security system, have a good one.

We certainly can do that. Uh, you know, I uh when I was talking to to Eric Hall at Integrated Installation about it, see, the reason we went with them is because we already got the system in place. Some of that stuff, we're just going to have to buy extras to run it through in in the that's the reason it's got to run from the alumni building because that's where we have all the data computer and data stuff sitting there. So, we're not going to have to buy as much stuff because we've already got the system up. But the cameras, we can certainly talk to him and see what kind of upgrade we've got. That's just my two cents. But

well, but I think it's good to put it in there. We're talking about safety and you can't put a price on some of that. So, while we're looking at it, let's let's go for whatever it is to be. Safety is is key.

Well, and and [clears throat] the the county is use uses our property a lot, which we appreciate. uh you know they we've had it twice for parking for the events in the in the thing and as they have more and more events in the old wreck park you're going to need that for parking cuz that's our biggest issues. we have parking issues no matter what, you know, and so, you know, that security is. We don't have we're not adding any security out there to where the vendors in the field is. You know, we've got some C there, but it's primarily around the horse arena, but um and then uh Mana is used, you know, our our property is used by county res, a lot of county residents, and it wasn't only one homeless. We we've had homeless issues for two years, three years now. Pretty bad. I mean, when you go out there and pick up needles and everything else, it's

and they uh defecate right in the on the floor of the stage, you know, it's it's not nice. And I guess

one thing might I add, I mean, apologize. Uh to answer your question as far as the lighting, we definitely do need to add that. Uh I did forget to mention a minute ago we have been uh gifted on occasions by the county bring out the light towers that we do have to have in place just in case some of our bow races or rodeos or whatever event does go in for the nighttime because the lighting we have there is not sufficient. We do have one or two that's out. Unfortunately, I'm not been able to work on those lately just due to insurance purposes, not through us but through company and I'll leave that out. Um, and so with those light towers in place, it is doable. But as you can imagine, between if there's also other emergencies going on or whatever else and those light towers are not available, it would make it really, really tricky to get all the lighting there that is necessary that we do have to come out the night or two before, get everything set up, put in place, turned on, and adjusted, you know, where that way it hits where you need it and not just hitting in the wild blue yonder. And if we had, you know, lights that were there existing, you come in, [clears throat] turn on a switch, and boom, and it lights up everything up immediately, that would make a huge difference. And I I apologize for not adding that a minute ago.

I'm assuming you've already spoke to the power company about it's cheaper to run on the customer side than it is on their side. Yes, sir. To run flood lights. Uh, basically what's going on right now, the the flow lights that are available, I'm not asking on far as price, uh, just because it's kind of a off the record type thing. um is they recommended that we would probably go through and find our own type new LED type floods. It's not just through them, but I can talk to them again through the lighting side of that and get some more numbers and then also get those numbers as far as the light back to y'all. I don't want to run I apologize for not having that information. I don't want to run you guys through the mud, but I feel like I'd ra I'd rather measure twice, cut once.

I'd like to see a good security system out there, you know, just in case there's an event of theft or somebody parks there. Absolutely. I mean, there's no doubt. You know, we we covered the main arena and the vendor area with our the last thing that you did between the [clears throat] state and that, but we didn't do the horse arena because yeah, we just didn't see the need at that time. Now, we have a need to do it. What's kind of your timing on this project? We would like to see it before uh I would love to see it before the first shows come out this coming year. However, you know, we'll do it as quick as possible. Yeah.

Um I mean we'd like to have it before the fair next year, but but you know uh we would like to have u um those any vendors that are renting the building, I'd really like to have them to have Wi-Fi to where that's a good selling point in people wanting to rent our building is they have Wi-Fi and we put heat and air in there. Now, if we could say we got Wi-Fi, they see a see a modem sitting up there, but it's that came through the COVID and it's only pinpointed right outside for maybe 15 ft and you got to have a special code to get in and got to jump through every hoop in the country to get there. What do you think?

No, I think it's great. Um also, um the big 250 year American celebration next [clears throat] year for the 4th of July and um u this project really should be completed before that time frame. I would like to have it early spring personally. Yeah. Um, and also when you're talking about Wi-Fi, you cross the river where we've placed the amphitheater, is that actually going to Would it be available? No, the Wi-Fi that we're going to be doing is purely in the building itself. Okay. We're not going to be able to do it out there. Uh,

see, you should have cell coverage out there. It's outside that metal building. Yeah. Where you don't have services while they need Wi-Fi. Well, I think they brought in Starlink for the concerts and stuff for additional. Yeah. Um for the the big concert out there. So, um that was Well, so no, I think um [clears throat] uh I've been out there many times all through the wreck park with the crazy stuff that going on out there. By all means, there should be some lighting out there and some security. All right. So, so come back next month and bring uh so we get some numbers or let Warren know and just he'll give them to you. How do you want to start?

And listen, we're free to I don't want you to have to wait a month to, you know, you can interact with us throughout the month. Send us kind of what you have and let's be prepared next month. Okay. To take action and uh at least if that ball starts rolling, you know, in January, hopefully this thing's done in spring. Yes. Right. So, I think we're just a little bit illprepared tonight, but I think the ball's rolling and let's [clears throat] keep it going. We just wanted to get on the agenda just because we need it. We'd like to see it roll. We was hoping to was [clears throat] thinking about getting it before this year and realized that it was just this year's 25 fair. We just realized it's not fair to you or to us to try to get something done that quickly. And, you know, it might help just to kind of see maybe get a quote from the power company to provide, you know, outdoor flood lighting and

and let's just run a cost analysis, you know. Okay. So, all right. Thank you. Thank you guys. Appreciate it. All right. That wraps up reports and presentations. Moving on to old business. Item A, update on the local government commission approval of the landfill construction solid waste. Interimm director Jimmy Pu and manager Warren K.

Mr. Chairman, I'll I'll start. Obviously, at the last uh board meeting, you all approved us sending a potential financing package to the local government commission for their review and potential approval. Uh I'm pleased to say that that presentation went to them on December 2nd. Uh we were approved. There were no concerns or or any kind of issues that were mentioned by the uh the LGC. Um so now the question is what do we do now? And and I'll have to say I've been here 30 some odd years. This is probably one of the hardest proposals I've ever had to uh to lay on the table up here. And make it a sales pitch if you want to say that. Um most of the projects that I bring to you, there's some curb appeal there. There's something that drives us to get there. Um uh it's this is not a wreck park. You don't have the the pickle ball question coming back there. Uh, it's not a life saf safety issue. That was for you, Betsy. Um, it's not a life safety issue per se. We're about an ambulance or it's a patrol car, but it's something that most of the time we don't want to talk about. U, but we certainly need and unfortunately we're we're in a situation at this point where we have to make some tough decisions. Um, it's not a pretty project. Building a landfill is not usually what folks wake up every morning and dream of doing every day. Um, we've talked about a lot of different things. We've talked about hybrid models. We talked about hauling. We've looked at different options. We've talked about the parcels over there. Um, I don't necessarily like all the options. Uh, however, I I have to give you a recommendation that I think for me is the way that I think we need to go. Uh and honestly at this point I feel like based on the information that we have um I think we need to proceed with the financing

approval uh for the landfill sale construction and approval of a bid. Uh I also understand that we we and I know I've made you all aware of it. We're obviously under into some financial planning for the um the landfill in general and as we go through the next 6 months and we get into the budget year, I'll be able to to speak more intelligently about where we're at with that process. We we've talked about hauling. Can we integrate that somehow? Can we make a hybrid model? How do we value the property? How do we make the sale last longer? H how do we figure all that out? Um and that's a pretty complicated equation. This, like I said, this is probably one of the hardest uh hardest proposals I've had to put on your table, but I have to give you a recommendation that I feel is um it's where we need to be. Um so tonight, my recommendation to you would be to approve the u financing package for the construction of sale 2 A2B, which is a 12 1/2 acre sale, uh which is in phase three, uh and to adopt the bond order authorizing issuance of special obligation bonds. Now, I also want to make sure, and I'm certainly not a financial expert, uh, but with the issuance of when I say special obligation bonds, one of the, uh, one of the things with with those is it doesn't, uh, you're not required to pay for this debt with your general fund revenue. Matter of fact, it it basically assures you that the revenue for the enterprise has to pay this debt. Uh, which is what we've done for the last 10 years with the sale that we have there. Now, uh we're getting ready to make the last payment on that. Matter of fact, as part of this financial package, uh that was one of the contingencies that we make the last payment, which we had already budgeted to do anyway. Uh pay that off and then turn around enter in new debt service for this sale, which we hope is going to get us to 10 years. Um so tonight uh the first thing that I

would recommend uh is to approve that financing package and adopt the bond order authorizing the issuance of those special obligation bonds. Mr. K, I'd like to make a motion. Uh we um connect with Webster Bank and follow your recommendation. Um, y'all y'all worked hard on this and uh I think at this time I'd just like to make a motion to follow your direction. I hear a motion by Commissioner Shields. Second.

Second by Commissioner Antoine. Further discussion. Jamie, [clears throat] thanks for uh you know all you do. Thanks for the uh presentation last month. It was great. And thank you for I went down there I don't know when that was. A couple weeks ago and took a tour of the landfill. Um, [clears throat] so I just kind of want to get some clarifying questions. Um, my hesitation on this is, you know, I feel like we are I feel like we're backed into a corner. We don't have enough time to do anything other than build a landfill. Um, so it's just hard to sit here and think, man, we're going to burn, you know, like 20, if we do both sales or both phase three, both sales, we're going to burn like 24 acres or whatever it is of of a 43 acre piece of property we have for 10 years, you know, and and then what happens after 10 years or what happens after 30 years? I mean, eventually, and I think you said it last month, I mean, you know, eventually you're not going to be able to landfill anymore. We're going to have to transfer. Um, so I feel like we've kind of, for me personally, just, you know, I feel like we're backed into a corner where we have to make this decision and I don't think it's the best decision, you know. I mean, I think that if we could figure out how to transfer and save that land, you know, until maybe for the future or future buildings or whatever it ended up being, then so be it. But what I worry about is this 10-year landfill turning into a 5-year landfill if we have another

bad, you know, run, which I hope we don't. Um, so I mean it's just really hard to to sign on to $10.5 million or $13 million with interest and and go that route. Um, what what's our time on the landfill that we have right now? Um, they predict I think June or July, but it's probably going to be before that and that is if we're if we're still bringing Highlands down to Franklin. What if we go to that hybrid model and we start transferring out of Highland? Um it would be about a fourth of the waste not not brought down. So get us a few more months maybe. Yeah. So you're saying July this year we're out of capacity. Mhm. And how long is it going to take to build this cell?

Um well 210 days is the first part of it. So that's cell 2a. And then I think it was 300 310 310 days for the full thing. So we do have a few things we can do if we are going to build that cell. we can go back over to phase three cell one and start filling overfilling and then if we have too much there then we can just move it directly to that cell that's right next to it. So we could do that instead of having to transfer temporarily. So I think when we met you said 10% is what we can fill on that other one. Is that right? Yeah. Yeah. Up to 10% and then you don't have to move it. You don't have to move. If you go over 10% you got to move.

Yeah. I mean, it's kind of hard to to predict until they actually do the survey to close it and then we would have to to

and and I will address, you know, the waist stream coming in. Obviously, we've had a couple of really bad years. Our waist stream has been beyond the percentages that we estimated. And that's one of the the other things that we want to talk about as we get into this planning process over the next 6 months. Look at the stream that's coming in. We're going to look at the financial end of it. Look at the business end of this because it's a business. That's that's the point I wanted to make with special obligation bonds. It's a business. It has to stand on its own two feet. Um, we need really need to look at that program. We're we're talking about a different uh Carson Convenience Center somewhere. One of the big things we've talked about with it is make recycling more uh accessible for folks or or easier for folks to recycle,

more appealing,

more appealing. So, the the flip side of this is we need to work with people to figure out how to to decrease that waist stream that's coming in. Um, I was talking to somebody the other day. It amazes me how much trash I generate during a week. I I don't know where it all comes from. Um, and then, you know, how can we how can we generate revenue off of that? Uh, we brought up the the reference to mattresses. They tend to be one of the cheaper things that you can put in a landfill, but they take up the most space because you can't compact it and you can't get the airspace from around it. So, that makes that that cubic yard of airspace that we're selling somewhere less valuable if we can if we can work all this together into a big picture. And I I agree. I I feel like we're backed into a corner because we don't have a lot of options. But I think at this point for stability for you all, for financial stability, so that I can I can't tell you that we're not going to change, something won't go up next year, fuel may go up, mechanical stuff may break, but I can offer you a reasonable amount of financial stability within reason with this sale. Then we can address some of the hauling the hauling things. We we look at that capacity. We talked about hauling part of Highlands out. It'd be a quarter of the waste. Obviously, there's a revenue stream there that we we can't take away a quarter of the expense of the landfill because we're already in the landfill business, but we might can take away a little somewhere. If if we can put all that together into a really detailed financial picture, and and you all know I'm a detail person when it comes to the number parts, then we can put a proposal back on your plate this budget year and next budget year and the budget year after that. to get you to where you want to be. So that if this thing maybe we can make it last 11 years or 12 years and we we look at the dollar figures and it works out on paper

financially to haul two loads a week to Georgia or two loads a week somewhere else.

Well, that's kind of what I was going to go with is if you know if this goes and goes through tonight and passes, I just don't want this to be and I know this, you know, some dynamics on this board may change. I just don't want this to be something that's dropped at someone else's feet in 9 and a half years, you know, and that's it feels like for me what it is because I haven't been here that long. But um but I just don't want that to be the case. We need to start planning now for the future and the future is trash and we're not going to get rid of trash. I mean it we generate so much trash and we got to figure out what to do with it. So you I mean like you said, we're not going to get permitted for another landfill. So how do we make that happen? We to me we need to plan to simultaneously start a transfer you know a transfer station which would take money obviously

but over the long run we could haul two or three days a week or whatever and just landfill a minimum amount of time and maybe make this thing last 20 years and save some proper save some land that we can't get back

and I and I will say you will have some notice of that you know it's it's shortening your time is shortening because we do do a survey every year we have to do a capacity survey So you will know that, you will be able to see that year by year. You know, if your waist is increasing, how much longer you have, those types of things. It won't just be a sudden 9 years. Oh my gosh, we're full. You know, it it would be you would realize it. So, and again, it wouldn't make the financial sense if it was short like five, but hopefully we would have kind of notice before that happened. I would hope so. Go ahead. [clears throat]

Well, I have a few comments. You know, if you sit down with your family and eat Chick-fil-A, it's like the whole tray is full of trash. You know, when you go to the dumpster, it's kind of it's kind of sad really, but you know, I'm thinking about Highlands. Highlands, in my opinion, for the most part, most of the usable land is has been built upon. So, for people to build in Highlands, you tear down a house to build a house. And I think we're seeing a lot of that up there, which is adding a lot of capacity. You tear down a house, you know, it's 50, 60 to 100 dump truck loads. The houses up there aren't very small.

And there's a lot of merit to what Mr. Breeden has to say. I think to add to some of his comments, I'd like to see a very detailed, comprehensive 5-year, 10 year, 20 year. How do we get to 35 years? You know what's what's your vision for this county to get 35 years without essentially this is this is 10 years and the loan is 10 years. So essentially when this matures you start all over, right? So I feel like we need to go one more step so the next board's not blindsided, right?

Can you do that for us? Can you get us something? How do we get to 35 years? Even if it's transferring, you know, if if transferring is the option and we we preserve the hole that we just built, we operate neutral to transfer. Sorry, I was just trying to verify you want that to be 35 years. Is that what you're saying? Or you want the whole I want I want to know how Mon County citizens can can have a 35-year plan on where to take their trash. You know, I think the 10 year number keeps it's a little bit eerie to hear that, right? Sure.

And that'll be in your potentially in your career path, right? Like I think it's in everybody's best interest, but how do we get there? You know, is it it's kind of thinking outside the box. Um is it transferring? You know, we could transfer for 10 years, right? as long as and then the downside of that is, you know, the cost transfer is what it is, but you raise the rates, the dump fees and some people don't want to dump it to landfill because it costs too much to dump and they dump it over the bank, right? So, you have to be careful right there. Those fees need to stay reasonable, right?

So, there's a lot of very, very complicated issues inside of this, but I just want to look a little bit deeper to Commissioner Breeden's point. So, is this a 30 or Do we have 30 years left? Mhm. We should on 43 acres. Mhm.

And I'll speak to that a little. I I've learned a lot about the landfill business and and this cell I I you know, this cell is is an area that's sitting here somewhere and the next potential cells are going to sit beside it. And we keep talking about the airspace. Well, essentially you're building a triangle over that space. So when you connect those, you know what the acre that may get you x number of years. Now when you spread that out, the triangle gets bigger, the air space gets greater. So therefore, your capacity actually grows a little more. So the the acre if you were to do another cell would actually have more capacity than this cell because it's interconnected. Does that make sense?

One cell, another cell, and then you would get our 30 years. So what happens in 30 years? You have to transfer. We We did a study whenever they started phase three to look at all the property in Mon County and that is the only spot that can have a landfill if the rules stay the same.

And she and I have talked about this. We we've talked about technology, you know, we talked about incineration. We we've talked about shredders, which fascinate me, that you you make that smaller and you compact that air space and you offset the cost of the the shredder because I gain more space in that landfill. And then honestly, this is not just our problem. This is a problem across the whole US and the world. So, I'm hoping that somewhere one of Mr. shields a student somewhere along the way comes up with a technology that that saves us somewhere [laughter] you

and then you know we even talked I I will throw it out there we we talked last month about privatization of for instance like it doesn't necessarily affect this sale but privatization of the the brush and the other woody debris maybe there's some other options in here that we look at that somewhere in the future that somebody pops up I think there's merit to that you know if if we don't put organic material in the landfill. You know, it's all about buying time. Uhhuh. You know, and let somebody in the private sector. John, did you have some comments?

Well, no. I mean, you guys pretty much hit on everything u really that I was going to uh state was, yeah, we are watching in Highlands mansions being torn down to build bigger mansions. And it seems like I'm not sure um Joe was in here somewhere. Um you know, you got to pull a demolition permit. I haven't pulled those numbers, but I see dump truck after dump truck after dump truck hauling. And you know, we only have what, four trailers in Highlands Transfer Station. And and our uh team that is actually hauling from Highlands um to the M County landfill, a lot of times they can't keep up and um and sometimes we get into violation with these trailers and stuff sitting there. And I I was thinking on the logistics part of it for transferring um when that semi pulls that trailer out on 28 and they turn right and they go into Highlands back down 106 into Dillard back through Otto into Franklin to the landfield. And then you think, okay, when they come out of Rich Gap and they get to 28 and they turn left, they go down 28 and they turn on Warwoman to go to Homer, Georgia. Well, one of these days I'm going to make that trip just to see what time frame it is. Um, but I almost think that the timing could be [cough] actually [clears throat] the same or maybe just a little bit longer for the the company that actually hauls this garbage um over there. and and really um you know the former director of the landfill uh stated that you know Mon County depends on the revenue coming

from Highlands to make the Mon County landfill [clears throat] actually break even. So there's a concern, but realistically u the biggest concern is we're taking 40 some acres. We're going to turn it into a landfill and then in 30 years, unless what you said, uh if we have some god-awful pandemic again that causes this crazy to fill in, where do we go in 30 years? And um and I think right now is where we need to be planning for the future, not worrying about 5 years or 10 years. And today, this board and the manager and you um we need a long-term plan and it and we're all afraid right now of spending 10 million$13 million of destroying more land when ultimately we're going to have to either have an incinerator, we're going to have to transfer this stuff. So my opinion is is we start now and um and this is what we deal with and we save that land and if we build this sale um then we can do that. But um you know I'm I'm really I mean that we put it back out for bids. the bids came in um and they were uh we could really function with that, but Commissioner Breeden said it best. We're not going to uh never have garbage unless life is no longer um and so I'd like to have a plan of a long-term solution to this and not destroy the rest of that land over there.

Jamie, if we um if we went like partially hauling, would that make a dent in terms of like extending the time? Mhm. But again, Highlands is a fourth of our waste. They're already a transfer station. They're already ready to go to transfer out. So, it would it would it's a fourth of our waste yearly. So, you would extend that. Yeah.

If we did that down here, how much further would that extend it? Um, well, it just depends on how long you would do it. I I wouldn't advise doing it down here. You would you would be losing money because we're we're not set up to do that. If we had to do it temporarily, we could probably do it. It just would not be financially best for the county to do that to be honest. That'd be like a worst case scenario. Yes.

And and I'll add on to that. You know, we we mentioned at the last meeting we were we were trying to get apply for some DEEQ grants that would help turn that facility in there and Franklin actually into a transfer station, which is what Highlands is. It's actually permitted differently. It's actually functions differently. Well, I had to had to grasp this to understand why it wouldn't work down here. But it essentially comes down to the fact that down here with the facility we have, you're only going to pack about 75% of the waste. best case

into one of those trailers that you do in Highland. So therefore, every four trips that you take out of here, you're going to have to add another trip somewhere, which adds on another trip fee. Um, which is why economically it's hard to make that work out without that facility. And and I agree with the long-term plan, which is I would I would love to see this sale happen to get us started. It still leaves us 24 and a half acres out there that we could do something else with later if you decide to do something else. taking into consideration the buffer. Um, now residential that could be offices, but residential, the buffer would be way greater. You're not going to have much property left because we're already a landfill. I would love to look at the hybrid model uh and put all these pieces together and develop you that plan and and come up with a solution so we're not we or whomever else is sitting in these chairs is not dealing with this again feeling like we're we're backed into a corner somewhere in 8 years or 10 years or 15 years or whatever that is.

So I might have I might have missed this but population growth has that been kind of factored into this? Um yes. So something interesting that Miguel told me is that usually trash follows population growth but we have surpassed that our trash has now gone way above population growth. Yep. And which is [clears throat] that's another reason which is a good thing but not in trash.

That's another reason that we talked about we need to to get a hold of our processes try and get that waist stream down manage it better. And I hate to say it, maybe it costs more than a dollar and a half to put a mattress in. If we're taking up x amount of space, then maybe the mattress needs to be charged more. Uh that's the things that we need to look at, which unfortunately is going to take us time uh that I just don't have at the moment. Is it feasible to build these this cell um and then also a transfer station in that 10 years? cuz in 10 years are we going to be sitting here saying we should have built a transfer station. We

um it is if you have the money they we do probably have some area that we could put a transfer station that wouldn't conflict with our current operations. Um but you know like Miguel said it's probably going to cost you $8 million to build a transfer station right now.

And that's the other reason that we're going to go after those DEQ grants hard because they're recycling grants. they they are hyperfocused on managing that waist stream. Um, and we're one of the few counties, not every county has a landfill. So, so we we stick out to them in a good way that they would like to help us hopefully get somewhere. So that's why we're going to follow that path to to get the funding in there so we can keep those rates down that we talked about and we're not overcharging people or having to to have an excessive charge on a tipping fee or an availability fee somewhere. What's the time frame of if we were to build a transfer station at some point? Um 18 months

to build it to get it permitted, designed and built. Yep.

So another question would be we're talking about 10 years of possibly making that decision to transfer. We've already been turned down by one group that they could not take our garbage. So I think we also stand the risk of that happening in other places. And I and [clears throat] I fear that if we don't get locked in to someone to take our waste, we may not have the option if we wait longer to get on board with these other companies. I agree with that.

Well, I just going to say just the last thing I'm going to say is um I think you I think you've done a great job. Um I think the the tour was great. the the presentation was great, but it's just something that I don't think I can support only because again, I just feel like I'm kind of new to this and it just I just feel like it's a pressure point. Like, you know, I didn't I just don't think it's the right move. I feel rushed. I feel like we're spending a lot of money to do this. Um I feel like we we should have had another um some options. And so it has nothing to do with you or your presentation or your or anything like that. It's just me personally. I just it's hard to support a, you know, $10 half million dollar project that ends up being, you know, $13 million with interest and it's not even going to last us, you know, probably 10 years, you know. [clears throat] So, and then we have to either start over or at at the same time we're trying to build that transfer station that we're because that's probably the future. So,

so quick comment you know, we're we're grilling you right now and uh you're an interimm director and [laughter] you're doing a wonderful job. All right. So, it's all business and I and and again, I'm not I'm not like let's think it's the best option with with what I presented, but whatever you decide, that's what we're going to do. And I agree with Barry. I mean, what I can't get out of my head is if we're at capacity in July, we don't have a transfer station. You know, that's that's that's what I'm saying. It's like, then what? Right. Right.

Like we So, I feel like I I have to do that. You know, I can't wrap my mind around a 10,000 square foot metal building that's open on a concrete slab costing $8 million. Joe, am I missing something right here for a transfer station? I mean, and we have partials down there, huh? I mean, depend how big it is, but you know, how big are [clears throat] what transfer station? How big is it? Um, I honestly have no idea. I mean, they would have to do traffic studies because every everybody who goes to Lville would have to go through the rabbit hole and and I don't I don't expect you to have that answer. But, you know, that's something I want to talk to McGill about.

And maybe we we repurpose something we have, but I think we need to get on that road of a transfer station pretty quick. Like, if it's a year and a half, that needs to happen very quick. But, uh, I agree with everything everybody said. I feel like it is what it is. We have a motion by Commissioner Shields and a second by Commissioner Antoine. So can I say one thing in that motance? [clears throat]

Do we need to amend the motion? Can we just include that? Yes, we can include it. Yes. Tammy, did you hear that amendment? Commissioner,

may I ask one more question? the enterprise fund. Do you actually have the funds in the enterprise fund to pay for this loan without raising fees to uh to the taxpayers and the citizens of Lake County. So realistically, it's not going to cause any thing with the county budget. the um the county taxpayers. Um it's all based on coming out of your business. Yes.

And we're not looking at uh three months from now you coming and saying, "Hey, we have to jack these fees up to pay for this and everything else." It wouldn't be for the landfill. It would be because of other rising costs. Yeah. if that

and and that would be part of the financial planning. I mean, if if that's the direction we want to go in a year and a half for 24 months, we want to have a a transfer station. Then then we need to get an honest figure for that. We need to calculate that out, figure out what it needs to be. Then we need to have that discussion during budget time and somebody like Mitch that comes in and and you instead of going up $20 one year, you go up $2 this year and $2 next year and and you build that into a growth scale that's doable for folks that that looks at how your economy is moving and how things are changing and that that should be part of that financial planning. Okay. Well, um,

but we were very pleased with the offering we got from Webster Bank. Obviously, the interest rate is higher. We got an astronomically low rate 10 years ago, which was Lindsay 2.3% or somewhere in that neighborhood, which is unheard of anymore. We didn't get a bad rate because we we're we look good financially. Um, I will say we do have the option to refinance that somewhere down the road. So obviously if if the economy takes a turn and those rates are better, we can certainly do that. Um but I'm confident with the debt service dollar figures we have now. First payment doesn't come until October 2026. So we're we're good with our debt service this year and I'm confident that that we can handle that.

The feds were supposed to lower the rates today, didn't they? I didn't get that email. Oh, [laughter] but realistically when this enterprise fund, this business was established, it was established to move forward in segments with the funds that you bring in to operate the landfill. Um, so it's really just like any other business that um you have to reinvest. But um you know, I really want to get really down in the nitty-gritty with the future of this uh garbage problem. So, I have the same want.

Yeah. And I I don't think that [clears throat] really we have no choice but to at this point. I mean, I I I hate it. Um I hate to destroy more land. Um but just like you said, the uh [snorts] we're backed into a corner and what do you do? I mean, feel like you're trying to pressure me into [laughter] people dumping garbage all over the bank. I feel that way too. [laughter] I mean, let's let's move this thing along here. All right. Any other comments before we call it to a vote? All right. Uh, all in favor, please raise your right arm. State I for the record. I oppose [clears throat] like sign. I.

All right. Mr. Amy, please let the record reflect a 4 to1 vote. Great job, Jamie. Thank you. So, Mr. Just go ahead. Um, did you guys want to know what other counties around us are charging? Cuz I have that table. Sure. Yes. No, please. Okay.

So, I just had some questions about where we stand. Um, so I did the closest seven counties around us. Um, and this table just is kind of comprehensive. if it's either if they have a transfer station or a landfill, their tip fee, the availability fee if they have one, the number of convenience centers they have, and the tons they handle um or the tons they handled last year, and then if they're open on Sundays or centers, and if they're open on holidays. Um the bottom row is the average. I just thought it was good to have maybe a middle a middle point there just to show you. Um so just based on this table after compiling it I realized we have both a transfer station and a landfill which no other county around us has. We have 11 centers which is the most and we handle the most waste out of those eight things. Now I do want to call just a couple points. Klay County has 88 and 100. They are going up to 100 in January. Um, Jackson County, I put their availability fee is 125. 125 is actually for a three-bedroom house. They do a tiered system for households, and so each um number of bedrooms is a different is a different price. And then businesses is actually lower than that. Um, Haywood, they charge $55 for their MURF, but that's only for small haulers and residential. Um, everybody else has to go to White Oak. Um, Swain 115 for the availability fee is just for residential. Um, commercial has a tiered system and I think that tops out at 550 for restaurants. Um, Transennsylvania County is a little unique. They do pay as you throw instead of an availability fee. uh based on their website, that is the only um county I could not get a hold of to talk to personally, but they

I'm pretty sure charge $3 a bag and there that's a sticker system. Um and just now, this is back in 2020, [snorts] so it's a little different, but Transsylvania County also did a similar study where they did landfill versus transfer station because CO increased their waste. Um, and they found landfill was cheaper over 25 years by $7 million. And the 25 year mark is their estimated capacity going forward. So that was just a little tip. It's all on their website if you if you want to check that out. But um, so I just wanted to to provide that with you just to show you where we where we stand. Okay.

Jamie, is it possible to take um, and limit on how many bags of waste goes to the convenience centers? Yes, but I just I'm not sure how you do that.

Do you do a punch card? You know, like thinking that through as me, if I go to the center, how am I going to know that you that I came in multi? Now, you could take you could only bring one bag a day, you know, or something similar to that. But it is I think that's a little more challenging. Yeah, because I mean I go into the convenience center on Highlands Road and u I can't tell you every time I go in there there will be a pickup truck there that's just rounded off with bags of garbage and and it's wrong. They should. And there's no doubt in my mind these people are uh operating a business at no cost to them by hauling off waste and using a convenience center and it's eating the taxpayers and the landfill alive. Um and it and it really needs to be watched because it's it's

and and something other counties do, they do a sticker system. So when you pay your your property tax, you get a sticker and you put that in your car and that allows you to use the centers. If you do not have a sticker, you cannot use the center. So I know a lot of counties do that to try to regulate that. Um the center attendants are also able to tell people like that, no, you can't dump here. You have too much, you can go to the landfill. If it's household, you won't be charged, but you cannot use the center. So they are allowed to say that. um just depends on who's doing that and if it's not.

So, Mr. Chairman, now that uh we've approved a financing package, we need to consider the bids for the actual construction of that sale. Uh if you all remember, right, we we took bids back in the summer. Uh we had to we actually rejected those bids. We adjusted the bid specs. Um, a lot of it had to do with with allowing subcontractors to perform some of the work because it's such a specialty uh field. And we did receive bids back. We received five bids. Um based on the availability of the financing package and the dollar figures that we've looked at, uh it would be my recommendation that the the bid for 8,411,889 be awarded to FM Kitchen Construction Services for construction of sale 2A2B uh contingent upon uh myself and legal counsel uh reviewing the lensure of those folks and the the subcontractors and their qualifiers and to allow me to enter into a contractual or a process to negotiate a contract with those folks.

Eric, did I miss anything legally on that?

Okay. And we will obviously verify we we have a bid bond verify. We'll verify the qualifiers and the lensure [clears throat] and make sure we're good before we enter into that. All right, gentlemen. You heard the man. Uh thoughts? Well, Mr. Cape and I have talked about it and u me personally uh he's studied it and I feel like he's more expert at this than I am and so I sure don't mind making a motion to support his recommendation. I hear a motion by Commissioner Shields. Second.

Second by Commissioner Antoine. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor please raise your right arm and state I for the record. I. Any oppose? All right, Miss Tammy, please let the record reflect a 5 vote. Jamie. Yep. All right. You've done a good job. [clears throat] Tell mom and daddy I said have [laughter] you said should have been a swim coach. She's swimming in trash now. [laughter] Thank you. Yes. Keep it clean. Keep it clean. Keep it clean. Put that stuff in there. field. Okay. [laughter]

Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Thank you, Jamie. All right. Update on opioid grant request. County manager K.

So, gentlemen, you remember back in I believe it was July, we applied for a an opioid uh planning grant from the Dogwood Health Trust. Uh, and what that was intended to do was to get us kicked off in our planning process and develop the strategic plan that's required for us to have in place before we can actually spend down the opioid monies that that we've been receiving. Uh, it's the first step in that process and I'm proud to say that we were notified a week or so ago that we were awarded that grant, which is $300,000. Uh so our next step will be developing a committee to to develop that plan on how we're going to spend that and probably engage a contractor to actually develop the plan that meets those specs because we we certainly don't want to have a situation some of the other counties have gotten into that improperly spend that fund and then they turn around and have to pay that money back. So I just want to update you on that and I'll bring you back some more information in January about how we're going to proceed with that.

Perfect. All right. Thank you, Mr. Cape. [clears throat] All right. Uh let's see here. Uh redistricting Commissioner Sher.

Mr. chairman. Uh you [clears throat] remember back in 23 u we had a resolution drafted um asking the general assembly to approve the May County Board of Commissioners to look into how Mon County's districts are elected and it was uh the resolution was approved 3 to two. It was sent in to Representative Gillespie. It made it through the rules commission or committee and we had a board change in the process and Representative Gillespie wanted um a new resolution for this purpose. [cough] So I and at that time I think there was a um some confusion because it's my understanding that the general assembly they don't tell us how to district our county. They tell us yes they approve of us u looking into it and by all means that was not a once they approve it then we debate it as to whether or not Mon County commissioners are elected fairly and in my opinion we are not uh district one and district three is disenfranchised because if you're in district one and

district [cough] three you may only seek office once every four years. If you're in district two, you may seek office every two years because of the um district two is how we offset the alternating election to this board. Um, and so I would like to um to make a motion that we send a new resolution into the state and not asking them to tell us how to district this um to our county. Um, and that's their job is to it's unfair and that's what they're to do is to look at it and tell us um they agree and then it once it goes through the rules committee. It goes on the floor. The local bill is adopted. it comes back to us and then we decide at that time to have a discussion on if and how we do this. Um and there are several um counties around that um well in fact the um the courts ruled in a u multimember districts and single member districts are unconstitutional in the state election. it has never been adjudicated in a local election in the makeup of this board. So, um to me when I say that

the district one voters and district three voters are disenfranch disenfranchised is the fact that they can only uh elect their representative every four years. So there's several different ways you could do this. You could do five dis or five members at large where anybody in the county could do this. You could do uh four members u distinct districts and one at large. You could do three distinct districts and two at large. Um so there are several different uh makeups of how the commission board would be elected. Um and so um That's that's what I've been seeking as fairness in the election process. And um and so I make a motion. Um [clears throat] have have you guys all seen the new resolution um that the county attorney drafted? Um it's the exact same resolution um as we had before with the exception of one if you would read that. um with the exception of the other one had that we were going to make up of three distinct districts and two at large. Just a minute to read that.

Whereas since 1978 the five member board of the Mon County Board of Commissioners have been elected from three districts with a single member elected elected from district one which includes LJ Flats, Highlands and Sugarfort. a single member from district three which includes Burning Town, Cartuka Jay, Cowi and Nanahala and three members with staggered terms from district two which is Iowa, Milshaw, North Franklin, East Franklin, South Franklin, Union and Smithbridge. And whereas as a result of this structure, potential candidates from district 2 are eligible to file for election every two years while potential candidates from the single member districts one and three may only file for the election every four years. Now, therefore, it is resolved by the Mon County Board of Commissioners as follows. Number one, the Mon County Board of Commissioners requests that the North Carolina General Assembly grant the board the authority to determine how its voting districts shall be divided, provided the districts are created fairly and in a manner consistent with state law. Two, further that this change begin in the election cycle for members of the Mon County Board of Commissioners beginning in 2028. Three, that this resolution shall be forwarded to the senator and representatives who represent Mon County in the North Carolina General Assembly and a copy be retained in the office of the clerk to the board of commissioners adopted this day of 2025. Josh Young chairman.

I make a motion that we approve that resolution and send it into a motion by Commissioner Shur. Second. Second by Commissioner Antoine. Further discussion. When you say three districts that I'll go ahead and

Okay. When you say three districts and that's you you got three commissioners coming out of those three districts, right? Correct. Then you got two districts that are [clears throat] at large, which means or help me that other people in that three districts can also run as an at large. You could you could end up having five commissioners out of three districts and no representation from two. No, you will have uh Commissioner Shields, you will have three distinct districts. I got it will be equal in population which you have one two and three.

Okay.

So then you're um two at large but this this equation is completely gone out of this resolution. That is off the table until the state or the legislators approve this resolution. None of that comes into play. All we're saying is is we we think that the election process is unfair and there are um community members that are disenfranchised of of the election and seeking office. So, that's where this got muddy the last time was the folks down in Raleigh are not going to tell us how we're going to district making county. It will be up to the board of commissioners to change it or not change it. But I also question how long it's been since there has been a population study in all these um precincts of Mon County.

[snorts] So that's how it's all made up is your um your districts are made up by population. And so when you have an area that is growing faster than anywhere else, there should be a study so [clears throat] that each one of these precincts are equal and districts are equal in size. So John, sir, does that mean you'll have one seat per district and a two at large seats anybody can basically run? So it gives all three districts will have an opportunity for somebody to be able to run every two years. Correct.

Instead of just district two, but then you have alternating seats. So, it's not like you're going to have two people from the same district running for those two large seats at the same time because they will be alternating. And it would have been [clears throat] it was the cleanest and the easiest in this election cycle because you have three people that are seeking office. So, you would have someone in district two that would be coming off right

of the okay so but you could still run as an at large seat so when so realistically all of this stuff is to be discussed down the road it and it it don't have to change but anyways I think it needs to [clears throat]

so let me share with you my thoughts real I have the opportunity to run every two years. All right. You don't. So, I agree there's a problem with the system. I think my fundamental problem with this, I'm not picking on you, is I try to be very consistent, but we change the agenda, right? So, we can, you know, discuss this stuff before the public hearing. I think my only I would probably support this on next month's agenda, right? Put on the agenda, publish it, let the comment, the p the public come and speak about it. We'll take input and if you can wait a month, I would have a problem supporting this.

Okay. Number one, you don't have to have a public hearing because this is only asking the state to give us the ability [clears throat] to look into it. No, I understand that. It's a fundamental philosophy for me. We just added it today. I talked to you yesterday. I haven't heard anything about it. I feel like we put it on next month agenda as an agenda item. The public wants to speak, they speak. If they don't, they don't. And I'm speaking for myself. And uh John, I think it's a good move. We've talked about this for years now and I think it's probably the right move.

Well, the other side of that is the general assembly is going into their short session and this needs to get back through the rules committee so they can take it up in the short session. and delaying it um is going to cause it um you know we delayed it before and when it was approved and so um and I don't think that it's any I don't think it's any big um issue all we're doing is my two cents asking people for [laughter] their go for their blessings

so just my two cents on it as the district every representative. The reason that this has come back up is because when I came on, Representative Gillespie asked for a new resolution cuz I'd come on at that time. At the time, I don't think I was ready for it. I'll tell you, I'd support it tonight. I'll support it next month whenever it comes up. Um because what it is is just what you said. It's just to send it to the state for them to say yes and then let's try to figure out what the best possible solution is, whether that's two or one or we don't do anything with it. But I think it's worth the the discussion to have. Um so I you know either way if it goes tonight or goes next month I would I would support at least looking at it. I think it's you know in fairness I think that is the right thing to do um somehow someway figure out the best u thing and I'm sure there's people out there that can do that. So

in other words like it doesn't change anything. We just send it to the assembly so we still have an opportunity to give everyone a chance next month to come in and speak on it. I mean, they're not going to see this before next year. It doesn't change anything, but they have to we change it.

They have to [clears throat] get it into the rules committee to even see if they're going to hear it. They approved it the last time. Um, and so, um, and then it was up to, uh, Representative Gillespie and Senator Corbin [snorts] to put it on the floor to have a vote. Those people in Raleigh don't care what Mon County is doing in their election process. And and I think nothing has changed in this process um from 23 when we passed it before. Um and nothing's changed now. Um I just like for them to give us permission to look into it. And until we get their blessings, we can't do anything. And so that's why I made the motion. and um and [snorts] I would like to see it voted on and up or down.

All right, we have [clears throat] a motion by Commissioner Shir by Commissioner Antoine. Right. Any further discussion? The only thing we're doing is get permission to discuss it. That's correct. The state. Sure. Yes. the state has to give us. Yes, we we agree with you. There is an issue and you guys figure out how to do these election. One more question. At that time, if we decided we were going to change it at that time, would there need to be a public hearing or have to be a public hearing?

I mean, I was just asking the question if if we approve this tonight just to go down there and then we bring it back and say this is what we want to do. We don't have to have them or we do.

Yeah. And I don't I'm not I'm not I haven't submitted this type of bill other than the last time for this request for 2023. And in that one we had the specific request as what it was going to look like. Um, yeah. And I think John probably is more in the know on what probably had conversations with Senator Corbin and about what they will and will not. So, I don't know if they'll accept it with giving that authority to the county or if we have to submit a plan, but you can always run those [snorts] up and see what they say and they can come back and say, "No, we need a specific plan or no, we're going to decide." [clears throat]

Well, either way, I agree with Chairman Young. Um, give the go through this, we can approve it tonight, but still give the public an opportunity to come in and just kind of voice their thoughts on it. I think it's only fair. Oh, I don't think that a lot of people understand it really. I mean, um, right. And I've been that given a chance.

We've worked on this for a long time and, um, and it has, um, it has nothing to do with trying to get the upper hand or anything like that. It's, it's fairness. If you have two people [clears throat] that are super duper top-notch leaders in district one or district three, and only one of them can serve. and then the next term that person has to run against that other person and try to boot them out of office and it costs a lot of money to do this and it's it's just um [clears throat] I think it's it's fair.

All right, you guys ready? All in favor, please raise your right arms and state I for the record. I oppose. I uh motion passes 4 to one. You know the funny thing about being chairman, you sign your name on the resolution, [laughter] whether you support it or not. And I don't disagree. I just took the principled approach. All right.

Moving on. New business. Discussion on the Mon County Planning Board ordinance. Uh, attorney Eric Rodenower and uh, planning permanent development Joe Allen. Joe, you made it. We won too. [laughter] You want to start here?

I I can start. So, it's um it's the board has requested Joe and I to look at the possibility of reducing the number of the planning board um to a reasonable number that might allow a greater like a greater likelihood that that members um will show up and be able to accomplish county business. I think there's been a or understand that there's been a problem with getting quorums and so tasked with that um Joe and I've been exploring the different ways that of what that can look like from a legal standpoint. You're only required to have three. Um I think that Joe and I would would both agree that you're going to get a better um understanding and better feel, better comment if you have somewhere between 5 to 7. The other issue is um the current the current ordinance that's in place with regard to the planning board has been the one that the county has had since 1972. That ordinance does have representatives requirements from Highlands and from the town of Franklin. Um [clears throat] depending on how many you want to go and whether you want to include or not include or keep that, that's um I guess the discussion that you all need to let us know. Uh uh there are currently a number of vacancies and Joe sent me the list. Joe, if you want to explain where we are on appointments um and when they come off and where we are this time next month with regard to the actual number that we have on the board and whether we need to appoint or whatever that'll probably be most helpful.

Okay. Uh so planning board is 11 seat board. Currently we have 10 members. Ben Ler's term expired November 8th, so we're down 10, right? We're down to 10 board members right now. Uh Mark Barry and Gene Owens terms expire the 12th or the 13th of December. Uh so that will get us to eight at the end of this month. Eight planning board members. Uh we have two other plan board members whose term expires February 21st, which will put you at six. uh just looking out. So that's by by February, March, we could be at a six member board without doing anything other than not filling seats. Uh one thing to remember though, Ben Leford's term does expire in April of 26. So that would kick us to five at that point with those two members, one from Town Highlands and one from Town Franklin still being on the board as voting members.

So you'd [clears throat] have 11 people on your board. We currently have 11 people on the board. We could we could potentially have five members on our board by May. just by not filling seats if that's what we chose that include a commissioner. Commissioners are liaison. They're not vote members

as the uh appointed liaison to the planning board from uh Commissioner Young in January. Um I have attended attended zero meetings. um because of the lack of business for the planning board um or whatever the case may be. Um so that's why you know some time ago I questioned even is a planning board um needed and um they're an advisory board and I can would like for the council to elaborate on this a little bit but um my understanding that this board could act as a u as the planning planning board. I think it's unfair to the members of the planning board to be called a week before the meeting, the scheduled meeting, and it's been cancelled. Um, and in fact, that was corrected because the first time I went to a planning board meeting, I didn't know it was it had been cancelled. Um, and so, um, I think that Mon County Commissioner has a board has a liaison to the planning board that is a non- voting member and I would like to see that the U town of Franklin and the town of Highlands um, also be liaison to the planning board if we continue to have a planning board as a non- voting member. [clears throat]

That's where I was going with my question. I think that's fair enough. I think it should be a five member board. Have those three just as liaison to their the town. But but in but in your rulings here under the section three membership roles and terms of office it specifies that you have highlands in Franklin [clears throat] as 10 and 11 then the other nine I guess comes from our area the but are you saying now this needs to be changed? We just changed it didn't we?

I don't think we changed it. I think we just rewrote it, right, Tammy? Re it's said it's the same as it's said since we've had a plan board. Uh, yes, but that would definitely have to be changed. And I think that's what this discussion is about is whether that's what you guys are wanting us to do is is make these changes. I guess when I read it, I thought it was chang and that was Weber's cuz all the other pieces I read had showed it had been changed. other pieces in this thing, right? Um there was no changes made

general powers and duties and things like that. That's all stayed the same. Um the legality part of it is I don't I don't know if it's legal or not but um I would almost um recommend dissolving the uh current planning board and u and this body act as the planning board and possibly having a committee or something like that to handle the ordinances. Um, that's just u that's just my feeling on it because there's definitely going to have to be some changes to how the structure of the planning board is made up and without having any business what's the purpose of of having a planning board.

But I believe, excuse me, go ahead. No, I'm done.

But I believe I may be wrong. The plan the law says that we have to have a planning board. So yeah, I can address that. So under this this and I say it's new roughly 2020 was the new chapter 160D and that is the land use planning uh chapter of the North Carolina general statutes. And that one says if if you've got any ordinances or zoning that is applicable that is a land use zoning ordinance then you do have to have either a planning board or at the very least if the board of commissioners is serving as a planning board you still have to have a review board and that's under 160D-604. So, and the reason therefore we have to have the planning board or at least it's review board is because we have an airport hazard ordinance, a building height ordinance, uh we have the all of building code enforcement, um farmland preservation, flood ordinance, high impact ordinance, uh which has to do with the um asphalt plants, chipmills, crypto mining, motorsports, solid waste, um sexually oriented businesses, sign control, soil and erosion and sediment mentation subdivision watershed wireless. So all those fall under 160D. So as a result you do have to have the statutes therefore require that you have either this planning board or this review board. I think it's if you if you all wanted to be the planning board. I don't think it really changes anything because you still have to any revisions you're going to make to this still has to go through this review committee. So, it's I don't know if you're it's kind of six to one, half dozen to the other. You [clears throat] still have to have this review board that still has to serve as the um advisory board to now they're just basically serving as a advisory board to your planning board if you all assumed

that role. So, I don't know if um I don't know if you gain anything by by assuming the roles of of the planning board. Um if I guess that's kind of where I am on that. I I would say look, I would say the issue is going to be more how many how many members do you want this to be so that it is more effective and efficient so that John doesn't keep getting called and having on his calendar that he's going to be here at this time and place and then gets called and said there's not going to be enough people there. Um

my two cents. Well, a few thoughts I have. How many members sit on the the tax um appeal board? Does anybody know? That's only is it three or five? Got to have five. Five on the tax review. I think that they've got to have five. There's five. There's five there. There's five on our board. There's five on the school board.

DSS is three. I feel like there's a common denominator. You know, I wouldn't mind to have I would encourage membership from Highlands in other communities, but I feel like if our own [snorts] board is a is a liaison, I think it's appropriate for the town board to be a liazison and the Franklin board to be liazison. Likewise, we would be to their board hopefully. And then we would have membership from those communities represent, you know, their areas. So, I'm okay with with uh I mean I have no problem with that. We've had a hard time, you know, um with [clears throat] attendance and I I think uh it'd be a real intimate board.

So, if that's the way it would go, by April or May, there would be four members, correct? They would be if the two they would be three members. So we'd have to you'd have to at that point you'd have to um appoint two members. Yes. Which we could do that well before April, right? March. Yeah. But now if if you if this is the time if you the direction that we're leaning is is increase membership. This is definitely the time for us the easiest time for us to do it as far as members coming off the board. It's going to make it it's going to fall in place pretty good through attrition. Yeah. And not having to I think that's the right Sounds good.

So, how do we get to that point? If if we change the makeup of the planning board legality, if we reduce the membership of the members, what do we need to do moving forward? Because any of So, I named those different um ordinances that we have that require all those require under under 160D. They all require a public hearing before you can before you can amend those planning board. That requirement is likewise under 160D. It doesn't specifically say that if you're going to change the rules of the planning board that you have to have a public hearing, but because it's under 160D, and I don't think we're in any rush, I would say let's go ahead and have a public hearing if if the board's inclined. I mean, it's your discretion to do that. Um, [clears throat] and then be thinking about it. Go ahead and discuss it all you want and then have a public hearing. Get the public comment. That might help flush out um who's going to serve, what what membership you want on that board um between now and January, and then you could vote on it after public hearing in January.

It's good. Perfect. Deal with that. All right. So, it sounds like we need a a motion for a public hearing uh Tuesday, January 13th. Is that right? Hear a motion by Commissioner Breeden. Second. Second by Commissioner Shur. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please raise your right arm. State I. I. Any oppose? All right. Please let the record reflect four to one. All right.

Thank you, Joe. All right. New business. Item B, approval of resolution giving notice to all candidates for the sheriff and register of deeds positions in Mon County. Eric Rodnau. Okay. So in in the event that this is the resolution we um likewise passed last time um in the election year when it was the when it was the year for the register of deeds and the sheriff to run under the current law. If if if the if a new sheriff is is voted in, the challenger is voted in, including the registered deeds, then they would, according to the statutes, inherit the same pay scale that their predecessor had, unless we gave notice during the during the um application term, for lack of a better word, because I'm fumbling over my words, um that they're going going to be that pay scale is going to go back to what based upon the individual candidates qualifications and where they'd fall on the pay scale. So if the in other words if the incumbent sheriff and the incumbent register deeds are are reelected their pay scale stays where it is or they follow their own pay scale. If a new uh challenger gets elected, then they would fall under the pay scale according to their experience um on their own personal qualifications. So, this is just giving notice that that whoever wins doesn't automatically inherit the existing register of deeds and sheriff's pay scale. All right. Pretty cut and dry.

Y we approve the resolution as presented. I hear a motion by Commissioner Breeden. Second. Second by Commissioner Shields. Any other discussion? All in favor, please raise your right arm. State I for the record. Any oppose? All right, Miss Tammy. 5. And Tammy, just just as a reminder, I know you know that, but that will then go to Miss Peabalt at the board of elections so she can give notice. All right, moving on. Uh, old business item C, North Carolina Office of State Budget Management Capital Grant application. Manager Cape.

Mr. Chairman, uh, Office of State Budget Management actually opened up a grant process for capital grants for [clears throat] counties that were affected by Hurricane Holene. Uh, and it had it's specifically for projects that fell outside of the purview of FEMA public assistance programs, either projects that didn't qualify or would not have been eligible for that. Uh, but it did have to be some type of storm related issue or occurrence either either with Helen and they actually expanded that a little to include other storms. Um, and there are very few applications that were being submitted in western North Carolina. Uh so we actually used Southwestern Commission to help us develop a grant application. Uh we put together a grant project for four particular areas for us for consideration. Uh one of them is uh some improvements to Kasa Park which is some electrical improvements to the uh the structures over there, the parking lot. Uh and some new slab construction for a storage building over there. Uh, one of them is for some drainage remediation at Parker Meadows, uh, in the wetland area that we have up there that that tends to stay wet and also to, uh, resurface and, uh, repave the 3,900 ft of that walkway out there that runs right along the creek that gets damaged. Uh, the third one is some um, stream bank uh, work at the Tassy Park and along with some bridge uh, repairs to that facility there. Uh and then the final one is actually complete replacement of Arthur Drake uh boardwalk that we've talked about before that's been damaged over the years there. Uh and all said and told the uh the four requests total 1,276,76855 with no local match required. Uh so I would just like your approval to officially submit that grant request to the OSBM folks.

Wonderful. And does that grant request cover all of it? Yes, that covers all four projects. [clears throat] I need to get with you. So when I have a next week leison on meeting with frogs, make sure I've got all this in my head. Absolutely. Make a motion that we approve the uh capital grant application request as presented. Thank you. Hear a motion by Commissioner Breeden. Second. Second by Commissioner Shields. Any further discussion? We add in the needs at the horse park. It's a little stretch on the flood, but [clears throat] No, I'm good.

All right. All in favor, please raise your right arm. State I for the record. I Any oppose? All right. Mammy 5. All right. That wraps up old business. Uh any issues with the consent agenda? Make a motion to approve it. Motion to approve by Commissioner Cheryl. Second by Commissioner Breeden. Any discussion? All in favor, please raise your right arm. State I for the record. I All right. 50. Miss Tammy. All right. Appointments. Manager Cab Consolidated Human Cell Serum, I'm sorry, Consolidated Human Services Board.

I've struggled with that a lot. That's a whole new acronym that you have to put out there. Um obviously one of the consideration we have tonight and Eric can join me in this conversation is uh we will we will move to a consolidated health and human services agency in January. Uh you do have to appoint a board and the uh the process that we discussed was taking the existing board of health and transitioning transitioning them to become uh the appropriate number of members of the consolidated human services board. That correct, Eric? That's correct.

And we also advertise for positions. Uh but as of the deadline and even today, I don't think we've received we we would we have 11 members on the health board. Uh we advertised for four more members. Uh we don't have any more applications. You're still okay tonight if you appoint the 11 members to the consolidated human services board. there's plenty of folks there to have a quorum and then we can go through the process. Even at the January meeting, we don't officially become consolidated until the middle of January, we can consider more applications and try and finish filling out the total 15 members of that board.

Correct. So, and to add to that under the new statute on the the membership requirements, um, according to the statute, and if anybody's facteing me, that's NCGS 153A-77C. We are required to have a number of different professionals and four members from the public at large, plus a county commissioner. Um, and they get pretty specific. Um, we're covered on on engineer, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, psychiatrist, physician, veterinarian, commissioner, and we've got um depending on m if Mr. Shur wants to Cheryl wants to stay on as a member. I think we'd put Barry would serve as the county appointment um as the county commissioner and then you could decide if you're going to stay on as an ATL large member or not. Um but we do [clears throat] need you to we do need you to stay on as an atlarge at least until we get going here through January. Um, so what we're looking for specifically now, as far as everyone listening and out here, talk to those people that that you know, we're specifically looking for a psychologist, an optometrist, and a social worker. Um, those people are required to be residents of the county, and we're short, I think, in that profession as far as as far as that goes. So, if we can't fill it, we can't fill it. But that's what the statute says we're supposed to do. The state does recognize that in some of the more rural counties, um, some of those may be hard to fill, in which case they just not be filled. Um, and then still, uh, one or possibly two, depending on Commissioner Shur's at large uh, position on whether we need

at large. So again, we're looking right now for psychologist, optometrist, social worker, one member at large who's a consumer of of uh health services, possibly two of those. So please spread the word, put in your applications. Um if we could get those in before January 13th so we could actually before the January meeting then they we could appoint them and be up and ready to go um with the as full a board as we can get uh when that takes effect. Tonight, what we need to do is go ahead and have this the board of commissioners appoint um the existing health board and I'll name them um to [clears throat] the consolidated health services agency board and then they will take a new oath then at their at the board of health meeting and I guess we moved that up to the 16th for Christmas. So, we're meeting right next week.

Yeah. Uh yes, but they won't take their oath until the January meeting. Won't take it till the January meeting. Okay. So, those people that uh the board is appointing tonight are uh Garrett Hickden, uh Dr. Matt Corbin, Angela Stone, Courtney Patrick, Dr. Fableman, Dr. Tote, Dr. Lenzo, um, Commissioner Breeden, um, Ava Ammons, Steve Gryom, and John Shur. And so if we could get a motion to appoint those to the Consolidated Health Services Agency board, um, that will get our board in place, ready to roll. [clears throat] The two commissioners are leazison.

No, they're voting members. They're voting members.

So I had to go back in as a member. of the community because we have Commissioner Breeden is the actual but I think Tammy also with this um we talked about you have to be a consumer of health services and I and I got confused I thought well if you u you have to go in and participate in in the health department but it's actually well driven ers, uh, septic installers, environmental health stuff. All those people could apply.

Yes, it's anybody that uses any service offered by [clears throat] the health department or animal control. So,

I thought it was dental, medical, and all that. But then once I really started thinking about it, so put that out there that anyone that is uh that uses any of those services are eligible to uh uh to apply and serve. And realistically, I will stay there as long as I am needed. U but I would much rather for the general public to come in and get involved in some of this. I'm not going anywhere until I can. All right.

I would like to make a motion that we appoint the 11 members of the Mon County Board of Health to the Consolidated Human Services Board. I'll second that motion. I hear a motion by Commissioner Breedman, second by Commissioner Shur. I would like to say uh our chairman of the board of health in attendance. Thanks for being here tonight. Any comments, thoughts? We talked the last meeting our board was approval. So, thank y'all for working with us. We're happy to serve in whatever capacity.

Well, thanks for being here tonight. And also Dr. fiberman. He is a a retired psychiatrist and he's not licensed in North Carolina, so he's he's trying to figure out what it's going to take to get his license to serve in that. Well, and so we looked into that further and Pam, if you want to comment on that. I Yeah, go ahead. Okay. So, I talked to um the folks in Klay County and they had been notified some time ago when they did their consolidation that for the small rural communities like us, that requirement to be licensed in North Carolina will be waved as long as the person is a resident of the county. So, he's good where he's at. So, good enough.

All right. We have a motion in a second. Any other comments? Hearing none. All in favor, please raise your right arm and state I for the record. I. Any oppose? None. All right, Miss Tammy. 5 and0. All right. Thank you, Garrett. Chairman Hickden, should I say? Planning board. I guess we just discussed the planning board. I think we'll just take that up next month. All right. Do we need a close session? We do not for at least for my standpoints. [snorts] All right. Motion to motion by Commissioner Breeden. Second by Commissioner Sher. All in favor say I.