City Council - Regular Meeting

How are you? I don't know, man. How are we good?

Can I see h o ls? Thank you. All right. I'm going to have to have you pray to pray for us. Appreciate it. It's 6:00 now. Almost. Let's give her one. Thank you. Let's give her Let's give her Let's give her two minutes. We give you five sometime. We give her Let's give the pastor 2 minutes. Just two minutes. Hang in there. I hate to ask them coming.

They can be traffic out there. We don't like call the meeting to order and welcome everyone here tonight. And we'll have Reverend Thomas Gillespie lead us in prayer. Everyone please stand. Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer if you will. Our father and our God, we thank thee for this day. We thank you for your son Jesus who died on Calvar's cross that we might have a right to the tree of life. Now Father God, we invoke your presence into this council chamber. We ask that you bless our mayor, our city councilman, our clerk, our city attorney, our police chief, the staff, and all that work for the good of the Lord. But Lord, we most of all ask that you will bless our citizens. Let them know that we are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And father, as we close this prayer, we pray for our nation. Let them know as long as a nation is good, it will remain great. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. I will have the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Now I'm gonna turn it over because I've got an eye problem that I can't. This is is really bad. I'm going to turn it to Mayor Pro Tim and let him take over for the rest of the night and thank y'all for understanding and he'll do a great job. Thank you. Okay, next on the agenda, we have public comments. If anyone wants to come up to the podium, just state your name and address, please. I'm L Sturgis. I'm 307 Tenant Street here in the great city of L, North Carolina. I wanted to come to this meeting. You know, I've lived in Lel my entire life. Born, grew up here and never attended many city council meetings in my entire 73 years of my life until just the last few years. We rebuilt our house and got here. And I want to take this time to first of all thank Mayor Larry Simons, thank Shane and Scott, Travis, my man, one of the best Chitwoods in town here, Dwayne and all this council for the hard work that you all and Thomas for what you all do. It's not easy to sit there because I promise you two two two of you won't agree on everything all the time, but I think you try to do a valiant effort of that. And I want to thank you as a citizen and as someone that's been here my entire life. I also want to thank this young man, Carl Moore, and his entire police department because I've been here since we had one car and uh Jack Ridley would just soon put you in that little block building up there behind the boys club as he would look at you. So, uh, it's been a lot of years this town and city has grown from a small nothing to a town to a city. But Carl, I want to thank you and I want to thank you police department. You are outstanding. And as a citizen, I

appreciate all your hard work and your patrol officers and everything. As a as a dad of a law enforcement officer, I can tell you I know what it is to listen to the call when your son shoots somebody or your son gets shot at. So, I know what I'm talking about when I say thank you. When you put that badge on every day, it's a real deal. Doesn't matter if in LOL and and all you got to worry about is if somebody's breaking into the ranking park or somebody's blowing somebody's head off down here at the convenience store. Thank you for all you do and all the effort. I want to thank each and every one of the council members here and the mayor. You do a great job, too. I come here in these days. I just I used to say this was kind of like Wrestlemania, but I just enjoy being here and with you all. Thanks a lot for doing what you do for the city. and be proud and stay loyal, strong. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. That's what we need. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead, Scott. Okay. Have anybody else wish to speak? I would like to speak. Okay.

My name is Jaclyn Kendrick. I live at 1300 Riverrun Road and I am a citizen of Loyal since 2011. I bought my home. I've never been to a council meeting. I've been invited by Mr. Gillette several times, but I'm very active in Gastonian. So, and um my grandson went to Hullbrook last year. He's at Ashbrook, but I'm very in involved in the city of Gastonia. So, I told Mr. Gillesie and I had a meeting tonight that I was going to cancel that meeting and I'm going to get more involved with Ly. And I know Travis, I do a lot of business with Travis with my job. I work at the post office. So, uh with that being said, I want to get involved. Um, April the 11th, they reconstructed the uh, African-American caucus in Gastonia, and I'm one of the chartered members. So, I'm not a politic uh, politician, but I can learn. I'm a sponge, so I can soak up stuff, and I want to be productive and loyal if possible. And I do a lot of volunteering for Gaston County Schools as well. But I work at the post office.

Thank you. I think I I I met the mayor through the phone when they won last year. I met him with football. I talked to him through the phone. I never put a face. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay, we'll move on. Um, next on the agenda is adoption for the agenda for this meeting. Somebody make a motion. I'll make a motion to adopt the agenda um for the meeting.

Second. Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Next on the agenda is approval of the minutes from 414 20226. Need a motion for that. Make a motion we adopt the or approve the minutes with the correction that Cheryl had passed out to us. Uh moving that Just no mistakes. It was just placed in the wrong spot and moved down on 6B. It's actually uh page 57 of the minutes. Okay. Got a motion. Have a second.

Second. Got a second. Any discussion? I was absent from that meeting, so I not sure of those minutes, so I'll make those. Okay. All in favor? Next we have special presentation over here on this side proclamation.

I got I'm trying to think. No, I got you. I'm glad. Next is special presentation proclamation 3-2026 to honor the whole Brook Lady lines. We'll wait till everybody can get in here. Let's go watch and then you can then you can read it. Then you can read that in principal West. only item of business I have other than letting Mr. Bates take over the meeting tonight. I want to welcome Principal Winston and Coach Nichols and the entire Hullbrook uh all the kids from Hullbrook, the family members. And this is a special honor tonight that we're going to present the Hullbrook and it's and it's special for what y'all have done for our city winning all these state championships, all these games in a row. But I want to tell you one thing, I'm so proud of you. I I just, you know, I know in my lifetime it'll never happen again. Maybe these younger folks like Travis, he making witness it someday that this is a feat like no other. ESPN should be knocking on their door and someone should be honoring these folks because this is a this is something else I'm telling you. And also Nikisha Franklin, she's a special friend of mine that helped me organize all this thing along with Travis Smith and Travis went out of his way to make t-shirts and plaques. And I tell you, we just have to we have to respect all of you. Right now, before we read the proclamation, I want to give everyone one of everyone should stand up. give him a standing ovation. Now I'm going to turn it back over to Mayor Pro Tim Bates and he's going to

read the proclamation then we'll proceed from there. And thank you again. Thank you Scott. Hook Lady Lions Day Proclamation 3-2026. Whereas the city of Louisville, North Carolina and the citizens of our great city believe that students are an important part of the loyal community. Whereas the whole Brook Lady Lions have been recognized for their fivetime Gaston County Championship wins. And whereas the whole Brook Lady Lions have also had a impressive 61 and0 record of wins. listed next or a list of the um team members names. Whereas the city would also like to recognize the coaching staff, managers, team mom and principal of Hullbrook Middle School for their support of these athletes. And whereas the accompliment of the athletes on this team are admired and respected by the loyal community and demonstrate the character that the athletes in Hull Brook Middle School possess. Now therefore, I, Larry Simons, being the mayor on the proclamation here, on behalf of the city of Ly City Council, hereby proclaim May the 12th, 2026 is Hullbrook Lady Lions Day in honor of the student athletes of Hull Brook Middle School and call this day to the attention of all citizens. This the 12th day of May 2026. Thank you. At this time though, I'm going to call on Principal Winston and say a few words before we give away the flag and have and presentation of the flag we got for you. If you would, Mr. Winston, if you'd like to say a few words, we appreciate

it. I didn't prepare anything, so that could always be dangerous. But, um, you know, you look around this group of young ladies and they really do put the student and student athlete. They're all great students. We're taking end of grade testing right now. Um, most of them are proficient. Some are going to take another triad, but they're all showing growth. You may have heard they were a little chatty in the hallway. That translates to being effective communicators on the basketball court. And, um, if they're chatty, if that's the worst thing we can say, we're good because they're great kids, too. They don't get referrals. They're never in anyone's principal's office. They're just amazing kids. They're real leaders. They could be in your position one day. So, the sky's is the limit for them. And I think in my first year at Old Brook, it's just been my honor and pleasure to be around these young ladies because they make our school better. And just very appreciative to be a part of the journey that they've been on for now five seasons in a row. Where where is our coach? Where is he?

Come on up and say a few words, please. So, can we have the girls? Yes, please bring them all in. Bring all the girls. All of them. When we come up and present this plaque to you after you get through speaking.

By the way, this is co this is coach Nick. I'm I'm surprised some of these NBA teams haven't come out the way the way you coach. Great.

So, first of all, uh I'm Coach Nichols. I'm the head girls basketball coach at Hullbrook Middle School. I've been there uh coaching for six years. And to echo what Mr. Winston said, we do have the best girls in Gaston County. I love them to death. I loved working with them every day. coming to practice was never uh there was never a dull moment. Nobody ever dreaded coming to practice. They were always looking to get better and get ready for the next game. And uh we've had great leadership from our eighth graders and they've left a legacy 61 games in a row probably won't ever be matched again in this county. uh the underassmen, they want to keep the thing going. And we want to thank Mayor Simons. We want to thank the city council of LOL for honoring these young ladies and our coaching staff and our school and we appreciate so much. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to ask Mayor Prom Bates to come up and present this to you because I have I have a severe eye problem. He's going to read it and present it to you before you leave. And we're going to also give you the flag, everything that everything you got coming to you and then some. And thank you so much all of you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. You want to go recording or you want to go?

That's got right. Congratulations Lions presented to Homewood Middle School 2025 2026 girls basketball team for achieving five consecutive years as Gasson County champions record 61 and their commitment perseverance and pride have said they stand of excellence and inspired their school and community given this day March 126 in honor of your achievement by the mayor and city council of Northern California. THANK YOU SIR. You can just pass it down. Thank you.

It's still recording. Great. Everything going to be better? Oh, yes. Uh, can would y'all allow the girls to do something? We didn't do it at the end of the championship game and I' I've been thinking about it and I'd like for them to do it at least one more time before U. Kennedy, will y'all break it down real quick before we leave?

Y'all done forgot how to do it? LADY LADAP claps clap ME LOW MR. MAYOR, MAY I

want to thank uh the mayor and Travis for putting it together, but I especially want to thank Coach Nicholls Brown and uh Fox for what they did. But I want y'all to know that it takes a godly man to take time out for the children. And this man, raise your hand. Deacon John Brown is one of our coaches, a member of our church. Give him a hand.

He has nothing to do with the team, but he's a member of our church, too. Coach Nathan P.

Thank y'all again. God bless each and every one of you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Can I Can I get a motion to adopt this proclamation? Hold on. I can't hear you. That's what you passes by the clerk. I need a motion to accept this proclamation. I make a motion to accept the proclamation. Second. Got a motion to second. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Thank you. Go ahead. Next on the agenda is the consent agenda. Need a motion to approve that. Absolutely. Got a motion. Need a second. Second. Motion and a second.

Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous.

Uh, no unfinished business. Under new business. Need to set a public hearing for Brownfield agreement. I'll turn that over to you, Mr. Flabber. Um so in your packet is the brownfields agreement which has been negotiated between um city's outside council and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. This is applies to the Yorkshire site up on um uh up across from Poston Park. The agreement requires it to be posted and have a public hearing to approve. The purpose of the brownfields agreement is although a lot of the cleanup has been done or most of the cleanup has been done and the sites deemed closure from the DEEQ standpoint. It provides protections from the sit for the city as the developer of the property if it were to develop it for public works or any other use that is allowed. So that we just need to set the public hearing. If you all want members from representatives from Department of Environmental Quality or the outside attorney, the environmental attorney that worked on this, let Mr. Blackburn or me know and we'll they're willing and available to come to the hearing if you if you would like to hear from them or think that would be helpful.

So, you just need a hearing date for today. We're just setting That's 69. June 9th. 6 p.m. at 6 p.m. Yes, sir. I'll make a motion we set a public hearing for June 9th for brownfield agreements. Second. Got a motion. Second 6:00. Correct. Any discussion? I mean, I just had a couple of questions as far as the agreement goes, but I'm assuming I'll wait till public hearing, especially if we have some representatives here to to ask those.

Yes, that's fine. or if you want to email those to me or have to convey those or if if there are things that you wanted to address now, we could try or we could relay those on whatever. I mean, I don't know that we can address them now, but okay. The big thing was just, you know, as far as the the construction costs, the the fees that are set in these. Mhm. Is that paid to DEEQ? I'm assuming the under construction fees, how that works. That is a reg state regulation for how those fees are applied and when they apply. So, if during periods of construction, I think there's a $6,000 fee. If there's a question about that, I think they've said they'd be happy to kind of address that.

That's all I got. Any other discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Next, we need to set a public hearing for physical year 2627 budget. Make a motion to resist the public open public hearing for 26 27 budget at 6 o' June 9th. June 9th second got a motion second for June 9th at 6 p.m. Any discussion?

Yes sir. Mr. Mayor Pro Tim mayor council members uh you've been given the draft budget. Uh we will be delivering the notes. uh you have 99% of the notes, but a more specific uh detailed account will be coming in the following days. Would you feel more comfortable meeting one more time between now and June the 9th uh to go over it or do you feel comfortable? I will say that this budget is balanced. It's based on real numbers, actual numbers uh from past years as well as what we foresee what's up till March 3rd expenditures for March of this year expenditures and uh and trying to put our hands around a crystal ball. Also, that being said, staff and I feel comfortable with the budget we presented to you in this regard. Uh it's pretty much what was there other than the numbers have been tweaked from your last budget uh document uh that it does include a 5% across the board pay increase for the employees. Also includes a 5% increase in the water and sewer rates. Uh that's pretty much a pass through through the city of Gastonia, our supplier. Uh the only capital outlay that is proposed this year is a a police car which is I believe is under the rotation system that you council members have adopted. If I am I correct uh let me know. But I think that's the process y'all have been under for the past couple of budgets. It's a barebones budget. It's a budget that is friendly to staff. It's friendly to the organization

of the city of Louisville, but most importantly, it's friendly to the customer and the citizen, right? And I only have one question. I didn't get an opportunity to look at your budget, but on the LCC, you know, for the folks that take care of our entertainment, things like that we're getting ready to go through the 250 celebration, how much money do we have in there and and the LC and for the local people here in their U coalition? How much money is do we have budgeted for them? I think it's $12,500. Uh oh, I think and about right the there's going to be an applicant for the facade grant coming up at the June meeting

and that's going to be and I don't know the exact amount right now, but it's going to be around $1,500, but don't hold me to that.

I was going to bring it up under mayor's comments. Here's the thing about it. You know, we we've got a great commission folks here that take care of oil and makes it keep it beautiful, making it really beautiful. Now, we got the 250th celebration coming up and I understand Mr. Knox, he's the chairman of the commission and also they're going to be meeting but I and another thing that came I come up with but to get us to try to get us to the uh LC commission this this great uh mural that we're going to have painted and of course I just got it about 15 minutes before I got here tonight. But what I want to do is let the let the uh let this commission their commission look at it and come back with the council. We only have a very short time. And the guy that I talked to about this was Robin Massie. His mother, daddy, lifelong citiz. And he owns RGM Tech, which is a graphic design company. And he could be the one to do this and get it done in a timely manner where we'd have it ready for July the 4th or 250th celebration. And also in saying this for this next year is what I'd like to see us do, you know, the 26 27, you know, budget that we'll have a mural back here for all the military on the back of city hall to honor all facets of our military once and for all. And also in the same by the same token with the uh mural on the back of the police department that same day, of course, I hadn't had a chance to meet with the with the commission either. Y'all hadn't had a chance to meet with us. That day has got to be special. So we what we need I think is a a day of needed barbecue. We need bands at the uh at the ballpark to where house all the folks and start early because then Fourth of July is going to be hot. But that's my recommendation. Of course, y'all have to go along and figure out what y'all want to add to it, whatever. But we got to get started somewhere because time's coming up upon us to get this done. And y'all do a fantastic job out there. I'm telling the whole town's proud. Look at the town. Look how pretty it is. And also we got the Memorial Day

service coming up on what's a day on May 21st at the cemetery. I'm sorry. What? Thursday the 21st. Yes. Thursday the 20 I mean yeah Thursday the 21st at the at the cemetery when everyone's welcome and invite all your friends and neighbors and we need to have it put on their website here at city hall anytime we're having something going on the national day of prayer and all this things. I don't give a hoot about the politics of it but citizens need to know what's going on as citizen. It should be posted on our website. Everything that we do, upcoming 250th celebration, the Memorial Day uh celebration, anything that happens this law should be posted on our website. Bar none. Mayor, let's get back on the track here. Go ahead. I'm sorry.

But anyway, I'm just letting you know I'm and I'm going to let everyone I'm going to leave this here and y'all can pass it around and you can go ahead live if you want to pass around while you sitting there. This is beautiful. Go ahead. I'm sorry. I didn't mean I didn't I'm not I'm not the mayor. Not y'all. Council's thought on another budget meeting before the next regular council meeting. I think it would probably do good. I think we should maybe on a Friday check dates. I know Fridays are better for most for me. One specific one in mind. uh don't ride off.

22nd is next week and then the 29th. I will not be available next Friday. I think I'm fine after all that. That's Memorial Day weekend, I believe. Correct. So Luke is 29th and the 5th of June. Shane's always tough to 29th would probably work for me.

And maybe just kind of while we're on scheduling that, can we work in maybe a day for interviews or something as well that same day on the 29th afterwards? Is that is the council okay with that? Yeah. City manager maybe. You think that's too far out for what you I think for some of your candidates, they're in other processes, it might be good to try to get a few in before then, but if you need to wait till the 29th, that's I say we schedule the 29th and do the budget work session maybe the first half and maybe interviews afterwards.

February Start 12. Wouldn't you want to have the interviews first? That way the interviewees are not waiting for us to get done with budget talk. Either way, that doesn't matter. I think that's a good idea. That's fine.

You saying the 29th? Yep. And what 1:00 then for the budget meeting? That gives you enough time to I don't know how many interviews you will have. We'll just start the meeting at 12 o'clock like we do usually do 12 to 5 and have the first with the interviews and then after the interviews are done we'll go in budget talks right immediately following the budget I mean the interviews interview agenda items interviews in the budget work session

what's that I'll make a motion to schedule May 29th at 12:00 up for budget work session. Got a motion. Need a second. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Follow following uh special meeting. I'll second. Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Next up, we got approved central line service agreement for city manager recruitment and assessment services.

With with that, I'd like to if it's okay with the council and let uh Geraldine give us an update if you don't mind or I can do that, but I think it would be better to do that close session. Okay. I mean, as far as Yeah, that's fine. As far as any other,

but just very briefly, um we've had a very busy couple of days since uh you first we first met on May 1st. Um you have over 70 uh applicants for the position and there's been about 20 um that I've reviewed in detail because they met the qualifications and I've interviewed nine of them. So tonight I'll present the results of the nine phone screenings and then you can decide which of those candidates you'd like to interview in person um with more detailed questions. Um but the position is continues to be open. Um and Cheryl's been doing a great job and sharing the resumes with me. So we're as they come in we're reviewing them and deciding um if they should be interviewed. We'll need to take action on the agreement.

I'll make a motion to approve services agreement for city manager recruitment and assessment services. Second.

Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Next up, consideration of request from Ging Christian School for those donation of surplus police vehicle. Mr. Mayor, pro Tim, mayor and council members, you'll move notice in your agenda material a request by the Gaston County Sheriff's Department for a donation for purposes for patrol use in at the Gaston Christian School. As I understand it, the automobile that our chief police, Mr. Carl Morg is here. Automobiles have been set forth surplus or declared surplus at this time by the uh city of Louisville.

That's correct. There will be surplus. Yes, sir. Okay. I I've read in here where the sheriff had requested vehicles. Is this something that's going to be turned over to the sheriff's office or will the car be donated to Gas and Christian? extent Christian whoever the security officer working the school will be using so that actually be nonated to the school and they'll have control over it basically. Okay. And whatever whether it's the sheriff's office or the Ging County Police Department or whoever would use the vehicle. Yes, sir.

Made a motion. I'll make a motion to approve the request from the Christian schools to donate the surplus. Okay, got a motion. Need a second. Second. I have a second. Any discussion? My question is a private school, right? Yes. So, it's not public school. It's not private. Private parents paid a lot of money.

It is a nonprofit school though, not just a for-profit private school $12,000 a student a year. I think it's something I got told pretty high. Any other discussion? All in favor? All oppose? 3 to two.

Next up, reports and discussion. See manager report.

Uh don't have a lot to report, Mr. Mayor Pro, Mayor, Council members, other than it's good to be back in familiar territory. I recognize a lot of faces, but also recognize new faces. It's been a pleasure these last few days that we've uh hit the groundwork and rolled their sleeves up as it relates to the budget. That's the primary focus uh from my perspective at this point. But I've made a couple of laps around town and I just want to echo kind of Mayor Simons's remarks earlier. The town really looks good and I applaud the citizens for maintaining their properties, but also our city staff for working hand in hand with the citizens in that regard because ly is a town to be proud of, mayor. You shared

you might like a town 100% but you loved it a million%. But I think everybody in in L can say that same thing. But it's good to be back. I don't have a lot again a lot to report other than I look forward to working with you. Um uh you've got good people making y'all look good and that I'll close. I'd like to e echo on that. We should give our citizens a big hand as we're the council members. We need to thank our people for what they do for us. God bless every one of them. God bless all of you and God bless you for coming back and taking a chance with us. We I appreciate it. Well, you're taking a chance.

We I enjoy I enjoy being We have a lot of fun. We have a lot of differences sometimes, but it always equals out in the end. We always come up with zero zero. We're even, right? I think your hole is like this. I like it like it is, man. I tell you, it's good. And thank you. Thank you for taking a chance. Thank you for coming back. God bless you. And we welcome you back. And it may take you 15 years before we find one. So, just buckle up. G the days of Gary Hicks are we don't know what's going to happen. Mr. Attorney, do you have anything? I do not have anything tonight. Mr. Hicks, Councilman Robinson,

uh with that, I think I spoke with the fire chief. Now, I don't know if uh there was discussion about the fire department selling some fire trucks. So, the um city was contacted by the volunteer fire department probably about 10 days ago indicating that the county had requested approval from the city to sell surplus fire trucks and then use the proceeds to um uh buy new equipment for the fire department. And so they were looking for someone from the city to provide approval for that. Um we looked at the to the extent the these were firet trucks that were purchased back in 97 and 2001.

So in kind of doing the research it turns out that the city had title had titled used the money but the vehicles were actually titled in the name of the volunteer fire department. So we contacted the county and asked like why did they need approval from the city? Why couldn't you go to the fire department if the vehicles were titled in their name? And so after some discussion, the county decided they did not need the city's approval that the fire department could use those proceeds to buy equipment since they were titled in their name. And so that from my understanding resolved the issue. There was not anything that they needed any further. And so that's the background on that.

And then the only other thing I had is the uh uh one of the baseball teams, the Ly Bears. Just a shout out to those guys. They're they went I think it was 8 and0 this season in I think one of the divisions the 910 year old kid pitch and uh I think they're part of the Kramerton law league. So just a shout out to the law bears other than that. Let's give them a hand too because that's sports program taking off. I tell you we got something to be proud of. Thank you Shane. That's good. Mr. Gillespie

I'm just so happy that Ms. Kendrick, Jack Kendrick for your speech you made tonight. We look forward to working with you because I've known you for many years and you have did so much for Gastonia. Now we're looking for you to do it for LOL. Thank you so much. And Miss Lynn is always good to see you. You never uh you're very civic-minded and I'm so happy that my coach, Coach Payne, who comes my church every Sunday is here tonight to witness Hullbrook uh get that award. So thank thank all the citizens but you know the ones I call are the ones that I know in a personal and intimate way. Thank you so very much Mr. Smith.

Just thank you to the citizens for coming out. Thank you staff for all you do. Um police department. Thank y'all. Mr. Chip, what? I don't have anything but except for thanks to the staff. I talked to them this morning. Some of them appreciate it. And thank you for the donuts. Yeah, I tell you bribery bribery get you anything. Yes, sir.

Anyway, I I've got some good news and bad news. The good news, I'm going to be out for about 3 months. I've got to have a really emergency surgery on my left eye is completely gone and I've got a tear behind my retina and the right there eye. So, it it's going to take a while to heal up and everything. So, I'll be out from I won't be back and Scott, I have to ask you take care of the memorial service. everything else and it's all up to you. But I won't be back until probably the August meeting and maybe not until the September meeting. But I'm going to be praying for every one of you and hope we get the right person in for city manager. I know we're in good hands until you get one. And I also really want to reach out again to Homebrook. Can can you imagine what that means to an old old loyal person like all of us? And to see to see our school awarded they were state champions I think was the 69, wasn't it Ly?

Yeah. That's the last big thing we had. And also that I think it would be a good idea to take it to the LCC to make them the grand marshall. Not talking about whole but grand marshall for the whole school for our Christmas upcoming Christmas parade. That's just a recommendation. That's up to you folks. That's a good thing. Yes sir. We include these young people and what they do. That's like I've lived here first through 12th grade here. I'm gonna tell you at 61 and0 I challenge any like I said and I firmly believe the ESPN or someone will be knocking the coach's door down or someone will be trying to get him guys on that.

But this that just goes to show you when L pulls together. Lo pulls together. I don't care what it is. We never we never back down. We don't give up. And thank God for all of us. I'm not not just myself. I'm nothing. I'm just a at the bottom of the totem pole. But all the people mean everything. And Ben, you you see in other cities, you never see the camaraderie like you have in L. We and this has been a malign little town for a long time, but as time goes on, we'll see a big difference. And our attorney, he's he's stepping up. He's doing a good job. I'm not I fuss at him sometimes. I love him like a brother. And he he works hard. All of you do. And our staff, they they try and that's all you can ask for. You they're dedicated. They're here. They could be not here. They could be laying out doing things, but they're here. They're faithful. And God bless all of them. And I want to thank the council too for stepping up and I and if you need me in anyway I'll be there to help you but I'm going to be out of the way for a few months and then Scott you take over and I know you do a great job and I'm proud of the whole council and thank you. That's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Next we have close session. Need a motion going into close session.

And before should we have a closed time at 5 to 8 or just say starting at 5 because there's no time at five. Yeah. Okay. Cuz I mean it could go past 8:00. So make a motion for special meeting considering what staff is matters. Personnel matters in close session. In close session from 5 to 8:00 May 18th and at May the 28th from 5 to 8:00. Yeah. Right.

Uh what about the 29? We already got that one. Okay.