Board of Aldermen - Special Meeting

11:02. So, we're going to go ahead and get started. Thank you, Lexi. I'm going to welcome everybody to the town of North [clears throat] Topsel Beach alderman meeting the today, which is a special meeting for us since we weren't able to meet on Wednesday. I'm going to call the meeting to order and I want to thank everybody for coming today that's in the audience and I want to welcome the alderman elect that are also in the audience and [clears throat] we're going to go ahead and get started. So, um called the meeting to order and alderman Grant you have the invocation today. Amen. Pledge

of allegiance. I aliance 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. Okay, with that I'm going to ask for an approval of the agenda.

So moved. Do I have a second? Second. We're going to discuss, right? Okay. If I have a second. Okay. Any discussion on the agenda? Um, if I could, I would like to because I had a couple of quick questions on the um on the fin I think it's under consent agenda. Uh, finance. [snorts] I forgot my mouse. I apologize. The finance department. Yeah. I just had two quick questions on it, but I wanted to pull it out because it's under consent. And do you want to put it under continuing? Continuing is fine. Yeah. Okay. So, yeah, it rel it relates to what what was filed um some of the lang. I just had a question on Okay. So, we'll make that um F.

That's fine. Thank you. For finance, is there anything else? Okay. So, do I have a motion to approve the amended agenda? I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Then we're just going to move right on. So, the next item would be public presentations with [clears throat] GWI contract update. And this is from Alderman Olvski. Correct. We have an update from our contractor GWI. And I believe they're going to join us. She's new. [laughter]

We're having an update from our contractor GWI, who's our outsource um accounting services group right now, and getting an update from them. Good morning. Good morning, Beth. How are you? Can you hear us? Beth, can you hear us? Apparently not. [laughter]

Anybody have her on cell that they can text her and let us let her know we can't hear? Okay, thanks. She's I think she's just got us on mute would be my guess. Hi Beth. Can you hear us? What's your wave? She might be trying again. Okay, this is a lot. No, but I mean a chance to look at it. Right.

[clears throat] You want to shift it down and keep going? Well, let's give her a minute and see if she

She can't hear us.

Beth, can you hear us now? Beth, can you hear us now? Testing. Can you hear us, Beth? Yes, I can now. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Good morning, Beth. Thank you for joining. Thank you for joining the meeting. We're looking forward to your update. I'm sorry. Would you say that last part again?

We're looking forward to your update today. I You're breaking up. I don't know whe this is going to work. I said we were looking forward to your update. Can you hear us? I can now. Okay. Terrific.

Did you get the document that I sent? Yes, we have that in front of us. We just got that. We just got it. All right. And then mine just went away. Hang on. Hold on just a second. Hey, be careful. They're not numbered.

What's your first page look like? The budget. Budget. My bad. I got it. I got it. Okay. So, I guess I'm I'm wanting to understand what you're looking for. If you could give us a general update um as to where we are in regards to the work that you all have been doing for the town of late, that would be terrific.

Okay. So, um on the document in front of you, you can see the kinds of things that we are still completing um as or working on as far as the budget. Um there are some issues with invoices. Um we have created some fillable forms um so that staff can use them. There'll be consistency um and over the last couple of months obviously there have been things for board presentations for board meetings um that uh Deborah Mack has been preparing. She's been helping and working on um the getting the um new finance officer hired and interviewing and working to get another accountant. One um again the budget items are ongoing as there are uh overspends in some line items um but the department itself has not overspent. Then there are line item transfers that have to be done. And again, as you can see through her list, uh budget ordinances that she has prepared um for for meetings over the last couple of months. Um and again, that is the kind of thing that would be ongoing. Um the one-time items would be the actual preparation of the budget for the next year. So obviously we've done that and we are measuring against the budget for fiscal year um 26 and um but again the things you see on this list are pretty much items that are ongoing that um would be a part of the daytoday week toe kind of things. Um she does have a list. This has been on the invoice uh the support for the

invoice, the preparation. Um she always includes a list of outstanding items of things that have not been handled or completed yet. Um in the FEMA and DEEQ for the grant items um over the last couple of months um she's been um finishing up the closeout of the cat G, the cat Z. And you can see on this document that we've sent you that um these projects have been um are in the process of closing and you can see the money um for the CAT B and CG that are coming to the town and it's well over uh it's around $3 million. Um again closing out these projects um the we are close to getting them all finished. Um and again working with DEEQ and FEMA to complete that and once those are done and it would be just sort of the ongoing um projects that you're closing out in in the years to come. Um accounts payable, you can see a list over September and October. Um there's anywhere from 33 to 70 invoices that are processed. Some have had to be sent back for approvals to department heads. Some have had to be sent back to vendors for um better information. Um but you can see that she's processed anywhere from 33 to 70 a week. Um when she processes those there has to be um from the invoice there's entry into your system. You have to enter the vendor, their address, quite a bit of other information. Print the PDF. make sure that the invoices and the checks to be written um match and that they are accurate and um so then that review is done and again another ongoing item that

will be a part of the week toe um processing. Um, so Beth before you go on, I know you guys have been working with the auditors. Do you think your work with them is coming to a close?

Yes. Um, we do. Um, they have turned over um we have turned over the fixed asset piece. Um, when our staff tried to validate the assets, um, there were assets on your listing that, for instance, the police chief said there were a couple of cars that were listed on your asset listing that he says he doesn't have. And then when you try to match up the town's fixed asset listing um, with what the department say they have, it doesn't match. The fixed asset listing lacks VIN numbers for vehicles. It lacks mod um years that the p uh vehicle was purchased. So, we've turned that over to um your new finance director because he can more closely work with your department heads to um figure that out. Um but yes, we have talked with Lee and we are pretty close to being finished with what he needs and he's expecting to be able to present his audit in December. So, he's pretty much wrapping up.

Okay. And um so we and I'll just [clears throat] can I can I go on with one more question? Sure. Okay. So, last year we had issues with creating 1099s and the work that you all have done to clean up the vendor list and get the vendors in better shape. I kind of wanted an update as to where we think we are and if that we're ready to do our 1099s this year without issue.

Absolutely. Um the um once we got the W9s from all the many many vendors that you never had one then um Deborah Mack has been pretty um now that's been um the interim finance officer's responsibility to obtain the W9s but Deborah Mack has been keeping an eye on that and so we believe that you are prepared to to um be able to push out your 1099s this year without all of the problems we had last year. We think you are up to date with W9's for all the vendors you have. I think there may be one that refused and I can check this with Deborah Mack. One that refused to send one, but other than that, you're in good shape for your 1099s.

Okay, thank you. Can I ask a question?

Um, one is thanks thank Deborah for this is Rick. Thank Deborah for her work on the FEMA stuff. I'm actually starting to understand where we are u because of the way she put it together. Um and maybe you can't answer this, maybe she can. When we're looking at everything we filed for um and I know some of those are closed out any I and and again I don't mean to put her on the spot, but it's it's good to have the numbers sitting in front of us is understanding as we're looking forward how much we're going to get when we're going to get the money back. And I know that's not your that's not your call, but it's like when I look at the for the first time I feel like we've got a handle on where that money is. Um particularly how much money is still owed to us from different projects and the spreadsheet she put together. Is that something maybe over the next whatever period of time um she could kind of do because as I look at something like if we and I don't understand the process like she does obviously but if we file for it then they have to respond and we have to go through all these processes and stuff. So there's a monitoring that after it's even but there's a monitoring situation, right? As that goes forward until all the dollars come back, right?

And so I don't I don't know what that involves, but it looks like with that much money hanging out, it's obviously somebody something we have to watch. And it looks like she's really on top of that. So what's the question?

And I would say you tell you um that she is. And on this report, you'll see there's right at $3 million coming your way, right? And then [clears throat] she sent me another um this morning that looks like there's another 11 million coming your way. She has a great report. Um FEMA's been very pleased with the detail that she has sent them. So there's not going to be like processing holdup [clears throat] because of lack of information or or lack of things they need. But um and she has a great rapport with the FEMA um people that she's been working with. And I'm pretty sure that we can get you an appro approximate date of when you'll be receiving those monies because obviously that helps you plan um how to spend it.

Well, that that's and that that's why it's great because we got that beach project coming up and it'd be nice to know, you know, if we've got a shot at getting that back within that within that time frame. So, thank her. I that was a very well done on on the FEMA stuff. I that's the first time I've really understood how far out we were. So, thank her and and let me uh let me just qualify this. You know, they're on strike uh on uh layoff. So, um I will ask Deborah Mack um what where that puts things. That's that's the other issue is the fact that the feds are not working right now and um how much that might slow things down.

Thank you.

That's all I had. I have one question. It's the first time I've seen it in here. And Beth, I don't think it's really for you. It's more just a comment for Alice, our town manager. It looks like we had a few staff members apply for tuition reimbursement, which I'm always thrilled to see, but it doesn't look like they followed the process appropriately for their reimbursement. So, [clears throat] I don't think our I don't think our process and procedures are very complicated when it comes to tuition reimbursement. So, I don't know what we have to do to our with our department heads to make sure that they fully understand how to get through it.

Um, and I I think that that's a a great point. [clears throat] um your whether it's um Deborah Mack or whether it's your your new finance officer, if the department heads don't support the policies and procedures, you'll just continue to have um problems um and and things that will eat into your efficiencies. So, I think that's a great point that um and and I would tell you here's where you are now and the department heads should recognize this because they did not follow the proper procedures. The town could deny these reimbursements and that hurts the staff member, the employee who got the training. So again, the department heads need to recognize by them not following the proper procedures that the town could withhold this money and and again it's it's on the department head, not the employee.

Yeah, I I agree and I I thank you very much for pointing that out because we do put that money in the budget for a reason. We want it to be used by the staff members. Okay, that's all I have. Go ahead. Can I ask the mayor just a um on the finance questions I've got? I I thought it might be Deborra back there because there just two things about that financial report. So I I don't I didn't want to put on the spot. I don't know. Ask Alice which one would be appropriate. It's about the AC stuff and stuff. I think you can I think Alice can handle it. They're they're not that complicated questions. I just don't want to put I have one question for So I think we're fine.

Okay. So Beth, as we get looking towards year end and going into the new year, um we had the department heads had spreadsheets last year and we had the new budget [clears throat] created which is a big spreadsheet to my understanding. So do they have access to those now so that they could work with them? Yes.

Yes, it's on your servers um not ours. Um the the work workbook is what it is, a budget workbook. And um Deborah Mack and Sylvia both have been putting together processes how how things work. Deborah M um um Sylvia has done so. We we had those written for AP accounts payable, how to pay the bills and the protocols to go through. Um Sylvia has prepared it for the bank reconciliation and how that works. Um Deborah Mack is doing it for your budget. So we will be leaving behind not only the files but how to use them. Terrific. Thank you.

Excellent. Any additional questions for Miss Wood? I haven't read this yet. So well thank you so much for joining our call today. I I greatly appreciate you being flexible with your schedule for us. Thank you. Absolutely. And oh, and I was just I was going to say that um I'm not sure what the board is looking for, but um Deborah Mack and Sylvia are putting together a timeline

of how to transition out and we're putting together a timeline for um training your new finance officer, Wayne, and [clears throat] um and then when we'll turn over what we've been doing to him and um so we are looking to have everything turned over, have him trained on [clears throat] and everything turned over to him by the end of December and then if need be where our contract goes through the end of January, we will be around uh we will be available to answer questions um as it might need be. But um

I'm not sure what you had in mind, but I know that the idea is for us to transition out and um leave everything in the hands of your new finance officer plus the new accountant you'll be getting. Um so I just want to make sure that works for you. I don't want there to be any surprises or to feel like that we let you down. Now I think that's perfect, Beth. We greatly appreciate all the work that's going into the training of our new staff members and also the transition and you guys being available to answer questions. I think that that is perfect. Thank you. And thank you very much. All right. Thank you.

And we we will finish that up and um Sylvia has hers done. U Deborah M's still working on hers, but we will have that finished up within the next week and then we'll send it to Alice to distribute to the board to make sure it's to your liking. Perfect. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. Absolutely. Have a good day. You too. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. We are going to move on to the manager's report. Miss Darian. Thank you, Mayor. Good morning, everyone.

Uh first off, staff updates. I would like to uh say welcome to Mr. Wayne Johannes who's in the audience with us today. He's our new finance officer. For those of you who have not had a chance to meet him yet, um Wayne has officially started with us earlier uh in o October and um Wayne's background most recently he has worked with Duke University as their grants and contracts manager. Um so he's well uh wellversed in all things grants man management which will certainly be an asset for our town. um and has extensive experience as well in financial management and reporting. So, we're glad to have you on board. Welcome, Wayne.

Welcome. Also, uh we have in attendance with us this morning are uh Miss Donna S, who is our new permit specialist um and deputy town clerk. So, welcome. Welcome, Donna. We're glad to have you on board as well. She recently started with us a few weeks back as well and has hit the ground running. Um she most recently has served with the town of Burga in our community development um department as coordinator and has worked as a parallegal for municipalities as well. So um we're very glad that she's on board and um so far we have hit the ground running in both directions and welcome.

Excellent. Excellent. Uh last but not least, the accountant one position is uh still posted is open. Um we are continuing to accept applications for that position. We had one round of interviews um already um and testing that has been conducted, but we're continuing to go through applications.

Beach projects and operations. On October 9th, we started to see effects from the noraster that was impacting our area throughout the latter part of that week um into the weekend. Uh that event prompted some property owners to contact the state for emergency permitting that late Friday afternoon. Um which I'm sure everyone um has was seen on the news and in the media recently. Um Monday morning after the event, staff uh public works specifically was busy removing debris that washed up on the beach and they continued those efforts throughout the week. So, thank you to them and their quick quick efforts on that front. Also, uh staff worked to um immediately send pictures that we were seeing to the division of coastal management um on what we were seeing in the field. Our planning department was instrumental in that. So, thanks thank you to them. Um we've continued to work with property owners um as they contact us um and refer them to the state for any assistance. Um some communities have received um permits for sandbagging efforts that are going to be taking place here soon along the beach. Um more so in the north end area. Um our um beach engineer um Fran Wei is here as well. Um I had requested a dashboard assessment of erosion uh that TI coastal um provided. I sent that assessment to the board for review. Um so that could be talked about more during um the engineers report uh if there's any questions on that assessment. PTC number eight work continues to be on pause for the season effective May 2nd. The project still remains at the CRC level with FEMA um engineer way and I've been in communication concerning the

upcoming work plan with the contractor who is St. Wooten uh to resume the dune project work. The contractor scheduled to mobilize the first week of January 2026 and the project is expected to be completed within three months. Um probably will wrap up sooner than that but uh worst case scenario we expect is three months. the truck, right?

Yes. Yes. And um yes, that is a a truck haul project and um so they will be con picking up where they left off which was in the area of Topsel Dunes. So they will pick up there, replace sand in the dunes uh for what was surveyed as lost during PTC8 event and continue working north. Um and the project page was also updated with that work schedule as well. um old FEMA projects update. Uh Beth um touched on that um that a lot of work has been done uh with their assistance on um closing out these old projects from Dorian Florence specifically. Um we did receive um good news this week um that while yes um they are shut down right now, the state has been very communicative. Um um Amanda uh the state has been really great with helping us and to help facilitate that bridge with FEMA in getting these things closed out. Um and we received notice this week that for uh Dorian specifically the cat G work um we're anticipating um you were asking about dollar amounts earlier. were anticipating um $793,281 um coming to us and that was for two submissions. We anticipate that money um coming to us shortly. Um can't give you an exact time frame of course, but we were told that that those payments are being processed. um CAT B Florence work um as well. Um we submitted um uh previously they approved 75% um which was around $3.2 million. Um we

have since um uploaded additional things into the portal to request for uh payments for overruns. Uh we did receive news this week that um they are considering those um those overruns. So uh potential to have more money coming back to us. Um and the balance owed on the Florence project is 2,45,686. Um so so we will be we anticipate um getting an influx of funding um soon or at least we have the it seems like we have a good commitment at this point from from FEMA and the state. So good news on that front. Um events. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Halloween pet parade and costume contest this past month. It was great. It always is. Thank you specifically to staff uh for all the logistics that go into coordinating that event. Um the the setup and tear down is always great fun. Um so appreciate the assistance on that and to Pet Supplies Plus of course for sponsoring the event. Um that allows us to hold it each year. Um it was our third year and thank you uh to the judges who have the hardest job of all. uh board members, [laughter]

the mayor and the board was there to judge and pick the pick the [laughter] pick the winners for the evening. So, appreciate uh your help on that front. I I wouldn't want that. I wouldn't want that job. That was hard. Um

the 4th annual Christmas tree lighting that is coming up around the corner as well, November 19th. It'll be held here at town hall 6 pm. Um, public works has started installing the snowflakes uh this week um on the utility poles for the holiday season. Um, we anticipate that'll probably wrap up actually today. Um, so we're uh well ahead ahead of schedule, which is great. Um, the Christmas tree is scheduled to start to go up next week. Um, work out any potential kinks, although then that never happens. [laughter] So, we should be able to work through whatever comes up next week and be ready for the tree lighting. Um, and I know that the um snowflakes have been requested to be put on the agenda. So, we I'll talk more [clears throat] about that later when for that agenda item.

Mine's up. So, I'm good. That sure you know where mine's going to. Yeah. Is there any questions for [clears throat] a quick question for So, Beth had mentioned about 11 million coming back, right? Yes. And when I look and I I I believe this is the case. I just want to make sure. So I know what our cash position is because that's in the report. That's excellent. So none of that the 11 million none of the 34 is showing up as a receivable. That's actually cash as I read that cash in the bank. So 11 will be on top of that. And when I looked at our budget, and you could if you could maybe check with Deborra Mack or you probably know this, there's nothing that we would see that is going to eat in substantially to that 11 million on the beach thing except for the last payment, right?

Correct. Okay. So, that's very very good in terms of where we are. Thank you. Yes. [snorts] Perfect. That's why I said very good news this week. Oh, yeah. Is still king, right? Yes. Okay. Then we're going to move on to the open forum. Do we have anybody signed up? Yes, Madame Mayor. We have one sign up. Susan Meyer. Hi, Susan. You haven't been here in a while. I know. As you can see, I've been busy. Yes.

Um, Susan Meyer, 2224 New River Inlet Road, um, unit 138. As you all know, I've cherished our town of North Topsel Beach. Proudly known as nature's tranquil beauty. It's been an honor to contribute to the community over the years by serving on various committees and even holding the position of alderman for a time. At present, I chair the planning board and also sit on the board of adjustment. Regrettably, a certain harshness has recently disturbed the harmony of our town. While I might attribute this tension to the recent campaign, one newly effect official, one newly elected official has nonetheless chosen to launch verbal attacks against my family and [snorts] cast doubts on my impartiality and potential conflicts of interest since this his election. This individual's personal interest was addressed during the planning board meeting on June 12th. For anyone who shares these concerns, I encourage you to listen to the recording of that meeting or watch it um where no resolution was reached aside from forwarding the matter to the board of alderman without any input from the planning board given the absence of the site plan or any formal proposal. because I serve on the on these boards at the discretion of the board of alderman and due to the volatile nature and unprofessionalism of this unc incoming alderman I now find

myself feeling unsafe both mentally and physically consequently I'm tendering my resignation from both positions effective immediately thank you thank you Susan Is there anybody else who has signed up? No, ma'am. Yes, please. Can I The next item is the consent agenda. Can I have a motion? Motion to approve. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? I.

Okay. Now remember we've pulled out that finance department item about 10 seconds. All right. So then we are going to move on to continuing business. The first one is fund 30 the dial cordy EIS amendment and the mayor is going to request a motion to approve the 2026-26.25 fund 30 dialed EIS amendment as presented. Does anybody have any questions or You want a motion to approve first, right? Motion to approve. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion?

And just so Alice, I just want to make sure everybody understands what this is. This is so that we can get finished up with the EIS study.

Yes. This um this agreement is what um Dal Cordi had submitted back to me back at budget time for consideration. Um I said that you know at one point coming up this would be for before the board for formal consideration for them to continue the work um through the EIS plan um with the Army Corps of Engineers. Um as we know they're kind of in pause mode right now. Um but the intent is to keep them um still working while for the information that we that has been requested of us that we know that they need to continue with the plan. Um and um Steve Dao is here this morning um if there's any questions as well as um Engineer Way of course um who's been working on this from the beginning. So if there's any um questions they're um here to address those as well.

Yes. Yes. Since Steve's here, um, if you could please perhaps give us a quick quick idea of how much longer this is going to take. Okay. And just the backstory on this is that we we backed off on the effort because of Hurricane Florence and then no sooner did we get through with that recovery, we had CO. So, we've had all these these great reasons why we're where we are, but we need to we need to wrap this up. We need to get it done. I'm kind of getting sick and tired of people pinning me against the wall in Food Land wanting to know where the hell everything's at.

Turn my Okay, there we go. Good morning.

Thanks, Tom. I I I understand your pain and and and feelings about this and and how long it's gone on. Um, the core really controls the schedule. We can just provide them with material as they need it, which is the goal here is to jump back in, give them documents they need so they keep moving. And the goal is really to get the draft document out on the street as quick as possible so we can start getting comments and the process really moves forward. As to how long that's going to take, I think that's probably better ask of the core. I don't I can't I can't dictate what their time frame of review and process is. All I know is we know what we need to submit. Uh they need two documents from us to be able to process the draft EIS. So that's our first first goal is to get those two documents to them. And they've been going under undergoing the legal review I think the past six months. I think that's correct. Right, Alice? They've been legal review of the balance of the documents that they have. So with with with what they need now get that then they should be ready to [snorts] get the draft document out on the street which really formally starts the process.

And the last schedule that we received from the core indicated um a permit decision in summer of 2026 time frame. So that was the last formal schedule we received from the core. When you say permit decision in the summer of 2026, does that mean the EIS has already been out for review and then it's the permit decision? Yes. Yes. I'll let Okay. So then the EIS should be done shortly. And to Tom's frustration, I would echo it just because

when we talk to the core, Dial Cordi is the hold up. When we talk to to Dial Cordi, the core is the hold up. We just need everybody to work together and get this done because I have been on the board. I got on the board. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, I understand the delays, Tom, that you had echoed, but the whole rest of the world figured out how to work during CO. Yeah, I know. And and I'm I'm certainly not certainly not stating CO as an excuse or a a viable reason why at all. It's that's what we were told and and um and it wasn't acceptable then and 5 years later it's it's even less acceptable. Mhm.

And again, you know, every time like Joanne said, we get a lot of this and and and [clears throat] it's unacceptable. And now, you know, we were supposed to have a meeting with the core on what was it October the 7th. You haven't heard back. Well, the government was closed, you know, so we're closed for business, but time marches on, and we see what time marching on without some sort of an anchor up there at the north end has caused us very recently and and very graphically uh here recently. Um it's it's not good. Um the other question I have is how much more money is this going to cost? We don't need anymore. We're done with this. Okay. Okay.

Okay. You heard it here. Well, and what I would say and I think the board would echo this is is we are committed to getting this process completed and out for review and you know because it's a long process even once this goes out for review. It's not like something that's magic happens. So, we're committed to doing it. We appreciate the fact that you all are as well. And if we could just please get it wrapped up so we can get it out in everybody's hands to read, that would be wonderful. My only comment was my second comment was highlighting what the mayor just said. Understand that when this comes out, if it comes out in the summer, that's not the end of the process. That's basically starting this thing. And I think what you're asking us for today is we don't want to be the thing holding this up. We don't want to be the one they're pointing fingers at going forward with what you're doing, Alice, is

they can point where they want, but it's not going to be at us. Fair. Right. Yes. And also to the the critical next step of course will be to for Dao Corey to continue work and work right now on what the core needs and make sure that's done as soon as possible so that when they come back online that we can continue the committee um what whoever the board determines will be that committee um will continue the meetings that we have been holding um on a regular basis just to keep make sure that we're following a schedule. Y perfect. And I've kept up with Emily at the core, so we we know what what she needs for their next step. So, we're ready to act on those.

So, so the course basically told you the checks in the mail. [laughter] I don't I don't know if that But since the mut has stopped, it's Yeah. Yeah. I think but in the meantime because when I first joined this board I was asked a question about this thing and I said and when I got elected for four years my answer was I hope I get something back on the CIS within four years and that is a very frustrating thing for this board. Do we need a motion? Uh yes. I requested a motion. We have a motion and a second we can vote. Is everybody in favor? Anyone deny? Okay. We're all good. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. The next item which is B is uh CA 2026-26.26 contract modification for the inlet management plan EIS dial 40. Um so what I'm doing is I'm requesting a motion to approve ordinance number CA26-26.25 25 as presented and approves the contract modification as presented for the inlet management plan EIS as submitted by dialing. So this ties into what we just spoke about. Motion to approve. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor?

Any opposed? [clears throat] Okay. All right. Mr. Franway here in person. [clears throat] Is that time of year? A lot younger at first. Yeah. Well, so do you. [clears throat]

Hello everybody. Uh I'm been I'm a Franway coastal engineer. I've been working with the town since about uh 2017. Um we're just going to kind of go over the beach projects uh [clears throat] just from you know north to south. General overview first off is the just the 11 miles of shoreline. We have phase one up near New River Inlet uh down the different the different shorelines the phase 2, three, four, and five. And five is down near the the Surf City town limit. As you can see, there's there's there has been there's either planned activity or there's been recent activity on all these beaches. All these shorelines actually do do need work. Uh and then the town is working hard to kind of to to kind of keep up with this erosion. Uh and then we'll just go over the individual projects here on the next slides. Next slide, Ricky. Uh this was the this was, you know, last uh February and the the core did place about 77,000 cubic yards of material up on the north end. Uh that material it's it's in the system now. uh you don't really you can't see that material anymore, but really like adding that system sand into the system and kind of letting the physics move it where it wants to. It's it's a good idea to bring in this new sand. Uh and the core has this is a tough one. The core does these projects, you know, every other year. And they always complain about this one because it's a really long amount of pipeline from the uh from the AIWW and and the Jacksonville channel, but it is a good project and uh historically it has been better and it has, you know, and I guess in Chris Gibson, we trying to work to try to make this project more efficient. Uh but this is a core project and we're just kind of just just giving

them input and they're pretty set in their ways, but we will continue to push to make this more efficient and get this material a little farther south. Uh next slide. Uh this this is the the phase five mitigation. This is about a year and a half ago. the project. This is a beach project and the the it is that the the upland truckall sand and it's a little bit all the sand we put on the beaches is compatible. This material is a little bit coarser. It's all compatible. It's good color and the slightly coarser material does help and stay a little bit better. Uh this this beach has held up to kind of the recent wave and surge events and and some of the recent hurricanes. We can go to the next slide. And here's the phase 4 shoreline. This was completed last spring. The this beach is the same material. It's that truckall material. It's, you know, nice color. It's slightly coarser on the the beach compatible spectrum. It's uh it's good material. It held up well to the recent uh wave and surge events and you know, even hurricane Aaron previously. And we'll get up to uh the next slide, please, Bricky. This is another image of just kind of the phase four nourishment from last spring that we got finished up. Uh and we can go one more. Here's the the disposal area 143. This is the the next major project that is planned. This is for phases one, two, and three. And this is going to be a big nourishment. Then and the phases one, two, and three do need a big nourishment. Uh and it is basically using that disposal area. That disposal area has been used by the core for decades. a lot of sand in there and that's usually good sand. Uh this will be a kind of a beneficial reuse of that disposal area where we take that material out and then that disposal area can be used again. From now on only non-compatible beach material will be

put in there but previously decades past they they put in beach compatible material in there. that material is uh you know and Chris Gibson and TI Coast are leading that effort still working on easements to uh to be able to use that property. It it because it is a nice habitat now and Wildlife Resources Commission is uh really enjoys that little bird island kind of habitat uh and uh they're they're giving a little resistance uh but you know it's with the project is moving forward. Yes. Question.

Yeah. Can you just go back to the other slide? I I I don't know if it was Chris's presentation or yours. I see the amount of sand that we're talking about there. Can you compare that to the amount of sand like per foot that we because as I understand this, this is a larger project.

And I think even at the bottom of that slide, this is the largest beach nourishment ever on North Topppsel Beach. Uh the largest one prior to this was about 1.5 million and that was in phase five. So this will be the the largest nourishment volumewise for that North Topsel Beach has ever undertaken. And this is the PTC8 and Alice has mentioned that uh potential tropical cyclone 8 and you know the the September 16, 2024 a little over a year ago or a year you know 14 months ago uh this it did seem to be moving forward quickly and then FEMA has the the consolidated resources center the CRC up in Washington DC they really have been pushing back and trying to uh come up with other alternatives and and a lot of times they're they're things that aren't even allowed or things that wouldn't even work. Uh so we had to really kind of hit back at them and then with they were trying to get us some FEMA technicalities, but we're very versed in FEMA. We did like the Riceville Beach appeal. We worked with city of Jacksonville on their FEMA appeal. We know what we're talking about. We kind of went back and forth several times. It does seem like this is moving forward. Obviously, there is the shutdown that might slowing things down, you know, and Alice and I are, you know, waiting. We'd love to see that obligation come out, the obligation in that funds, but it does all seem to be working towards that. And I had to have had some back channel communications with some FEMA staff that say that is the case. Uh, and so we can go to the next slide. And then this was

so Fran, I do I'm sorry. I do have a question on that specific slide. So, a lot of folks in the northern area, St. Regis, Dolphin Shores, you know, kind of right south of Topsel Reef have experienced a significant amount of erosion, but a lot of that seems to be king tide related, not necessarily the tropical cyclone. So, when people are asking me, are we getting sand? I'm trying to explain that we're able to replace what was lost in the tropical storm, but it may not be what they've [clears throat] truly lost. Would that be accurate?

That that's completely accurate. Uh, basically, I guess the metrics that FEMA uses is they go by the county. So, they the whole county, Enso County, that they'll take your population into account, they'll take the damage into account,

and then that the governor also has to declare a state of emergency for FEMA to come in. and then they have to do their metrics to see if they qualify. PTC8 was actually a weird one, too, because that wasn't even, you know, a real storm. But that one did qualify for, you know, three counties here, Pender and Brunswick as well. Uh so but yes, so every single storm event, major storm event, a lot of times if it's just hitting the beach and really but the inland just a few miles inland is everything's okay. Uh a lot of times FEMA probably will not get involved. But so if in some of those cases they could have potentially lost 10 feet or more of their dune line. Yes.

They are not getting nearly that bad. Yes. where basically we have to do calculations to say that that we are only allowed to put enough sand back to prevent a five-year storm. And so then we have to do all these calculations to figure out the dune erosion of a five-year storm. And a lot of times the these storms are much, you know, Florence was obviously much bigger than that. They took out a lot more sand. And when we go back, we're only allowed to put in, you know, a fiveyear storm of dunes worth of sand. So yes, we we're not, you know, completely replacing that that dune back to, you know, pretorm conditions. Thank you. So just just real quick so everybody understands

that is separate than the beach project that we're getting ready to do. So what you have laid out is that's related to FEMA when we're looking at the project that you just described, the the big project. Yes. That is going to replace the dunes and stuff. That's beyond what you're one is FEMA money to do something after a storm. Our big project will rebuild the dunes behind the St. Regis as I've discussed or as Chris has mentioned stuff. So what I'm saying is people look at this and say, "Wait a minute, I'm only getting a piece of it back." That's separate than the project that we're doing. Correct. Correct.

Except that just to be clear because you know I'm big on expectations whether people like it or not. Just like to get it out there. We don't have a timeline for when the big project will start yet. We have a desire, but we don't have permits in hand which would actually give us the start date. And then I think he'll update us to Well, I'm just saying we're working on it, but okay. Uh yes. So, and it is, you know, even the town for even the the the phase five shoreline they have down and that's not in a Cobra zone, so that's easier. Yep. Uh but yes, the town had to

initially finance that 1.5 million cubic yard back in 2015 to establish that engineered beach uh um category and then from then on you are that federal funding is available. And then for up here where it's just the category B and that's just dune restoration. And that's kind of what what we're talking about with with Mayor McDerman, which is that uh that's that five-year storm thing, the category B when the category G, that's engineered beach. There's lots of categories in the in acronyms. That's why you're here. I apologize. [laughter]

Uh yes. Uh okay, next slide. And then so we did actually start on this project in last the the very end of April and early May to uh to to place some areas where there really was no sand at all and there was no dune at all where any kind of high tide king tide event water would rush into the into the roadway and and you know a lot of the stuff that happened at at the uh county access 4 where they had no dune there and just any any single kind of high tide event with waves would just, you know, would flood flood the roadway. We did not want that. So, we did put this this material up there about 8,000 cubic yards in in those areas to prevent that. And it it has these have held up. Uh and then so the next slide, please, Ricky. This is the rest of the the project will start pretty much as soon as you get onto the island all the way up to the the Topsel Reef condos. uh the the contractor uh will start in January and that's is good good in terms of that is the colder months where we won't have you know people on the beach and then even the the Christmas and the holiday events and everything when people more people are on the beach they have they do they are flexible on the order of work and that that will be good as well where we can if the board wants has any ideas we talked with I talked with Alice if they want to start, you know, south of the pier first and then go up and do, you know, north of the pier or they want to start at that Jenkins way access and then work south towards the pier or start at Jenkins way and, you know, start at the tops of rebuilds and come down and then if any other if any folks are working on a sandbag project, we are allowed to put sand on top of the bags now. So, uh, yeah, and then and now it is

with bags that KMA is allowing folks to use sand on the beach. And that that's not a great I that is similar as as Alderman Benson mentioned, it's similar to scraping where you're taking sand from the lower beach, putting it to the upper beach. This time it is in bags, which is good. There are a little more, but it is it's it they used to require you to truck in sand. And even with the Topsel Reef condos, I know they had the truck in sand whenever they're fix and obviously their their bags are uh you know they're so we need to cover those sandbags quickly before they change their mind again.

Yeah. And then maybe put some of the material kind of right in front of the bags and see and obviously it's we don't the the contractor damaging the bags, the brand new bags is is we can't do that. So it is tough as well. And then even working up there, there's there are a lot of like decks and overwalks that that make it's it's going to be tricky, especially up, you know, yeah, on the northern end. And that is the end that needs it the most, but it that will be the trickiest part.

Just just to follow up, I think this is what you said. We know now St. Regis is putting sandbags behind there as a temporary thing. So those in our big project, those can be covered up too. So they're not have to put them in take them out because they had a temporary thing apparently that's been taken out now, but they're putting sandbags in. [snorts] Is that correct? Correct. Yeah. I mean the the state has always kind of considered the bags quote unquote temporary, but then they

hardly ever and then they every now and then they try to get someone to remove them and then they get all caught up and it gets up to the higher ups in the state and then they say leave them. Yeah, but to my point um Fran, they have changed that determination over and over. Like sometimes we are allowed to cover, sometimes we're not allowed to cover. So, um I'm not saying people should prepare to take their bags out, but you know, it just seems to go back and forth with the state. Yeah. Okay. It is a bit of a moving target where Yes. Just like the walkway, it's listed in their permit conditions. Oh, it is that they can leave it. Oh, it is. Oh, excellent.

What What does it say? It it says that it they can be covered in sands specifically for the application that we're they're they're referring to. That's the St. Reges one for St. Reges. Yes. Oh, that's perfect. Good.

Okay. And and I think just the last slide and we just pretty much coordinize and it is uh as Alice mentioned the noraster on the weekend of October 11 and 12 uh it was about a 2 and a half foot uh surge and then we had really big tides at that time and which is really worst case scenario with large waves over several days. Uh, and so yeah, the the it was it was bad and and it's and it's not a tropical storm or a hurricane. It's just a a noraster. Uh the [clears throat] the as I mentioned before, the pretty much south of the pier did not do too bad. North of the pier, uh Goldsboro Lane, that area, it it did okay. Uh and then pretty much just south of Topler Reef condos, St. Regis, uh they they got hit the worst and and uh and then we can adjust our dune project, our 53,000 cubic yards of dunes to try to get put a little bit more material up that way. And I think it probably is needed. And then of course there is not much beach. So when we do put that Doom material there, uh it it might a lot of that might just kind of get into the system, but it's still in the system and it it will help a little bit and buy buy some time and then before the major project comes in and uh so we'll just continue on that and disposal area 143. we've worked on that that that's in the easement coordination right now with the with state agencies and uh everything else we we've already kind of gone over and we'll just kind of continue moving forward with the with the with working with GWI and the I've been you know working a bunch with them trying to get

all the yeah all the accounting and and the invoices and and the payments things and getting that all in in shape. So

one of the main the main efforts in closing out the old projects was because in in the town was allowed to do that. Um so it's not that anyone did anything wrong. I just want to make that clear with combining the projects. It just made it more complicated and messier which created a lot of untangling. Um so uh of course as we're going through there and pulling all this information out there has to be certifications from some someone that was here. Luckily, um, you know, Fran was willing and able to sign off on those certifications, which then allowed me to review and sign off. Um, so that that's been critical.

Yeah, that was pretty because they pretty much encouraged encouraged us to bundle Dorian and Florence and then when it comes to the accounting afterwards, they're saying you have to separate them now. And so that was that was difficult. And uh and then the FEMA EHP which is environmental historic preservation they are uh they they've kind of added a whole new element in complexity and red tape uh and so that they have been a challenge as well. We we certainly appreciate everything that you've been doing Fran and does the board have any questions? No. Thanks so much Fran. Okay thanks

thank you Fran. [applause] Okay. So, the next item is the fire report. [clears throat]

And unfortunately, you guys were busy this morning, Chad. I saw. Yes, ma'am.

Good afternoon. Uh so we did uh 52 calendar days on this report from last meeting to when it was due.

Yeah, I got it right here. [laughter] Um 52% were fire rescue related stuff. 48% medical. Um which was a total of 64 incidents over 52-day period. And you'll notice like down at the bottom it gives you a breakdown of days. There's some days we're running 10 and 13 calls and there's other days we're running five and six calls. So, so it doesn't look like it slowed down much even though the season's over. It has a little bit little bit. Okay. Question. Just one quick question. Um at Monday's county meeting, they approved they're getting a new fireboat that Yeah. Yeah. They keep one up at Bear Creek. Yeah. Because they got apparently they got a grant for that one.

Yeah. We we've applied for a grant um through FEMA. So with them being shut down, all those are on hold. Well, they it was described by their board as barely afloat in terms of what they had. And then this doesn't directly relate to us, the grant seafood thing. You guys got called out on that one. Yes. So we we respond mutually with Turkey Creek and and status. Oh, it's out. [laughter] I thought I read no injuries. No injuries. No one was there. Um

and they're digging it out now trying to figure out the cause. So that's going on right now. Deputy Chief Harley is over there assisting with that. So we we do both. So not only do we assist with the fire, we we assist with the investigation origin and calls as well. So myself, Deputy Chief Harley, um one of our captains, he's about to get certified as CFI as well. So we're uh he just got approved by the state. So do you have any openings right now? No, ma'am. We are full full staff.

Great. Okay. And in looking forward to budget next year, if you can be looking for looking at where you are kind of financially so that when GWI turns over these worksheets and all like we can start prepping for budget and thinking about what y'all might need next year. Yeah. Yeah, for planning. Okay, perfect. Thank you, sir.

And the next item is the police report. [snorts] Uh we continue to make lots of security checks, which you see in there. Each officer is assigned is told how many to make every shift. So that's why you see all those. We're also doing area patrols and marking out on those so that if somebody calls on a particular neighborhood, I can say who was there that what was going on, that kind of thing.

Uh, of course, our domestics picked up in the October reporter show, those are up a little bit, too. Got cold. Everybody stayed inside, I guess. Uh, we've had some thefts recently. uh the town park. We lost a heater out of one of the bathrooms. And we do have a picture of the suspect and a picture of a truck. So, we've been working on that with us and the other agencies around and uh the county. [clears throat] A heater that was attached to the wall. Was attached to the wall. Okay.

All you All you really had to do was just unhook it from its uh the mounting bracket and they took off with it. But we are working those. I answer any questions you have about anything else. Just just one thing is a fault has came from the county meeting again. They've got their new drone system that they're talking about that they just approved. And I know nothing except what happened in Monday in the meeting, but one of the commissioners told me if we wanted to participate in that, the only thing we would have to do is buy a drone, which is different, I think, than what they were talking to you about before. I just wanted to give you a heads up. We have a drone, right? But we could hook into their system and stuff, too. So, it would be basic.

They were talking about a system where they would mount one here and dispatch would launch that drone out. Say officer got a call for a water rescue or whatever fire department. [clears throat] I got one, the drone would go out ahead. So, then you have dispatch would be able to dispatch at the county level that may not know which beach access it is here. Well, it'll be they're all 911 um assigned [clears throat] so that the drone would go to that address. Um we have been using our own drones which have been very effective like the water rescue that turned into a drowning.

Our drone operator was pulling up at the time and he he flew that drone for over two hours which is kind of difficult because the batteries don't last and the wind was very strong. That's been very effective for us. I'll I'll check into that because the cost of it was going to be really too high for us. My concern um may air was that [clears throat] we don't want two drones flying in for the same thing and no coordination between the two of them. And so when when this came up with them approving this system, I was like, you know, it's just we need to be aware of what they're doing too and coordinating it. And like you said, the last time they presented to us, Chief, we didn't want to participate because the cost was off the charts. Right. cost us.

One more thing question. So, from our new finance person, Wayne, for this one that we're looking at, the budget amendment, it says accept a grant from NCO, SBM, whatever. [clears throat] That was the That was the drone that we already That's the one we already already have. We have drone in the budget and I think some of that the town manager can probably speak to it, but some of that money we we have not bought that drone yet because we're waiting to coordinate those. Okay. Okay. So, and that

we will be purchasing a new drone. Um, and it will be with the grant funds that we anticipate getting. Um, that was a state grant um that I applied for. It was for the if you recall back [clears throat] a while ago. It was um through um Carson Smith's office. I remember um it was for the a drone and for the rocker long time ago

and we went forward under the premise of we needed those were critical items that we needed. Um, so whether we got the grant or not, we were going forward. Um, we obviously we bought the drone in advance. So what we're going to do is now that we've got those um funds and that's why you see the budget amendment um we're going to purchase another grant, another drone with those grant funds. And that's we've already cleared it with the state that that's allowed. Oh wow. So then we'll have two and do we know if they'll coordinate or we could use them with the county system or they just be an independent system? We just found out they'd be independent. But

it's just like when we flew the other day, the drone operators are are certified and they all they have to have a a license like when we had the water rescue and u coast guard was coming in. They have to coordinate with Coast Guard because once they get so close we have to make sure all the drones are out. Okay. But they they know how to do those in a situation like that. You've got an incident commander on site right there and he's right. That's what he's doing, right? They coordinate all that. But they they've been trained on all that, too. So they're But Tom, that was that was my concern. Exactly. You got three things flying up there. Yeah. Right. You got a guy on site.

You got a you got a guy on site that's in charge of the overall operation. And you know, I would think that he's he's directing what's going on, you know, and you got three of them up there. You I'd have 30. So, it's not too much for one person to handle the air traffic control. And we have two two people certified. We have two. We're waiting on some more classes. Some of these classes we had to travel too far. We're waiting to see if they can have some a little bit closer. Yeah. For the um officers to go to. So, we've got two NPD that are certified right now and you've been working on uh on more and we also have um our IT person Ricky's also

is also cert has been certified so and he's assisted too especially uh in the last event where uh during the day after PD work for so long you know he's able to assist and step in [clears throat] and run the drone when needed as well. So, so I just have one other question. There was a question that I've seen recently about ebikes and I wanted to know from your perspective, chief, are you seeing an issue with ebikes? Because here's my concern is we have so many ordinances now that most of them are difficult to enforce. So, if we were to come up with any new ordinances, they have to be enforcable. So, I was I haven't heard you say we have an issue

and they'd have to also um be in cooperation with the state law too because ebikes are just like bicycles just like one um alderman Leonard rides a good bit they and they generally ride just like bicycles ride we hadn't had a problem with that on knock on wood we hadn't had a lot of them on the the beach I mean I have any bike and I can tell you I don't go more than 10 miles an hour if that's even powered on had any complaints about you got the training wheels on that [laughter] one, right? I did. Yeah. Yeah. I got 845 miles on that bike now. I had to put new tires on it after the uh riding all the time after the breast cancer ride.

But I did want your opinion because I think when we are looking to if we have to create ordinances, it should be to solve a problem and then it should be with your input that we can actually enforce it and in accordance with the law. That's it. And we hadn't had issues with those ebikes. Okay. I did I did ask somebody politely kind of to get off the dune the other day and I thought about calling but it's fine. We've had some other calls about dunes and I'd like to to say this. People will call us a day later or two days later. You can't do anything if you don't see

I can't help. And so I go back out with the non-emergency number. If you'll call us that's the quickest way for us to get there because they they hit the officer on the radio. The officer goes straight to the call. Right. And I I do try to explain that too. But if you don't personally see it, you can't you can't say Sally was on the dune and Right. Yeah. So it's the way it works. Okay. Thanks everybody. Thank you, Bill. Thank you. And so next would be the finance department that uh Rick you wanted to call out.

Just just two quick ones. I know Alison knows this. Under capital project maintenance under the double I it talks about investment income is 1.334 million and is over budget. She clarified to me that is a cumulative amount because if we got that in three months we'd have a hund00 million dollars invested right now. So that is a cumulative amount in there over a period of time. Correct.

And then [clears throat] just a quick one in the other one and maybe this would be for Wayne um to answer under B under the under the uh what we processed this year. I'm sorry. Under this thing, we had checks of about 343,000. We hit the majority of the stuff went out as AC. Are those do we know are those scheduled type of things? Like as an alderman, I sign checks, but I don't approve a things. So, if he could maybe you know what the process is for that. That could have been something scheduled because those are those are notes, right?

Yes, the the AC's are scheduled and yes, that's not something that you're you're signing. Okay. Um but that is something that we're um looking at going forward on um you know down actually reversing some of those so that more goes through check runs. Okay. I I was just look because based on the some of the issues that we've seen over the past year just trying to work through those. Yeah. Because if you look at that page the cash the cash they're showing the total dispersements are like 2.3 million but only checks were 343,000. So I figured they had to be scheduled stuff particularly for like Saabs and the other one, right? Those are scheduled way in advance. Yes, that's

Yeah. And our last Saabs was um done in October. Thank you on those. Okay, ready to move on? All right, we're going to move on to new business to the snowflake light project update. Alderman Ochesky, I'm not sure what questions you have since they're up now.

So, do we have our public [snorts] works person around? First of all, I'd like to thank the guys that worked on them because I know they had to rering them all. They had to rering the lights and they had to powder coat the frames and they had to redo them all before they put them up. And so they're looking really good. Um the question was as we look forward is we had had a budget change to this line item to add additional funds to make it through this season and I wanted to know how we were doing on that and looking forward do we think we need to again take a look at budget for the next budget.

Yes ma'am. Uh good afternoon mayor board. I appreciate being here. Um to answer the the question concisely, yes, we we needed to adjust funds. Um pri primarily it was a combination of degradation of the snowflakes that were not sent off to be recoded. Um and then adding adding into that a request to purchase 20 additional brand new from production snowflakes. Uh my long-term plan with that is to try and cycle out 15 to 20 per year. Um and make sure the inventory we do have is in a three to five year rotation. Um couple that with excuse [clears throat] me, couple that with uh some conflicts we had with the the timers associated to them. Unfortunately, we can weatherproof them as much as we want, but the corrosive salty air eats at those photo sensors pretty pretty poorly. Um, so that in the brackets there there was a little bit of a bump in in the overall budget for this year.

Okay. Um, but that was going to fall in line with with the request I was going to make for next year's budget is is an increase in funds uh to allow us to continue to cycle those new those new snowflakes into inventory. And we have been cycling new ones for the last um last two years into the inventory. Go ahead. I just I was just going to make Oh, go ahead. Well, thanks for doing that work and and thinking ahead to that. That's what we wanted to do with this project. Keep going. And I think Surf City's auctioning off some of their lights is what [laughter] I heard. Yeah, I've seen a large amount on Facebook Marketplace. I want a mermaid. I want a mermaid. You got to go bid on and a pirate.

You got to go bid on them. So, but thank you so much because the guys that are working on them, they're looking very nice. Thanks. Thank you. Just a heads up. So, I I I love those things. The funny thing is, to your point in the timers, they're not all exact because when I pulled out of my driveway, somebody riding with me, ours hadn't turned on yet cuz the timer was a little bit different. When it came back, they were on, but it was like, "Oh, dear God, please don't let the one in front of my house not be turning on." But those look great. They really do.

Thank you. Yeah. Well, one more additional point, if I can inject, is um we did have a meeting with Joe MC on Monday. Um it was at the Topsil Beach Town Hall and it was ourselves Surf City and Topppsel Beach's public works departments. Uh JOMC is pushing uh a a a standard across all three municipalities to to standardize the runners that drop from the transformers down to the outlet box. So, we will be fabricating 15 to 20 additional runners that uh once built out will coordinate with JOMC and they'll they'll do the installation of it to make sure it's meeting all the required codes. Uh but that will be an additional cost that wasn't baked into this year's budget. That would be further justification to increase it. So, I didn't want to not not speak to that meeting because it was just this Monday.

Great. Thank you. Yeah. Be smart to comply with Joe Donsa. Yes, ma'am. Very much. And I have a question. Um, the ones cycled out, are the ones cycling back in, are they just snowflakes or are they other shapes as well, or what were we doing with that? So, the the 20 this this year on the PO that's been approved are the six-foot snowflakes, the presidential snowflakes, just as we already have. Okay. Uh, posted throughout town. The uh the unique decorations, the candles, the deer, the trees. Um, it's kind of been a a work in progress getting my feet underneath me, making sure I know what we have. Okay. Um, but that that would be something we roll into next year, ma'am. All right. Thank you so much. They look great. I love them.

And the mermaids and the pirates. We can look into mermaids and pirates, sir. Absolutely. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Okay, we are going to move on to item C, which is the contract award for Maven Roofing public works roof repair project or roof replacement. I guess it's a replacement project. Um, so I'm going to request a motion to approve CA 2026.26-21 contract award Maven roofing for the public works roof project 25003 as presented. Motion to approve. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? Yes.

Okay. Go ahead. While we're looking at this roof, I'm wondering Oh, I did. Yes, she did. I did. Can we go back up to B? Okay, we're gonna I'm sorry, everybody. We're going to go back up to B. 2026.26.20 fund 10 police buildings public works. So, we're requesting a motion to approve a budget amendment 26.26-20 for the public works roof. Motion to approve. Second. Now, any discussion? All in favor? I think you wanted on the next one, didn't you want?

Okay. Okay. So, that's approved. All in favor? And then now the next one, Laura, is where I think you had a question. 2026.26.21, 21 the contract award for Maven roofing public works roof project. So I'm going to request a motion, a second, and then see if we have any questions. Motion to approve. Second. Any questions? Yes. Um, so on this one, I know we're looking at a roof, but has anyone looked at the structural integrity of that building? So, we're not putting a new roof on a building that we don't know is structurally sound. [snorts]

Not at this time. We haven't. Um, based off of my assessment of the building initially and and just the outlook itself, we we started with the roof. Um, that was obvious in my first day here. That was the primary need for that building. Um, and that's what the board had approved in the budget. So, I guess what I'm asking you since you're here now? Yes, ma'am. Do [snorts] you need to be asking us for something else or do we need to look at this as a larger project?

Uh the guidance probably that that I would ask for is is what the long-term intent is for that building. If if we're doing a complete reconstruction or a brand new building, um then, you know, spending this amount of money on a roof probably is isn't the most fiscally responsible. Um so I I don't want to make a repair that's going to get demolished and rebuilt in a short amount of time. Um but if the intent is to keep the footprint we have salvage what what the building is capable of keeping and then uh put putting a new uh outer layer on it with with walls and insulation. Um some of that we can do inhouse with the public works staff that we have in terms of installation and wiring to code. Um, but the roof and the uh the outer covering of the building would probably be the two most needed uh renovations if we're going to keep the the framework of the building and the foundation itself.

So, we have a question as well. Go ahead, Tom.

I think we're all in agreement that the the building needs a new roof. Okay. I think we're all in that agreement. I'm in the same boat. I mean, I look at this potentially when we have a bid for 100 nearly 100k and we have a bid for what are the other two 70 and then the other one's 14 that you know I I I don't want us to put a balanced blueprinted Hemi engine in a pickup truck that's got holes this big of rust in the frame and and the body. [clears throat] And you know, I think I think the big picture is what are we going to do with the building if we maybe put a roof on it that that satisfies our immediate and short-term needs while we decide what our long-term plan is for that building because I think there's been some talk, in fact, I know there's been some talk around this table about once we [clears throat] got fire station all

done that probably the next building we needed to look at was yours. Yes, sir. And you know, given everything down there and I've been in that building and it's pretty expeditionary very much. Yes, sir. Okay. And he knows what that means. So, I don't know. I'm I'm torn here. You know, I think we need a new roof, but I don't know if we need the Cadillac roof going on a on a Hyundai chassis. And we've talked about this um a good bit, too. Uh the the the timing of this is we knew that we needed a roof and um so there was estimates that were requested at budget time. Um so that we got that because there's there's literally uh you've got 15 buckets catching water.

Yes, ma'am. At a time. It's bad. Um, you know, the intent, you know, when I came on board and, uh, looked at the list of capital needs at that point in time, the public works building was identified to be addressed after the fire station was addressed. [clears throat] Obviously, the fire station has taken um longer than we anticipated. Um hopefully hopefully that it's going to be the board's intent um to to look long term at replacing that building within the next um the next couple years.

So would that let me just follow up my comment and then I'll I'll be done.

Another aspect I think we need to we need to measure here is how we might box ourselves in for future what we end up doing with that building if we drop a 100k on a roof. Okay, if we've invested that much money in in that old [clears throat] expeditionary building, have we turned a corner that we can't recover from? And have we have we made some made some decisions financially that we wouldn't have otherwise made if maybe we'd spent less money, substantially less money? There's other solutions that are [clears throat] less expensive um that I I know that Chris has vetted with the contractors that are um even you know within um my approval um limits

um you know that's certainly but again I don't want to say I I would not um I don't want to say to the board [clears throat] that you know don't don't do the roof um if you're not there's not going to be an intention um you know you need to do something my recommendation would be to you know go back look at the lowerc cost scenarios with the intention of the board if it is the intention of the board to seriously um consider um the replacement of that building

and I think that the the board has discussed at the budget time as well the need to replace that building I think it's just going to be timing So if there is a lower cost option that is more palatable that would give us a couple years because I mean it takes plan it takes time to plan the new building. It's not just magically going to go up. So we need to get a you know some time out of it but maybe a less expensive option knowing that you don't get to take the roof off and keep it and put it on the new one. And I think the building needs a new roof. I'm sorry Connie and I promise I will shut up now. Um, I I I I agree. The building needs a new roof, and I don't think that's the issue. I think it's how how high-end a new roof it needs. Yeah.

And if we can get something cheaper to get us through, and not a patch job, but a new roof, but maybe a a lower cost alternative. Yeah. 15 buckets. That's That's embarrassing. You should not have to put up with that. Um I I what Alice was saying, anything we can do just to hold over for the next couple years and then get you uh either a new building or use the framework for the old building like you were talking, whatever is uh whatever seems to be in the works for it. But yeah, that building. Yeah. Thank you. Go ahead and then I've got one coming.

So right now we were looking at a metal standing seam roof. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Which is a terrific roof. But if we look at something less and then you come back with some recommendations to the board as to what you really think needs needs to happen,

then the board [clears throat] needs to start planning for that and start looking at a replacement building if that's your suggestion. So come back to us with, you know, options for a lower cost roof and what we would be looking at in a specification kind of for a new building before we would go out to bid. But we do need to start looking at that from a planning perspective because I think everybody here knows that building needs needs work. [clears throat] And just to go back to what the mayor talked about, two comments. One is knowing how slow these things move, a temporary solution that lasts for a year is not [clears throat] that I would support.

Okay. So, it's got to, you know, knowing that I think did you say a couple years and you said a something like that is very good. But the other thing I would say is given the fact that this is leaking into Conniey's point about the buckets and stuff. I don't think we want to be talking about this three months from now in terms of getting something out there because I think the consensus is the board is find us something that works short term, right? Yeah, but I think short short term is going to have to be a couple years because I mean look at the challenges we had with base flood and everything else with permitting on the fire station. I don't know if public works is going to be any different

if if I may just to jump in. I don't want to belver the point. Um, but re realistically I think one of three directions is going to help me clarify what what answers to give is if we're going to potentially renovate the current standing building and operate out of it during that renovation. That's the biggest question because if we're doing a tear down and rebuild completely, whether it's in that location or a different one, the question is

materials and equipment. What do where are we operating from? Um so we've already scred parts and materials and conducted um sectional repairs of the roofs to mitigate most of the leaks, not all. Um so so this was just a broad scope in terms of because there was already I think three bids in by the time I came on staff in July. Um th this most recent one, the cost difference was specifically aluminum and the longevity of the roof from the vendor because their their intent was if if we're going to get a roof, they want it to be a a permanent one. Um but I also understand from the board's perspective, u we want we also want a permanent building.

Yeah. So, um, I can I can go back and work on those different courses of actions and give you options. And in the meantime, if it if it puts us all in in concert, we can just continue to do spot repairs and maintenance on the roof ourselves. Um, well, I would just say to continue to work with Mr. Darium because she said that some of the options that were presented are within her um expert her approval limits. So, it may not be something that has to come back to the board, but definitely the board would like to hear what your thoughts and plans are as far as whether we can um renovate this building or whether the whole thing needs to needs to be

Yes. And just just going back to the structural issues very quickly, if you're asking my preference, my preference is if we have to tear this thing down, we're right back to getting property. We're doing those kind of stuff. And to your point, that goes on forever. So, if you and I not asking you to be a structural engineer, but you're gonna have a pretty good feeling about whether you can actually at least use the footing for this type of thing to be able to to build a nice building because I think that kind of changes your view because if that's not solid, then you're we don't have another choice.

Yeah, I'm piggybacking on to that the structural integrity of what is already there. Um, if it's got good bones and we just have to rebuild it, that's reconfigure it, that's fine. But I worry about I worry about the danger. I worry about just storms and winds and just so much. But, um, I'm glad you're there to check it out for us and keep us apprised and work with Miss Darien. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, we are not making a motion on that one. What we're doing is directing staff to continue to work together on what the best option is.

And I think a consensus also was that we were since it's within Alice's authority if there's an option that she feels comfortable with to go ahead. Is is that the consensus? [clears throat] Yes. For a near-term solution. Yes. Madame Mayor, based Madame Mayor, based on the discussion that you've had, there was a motion and second. So you could either call for the vote or I believe Alderman Ple is willing to withdraw her motion at this time. I'd like to withdraw the motion. Thank you, M. Okay.

Okay. So then we um Thank you, sir. We are going to move on to BA. You're just throwing so many numbers at me this this [clears throat] month here. So uh BA 2026-26.22 22 fun 30 amended TI Coastal and Maynard Nexon [clears throat] and we're looking for a request um a motion to approve BA2026-26.22 as presented. Do we have a motion in a second and then we'll do questions? So move second. Any questions? Could Since he's sitting there and we've got two of these in a row, could we

Sure. bring forth the expert. [laughter] No, he's fine. [snorts] If you better have a question if you're going to make him walk up. No, my question was I'm I'm all for these things. I I think you can tell how that fits within the project and stuff, too. We we don't have him as an update on the big project. So,

and not not that he has to give that update, but I think Chris, you can tie this all together for us. Is that fair? So for the audience's benefit, both of these items do tie in to the larger project. Correct. So I think everybody's desire would be to keep the project moving, the permitting moving. Um, but again, I'm going to go back to timeline since I've seen on social media that some people are expecting sand for the big project in January. That's not a realistic expectation. this January. Not this.

Yeah. Yeah. This January. So, I just want people to understand that complex projects like this do take time. And even getting the permits doesn't mean you have all the funds in place to do the work. There's a lot that goes into being ready to start a project. Well, and differentiating between the emergency permits that are being issued now and a project. Miss Darian, [clears throat] did you want to say something? Just to clarify to this agenda item is to approve TI Coastal's contract for surveying [clears throat] as it relates to the to the big project or just surveying annual survey. It's not has nothing to [clears throat] do with the the project. Okay. So that's

No, it's both. It's both. So So this what we what we put before you um we've been doing annual monitoring surveys for you guys for the whole length of of the town shoreline.

Yep. uh for about eight years now I believe. Um and what we what's that's done for is one so that um any kind of nourishment that the nourishment needs that you have you can figure out but also you have to do these surveys each year so that you have the data uh prior to hurricane season. So if you have a storm, you can show what was lost during that storm and be able to go back to that as your before storm survey and then you after the storm you have to do an aftertorrm survey to calculate the volumes of sand lost etc. So that this keeps you FEMA compliant is what these activities that we're we're asking for do and just to go ahead and have this in place for the next five years. Um we'll revisit that at that time. um to kind of give you a quick update since I'm here on what we're doing with DA43 if you want if you wanted that.

Um we have basically uh a 90% 90% design uh unless somebody throws a real monkey wrench at us. Um what is happened is uh back in February of this year uh wildlife resources took over management of DA43. it's still owned by the state. So when we had the one-stop meeting back in May, wildlife resources afterwards came back and said, "We have some concerns because the uh older vegetation that's on there, the trees, etc., uh may have other uh birds uh that are nesting or using that habitat, not just your normal shore birds." Um, so they wanted to evaluate that, but we've kind of been it's kind of been a um, uh, there hasn't been any communication back and forth. We've actually talked to the state land office within the last couple of weeks. They're helping to try to push this forward. Uh, we've also talked to the core of engineers as a secondary option because they have an easement already if we have to get down to that brass tax. Um, we've talked about going through them to have them actually uh put out the contract because they already have the easement on the island. So, we're looking at some options there. Um, what we're hoping for at this point is to have uh permits in hand, get through this thing with wildlife resources. The rest of it should move fairly quickly because in the original EIS for the whole beach program, this island was evaluated as a source, but just needed to have the geotech um done and flushed out. So, we've done that now. Uh so, there shouldn't be a major documentation or anything that has to go on to to get the permits. Uh we're hoping to have those in place sometime around May. Uh, and with that, we would go ahead as soon as we did that, we would go out to bid

so that we could do all the clearing uh, and grubbing uh, and get the site prepped to dredge uh, over the summer so that when November 15th rolls around, we could go right to work on on pumping. Um, so we would be looking at no, november of next year to start that. It would take the whole entire winter uh, to do because it is two and a half million yards. Um, and but if we go much past about if we get pushed back to July permitting, it's going to be real tight to get the project done and get it done in one season because the clearing will take too long and we won't get to start up till January or something and that's just going to be too late. Okay. Thank you.

So to stay on topic, does anybody have questions about the surveying? And thank you very much for the update, Chris. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Okay. So then I am going to ask on the first one that I had mentioned. I'm going to ask for a motion to approve BA2026-26.22 as presented. I'll make a motion to approve. Second. I'll second. All in favor?

Any opposed? No. And then on the next one is the contract award for TI Coastal's annual monitoring and that's to request a motion to approve CA 2026.26-23. 26-23 contract award TI coastal annual monitoring as presented. Do I have a motion? Motion to approve. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? No.

Okay. We are going to move on to the next item which is the contract award RCP marine dolphin shores public access pier. And I am going to request a motion to approve the contract award as presented for the Dolphin Shores public access pier repair. And this is the pier behind the north end fire station. Motion to approve. I have a second. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Nope. And [clears throat] now we have an open forum. Do we have anybody Lexi signed up?

There are no signups. Is there anybody in the audience that would like to speak? Mr. Barefoot, [clears throat] Mark Buffett, 246 San Piper Drive. Uh, I came up here to speak about the gobble wobble, but with things that have transpired at this meeting, I feel that it's urgent that I, uh, inform the public and the viewers of full transparency. Uh, the other two alderman elect are clean. If anybody wants to throw stones, throw them at me. Um, also, I don't know what everybody's heard, but the third alderman seat, as far as I'm concerned, is still up for grabs. Nothing has been certified. Nothing's official. So, when everybody comes to me and says, "Congratulations, I try to tell them nothing's official. Sit back, relax, let the board of elections do their job." All right. Gobble wobble. Thanksgiving, November 27th. Thank you. an apologies to Wendy. She has been very helpful to me. I've been very busy, but that is no excuse. Um, we're still planning on doing everything exactly like we did last year. For all those people that are watching online, uh, other than that, I don't have anything. Thank all of you for what you do. God bless you.

Thanks, Mark. Is there anybody else that would like to speak in the audience? [clears throat]

Yes, sir. If you could just state your name and address. Hi, my name is Jake Derell. I'm a part-time resident at the reef. Um I've talked to a few folks here about um I used to be a director in the reefs. I'm not but I'm not now. I'm not speaking, you know, officially for the reef or anything, but I'm um I've talked to a few folks about um the possibility of flooding mitigation assistance. It's um we're um a piece of Topsel that is carved out of the Cobra zone. So there and I've uh sometime last year we talked about the potential um of because we put sandbags up [clears throat] you know early on a pretty intensive project and um I believe your coastal engineer has said that's been been a benefit to not only um our property but also um neighboring properties and um you [clears throat] know now it's getting beat up and this project's coming along. I would like to get it cleaned up before that comes along. And um there is the potential from the uh Department of Environmental Quality said that um of using the flooding mitigation assistance um for this, but it does need a town the town to sponsor. The town can get a 5% um uh administrative fee in that. So it should should be at no cost to the town um if anything possible. Um, I do know the town is trying to get um, you know, reduce the scope of that Cobra zone and I think participating in projects like this um, would lend some credit to that. So that's all. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Is there anybody else that would like to speak? Madame Mayor, if I could just get his address. Sure. What was your unit number at the reefer? Um 2182 New River Inlet Road, unit 278. Thank you. Would you like to speak, ma'am?

Uh Phyllis Umbberger, 126 Seagull. [clears throat] Excuse me. I just want to reiterate on something that Susan said earlier [clears throat] dealing with the projected newly elected alderman. Her incident is not an isolated one. I find myself also threatened by this gentleman. Um I cannot go out on my deck without [clears throat] him coming out and staring. Um, I cannot go in my backyard without him intimidating me. Um, recently there were lights put up and there's only um two that are shining directly into my bedroom window where the other ones are shining onto his management property. Um, I have addressed this with the chief of police that I feel threatened as a um older widowed woman that lives by herself. So, I just wanted you all to be aware that these things are going on and if he is elected on this board, I hope that you all hold him to a higher standard because he will be res um representing North Topsel and I don't want to have to move because I don't think I can get what I put into it. and I have come here from the mountains to uh live the rest of my life out in peace, in harmony, and I'm finding that hard to do on this island. So, just to let you know, this is not an isolated incident. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else? [clears throat] Okay, then we are going to move on to the attorney's report. Nothing to report at this time, Madame Mayor.

Okay. Um, I also, as I said, I don't have a large report this this time. I do want to thank everyone who did go out and vote. And I want to welcome the um potentially new elected officials that are that are going to be sitting on the board. and I hope that the board can continue to make good decisions working together to benefit all of the residents of North Topsel Beach. That's all I have. Um Connie, I'm not going to pick on you first. I'm going to pick on you. Are you ready? I'm ready. All right, we're going to go, Connie.

Um thank you all for coming out or watching at home. Um please, if you can try to make plans to attend the November 19th, um treelighting. Uh it's a really good time. Last year was just fabulous. I also want to thank everyone for their condolences for my husband. And that's all I have. Thank you. Uh thank everyone for coming out. Um like the mayor, congratulate the uh those that were elected to the new town board uh recently and appreciate those that supported my candidacy. Thank you. [clears throat] No report. Okay,

um our recent election showed us that voting is a powerful tool that allows us to shape our town government, influence policies, and drive social change. It is both a right and a responsibility that ensures the functioning and integrity of our democracy. By participating in elections, we uphold the principles of a free society, hold our leader leaders accountable, and contribute to a community that reflects the will of the citizens. I want to thank everyone who voted and look forward to working with the new mayor and the new elected officials. As we approach the holiday season here on the island in all the hustle and bustle, please keep to our posted speed limits and keep an eye out for each other's properties as we do see an increase a little bit in broken pipes in the freezing weather and also property issues for the vacant homes. So, keep an eye out on your neighbor's place. Our snowflakes are starting to look terrific and I again want to thank public works for that. Um, and again, join us, please, for the tree lighting on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00 p.m. Thank you, Mayor.

Just to say thank you. Thanks for everybody that voted and we really like our white snowflake. And so, thank you, public works.

[clears throat] I I believe it's pursuant to general statute 143-318.11 sub a sub6 for personnel. I have a motion. Second. Second. All favor.

Okay. [clears throat] So, we have um come out of close session. I need a a motion to come out of close session. So, moved. A second. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Mayor Tim. [clears throat] So, you turn it over to me. Okay.

Yes, sir. result of our closed session, we provided the annual evaluation to Alistister Darian, our town manager, and to sum it up very succinctly. She's done a tremendous job for this town and has been probably the best manager we've ever had. And as a result of that, we are prepared to uh offer her a 10% bonus for her performance this past uh review period this past year. So, you'll need to make a motion or I'll make I'll make the motion. That's the motion. All right. I make the motion that we provide uh manager during with a 10%

bonus for performance. We have a second. Um do we have all in favor? I Okay. So, we have one deny. Okay. So, the motion passes. All right. Motion to adjurnn. Motion to go to close. Oh, no. We're already closer. Yeah. Motion to [laughter] second. Second. All in favor. Thank you.